Photo © DM Parody (http://dotcom.gi/photos)
Live to Ride & Ride to Live by Kirsten Openshaw
Gibraltar’s Harley Davidson Club is hosting their sixth international rally in Casemates Square on 6th August. It’s not all about leathers, tattoos and ripped jeans though, they hold a “We have no bones to pick with any individual or club” attitude and Derek Moreno is a perfect representative for the club. The Harley Davidson Club (HDC) sixth annual rally, one of the largest in the Iberian peninsular, is being held on 6th August with a possible excess of 1000 bikes from all over Europe filling Casemates Square. The day starts at 12.30pm with an exhibition of the motorbikes, followed by live entertainment and a ride out around the Rock. Being able to ride around the Rock is particularly special for the HDC members, as the Dudley Ward Tunnel through the Rock has reopened after many years of restricted access. The ride out will end at the club’s premises with live music, a raffle and food, anybody wanting to attend is welcome, biker or not. The Gibraltar Magazine caught up with Derek Moreno, who is part of the HDC committee. Sitting in a suit and tie he looks very respectable, well mannered and educated and it is hard to imagine Derek as the stereotype biker. With no sign of a bike and leathers in close proximity or any visible tattoos, once the conversation got going it was easy to see Derek’s passion for
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the open road and Harleys. In 2006 a group of local Harley Davidson enthusiast, Jonny Fa, Derek Ghio, Tyron Ghio, Derek Moreno and David Parody created the HDC committee with the purpose of hosting the very first Harley Davidson Rally on the Rock as well as an online club where all likeminded bikers could join and be kept abreast of events as well as arrange to attend rallies, ride outs etc. Membership was therefore managed through the site for the first four years of the club’s existence. In late 2010 they secured and moved into premises, transforming the club from virtual to brick and mortar organization, although still keeping the website open for applications and membership information. “Making the club real instead of being vir-
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tual makes it easier to select and filter out prospective members as well as bringing members together and fostering a real sense of belonging to the club. All the members now are of similar mindset which makes for a better atmosphere all round. We can choose who we want our club to be associated with,” added Derek. There is a three-month probation for prospective members who have to own a motorbike, although not necessarily a Harley Davidson. “We won’t accept people with scooters or racers, there are others clubs for that, but as long as you have a bike with similar characteristics to a Harley it is acceptable.” When asked if there is an initiation process, Derek replied with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, “Such information cannot be divulged!”
When I told my wife I wanted a Harley Davidson she asked for a new kitchen. She said my number plate should read ‘Mid Life Crisis’
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • AUGUST 2011