Siskiyoutopia

Debbie, my thanks to you and Guy for coming to the membership meeting last night. and I appreciated the report in your blog. Just one correction…this year Gold Rush Days is going to be 1 1/2 days and will expand to 3 within the next 3 years.
Pete

Thanks Pete! I made that correction. We are sooo stoked about the plans for Yreka! Keep up the good work - Deb

Shasta Salute to America

Produced by:
South Bay Biker Productions Inc.
1922 E. Gladwick, Compton, CA 90220

1-877-688-4229 Fax 310.631.0665

2/21/2008

Dear Chamber of Commerce,

We were just informed that there would be a discussion regarding the Shasta Salute to America Motorcycle Rally at your meeting tomorrow. Although we are physically located in Redondo Beach, Ca (apx. 11 hours away) we would have made an appearance at your meeting to answer any questions you may have. In place of that, I am putting together some information that may help with your discussions.

HISTORY:

2/2007 South Bay Biker Productions was contacted regarding the possibility of an event in Siskiyou County.
3/2007 The first meeting was held in Mt. Shasta, which included Chief Cross from Mt. Shasta, Kevin & Ronna Brooks from Mt. Shasta, Sheriff Riggins, Undersheriff Murphy and (at that time) Yreka Chamber of Commerce Director Mark Dean, President of South Bay Biker Jeff Kraus and
Vice-President Debbie Johnson. An agreement was reached to combine forces to bring an event to Siskiyou County. South Bay Biker immediately went to work to make it happen.

Several of our trips to Siskiyou County were spent searching for that “perfect” location to stage our event. We felt that the Siskiyou Golden Fairground was a great location & that the city of Yreka seemed to be filled with nice people who understood the potential for financial gain & were accepting of people who ride motorcycles.

Since that time we have had several meetings which have included Siskiyou County officials in the planning process, including the Yreka Chief of Police, Brian Bowles, Lieut. Rick Berwick, Karl Greiner, the Special Events Coordinator for the City of Yreka & Rebecca Desmond, CEO of the Fairgrounds. We have stressed open & timely communication, honesty & integrity throughout this planning process – now over 1 year old.

We are a for profit company. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a non-profit agency to provide the required funding for this type of event. We committed to Siskiyou County Veterans Service to donate from net proceeds to the FARSIDERUN & already have donated a completed professionally produced & directed film. We also committed to give first option to Siskiyou County business for goods & services needed & employees required by the event. We want this to be a win/win situation & to ensure that this event will become a tradition with the motorcycling community & American military & peace officer veterans.

We choose a second charitable organization (after thorough searches) Operation Gratitude, that is also affiliated with men & women in active duty in America’s military. We felt these two organizations stand for our belief to give back to military & peace officers who’s service allow us the freedom to ride our motorcycles & live as free Americans.

We have been working for over a year laying a solid foundation, lining up great entertainment, qualified security, etc. while maintaining our communication with Siskiyou County community members.

Early in January, 2008, South Bay Biker mailed out over 800 invitations to all Chamber members listed in Siskiyou County announcing a meeting to be held locally for the business community. We followed this mailing with phone calls and a posting in the local paper. We made a special trip to Yreka for the meeting on January, 25th to premier the film we had made of the FARSIDERUN in 2007 & the ride through Mt. Shasta for the car show, all of which was filmed by helicopter. A PowerPoint presentation was also shown outlining the event & demonstrating how local businesses could benefit from supporting our event. Sadly only 60 people were present for that meeting. For those who were in attendance, we gave an education about the type of bikers they can expect and details about the event.

We assumed that word had spread rapidly because we have received phone calls from businesses interested in becoming sponsors & local business people who signed up to be vendors at the event. We have realized that with any event of this magnitude that you cannot please everyone but we feel with good communication and “all cards face up on the table” we can build a trusted relationship with Siskiyou County.

To date we have already spent thousands of dollars in Siskiyou County. Everything from fuel, staff hotel rooms, graphic and t-shirt design, mailing, meals, etc. By the time the event is complete the entire community will realize hundreds of thousands of dollars in a trickle-down effect. We have spent untold hours – literally day & night to ensure we are covering all the details. This includes a private security team so that we do not place a burden on local law enforcement. Although in all our years of attending motorcycle events we have never seen a problem, we are ensuring we are prepared.

Motorcyclists are no different than any other hobby group. They take pride in riding & maintaining very expensive machinery. Bikers have traditional events such as, Biker Rodeo - games of skill that challenge riders’ expertise & experience. Bikers really enjoy meeting new people at the events & shopping for the interesting gear they wear & install on their machines from vendors at motorcycle events. The majority age group ranges from 35 to 70 and fall in medium to high income levels.

I would like to list a few of the happenings that will take place at the Shasta Salute to America event.
Concerts: We have booked headline entertainment including; GRASS ROOTS, HEIDI NEWFIELD from Trick Pony, WILD CHILD (a famous Doors tribute band), Charlie Brechtel, James Intveld (soundtrack from Cry Baby), Skynnyn Lynnyrd & Thunderstruck as well as our own house band NATIONAL DUST.
Biker Rodeo: Games of skill on a motorcycle such as Obstacle Course, Slow Race, Barrel Push, etc.
Biker Bull Bustin: Through Rebecca Desmond’s referral, we have hired a local wrangler to provide bulls & steers for the men & women to test their skills on
Tattoo Competition: We were introduced to your local artist who has agreed to judge a contest

Bike Builders on Display: We recently signed up Arlen Ness, one of the most famous custom bike builders in the world, as well as great local builders, Kevin Brooks, Thunder Mountain Motor Sports, Mt. Shasta & Mark Daley, Thunderstruck Custom Motorcycles, Medford, OR.

Saturday is patriotic day which will include military personnel that have recently returned from war, and an evening fireworks display.

Most motorcycle events cater to men or couples. We are taking this event the extra step and also advertising to the fastest growing group of motorcyclist’s – women. We are making sure they know they are welcome as single riders and will be safe and have types of events to also show their skills on a bike.

From this brief outline interested parties will see firsthand that we have spared no expense & have planned to give our patrons their money’s worth & have thoroughly prepared for a great event. With this said we need & require the support of the majority of the Siskiyou County’s business community. We will spend 1 ½ years of planning for 4 days that the local community will experience. Money will be spent, bikers will go home and the community will become well known as a great place to visit.

We are always available for any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Jeff Kraus
Debbie Johnson
Southbay Biker Productions Inc.