What Made You Do It? [Archive]

SheRidesABeemer

10-25-2007, 05:05 PM

I attended my first rally in 2000 Midland. MI. I went because a friend was going (ok, I was dating said friend). I knew absolutely NOTHING about going to a rally, the rally site itself or Midland, MI in general. I didn't even know why people went to rallies.

Midland Grounds
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2351/1750586059_9b66a2515a.jpg

I was not any better prepared two years later when I attended my second rally in Trenton, ONT. I attempted to link up with fellow local club members, but our club was disorganized. I did manage to meet one member and we rode the grueling 8 hours together. :D Again, I knew nothing about the venue, little about the area, I went because it was not to far away, even though it was still a long trip in my mind.

The old GAIL in Trenton
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/1751435682_3672d7d118.jpg

5 years after I had my license and a lot of personal growth later I attended my 3rd National rally in Spokane, WA in 2004. For the first time I had a sense of purpose for attending the rally...and the only reason was location, it was clear across the country...I was going on my first cross country trip, solo! I was so pleased with my accomplishment, I can hardly remember a thing about the rally itself, what mattered to me was the trip.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Spokane
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/1751436094_87996174ca_o.jpg

Keeping with my every-other year pattern, Burlington was a no brainer, it's 3 hours away, and by now, I went to see my forum friends and people I'd met in Spokane.

Lisa at her first MOA Rally
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2009/1751436352_283aeed27b.jpg

And of course this year was different from all of them. I didn't plan my cross country trip around the Rally, it was not the highlight of my trip, just an important waypoint. I went to West Bend because Lisa and I had a story to share and some prizes to pick up. :D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2046/1751436560_08e992bdc4.jpg

And the rallies in between? Some where never considered, others considered and dismissed. Some summers I was out of work, some I was in jobs with no vacation available, or maybe I just wasn't interested in the location that year. The reasons are various and personal.

I belong to the MOA because it is here I can find like minded people. It does not obligate me to show up for the family Christmas party. Some years I do, some years I don't.

That's my story. What's yours?

kbasa

10-25-2007, 05:30 PM

I like bikes. I like motorcycle people.

Oshkosh, in 93, seemed like a good destination.

So we went.

SheRidesABeemer

10-25-2007, 06:14 PM

Hey Dave, Is that Tina swilling the bottle with Irene in Spokane? :)

kbasa

10-25-2007, 06:16 PM

Hey Dave, Is that Tina swilling the bottle with Irene in Spokane? :)

It absolutely is, she of the Big Red Hat so she doesn't get sunburned. :ha

I think that's where I met you for the first time, along with Rich, Gambrinus and a whole host of other wackos from this place.

osbornk

10-25-2007, 06:34 PM

I go to rallies that are a reasonable distance from me and if the riding is good once I get there. I don't consider rallies that are a lot of boring miles away that have nothing special to offer once I get thee.

manicmechanic

10-25-2007, 06:37 PM

Who are you calling wacko's, sausage-boy? I resemble that remark!

Oshkosh '93, and a whole bunch since then. I enjoy seeing all my friends, including the ones I haven't met yet. I keep saying that it's like a family reunion, and I didn't know I was related to these folks before.

Seriously, though, I'm glad to have met Dave and Tina and Gail and Irene and all my fellow wacko's.

kbasa

10-25-2007, 06:43 PM

SNC1923

10-25-2007, 07:44 PM

I went to my first national in 2007 in West Bend.

My first BMW rally was the 49er in 1980-something. Ever since then I've dreamed of attending a national, but life always got in the way.

My running buddy Brad and I started talking about it in January or so. Plans become firm, routes were mapped, a GPS was purchased, and on 07/07/07 we were on our way at 4:30 a.m.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174884100-M.jpg

I got to meet Mandypants and Vince.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174886391-M.jpg

I met wacky French-Candians at the laundromat.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174887185-M.jpg

I met Tom, architect of killer brats:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174887018-M.jpg

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174891968-M.jpg

I met Bluestune.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/176130044-M.jpg

I met Beemokat.

I met Gail, Josh, and many, many others. I even saw Mr. and Mrs. Poobah.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174896822-M.jpg

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/175712732-L.jpg

I even went to Lambeau Field.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174896625-L.jpg

I ate $60 worth of corn.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/174899512-L-1.jpg

I also checked out tons of cool bikes.

I'll be going to as many nationals in the future as possible. I mean, seriously, what's NOT to like?

Mika

10-25-2007, 07:49 PM

The Forum.

I have ridden BMW’s for a long time now. When I would see them gathering on the road I would wonder were my escape route to safety was. Based on what I read in ON I really did not see the rally as something I wanted to do. As I have come to know people on the forum I wanted to meet them in person.

I still prefer to ride and 'purposefully wonder' alone, but next year I plan to ride alone to another rally.

DarrylRi

10-25-2007, 07:54 PM

I still prefer to ride and 'purposefully wonder' alone, but next year I plan to ride alone to another rally.

During our non-Fungal Ride last weekend, the Poobah said that "motorcycling is this thing we do alone together."

Rich

10-25-2007, 08:21 PM

I think that's where I met you for the first time, along with Rich, Gambrinus and a whole host of other wackos from this place.

That's absolutely correct. And we have to do the beer garden thing in Gillette too!

KGT1200

10-25-2007, 09:34 PM

I missed backpacking of my younger days, and needed destinations far away. The Bike allowed me to explore destinations so I went to my first Rally in West Bend and I was hooked. I "met" a ton of good souls on this forum who I wanted to meet, and ended up meeting four or five, and a many I want to meet yet and get to spend more time with in the future. The Dells Rally was once again, a true blast!

Large groups of to-die- for SWEET motorcycles at the national has the ability to make me drool and become light headed...

Thats why

See you in Gillette; we will go jackelope tipping..yep it's all the rage now
I hear..:bikes

AZ-J

10-25-2007, 11:39 PM

See you in Gillette; we will go jackelope tipping..yep it's all the rage now
I hear..:bikes

Jackelopes are "native" to AZ!:D

I am hoping to go to Gillette, it would be my 1st National. Looking for some riders to meet up with on the way. I can't find anyone locally who seems to share my enthusiam to go to a National. When I posted it on the local BMW MOA club's forum, Gillette was slammed like I have seen it here in the "let's rag on Gillette" forum thread, whatever it's called.

According to Mapsource my trip will be 1138 miles. I don't want to do all of that alone, so if anyone wants to meet me on the way, I'd love it. PM me if you want.

Thanks.

SheRidesABeemer

10-26-2007, 05:50 AM

Tweety let me encourage you to go if you want to go, and getting there solo is a good a way as any to get there. Group riding is over rated anyway. :D :brow

PAULBACH

10-26-2007, 06:12 AM

Jackelopes are "native" to AZ!:D

I can't find anyone locally who seems to share my enthusiam to go to a National. When I posted it on the local BMW MOA club's forum, Gillette was slammed like I have seen it here in the "let's rag on Gillette" forum thread, whatever it's called.

According to Mapsource my trip will be 1138 miles. I don't want to do all of that alone, so if anyone wants to meet me on the way, I'd love it. PM me if you want.

Thanks.

Even if you ride in a group - you ride alone. So much concentration is on the road and the surrounding environment that the group fades into the surrounding environment.

That is about the same distance as my track from Ballston Spa to West Bend. Then I added a trip around Lake Michigan which significantly increased the distance.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/ClipArt/swoosh-1.jpg
Just do it!

dancogan

10-26-2007, 06:17 AM

Our first rally was Lima. Only a couple of hours away - couldn't resist. We had joined the BMW TCD, and lots of people were talking about the rally during our regular Sunday morning breakfast meetings. So we went, had a ball, met new friends, and have now been to 3. But it was the influence of our local club that got us there. :clap :clap

Cliffy777

10-26-2007, 06:30 AM

That is correct. I am out of the closet as one who has never "done it". I feel confident that I can admit my rally virginity to you, my Forum Family, because of the way everyone is so accepting and welcoming of people who are "different" here. Just because I don't follow the party line and go to the rally, I am confident of your love and acceptance because of the evidence of such things I see scattered all over this forum.
Maybe some day I will take the leap and "do it" but for now I am scared off by visions of waaaaaay too many people in a somewhat confined space. I have avoided Marti Gras, Times Square on New Years Eve and a host of other events for the same reason.
So for now I remain wholesome and pure.

tessler

10-26-2007, 06:51 AM

As M1ka suggested, I too do it because of wanting to meet the friends I have made on the Forum and via this club.

And because, in 2006, for my first rally, Burlington was close enough for me to not have any excuse.

Four years ago, I owned no motorcycle, belonged to no motorcycling group and my riding experience was relegated to memories of several (borrowed) small bore Japanese bikes ridden (or more accurately thrashed around on) in my youth, with nothing more than a Bell helmet on my crown. Today, I own, ride and socialize with people who do the same and can not explain the attraction to or attractiveness of it, but it makes me happy.

It's good, powerful stuff and I like it.

ps: Rebecca, I read the entire thread before posting! :D

snoone

10-26-2007, 07:30 AM

I first joined the MOA in the mid 80's. I mostly rode alone and belonged to no local club. There was no forum and I never attended a rally. For lack of interest I let my membership lapse. I rejoined probably 6 years ago when I bought my GS, eventually found the forum, made some great riding friends and then met their friends and really got an education as to what the MOA was all about.. The rally in Burlington was my first and I went because of the convenience of the venue. It was a blast meeting/drinking and camping next to the Turbo Fluffies with the highlight for me being the great music that Michael booked for every evening..

jdmetzger

10-26-2007, 07:30 AM

I don't think anything "made me do it".. it's more of an issue of "I must go". (are we putting some sort of drugs onto the pages of the ON, perhaps?)

I like the rallies; I always meet new people, get to see old friends, get to meet some forum people in person, and I get to take a nice trip. Of course, after a few days I'm ready to get away and be on my own for a while... a nice post-rally ride is good for that. :)

Braddog

10-26-2007, 09:00 AM

I actually became familiar with the MOA through a former neighbor. He's a long time BMW rider and rally attendee. He had a few gatherings at his home, which I attended, that many riders attended. I liked what I saw, even though I was not riding at the time. He was also an avid rally attendee, he hasn't missed may nationals over the years...

Fast forward many years...(we're up to the year 2000 here)...

I'm now a BMW owner, so joining the MOA is a logical step. I eventually do this. The next logical step is to check out some of the rallies. Due to work and family priorities, I just can't make the MOA nationals, but I do go to Money Creek, and the Dells (relatively close for me).

When the national came to West Bend, there was no way that I was going to miss it. Easy trip, looked like a nice layout, etc. I had a fantastic time. Met many new friends, hooked up with some old ones, did motorcycle "camping" for the first time, rode some good roads, etc. All in all, it was a fantastic experience.

I have to say the following factors are what REALLY pushed me to go to the national:

- Close proximity to where I live. This meant I didn't have to burn as many vacation days.
- Having some knowledge of the BMW MOA national from many years past. It intrigued the heck out of me, and was something I wanted to experience.
- Riding a motorcycle. I like to ride.
- Volunteering. It was also something I wanted to try. Remind me next time to NOT be a beer garden stock boy on a Friday night. Just kidding. It was fun, and really VERY insignificant when you consider how hard some of the people like Randy, Maddog, Bullitt and others worked in the Beer Garden. THOSE are the ones that made it possible.
- Meeting people in 3D that, to this point, were only invisible friends from the internet.

It was all good. I've been planning my trip to Gillette, which will likely include a loop that will allow me to see some fun sites, ride some fun roads, and, yes, even visit some relatives along the way next summer.

AZ-J

10-26-2007, 09:12 AM

Even if you ride in a group - you ride alone. So much concentration is on the road and the surrounding environment that the group fades into the surrounding environment.

That is about the same distance as my track from Ballston Spa to West Bend. Then I added a trip around Lake Michigan which significantly increased the distance.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/ClipArt/swoosh-1.jpg
Just do it!

SheRidesABeemer, PaulBach

Thanks so much for the kind words. Even though I have not been to a National, I already feel the "I must go" pull of it. Neither crowds nor throngs cause me trepidation.

PaulBach, I have to ask you, your track from Ballston Spa to West Bend, how long was the trip itself including the Rally? I am planning for a week so far.

Thanks again,

Tweety1, aka Jordan

Rapid_Roy

10-26-2007, 09:37 AM

My brother made me do it in 1982. I went on the back of his RS to Shreve, Ohio. We left Wisconsin a 5pm Friday evening, and made it to Shreve by 5am Saturday morning.
We slept until 11, then partied like Rock stars until late that night, and drove home Sunday. I thought, I am going to more of these. So far, I have 15 Nat'ls under my belt, and well over a hundred local rallies in different states.

bikerfish1100

10-26-2007, 11:21 AM

Well, my first "rally" was actually the 2nd Annual Harley Rendezvous in Saratoga, NY. It was a party, with motocycles, friends and "stuff" to do. Back then, we did lots of "stuff". 'Nuff said on that count. I think that was around '78 or so.

My first "rally" on a Beemer was The Laconia Classic, in '80. Bought my first BMW on Wed, a silver 1974 R90/6. Registered it on Thursday, and was on my way to NH (from CT) on Friday. Talk about trust, eh? Well, most everyone else went to watch the races at Loudon- I took my gf and went for an all day ride on the beemer all around the area. I was falling in love with the bike, just enjoying its smooth power and easy riding nature. And finding out that I could get around 60 mpg was not an unpleasant discovery, either.

Later that summer I went to my first real BMW Rally- the Dutch Country Rally in PA. I had become friendly with Ralph DeLuca and others at Canton Cycle- mostly due to my R90 breaking its detent spring and requiring a new tranny. (back then Ralph was just a lowly tech, not yet the owner). But by then I'd upgraded from the R90 to a gorgeous R100S Motorsport, and had a great time going to the DCR with 9 other Beemer riders. That there were 4 mechanics in our group of seven bikes was very comforting. The local riding was fun stuff, the games were silly (that was the year of "dress ike a pirate"), and I was enthralled with checking out the bikes, spending money with the parts guys, and learning all I could about the different models. The bonds were forged for Rally going- we all had a fun time, and the long distance riding thing (only about 350 miles, but the farthest I'd been on any bike to that point) was beginning to make sense.

My first MOA National was two summers later, up in Lake Placid. I dragged a friend along- Andy Dossett, on her R90/6 (my old '74, now with a working tranny). Andy was bitten with the rally bug to a much greater degree than I ever was. That was her first National, and I'm pretty sure she has not missed one since! She won the women's division of the 5K Fun Run at Lake Placid (you want a good story? ask her sometime how she was feeling on that "run"), and sometime later took over the Chair responsibilities. Oh yeah, most of you know her as Andrea Borella. :wave

Now, I attend the rallies to taste the local riding, to see friends I've made over the years, and for the pleasure of the trip to and from each site.

kbasa

10-26-2007, 01:41 PM

chasman

10-26-2007, 01:49 PM

Year 1975...I'm in my early 20s and riding a '75 R75/6...a riding buddy say "Hey, there's a big Beemer thing in Branson, MO"...turned out to be the 3rd BMW MOA National Rally. Joined MOA shortly afterwards and have been rallying ever since.

Mudbug

10-26-2007, 03:36 PM

I went because I was in the neighborhood. Actually I was about 700 miles away and that was the closest I've ever been to a rally while a member. Since I was close by, I went.

I got to see the underside of I-135 during a thunderstorm.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175699964-M-LB.jpg

I learned that the Garden of Eden is in Kansas and is made of sandstone and concrete.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175700785-M-LB.jpg

Sleeping on the ground is good for my back. Much firmer than any mattress.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175709978-M-LB.jpg

I found my reserved parking space in Hewlett, Wyoming. Still far from the door at work.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175720350-M-LB.jpg

You can carry a lot of stuff besides two people on a K75.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175745391-M-LB.jpg

North Dakota is far for everywhere.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175764936-M-LB

The northern end of the Mississippi River is more scenic than the southern end.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175765454-M-LB.jpg

And I find Ardys everywhere.
http://kjun.smugmug.com/photos/175649866-M-LB.jpg

The_Veg

10-26-2007, 05:08 PM

I went to meet my fellow wackos. :wave

Rich

10-26-2007, 05:54 PM

I was riding a Honda Goldwing back in the early eighties, and my friend Tom Willis had just bought himself an 83 R100RS. At the time I thought it was probably the ugliest bike I had ever seen. Fortunately I kept that opinion to myself. (Especially now that I think it is the prettiest BMW ever made)

Right around 1985 he invited me to ride with him to the Dells Rally. I had never been out of the state on my bike, maybe not even more than 100 miles from my house, so I thought, what the hell, why not. I remember thinking it was going to be one very long trip. We left on a Thursday and had to be back to work Tuesday morning.

On Thursday morning, it was drizzly and cold, like maybe 50 degrees. I was cold just waiting for him to show up at our meeting point. We got on the road and by the time we reached the east side of the state it was a tad warmer, and the sun was out. We camped somewhere near the twin cities that evening, and by Friday early afternoon we were at the Dells.

I had an absolute blast at the rally. I couldn't believe how friendly everyone was, I even had complete strangers walking up to our campsite to get a better look at my Goldwing and ask questions about it. How cool is that? The biggest thing I remember about the rally is the heat, we were looking at 98 degrees with 98% humidity. I was hot!

Well, Sunday morning we wake up soaking wet. It was pouring cats and dogs, a few bikes were laid over from sinking in the mud, and we had to pack up and leave. We rode all the way to Fargo in a pouring rain, and I froze my rear off. The highlite of the day was getting a motel room to sleep in, all our gear was soaked and we we near frozen. We had left Saturdays Dell's temp of 98 and were now riding in 50 degrees and rain. It sucked.

We made it back Monday, but it never did warm up much. Tom has since moved across the nation, but we still keep in touch, and the Dell's trip is always a memory to laugh about. When I got home from that trip I had BMW on my mind. In 1986 I bought a new R80RT and sold the Goldwing. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I couldn't believe I was paying a whopping $6000 for a motorcycle. (Neither could my wife:heart )

I rode that bike all over, but the only National I ever made it to with it was the Black Hills National, whichever year that was. I always intended to make it back to the Dells rally but just haven't yet.

A few years later, a couple of new BMW's later, and I finally was able to attend another national, the Spokane Rally. It was that event that really hooked me. I've been to Sturgis 20 times, but never had the fun I had at Spokane. You folks that regularly go know the feeling. I was in awe, and the credit card bought me all kinds of goodies I only saw in ON ads. I enjoyed it and the people I met, and vowed to return to another national.

Unfortuanately, work has a knack of getting in the way, so I missed the last two nationals. I have since changed jobs, and Gillette is at the top of my list for next year. I may even take in the Dells.

Bottom line, it is just hard to beat spending time with people that share something in common, whether it is a BMW motorcycle, or anything else that bonds people together. And of course it helps being in a place where you can take a stroll any time of the day and see 7000+ beautiful bikes to gaze at, talk to their owners, and maybe meet those special people who become your new life-long friends. It doesn't get any better than that.

Mongo

10-27-2007, 07:39 AM

I tried to go to my first National Rally in Vermont 06. I left my house in the rain, arrived in the rain, packed up a campsite in the rain because my SO (who was already there) told me the tent was taking on water and rode home in the rain. I was completely bummed out because there were so many Rounders there I wanted to see. I didn't get to see any :( I was there about an hour.

Fast forward to West Bend. What a difference a year makes. I had a great 2 day ride out. I stayed over at Loraz's where we stayed up and sampled various adult beverages until the wee hours. Had a great stay with the Cogan's the next night. Had a great ride in terrific weather. I had a blast at the rally! I volunteered every day. Got to put many faces to many names. I got to spend some time with my SO who I hadn't seen in a few weeks. I met many new people, sampled some more adult beverages, ate well and returned home in terrific weather. It would be nice to go next year but that is unlikely. It is difficult for me to get a week off in the heart of the summer because I'm in HVAC. Two weeks is nearly impossible. :( Maybe in 09 it will be close enough that I can do it in a week.

I'm thinking maybe Nova Scotia for a week next summer. I wonder what Blue Knight will be up to? :)

kbasa

10-27-2007, 08:36 AM

The short answer seems to be that it ain't about the bike.

rgvilla

10-27-2007, 09:11 AM

My first rally was in Durango in 94. I had been riding beemers since 1976 but was never much interested in the MOA. I don't think I knew it even existed. I raced flat track on HD's in the early 70's and also had a lot of Jap bikes that I loved. I had gotten a real bug and bought a ZX-11and sold my R90/6 to help pay for it. My brother who was riding an R60/5 invited me to ride up with him and a friend. We stayed at Ft. Lewis College. IIRC it was about $20 for the three of us. I kind of enjoyed flaunting the ZX and blowing by all the BMW's. The riding was great and since I had done the area a few times and loved the skiing in Durango in the winter and fishing and hiking in the summer it was natural to go. In my college days I had back packed around the area, riding the Durango Silverton narrow gauge and getting off and hiking for a week or so. I enjoyed the rally, meeting people and having a good time with my brother. My brother was a dedicated rally goer and I remember he rode the /5 up to Montana for a rally. Meanwhile I totalled the ZX and bought a Connie. In 2004 I totalled it. (run off the road both times) and was looking around for a bike when I found the R1100R. Decided to ride it to Lima and really enjoyed myself. Joined the local club here and went to some local rally's and got hooked. I won't make Gilette, other plans but maybe
08. I'm kind of a loner so don't meet many people but have a few acquaintances on this board I'd like to meet. I like to see all the bikes, visit the vendors and check out the local riding. I love racing so thats always a plus and I try to make the Vintage days at Mid Ohio every year. I camp so I don't care about hotels etc. It's nice to have a choice of food places as oatmeal every morning can get old. I have to have my stove and coffee, no matte how much free coffee is available. I don't drink so I could care less about the beer tent. I think I enjoy our local rally's more than the nationals. More chance to meet people and really get to know them. Oh yeah, I always manage to run into one or two flaming *******s who think they know it all, but that happens anywhere. I love the ride to the destination as much as the destination and there is no such thing as a boring road to me.

Voni

10-27-2007, 09:14 AM

. . . or even the roads.

Voni
sMiling

kbasa

10-27-2007, 02:56 PM

. . . or even the roads.

Voni
sMiling

:nod

Voni knows.

Hey Voni, somewhere in my boxes of photos, I have a photo of you on Big Red back at Oshkosh. I didn't know you then, but when I looked at it later, is was pretty apparent it was you.

I'll get it scanned and posted one of these days. I've got a few fairly old rally photos.

26667

10-27-2007, 08:50 PM

1982..I'd just booked my first "decent" job in the theatre that was a long enough run to include a week's paid vacation. Like a fool, I let everybody else sign up first. They took all the summer weeks and well into September, and the only week available was in October. Nothin' to do but head out to the Octoberfest in San Diego. It rained all the way from Chicago to Hobbs, NM. I learned why it's important to put your raingear on in the right order. Third day; one quart in each boot by the time I got to El Paso. But I knew I was on the right track when I followed "that guy" who built side-car rigs in the SD area, and his Steib, replete w knockout GF into the rallye. (There was a story about him in the news some years ago) Rode thru LA ,where I left my key turned awhile and ran my battery down. Learned where my battery was located, and camped that night in Joshua Tree NP. Where I learned that if I let it sit in the sun for awhile it would turn over easier and start after all, and I wouldn't have to live there. Camped in AZ and listened to the World Series on my transistor radio...remember those? And then it poured all the way from Hobbs back to Chicago. So hard that even cars were pulled off under the bridges on the Dan Ryan Expy S of Chicago. Six miles from home and I was standing under another bridge in the rain. I don't remember much about the rallye itself...a white Motosport RS getting all the att'n...beers from the back of a pick-up. But I have a thousand great memories of the drive and the people I chanced to run ito along the way. The goofy mistakes, the insane wall of fog, the gas station attendants asking if I thought it might rain. How can ya not love going to rallyes?!!

bobs98

10-28-2007, 06:44 PM

And it just kind of worked out that the 2006 Rally in Vermont was on my way home from my (almost) weeklong trip with my riding buddies. Left home on Thursday, a week before the rally, headed up to the Finger Lakes, then north along the St Lawrence and in to Canada. We would be heading south thru the Adirondacks on Thursday, so I figured I'd turn east and they would continue south. Instead of getting home Friday, I'd just leave the rally on Sunday and make it home sometime that night.

Well, I had made some contact with some very fine folks over at Chromeheads, and started to organize a group for a Friday morning ride. I had also barged in to the MOA Forum and answered a call for help to serve the volunteers in the Beer Garden on Wednesday night with Rev. Willlie, where I met the whole crew there. Since I was serving the volunteers, I might as well be one, so I volunteered a shift on Thursday afternoon in Registration. What better way to meet people, than when they first arrive, and I even got to register a few of my fellow Chromeheads. I also got hooked up with the Forum Frenzy for the Friday shift in the Beer Garden.

Since I had committed to being there Wednesday evening, I might as well get there early enough to do the ERC on Wed afternoon, so I left my friends on Wednesday morning and arrived at the rally before noon. Checked in with Sherpa Mayberry and headed off to the ERC. Oh yeah, I didn't know anybody there.

By the end of the beer shift, I had made several new friends. Met a few more doing demo rides Thursday morning and at Registration in the afternoon. We had an impromptu and unorganized Chromeheads gathering Thursday night to discuss our next day's ride. On Friday, 17 of us took a beautiful ride and lunch, then back to the BeerGarden for more fun with the Forum Frenzy.

On Saturday I visited the Mobile Tradition and saw Peter Nettesheim's fantastic collection and several demonstrations before riding off with a couple of my new friends for a visit with a local friend who lives about and hour away. Back to the rally in the rain for the final night. Great entertainment for the entire rally, lots of new friends and many more I never got to meet. Even got to ride home to NJ with one of my new friends.

I had no idea what to expect going in, never dreamed there would be over 9000 attending. Fantastic experience, all the way around. Great vendors, displays and seminars. Of course I didn't get to do even half of what I had planned. Sorry I couldn't make West Bend, won't be able to do Gilette, but wish I could. Can't wait for the next one.

Turbo_Fluffy

10-28-2007, 07:03 PM

It all started for me from an invite to join some good Ann Arbor friends in Missoula for the BMWMOA rally - way back in 1998. Terry, Dave and Mosk extended the offer to join them at a Beemer Rally... I was riding a 1985 Honda Magna at the time... couldn't understand the rally thing, and initially felt out of place pulling into a BMW rally on my Magna.

9 years later... I couldn't feel more comfortable at these large rallies. I now look forward to the next rally each year. We (Turbo Fluffies) continue to meet new friends at each of the rallies. See you all in Gillette in '08.

-Kevin

Oznay

10-29-2007, 02:44 AM

Oshkosh was my first,rode there to see what it was all about..

tnk12lt

10-29-2007, 03:56 PM

Charleston, W.V. '03------Went to my 1st local BMW rally in May'03 --Georgia Mtn
Had a great time.
Was recently divorced and decided that touring was the best thing for me. Started spending my summers on tour. So, I spent 3 weeks touring out west in June'03 and finished off the summer with the MOA rally in Charleston.

Traveled solo, had fun, even in the storm. Except when I saw tents flying by me. I've been to every MOA since. Some nights I'd rather forget, thanks to the whiskey(Woodford Reserve)

cruisincruzan

10-29-2007, 05:01 PM

I am still new to this motorcycling thing but I have been seriously bitten by the bug. My first was Vermont which was close to home and had a nice town nearby. I enjoy the national for 2 main reasons, for the vendors (it's nice to see stuff being sold that actually fits our bikes) and to see the various bikes and people that ride them. I don't do the camping thing and I'm probably in the distinct minority in that the riding once I get there is secondary as I feel I can always do the ride but the "gathering" of folks, products and bikes is unique. My wife, Ute and I were planning on WI but plans fell apart. When she saw the rally summary in the ON she was bummed as she is from Stuttgart and would have thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the "Germanness" of that particular rally. I saw a post that SE and NE locations are in the next few years we are looking forward to those.

swall

10-31-2007, 11:20 AM

My first rally was the MOA National in Vermont in 1978. I had been a member of MOA for about a year. Anyway, I crashed my R90S due to a high speed wobble and worked at repairing the damage to get it on the road again. A light came on and I decided that if I committed to going to the rally, I would have a deadline to work to which would keep me motivated. The bike still had some dents and and road rash when I departed late Wednesday. I had no luggage--just duffle bags, a sleeping bag and a Kmart two man tent.

BubbaZanetti

11-05-2007, 01:51 PM

The short answer seems to be that it ain't about the bike.

truly

my first national was Lima in 05', i'd joined the MOA in late summer of 04, right before my big x-c trip mainly for the annon book. a 1 day shot out to Lima by myself. i hooked up with yankee beemers i'd met at my first ever rally up in new hampshire the month before. by the end of the week, i'd met a ton of people from the forum, brad, loraz, boxergirrle, the veg, kbasa whom, if i recall correctly, i walked up to and said "that cover you sent me fell apart", he'd mailed me his old 11S cover a month or so prior, he looked at me like "wtf" for a half second, hahaha, and a ton of other people. i rode back home with chace to new england on sunday having loved every minute of the rally and not having rode more than 3 miles

burlington in 06' was busy for me. i knew the rally organizers and had a bunch of little volunteer jobs all week long. my tires were also toast when i got there and my girlfriend was delivering me a new set friday night, so the bike sat on its centerstand, in the woods, down were all the ADV guys were camped, with no wheels on it all week. that rally i met more MOA forum people, a TON of new ADV people and a bunch of others with no internet connection at all

west bend 07'. i'd just finished the run for the BoD and decided to "take a year off" and just enjoy myself. i rode out with tessler and staked my tent in camp beers. i got out for little rides on various motorcycles with various friends, knary, rob, chace, jon t, etc, but mostly just sat around with hodag & crew, eating brats and drinking beers.

as you can see, rallies, for me, have very little to do with riding and a great deal to do with socializing. i'm not a huge fan of group rides and frankly, these are people who's company i enjoy a ton, but only get to see once or twice a year. i can ride whenever i feel like it. unless the location sported absolutely AMAZING rides with scenery i wouldn't commonly experience, it's unlikely i put more than one hundred miles on in the course of 4 days at a rally. i'm really happy to just plunk myself down, walk around, chit chat, hang out and tell stories.

theLuz

11-05-2007, 05:34 PM

Jackelopes are "native" to AZ!:D

I am hoping to go to Gillette, it would be my 1st National. Looking for some riders to meet up with on the way. I can't find anyone locally who seems to share my enthusiam to go to a National. When I posted it on the local BMW MOA club's forum, Gillette was slammed like I have seen it here in the "let's rag on Gillette" forum thread, whatever it's called.

According to Mapsource my trip will be 1138 miles. I don't want to do all of that alone, so if anyone wants to meet me on the way, I'd love it. PM me if you want.

Thanks.

I used to live in Phoenix. We're in L.A. now and I'm "thinking" of going to the Nationals next year. We could meet up somewhere on the way and go most of the way together, expecially if you don't find anyone in PHX to ride with. Keep in touch and I'll do the same. I'm a recovering GS rider on a GT now.;)

theLuz

11-05-2007, 05:46 PM

:blah :blah That is correct. I am out of the closet as one who has never "done it". I feel confident that I can admit my rally virginity to you, my Forum Family, because of the way everyone is so accepting and welcoming of people who are "different" here. Just because I don't follow the party line and go to the rally, I am confident of your love and acceptance because of the evidence of such things I see scattered all over this forum.
Maybe some day I will take the leap and "do it" but for now I am scared off by visions of waaaaaay too many people in a somewhat confined space. I have avoided Marti Gras, Times Square on New Years Eve and a host of other events for the same reason.
So for now I remain wholesome and pure.

Nothing to be afraid of here. I took my son (25 at the time) to the Top 'o Rockies in Colorado one year. He saw someone about his age and they cleved together for the whole rally. Lee looked up and said, "oh, no! There are a thousand of my "Dad", they're everywhere!"

Harlmless group but, boy, do they have the stories..............:blah