Rally locations

[Mudbug]

Based upon the pins and patches section of the Country Store, I plotted the cities that I could find on a map. What I saw was rather revealing. The vast majority of the BMW MOA rallies were held in the east and north. Two cities, Missoula, MT and Oshkosh, WI hosted the rally twice.

I'm sure that all the selected sites were lovely. But I'm sure that BMW MOA members who live in the west and south of the USA would like to have future rallies closer to home. Some states such as Texas, Arizona, and Nevada are considered too hot by some members. Well, I've been to New England when it was in the 90's. And I just returned from Spearfish, SD where it was 106. It can be hot anywhere.

So, lets have the Rally spread out more evenly throughout North America.

[Mike_In_Lima]

Geography is one thing, but I'd like to see a distribution map of the membership.

[Ol'Salt]

Personally I think there should be 2 a year, 1 on each side of the Mississippi.
One in the spring, and 1 in the fall.Like maybe May & August

[BubbaZanetti]

i vote hawaii


but i do find it very strange there's never been one in cali, easily the union's most interesting state in terms of riding

[DarrylRi]

but i do find it very strange there's never been one in cali, easily the union's most interesting state in terms of riding
The national rally was held at Laguna Seca Raceway, near Monterey in 1984, only 21 years ago. And I believe that the first "national" was actually the BMW NorCal's 49er rally in Angels Camp, back in the early 70s.

But what the heck, you can all drop by my house.

[gambrinus]

I'd say it's cetainly overdue for a southern visit. East of the Mississippi... how about the mtns of GA? West of the Mississippi.. how about northern NM? Mtns = interesting roads and cooler temps (usually)

We all know about the requirements for the rally, and it seems that most racetracks, county fairgrounds and ski resorts would fit MOST of the bill...

RW

[BradfordBenn]

IIRC there are six zones for the Rally Rotation to try to make it more evenly distributed. The idea being that it goes through six zones of the US before making a return trip to that zone. I do not know when this approach took effect.

[TheSlashFiveTourer]

Based upon the pins and patches section of the Country Store, I plotted the cities that I could find on a map. What I saw was rather revealing. The vast majority of the BMW MOA rallies were held in the east and north. Two cities, Missoula, MT and Oshkosh, WI hosted the rally twice. . .lets have the Rally spread out more evenly throughout North America.

We all know about the requirements for the rally, and it seems that most racetracks, county fairgrounds and ski resorts would fit MOST of the bill...

Page 8 of the 2005 Anonymous lists the Nationals from ’73 to the present. Check out the location pattern and the type of facility used for each rally:

1973 - Morgan Hill, CALIFORNIA (fairground)
1974 - Table Rock, SOUTH CAROLINA (campground)
1975 - Branson, MISSOURI (campground)
1976 - Oshkosh, WISCONSIN (EAA field facility)
1977 - Colorado Springs, COLORADO (a dude ranch!)
1978 - Rutland, VERMONT (fairground)
1979 - Brainerd, MINNESOTA (a racetrack!)
1980 - Prineville, OREGON (fairground)
1981 - Hurricane Mills, TENNESSEE (a dude ranch)
1982 - Shreve, OHIO (campground)
1983 - Lake Placid, NEW YORK (a horse show grounds)
1984 - Missoula, MONTANA (fairground)
1985 - Lake Wales, FLORIDA (resort)
1986 - Laguna Seca, CALIFORNIA (THE motorcycle raceway)
1987 - Escanaba, MICHIGAN (fairground)
1988 - Madison, INDIANA (fairground)
1989 - York, PENNSYLVANIA (fairground)
1990 - Rapid City, SOUTH DAKOTA (fairground)
1991 - Flagstaff, ARIZONA (fairground)
1992 - DuQuoin, ILLINOIS (fairground)
1993 - Oshkosh, WISCONSIN (fairground)
1994 - Moodus, CONNECTICUT (resort)
1995 - Durango, COLORADO (fairground)
1996 - Morganton, NORTH CAROLINA (fairground)
1997 - Fredricksburg, TEXAS (municipal park)
1998 - Missoula, MONTANA (fairground)
1999 - Rhinebeck, NEW YORK (fairground)
2000 - Midland, MICHIGAN (fairground)
2001 - Redmond, OREGON (fairground)
2002 - Trenton, ONTARIO (city park – a LARGE city park!)
2003 - Charleston, WEST VIRGINIA (an ‘in town’ Civic Center)
2004 - Spokane, WASHINGTON (fairground)
2005 - Lima, OHIO (fairground)
2006 - Burlington, VERMONT (fairground)

34 rallies held in 20 fairgrounds, 3 campgrounds, 2 resorts, 1 airport facility, 2 racetracks, 1 horse show venue, 2 city parks, 1 downtown Civic Center campus and 2 dude ranches. Common denominator seems to be the fairground with lots of camping space, good permanent facilities and a large grandstand or arena. Having the local high school with its added showers and toilet facilities adjacent to the packed fairground is always a nice touch (Missoula in ’98 comes to mind - along with 'Malfunction Junction')

I’ve attended only SIX of our MOA Nationals over the years due to my offshore employment. It wasn’t always possible to get back home in mid-summer and take two weeks off to attend a bike rally. When I did get to a National, sometimes many years apart, I made a point to enjoy the trip rain or shine, meet new people, try out a new tent, gawk at the new bikes and take lots of pictures.

I rode my Slash 5 to Oshkosh in ’76, Rutland in ’78, Laguna Seca in ’86, Missoula in ’98, Redmond in 2001 and, of course, Trenton in 2002. (I was on my way to Brainerd in ’79 when I got decked by a grain hauler on a highway in Michigan and had to trailer the busted bike home after I left the doctor’s office!) Each rally was better than the last and BIGGER than the last. I don’t think any of us at Oshkosh ’76 or Rutland ’78 could look ahead and see 6600 rally fans at Redmond in 2001 or 6200 happy souls at Spokane in 2004. Tip of my weathered cap goes to those fine folk down through the years who have donated so much of their time, energy and talents to bring us MOA members these fine National rallies.

If you know of a venue in your state – or province – where over 6,000 cycle-ridin’ MOA members – and their guests – might be happy for a couple of days in July some year. . . good location, good scenery, good roads, good food, friendly people – and a Wal-Mart – why not contact the MOA Rally Committee AFTER Lima winds up this weekend and give ‘em some details on the area. They'll be happy to hear from you – I mean, where are we going after Burlington in 2006? We probably haven’t been to your neck-of-the-woods yet…so how ‘bout inviting six thousand Beemer riders to “come on down” and visit that great spot you always thought would be good place for a National?

If you’re just heading out the door to Lima – BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

If everything is safely bungeed down for the trip to Ohio. . . see Helen2Wheels when you get to the Rally, buy her strap system and get rid of those “#*$#&*$” bungee cords!

Have a safe trip – both ways – and give us your impressions of the Rally when you get back home.

Oh, the favourite site of my SIX Nationals. . . Redmond, Oregon, 2001. Without a doubt - those great LARGE facilities at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. Not enough showers or food vendors. . . but everything else was just fine. I’d go back there in an instant for another National.

Onward to Beemerville!! :wave

[MarkF]

Personally I think there should be 2 a year, 1 on each side of the Mississippi.
One in the spring, and 1 in the fall.Like maybe May & August

I agree and also one camping format and one convention format. That way everyone is happy. But I doubt the MOA has the resources and volunteers to do it. Also, would each have less of a profit making the total profit - cost = less?

[Mudbug]

Page 8 of the 2005 Anonymous lists the Nationals from ’73 to the present. Check out the location pattern and the type of facility used for each rally:

1973 - Morgan Hill, CALIFORNIA (fairground)
1974 - Table Rock, SOUTH CAROLINA (campground)
1975 - Branson, MISSOURI (campground)
1976 - Oshkosh, WISCONSIN (EAA field facility)
1977 - Colorado Springs, COLORADO (a dude ranch!)
1978 - Rutland, VERMONT (fairground)
1979 - Brainerd, MINNESOTA (a racetrack!)
1980 - Prineville, OREGON (fairground)
1981 - Hurricane Mills, TENNESSEE (a dude ranch)
1982 - Shreve, OHIO (campground)
1983 - Lake Placid, NEW YORK (a horse show grounds)
1984 - Missoula, MONTANA (fairground)
1985 - Lake Wales, FLORIDA (resort)
1986 - Laguna Seca, CALIFORNIA (THE motorcycle raceway)
1987 - Escanaba, MICHIGAN (fairground)
1988 - Madison, INDIANA (fairground)
1989 - York, PENNSYLVANIA (fairground)
1990 - Rapid City, SOUTH DAKOTA (fairground)
1991 - Flagstaff, ARIZONA (fairground)
1992 - DuQuoin, ILLINOIS (fairground)
1993 - Oshkosh, WISCONSIN (fairground)
1994 - Moodus, CONNECTICUT (resort)
1995 - Durango, COLORADO (fairground)
1996 - Morganton, NORTH CAROLINA (fairground)
1997 - Fredricksburg, TEXAS (municipal park)
1998 - Missoula, MONTANA (fairground)
1999 - Rhinebeck, NEW YORK (fairground)
2000 - Midland, MICHIGAN (fairground)
2001 - Redmond, OREGON (fairground)
2002 - Trenton, ONTARIO (city park – a LARGE city park!)
2003 - Charleston, WEST VIRGINIA (an ‘in town’ Civic Center)
2004 - Spokane, WASHINGTON (fairground)
2005 - Lima, OHIO (fairground)
2006 - Burlington, VERMONT (fairground)


Here is a updated map based upon the above locations.

[widebmw]

I am surprised that the 2007 rally is only 350 miles from Lima, OH.

[cjack]

I am surprised that the 2007 rally is only 350 miles from Lima, OH.
How far is it from Vermont?

[Friedle]

How far is it from Vermont?


Many generations!

:bolt

Friedle

VERMONT, It's Not Flat