NORWICH – In just a few weeks, the Honda Gold Wing Road Riders will drive in to Norwich for the annual New York and New Jersey Bi-State Rally, and with them, they will bring more than 350 members, many events and some activities that can be enjoyed by the members and the public.

According to organization public relations specialist Linda Waterman, “the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) is the world’s largest single-marque social organization for owners and riders of Honda Gold Wing / Valkyrie motorcycles.”

The GWRRA was founded in 1977, and since that time, the organization has grown to include more than 800 chapters, made up of 80,000 members from the United States, Canada and 53 foreign countries. “Dedicated to our motto, ‘friends for fun, safety and knowledge,’ GWRRA members enjoy the freedom of belonging to a non-for-profit, non-religious and non-politicial organization,” Waterman said.

This year, the New York and New Jersey Chapters of the GWRRA decided to hold their annual rally at the Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Norwich. Scheduled for Aug. 6-8, riders will begin arriving in Norwich early in the week to prepare for the three-day event. According to Howard Johnson’s General Manager Dana Meyer, the event will be a benefit to several area businesses, in addition to the Howard Johnson’s. Although the majority of activities are centered in or around the Howard Johnson’s, already other area hotels and inns are seeing bookings for the weekend because of the large crowd.