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New Rally Schedule

Rally in Canada

Does this mean the rally will never be in Canada again?

Jim

That is not my decision, but in studying the map one would get that impression. I think the Canadian Rockies would be a great location and possibly cooler too. The plains provinces may not provide the exciting roads that some people are looking for, but west of there it could be great.

Pocono Bill
 
Does this mean the rally will never be in Canada again?

Jim

Most likely.

You can search this forum. The situation has been discussed at much length. The problem is getting the vendors into and out of the country.

The last time it was a complete SNAFU.

To be fair, it won't be in Mexico either.
 
Really to bad there are absolutely no vendors in Canada and they can't import from the US because it is too hard to get product over the boarder. Where do they get things for their motorcycles anyway?

:hide

Sorry I have resisted way to long. :brad
 
Really to bad there are absolutely no vendors in Canada and they can't import from the US because it is too hard to get product over the boarder. Where do they get things for their motorcycles anyway?

:hide

Sorry I have resisted way to long. :brad

Many of the vendors that come to the rally are mom n pop operations or small businesses like Lee Parks.

For them to vend in Canada they need to declare the value of the inventory they bring in along with all sort of other paperwork to import and sell their goods in Canada.


For some small business owners there are many different reasons why this might not be desirable.
 
Many of the vendors that come to the rally are mom n pop operations or small businesses like Lee Parks.

For them to vend in Canada they need to declare the value of the inventory they bring in along with all sort of other paperwork to import and sell their goods in Canada.


For some small business owners there are many different reasons why this might not be desirable.

Many valid points that strike me as obstacles for people who really want a rally to overcome in some way. The current rally schedule would, for example, give four years for people in western Canada to figure out a workable solution and host a rally that would work for the association. Not perfect, but then from what I have seen in thirty years a rally has never been perfect just some are better than others.

As to my comment you quoted...

1345239693504FT171692foghorn-S.jpg
 
Humor was banned in 2007.

Got the memo, and at the time I thought it was a joke along with the idea that in an association this size, interested in riding Canada doesn't have a group of members that could figure out how to make a rally work with the largest trading partner the US has. Especially since Canadians have to smuggle all those farkles because they don't have any motorcycle vendors in their own country that sell to BMW riders.

:brad
 
I'm not too impressed with the fact that the lack of vendors prevent us from having a rally in Canada.

Is this a motorcycle travelling club or a shopping get-together?

If we don't have any vendors, too bad, we'll actually have to spend time socialising............The horror!

Regards, Rod.
 
I'm not too impressed with the fact that the lack of vendors prevent us from having a rally in Canada.

Is this a motorcycle travelling club or a shopping get-together?

If we don't have any vendors, too bad, we'll actually have to spend time socialising............The horror!

Regards, Rod.

While appreciating your position for many people visiting the vendors are a major draw. It is for me. Especially the small machinist or chair maker; for us the rally may be the only time to look at a product before buying it.

Plus the last (and IIRC only) time we went North they couldn't handle the extra work. I recall one breakfast spot that closed for the rest of the week after the first day.
 
Rob, I understand that many people go to the rally to see new products, however would it kill us to have one in ten rallies in another country such as Mexico or Canada?

Regards, Rod.
 
Rob, I understand that many people go to the rally to see new products, however would it kill us to have one in ten rallies in another country such as Mexico or Canada?

Regards, Rod.

I would hope not but you never know. Right now the trend in attendance is down. Sure you can blame it on the heat, the time of year or the location but year to year attendance is declining. I believe membership is also down.

I think the board would be wise to consider a return to an urban site like Charleston. I believe Charleston had a ton of unrealized potential. It was poor planning that prevented it from being a home run.

My last comment is with all due respect Trenton wasn't much of a site and the town wasn't ready, able or ultimately willing to handle the crowd. The whole thing came off like it was done to "check the Canada box."

Is there anywhere in Canada that's a reasonable distance that has a facility like Bend, Lima or Vermont?
 
Hi Rob, yes there were issues with Trenton, however I personally had a great time. It's all part of the learning process.

I'm sure there are suitable places, it would be worth investing the time to do the research if the MOA could provide a commitment to have another Canadian rally.

Regards, Rod.
 
Security measures since 911 have made holding a rally outside the US very difficult, for both memebers and vendors. Unless those issues could be addressed it's not likely we will see an MOA rally outside the continental 48 very soon.
 
Rob, I understand that many people go to the rally to see new products, however would it kill us to have one in ten rallies in another country such as Mexico or Canada?

Regards, Rod.

I think passport and insurance issues would keep most members that normally go to the rally as well as others from attending a rally in a foreign country. The rules have changed.
 
Security measures since 911 have made holding a rally outside the US very difficult, for both memebers and vendors. Unless those issues could be addressed it's not likely we will see an MOA rally outside the continental 48 very soon.

What issues specifically as possible. If a group were interested in trying to put a proposal together they will be part of what needs to be addressed in putting a proposal together.

With all due respect your response is isolationist. Before, after and for the foreseeable future Canada is the largest trading partner with the US. In a group such as the MOA I find it difficult to believe viable solutions could not be found.
 
What issues specifically as possible.

Doubt these have anything to do with 9/11, but here is what I saw when the rally was held in Trenton:

  • Massive logistical problems with tax forms and inventory reporting for US-based vendors to get into and out of Canada.
  • Nearly impossible for BMW NA to get bikes into and out of Canada (the Mobile Tradition was there that year and it was a huge CF)
  • Nearly impossible fir the MOA to get prize bikes from US into Canada and then back out.
  • Massive logistics to bring in Country Store merchandise and to return to US with unsold merchandise.
  • The requirement for US citizens to have passports to get back into the USA.
  • If you had a drunk driving conviction in the US, you couldn't go to the rally.
  • If you travel with a sidearm, fuggeddabouddit!
  • Paperwork requirements involved with rallygoers purchasing items at the rally in Canada.avoid taxes when leaving Canada

This is everything I can think of... obviously most had to do with Canadian government requirements for taxes and import/export, not 9/11 issues.

Sure wish there were a way around this, as I would *love* to go to an MOA National Rally in Canada again.

Ian
 
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