BMW Riders Association International
PO Box 510309
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951-0309
Phone/FAX 321.984.7800
Web Page Site at http://www.bmwra.orgOhio RA Summer 2000 Update
Bob Wood, State Director
4257 West 130th Street
Cleveland, OH 44135-4869
Phone: 216.252.7933 FAX: 216.251.5329
June 12, 2000
Dear Ohio RA Rider,
Do you have your riding season plans on the calendar yet? Most Ohio riders will find more short trips planned, but this will still be an interesting year. For the past few weeks, it seems all I have been doing is reading about riding and rallying, but somehow, I've chalked up over a thousand miles in Ohio just for early April and May. Between the Ohio RA and other local Beemer club events, I have found it hard to attend to my spring chores -- one of which is this issue of the Ohio RA Update.
In Ohio our membership numbers are rising. Headquarters has told me this is normal when a national event is scheduled for the state. I would like to think the enthusiasm we have built over the first half of this year has something to do with it as well. I have found many Beemer riders quite curious about the Riders Association and wanting to know more about the national organization and the Ohio District activities. At last count we are only a few members short of the 300 mark and may exceed that before our big September event.
Have you ever thought working in the motorcycle industry might be for you? Well there is a chance you could be the one needed at Re-Psycle BMW Parts in Lithopolis, Ohio. When talking to owner, Mark Sidle, he mentioned he is looking for a few good people to add to the staff. He is looking for a parts manager, counter and Internet sales person and a mechanic. For more information call Mark at 614.837.1160.SUMMER CAMP OUTS
The RA Ohio Appalachian Foothills Adventure Summer Camp Out is this weekend June 16-18 (see calendar this issue) and I have been collecting door prizes and putting the final touches on this one. This is your summer camp out. Plan to attend, enjoy the local roads, scenery, relax with a cool beverage, and meet other Ohio RA's. Our Ohio BMW Dealers and Friends of the Marquee have once again generously contributed to this camp out for your benefit. Last year I think everyone went away with some kind of a door prize. This could again be the case.
In addition to the camp out activities we have scheduled a BMW RAlly 2000 Committee Meeting for 11:00 AM Sunday at the campsite. We have managed to have a committee meeting each month even during the riding season and I expect this will probably continue until September. I am hoping to see most of southern Ohio's riders show up for this one. This will be your "Golden Opportunity" to get involved with the September International RAlly.
Following our summer camp out on July 7-8 is the alternative RA Ohio Vintage Day's Camp Out near Mid-Ohio. The site is located just 15 minutes from the track at the Mount Gilead KOA with all the amenities you could want. I expect many more riders will also be looking for a peaceful refuge from the track site this year.RALLY 2000 UPDATE - "RA at the Hocking Hills"
You will find a RAlly 2000 Flyer enclosed with this newsletter that has additional information and a pre-registration form. With only three months remaining this is a good time to write that check and send it in. I have summarized the following information from RAlly 2000 Chairman, Eric Nyrop and think you will find it quite interesting. The wheels are turning.
Eric writes: We had about 14 people present at the Maumee RAlly Meeting, representing the Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus clubs. Our next meeting will be June 18th in Peebles, Ohio at the Ohio RA Summer Camp Out.
The RAlly 2000 pin will be oval in shape, approximately 7/8" wide & 5/8" high. The colors will be similar to the early design without the eagle and wheels. I have a professional doing the final design so it will be suitable for making. This same design will also be used on the T-shirt at the sleeve or pocket location.
The T-shirt design is an RA with a waterfall and motorcycle on it. We decided at the meeting this is what we like. We are working with the "on-site" T-shirt vendor on the final details. Jim Taylor of Toledo is my local contact with this vendor.
I have talked with the shower and Porta-Johns people and received a quote for their services. There will be one trailer for each sex, which will have showers, lockers, and restroom facilities. Each unit is equipped with an electric water heater and a 500-gallon storage tank. This is a local vendor in Lancaster, franchised with Porta-John. They will also be supplying the Porta-Johns.
Six golf carts are reserved with a local vendor in Lancaster for on-site transport and emergency use.
We have two groups lined up for entertainment and are working on the third. They are light jazz and easy listening and one does 50/60/70's music and has performed for the past two years at the Ohio State Fair.
RAlly flier packets are being prepared to send to dealers in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and to local clubs and their rallies.
We are still waiting word on the BMW demo fleet and working out the details for the proposed AMA ride and brunch.
Karen Stombaugh will be contacting RA Headquarters about insurance. She is our club president and has lots of insurance experience. Karen, Jack Goldberg, and I took the AMA Risk Management Course this Spring.
The local Chamber of Commerce continues to participate in and encourage our event, however, we still do not know exactly what information they want for their newsletter. This will be cleared up soon.
For additional information or questions about BMW RAlly 2000, please contact Eric Nyrop in any of the following ways: by phone at 614.444.9409 (home) or 614.899.2477 (work), by email at M_Cruse-Nyrop@MSN.com, or by snail mail to 404 Forest Street, Columbus, OH 43206.
As you can see, RAlly 2000 is progressing nicely and we have a good number of dedicated committee people working diligently on the event. Please plan on helping in any way you can to make this another successful Ohio RA event. It may be years before we have the opportunity to host an event of this magnitude again.SPRING CAMP OUT REVIEWS
The Mount Vernon camp out was a big success with 45 riders and 2 children attending. This may be a record according to Merle Marietta. The IBMC members who joined us this year turned out to be a nice bunch of riders with lots of lies to share with us. The weather cooperated all weekend and several folks rode to the open house at All Seasons where they found a packed house. If you didn't get there early you may not have found what you were looking for. Sales appeared to be brisk with free pizza, hot dogs, and soft drinks. The Saturday evening bonfire social was very laid back and I was able to give away an RA membership to a BMW riding non-member.
The RA Chartered Toledo Riders Club also saw an increase in attendees to their Black Swamp Rally this year. I got in on Saturday morning and was hard pressed to find a site for my tent close to the action. The Maumee Park Resort turned out to be a fantastic place to do dinner with an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. The Toledo Club supplied coffee and donuts and hosted the May RAlly 2000 Committee meeting (mentioned above) on Sunday morning.
The Mountaineer's Cass Rally was also well attended even with its usual unstable weather. It was reported that the weather was great going, marginal while there, and typical when it was time to go home on Sunday. Still a whole lot of fun with thanks going to Bill, Bonnie and company for continuing this event. It's wonderful to have such good neighbors just across the Ohio boarder line.
The RA Chartered BMW Motorcycle Owners of Cleveland (BMWMOC) also enjoyed good attendance for their annual Micro-Rally this year. Getting to the rally later in the day proved to be prudent since the heavens opened up during the late afternoon and drenched the campgrounds. By the time I arrived the rear of the site was inaccessible, even for GS riders. Quite a few folks headed to Romans for what they thought was going to be a flea market, but found out differently. It turned out to be an open house with Big Time wrestlers doing a guest appearance later in the day. That was a switch! Saturday there was a catered dinner at the campsite followed by a door prize give-a-way and bonfire. I ended up packing a dry tent despite the soggy ground it was pitched on.LAST RIDE NEWS
I am happy to report that the Sam Hill Memorial Fund has reached its goal to have the engraving done and the funds for the Gary Paine brick are in place. Sam's Fund will remain open for contributions until December with any additional proceeds going to the family. I now need someone to call me with information, or a name and phone number of these riders' family members, who can supply me with the pertinent information to complete the Motorcyclists Memorial Foundations form.INTERNET NEWS
I've been pretty quiet for a while. My last Internet posting "To All Ohio RA's" was on June 11th reminding you of the Ohio RA Summer Camp Out. If you did not receive it or you wish to be added to the RA Ohio Posting List, please email me at bmw01bob@concentric.net to be added to the postings.LOOKING AHEAD
The "must do" events this year are the new RA Ohio Summer Camp Out at Peebles and the "RA at the Hocking Hills" International RAlly. If you let these two get by you, you might as well weld your center stand to the garage floor. I hope to see all Ohio RA's turning out to support these events and our club.Ride with the RA,
Bob Wood
Bob Wood
Ohio State Director
BMW Riders Association, International
Volunteer workers are needed for the Registration activity at the "RA at the Hocking Hills", 2000 RA International Rally in Lancaster, Ohio, from September 19 through 22. (Monday evening on the 18th there will be a practice session for all rally volunteers, so you can beat the crowd on Tuesday and receive orientation on the process at the same time). This is hands down the funnest job at a rally of any size. And bigger is funner! We are looking for people to man the registration booth, in 4-hour shifts, starting Tuesday at 8:00 AM, through Thursday at about 5:00 PM. Sign up for two shifts and double your fun! Three or more and who knows? Contact Pete or Pat at 740-625-6525 or better yet, E-Mail to pete.barnes@mt.com. Hurry, the best times are going fast! We also are planning a "Rally Pack Stuffing Party" for late August or early September. It will include pizza and beverages at our farm, with camping and swimming available for those coming in from afar. Let us know your interest in participating in his important activity also. Pete and Pat Barnes RAlly 2000 Chairs * * * Help Wanted * * *
Next Ohio RA Update - Early September