Future Rally Site question

[MurphyPeoples]

In Spartenburg, isn't that the place BWM Xplor might set up a GS School that will rival the one in Europe ? I thought I heard that from an Xplor Customer Service Rep at West Bend. Maybe it is a site for just a weekend with Jerry Lewis ?

Okay - I talked with Annette at the BMW driving School this morning (website is here: http://www.bmwusa.com/bmwexperience/...ter/school.htm )

she said that INDEED the Performance Center IS in Discussion about providing a BMW GS Cycle School at the facility. She said that right now, they are taking names and phone numbers from interested parties who would like to be contacted for initial start up classes. At that point the proper representative from the school will contact you and provide information. I just put my name on the list!
If you're interested call:
1-888-345-4269

I'll post this info over in another forum too.

Hope this helps!
Murphy

[R1100rtP]

There are 3 fair grounds within 30 minutes of the BMW plant... 2 if you take out Spartanburg's. Since they're all privately owned I don't think it would be an issue to get beer permits and so forth.
Murph

If you've seen the grounds and they meet the site selection criteria, you might want to contact the RSSC chair, Chuck Manley with contact names and fairground specifics if you have them. cmanley@bmwmoa.org

[MurphyPeoples]

If you've seen the grounds and they meet the site selection criteria, you might want to contact the RSSC chair, Chuck Manley with contact names and fairground specifics if you have them. cmanley@bmwmoa.org

Karol - thanks for the heads up. I've been to two of the three - Laurens County and Spartanburg County fairgrounds, but not Greenville's. I'll check out the criteria and make some calls, then take your advice. I'll post what I find out back here.
Murph

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Murphy, I was responding to your question regarding whether there had been a rally in Spartanburg.

I did not indicate that I felt Spartanburg was a poor choice, simply that there had been events in the area.

Regards, Rod.

[Godfather]

Thanks for your work and insight Murph. I hope this will work out.

[R1100rtP]

Karol - thanks for the heads up. I've been to two of the three - Laurens County and Spartanburg County fairgrounds, but not Greenville's. I'll check out the criteria and make some calls, then take your advice. I'll post what I find out back here.
Murph

Looks like Columbia has a big FG too, but it's hard to tell from the web.

[HODAG]

for some odd reason having it on the Greer Zentrum grounds sounds like a grand Idea.
Its Home of the only US BMW manufacturing facility, they have the acreage, great riding, even better hospitality (since they got rid of mini bottles)

but would "BMW" have us?

[MurphyPeoples]

I think that not only would BMW have us... they'd embrace us. At least that's the feedback I get from the folks at the plant.

Karol I contacted Ian Wednesday morning (my regional Rally guy) and he said he'd e-mail me the fairground requirements, to which I told him I'd gladly make a few phone calls to see if any of the sites met them - then pass the information back to him for follow up. I haven't seen this e-mail yet.

One thing (and I want to be delicate about this).... I'm new to the club so I don't know the politics of it yet (or if there even ARE politics)... but last night it crept into my mind that this whole "Rally Site" question might be a Political Frying Pan. Regions working to get the Rally in "their" area over other Regions... Local MOA Rally officials having their own "favorite" place they want to see the Rally- and fighting to make sure that happens... and similar thoughts.

I'm not "trying" to be paranoid, but I was a Member of the PCA for years (Porsche), and there was always some kind of power stuggle no matter which region you lived in. I just chalked it up to "Porsche Owners" (and is one of the reasons I no longer own one). In fact if a Nube brought up this idea over there, it would have been dismissed summarily. Thus my initial reaction to comments on this string when I floated the idea. I thought I was in the PCA all over again.
Murph

[j-budimlya]

I think that not only would BMW have us... they'd embrace us. At least that's the feedback I get from the folks at the plant.

Karol I contacted Ian Wednesday morning (my regional Rally guy) and he said he'd e-mail me the fairground requirements, to which I told him I'd gladly make a few phone calls to see if any of the sites met them - then pass the information back to him for follow up. I haven't seen this e-mail yet.

One thing (and I want to be delicate about this).... I'm new to the club so I don't know the politics of it yet (or if there even ARE politics)... but last night it crept into my mind that this whole "Rally Site" question might be a Political Frying Pan. Regions working to get the Rally in "their" area over other Regions... Local MOA Rally officials having their own "favorite" place they want to see the Rally- and fighting to make sure that happens... and similar thoughts.

I'm not "trying" to be paranoid, but I was a Member of the PCA for years (Porsche), and there was always some kind of power stuggle no matter which region you lived in. I just chalked it up to "Porsche Owners" (and is one of the reasons I no longer own one). In fact if a Nube brought up this idea over there, it would have been dismissed summarily. Thus my initial reaction to comments on this string when I floated the idea. I thought I was in the PCA all over again.
Murph

Now that you mention it.......SC is pretty far from.....SoCal........so, except for the fact that I love a cross country run.......having it in SC sucks......can't wait for a rally in SC..........

[R1100rtP]

One thing (and I want to be delicate about this).... I'm new to the club so I don't know the politics of it yet (or if there even ARE politics)... but last night it crept into my mind that this whole "Rally Site" question might be a Political Frying Pan. Regions working to get the Rally in "their" area over other Regions... Local MOA Rally officials having their own "favorite" place they want to see the Rally- and fighting to make sure that happens... and similar thoughts.

I'm not "trying" to be paranoid, but I was a Member of the PCA for years (Porsche), and there was always some kind of power stuggle no matter which region you lived in. I just chalked it up to "Porsche Owners" (and is one of the reasons I no longer own one). In fact if a Nube brought up this idea over there, it would have been dismissed summarily. Thus my initial reaction to comments on this string when I floated the idea. I thought I was in the PCA all over again.
Murph

No suggestion from a member (new or otherwise) would be dismissed. It's difficult enough to find suitable locations without dismissing facilities that will accomodate the crowd!! Our Rally Site Search Team is open to suggestions, and during my board term I've never heard of a "favorite" place for the rally. If the grounds can accomodate us, and meets the criteria, they are considered as potential locations. Usually something is a "deal killer", and it's often the sale of beer.

Ian's a good guy to work with, and I'm sure he'll get the info to you in a timely fashion.

[nortonrt]

Spartanburg sounds like a great venue, and - the Barber Museum, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is about 300 miles (5 hours) to the southwest. That would be a good place to stop and spend a day (or two) en route to or returning from the rally. There's plenty to see and do at the Barber grounds.

[MurphyPeoples]

Spartanburg sounds like a great venue, and - the Barber Museum, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is about 300 miles (5 hours) to the southwest. That would be a good place to stop and spend a day (or two) en route to or returning from the rally. There's plenty to see and do at the Barber grounds.

Within less than 1 hour of the Greenville grounds is the Blue Ridge Parkway.
about 1.4 hours is Asheville NC
about 2 hours is Maggie Valley and the Wheels through time Museum.
about 2.5 hours is Deals Gap aka The Dragons Tail
about 2.7 hours is Charleston SC

Lots to do within a mornings ride of the area. Not to mention the BMW Performance Center Track, possibility of the GS Motorcycle riding school installation at the Center by Future Rally Time, the BMW Museum, and of course VIP Plant Tours for BMW owners of any machine.

Can you see why I like living here?
Murph

[MurphyPeoples]

Ian's a good guy to work with, and I'm sure he'll get the info to you in a timely fashion.

After a short conversation last Tuesday, and a reminder Voice Mail to him this past Friday... still no e-mail regarding the fairground requirements. Oh well.. it's always interesting to see what is other peoples idea of "timely".
Murph

[sibud]

After a short conversation last Tuesday, and a reminder Voice Mail to him this past Friday... still no e-mail regarding the fairground requirements. Oh well.. it's always interesting to see what is other peoples idea of "timely".
Murph

Murph,

He's a volunteer like the rest of us and has a life outside MOA. Since the next rally site is picked and the next 2 after that are most likely narrowed down to a few sites, there is plenty of time left.

That said, the location you are suggesting is very interesting and I hope it can qualify as a rally site.

Thanks for doing the leg work to find out.

Regards

[Visian]

After a short conversation last Tuesday, and a reminder Voice Mail to him this past Friday... still no e-mail regarding the fairground requirements. Oh well.. it's always interesting to see what is other peoples idea of "timely".
Murph

uhh.... work comes first, murphy....

major deadline was met friday, a million details and guess who is responsible if one of them hits the floor?

deadline was met, client is happy, and their agency hopped on his bike to ride for the weekend.

three hours out of my weeked was occupied with rally site selection business... TOP SECRET

the information was just sent to you today.

ian