2019 Virginia Guzzi Rally

[vtwinbob]

2019 Virginia Moto Guzzi Rally

Discounted price for pre-registration available until June 8th! Pre-registration really helps and saves you money! Thanks!

Dates: June 21-23, 2019

Location: Willville Motorcycle Camp just off the BRP at Meadows of Dan, VA
Info & Registration Form: Available at rally website http://ronkom.wixsite.com/vamg

[vtwinbob]

One week left for the discounted price for the rally.  Deadline is June 8th.  Walk-in attendees always welcome, but why pay $10 more.  Hope to see you there!!!!

[Ronkom]

Note, The cut-off for saving money by pre registering is tomorrow, June 8th. Letter must be postmarked by midnight or, you can contact Bob direct. I will be posting the order for the rally t-shirts on Monday, June 10th. While there may be a few extras available at the rally, to be sure of getting one in your size, order w/your prereg, or email me by 12:00 noon Monday. "ronkom(at)vaguzzi(dot)com". The t-shirt theme this year




upload
is a special "the way we were"
Ron

[Lannis]

I like the rally logo ... the couple looks like they're ready to hit the road for a month!!

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Gotta' have one of those!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ok, check's in the mail. We haven't been out that way for a while.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Ok, check's in the mail. We haven't been out that way for a while.

Will be good to see you again.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Will be good to see you again.

Yeah, it's been a long time. I'm looking forward to touching base again..

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just checking. I *assume* we'll be able to set up our motorcycle pop up camper?

[Dilliw]

Just checking. I *assume* we'll be able to set up our motorcycle pop up camper?

Yep and that won't make an "arse" out of ume.    As I recall Will has a few electrical plugs in the lower campground as well.

[Zoom Zoom]

Chuck, I have no doubt you can get the camper in there. I'm not sure if they'll let you use the van to get it there. Everything I have heard is no cars past the entrance to the back. You use a wheel barrow to haul stuff in from the vehicle. I'm not sure how he/they handle a situation such as yours.

You might want to call them to verify. 276-952-2267

John Henry

[Chuck in Indiana]

 We've pushed our little camper into tent spots several times. It doesn't weigh much. I'll give em a call, though. Thanks, ZZ 

[Lannis]

Just checking. I *assume* we'll be able to set up our motorcycle pop up camper?

I thought you were talking about a pop-up camper towed behind a motorcycle.   

If it's not that, what makes it a "motorcycle pop-up camper"?   Not sure I'm familiar with the term ....

Lannis

[Zoom Zoom]

You assumed correctly Lannis. However, that doesn't mean it can only be pulled by a bike.

John Henry

[mojohand]

Looking forward to seeing everyone this coming weekend

[Chuck in Indiana]

Raining as usual  this morning. Gots the AeroLaio in the van, gots the camper hooked up. It'll be good to see all the east coasters and ride the blue ridge again. 

[oldbike54]

 We will need pictures .

 Dusty

[Bulldog9]

Really wanted to make this, even as a day trip, but alas, I am OBE.... Hopefully next year, or other Mid Atlantic/East coast meets.  Look forward to seeing pics.

[Lannis]

Really wanted to make this, even as a day trip, but alas, I am OBE.... Hopefully next year, or other Mid Atlantic/East coast meets.  Look forward to seeing pics.

OBE?!   Should we call you Sir Bulldog9, then?

And get hold of that rascal mojohand and tell him that a leaky KTM fork seal is no reason to blow off a rally, he should hear the tales Ray is telling about him...   

Lannis

[Bulldog9]

Lol if it floats your boat! OBE=
Overcome
By
Events

 

OBE?!   Should we call you Sir Bulldog9, then?

And get hold of that rascal mojohand and tell him that a leaky KTM fork seal is no reason to blow off a rally, he should hear the tales Ray is telling about him...   

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just rolled in. Had a wonderful time with the Right Coasters.  Pix tomorrow, assuming I get a round tuit.

[2kquotasprint]

Many thanks to all the kind folks who made this event possible.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Link to my photos of the weekend. https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEup2J1

[Chuck in Indiana]

We will need pictures .

 Dusty

Just a few. About 100 registered,  The campground is motorcycle only, so it was a struggle for Dorcia and I to get our camper in. The owner said it was about 100 feet from the car parking. They must have a different measuring system in Virginia.. it was more like 100 yards. 
At any rate... here is part of it.
2019-06-24_12-41-32 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
We walked around and were greeted by many old friends.    The last time we had been to the Virginia rally was the last National at Buena Vista, and meeting up with friends was our main reason for going.
Ran into Farmer Fred  and Kim, who were camping with Mark and Barbara and Emily from back in the day of Guzzi N.A.
Here's Fred's 1000S that he saved from a misguided owner that was making a cafe racer out of it. (!) Fortunately, the original parts including the parts that had been cut off the frame hadn't been thrown away. Yet.
2019-06-24_12-40-12 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Oh, good.. Charlie is here..
2019-06-24_12-39-35 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Spent a fair amount of time with him. Needless to say, if a guy keeps his mouth and ears open he'll learn a lot about Guzzis.  A crowd gathered around for a loop seminar.    This is Howard R and Charlie with his arms folded..
2019-06-24_12-38-50 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
For those of you unlucky enough to have never been on the Blue Ridge Parkway.. it goes for hundreds of miles. There are very few roads leading up to it, but most are good. People coming off the parkway saw this sign pointing to the rally.
2019-06-24_12-33-26 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
That's the parkway on top of the bridge.
Dorcia and I went roaring around on it a fair amount. She really likes the BRP.
Found a pretty elegant winery for lunch..picture courtesy of my sweetie.
2019-06-24_12-32-57 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Miles and miles of this kind of stuff..
2019-06-24_12-40-45 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Chief Whip Bob at the awards ceremony..
2019-06-24_12-34-24 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Winners of the various awards.
2019-06-24_12-34-52 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
Notable was the long distance male *and* oldest rider were the same guy. (!) Second from the left. He rode from New Mexico, and is 84. (!!) My new hero.
All good things must end, and now we had to get the camper back up to the car parking area. Uphill. In the rain. The campground owner was adamant that we weren't taking the van down there to bring it up. Several were willing to help, but Tommy, who was camping with his friend.. not part of the rally.. said he's pull it up with his Spyder with trailer hitch.  Nice guy, and it was much appreciated.
I've always said the Guzzi community is my extended and gloriously dysfunctional family.  Dorcia and I had many heartfelt handshakes and hugs. Certainly more than from our dwindling families. Thanks to all for making it such a great trip for us.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Link to my photos of the weekend. https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEup2J1

*Very* nice, Charlie.. 

[Cam3512]

Joanne must me long distance female.  What did you get Charlie?

Cam

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Joanne must me long distance female.  What did you get Charlie?

Cam

Yes, she won Long Distance Female, the Goods (Judy & Ron) won Long Distance Two-Up, Nate Jones - Youngest Rider and I won Oldest Guzzi and the Chuck Galbraith Memorial - Best Early Frame Guzzi. Since there was only one(!) other Loop there ('74 Eldo) and he won the latter award last year, it's not a great achievement. 








I don't believe anyone has mentioned it yet, but Stein-Dinse has sent "rally packs" of door prices to rally organizers, free of charge. And not just cheap stuff either - some very nice items totaling around $300 worth. I picked up a pair of new large Guzzi decals for my mailbox. 

Also, the rally t-shirts for this year are super cool and every attendee got one of these excellent bags.

[maquette]

[quote author=Chuck in Indiana link:
All good things must end, and now we had to get the camper back up to the car parking area. Uphill. In the rain. The campground owner was adamant that we weren't taking the van down there to bring it up. Several were willing to help, but Tommy, who was camping with his friend.. not part of the rally.. said he's pull it up with his Spyder with trailer hitch.  Nice guy, and it was much appreciated. [/quote]

I had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time talking with Tommy and his buddy, Bobby and they are indeed representative of what's good about motorcycling and life in general. Turns out they don't live all that far from me so I see a RTE in the future. Nice seeing you and Dorcia, and Tyler said to say hello to the teacher.  :>)

[Zoom Zoom]

Our trio had a great ride down and back with a few minor hiccups both directions. They will make for good stories. Everyone home safe and sound.

It was great seeing friends that I haven't seen in a while, (some a very long time), as well as those I have seen more recently.

Charlie, it was a pleasure chatting with you and I plan to keep track of the East Coast locomotive under restoration. (Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-6 "Allegheny") IIRC. Learning about the UP's Big Boy has been fascinating, so I look forward to seeing this. If I got the engine wrong, please enlighten me. (I thought you had said 2,6,6,2 but I couldn't find that as a Lima built engine so I may have been mistaken.)

John Henry

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Charlie, it was a pleasure chatting with you and I plan to keep track of the East Coast locomotive under restoration. (Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-6 "Allegheny") IIRC. Learning about the UP's Big Boy has been fascinating, so I look forward to seeing this. If I got the engine wrong, please enlighten me. (I thought you had said 2,6,6,2 but I couldn't find that as a Lima built engine so I may have been mistaken.)

John Henry

I got that part wrong - it was actually built by Baldwin. Won't be as big as the Big Boy, but if it was it wouldn't fit on the turntable at Frostburg. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_and_Ohio_1309
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/02/27-western-maryland-lays-out-timetable-for-final-1309-restoration-push