TASMANIA will next month host the national Harley- Davidson Owners Group Rally for the first time in more than a decade.
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Launceston Harley- Davidson dealer Simon Hrycyszyn said that the November 6-8 event would be "bigger than Ben Hur".
"We got about 1500 Harleys to the rally in 1997 and we're expecting more than twice that this time, including a couple of confirmed international entries," he said.
"So many people and organisations have got on board to help make the rally a huge success.
"Harley-Davidson Australia has put in more than $1 million to get the event here and has chartered the Spirit of Tasmania for two exclusive day sailings on the Wednesday and Thursday before the rally.
"MAIB insurance has given us $10,000 for safety advertising and Launceston City Council and Robert Groenewegen at Aurora Stadium have gone out of their way to help us."
Mr Hrycyszyn said that in a first for Tasmania, the rally and evening concerts, featuring Jimmy Barnes, The Smokin' Elmores and CT and The Nighthawks, would be open to the public.
"The $35 entry for one day or $60 for two includes tickets to the evening concerts," he said. "This will be a great chance for people to get a feeling about what it means to be part of the Harley- Davidson family.
"Even though the rallyists' bikes won't be at Aurora Stadium all the time, there will be 40 trade stalls there."
Harley Owners Group dealer representative Mark Proietti said that the rally would take up more than half the Aurora Stadium playing surface.
Action would include stunt rider Matt Mingay, bike games, a dynamometer, show and shine, technical seminars, demonstration rides and bike tours, he said.
Mr Hrycyszyn said that there were 25,000 registered owners' group riders in Australia and more than a million worldwide.
