Reno Street Vibrations Announces No Club Colors

STREET VIBRATIONS^® FALL RALLY
September 25 - 29, 2013
Reno, Sparks, Virginia City,
Carson City downtown, NV

NO CLUB COLORS Due to events which have occurred at recent motorcycle rallies, we feel obligated, in the interest of our attendees, to prohibit the display of colors affiliated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs as defined by the U. S. Department of Justice. Persons displaying these club colors at Street Vibrations® Reno and Sparks venues and participating sponsor properties will be asked to conceal them or exit the event. Your cooperation is appreciated. -- Message and details on event's website.

The 5-day "Music, Metal and Motorcycles" 18th Annual Street Vibrations Festival in the beautiful Lake Tahoe area draws more than 100,000 rally fans and features more than 300 vendors, 15 factory rigs, arm wrestling, slow races, a tattoo expo, parade, poker run and other motorcycle events. The Baddest Bagger Competition on Thursday, Sept. 28th presented by American Bagger -- and the filming of Kelly "Throttle Girl" Quinn's TV ThrottleGirl reality show.

Chester's Reno Harley-Davidson is a major sponsor of the event, where you will find  Ms. Street Vibrations 2013 Bikini Contest winners, two beer booths and Famous Dave's Barbeque serving great food plus adult beverages from the Red-Bull bar; Italian iced coffee, shaved ice, covered party area with seating, and a large stage. Vendors include Paul Yaffe, Kewl Metal, J & M Audio, Billet for Baggers, Mark Brodie Custom Pinstripe Artist, Brodie/Chester Original Designs, Sidelines Pinstriping, Scott Jacobs Art, WindVest, True Track, GlowRide, Patchworld, Ridin' Rock, Street Vibrations 2013 T-shirts and more! The 2013 Cathouse Poker Run will leave from Chester's on Saturday, Sept. 28th and The Rowdy Johnson Band from Tombstone, Arizona will be playing at Chester's Reno Harley-Davidson on Saturday afternoon.   

Schedule of Events Sept. 28th, Carson City Street Vibrations includes kids games at 8 am, followed by bike games from noon to 4 pm. There is also a poker run lunch at the Horse Shoe Club 

Nevada Rally Cancelled After Gang Violence Verdict

Possible violence between rival motorcycle clubs has prompted the cancellation of a charity motorcycle rally in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The organizers of "Rock the Canyon" say the FBI was worried about safety, due to recent run-ins between members of motorcycle clubs from outside the Las Vegas area.

The rally and festival was originally scheduled for July at the Las Vegas Ski Resort, but was postponed due to wildfire evacuations. The rally was set to help with wildfire cleanup efforts, and was also supposed to benefit a local foundation that help needy families.

The recent run-ins between outside motorcycle clubs had nothing to do with the organizers of the event, the charity it was supposed to benefit or any other local motorcycle clubs, according to a TV 8 - Las Vegas news update. The rally was cancelled due to concerns by local law enforcement that the charity event could become the stage for violence between outside clubs.

Jethro Pettigrew

Aug. 7, 2013 - A member of the Vagos Motorcycle Club was found guilty of killing one of the highest ranking members of the Hells Angels in a 2011 casino shootout during the   Street Vibrations rally in Reno. 

Ernesto Gonzalez was found guilty in the shooting death of Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew, president of the Hells Angels' chapter in San Jose, California.  The shootout on a busy casino floor at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks on Sept. 23, 2011 involved several members of the rival motorcycle clubs.

Ernesto Gonzalez

Gonzalez is a member of the Vagos' chapter in San Jose and is also the ex-president of the Vagos' Nicaraguan chapter. He was found guilty on six counts, including murder to benefit a gang. He faces life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3rd.

Another member of the Hells Angels was gunned down in broad daylight at Pettigrew's funeral on Oct. 15, 2011. Steve Tausan, 52, a bail bondsman and sergeant-at-arms for the Hell's Angels was reportendly shot in front of dozens of law enforcement officers and thousands of mourners at Oak Hill Memorial Park. An area state of emergency was declared when he died a short while later. These shootings followed violence at the 2011 Sturgis Rally.


Read Story: Reno and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Violence 2011 

Reno & Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Violence

Gunfire errupted between members of the Hells Angels and Vagos motorcycle clubs at the Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nevada late Friday night, Sept. 23rd during the closing weekend of the 2011 Reno Street Vibrations Festival, just one month after members of the Hells Angels and Mongols rumbled in downtown Sturgis, SD during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Officials said that Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew, the 51 year old president of the Hells Angels chapter in San Jose, CA was called to the scene and died in a gun battle between the rival clubs at the casino in Nevada. He was also employed as a heavy equipment operator by the city of San Jose for more than 20 years.    

Wednesday, Sept. 28th, A first-degree murder warrant was issued against Ernesto Manuel Gonzaleza, a member of the Vagos motorcycle club, who police say is responsible for the shooting death of Pettigrew. Gonzalez is being sought on a charge of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon. The warrant carries no bail. Authorities say Gonzalez, 53, of the San Jose area, shot Pettigrew four times in the back at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. 

Saturday, Oct. 15th, Another member of the Hells Angels was gunned down in broad daylight at the funeral for Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew, president of the Hells Angels chapter in San Jose, California. Steve Tausan, 52, a bail bondsman and a sergeant-at-arms for the Hell's Angels was reportedly shot in front of dozens of law enforcement officers and thousands of mourners at Oak Hill Memorial Park. He died a short while later at a nearby hospital. An area state of emergency has been declared.

The Mercury News reports that two members of the Vagos club were injured in the casino shootout, but they are now in stable condition at a nearby hospital. "In the outlaw motorcycle gang culture, Jeff Pettigrew was a local icon in San Jose, a very well-respected member within the ranks of the Hells Angels," said San Jose police Sgt. Larry Day. "This incident could definitely result in retaliation against the Vagos, and a full-blown war that may result in deadly violence in San Jose and throughout California."

There was also the report of a drive-by shooting that sent a member of the Vagos club to the hospital with gunshot wounds to the stomach early Saturday morning, prompting law enforcement to shut down the event in an effort to prevent further violence. 

Violence also errupted in downtown Sturgis, SD during the 

 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.



The witness who recorded this video from the balcany of One Eyed Jack's on Wed. August 10, 2011 said he was talking on his cell phone watching the Hells Angels Sturgis headquarters across the street when all hell broke loose! 

"I heard popping noises and looked down. Probably 20 Hells Angels and Mongols were going at it, fighting, etc. Within a minute, the Sturgis Police were at the scene, guns drawn and taking control. Notice the women in the clubhouse coming out with their hands over their heads. We had noticed the Mongols eating outside at the restaurant while walking in. Wonder if it was a turf deal since the restaurant is directly adjacent to the Hells Angels clubhouse?"

There were numerous arrests and six people were injured.