Would you do it again?

[Visian]

MOA-ers... given that Charleston drew a near-record ~7,100 attendees, despite all the gripes, what is the likelihood that you'd ride to a rally with a similar format to this in the future?

[Unregistered]

It wasn't a Rally. It was a convention. 7,100 people? No doubt the number registered. Curious to know how many were there Saturday morning, weather notwithstanding

Hey, no one had any control over the weather but in all of the MOA rallies I have attended (19) this was the worst. People were spread out over miles-friends who were at Charlston I saw perhaps once, if at all, organization at registration was not great, lots of misinformation-and I'm not even going to start to talk about the bus service.

Most troubling thing I saw though was watching a MOA Director from a large-ish northeastern club try and run people off from a camping area on the west end of the U of C campus. No matter who dared try to pitch a tent in that area, here he arrives painting tales of "Loud and rowdy people who will be carrying on all night" and advising people they "really don't want to camp there". Worked on some but not on 2 young couples from Ohio who pretty much told him to stick it. Sad they got a bad opinion when they discovered he was a MOA Director. Hmm, wonder if they will renew their memberships next year?

[SHAG]

I didn't like the setup, but it was better than I expected! I saw 3 people I know from my hometown! Met the Kbasa's & talked to a few people at the motel!
I like walking around the normal rally's looking at peoples gear & recognizing people & bikes that I've seen at other rallys! This was the first rally that I didn't camp at & I'm glad! Also glad that I didn't go earlier! Arrived at 2pm fri & bailed the next day at 2pm after people got tired of seeing me walking around the vendor area! Trenton was my first National & the setup was great!!

[kbasa]

I'm in. Anytime I can sit around with a bunch of my BMW friends and have a brew, look at bikes and generally waste a bunch of time, you can count me in.

If the venue allowed for closer proximity it would be a bonus. Day buses would have been terrific too.

Dave

[CABNFVR]

Been lurking on all the post for this topic since returning home. We (wife, several friends) stayed 48 miles away at Hawksnest State Park. 60 minutes to the rally, relaxing setting when at our 'motel'. We cancelled the Mariott right across from the CC to do this, so I guess that answers any questions about our preferrence to 'big cities'. Friday morning we had a great ride through the country over to Charleston, walked all around the facility until we finally found registration (pre-registerd, so no rush) and generally had a great time. I'd say the location was too spread out, and too big city, but it still beat working! We saw dozens of friends, walked a lot of miles, and survived the dreaded hwy 60 railroad crossing in the dark. (Didn't see the big deal with it, but living in the western NC mountains we're used to the unexpected in the middel of a curve. Heck, everythings in the middle of a curve! I thought that 15 mph downhill right hander in the dark beat the pants off the tracks for a rush!). Not enough vacation for Spokane, but if the lottery comes through we'll be there. Now, if you could just find a few more sites like Durango.....
---
p.s Thanks to all the volunteers. BTDT. (yep, I'm sucking up. It's a tough job they do for free. Even a thumbs up to the guy asking to see an armband as we left the campus Friday night):dunno . Now, about those day passes ...............;)

[Ksrob]

Bette & I enjoyed ourselves. We've been to regional rallies and camped also. Enjoyed them also.

Things I would change if I was God;
75 degree sunny days/60 degree starry nights, shuttle buses that ran on time where posted, having the convention center surrounded by camping with h/motels across the street:bliss , have a 90% discount for MOA members at the vendors, have enough rally t-shirts :eek ,

I think the MOA has learned what works and what needs work. The bitches I've heard, the MOA has little control over, PA system and weather.

Thanks for all the voluntees hard work, keep it up.

Rob Lessen
Arma, KS

[1flyer]

For Unregistered. So what does your bitching have to do with the question. I don't remember seeing anything about rehashing, again, what you didn't like.

All this bitching and griping about the Rally vs. Convention is getting old. I'm packing up for a convention trip starting this weekend where the attendance will be close to 850,000 people, maybe 10,000 aircraft, hotels full for a 70 mile radius, and I'll get to camp out for a week with 40,000+ of my new/best friends in a field. Yet each time I always manage to find friends I only see once a year. I get to drink a few beers, volunteer my time to help out, make some new friends, do some flying, spend time and money with more vendors than I have time and money for, and still manage to find something there that makes me think all this is really worth the trip. Bus schedule? Try walking two miles down a runway just to meet a group for lunch. And then walking two miles back because it’s time for your volunteer shift to start. You want to talk about weather and a beer tent? Try sweating out the damage/destruction not only to your campsite but to a couple of thousand aircraft, some one of a kind antiques and vintage, sitting out in an open field when the forecast is for major thunderstorms with hail, possible tornadoes and high winds.

I think it’s a tough job putting on any event, be it motorcycles or airplanes or music concerts or a kids softball tournament. It’s not an easy thing to pull it off with free labor that doesn’t get to work together as team all the time and with outside contracted vendors that may or may not perform. There are times when the weather is not going to cooperate. Buses will not always run on schedule all the time. The MOA is growing. There really are some people that enjoy a Rally. There are other people that enjoy a convention. There is room for both. I’ve been through this same fight with the airplane guys when the organization grew and accepted “change”. Over all it sounds to me like the people working the “gathering” did the best they could with the cards they were dealt. Quit bitching and get over it.

[lorazepam]

What Bill just said goes for me too....:D

[BMWRider]

Hell yes, I'd do it again. Tomorrow.
As I've stated elsewhere, I wasn't all that excited about the city concept and it turned out just about the way I expected; things too far apart, too much traffic, etc.
But, hell, I go there to talk to people I know, meet new ones and enjoy being around the whole BMW scene.
Which I did.
And I'd do it again tomorrow, whether it was in Charleston or just about any other place.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by BMWRider
And I'd do again tomorrow, whether it was in Charleston or just about any other place.

In for Spokane?

[BradfordBenn]

Spokane is probably a ride I am taking ... if nothing else just to meet KBasa. (Rumor has it that the CamelBack Mrs.K is wearing in all the pictures is simply a huge Martini.):yum
:1drink

The other side is that one disappointing experience does not mean that they are all going to be bad.

If the first ride you took you dropped your bike, would you ride again? Most of us would.

So I am not going to give up on the rally. I also am not going to sit around and complain, I have volunteered. So now if I am disappointed, it is my own fault.

[BMWRider]

Originally posted by KBasa
In for Spokane?
KBasa ... given my vacation schedule and a few other factors, I'd put myself in the "Doubtful" category right now.
But where there's a will, there's a way.
You buyin' me a beer if I come?
I can be bribed and I come cheap.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by BMWRider
KBasa ... given my vacation schedule and a few other factors, I'd put myself in the "Doubtful" category right now.
But where there's a will, there's a way.
You buyin' me a beer if I come?
I can be bribed and I come cheap.

Heck, I'll go a whole sixer if you come out. Your chance to meet fish and all the rest of the western hooligans.

[Hacksaw]

I surely would.:) We had a great time. If things were set up more like in the past. It would even be better.

[Jim Shaw]

I wonder if any of you noticed something different about the Charleston rally, that I seem to have observed:

I spent a lot of time in the registration area, and hanging around the vendors. I saw what seems to me to be a significantly larger proportion of non-gray hair, compared to previous rallies. Maybe it is just my perception. I am used to a preponderance of 45+ year olds at these events, and here I was, looking at a lot of both women and men who were more likely in the 30-45 y/o range.

I also saw more children and teenagers at the rally than I seem to remember before.

Considering the inevitable changing demographic of BMW motorcycle owners, I am wondering if we should pay attention to this factor when planning future rallies? I suspect the availability of reasonably priced hotels might be increasing the proportion of riders who prefer to not sleep in a tent. In so doing, are we attracting a higher proportion of younger riders (and their families)?

I am convinced that the ultimate success of our Club's rally is careful consideration of the rally venue. The old guard beemer riders are accustomed to camping, and are most vocal about it. I wonder if these younger riders I noticed at Charleston are less vocal, but actually 'vote with their feet' by coming out for a combination hotel/camping opportunity when it is presented? Could that have been a contribution also to the near record attendance we had (~7100) at Charleston?

Only the registration data will help us figure this out. I worked one shift helping with the 'Awards and Tallies' process. I don't remember as yet, any effort to keep track of average rider age, or where the attendees were staying.

Relying on the loudest shouting, we may not ever know the truth about this. We need data, wisely interpreted.

As I understand it, Spokane may provide us with yet another opportunity to consider the fairground vs. in town rally experience - this time skewed somewhat in favor of the fairground. Yet, Spokane is a modern city, presumably with many available hotels and motels - not all that far from the fairground. I hope that next year someone will design the registration forms to accumulate data much more easily about rider and family demographics and preferences.

I have camped at all but the last two nationals I have attended. I have thus seen both sides of the experience. Yet my experience at MOA indicates that by simply listening to those who shout the loudest, you can get a very skewed impression of the feelings of the average member or the average rally goer - much less the breadth of those feelings and preferences.

Let's find the right way to pay attention to young and old, camper and hoteller, local and long distance, and other factors, as we trudge through the minefield of doing what's right for MOA members. The best path is to find the solution that appeals to as broad a range of members, as possible - not just the loudest ones.

Jim Shaw:idea

[DonHamblin]

Jim makes some very important points.

In the October issue of the "BMW Owners News" there will be a copy of the Rally Survey that was passed out during the closing. Along with those already received at the rally or by mail, and the polls on this site, the BMW MOA Board of Directors will be looking at those activities most enjoyed (and those with the most objectively critical comments) to shape near future rallies. Mail the survey to us, participate in the polls on this forum, we will read them.

Yes, any available numbers of "new" rally attendees will be factored in to the conclusions we will be making.

A lot of things were bigger hits than we had ever thought. Others suffered from outside forces beyond any mortal's control in any venue. Still other could have been more successful with changes in execution.

One of the most successful, but least noticed, was the '59 minute" closing ceremony orchestrated by Jim. (Thanks again, Jim!) Another was the availability of good, inexpensive food, rather than the usual rally fare. Being able to "entertain" a "significant other" or small child with something besides the band in the beer tent made it a more enjoyable rally for a lot of folks / families.

So we do ask that you take a few minutes to fill out that survey as soon as you receive your October issue. Mailing it back to us will assure that your voice is heard. The voice of a "new" member / first time rally attendee should be just as important as any other.

See you all in the Great North West,

Don Hamblin
President, BMW Motorcycle Owners of America

[kmEatr]

Came down from Ontario.....7 of the 10 hours in the rain on the Wed. Found a good spot just down from the beer tent, which really wasn't all that loud at any time. Ya so it rained every day, ya so it rained 10 of the 12 hours it took to get home. Ya so I lost some equipment. I was on my bike, away from home, meeting new people who road machines like mine or ones that I wish I had, that is why I ride. The layout of the rally was nice, you had a choice of where to stay and even if the bus wasn't on time.....ride.

If it's in W.A. next year I'll be there no matter what the layout.....3 weeks holidays of riding across the U.S. again.....what a hoot. :clap

A big thanks to the volunteers :clap

[RebeccaV]

Well said, Jim Shaw. As a member of the new demographic, I appreciated your comments. Although I am a camper, most of my riding buddies and fellow club members in my age group (late 20s/early 30s) prefer hotels. I can only imagine the difficult task it is to choose a National location!

My only complaint about this rally was that the set-up seemed to segregate the campers from the hotelers.

However, to answer the original question of the thread - Would I do it again? - Hmm. Letsee, would I get on my bike and ride across the country in order to camp, ride some new roads, see some new scenery, hang out and talk with other Beemer riders, and oh yeah, I get to drink beer too. Gee, twist my arm.

[Colt03]

While this is my third National, it was the first time my wife opted to join me. We Stayed in the Holiday Inn overlooking the Kanawa river. She mentioned repeatedly, usually during the evening rain storms, Aren't you glad we aren't camping ?

I do prefer the central layout that an all camping rally has, but having a hotel wasnt so bad. I sure do like motorcycles.

Still trying to figure out how to make spokane.

Craig in Ct

[lorazepam]

I was a first time rally attendee, and some of my observations were:

Since I stayed in a Hotel, having to "gear up" to go to the convention center, and then do it again to go to the beer tent, was a bit of a hassle.
The rally did have a convention feel to me, but then again I wasnt sure what to expect as far as meeting people, and trying to make new friends.
I think having a central location, so that you could meet the other riders in all situations, without having to travel from place to place would be good.

I dont mind camping, and now that I have seen what the campgrounds looked like, I may try camping at the next rally, yes I will return.
I found that I was able to strike up a conversation with anyone I chose, everyone was very friendly, and had many great stories to tell. I just wish that the dang rain had held off during the rally so that the ride to the motel in the dark and rain hadn't kept me from enjoying this great group of people as much as I would have liked.
I found it to be a very enjoyable experience, and one that I will repeat, and I hope it is next year, depending on if I can schedule the time off to attend that far away.

[moterbiker]

Back a few years ago the YB's helped to host the RA rally in Greenfield MA, as a club member I was there early and set up my tent at party central, back then we weren't as vocal about some of our late night activites. One night after the band stopped playing we went back to where we were camped to look at a fire and drink some more beer, we weren't yelling or anything but somebody didn't like it and got out of his tent screaming with a hatchet in his hand.
Obviously things like this can get ugly but fortunately he went back into his tent without incident, the next day he moved his tent.
At this point I usually will try and put some distance from the main group, not because of the noise at night but because of the noise in the morning, these guys will be up having coffee at 5 am.
If you want to camp there go ahead, just don't complain that you can't sleep.

Originally posted by Unregistered

Most troubling thing I saw though was watching a MOA Director from a large-ish northeastern club try and run people off from a camping area on the west end of the U of C campus. No matter who dared try to pitch a tent in that area, here he arrives painting tales of "Loud and rowdy people who will be carrying on all night" and advising people they "really don't want to camp there". Worked on some but not on 2 young couples from Ohio who pretty much told him to stick it. Sad they got a bad opinion when they discovered he was a MOA Director. Hmm, wonder if they will renew their memberships next year?

[SpartanTim]

In reading the comments regarding younger attendees, I thought I'd throw in my $.02. I rode with my 14 year old son to the rally from Michigan this year. He got to learn all about riding in the rain, twisty mountain roads, all the cool gadgets that you can buy from vendors, and the joy of staying at a hotel when it rains! I too liked Trenton, but I'm not that crazy about camping. It is nice to to have one area to check out all the neat bikes, that has vendors, seminars and camping (beer tent!), but don't forget those who just don't care to camp.

As to convention vs. rally, I think the more, the merrier. There were alot of people out in the evening at the Marriott, and we were able to see alot of bikes and shoot the breeze with their owners there. A big rally means to me that there should be something for everyone.

I thought the venue was fine. The people of West Virginia were simply wonderful, often apologizing for the weather, the traffic, and so on. Within 10 minutes of Charleston, we found great riding roads with little traffic. Oh, by the way, my son enjoyed himself very much! Thanks to all the volunteers!

[kbasa]

38 - 7 here on the 28th of July.

I'd say the site was more successful than may have been imagined. Either that or the "No" folks aren't voting or on the forum.

[Cornersquid]

This was the first rally for the wife and I. We really liked it. We didn't camp as we had relatives there. I'm glad people loved our home state's riding and people. Our relatives and friends in the area had nothing but good things to say about the rallygoers, as did every business. On balance, I think if you came in with an open mind and realized the weather was beyond anyone's control, then I think you could find a good time. I met great people despite the spread-out-ed-ness. I don't think you can expect exactly the same thing every time and I don't think the perfect rally site has been invented. It seems from reading all the threads that folks want it all: camping, hotels, city, country, great roads, friendly people, good weather, ample covered parking, ample parking right next to their bike, et al. I think Charleston offered a lot. Well, you have to take the good with the bad. I see a lot of threads where people found a way to have a good time. We sure did, and the town LOVED the rallygoers. Anyway, thanks to all the volunteers and the MOA and to all the folks who know how to have a good time.

[Wolf]

I liked the convention setting. I am one of those 30 something owners Jim refers to. I would much rather stay in a hotel than in a tent especially in that weather. Half of the group I went with decided to camp but when they got to the campus the conditions were so bad that they opted to get a dorm room. Most of the people that rode with us were well under 40 (one of the guys was only 17) and were more than happy with the accomedations in the dorms. The nice thing about the Marriot is we were right across the street from the convention center. The bad thing was when we wanted to hang with our friends at the campus it was a 3 mile ride and you could not fully experience the beer tent since you had to ride back. All in all I would go to another rally no matter where it is but I would take a room over a tent any day and twice on Sunday.

[relic]

Jim Shaw,

We are all in your debt for you work over the years. That said: Ya know Jim, my interest in the MOA is all about what I want from it! I don't care about the chin-out, backward hat, plus-a-bit teenies some think we should suck up to!

I'm an older rider, a camper, a "fix my coffee and breakfast" kind of guy. I spent too many nights in places where others thought I should be, to appreciate anything by my choices at this stage of my life. I have an interest in the viability of MOA but not at the sacrifice of my personal enjoyment. I rally to associate with others who ride and camp. When rallies are other than that, I'll be elsewhere.

We saw each other again, and I shook your hand at registration. I wish you a speedy recovery. I'm sorry your production of the ‘03 closing was faulted, and I respect your forum stated opinions about the welfare of the club.

"Rallies" are camps and cameraderie. Rallies are to be attended by riders. Bus and taxi passengers go straight away to your Honda/Harley hotels.

[Cornersquid]

Relic, I'm 40+, not a backward-hat guy at all. This was the first rally for the wife and I. I'm not sure the wife would have been there (or at a future one) if we'd camped with several thousand people on the lawn at UC in the poor weather. I'm glad you like to camp. I do too, but you have to acknowledge that there are other folks out there with different tastes. So this was not a "campers rally": the next one apparently will be. There you go. Not all BMW riders are iconoclastic old campers and just because they stay in a hotel (or private home or dorm) doesn't make them less of a BMW enthusiast. Easy there, fella: you're painting with a pretty broad brush.

[kbasa]

I love to camp.

This is where we woke up last Sunday.
http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/499995-M.jpg

But at a national, I prefer a hotel. I need a little quiet time, away from other people, at the end of the day.

[beemerron]

Dave, et al, the more pix you guys and gals post, the more I'm gonna endevor to align two weeks of vacation time to make the dreaded trek across North Dakota (no offense North DaKotans) to attend the 2004 affair. We rode Rte.2 from St. Ignance, MI for Miissoula and must admitt it was a glorious trip. It helped having some great riding buds.
I took receipt yesterday of a Cannon S230 and hopefully I'll have the dang thing figured out by then and can add to "our' photo album. If ya'll don't mind I'm gonna pick a few of these great shots from the forum and use as wallpaper on my 'puter. Nice shootin' Dave. I envy your journey. Glad to see that nice officer in Nevada cut you loose without a "speeding award". By the way, did the forum group ever meet up on that Friday for cold beverage? I took a wander through the beer tent and saw no likely suspects. I was looking for computer nerds wearing Roadcrafter suits(no offense computer nerds or Roadcrafter suits);)

In answer to the threaded question, yes, in a New York nanosecond.

[kbasa]

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/139959-M.jpg
From the top of Mt. Tamalpais, here in Marin

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/69587-M.jpg
The road to Mt. St. Helens

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/137678-M.jpg
Cal Coast with Tina and BMWGypsy

You really need to get out here. Camp or hotel; your call.

:wow

[UberXY]

I liked the hotel format.

Back in the 60's and 70's, I hitch hiked all across the US and Europe. I did my share of rough traveling and real rough camping (underpasses, abandoned buildings, farmers fields, ...), and I enjoyed every moment of it.

But now I am a little older, and possibly wiser, and my family and I vacation at very comfortable places that would not have let me in the front door 30 years ago (and I don't blame them!) I really enjoyed sitting at the "free" happy hour at Embassy Suites while it rained in Charleston. And I liked wandering around the vendor area inside the convention center; I spent more time and money than I did at the other two rallys I attended (York and Moodus). The only minor disappointment was the beer tent/music being away from everything else; after the awards ceremony, I did not feel iike getting on the bus to go hear the band.

See you in Spokane (if they have good hotels...)

Steve
R1100S

[bmwrebel]

I would attend an other one like this only because it is the "National". They have been my vacation almost every year since 1976. I did not like the spread out set up or the local drivers. I will pull several shifts of securty again, as I do every National (including at least one midnight shift). Venders were great, Beer tent as usual the heart of the rally. Needed a droll bucket for the new R-RS,but still not as cool as my black K75S. Best of all all our friends old and new. This was my feance's first National and she loved it. She is now an associated member. :cat Our cat came with us too. See you all next year if we can. Rambelin Rebel

[UberXY]

Rebel: you don't by any chance work at the Gold Rush factory in Ephrata?

Steve

[RevWillie]

I probably would go to another one like the Charleston Rally only because it is a National. Having learned from this last one, I would try to agree on a pre-set Rally Meeting Place with all my friends. My big problem with the last one was that many of my friends could not find me and the rest of my group. I didn't like the Civic Center being so far away from the U of C.campus, and I think that there was a problem with people coming out of the Beer Tent and having to drive somewhere else because of questionable public transit options. The Rally felt sorta"disconnected" because of all the sites and I missed the contact and the community of a BMW National. If we could have had a rally with just the U of C campus and a adjacent Civic Center, then we would have a winner. However, with the 4 different sites and a significant distance between each of them (with urban traffic to deal with), this last Rally sank to Second Worst of my 15 Nationals. I understand that we need to accomidate for a increasing amount of motel rally-goers, but we really need a central rally site for the vendors,classes,beer tent, and campers with better transportation options for our motel-goers. The folks in Charleston were wonderful and the U of C folks were great hosts, but we needed better rally organization/communications and SOME SIGNS!. The lack of signage was a huge hinderance to the flow of the rally--nobody knew where to go. It was a good try, but I think we need to look at rally sites with fairgrounds and nearby motels. I think that the Spokane site might be a good rally location for our needs.

[hooliganx5]

Had a great time in spite of rain & naysayers. I enjoyed the downtown venue but would prefer to camp "at the rally". Also, would like to see a better performance from the "Weather Gods Committee". Went to Mid-Ohio following the rally & the weather was absolutely wonderful.

Kudos to whoever booked the entertainment for Sat nite. I had to take a couple of their CDs home with me.

The only downside to my vacation was a dent in the tank on my pristine '81 Yamaha RD350LC. That was my own stupidity. Some people never learn.

Thanks to all those who volunteered & put the effort into making it memorable.

I'm looking forward to the RA Rally at Barbor ( thats a rally venue: camping, rallying & track days). I have reserved a 3 day slot in the CLASS class. Only downside to that is I'll have to trailer to it so that I can take a track bike. Life's a bitch, ain't it?

Ride fast, ride safe
Stan

[Friedle]

Very glad to hear that you enjoyed the Sat night show at the U of C. Despite the difficult circumstances, the sound and lighting guys did an outstanding job putting together enough equipment to let the show go on.

For those of you who weren't there, or didn't bother to read your Rally program, the entertainment on Sat night was the Jim Weider Band. Jim is the guitarist for the last 15 years for The Band, replacing Robbie Robertson after he left The Band. He also had Randy Carlente from The Band with him and a couple of outstanding Woodstock musicians to round out the group. The person on the blues harp was Robbie Dupree, multi time Grammy winner and a special unannounced guest artist.

Jim and the rest of the guys never complained at all about anything, they just played their brains out and had a great time playing long past their contracted set times. They all said the energy and attitude of the audience made up for the conditions and they were happy to be there.

I should also say the same thing about the other acts on Thursday and Friday nights. The Carpenter Ants were just setting up their equipment on Thursday when the tent blew down. They hung around to see what we were going to do to try to salvage the situation. After a quick emergency plan was developed to move the beer garden and entertainment into the U of C gym, the Carpenter Ants, a Charleston based band, went back to their homes to gather up their personal amps, mics, cables and the rest of the stuff they needed to put on a show. The acoustics weren't very good in the gym, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the Carpenter Ants. They knew it was important that the show go on. Thanks to the Beer Crew for making the first hour sound much better with the free beer.

Johnny Staats was the same way on Friday night taking the attitude, "Hell, we're a bluegrass band. We can play anywhere anytime, amplified or not. What's the problem" and then launched into a night of world class bluegrass entertainment. I hope you were there to see it.

All three groups were national caliber acts, not the sort of bad garage bands you usually find at a motorcycle event, and they all showed why they are national caliber acts, rising to the occasion in grand fashion.

Thanks to Brian Manke, our Entertainment Committee Chair, for making sure the bands, sound and lighting guys were all working smoothly together under less than ideal conditions. At least Brian had good sound system support for his MC duties.

BTW, the same guy who booked the entertainment for the Rhinebeck Rally '99 also booked the music for the "Almost Heaven" 03 Charleston Rally. "No bad garage bands playing Proud Mary off key" promise kept once again. :)

[beemerron]

The hat is off to whoever booked those bands, you're musical tastes are second to none. While I'm tipping my topper, cudos to all who pulled the shows together despite the weather. btw, the brown acid was not all that bad.
My first National was DuQuoin. I was blown away by "Asleep At The Wheel". Unfortunately they are no longer together but as suggested in another thread, Little Feat would do just fine as 2004's featured bands (I suppose the Stones are out of our budget).

[DonHamblin]

Kudo's for the entertainment should go to Michael Friedle,
2003 National Rally Chair and Brian Manke, Entertainment Committee Chair. They firmly believe "you're worth the best" and continually fought to make sure you got "the best"

I know my hat's off to their efforts to bring us high quality entertainment!

Don Hamblin