[Spring Brook Rider]

What do you all think? Pick a friendly city site somewhere smack dab in the mid U.S.A. that would like all our commerce for a weekend. With all our talent and expertise we could have seminars, displays, a forum store to cover all our administrators expenses, etc. Each region could select a willing rep. to help organize their area folks. Because of this wonderful forum this could become a reality. Maybe this summer or the next. I think it could be really cool. Maybe it should be considered international rather than national being that we're from all over the globe. Thoughts???

 

[Blindstitch]

I like your thinking. Right now I think there are 3 main events that people do.



Amish

Twin Cities

and camping around Two.



There is also the event the I think is put on by Keith east of Detroit on the Canada side.



I would really like to see one where a lot of people could get together near middle USA But obviously middle is seems to far from east or west coast.



I had been thinking about this recently. St Louis has been an area I have thinking about going to but I believe southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, or Kentucky area would work good.



The big ring is 1000 miles in diameter and the smaller ring is 500 miles in diameter.

 

[Spring Brook Rider]

What about the kansas or nebraska area. They're a bit more central from both coasts. It really wouldn't matter to me. There would probably be a lot of fly in's to attend but either way we'd all be able to get together. This is an event I'd make sure to save up my vacation from work to attend. I'd be happy to help to see this happen. I bet a lot of others would also. It could have the possibility of becoming an annual. Maybe Honda would take notice and consider showing up. Maybe they would help spring for some of the expenses. A lot of ideas are possible here.

 

[Phil in Vermont]

I like your thinking. Right now I think there are 3 main events that people do.



Amish

Twin Cities

and camping around Two.



There is also the event the I think is put on by Keith east of Detroit on the Canada side.



I would really like to see one where a lot of people could get together near middle USA But obviously middle is seems to far from east or west coast.



I had been thinking about this recently. St Louis has been an area I have thinking about going to but I believe southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, or Kentucky area would work good.



The big ring is 1000 miles in diameter and the smaller ring is 500 miles in diameter.

Stitch, you're slightly off-center. Topeka, KS is considered the center of the USA. You can't get a whole lot of things done in just a two day weeend with a large group unless the group plans it out way in advance. Everyone has something different they want to do.

 

[Blindstitch]

Stitch, you're slightly off-center. Topeka, KS is considered the center of the USA. You can't get a whole lot of things done in just a two day weeend with a large group unless the group plans it out way in advance. Everyone has something different they want to do.

Yes I am. It would be nice to have a map where everyone is. I don't think one rally could satisfy the group. My mind was kind of thinking the way nikon does their product service repairs. They do a east or west of the Mississippi distinction.



But as you know with the Amish it isn't as easy as saying come here and we'll do things. Places have to be rented or reserved. Options have to be thought of like that dinner with Holly. Probably more than enough planning there. Then rides, tech, random who knows and whatever else happens.

 

[WayneDW]

Stitch, you're slightly off-center. Topeka, KS is considered the center of the USA. .

I would agree that'd we'd need to go further west to draw across the Rockies from the two corners of the west coast. I see a bunch of postings from Washington and Oregon as well as California. Maybe Kansas or Nebraska? Neither state has much for riding but are in the middle of the country. Kansas City, MO does have some nice rides to the south and east.



IMO, it's already too late for this year. Most of us already have our vacation days requested and planned for.

 

[Blindstitch]

Ok this one is completely centered.

The far edge of the outer ring is 1250 miles from center. Actual mileage may vary.

 

[bandit]

sorted,ill check the flights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU

 

[DavidfromWisconsin]

Before you read any further ... I want you to know I would love to have a national rally at some central location ... but it isn't easy and here are some things I have learned ...



I have been going to rallies for years and here are things to know and consider. Usually the site & date is booked 2-3 years in advance. That is even for rallies with only 200-300 people in attendance.



To get a small fairgrounds or a large campground will take you at least next year to find, set up and reserve ... which requires travel and down payment money. Neither of which can be paid back to whomever sticks out the money unless the gathering is a success. Be aware that many rallies lose money each and every year and the clubs that sponsor them hold fund raising event to pay for them during the course of each year. Do you charge by the day or the event?



You also need at least a years worth of planning if you would like vendors there for food, drinks, and motorcycle equipment. The facility has to have bathrooms and showers for both sexes. It has to have flat land. I can spend time talking about how to get all these various vendors, but at this point it would be a waste of time until this progresses further.



The location has to have motels nearby for those that don't camp. It has to have several restaurants and a grocery store nearby for those that can't or don't want to eat whatever the vendors have to offer.



Do you want a band at night, a boom box, campfires??? these all need to be answered.



You also need to have pretty good idea of how many are coming as there will be people there that you don't know about in advance and people who don't show up that said they were coming. All the vendors need to plan also.



You need to have liability insurance ... especially if alcohol is allowed in the camp. You need to check to see if it is allowed in the state, county, town and facility where the gathering is.



You have to talk to the local cops to make sure they understand what kind of crowd would be there and that you will or won't need police there and whether they expect you to pay for police being there even if you don't want them. Will anyone at any level allow you to put anything on the grass, including tent, campers and motorcycles.



Keep in mind you want some kind of security for wherever the event is to controls who comes and goes or you will have people sneaking in and out and things will be disappearing. The bigger the group of bikes the more trouble that can come from the town, the police, the looters and unwelcome bikes and bikers. I have seen where people argue to do what they want when they aren't even part of the group.



Then there is policing our own group. What do you do when someone is drunk at 2am and fires up his bike with Mac mufflers to show everyone how loud they are???



That is a good start on what you would need for a national gathering ... but there is a lot more to add to the list.



If this gets past the idea stage I have a couple of locations in mind in the central part of the country that might be just the right size for our group.

 

[Phil in Vermont]

What do you all think? Pick a friendly city site somewhere smack dab in the mid U.S.A. that would like all our commerce for a weekend. With all our talent and expertise we could have seminars, displays, a forum store to cover all our administrators expenses, etc. Each region could select a willing rep. to help organize their area folks. Because of this wonderful forum this could become a reality. Maybe this summer or the next. I think it could be really cool. Maybe it should be considered international rather than national being that we're from all over the globe. Thoughts???

Never happen.

 

[Spring Brook Rider]

I guess collectively we aren't ready for this kind of thing yet. Maybe our numbers need to quadruple before it comes up again, if ever.

 

[Blindstitch]

I believe it can happen. But not in those numbers. Dave has a lot of great points and that's probably why he always pushes for a rally inside a rally. Regional rallies would probably be easier or if someone has a plot of land to use.

 

[DavidfromWisconsin]

I believe it can happen. But not in those numbers. Dave has a lot of great points and that's probably why he always pushes for a rally inside a rally. Regional rallies would probably be easier or if someone has a plot of land to use.

That is exactly why I pushed a rally within a rally. The CMA (Cristian Motorcyclist Association) does that all the time at both BMW, Moto Guzzi, Honda and Harley rallies.



I choose the BMW rallies as they are the ones I know and I know they are family orientated and all brands of bikes are welcome.



There are also BMW rallies all over the nation at various times of the year.



Let someone else do the work and planning and let them benefit from us being there increasing their numbers and we reap the benefits of having a nice place to be at.

 

[Phil in Vermont]

I guess collectively we aren't ready for this kind of thing yet. Maybe our numbers need to quadruple before it comes up again, if ever.

The only way it would happen on a large scale would be with the help of professional convention organizers working with dedicated What? Members? We have no club, we pay no dues, we are a loose knit global group of enthusiasts of much varied backgrounds and finance. It will not happen. NOW, prove me wrong.

 

[DavidfromWisconsin]

The only way it would happen on a large scale would be with the help of professional convention organizers working with dedicated What? Members? We have no club, we pay no dues, we are a loose knit global group of enthusiasts of much varied backgrounds and finance. It will not happen. NOW, prove me wrong.

At the BMW National Rallies there is not one paid BMW employee. They are all volunteers. That is what makes the rallies work and succeed like they do. Volunteers usually get a cap or a scarf or sometimes a T-shirt depending on the job they volunteer for. I volunteer every year and did so for a long time before there were prizes given to the volunteers. If there weren't volunteers there wouldn't be BMW rallies.



The same is true for MotoGuzzi and Honda Sport Riders. Beyond that I am not sure. There have never been any professional organizers with BMW, but there were news letters and dues to pay for the beginnings of the organization which led to rallies.

 

[TonyG]

I guess collectively we aren't ready for this kind of thing yet. Maybe our numbers need to quadruple before it comes up again, if ever.

It's not a bad idea at all. However, if you haven't been to an Amish (Pa) rally yet; would you expect someone from Pa or New England to come to your neck of the woods?



Regional rally's are the way to go for now. Maybe eventually, the club can emphasize one regional rally per year to be the 'National' Rally similar to the way the BMW guys do. Those who are able to travel longer distances and take a week off to do so can then go to the 'national' rally and those who can only take a day or so off can still make it to their regional rally or rallies.



The "PA" rally has become somewhat of an eastern or Northeastern rally with attendees from 13 states last year. CT, Mass, NY, Pa, NJ, Va?, NC, SC, Ga, Oh, Fl, Ga, WI and Canada.



The Midwest is relatively wide open for a rally though the guys in the Minn/Wisconsin group may soon turn their day ride to a weekend rally. That would take care of the north-central regional rally.



There are way more than enough of these bikes lurking around so that each state could have it's own weekend rally or 'Day' Rally if it was so desired and organized. A good way to start would be to organize a Saturday day ride and either offer or suggest lodging for those wishing to come from more than a few hundred miles.



Often motorcyclists can be of the indepentant type of individual and all those who could come to a rally may not be inclined to do so. So this would be a good way to guage the interest of the people in your area for a weekend or 3-4 day rally.

 

[DavidfromWisconsin]

Tony,



You said,"It's not a bad idea at all. However, if you haven't been to an Amish (Pa) rally yet; would you expect someone from Pa or New England to come to your neck of the woods?" Have you been to a Minnesota Spring Ride yet? I have been to both ...



BMW National Rallies are never held at a regional rally site. As a matter of fact the BMW National Rally changes location form one part of the country to another each year. East, Middle, West then back again. The East coast always draws the most people followed by the Nationals in the middle of the country, followed by the west coast being usually the smallest.



They are usually held from the middle on a north to south basis to avoid extreme heat. The rally site for the following year is officially announced at the National Rally. In the past few years the BMW National Rally has been held at:

Redmond, Oregon

Johnson City, TN

Gillette, WY

West Bend, WI

Burlington, VT

Lima, OH

Spokane, WA

And the list goes on.



Changing parts of the country gives everyone a chance to get to a National Rally at some point and time. It was held in Texas once ... in the cooler hill country of Texas ... and it was still hotter than hell and it had a poor turnout. I have missed one BMW National Rally since 1988, when I got my first BMW and one Amish Rally since I heard about them, and that was due to illness two summers ago.



There is a real bonding at rallies. It is usually worth the time and effort if you are a true motorcyclist, but at the same time, you can't expect someone who is married and has kids to give up two weeks to ride from the West Coast to attend the Amish Rally anymore that you would ride from the East Coast to attend a Honda rally on the West Coast.



I hope to see some of you at different rallies and rides over the spring, summer and fall.



Keep the rubber-side down.

 

[Blindstitch]

I would love to go to the Amish but when I have to pick my vacation in November it makes everything difficult. Who knows what will happen 9 months from picking my vacation. If I could pick it a month in advance things would be better. I need events that are rock solid when trying to get more than a day off work.



I think if I have friday to sunday off I can force feed 500 miles each way if it's just a one day event.



The amish is about 750 miles so I need at least 5 days off to spend just one there unless i'm trying to get just short of two iron butts and I don't think I could do it.