Motorcycle rally cancellation creates ripple effect
The Staff of Clutch and Chrome
May 20th 2008
Playing like a
midday soap, a motorcycle drama is continuing in the
Illinois town of Grayslake Village.
The town
made headlines in the beginning of May when needed permits
were cancelled two days before a motorcycle event was due to
take place, with only initially vague reasons given.
Organizers of
the Ironhorse Roundup Bike Show were sent notification on
May 2nd by The Villages of Grayslake that the permit for the
event starting on May 4th with an expected attendance of
40,000 was cancelled.
Later, the
Mayor of Grayslake Village,
Timothy Perry
said the show was canceled because Illinois State Police and
a regional gang task force received word that members
of the rival Outlaws and Hell's Lovers reportedly had a
score to settle and would do it at the Ironhorse Roundup.
Now a local
swap meet organizer has given notice they would no longer
hold events at the Grayslake site, fearing not only an
impromptu cancelling of permits but also due to the growing
tainted reputation the Village has among bikers.
Buzz Walneck,
owner of Walneck's Inc. in Woodridge, who normally holds two
or three events a year at the Lake County Fairgrounds a
year, usually attracting 2,000 people and 300 vendors, faxed
a letter to Lake County Fair Association officials Tuesday
to inform them that he would no longer hold swap meets at
the Grayslake site.
"Other than a motorcycle theme, there is absolutely no
comparison between Mr. Walneck's events and the Roundup
event," Grayslake Village Mayor
Timothy Perry
told reporters on Friday.
Many have
accused the Mayor and officials as discriminating against
bikers, with
Ironhorse
Roundup Bike Show
organizers
discussing possible legal action over the event
cancellation. |
