BMW Riders Association International

PO Box 510309
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951-0309
Phone/FAX 407.984.7800
Web Page Site http://www.bmwra.org
 

Ohio RA Fall ‘99 Update

Bob Wood, State Director
4257 West 130th Street
Cleveland, OH 44135-4869
Phone: 216.252.7933  FAX 216.251.5329

October 16, 1999

Dear Ohio RA Rider,

I was once told, "the best way to get someone's attention, is to stop talking". Well, I figure by now, I might have yours'. You don't have to look at the mailman that way anymore -- there was no Summer Update for him to deliver. No, you didn't miss it. It never came off my computer. The draft still looms on my hard drive, filled with out-dated news. However, some of it will be in this issue along with event reviews of this past summer, and our upcoming schedule. The really big news for Ohio RA's in this issue is the announcement made at this years' RA National of the Y2K Rally being right here in Ohio. Hey, there is still our Halloween Camp Out, a full schedule of off-season meetings (including the Marietta Hotel Camp Out), and plenty to do helping with the RA National.

Well, I started the season with the best of intentions. The Summer Camp Out was planned, the door prizes were coming in and all was going smoothly with that. My paying profession has been undergoing some revamping, but I felt like I had a handle on it, at least in June. Then a big job came in which began taking up my extra time. The Summer Camp Out was soon behind me when my youngest daughter called from Minneapolis, MN and told Rose and I she was getting married. This would have been good news, but the date she had chosen was the same as the RA National. Rats! Well, what's a father to do? We went on vacation to the MOA National in Rhinebeck that's what. This approach only served to bury me deeper into my responsibilities when I returned. I was working twelve hour days, and MCI was grinning ear to ear when they were making out my long distant phone bill. I should have had a dedicated line installed from Cleveland to Minneapolis -- it may have been cheaper. Meanwhile, I decided to concentrate on these and other personal matters and put my RA duties on hold temporarily. Did you even miss the Summer "99 Update? It was a bit difficult to resume until now, but I think the dust has finally settled and I can get back to the things at hand. By the way, the wedding was a big success. And yes, I wore a tux, but we left the bikes in Cleveland. This was the second time in as many years for me to give away the bride. I'm plum outa daughters now.

SUMMER CAMP OUT REVIEW

This year, the Mohican Campout dates got screwed up royally. I began too early (trying to make the OTL deadline for the May issue) and ran the Press Release before the campgrounds called me back to confirm. As it turned out, the weekend we normally would have had was booked solid with a Country Western Festival and we got bumped to the weekend before Father's Day, June 11-13. This would have been no problem, but I forgot to send the correction right away to Big James for the Rally Map and OTL. Needless to say, if you read your OTL you saw the incorrect dates of June 18-20. In addition to that, the weekend we ended up with was the same weekend as the Iowa Rally, which many RA's attend every year, and we were sharing the campgrounds with the "Ride for the Guides" Poker Run again. As it turned out, we had a little incident over firewood with some of that crowd and it was suggested we look for another facility for next year. Please, let me know how you feel about changing campgrounds. Despite a lower than average turn out, the "Ohio RA on the Mohican River" Summer Camp Out was a big success for those who attended. We again had 100% participation from our Ohio BMW Dealers and vendor friends. We all need to thank the AMA, BMW of the Tri-State, BMWRA Intl., Competition Accessories, Holt BMW Ducati, Honda Northwest BMW Suzuki, Mathias Cycle Sales, Re-Psycle BMW Parts, Roman Cycle Shop and Schiets Motors for their generous support of our annual event. Also, a BIG thanks for the Saturday night pizza, which was again donated by All-Seasons. If you won a door prize this year, this would be a good time to drop a Thank You card to them. Don't forget to acknowledge their support of the Ohio RA Summer Camp Out when you shop. They are here for us!

NEW SOUTHERN OHIO CAMP OUT

On the weekend following the Mohican Camp Out RA members Randy Phipps and Kris Foster invited BMW riders to enjoy some of the roads in southern Ohio and camp out on Randy's property near Peebles, OH. I regret being unable to attend, but heard a lot of good things about their hospitality. It was reported that they had constructed a shower on the back of a greenhouse so you could freshen up after a day of riding their great roads. There were plenty of good camp sites to be had and nightly bonfires. Someone brought BBQ chicken appetizers and a small keg to add to the cache of two coolers full of beer and pop. There was Salmon on the grill and several bottles of wine on Saturday night. I hope to see this outing repeat some time soon.

VINTAGE DAYS CAMP OUT

Mark and Cindy Hoskey were busy just before the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, held at Mid-Ohio, planning and coordinating an alternate site for the Beemer crowd to camp out at. They found the Mt.Gilead KOA (I-71 and SR 95) was willing to dedicate their group area with electric, water, and shelter house for a special rate to riders who would rather stay off-site while attending the AMA Vintage Days Weekend. The campground has two ponds, a pool, clean restrooms, hot showers, plus all the usual KOA amenities, and is only 15 minutes from the track. Mark and Cindy provided fixins' for a Saturday night cookout. Looks like we might have another Ohio RA Event blossoming.

SOUTHWEST RENDEZVOUS POSTPONED

Ohio RA member, Chris Jacobs of Motolights and the Granary fame, offered to put together a scenic tour ride in the southwest quadrant of the state along the Ohio River last summer. Chris is looking into possible camping and /or lodging for those coming from the far parts of Ohio. Regretfully, we never firmed up any dates this year, but it could likely happen in the Y2K. So, if you are interested please let me know and I'll get it onto the calendar early next season.

27^th BMWRA "RA IN THE COLONIES"

If you attended the BMWRA International RAlly and would like to share your take on it with other Ohio RA's, please send me your copy for the Winter Update (deadline Thanksgiving Day). All I can say is -- there was an Ohio RAlly Committee Meeting at the start of the event, which led the RA Big Wigs to decide to accept the Buckeye Beemers' Lancaster Rally Site Proposal. Prez Jorgensen gave the announcement during the closing ceremonies. Looks like the Y2K is our year to put our hats in the ring as hosts instead of guests.

FALL CAMP OUT DEBACLE

Jim and Chris Harrison did considerable work gathering information from many campgrounds in the Hocking Hills Area this summer and sent their findings to me the end of July. Thank you both for your help. Their foremost recommendation was the Top O' the Caves Campground off SR 374 near Logan. The first weekend of August I found myself close to that site, so I decided to stop in for a first hand look. The group site area is quite a hike from the facilities, however I thought it would be worth a try. I talked to the fellow in the office and he said to check back a couple weeks prior to our outing and he would make the necessary reservation. So, I posted it to the Ohio RA Calendar. Well, I started calling three weeks prior and each time they told me they would look into getting us in and they would call me back. On the Monday before our planned camp out I got a gal in the office to finally tell me they were completely booked and there was no room anywhere for another group. OK, I didn't panic -- exactly. First I emailed everybody on my Ohio RA Posting List and explained the situation. Then, I called a new guy on the block, Bill, whom I had met earlier this year. Bill is developing a motorcycle-only campground and is only a mile and a quarter north of Logan. This is pretty much the same area and I will probably use his new site next year. Next, I emailed everyone again to tell everyone that if they still wanted a camp out we could have one at the new site. The message went out late on Wednesday and I gave it a day for responses to roll in. I ended up calling the weekend off mid-morning Friday due to a lack of responses. I guess we are just not a spontaneous group. Please accept my apologies for the short notice and debacle. I will endeavor to give you at least a month or twos' notice whenever possible.

Halloween Camp Out

Don't put the camping gear away yet! One more chance to get away and watch the leaves blow across the road on our last camp out of the millennium. If you haven't been to the Ohio RA Halloween Camp Out this century then this is your last chance. This is not for the faint of heart or the motel camper. It is a rugged, most of the time frosty nights, no electric, primitive camp out where Wolfman is likely to ride in on an R-bike. I've seen it with my own eyes. Each site has an asphalt pad, picnic table, and fire ring. We can usually get several tents on each lot. There are pit toilets and drinking water. The campground is approximately four miles north of US 22 on SR 9. Look for the "Trail Riders Campgrounds" sign on the eastside of the road. Follow the long blacktop driveway to the campsites to the right and look for Beemers. Find out if, RA look-a-like, Bob Elliot, can win the morning Java cook off. I hope to see you all there.

INDOOR OFF SEASON BRUNCH / MEETINGS

I predict this year the off season Brunch/Meetings will be exceptionally well attended. I don't need a crystal ball to know it's going to be more than business as usual. A portion of each meeting will be spent bringing everyone up to date on the national, discussing the progress, and planning the next steps for RA volunteers, and Ohio RAlly Committee people. It has been indicated to me that the Buckeye Beemers (which is the coordinating club), will be sending a representative to each brunch / meeting during our off season that will update us. I will again schedule at least one meeting in each quadrant of the state. I recommend you mark your calendar for the meetings nearest you or try to attend them all. Nothing like doing the four quadrants of Ohio in the winter. You might even find a new interesting road. I invite you all to participate. We'll still be kickin' tires and tellin' lies in between the formal stuff.

BMW OF THE TRI-STATE MOVES

Another BMW Dealer has out grown their present home and moved to a larger facility. Please note that over the Labor Day Holiday BMW Motorcycles of the Tri-State moved from their Sutton Place address a mile south to 4810 Peter Place. Their phone numbers have remained the same.

INTERNET NEWS -

Our Web Calendar for '99 is almost spent. During the next two meetings we will be filling in the Y2K dates. Your input is welcomed. You can visit the Ohio RA Web Page at http://www.concentric.net/~bmw01bob/ra-ohio.htm. These web pages are your guide to local, state, and national BMWRA activities for RA members here in Ohio. If your local club is RA Chartered, please send your events to me to post to the calendar. Also, my offer to post a separate web page just for your local RA Chartered BMW Club still stands. This could be a modern way to reach out to new riders in your corner of the state.

The news of an Ohio National RAlly has got plenty of email flowing. It may be a good idea for the Buckeye Beemers to set up an information page to help the Ohio RAlly Committee and their volunteers to stay in touch with their main objectives. I would gladly post a page or two on the Ohio RA Web Site if they are willing to help compose them.

My last Internet posting "To All Ohio RA's" was on 15 OCT 99 with the cancellation of the Hocking Hills Campout date. If you did not receive it or you wish to be added to my RA Ohio Posting List, email me to be added to the list.

LOOKING AHEAD

The really BIG news this issue is the BMWRA RAlly being here in the Y2K. So far this is what I know: RA President, Ed Jorgensen made his announcement at the RA in the Colonies RAlly naming the Buckeye Beemers as the coordinating club for the BMWRA International Rally to be held in Ohio next year. It is to be a mid week event, running Tuesday through Friday, September 19-22, 2000 at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster. Lancaster will be celebrating its' bicentennial at the same time and should look exceptional. The RA is currently searching for a name for the Ohio Rally, i.e. RA in the ? If you have a name please contact Eric Nyrop or Ed Jorgensen at once. This could be a great to start to the new millennium -- by sharing our state’s best roads, camping, entertainment, and destinations with all the friendly folks who attend the annual BMWRA International gatherings.

Ride with the RA,

Bob Wood

Bob Wood
BMW RA International
Ohio District Director