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2007 International Rally FAQs February 16, 2007

THE BASICS

CAN I VOLUNTEER?

CAMPING INFO

RIDING!

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY...

WHO IS WELCOME?

LODGING?

FOOD?!?!

ALSO INSIDE THE GATES...

WORKING ON MY BIKE?

NEED TO SHIP?


THE BASICS

How many people are expected to attend?
Between 7,000 to 10,000 people

When does Pre-Registration start and end?
April 1 - start
June 25 - end

Can I register on-line?
Yes, the online registration will be available on April 1st.

Will you accept personal checks for admission to the Rally?
Yes.

Will there be Day Passes?
With a crowd of this size, there are NO day passes because they are too difficult for us to control. While we invite you to spend a few days at the rally you will find value in paying the admission even for one day. Even if you only stay one day you are eligible to win door prizes as you will not need to be present to win some of the grand prizes.

How much does it cost to attend the Rally?
Pre-Registration
     $30 U.S Adults
     $5 U.S Children (15 and younger)

At the Gate
     $35 U.S Adults
     $10 U.S. Children (15 and younger)

When does the Rally start and end?
The gates open to the public on Thursday July 12th at 8 AM and the rally ends at noon on Sunday July 15th. Sunday is a clean up day, rally activities end Saturday night.

What is the earliest I can arrive at the Rally and set-up camp?
Gates will open for early arrivals at noon on Wednesday, July 11.
Registration for all Rally attendees opens at 8 AM on Thursday July 12th, 2007.
Volunteers assisting with rally set up will be admitted prior to Wednesday; Everyone who enters before noon on Wednesday will be asked when and where they volunteered to work.
Important considerations for early arrivals:
There may be limited food, toilets, & showers available on-site until late Wednesday.


VOLUNTEERING

How do I volunteer?
There are several ways to volunteer:
If you have a specific area of interest, contact the Rally Committee Chair listed on the volunteer page. The committee chair list has also been published in the BMW MOA Owners News.

If you are unsure where you'd like to volunteer and just want to get involved, send a note to

Rally Set-Up: Volunteers assisting with rally set up will be admitted prior to Wednesday. To register for early set-up, please contact the volunteer committee at the address above.

If you have a specific area of interest contact the Rally Committee Chair listed in the "Where do I Volunteer" area of the webpage (the committee chair list has also been published in the BMW MOA Owners News), or if you just want to get involved send a note to .


CAMPING INFO

Will campfires be allowed on the Rally site?
NO, fires are not allowed on the rally site.

Will there be picnic tables available at the Rally site?
There will be some picnic tables, but they will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Do I need to worry about leaving my gear unattended?
The Fairgrounds is completely fenced and closed to the public for the time of the rally. We will have our own Security force patrolling the area. There will be MOA security staff, private security and local law enforcement people on the grounds. Common sense should prevail.

Will there be quiet camping?
A rally-rat once made this comparison: "CAMPING" quiet solitude, somewhere in the woods with the placid sounds of nature all around. At a rally, he sleeps in a tent. That pretty much sums it all up.

There are acres of open camping space. Generally speaking, the further you are from the beer garden, the quieter the camping.

First timers should remember that EARPLUGS will make your nights more restful. Loud camping never works, because at 2 in the morning, noise really does carry all over the park. Quiet camping never works because the early riders might be right outside your tent, drinking coffee and talking in normal tones.

The bottom line is that we ask for common courtesy throughout the rally grounds, and remind people that the thin fabric of a tent doesn't do anything to deaden sound.

Are there RV accommodations?
RV accommodations are plentiful for dry camping at the Washington County Fair Park. There are a very limited number of electric spots for RVs. If you have special needs or health conditions that should be considered for one of the electrical sites, please include your reason on your RV pre-registration form. For more information and the registration form, visit the RV camping page. Basic RV parking on-site will be $20 for dry camping. Additional fees will be charged for electricity on an increasing scale (15/30/50 amp service). Questions can be directed to

Will there be electricity outlets available for campers?
Special Medical Needs: We should be able to accommodate 40+ tents for attendees with special (medical) requirements for electricity. To be sure that you DO have a spot, please email Sue Rihn-Manke to get your name on this list.

NOTE: Due to the limited space in this area, your camping companions may not be able to pitch their tents next to you.

If I drive my car to the rally, will I be able to camp?
Yes, but you will NOT be able to park your car next to your tent. If a Go-fer is available, they will be happy to help you with moving your camping gear to your campsite. Check with Communications in the Main Kiosk. No Cars will be allowed on the rally grounds.

What will be the shower situation?
There will be three 16-stall shower trailers on site.

When will the Rally Site Map be available?
It is available now on the rally web page here.


RIDING!

Will there be MSF courses at the Rally? There will be MSF ERC courses provided by the MOA Foundation this year, watch for notices in the BMW ON and on the web page for notifications about the times and location of the courses.

Is there a helmet law in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is a partial helmet law state. Riders and passengers 17 years of age and younger, and all riders operating on a learners/instruction permit must wear approved helmets at all times while operating a motorcycle.

What are some good roads to ride to the rally?
Watch for issues of the ON and on the website for articles dealing with this subject. Articles about riding the Rustic Roads of Wisconsin that appear in the ON will be available on the Rally web pages.

Maps, Rustic Road books, and travel information is available at www.travelwisconsin.com. Toll-free phone: 1-800-432-TRIP

Once you arrive at the rally, the members of the Port Washington BMW Club will be happy to help you with maps, ride-suggestions, and other information in Hospitality.

Can I use a ferry to cross Lake Michigan?
The Lake Express Ferry 2007 Summer Schedule is:

Depart/Arrive
Milwaukee 6:00 am (CT) / Muskegon 9:30 am (ET)
Milwaukee 12:30 pm (CT) / Muskegon 4:00 pm (ET)**
Milwaukee 7:00 pm (CT) / Muskegon 10:30 pm (ET)

Depart/Arrive
Muskegon 10:15 am (ET) / Milwaukee 11:45 am (CT)
Muskegon 4:45 pm (ET) / Milwaukee 6:15 pm (CT)**
Muskegon 11:00 pm (ET) / Milwaukee 12:30 am (CT)

** We have reserved the entire Lake Express Ferry on Wednesday, July 11th for the 4:45 pm sailing from Muskegon to Milwaukee for rally-goers only. Also reserved is the return trip on July 15th at 12:30 pm from Milwaukee to Muskegon. When calling for information, ask for the BMW MOA Rally rate. Pricing is now available at 866-914-1010 or 414-727-7792 and www.lake-express.com.

The SS Badger running between Manitowoc, WI and Ludington, MI will offer a discount to BMWMOA members who sail between July 6th and July 22nd, 2007. When making reservations, changes, calling with questions, and claiming tickets, each individual must reference the group code "BMW" for discounted passenger fares. Reservations can be made together or individually through at 1-800-841-4243. A $25 deposit is required at the time of booking. Those mentioning the BMW code will receive a 20% discount on their total fare. Sailing reservations must be made at least two days in advance of your departure and are subject to availability.

Will there be a GS ride?
There will not be an organized GS ride.

What kind of organized rides will be offered?
No guided rides are planned. However, the Hospitality Booth will have a number of suggested self-guided rides to offer. Wisconsin State Road Maps will also be available.

Wisconsin's Rustic Roads Program: The rally team is working closely with the State of Wisconsin to be able to hand out Rustic Road Patches at the rally, to those who ride and photograph 10 Rustic Roads. Watch the rally web page for developments.

Will there be BMW demo rides this year?
BMW Motorrad is scheduled to provide demo rides in West Bend in 2007.

What's the best way to assure I get a BMW demo ride?
Demo rides are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure you get up early and stand in line to reserve a spot for the demo rides.

Will there be demo rides for other makes of bikes?
At this time there are no plans to offer demo rides from other manufacturers.


IN CASE OF EMERGENCY...

If there's an emergency...
...while I'm away at the rally, can I be notified? What happens if I have an emergency while on my way to the rally and need to contact someone there for assistance?

The emergency contact phone number for the rally had not been established yet. Watch the pages of the BMW MOA Owners News and the BMW MOA Rally website for this information as we get closer to the event. Please note that this number is for emergency use only and will be active for the rally duration only.


WHO IS WELCOME?

Do I have to be a member of the BMW MOA to attend?
The MOA International Rally is open to all BMW riders and their guests. Membership in the BMW MOA is not required for entry.

Are other makes of motorcycles welcome?
This rally is for BMW riders and their guests, when we use the word guest there is no specific brand noted, so yes other brands are welcome. All brands of motorcycles are welcome as long as they meet local noise abatement regulations. No straight pipes allowed.

Do I have to ride a motorcycle to attend?
No, this is not a necessity. Many riders find it easier to come by car, train or plane to the rally.

Can I bring a guest?
As the above statement notes - you can bring a guest and they will be made welcome.


LODGING?

How do I find a hotel room?
A list of hotels and motels offering special rates to rally attendees was published in the January issue of the ON. The list is also on the Rally web pages and will continue to be updated. We also encourage you to use the Internet to find accommodations.

In addition, the rally site is located 25 miles from the heart of downtown Milwaukee. If you need to expand your internet search, you should include communities like Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, Butler, Sussex, Slinger, Hartford, Mequon, Whitefish Bay, Cedarburg, etc


FOOD!?!?

Are meals a part of the Rally fee?
Meals are NOT part of the rally fee. Besides the various food vendors on-site, there are also chain-style and locally owned restaurants within a few miles of the rally site.

What kind of vendors will there be at the Rally?
In addition to a lot of food vendors, most of the vendors who advertise in the BMW ON will be there.


ALSO INSIDE THE GATES...

Are there church services available?
There will be short devotional programs on Friday & Saturday mornings, and a non-denominational Church Service on Sunday morning. Watch your rally program for times and location. There are also local churches of most denominations near the rally site.

Are pets allowed at the Rally?
Only pets traveling in an RV or service dogs will be allowed on the Rally Site. RV pets will be restricted to the RV area only. Common courtesy still applies and we have leash requirements and a "poop and scoop" policy in West Bend. Watch for the article in the BMW ON this Spring.

Are pets allowed at the Rally?
Pets are allowed, but we strongly encourage you to use common sense when it comes to your pets. Ideally, everyone will have a better time if your pet stays home.

If you DO bring your pet:

  • You will be held responsible for noise (barking) and cleaning up after your pet.
  • You will be required to sign an insurance waiver.
  • Common courtesy applies.
  • Anyone not adhering to these guidelines will be asked to leave.

If I drive my car to the rally, will I be able to park?
There will be a designated parking area for four-wheeled (or more-wheeled) vehicles, however vehicles will not be allowed inside the rally grounds after the rally begins.

Are there any special events planned for Women?
There will be something special for women with respect to the seminar presentations but we would like to hear from women riders as to what they would like to be able to see at the rally.

Hospitality will also have a list of interesting options for the ladies.

Will there be organized activities for my kids?
KIDS LOVE THESE RALLIES.

There will be a children's center for kids 5-12 with movies, arts & crafts, and other fun activities.

In addition, the teen center (for those 13 and older) will be a gathering place with games, music, and activities geared to this age group.

Check the Rally program for times and location of these activities throughout the rally.

What is the "Friends of Bill W?"
There will be on site "Friends of Bill W" meetings as well as many local meetings you may wish to attend.


WORKING ON MY BIKE?

Can I change my oil at the Rally?
There will be a Do-it-Yourself area available - see rally map in program for location.

Will there be repair services at the Rally should I need them?
At this time, we do not have any service vendors signed up for the rally. However, the Chain Gang and the Airheads traditionally have a club camping area.

Are there any BMW motorcycle dealerships in the vicinity?
There are three BMW dealers nearby who have set aside that whole week to support the riders coming in to the rally.

  • BMW Motorcycles of Milwaukee
  • Mischler's BMW in Beaver Dam
  • Nick's BMW in DePere

Can I buy new tires at the Rally?
Yes. Several tire dealers have already expressed an interest in being at the rally. There should be a nice variety of tires to select from.


NEED TO SHIP?

How do I ship my gear to the Rally?
Packages will not be accepted before July 2. Send your shipments to:
YOUR NAME
C/O BMW Rally
Washington County Fair Park
3000 Hwy PV
West Bend, WI 53095

 

 


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509A Old State Rd 
Ellisville, MO 63021 
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