Nearly 3,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from across the Midwest descended on Cape Girardeau in 2001 for one of the most memorable -- and profitable -- weekends in recent memory.

Now, the HOGs have decided to rev it up -- and spend it up -- here again in 2005.

The Missouri Harley Owners Group has decided to hold its annual rally in Cape Girardeau Sept. 9 to 11, 2005, for its 12th annual event. More than 3,000 Harley-Davidson owners are expected to liven up the city and line the streets with shiny motorcycles, as well as provide a huge spike in tourism spending that weekend.

"We are thrilled," said Bill Dunn, president of the Downtown Merchants Association. "It's a remarkable sight to see the street just lined with these bikes that can just cost upward of $20,000."

Dunn admitted it's also great news for Cape Girardeau businesses.

"Hotels will be filled up," he said. "There won't be a hotel room for miles. I hope they book early."

'Loved their visit'

A group of city officials met with the site selection's committee in Columbia, Mo., on Sunday, competing with Hannibal and a combined pitch from Maryland Heights and Harrah's Casino in suburban St. Louis.

"We basically told them what the city has to offer," said Angie Bender, director of sales for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They apparently loved their visit here before. They liked the scenic drive here, we blocked off the streets for them downtown. We really rolled out the red carpet."

Bender said the CVB tried to get the rally for 2004 last year and got beat out by one vote to Springfield, Mo.

The economic impact is huge, Bender said, with estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to $1 million being spent in the community in 2001.

"They literally use every hotel available that weekend," Bender said. "They shop, they eat at restaurants, they stay in our hotels."

The group apparently was impressed that the Holiday Inn will be a new Holiday Inn Express, and a planned 180-room Drury Inn and Suites on Interstate 55 at Highway 74 should be done by the time of the rally.

Bender and Mayor Jay Knudtson made the pitch to the Missouri HOG. CVB director Chuck Martin, police chief Steve Strong and Lt. Roger Fields also attended the presentation for support. Knudtson, Strong and Fields all own Harley Davidsons.

"When the mayor and police chief own Harleys, that doesn't hurt," Bender said.

Bender admitted the competition was tough, and they were especially fearful of the competition from Maryland Heights.

"They had never had it in a casino-type atmosphere," she said. "It seemed sort of glamorous. But they obviously were more impressed with what we have here in Cape Girardeau."

Dennis Savat, director of the Southeast Missouri HOG club, and Sonny Minor, owner of Minor Harley-Davidson and also a member of the group, attended the meeting. Minor is the one who recommended Cape Girardeau, and a dealer has to make such a recommendation for cities to be considered.

"The competition was stiff," Minor said. "But the CVB guys and the mayor put on a fantastic show. I think they overwhelmed everybody."

Knudtson said the HOG members knew they would have the unconditional support of the city and the community. But Knudtson wanted to remind Cape Girardeau residents that this is also an event for them.

"In 2001, half of the people downtown were Harley and half were citizens of Cape Girardeau," he said. "They wanted to see the bikes and interact with the people."

Knudtson said the Downtown Merchants Association agreed to sponsor a downtown party, which will cost the group about $5,000, though some of the details are still being worked out.

For events, they will be allowed to use the Osage Community Centre at no cost or the Show Me Center at a reduced cost, a portion of which the CVB may underwrite.

No arrests, tickets in '01

Police chief Strong said he wanted people to remember that the 2001 rally went a long way to dispel any misconceptions about Harley riders. He said there were no arrests, no HOG members were issued tickets and there were zero flagrant violations overall.

"These are businesspeople," Strong said. "You go to the meetings and you see people you work with. It's not Act II of 'The Wild Bunch.' It's just ordinary people having a great time."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137