Last year we added a GS Clinic for women only to great reviews and it’s back again. The men’s GS Clinic has moved up a couple notches, and both are taught by teams of certified professional trainers. One presentation program will take you over the highest Himalayan pass in the world while another shows the thrill of adventure riding across Australia. Learn the history of some of BMW’s models and how design decisions were made from Tom Cutter, one of the original BMW Service Training Instructors. RKA will present the latest in electronics for the bike.

Grab one of the Day Ride Maps and head over three or four Sierras passes above 8,500 feet, spend a day in Yosemite (leave early and get there before other tourists arrive), or visit the great vineyards in the Sierra foothills. Bring the kids and their 49cc bikes and participate in some fun field events – or just have fun riding. Enjoy the Poker Run through the scenic Sierra foothills that comes with great prizes for the best hands.

The GS Giants are always a spectator favorite just like the English Trials, while the Field Events test your slow-speed skills. Raffle prizes are drawn every two hours throughout the weekend and winning the 50/50 raffle just might pay for your entire trip.

Enjoy Airhead Central, the Saturday evening women’s wine gathering, the beir garden, multiple vendors, a flea market, multiple food choices, some late night movies, awards for solo and two-up long distance riding, and the oldest and youngest male and female riders.

Plan your vacation around the 49er Rally, 21-25 May 2020 at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds in Mariposa, California. Enjoy the ride! For more info, look at bmwnorcal.org.

Here's a (short, not at all comprehensive) list of other rallies coming soon. For more info on what rallies might be near you, check out the MOA events listings page.

• Georgia Mountain Rally at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, Georgia, 1-3 May 2020
• Land of Oz Rally at Warnock Lake in Atchison, Kansas, 29-31 May 2020
• Square Route Rally at Camp West Mar in Sabillasville, Maryland, 5-7 June 2020
• Chief Joseph Rally at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day, Oregon, 18-21 June 2020
• Red Rock Rendezvous at the Panguitch Fairgrounds in Panguitch, Utah, 18-21 June 2020
• Green Mountain Rally at Camp Thorpe in Goshen, Vermont, 11-13 September 2020
• Thunder Mountain Rally at the Delta County Fairgrounds in Hotchkiss, Colorado, 18-20 September 2020

Going into 2019 our number one concern was attendance. Why would anyone want to ride to Iowa in June? One thing is true, if you've seen one cornfield you've seen them all! Contrary to popular belief, there is some great riding in Iowa. With the Great River Road just over an hour east of the rally site and the Driftless Area providing some of the best motorcycling roads in the Midwest, there is no shortage of beautiful scenery. Maybe beautiful scenery isn't your thing. Maybe you would enjoy meandering through vintage historical motorcycles and memorabilia at the National Motorcycle Museum or visiting some of the area businesses that support our event such as Sun and Fun Motorsports or Ned’s Cycle where you can grab a hotdog and root beer float while shopping for that much needed farkle.

Just remember, Iowa is boring so please control yourself! Combining all this with exceptional people and great food we now had a solid foundation to success.

First and foremost. How would we be able to provide a "Full Service" rally without putting our club in financial distress? The last thing we wanted to do was cut out things that have made this event so enjoyable to so many. It all rolls back to the volunteers. Every volunteer has a special talent and tapping into those talents would be what oils this engine. We were able to put on an all-you-could-eat burger and Chicago dog dinner with several salad choices on Friday and a catered pork loin meal on Saturday. As for the nightly entertainment, I was unsuccessful in booking a Journey reunion concert even though I used to live next door to Steve Perry. We were able to feature the next best thing in a superior local band which played hits from the 70's 80's and 90's. Something you may not have seen at a rally before was an outdoor movie. Complete with big screen, audio, and yes, even a popcorn machine. The documentary "The Flying Dutchman" was the feature and guess what? They loved it!

This rally has always taken pride in the fact that our focus is family and friends. Kids are always free as another goal is to ensure a new generation of riders will be there to fill our shoes. The rally grounds are always bustling with fun events such as pie eating contests and stein holding endurance games that are sure to involve Guinness at some point in the future.

Don't own a BMW yet? No problem! Can you sit around a campfire under a star-filled sky? Then come on out! You're sure to make some new friends and who knows you may have a roundel laden two-wheeler in your future.

So, another June has come and gone and one more Iowa Rally is in the books. Guess what Keith? We built it and they came. From as far as British Columbia and Washington to Florida and Ohio they came. And they had fun!

Many thanks to everyone who attended the 2019 Iowa Rally and a personal thank you to all the BMW community for your friendship. We look forward to seeing you all in 2020!

Special invited guests include:

• Hans A. Muth, Designer of the R65LS, R80GS
  
• George “Schorsch” Martin, assisting Hans Muth, longtime friend and owner of largest BMW dealership in Germany
• Udo Gietl (pending), who may offer a presentation or just decide to kick some tires with the gang, give advice and sign autographs
• Tom Cutter, worked with Udo Gietl’s race team in 1977-78 and also worked at Butler & Smith, instructing and writing shop manuals/procedures; Tom currently operates his own BMW repair and parts facility, The Rubber Chicken Racing Garage.
• Dr. Gregory Frazier, who will give a colorful presentation covering his many globetrotting trips around the world on "Ugly Helga," his R 80 GS
• Armand Ensanian, author of Discovering the Motorcycle: the History, the Culture, the Machine, giving a presentation on the history of BMW Motorrad from the early days
• Karl Myers, BMW Master Mechanic for over 30 years, will offer a comprehensive tech session with visual aids
• Bob Henig, owner of Bob’s BMW; he will bring two special R 80 GS motorbikes

Highly acclaimed and talented artist as well as avid vintage BMW rider, John Ritter is currently working on designing one or possibly two commemorative posters for this event. John also designed the special commemorative poster for a recent R 90 S anniversary event; his collection of BMWs includes an R 90 S, R 80 GS, R 69 S and several others.

The itinerary is not set in stone, but the plan is generally as follows:

All attendees are welcome to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday (18-19 September). There will be camping on site with portable toilets and shower(s). Event organizers are working with local hotels for discounted rates.

Thursday can be a day to relax and unwind, or attendees can join guided or self-guided tours on nearby scenic country roads. Thursday evening, enjoy chili and brats or hot dogs and sauerkraut while watching motorbike movies on the big screen in the pavilion with your friends or while gathering around the campfire and listening to tall tales of incredible proportions.

Friday and Saturday will be filled with presentations from all the special guests. There will be a 50/50 raffle both days, door prizes, autographs and catered dinner both nights. Evenings around the campfire or watching movies in the pavilion or swapping stories at the campsites. Alcoholic beverages will not be provided, but feel free to bring your own as long as you drink responsibly.

Sunday we will be celebrating the 13th annual Das Motorrad Vintage Fest. This will include vintage motorbike enthusiasts of all marques not just BMW. Hans Muth and/or George “Schorsch” Martin may give a presentation, which will be followed by a Bavarian BBQ presented once again by Master Chef Alphons Schuhbeck. Those from the rally may join us if they wish or sign up for the Museum Tour in nearby Skippack Village, guided by Curator Mike Casale.

By the way, Hans and Schorsch, owner of the largest BMW dealerships in Germany, have been collaborating for several months on a special highly-classified project just for this anniversary event. This will be an extremely rare opportunity to witness an exclusive presentation regarding the development of the R 65 LS and the R 80 GS never before revealed to the public.

Todd Trumbore's 50-year collection of vintage motorbikes and related items will be on display and open for perusing. Vendors will be selling commemorative shirts, hats, posters, signs, decals, medallions, coins, banners, cloisonné pins, etc. If you wish to be a vendor or sponsor, please contact Todd directly, he will be very accommodating! (send email to Todd)

At least one, possibly two and maybe even three professional photographers will be on site shooting candid and staged shots during the entire event. One will be bringing a camera drone for aerial photography.

A website for this event is up at r80gs.org and will be the best source for up-to-date information and instructions on how to register for this event. Attendance will be capped, so register before May 31st to take advantage of the early bird pricing.

At a time when rally attendance is on a decline, this BMW Vermont club-sponsored event was sold out with, 263 motorcyclists, a third of whom hailed from French-speaking Canada. There was live music, early riser hot coffee and a clutch of four-bed cabins. The rally even showcased a French-Canadian band. Camp Thorpe in Goshen isn’t part of the Vermont Park system, but a private nonprofit summer camp for children and adults with disabilities. With acres of soft beds, it was a challenge deciding where to pitch your tent. Day temps were in the 60s with nighttime lows in the 40s.

This year an award was given to a rider who’s gone to every event, though he seemed to forget his certificate in the newly built, post and beam Hathaway Pavilion. Possibly the food was a distraction: we were fed two excellent breakfasts of bacon, sausage, pancakes and scrambled eggs along with never-go-hungry dinners of chipotle chili, tiki masala tofu, roasted chicken, baked potato, corn on the cob, baked beans, and salad. These self-described “home-cooked meals” were finished off with fingers diving eagerly for the trays of fresh-baked peanut butter and still warm chocolate chip cookies, soft at the centers, crispy at the edges.

Riding Vermont is spectacular, with hardly any traffic and good to great river-following roads to write home about. I’ve been riding up here for 18 years, and it always surprises. The bovines lumber on rolling fields among swarths of blond, beige and golden grasses and wide open patches of dried wild flowers. A red barn suddenly emerges, alive with two horses ringed by a white trailing fence. A monarch butterfly hits your helmet, and you wake up riding in a dreamscape. Call it pastoral until the Remus on my naked K 1200 R cracks the serenity. It’s not too much stimulus or too little fanfare; it’s just right.

It’s an entire state custom-made for riding, complete with small town general stores, the kind with floorboards that creak when you walk through, offering maple syrup cones for a dollar. You can lose yourself in Vermont by just following the artisanal cheese trail, or visit Poorhouse Pies in Underhill, an open shack that trusts you enough to leave the right amount of change before your gobble your fill of strawberry rhubarb. As Jack Riepe would say, the roads here have “more dips than an ice cream stand.” Although the showers could be fancier, someone said how MOV’s Green Mt. Rally is the “gold standard” among campouts. He spoke the truth.

We rode to The Alchemist brewery in Stowe to pick up some souvenirs, then rode to Frank’s BMW dealership near Burlington. Route 100 is the default, but not the only route. Take a loop north from Royalton on 110 then south on 14 from Barre. Incomparable Vermont. September is a perfect time of year, when vacationers have gone back to school and the leaf-peepers are still in cocoon, too much green still left unspent for those critters. To tap MOV visit bmwmov.wildapricot.org.

Fun Facts

• Oldest Male Rider: Bob Pipes, 83
• Youngest Male Rider: Brian Guntharp, 22
• Long Distance Solo Male: Bob Smith, 1,310
• Oldest Female Rider: Muriel Farrington, 77
• Youngest Female Rider: Samantha Wilkins, 21
• Long Distance Solo Female: Melissa LaVangie, 1,100
• Youngest Passenger: Glenlivet Burke, 2
• Long Distance 2-up: Richard and Barbara Piela, 1,850
• Long Distance Sidecar: Ron and Jackie Jones, 1,115
• Oldest BMW: 1966 R 60/2

We've all heard it. “The cheapest thing on a BMW is the nut that connects the handle bars to the seat.“ On the weekend after Labor Day in 2016, BMW riders proved this to be a myth.

The forecast was iffy a week before the 46th annual Wisconsin Dells Rally for a Reason sponsored by the Wisconsin BMW Motorrad Club. It was the club's first year at a new location and nerves were on edge. The Dells Rally was once the premiere rally in Wisconsin. This year, preregistration was at its lowest and the forecast wasn't helping. The club needed riders to show up at the gate to pull this event off. They had planned for everything they could, but nobody knew if riders would show up in the rain.

The club's volunteers were at the site Wednesday, setting things up and moving some of the heaviest picnic tables in the world around to make space for tents. Four inches of rain Tuesday night and Wednesday morning waterlogged Camp Wawbeek and the surrounding areas, so it was muddy and setup proved a tricky task. A friend of the club volunteered to build fire pits off the ground to avoid damaging the grass at this beautiful location and they were being set in place. The Lions Club arrived with their beer trailer, which got positioned near the band pavilion.

The work continued on Thursday as members set up the beer tent, registration, signage and more. A few early arrivals came in - a sign of hope. Everyone prayed that the beautiful weather on Thursday would last the weekend.

Friday started out dreary and worsened. We watched the weather forecast and hoped the rain would stay to the north as predicted. For the most part, they did, but we still got some rain ... followed by some sun ... followed by pouring rain, then mist, then sun, then rain. As of noon on Friday, only 12 people had registered at the gate. Rally Chair Brian Manke was beside himself, muttering, “I ordered too much food for Saturday's pig roast. The club is gonna kill me. We are going to take a hit this year.“

The pouring rain came back and the sky was looking black in every direction. Volunteers at registration and hospitality had nothing to do but chat amongst each other. Every so often one would use a smart device of sorts and check the weather. “It's looking like it's heading north!“ “No, this report shows it coming our way.“ The usually cheerful moods were truly dampened. Then, despite the pouring rain, the BMWs started rolling in.

Rain-soaked riding apparel and muddied boots came walking in the doors of Van Wei Hall to register. Spirits lightened as greetings flowed to the guests. Some waited for the rain to stop before finding a place for their tent. Others just signed up for the bunk space still available and decided to leave their tents packed up. They kept coming in - bike after bike and rider after rider. Club volunteers greeted them all, giving them rally packets, mugs, maps of the camp and rally central, and a chance to dry out inside a heated building.

The beer tent opened at noon and got hopping between bouts of rain. The dinner bell at the dining hall rang shortly before 6 pm to let riders know the hot dogs and baked beans were now being served. The band loaded in and was preparing to play some good old rock-n-roll. Riders were still coming in! Healthy skin color and a normal breathing pattern returned to the rally chair.

It was just after 11 p.m. when our final Friday arrivals rode in. A father and son, both rally virgins, were soaked and ready to dry out. We were able to get them into a couple of bunks for the night and told them registration would re-open at 8 am.

We awoke to a light rain on Saturday. The Easter Seals organization served breakfast in the dining hall, and many took advantage of having biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit available on-site for $5. The rain became sporadic and then stopped by late morning, giving rally central some needed dry-out time. There was still plenty of room in the quiet camping and overflow camping areas despite the interesting way the RV campers parked to ensure no one got stuck. Another couple dozen or so riders rolled in and registered.

Many chose to explore the area on their own. Several opted for the gorgeous organized ride filled with twisties and a great BBQ chicken stop for lunch. Some just hung out on rally grounds, taking their kids to the carnival, playing bingo and checking out the non-motorized field events. It turned into a rather nice day.

As people returned to camp from wherever the day's festivities took them, the caterer showed up. Piggies Delight outdid themselves! The dinner bell rang at 5 pm and riders started lining up for some of the best roasted pig and grilled chicken I've ever tasted. Also served was some delicious cole slaw, potato salad, and mostaccoili. I know it sounds weird to have an Italian dish at a pig roast, but it was phenomenal!. Dessert was fudge-filled brownies!

After dinner, volunteers started tearing down some of the tables to ensure enough seating for the awards. Brian Manke scurried around getting final numbers. Attendance was 357 riders, which meant the club would turn over a check for $3,570 to Easter Seals. Renting bedroll spaces raised an additional $1,640. After Brian got done with the announcements, a rider from Texas handed him a $100 bill and said, “Make that $3,670 to Easter Seals!“ All in all, it looked like the “Rally for a Reason“ raised over $5,000 for Easter Seals

After the awards ended, everyone headed for the pavilion to hear the band – Mostly Water – picking up a beer or soda from the Lions Club along the way. Mostly Water played a diverse assortment of music to a crowd that cheered and chanted “one more“ when they tried to end the show. Two encores later, they finally shut down for the night. Tuckered club volunteers took up seats around campfires or in the beer tent and breathed a sigh of contentment.

Sunday morning was bright and sunny, absolutely glorious for a ride home. Everyone in the club was busy with cleanup and pitched in doing whatever needed to get done so they could mount their steeds and enjoy their rides home. The duty was to leave the camp in the same condition the club found it in - but they did better! There was no indication that 357 pairs of muddy boots tromped across the carpeting at registration or visited one of the many flushing restrooms available on-site. For the most part, the camp was cleaner than when we arrived.

The week after the rally had the number crunchers tallying the final results. Here's the BIG DRUM ROLL ... between the Easter Seals breakfast, donations, the portion of the rally fee ($10/person) and 100% of the bedroll space rentals, the Rally for a Reason netted Easter Seals over $6,600. Having the Lions Club run the beer tent earned them $1,800. The 50/50 money raised went to the Kilbourn Volunteer Fire Department. The first Rally for a Reason resulted in just under $9,000 for three great charities! The club even made a little for their kitty, too.

I’m going to follow the lead of another Wisconsin club, the Port Washington BMW Club, who each year challenges other clubs to donate $100 to the MOA charity selected for each year's national rally. This year, I'd like to challenge each and every club out there to look around your event location and see if there isn't an opportunity for you to do some good in your communities. Maybe it's a Boy or Girl Scout camp. Maybe your local Lions Club has a liquor license and can take on the burden of handling the beer tent. Check it out! Let's spread our BMW MOA name and favored brand around and become known as bikers who care. As Brian Manke stated, “It feels really good to be writing a check to Easter Seals instead of some big business.“

Thank you to the Wisconsin BMW Club for a wonderful weekend and making a difference for some truly worthy charities! It was a pleasure to be a part of the 2016 Rally for a Reason. See you next year - I'll be back!

There's already information available for the 47th annual Wisconsin Dells Rally, which will be held 8-10 September 2017 at Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek, 1450 State Hwy 13, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Rally Chair Brian Manke

Amazingly, there are still 13 current club members who are original charter members: Greg and Deb Bell, Rich Gardner, Alden Gardner, Gene and Nancy Forbes, Chad and Deb Burns, Dian Nabors, Lee and Kae Wrinkle, and Mike and Brenda Wilkerson.

Founding President Rich Gardner and charter member Gene Forbes with the 1983 R 80 ST.

To celebrate 35 years as a club, we hosted two events: a celebratory meeting and a club picnic where we recognized our charter members as well as past presidents and current officers. Between the two events we had six charter members present and eight past/current presidents in attendance.

1985 BMW Riders of Knoxville vintage club shirt.

At our April 3 monthly dinner meeting, we celebrated by recognizing our charter members and past presidents with a delicious cake with our club logo on it. On Saturday, April 8, members headed out to the beautiful campground privately owned by members Jerry and Cindy Dobrianski, aptly named T.W.O. Creeks and home to our club’s annual ROK ON Rally. Members enjoyed a weekend of riding, campfires, food, and fellowship. Several even braved the 34-degree nighttime temps and camped, while others were toasty in their trailers. Founding President Rich Gardner was able to stop by briefly on his red 1983 BMW R 80 ST. (Additional bike info from Rich when asked the model: bought in 1986 and upgraded several times with the tank, frame and swing arm about the only original parts left. Motor is a long-rod 1050.) He was also sporting a vintage club shirt from 1985.

Riders prepare to leave from T.W.O. Creeks for the mountain ride.

Late Saturday morning current president Bill Van Voorhis led nine bikes out for a lunch ride destination to Carvers Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant near Cosby, Tennessee. Carvers was established in 1942 and currently has a restaurant, farmers market and candy store; they are well known for their fried apple pies. Four additional members joined the group for lunch. We continued the ride, stopping for a photo op at a beautiful overlook on the Foothills Parkway with a scenic vista of the Smoky Mountains. The group traveled over 100 miles in the mountains and valleys before hitting our first stoplight. As usual, our mountain ride included a close encounter with a local bird of prey. As Bill came over a rise, a hawk with his roadkill lunch still in his talons lifted off the road. Heavier than usual, his wings barely cleared Bill’s helmet. Those riding behind him thought for sure he’d have some souvenir feathers.

Bikes and apple blossoms at Carvers.

Upon returning to T.W.O. Creeks, several other members joined in the evening picnic and bonfire. Prior to dinner, Jerry Dobrianski took several members out for a quick off road ride to a mountain top fire tower. Members enjoyed a picnic dinner along a second celebratory cake emblazoned with our club logo. A highlight of the bonfire was roasting marshmallow peeps and even making s’mores from them. Conversation, friendship and reminiscing continued well into the evening. May the BMW Riders of Knoxville ROK ON for years to come!

Lunch at Carvers.

BMW Riders of Knoxville Facts:

• First Meeting: April 18, 1983 with 33 members the first year
• Currently 190 individual members
• MOA Charter Club #156 since 1985
• Meet first Monday of the month in various locations
• 2016 Mileage Challenge: 64 members reported 529,550 miles on 129 bikes
• 2017 Mileage Challenge for members to ride at least 567,890 miles
• Host of the popular ROK ON Rally over Memorial Day Weekend

Overlook on the Foothills Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains.

For more information about T.W.O. Creeks Campground, visit their website. Don't confuse the T.W.O. Creeks in Tennessee with the clothing-optional Two Creeks in Minnesota!

Bike talk after the ride.

Jerry Dobrianski and Bill Zahrt enjoy the view from the fire tower on the off-road ride.

Picnic time!

Six presidents: Jim Hurley, Bill Van Voorhis (current), Steve Lange, Cindy Dobrianski, Bobby Winter.

The celebration cake.

Bill Van Voorhis and his Peeps s'more.

Members enjoying the evening campfire.

ROK Secretary Nancy Van Voorhis (left) and President Bill Van Voorhis.

At this year’s luncheon, Kenneth (Mac) McHugh, MOA#31798, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by all the Wisconsin clubs.

Mac joined the MOA in 1976, and for 10 years he was one of the photographers for the MOA. One of Mac’s earliest pictures was the first color cover page for the Owners News magazine. After that, Mac has spent the last 30 years as an MOA Ambassador.

Mac and Arlene have spent years traveling the United States and Canada to rallies and on long distance rides… always together. Many older members will remember "the boys" (their dogs) that traveled with Mac in his tank bag. On October 27, 2009, Mac reached the million mile mark and was recognized by the MOA.

While all of these events were going on in his life, Mac still had time to be a founding member of the Badger Motorcyclists of Wisconsin, MOA Chartered Club #64, in 1976. The Club still exists today with a stable membership. Mac still attends the monthly club meeting and many of the monthly events the club hosts throughout the year.

The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Mac by the presidents of the eight BMW Clubs in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.  Always an MOA Ambassador, Mac spent time at the end of the day with the youngest rider attending the Wild Goose Run, passing information and wisdom on from one generation of rider to the next.

To review a complete set of pictures of the event, please like the Badger Motorcyclists of Wisconsin’s Facebook page.

Photos by Robert F. Borkowski of the Badger Motorcyclists.

Almost everywhere I stopped as I rode through upstate New York, someone would ask what would bring a Georgia boy to their part of the country I would tell them I was on my way to Quebec City to attend a rally put on by the BMW club of Quebec. I was almost always told of the dire consequences that awaited me when I crossed the border. I was warned that people would refuse to talk to me unless I spoke fluent French, and “be careful in traffic, those Canadians will try to run you down when they see that Georgia tag.” They warned that the border crossing would take forever because they consider every American to be a criminal. I’m here to say all the above warnings are pure hogwash.

My time at the Canadian border near Plattsburg, N.Y., was a pleasant experience. When I rode up to the immigration booth the guard greeted me in French, but when I answered in English, he quickly switched to English that was better than mine. He asked the usual questions and, satisfied with my answers, he gave me a few tips on how to get along with the police while riding. He advised that I put my radar detector away as they are illegal in Canada and I would be stopped if a policeman saw it on the bike. He also reminded me that I was now in a country that was metric and to bear in mind that it was now kilometers rather than miles per hour. With a smile he said to try not to exceed the posted speed limit by more than five kilometers per hour and I would be fine.

Riding on the Quebec roads was an adventure. Not because of the traffic, but because of my GPS. When I left the border crossing, the GPS started pronouncing the street names I was to turn on in perfect French. That would have been OK except I soon found out when reading the road names, they didn’t sound anything like they looked. I soon took to just watching how close I was to the upcoming turn and made the turn when the distance hit zero. This worked most of the time.

I got myself in the wrong lane in Montreal and missed my exit. I took the next exit to turn around before the GPS could recalculate. That was a mistake, as there was no return ramp going the other way. I stopped in a parking lot and asked a person walking by how to get back on the highway and in English (again better than my own), he gave me directions. Heading northeast out of Montreal I found the drivers on the TransCanada highway to be very courteous, giving me plenty of room to change lanes or enter and exit the highway. Almost all the drivers signaled their intention to change lanes and they almost all would move over to let another vehicle merge into traffic. To say it was a relaxing ride would be an understatement. I wish the drivers in my country paid as much attention to driving as they do in Quebec.

Quebec is a beautiful province with very friendly people. I’d recommend a trip there to any of my fellow BMW riders. The one thing I would advise is even though it was July, the morning temperatures were a bit on the chilly side (60°F) for mesh gear.

I arrived at the rally site a full 24 hours before the rally was to open. The owner of the RV campground that was the rally site made me feel welcome. He opened his restaurant so I could get coffee and a little lunch. When I asked about a hotel for the night, he let me use one of his rental RVs for the day. When I asked him about my big black box he knew I was there to run the SMART trainer. He showed me where it was and when I asked where he wanted it set up in the rec center, adding,” The machine is a very important part of the rally and everyone was talking about it.” He showed me where the highest rally traffic was likely to be and left me alone to assemble the trainer. Once the trainer was assembled and I was calibrating and testing the systems, the owner (who rides a BMW GS) and his daughter came in to see the machine. I let both of them ride a scenario and they both agreed that this was truly needed to teach traffic hazard awareness.

The day of the rally came early when Rally Chair Michel Rosa and club president Louis Linteau dropped by the loaner RV to see if I needed anything. I told them I was all set and had enjoyed a very restful night in the RV. They then told me if this was to my liking, the club would rent the RV for the weekend for me. They also refused to let me pay for any meals from then on.

Before I start describing the reception the SMART trainer and I got from the rally members, I would like to mention an incident I witnessed the first day of the rally. Two gentlemen from Toledo, Ohio, were in the area and stopped by when they learned of the rally. We had a short conversation during lunch when they mentioned they wanted to see Quebec City, but had no hotel and were afraid to leave their gear on their bikes unattended. Several of the club members volunteered to let the Ohio riders leave their gear at the rally site and they would look after it. Two club members volunteered to give up one of their own days at the rally to take the visitors on a guided motorcycle tour of the city and get them to a nearby hotel where they could stay. Those are really great guys and a real credit to their club. I wish I had gotten their names, but at the time I wasn’t even thinking about writing about this adventure.

The SMART trainer was very well received at the Quebec rally. I ran close to 40 people through the program. There were more in line to ride it when we had a power failure that brought an end to the training three hours early. It seemed that every one of the club members was very interested in the trainer and some were disappointed over the loss of power.

One of my concerns when accepting this assignment from Tom Pemberton was my inability to speak French and the rumors about the French Canadians not speaking English. The problem never surfaced. Of the 85 club members in attendance, most were bilingual. I had four riders all weekend that were not comfortable enough with English and they brought their own translators with them. One young lady asked in French if she could try the trainer. I of course said yes. I then found out she had no one to translate for her. After a few minutes I found out she was fluent in Spanish, so with a few clicks of the mouse the trainer was in the Spanish language mode and she had a great time with it. When the ride was over she was very happy with what she learned.

On another ride I learned that this gentleman was brand new on a motorcycle, and he said he really didn’t understand what it was he should be looking for on the road and where in the lane was the best place to be. After telling him that the entire lane was his to use, I explained the best place to be was where he could best be seen by the other traffic and he could see the traffic. The first ride for him on the trainer was a disaster. He missed almost every clue the scenarios provided resulting in several simulated crashes. I suggested that he try again with me coaching to spot the hazards. He agreed and rode it again, this time with me pointing out clues to potential hazard. After that ride was over, he said he now knew what he was supposed to be looking for and asked for a third ride without my help. The third ride was like a light bulb had come on. Using a different scenario, he rode without a single crash and scored a B average, much improved from the D from his first ride. He couldn’t thank me enough and said that volunteers like me, along with the Foundation, probably saved his life by bringing the SMART trainer to Quebec.

After the Quebec rally closed and the trainer was put to bed, I packed myself up and rode west across Quebec and Ontario, crossing back into the U.S. at Sault St. Marie. Getting through U.S. immigration and customs was much harder than getting into Canada. “Passport, driver’s license, registration and insurance papers please. What’s this? Your address on the registration does not match what is in our computer! Please explain.” I explained the address he was seeing was for my credit union as they held the lien on the bike when it was originally purchased. I had paid off the bike years ago but in Georgia a new title is not issued until I sell the bike, and that is probably why the owner’s address was incorrect in his computer. After a phone call to someone higher up, he said I would be allowed in the country. From there I went to the MOA Rally in Billings, Montana – but that’s another story.

For more information about the Quebec BMW motorcycle club, visit their website. (It's in French, but you can use a service like Google Translate to see the page in a basic English translation.)

Think of it as an Engine Rebuild. The Moderators are thrilled to announce that the forum files have been converted and nearly all of the existing info made the trip. We have been testing it on a new Forum platform, so you can expect a New Look.

To get here has required many hours of help from Alanz as Administrator, with the help of Moderators Rocketman, DaveR, Enfoman, Michele, and Bobs98.

To keep everything moving quickly and get back online, some of the moderators have paid out of pocket for software and consulting expenses; we had a great conversion team that cut their rates significantly to help us out. There are new operating costs for the forum software subscription that we did not have with our old, dead, platform.

We really want to keep Chromeheads open to all, and do not want to institute a Membership-only or Pay-for-Access model. We are reaching out to the Chromeheads community; you know who you are, and you know the value you receive from the community. We all contribute to the content; now it is our chance to contribute to the “care and feeding” for the new Forum platform.

We are using GoFundMe for the Re-Launch; this allows Contributions to be made anonymously (or, you can brag on the new forum, later), so you don’t even have to be a registered user of Chromeheads. This is a big Startup Fundraiser to help us get back on the road.

 https://www.gofundme.com/chromeheads-website-support

We’ve had a great initial 17-year run, and with your help, this community will continue to run like, well, a well-maintained BMW R1200 engine.

We are just a few days away from going Live, so keep  checking  www.chromeheads.org for updates.

Anyway, focusing back to our alternate Oz universe, Dorothy starts her adventure out with bad weather, and Kansas did not disappoint in this universe either, with heavy rains on Friday all the way up to about the time folks started showing up after getting off work or riding in for the weekend. Nothing as catastrophic as what Dorothy experienced but definitely enough weather to get you into the moment with strong parallels to events in the story. The opening ceremony at noon on Friday was a bit delayed in Munchkinland (Warnock Lake, Kansas), but eventually the ribbon parted in the middle, officially opening the rally. Mayor Allen Reavis and several city dignitaries attended the ceremony along with Don Hamblin and several members of the KC BMW Motorcycle club.

The folks in Atchison went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome in their Land, as was evidenced by a quick look at the rally itinerary. The first item to catch my attention was the reference to a shower trolley. The camping area was bit short of shower facilities, (only 2 showers available) so the solution to the shortage was to run a trolley from the campgrounds to the local YMCA on Saturday. I must admit, while watching the shower trolley go by on the first part of the trip, there was a distinct aroma of Pepè Le Pew following the trolley, replaced by a flowerier bouquet fragrance upon the returning trip, with lots of smiling faces. An innovative solution to a basic problem…. Obviously wizard thinking!

Another attention catcher involved the activity of equipment check at the local Hardware Store. At first, I heard the rumor that the equipment check was to be performed by the local Boy Scout troop, and the possibilities of new equipment immediately crossed my mind. After all, if the Boy Scouts determined my equipment to be defective or obsolete, how could I argue with them? I was already framing my argument to my wife with….”but honey, the Boy Scouts don’t lie and “they” said that my old doohiggy or thingamajig needed to be replaced”! But alas, it was not to be, as the equipment check was similar to a coat check at a conference, where someone keeps eye on your equipment while you attend at event at the site; in this case a motorcycle show. It should be noted that the area was completely secure, so I’m not sure why an equipment/coat check process was actually needed!

Of course this is all hearsay, as I was out on my first GS rally ride since taking a beginner GS riders course a couple of weeks earlier in St. Louis. Prior to the rally, I had done my research at the web site for the event, with several reviews of a short video posted on the BMW forum from previous rides. Some made the comment that it was only mud, (did I mention the presence of rain just prior to the rally) but in fact, the ride was composed of a lot of gravel, lots of mud, and great views of the Missouri river and plenty of rolling hills. My favorite was the part of the route that followed the California wagon trail, as there were several examples of swales that developed in the land from the thousands of wagons that made their way west in the younger years of our nation. Kind of humbling to think of all the folks who passed through Atchison, leaving from St. Joe MO with hopes and dreams of a better future in a land so far away. Ride captain Eddie McLiney did a great job of leading the group through more than enough challenge, including a detour around the Yellow Brick Road into the trees and bushes.

Most of us managed to miss the turn though, and we quickly returned to the mud brick road. By-the-way, many thanks to Eddie and Lee Garrett for helping me get back up the one time that I tried to turn my 700 GS into a Fisher solemn mud ski. Apparently they don’t teach transitions from three inch mud to asphalt in a 90 degree turn in beginner GS rider school. I completely forgot that my tires were loaded up with brown muck, thereby substantially reducing my chances of staying vertical in a quick turn. Opps! And finally, no rally is complete without saying a few words about the folks you meet at the event. My favorite part of motorcycle touring is the chance to meet new friends and make new memories. For example, I met Bernie Grossman, designer of the 136 MPG diesel Suzuki/BMW/who knows what cruiser designed to run up to 60 miles per hour (although the disclaimer I heard suggested that at 60 mph, it was “really” running 60 mph), if you get the drift, but came with a upgraded alternator that provided enough output to power a heated jacket, apparently something of importance in Oz winters.

Bernie was just one of many fascinating individuals to be found at a BMW rally, with a new story or idea just waiting to be discovered at the next cluster of tents or campsite, including celebrities. Of course I seem to have a problem recognizing celebrities as evidenced a couple weeks before when I sat next to Teach McNeil around a fire pit at the Gateway BMW riders training camp in March and failed to recognize him for the first hour of conversation even though he gave me several hints after I said that he looked really familiar. So it comes as no surprise to me that I found myself talking to Elyse McKinnon (ON Magazine April 2015) at the coffee booth and failed to recognize her in the flesh. Hailing from Lawrence Kansas, it was just a hop-skip-and jump to get to Atchison after a rain-out at a previously scheduled event, so she thought she would pop in for a hello to everyone. And she brought along her S1000RR speedster for everyone to drool over. What could be better than to be surprised with getting to rub elbows with some of the best in the industry simply by showing up at a rally?

Bottom line for the Land of Oz rally: the folks of KC BMW Motorcycle club did a great job of providing an experience that was well worth the price of admission. Their dedication to planning for all contingencies to make the campers feel welcome was demonstrated over and over during the weekend during trying times such as when the coffee maker trailer shot craps early in the event. Club members like Vicky Barr (AKA The coffee Lady) never missed a beat going to Plan B in order to supply black liquid gold to us zombies emerging each morning from our tents as we assaulted the coffee trailer. And a Girl Scouts organization from the Atchison area provided a great breakfast both days for the 230 plus attending campers for a donations only fee. I don’t know how much they took in for their effort, but heard that they were very pleased with their results. That doesn’t really surprise me though, based on the generosity of BMW riders to support community organizations at other rallies.

The rally was best summed up by an anonymous statement Don Hamblin received right after the rally….” All of this reinforced my overall observation of ENTHUSIAM. The Chamber of Commerce lady had it, you all had it. There was excitement about what you had to offer. I took the town trolley tour. I’ve seen a whole lot more impressive stuff, but, the enthusiasm of the people doing the tour really caught on, and it was really fun.” Great job guys and gals!

The popularity of the event in past years allowed WTS to add another ride in 2016 starting from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. That group linked up with the riders from Arlington in Gettysburg, for the final leg of the ride through the battlefields and to the ending point. The total number of riders was 493 on the southern route and 70 on the northern route.

The Face of America, from national non-profit World T.E.A.M. Sports, is an inspiring weekend of bicycle and hand cycle rides that bring together civilians with retired and active military and first responder riders, including adaptive veterans and civilians from across the United States. For 14 years, thousands of Americans and riders from throughout the world have participated in the Face of America ride. From its launch as a cross-country ride in the summer of 2000, through two years of serving as the official 9/11 commemorative ride from Ground Zero in New York to Washington, to the current Washington-to-Gettysburg route, the Face of America ride has brought together civilians, active duty military, first responders and adaptive veterans in an inclusive bicycle ride. The Face of America is more than just a bike ride. It is an opportunity to share stories and build camaraderie with more than 500 participants while honoring America’s disabled veterans and the American spirit during an inspiring event.

The Moto Crew consisted of an eclectic mix of riders from Maryland, D.C., Virginia and as far away as New York. We rode a mix of V-twins and other brands and were well represented by BMW (most of whom were members of BMW Bikers of Metropolitan Washington (BMWBMW). (MOA Chartered Club #40)

The Moto Crew provided invaluable support primarily conducting traffic control at key intersections, as well as warning cyclists of road hazards and encouraging riders during uphill climbs. The Moto crew would start off ahead of the cyclists, with the Crew Chief placing motorcycles at key intersections; the Crew Chief would signal with a raised fist and fingers designating the number of motorcycles to man the intersection and providing verbal instructions as needed. The Moto Crew would continue along the route, manning key intersections ahead of the cycling group. As the last of the cyclists and support crew cleared the intersection, the motorcycles would leapfrog ahead to the next designated intersection.

Moto Crew for the southern route. Photo by Tony Granata.

This is when much of the fun and danger of moto duty occurs. The cycling group can be stretched out over as much as two miles and the motorcycles must weave in and out of the cycling pack in order to get ahead. A motorcycle must be adept at passing small groups of cyclists, but also be skilled in slow speed maneuvering as they make their way to their next assignment. The key to leapfrogging is to always keep a safe distance from the cyclists and be wary of oncoming traffic. Safe operation of our motorcycles and the safety of the cyclists is of paramount importance.

Support for the event was also provided by local law enforcement, firefighters and EMS crews. As we started our ride from Arlington, the cycling group was led by the Arlington Moto Squad, through the hallowed grounds of Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial, and providing unhindered travel through the congested areas of Arlington and the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. As we traveled through the more open countryside of Maryland and Pennsylvania, local police and volunteer fire and EMS squads provided support.

Moto Crew giving directions to riders at a key intersection. Photo courtesy of World T.E.A.M. Sports.

One of the unique challenges of the FOA Ride was dealing with the traveling public. Imagine a two-mile-long peloton coursing through congested urban areas or limited access back roads. Needless to say, there were some disgruntled residents whose valuable time was affected by our ride. It was incumbent on the Moto Crew to exercise public relations skills and explain to the people we stopped what the event was about and emphasize that we were helping wounded veterans. Once they heard that the event was supporting wounded veterans, most of the people understood and weren't quite as upset with the hold up. Still, there were others who couldn't be appeased no matter the reason. In either case, the Moto Crew made every effort to let traffic through gaps in the peloton as long as it was safe.

This was my third year supporting the FOA Ride and I will be sure to volunteer again. It was inspiring to witness the determination and drive of the many disabled riders, as they overcame their limitations and achieved their goal. We were able to enjoy great riding weather and rode through some beautiful countryside. It was also a great pleasure to have a disparate group of cyclists and motorcycle enthusiasts come together in a team effort in support of a great cause.

Marshalls and a veteran having fun on the ride. Photo by Tony Granata.

Find more information about the Face of America on the World T.E.A.M Sports website.

Cyclists grind out an uphill run. Photo by Tony Granata.

The first commercially built gasoline-powered motorcycles began appearing in the 1890s. When enough of these became available, a sense of community quickly evolved, and people began riding together. One of the first large group rides was in 1911 with “Motorcycle Day in Livermore,” as commemorated with a 100th anniversary event ride and article appearing in the March 2012 issue of Owners News.

Calmoto is a northern California BMW motorcycle dealership with two locations, Mountain View and Livermore. On the first Sunday of each month, there’s a shop ride to interesting places over great roads around the San Francisco Bay Area. Calmoto Mountain View opened in 1981. Shortly after that, founding owner Kari Prager started leading customers and friends on informal shop rides. Michael Meissner, now owner and general manager, joined in 2000 and became the sole owner when Kari passed away in 2010. Today the shop rides are more organized, shorter and more street than adventure oriented, with email alerts, info links and online Google Maps with routes.

The California Delta is one of those places with great roads. It’s been around for 10,000 years, since the end of the last Ice Age. It was a freshwater marsh which by the mid-1800s became a rich agricultural region. Increasing human activity and nature’s response put much of this land below sea level. Levees were built to try and fix that, followed by the water wars, and much of the fresh water became repurposed for irrigation, as well as providing a municipal water supply for southern California. Commerce required roads on top of these levees, along with bridges and ferries. Perfect motorcycle country!

This year’s ride on April 3, 2016, started at Calmoto in Mountain View, with 16 riders showing up. Another 21 riders joined the procession at Calmoto in Livermore. From there we rode just under 100 miles, stopping in Locke and crossing over levees on two ferries, the J-Mack and the CA-84 S, and four bridges, ending the ride at Foster’s Bighorn in Rio Vista for a late lunch.

The town of Locke, originally known as Lockeport, began in 1912 when three Chinese merchants each raised buildings on land owned by the Locke family. The town grew and shrank and had a very colorful history, often distorted by the passage of time, memory and emotion.

As amazing as Locke was and is, Foster’s Bighorn (not to be confused with Foster’s Freeze) is very interesting in its own way. The original proprietor, Bill Foster, retired from big game hunting in 1953, went to work in his bar, and passed on in 1963; many of his trophies adorn the walls of the restaurant. Bill considered himself a conservationist, and he started finding his big game muse when he apprenticed for a man who was one of the first African hunters to bring movies of wildlife to the U.S. in 1918.

If you want to have new adventures, take advantage of 120 years of experience and ride with a friend, group or community that knows of interesting places to ride and visit. Check with local motorcycle dealers and clubs or social media resources like Meetup or Facebook.