Rally very Disorganized

[sjbmw]

The rally was great. Thanks to all that made it possible.

I could not fathom how to build a city in 3 days...in a new spot.... each year...

The local DJ's on Johnson City morning radio were just as stunned....

[kantuckid]

Yes, it was a great rally and well put on and in a nice location! To the original poster, thats a real pity that you had to walk a bit to the john! I used to have an outhouse that was placed uphill from my house ~ 50 yds away and I built it there for a reason. As fairgrounds go it was much better than most but not up to "shopping mall standards" if that was what you were looking for? Thanks to all for a huge job , that was overall, well done!

[Iatoldya]

Ive been to 33 national and international rallies
this one rates in the bottom five
No toilet paper, Where was the cleanliness committee?

[barryg]

Much thx to Connie,Vance,Mari. for a job well done. It's not easy organizing a basically out door event that envolves 1000's of people with all types of expectations and issues. Good to see a lot of my fellow friends from all over the USA. I had a good time. Barry ps Gotta thank all those others who helped make the national happen. Here's to all of Yall.

[MTNBMW]

Everything around here is either uphill or in a hole, except for the airport and that's why we put it there. It's also why the riding is so great!!! As a matter of fact back in the day we had to walk uphill both wa.....Oh never mind LOL!

[john1691]

First rally ever, didn't stay onsite as one of our group had semi-local family in the area that we stayed with. Enjoyed seeing some faces I know, meeting others I didn't and look forward to seeing you all again some day. Sure it was a tough location for camping, and some of the buildings were old, but I had a good time while there. Sorry to hear some of you went without toilet paper, good luck washing out your riding gear.

Awesome roads, friendly locals, good food, plenty of vendors, tasty beer and decent entertainment. As I said, it was a first International Rally for me but it won't be my last. Great job everyone, thanks to all of you volunteers for the hard work you put in for the rest of us!

[BUBBAZANETTI]

i look at these rallies as a great chance for some exercise and Johnson City didn't disappoint


seriously, i suppose the grounds were a little more topographically challenging than past rallies and i did encounter the porta potty with no paper on one occasion, but overall, as usual, seeing old friends, riding my motorcycle, having the chance to get new gear and having a wonderful week with my lady more than made up for any minor short comings. i camped right next to the YB trailer, bathrooms were close, showers were close, i had to bring a truck down and the parking for that was a hike, but what's it matter, you get to walk around and talk to cool people and look at all the neat motorcycles.


as far as routing the exit through the vendors.........i just pulled in the clutch and blipped the throttle a bit, got a few pin-holes in the exhaust, nice crowd control, hahah

[drsales]

My first rally and I had a super time. It is all what you make of situations that allows you to enjoy. Was it top shelf? No. Was it bottom shelf? No. Was it a positive experience? Absolutely!!!!! Will I do another? You bet!

[39520]

I had a great time at the rally and thank the hundreds of workers, paid and unpaid, involved for their hard work.

I have to say that fairgrounds are great places to have a rally, but I have never seen a fairground built on the side of a hill before, which added some awkwardness to the site. The 1989 Rally at the York Fairgrounds was excellent - flat, open, big central bike parking area, easy traffic entrance and exit.

That said, we had an excellent time, and spent Saturday morning and afternoon in Asheville, NC - good roads, good food, interesting people.

And despite a few shortcomings, this rally was infinitely better than 2003 [although the air conditioned vendor area in WV was great].

Also greatly enjoyed the aerobatic display - big treat.


Ub #39520

[nugentch]

I don't know why it is every year mistakes and pitfalls are pointed out only to be repeated or made worse in the following years. Here's what I see were some problems at this years rally.

1. Porta Pots - Not enough of them - In the wrong place - Not serviced timely.
I had to walk about 100 yards uphill from my campsite only to find them just about overflowing and out of paper.

2. No place for the Motel/Hotel day passers and others not camping to park. parking was anywhere you could find and a complete mess.

3. Seminars were held for the most part at a school just outside the rally grounds. No shuttle went to the school - you either had to gear up and ride or walk about a mile round trip!!! If you rode - reference the parking situation above.

4. Traffic from the fairgrounds exited right through the vendor area where people were walking.

5. This last point is just my opinion but the fairgrounds sucked!!! They were old, tired and everything was a hassle to get to. The beer tent was down in a hole - the vendor were up on a hill and the camping was in a very hilly field - NO Trees.

But I don't know why I bother to point out anything - as nothing will be done different - and all the MOA defenders will tell me I shouldn't complain.

Thanks for stating the problems. I assume you are going to volunteer to be the rally chair for the next few rallies and solve all these problems. Sheeesh! You say noting will be done different... remember the old saying, If it is to be, it;s up to me.

As far as the beer tent location, from what I understand that was due to Tennessee state law requiring no alcohol sales within a certain distance from a school. Maybe you should try to change the state law.


Thanks to everyone who helped make this rally great!!!!

[AntonLargiader]

To me, any shortcomings in the site (traffic flow, for instance) were more than balanced out by the fact that the rally wasn't held in some dusty flat midwestern place.

The locations of many things (like the beer tent) were not within the control of the rally staff, and I think they did a fantastic job with what they had. I'd go back to that site in a heartbeat, given the upside to those same geographical challenges (i.e., great roads).

[jeff488]

Ive been to 33 national and international rallies
this one rates in the bottom five
No toilet paper, Where was the cleanliness committee?

Hard to imagine a person would go to a rally and not bring a roll of back up TP, especially having attended 33 prior to this one!!

[Motodan]

this idea for next year's Rally. The Rally packet will contain one mini-roll of Northern Quilt Port-A-Potty Paper. Also those attending who bring certification of any type bowel syndrome will be allowed to camp right next to a port-a-potty.

Dr. Nancy

[KYKen]

Hers is my take: 1) Riding in the area was outstanding, some of the mapped loops outlined were fantastic. 2) I managed to camp on one of the baseball fields, very flat, good drainage, nice grass field. 3) plenty of vendors, 4) plenty of food (the produce stand was a great addition). 4) Entertainment was good and varied, 5) who cares about the age of the buildings, you are only there for a couple of days. 6) All in all, a great time, a couple of minor inconvineinces (toilet paper, but most always I bring my own stash!) For me rallys are time to "put it on cruise control be flexible and enjoy". You are going to find things you would do differently....so what....I am not the one donating my time to plan the event. Thanks to all that did....I had a great time.

[gharlow]

My first rally, and I had a great time. It wasn't perfect of course, but it was pretty darn good.

Kudos to the many vounteers that put in a lot of time and effort to make it happen!

Geoff