2018 Rally Location ---> POLL

[Jimmytee]

Members,
We need some "final answers" so I can put up a voting thread.

A quick bit on logistics:
- The forum 'resources' will be dedicated to one rally place per year.
- With the decrease in the past 2 years in vendor/corporate fiscal support due to the uncertainty of the F6B's production future, Rallies like the previous 2 where there is no "elegant catered meal" or "plaques for prizes" are becoming the norm, whereas the "Phantom Full Monty" from 2014 & 2013 is all but financially impossible.
- Y'all seemed to have a great time at both 2016 & 2017 rallies where we rode during the day, and had camaraderie time under the tent in the evening without any 'regimented structure.'
This group of people is fantastic & unassuming and I'm proud to support and provide for them.

Back to business:
From reviewing the bidding thus far, I can see some support for:
- xxxx, Kentucky
- Durango/Montrose, Colorado

Where else has the infrastructure to support our gathering?

Somethings to consider:
- not doing it during WingDing
- not in a tourist trap city
- in conjunction with a holiday weekend to provide people some time to recover (is this important to the group???)
- As Phantom so eloquently pointed out, many of us are not retired, however, I am, and I am willing to ride to wherever to check stuff out.

Please make any further thread responses a City, State or "seconding" someone's previous suggestion.

Thanks much!
Steve

I understand the desire for a more western location by those in the west. As I mentioned talking to you at the Rally, as much as I'd love to go to Colorado, just not sure it would be doable for me. For reasons you eluded to etc...

Kentucky , other than be convenient for me, is a biker friendly location with tons of very good riding destinations and twisty roads. My initial location idea would be Bardstown,KY . I have a great hotel location in mind,would have to check on deal with dates. Besides the Red River Gorge, there are many other great destinations with really awesome roads to get to them. All of them a day ride to and back. Of course there is the Bourbon Trail with many great roads connecting these distilleries. I'd be more than happy to do the leg work. However, I'd understand if the Rally were to move west.

[F6B1911]

Zanesville, Ohio

[P.Sutton]

Zanesville, Ohio

+1

[F6Bster]

Montrose, Colorado would be a great location. Surrounded by some of the best and diverse riding that you can find:

--Million Dollar Highway (US-550), or the whole San Juan Skyway includes Ouray, Red Mountain Pass, Silverton, Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass, Durango, Delores, Rico, Telluride, and Dallas Divide. An awesome day of riding.
--Grand Mesa (highest flattop mesa in the world)
--Black Canyon of the Gunnison, South Rim and North Rim (CO-92 along the north rim is one of the best rides)
--Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic Byway (includes Gateway, Delores River Canyon, and Dallas Divide)
--and more.

Montrose is a nice town, good lodging, good food, and motorcycle friendly. Been going there many years on Valkyries and/or GoldWings. Some nice rides as you go to/from Montrose also.

[unsub]

A lot of good ideas in this thread.

I want to throw out a couple of words of caution when we think about changing rally locations.

For starters we need consider all the other motorcycle clubs that get together in the magnificent areas that have been suggested here. BMW groups and Harley groups in particular have multiple clubs in most every state and dominate the amenities in and around the best places to ride and meet up. This is just one of many giant logistical challenges for the organizers.

The other bit of caution I want to mention is that from my experience typically 25% of the members that enthusiastically signup as attendees to a rally drop out for a variety of reasons just before crunch time. It would suck if the region was changed and the members that drove that change dropped out as attendees.

My suggestion is that we leave the location of the 2018 rally as arbitrary and totally up to the admins of this forum.

Would I love to have a western regional meet up? Of course. But, I'll get over it and possibly the west coast could do our own thing when it's practical and possible and there's always Google Hangouts or Skype to connect with rally attendees if the rally is out of range for some.

Steve and Phantom have put in the time and effort already, and know what it takes to make these rallies happen. What ever formula and venue they come up with will be a success for those that attend, as long as they remember to include a prize for longest distance traveled.

edit: And if it happens that a member or two in the area of the 2018 rally can assist with the logistics and heavy lifting, all the better.

[Bunny]

i would be in for Colorado for sure...

Bunny from Winnipeg

[pdxstriper]

Hi,

I piped in earlier and it sounds like things have gotten somewhat defensive.

All I am asking is that once every few years the rally be in a location that considers that fact that there are B's on the west coast. Didn't mean to ruin anyones party. Don't want 2 events. Time to be fair and share your toys with all the kids.

Thanks,
Pete

[Kolsch]

PNW would be nice.

[Jimmytee]

Hi,

I piped in earlier and it sounds like things have gotten somewhat defensive.

All I am asking is that once every few years the rally be in a location that considers that fact that there are B's on the west coast. Didn't mean to ruin anyones party. Don't want 2 events. Time to be fair and share your toys with all the kids.

Thanks,
Pete

I'm not sure what you have read. I pretty much thought people were just chiming in where they'd like to see a Rally. As far as I am concerned, if the Rally is held in Colorado as has been suggested a few times, it's fine. I just don't know that it would work out for me. If there are enough people that WILL support a west location and show up, then by all means.
Why not?
However, as Steve and Phantom have mentioned, their ability to handle the minutia of setting up a west location may or may not be feasible.

[53driver]

I understand the desire for a more western location by those in the west. As I mentioned talking to you at the Rally, as much as I'd love to go to Colorado, just not sure it would be doable for me. For reasons you eluded to etc...

Kentucky , other than be convenient for me, is a biker friendly location with tons of very good riding destinations and twisty roads. My initial location idea would be Bardstown,KY . I have a great hotel location in mind,would have to check on deal with dates. Besides the Red River Gorge, there are many other great destinations with really awesome roads to get to them. All of them a day ride to and back. Of course there is the Bourbon Trail with many great roads connecting these distilleries. I'd be more than happy to do the leg work. However, I'd understand if the Rally were to move west.

Jimmy.... I need a City!!!!