HOGS coming to Palmer next week

Valley Life editor

More than 600 HOGS will be running around downtown Palmer next week, but nobody should call animal control.

The Harley Owners Group (HOG) is holding the largest gathering of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders June 25-27 at the fairgrounds, and more than 600 Harley riders are expected from around Alaska, as well as from Florida, New York and Massachusetts.

"Every year it gets bigger and bigger. We already have more than 500 registered, and typically, at least 100 people show up and register at the site," said Vera Hershey, the rally coordinator who rides as a passenger on her husband's Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide Standard. "It's going to be a lot of fun. Last year they had 600 people, so who know? Maybe we'll hit 700 this year."

The event is only open to H.O.G. members and one guest.

There are numerous events planned, including poker runs to Matanuska Glacier and other sightseeing trips.

Barbecues and awards banquets are scheduled, as is a "ride-in bike show" on Saturday at the House of Harley in Anchorage.

There are group riding safety seminars and friendly competitions, both on bike and off bike, scheduled.

Alaska has more than 2,400 members in three chapters, including 700 from the Anchorage/Mat-Su area -- and a third of those are women.

Members of the organization are diverse -- they are business owners, professionals, blue collar workers and retirees organizers said.

Riders will be in Palmer starting Thursday for registration, which continues into Friday morning. Opening ceremonies are planned for 8 a.m. Friday, followed by breakfast runs and a poker run later in the afternoon.

On Friday night, a run to Willow is planned, with a barbecue at the Willow Trading Post.

For more information about the rally, interested people can call Hershey in the evenings at 376-6788.