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The 2016 Steel Horse Rally Wraps Up In Fort Smith

FORT SMITH (KFSM)– For many bikers the Steel Horse Rally is a chance to see old friends, get some new gear and show off their ride, but the bigger picture...

FORT SMITH (KFSM)-- For many bikers the Steel Horse Rally is a chance to see old friends, get some new gear and show off their ride, but the bigger picture is what it's truly all about.

“This is not just about helping Fort Smith, not just downtown Fort Smith, but all of Fort Smith,” Dennis Snow, the organizer of the rally, said.

Snow said the idea behind the rally is simply giving back.

“Bikers are really a philanthropic group,” Snow said. “We used to get a bad rap, but that's all in the past. Everybody's going to see, yeah, they may be a little bit loud on their motorcycles, but they're all good men and women.”

Those men and women came from all over the United States despite some bad weather.

'”Every biker I know, including myself, has a rain suit,” Snow said. “The only thing we won't ride in is hail, extremely high wind or tornadic activity, so rain is fine. Rain doesn't bother us.”

This year there was a vendor village with 40 different vendors, live music, including the biker band, Jackyl, tattoo alley and of course a lot of riding.

But, many bikers say the best part is being a part of a community.

“Oh, my favorite part is just probably seeing old friends hanging around,” Clay Faulkner said “I've got a friend from Ohio that came down.”

All while helping others and promoting the city.

“We really just want to support this event and hope to see it grow just become something fabulous for Fort Smith,” Shannan Faulkner said.

This year’s rally benefitted the Fort Smith Children’s Emergency Shelter- Independent Living Program, Hannah House, Earthbound Angels, The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center and the Fort Smith Museum of History.

There were more than 25,000 motorcycles in town, which is more than double the number that came last year.

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