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Rally Guide

Scenic Rides

Scenic Rides

One of the best things about the Steel Horse Rally is that it’s close to so many great motorcycle roads. Whether you like curvy and challenging motorcycle roads or scenic roads that follow a meandering river or roads that offer views from mountain tops, you’ll enjoy these scenic roads in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. And if you're a fan of HBO's "True Detective," see where the most recent season was filmed in Western Arkansas. See some of our favorite rides below complete with maps.

2021 Public Guardians Poker Run

Friday, May 7th, 2021: Enjoy a scenic ride to Mt. Magazine, the highest Mountain in Arkansas, and help the Public Guardians and the Steel Horse Rally Inc. charity. The Public Guardians is a non profit group of Police, Fire, EMS, Veterans, Military and Medical professionals that raise money for public service charities. 

10:30 AM - Registration opens at Hooters, 6323 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

First bike out at 11:00 AM.   Group ride at 12:30 p.m.  

The ride will go down Hwy. 22 and up to Mount Magazine (the highest mountain in Arkansas) for the first stop. The second stop will be in Booneville, AR and the ride will end at Hooters.
The cost of the poker run will be a $20 minimum charitable donation per hand. Best hand wins and prizes will be given for the best hand and the worst hand! Look for exclusive menu specials for those riding on the poker run. For more info, e-mail rickThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 479-461-3983
 
For more event info, click here
 
For more info on Facebook click here.
 

2021 Law Enforcement Fun Run

Saturday, May 8th, 2021: Ride with local Law Enforcement for a Fun Run around Thunder Loop Saturday, May 8th, 2021

Registration at 9am - Kickstands up at 10am The 2021 Law Enforcement Fun Run starts at JJ's Grill, 5400 Phoenix Ave. Fort Smith, AR and ends at Fort Smith Park in time for the Thunder through the Valley Motorcycle Parade.

Minimum charitable donation of $15 per bike.

The Route:  All Riders Welcome

JJ's Grill will be serving a $5 Pancake Breakfast during registration.

The route: The ride starts at the JJ's Grill, 5400 Phoenix Ave. in Fort Smith, AR and heads to the Oark General Store in Oark, AR. From there, the ride takes a scenic route to Fort Smith Park, the staging area for the Thunder Through the Valley ride to Downtown Fort Smith. The ride will stop at the Valero (gas station) on Scenic Hwy 23 both going and returning. Stops will be limited to 15 minutes for fuel and restroom breaks. We have a lot of miles to cover! All proceeds will benefit The Steel Horse Rally and the Fort Smith Fraternal Order of Police! For more info, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Thunder Through the Valley Motorcycle Parade

Saturday, May 8th, 2021
Line-up: 3pm at Fort Smith Park, 5301 Riverfront Dr., Fort Smith, AR
Parade Begins (Kickstands up) : 4:00 PM

The Steel Horse Rally Thunder Through the Valley Motorcycle Parade is a moving tradition that has grows larger each year. The parade is open to all kinds of motorcycles and is free to all participants. Donations to the Steel Horse Rally Inc. charity are appreciated. Larger 3-wheeled vehicles such as Slingshots may ride in the parade, however, for safety reasons, we ask that these vehicles ride behind all of the two-wheeled motorcycles.

The parade stages at scenic Fort Smith Park, with a view of the Arkansas River and a one-of-a-kind historic bridge. The parade route takes you on a scenic ride by the Arkansas River, past Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park on Riverfront Drive and into the heart of Fort Smith. The parade goes underneath a huge American flag displayed between two large Fort Smith Fire Department firetrucks.* During the parade, some streets and driveways will be blocked off, so please follow the instructions of law enforcement officers that will be directing traffic. For more info, click here.

 

Mt. Magazine

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The Thunder Loop

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The Pig Trail

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The Rudy GP & Natural Dam

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Arkansas Wine Country

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"True Detective" Ride

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Helmet Laws by State

Arkansas

Arkansas law requires motorcycle operators and passengers under 21 to wear a helmet. The helmet requirement does not apply to three-wheel motorcycles equipped with a cab and a windshield which do not exceed twenty horsepower (20 hp) when such motorcycles are used by municipal police departments.

All operators and riders, however, regardless of age, must wear protective glasses, goggles or transparent face shields.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma law requires only those motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 to wear helmets. Headgear must contain lining, padding, and chin straps, and it must not distort the view of the driver.

Operators of all ages, however, must wear goggles or a face shield of a material and design that protects the driver from foreign objects, unless the bike is equipped with a windshield of sufficient quality, size, and thickness to protect the operator from foreign objects.

Missouri

Every person operating or riding as a passenger on any motorcycle or motor-tricycle (trike) on any highway in Missouri must wear protective headgear at all times while the vehicle is in motion. The protective headgear must meet reasonable standards and specifications as established by the Director of Motor Vehicles.

Texas

Texas motorcyclists under 21 years old MUST wear a helmet. After that point, a rider may choose not to wear a helmet ONLY if he or she has proof of an applicable health insurance plan that provides benefits in the event of an accident.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, anyone who operates or rides on a motorcycle must wear a helmet that is secured with a chin strap at all times when the bike is in motion. Police authorities of a village, town, city, or parish may issue a permit exempting members of organizations sponsoring, conducting, or participating in parades or other public exhibitions from the helmet requirement, while such members are actually participating in a parade or other public exhibition. The helmet requirement does not apply to a person operating or riding in an auto-cycle if the vehicle is equipped with a roof which meets or exceeds standards for a safety helmet

In addition to chin straps, all helmets must consist of lining, padding, and a visor, and any other specifications that the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles may require.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, the driver of a motorcycle and any riders must wear either a crash helmet that meets federal standards, or, if the driver or passenger is 21 or older, a helmet that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards, has ventilation airways that exceed one and one half inches in diameter, and has a label on it that says the helmet complies with the requirements of the American Society for Testing Materials, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Southern Impact Research Center, or the Snell Foundation.

The exceptions to Tennessee’s mandatory helmet law are for those riding motorcycles with an enclosed cab, that have three wheels in contact with the ground, that weigh less than 1,500 pounds, and that have a capacity to maintain posted highway speed limits.

Mississippi

All motorcycle riders in Mississippi must wear a helmet.

The Steel Horse Rally Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 charity established in 2015 to benefit local charities, honor veterans, military, law enforcement and first responders, and help the local community.