National Rally Security?
Hi Mike,
Thanx for the site map--it gives me an idea about the layout of the Rally. I still have some questions though:
1. How are we going to handle the campsite security? All the previous Nationals were held in one location, with one fence around the Rally. Security was not too hard since we had pretty good control on who went in+out. Heck, among fellow Beemer riders, I never worried about taking my keys out of the ignition or about the safety of my gear in the tent. I still don't worry about my fellow BMW riders, but it would seem that I will have to worry about a lot of other types of folks that will be able to be around our Rally sites. Three different camping areas,the Civic Center vendors/shoppers, and the attached parking areas--thats a lot of area to keep track of. Local riff-raff could have a lot of "collectables" to choose from at our Rally. That's one problem that I have with a Urban Rally........
2. Another concern is about the BeerTent and transportation. I like to drink my beer, but I have learned that I cannot ride after drinking my beers. The one-site rallys really don't have as big a problem with "affected" riders since nearly all of them are camping @ the Rally and as long as Security helped them to their tent, everything was OK (except for the following morning). We are going to have a lot of busses/trams/wagons to provide safe transit to our participants, and I wonder how we can keep some of our fellow BMW from making a big mistake. This worries me, because I have discovered in my 29 years of Rally fun (15 Nationals) that a lot of Rally-goers use the National Rally as their one chance to "blow it out" for the year. Away from home, away from people that would know them in their non-bike life, away from responsibilites, significant others, and other anchors of the workday world. The party will go on, the trick is to get everybody through it.
3. Who would we need to get in touch with if a group of BMW riders should ride up to Charleston to check things out around May? Several of us folks in NC might like to go up there and eyeball the site during one weekend. Any tips would be welcomed.
These are some of my concerns--I love going to the Nationals, but the BMW National Rally is a different type of national rally. Most of the people camp, there is a sense of community caused by the masses that are crammed together in a sea of tents. In a lot of ways, our Nationals are a bit like Woodstock-loose and somewhat disorganized, with a lot of people doing a lot of fun. Maybe that is why I look forward to the National: more like Woodstock than a bike show.
Hi Mike,
Thanx for the site map--it gives me an idea about the layout of the Rally. I still have some questions though:
1. How are we going to handle the campsite security? All the previous Nationals were held in one location, with one fence around the Rally. Security was not too hard since we had pretty good control on who went in+out. Heck, among fellow Beemer riders, I never worried about taking my keys out of the ignition or about the safety of my gear in the tent. I still don't worry about my fellow BMW riders, but it would seem that I will have to worry about a lot of other types of folks that will be able to be around our Rally sites. Three different camping areas,the Civic Center vendors/shoppers, and the attached parking areas--thats a lot of area to keep track of. Local riff-raff could have a lot of "collectables" to choose from at our Rally. That's one problem that I have with a Urban Rally........
2. Another concern is about the BeerTent and transportation. I like to drink my beer, but I have learned that I cannot ride after drinking my beers. The one-site rallys really don't have as big a problem with "affected" riders since nearly all of them are camping @ the Rally and as long as Security helped them to their tent, everything was OK (except for the following morning). We are going to have a lot of busses/trams/wagons to provide safe transit to our participants, and I wonder how we can keep some of our fellow BMW from making a big mistake. This worries me, because I have discovered in my 29 years of Rally fun (15 Nationals) that a lot of Rally-goers use the National Rally as their one chance to "blow it out" for the year. Away from home, away from people that would know them in their non-bike life, away from responsibilites, significant others, and other anchors of the workday world. The party will go on, the trick is to get everybody through it.
3. Who would we need to get in touch with if a group of BMW riders should ride up to Charleston to check things out around May? Several of us folks in NC might like to go up there and eyeball the site during one weekend. Any tips would be welcomed.
These are some of my concerns--I love going to the Nationals, but the BMW National Rally is a different type of national rally. Most of the people camp, there is a sense of community caused by the masses that are crammed together in a sea of tents. In a lot of ways, our Nationals are a bit like Woodstock-loose and somewhat disorganized, with a lot of people doing a lot of fun. Maybe that is why I look forward to the National: more like Woodstock than a bike show.