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This year marks the 28th annual celebration of one of the hottest motorcycle rallies in northern New Mexico. Red River is one of the most popular tourist destinations due to its scenic location and great climate. The Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally will take place 
May 28-31, 2010.

Centrally located in the beautiful north central mountains of New Mexico, Red River is the closest resort area to Texas and Oklahoma, as well as a short drive from Southern Colorado. At 8,750 feet above sea level, Red River is perched high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range and surrounded by 1.5 million acres of the Carson National Forest.

Cruise the “Enchanted Circle”; a scenic 84-mile tour that takes you through a spectacular alpine valley that includes Angel Fire, Eagle Nest Village, Black Lake and Taos. You can also participate in the rally activities that begin on Friday by registering at the Chamber booth located on Main Street & Jacks & Sixes for the 50/50 cash drawing, you can also register on Saturday and Sunday as well.

The rally is 1 mile of food, leather, jewelry, motorcycle accessories, live music, and of course 30,000 of the most awesome motorcycles ever seen! The local saloons offer a Best tattoo contest, Strong Man/Strong Woman contest, the longest ponytail contest, oldest Red River Rally T-Shirt contest, or maybe you are eligible for the farthest distance traveled on a motorcycle award.

Facts are facts and fact is Lester Lewis was president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1980. Lester had heard that the Gold Wing motorcycle rally down in Ruidoso was a real nice profitable event for the town and decided to look into it. To this day there are people who dislike the rally and blame Lester for starting it. He not only doesn't deny starting the rally, but revels in shaking the town up. He also claims credit for the now extinct but much loved mud-bogs...

First, Lester got in touch with the local authorities in Ruidoso to see if the bikers were any trouble. The answer was that the police had never had an incident above a misdemeanor and the bikers spent money...loads of it. Next, he got in touch with the local chapter of Wingers to see if they’d like to have a get together in Red River.

The records show that he talked the town council into having the first official rally in Red River in the spring of 1981. Approximately forty Gold Wingers showed up that first year. Main Street was blocked off in front of Texas Red's for motorcycle games like jousting at washers with pool cues for $1, the Weenie bite for $1, or the plank and slow races for a buck each. They ate, drank and enjoyed the mountain air.

The first year came and went without incident and the same could be said about the next two years that Lester was involved with it. The second year, 1982, about seventy Gold Wingers showed up for games camping and riding. Wholesome enough…

The third year, 1983, was the last year Lester was in charge and the town council decided to move it over to High Street. Problem was there was nothing back on High street then. It was a hike for food, drink, restrooms...anything. Also that year Vinny Taranova, owner of Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson in Colorado, showed up on a Harley with some riding buddies….

Problem was the Wingers were feeling kind of un-appreciated and pushed out to the edge of town, while the Harley riders just went straight to Kate & Gary’s bar and hung out for the weekend getting drunk and loud…

Links: Full Red River Rally History and fun photos at redriverrally.com. More info at redrivernewmex.com. Video: The Taos News.