The 2024 Four Corners Motorcycle Rally is expected to draw more riders this holiday weekend.
The annual Labor Day parade of choppers will likely bring 20,000 visitors to Durango this weekend, rally marketing director Megan Margeson said. She said its size has increased over the last three years.
The rally’s expected to attract motorcyclists from all over the country, including Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and California, with over 30 events scheduled.
This year, the Sunday hill climb event at Purgatory Resort is returning after a one-year hiatus. Last year, Durango Harley-Davidson owner Trevor Bird said the cost of the hill climb was among the reasons it didn’t happen. But in 2024, the rally had some help from new sponsors to bring it back.
The event will be a little different this year. The 2024 hill climb is part of the American Motoclimb Super Series and will feature riders such as Logan Cipala and Austin Teyler. The race will be the championship round of the series.
Another event returning after a long hiatus is the “Rodeo Ruckus” at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Margeson said the rodeo was a large part of the rally’s culture when Ignacio hosted it. The rodeo had become a popular event for the rally in 1990s and early 2000s.
“It's been years since there's been a rodeo, so we're kind of bringing it back to the roots of the event. And giving people who may be coming from far away, a taste of the Four Corners,” Margeson said.
Rally event coordinators continued to push for family-friendly events, something that’s been a product of Bird’s involvement.
Margeson said people of all ages will enjoy events such as the flat track races on Saturday night, the rodeo and the hill climb event. This year’s rally will also feature Real Deal Revolution, an organization empowering women in the trades, which will host workshops at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
The classes will be held by one of the organization’s founders, Theresa Contreras, and will teach skills such as welding and pinstriping. Real Deal Revolution will be at the fairgrounds throughout the weekend.
The Ives Brothers Wall of Death, another fan favorite event, will return this year. Riders test the bounds of gravity by riding at high speeds inside a wooden cylinder.
The rally will be held exclusively in Durango this year. In past years, there were some events held at the Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio.
“You don’t have to love motorcycles, there’s plenty to do here – whether you are part of the motorcycle world or not, and that’s something that we really strive for,” Margeson said.
There will also be a concert Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds featuring rock artist Jasmine Cain.
Durango Police Department will have enhanced staffing this weekend for the rally.
“We do have some extra officers out and about just enforcing traffic laws and available to address any issues that may come up,” said DPD Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop.
DPD will also have extra traffic and DUI enforcement this weekend because of the rally.
“It’s a matter of statistics,” he said. “The more people in town, the more stuff is going on.”
In recent years, the rally has been tame for law enforcement with few crashes and criminal activity. Most of the time, DPD receives calls about noise complaints.
Dunlop said officers have studied up on muffler requirements for motorcycles and lane filtering laws heading into the weekend.
On Aug. 7, a new state lane filtering law was put into effect.
Lane filtering is when a motorcycle rider passes a vehicle in the same lane but only when that vehicle and any traffic in adjacent lanes are at a complete stop. This maneuver is common at stop lights or gridlocked traffic and will legally allow riders to navigate to the front of the line and avoid being sandwiched between two vehicles.
Dunlop said it’s important for drivers to be aware and look out for motorcycles when driving around town this weekend. He said there have already been a few minor crashes involving motorcycles this week.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
