Larry Hogg, shown on his Moto Guzzi, is organizing a motorcycle rally that will take place in Pictou and Caribou River at the end of July.
“That is funny – really funny. Everybody is laughing.”
In order to find out what that game and others such as ride the plank and the slow race are, he invites people to attend the field games as part of the first annual Moto Guzzi Nova Scotia Camp-out motorcycle rally, happening at the end of July.
Hogg is organizing the rally, which will take place in Caribou River and Pictou.
Registration numbers have been low so far, but he’s not bothered by that just yet. However, he would like to see more motorcycle owners sign up, and he encourages people to register by the July 1 deadline. He said it has to start somewhere.
“I’m hoping to make it big. I’d like to see it grow as big as the Wharf Rat Rally.”
The Wharf Rat Rally is Canada’s largest multi-day gathering of motorcycles. Founded in 2005, that event started with a small gathering and now attracts more than 20,000 bikes annually.
Hogg decided to organize the local rally because he’s attended many of these events in the past. As a lifetime member of the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club, he’s attended rallies in Pennsylvania, New York state, Iowa, West Virginia and Ontario. For several years, he also organized a rally near Barrie, Ont., before retiring to Nova Scotia, moving to Caribou River in 2009.
While he loves the Moto Guzzi brand, which is an Italian motorcycle, the rally is open to all types of bikes.
“I found this one very dependable,” he said, adding that he’s owned his 33-year-old bike for 31 years and has also owned three of the more popular Harley Davidson motorcycles.
He said most people aren’t familiar with the Italian brand, with Harley, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha being more well known.
“If people would get to know them, they’d love them, I'm sure. The motor is sideways on the bike – hanging out in the air all the time, which keeps them cooler.”
Hogg finds it a bit difficult to explain his love of motorcycles, but said he enjoys seeing different places while out in the fresh air. “I guess just the open freedom – the open road. I find it’s a nice way to relax,” he said.
“You can smell the countryside better – when someone cuts the grass or hay – you miss that in a car. The trees, when they’re hanging over the road – it smells different. You’re at one with nature. It’s hard to put into words.”
He has no trouble describing his enthusiasm for motorcycle rallies, however, which stems from the connections he makes at them. “It can be a lot of fun. You make new friends, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Other events during the three-day rally include a parade, a stunt show, poker runs and three tours that involve stops at local tourist attractions and a drive along the “Mini Cabot Trail” from New Glasgow to Cape George and Antigonish. He said the event is family oriented, and members of the public are welcome to attend.
For more information, contact Hogg at 902-485-1517 or [email protected].
SIDEBAR:
Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi, established in 1921, is the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. The company is noted for industry innovations such as the first motorcycle centre stand, wind tunnel and eight-cylinder engine. Europe's largest motorcycle manufacturer, and the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer by unit sales, its bikes are noted for air-cooled 90 degree V-twin engines with the cylinder heads projecting on either side of the motorcycle, instead of parallel with the bike.
SIDEBAR:
Schedule
July 29
7 a.m. Breakfast at Caribou River Community Hall
2 p.m. Motorcycle parade on Caladh Avenue, Pictou
2:30 p.m. Field games off Caladh Avenue near Jitney Trail and deCoste Centre.
7 p.m. Stunt show at Hector Arena
Public is welcome to all events.
