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Biker night a hit in Vail
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Benson resident Norman Tolleson, a biker for 59 years, says he has come to appreciate a place to see new rides and friends at the monthly biker night held in Vail.
On the second Tuesday of the month, Montgomery's Grill and Saloon, along Colossal Cave Road, opens its facility to bikers. When it started 15 months ago, the event had about 70 bikers at the inaugural event. The event is now drawing in between 500 and 700 riders a month.
Besides pulling bikers from the Vail and Tucson areas, Montgomery's owner Mike Gill said they get visitors from as far west as Phoenix and Yuma and as far east as Benson.
Tolleson said he travels all over with his bike, and has come to enjoy Vail's biker night over the last year.
"I missed the last one, but I try to come to all of them," he said. "They are great. We get to see the new bikes and show off the old scoots. It really gives us a place to get together. I ride all over the country and Vail's is just a great location. I was really glad to see them open this up."
Tolleson said he recently returned from New Orleans, and he will continue to travel the roads on his bike since it's a passion he likes to share with fellow riders.
Last Tuesday about 750 made the trip to Vail where they not only got the monthly dose of biker action, but also took part in a special ceremony in honor of Sept. 11.
The Rincon Valley Fire Department held a brief ceremony, while other bikers attending the event sported the colors either through their bikes or with flags. One of those was Alex Blanco, who said with a special day like 9-11 he had to sport his true colors - red, white and blue. Blanco made his entrance with a line of riders following behind him, the American flag waving from the back of his bike.
Besides supporting his country, Blanco said he's glad to have a place to come every month with his bike, noting that he loves the community and atmosphere.
"It's just a nice peaceful evening. We have a good time, we have a great band and the people that come out are just great," Gill said. "We get bikers from all over. I can't believe how much it's grown."
Wild Bill Saxton, a biker and writer for Full Throttle Magazine, said he came to the first one and he's going to keep coming as long as Montgomery's keeps hosting them.
"This is awesome. It just keeps getting bigger and better," he said. "Montgomery's is a great location and rain or shine, the vendors come out and the place is always packed."
Some of the bikers said growth has changed the event. It started with the bikers spending time inside the restaurant, but now none of them will fit.
The area in front of Montgomery's is now fenced off with plenty of vendors outside and room for the bikers to park.
Besides a venue for biker culture, Gill said it's also become one of their biggest fund-raisers.
"We raise money for all kinds of local charities," he said. "The bikers are extremely generous and I can't say how much money we've been able to raise for a lot of different causes."
Vail residents Steve Campbell and Maureen Gillespie said they never miss the event that is held on the second Tuesday of every month. Campbell said his favorite part is the food.
"We like getting together with friends, the bikes and the food," Gillespie said. "We've been coming since it started. This is the best in Tucson. There is no comparison."
As the crowd grew throughout the evening, it was obvious there is no agenda except to have fun and relax.
Karen Haneiwich and Mary Ahern of Tucson said they come to every bike night and love the atmosphere at Montgomery's so much that they stop by to eat at least twice a week.
"Every month there's more and more bikes, things to look at and we love the band," Haneiwich said. "I love Montgomery's and I think it's awesome that they do this."
Ahern said Montgomery's biker night is by far the best she has seen and it gives them an opportunity to show that bikers are a good group of fun people.
"People don't realize how much bikers do for the community," she said. "Bikers have such a bad reputation and it's really sad. We help wherever we can."
Gill, who is also into bikes, said he will continue to host the monthly biker night, because it has obviously become one of the most popular draws around.
"This is the biggest event west of the Mississippi on a monthly basis," he said. "I love doing it, I love being a part of such a great group of people."
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Benson resident Norman Tolleson, a biker for 59 years, says he has come to appreciate a place to see new rides and friends at the monthly biker night held in Vail.
On the second Tuesday of the month, Montgomery's Grill and Saloon, along Colossal Cave Road, opens its facility to bikers. When it started 15 months ago, the event had about 70 bikers at the inaugural event. The event is now drawing in between 500 and 700 riders a month.
Besides pulling bikers from the Vail and Tucson areas, Montgomery's owner Mike Gill said they get visitors from as far west as Phoenix and Yuma and as far east as Benson.
Tolleson said he travels all over with his bike, and has come to enjoy Vail's biker night over the last year.
"I missed the last one, but I try to come to all of them," he said. "They are great. We get to see the new bikes and show off the old scoots. It really gives us a place to get together. I ride all over the country and Vail's is just a great location. I was really glad to see them open this up."
Tolleson said he recently returned from New Orleans, and he will continue to travel the roads on his bike since it's a passion he likes to share with fellow riders.
Last Tuesday about 750 made the trip to Vail where they not only got the monthly dose of biker action, but also took part in a special ceremony in honor of Sept. 11.
The Rincon Valley Fire Department held a brief ceremony, while other bikers attending the event sported the colors either through their bikes or with flags. One of those was Alex Blanco, who said with a special day like 9-11 he had to sport his true colors - red, white and blue. Blanco made his entrance with a line of riders following behind him, the American flag waving from the back of his bike.
Besides supporting his country, Blanco said he's glad to have a place to come every month with his bike, noting that he loves the community and atmosphere.
"It's just a nice peaceful evening. We have a good time, we have a great band and the people that come out are just great," Gill said. "We get bikers from all over. I can't believe how much it's grown."
Wild Bill Saxton, a biker and writer for Full Throttle Magazine, said he came to the first one and he's going to keep coming as long as Montgomery's keeps hosting them.
"This is awesome. It just keeps getting bigger and better," he said. "Montgomery's is a great location and rain or shine, the vendors come out and the place is always packed."
Some of the bikers said growth has changed the event. It started with the bikers spending time inside the restaurant, but now none of them will fit.
The area in front of Montgomery's is now fenced off with plenty of vendors outside and room for the bikers to park.
Besides a venue for biker culture, Gill said it's also become one of their biggest fund-raisers.
"We raise money for all kinds of local charities," he said. "The bikers are extremely generous and I can't say how much money we've been able to raise for a lot of different causes."
Vail residents Steve Campbell and Maureen Gillespie said they never miss the event that is held on the second Tuesday of every month. Campbell said his favorite part is the food.
"We like getting together with friends, the bikes and the food," Gillespie said. "We've been coming since it started. This is the best in Tucson. There is no comparison."
As the crowd grew throughout the evening, it was obvious there is no agenda except to have fun and relax.
Karen Haneiwich and Mary Ahern of Tucson said they come to every bike night and love the atmosphere at Montgomery's so much that they stop by to eat at least twice a week.
"Every month there's more and more bikes, things to look at and we love the band," Haneiwich said. "I love Montgomery's and I think it's awesome that they do this."
Ahern said Montgomery's biker night is by far the best she has seen and it gives them an opportunity to show that bikers are a good group of fun people.
"People don't realize how much bikers do for the community," she said. "Bikers have such a bad reputation and it's really sad. We help wherever we can."
Gill, who is also into bikes, said he will continue to host the monthly biker night, because it has obviously become one of the most popular draws around.
"This is the biggest event west of the Mississippi on a monthly basis," he said. "I love doing it, I love being a part of such a great group of people."
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