clowry
Active member
You know it's back, right??
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Quick thoughts on Billings rally
- Thread starter sagerat
- Start date
You know it's back, right??
BMW Test Rides
Great rally overall, except for the food availability (or lack of).
Our only additional gripe: waiting in line for an hour on the first day (Thursday morning) to sign up for BMW test rides. Getting to the front of the line and being told by Frau Motorrad "No, you cannot pre-register for demo rides for Friday or Saturday. Only for today."
I pointed out that a simple sign at the line-up entry point might have informed us (and others) of that fact, and thanked them for wasting an hour of our lives.
We had cabbed over without riding gear to the rally on Thursday, as we were signed up for the brew pub tour that afternoon.
Ironically my home dealer was hosting BMW Motorrad Canada test rides the same weekend as the rally. (Unlike the Triumph dealer, where EVERY Saturday is a test-ride day).
==Grizzler
Great rally overall, except for the food availability (or lack of).
Our only additional gripe: waiting in line for an hour on the first day (Thursday morning) to sign up for BMW test rides. Getting to the front of the line and being told by Frau Motorrad "No, you cannot pre-register for demo rides for Friday or Saturday. Only for today."
I pointed out that a simple sign at the line-up entry point might have informed us (and others) of that fact, and thanked them for wasting an hour of our lives.
We had cabbed over without riding gear to the rally on Thursday, as we were signed up for the brew pub tour that afternoon.
Ironically my home dealer was hosting BMW Motorrad Canada test rides the same weekend as the rally. (Unlike the Triumph dealer, where EVERY Saturday is a test-ride day).
==Grizzler
61996
IBA# 5819
36654
New member
roostershooter
motorcycle cowboy
sudsr1100s
New member
As a first time rally goer I didn't have any pre conceived ideas of how things would be and I really enjoyed myself. The food was ok and reasonable, the BEER was fantastic, I was expecting Bud and Bud Light and got ambers, IPAs, porters and at 2 bucks a mug a great deal.
I have to mention the vendors, they were all very helpful and willing to talk if you had a particular issue or problem. The Ohlins guys especially, they spent over an hour checking and setting up my shocks that the previous owner had installed on my bike and did not want any money. They also took the time to explain all the setting that can be done on the bike.
I only stood in line for 1 shower and that was because I was too lazy to trek to the arena. More food choices would have been nice and next time I'll make the effort to get into the city for more variety.
Thanks to the organizers and all the volunteers !!!
I have to mention the vendors, they were all very helpful and willing to talk if you had a particular issue or problem. The Ohlins guys especially, they spent over an hour checking and setting up my shocks that the previous owner had installed on my bike and did not want any money. They also took the time to explain all the setting that can be done on the bike.
I only stood in line for 1 shower and that was because I was too lazy to trek to the arena. More food choices would have been nice and next time I'll make the effort to get into the city for more variety.
Thanks to the organizers and all the volunteers !!!
I think the closest dealer was 350 miles away
dcmcrider1983
Back road scratcher
A comment and two gripes.
1. It's a fairgrounds. If you want private bathing facilities, don't camp. I camped several nights on the way home, and I assure you, the showers in the arena building were way better than most state park and national forest facilities (when they have showers at all). There was no line at the arena when I showered. By the way, Billings was not "run down" compared to Bloomsburg. The buildings we used were modern and had functioning cooling systems.
2. The volunteer who checked me in could have had better training. He spent at least two minutes unfurling a doom-and-gloom scenario about how hard it was going to be to find a camping spot. I was a late arrival on Friday and had no problem finding a semi-shade spot, albeit with lots of traffic noise. I always wear earplugs anyway. I knew what to expect, but a first-timer might have been put off by the volunteer's negativity.
3. Shutting down all services, including water coolers in advance of the closing ceremonies seemed not so good. That included shutting down the beer garden. Most of us like to chat over a beer, with friends. Impossible to do in a loud arena--and that was the only place serving. I got out of there immediately after the closing ceremony. A sour note for me in an otherwise very well executed rally.
1. It's a fairgrounds. If you want private bathing facilities, don't camp. I camped several nights on the way home, and I assure you, the showers in the arena building were way better than most state park and national forest facilities (when they have showers at all). There was no line at the arena when I showered. By the way, Billings was not "run down" compared to Bloomsburg. The buildings we used were modern and had functioning cooling systems.
2. The volunteer who checked me in could have had better training. He spent at least two minutes unfurling a doom-and-gloom scenario about how hard it was going to be to find a camping spot. I was a late arrival on Friday and had no problem finding a semi-shade spot, albeit with lots of traffic noise. I always wear earplugs anyway. I knew what to expect, but a first-timer might have been put off by the volunteer's negativity.
3. Shutting down all services, including water coolers in advance of the closing ceremonies seemed not so good. That included shutting down the beer garden. Most of us like to chat over a beer, with friends. Impossible to do in a loud arena--and that was the only place serving. I got out of there immediately after the closing ceremony. A sour note for me in an otherwise very well executed rally.
dcmcrider1983
Back road scratcher
More like 260, in Sturgis, SD. I know, because I spent two fun-filled** days there waiting on my bike to be fixed after my driveshaft crapped. Excellent service, BTW, at Sturgis Motorsports. They got me back on the road as soon as humanly possible.
**As much fun as you can have with no wheels and the anxiety of a four-figure repair bill.
GregoryT
BMW is Boxer-Boxer is BMW
Billings Rally.
Simply disappointed. Did anybody compare this rally to Salem, OR?
Over there we had trailer showers with portable sinks to brush our teeth and shave, excellent food quarter with plenty of shaded under tents seating space, and a wonderful shuttle helping people to move through a facility.
Regardless of the best intentions and hard work from volunteers, this rally was a huge fiasco in my book - worst rally I ever attended.
And by the way, I wouldn't mind to pay extra for portable showers since jail style three post showers are not my cup of tee.
All this combined with the loud off ramp freeway location with trains and low flying planes was biggest joke one could imagine.
To say the least, I could not take this anymore and cut my stay in the "campsite" by the second day - too bad because I was waiting for this event since last summer.
Simply disappointed. Did anybody compare this rally to Salem, OR?
Over there we had trailer showers with portable sinks to brush our teeth and shave, excellent food quarter with plenty of shaded under tents seating space, and a wonderful shuttle helping people to move through a facility.
Regardless of the best intentions and hard work from volunteers, this rally was a huge fiasco in my book - worst rally I ever attended.
And by the way, I wouldn't mind to pay extra for portable showers since jail style three post showers are not my cup of tee.
All this combined with the loud off ramp freeway location with trains and low flying planes was biggest joke one could imagine.
To say the least, I could not take this anymore and cut my stay in the "campsite" by the second day - too bad because I was waiting for this event since last summer.
36654
New member
Oh, for the precious moments we've lost..........
Sue
Friend of the Marque
Hi Paul ...
We had two beer gardens which worked well for the rally. The outside one was well used, due in a large part to the exceptional weather. The inside one was barely occupied thru much of the rally. But if the weather would have been Bloomsburg-Hot or rainy, the inside would have been busier. We asked the beer servers to close the outside venue for Saturday night, because our entertainment was slated for inside. I loved the outside venue best as well, but for the last big push, keeping it all indoors was the easiest to manage.
The water coolers were not intended to be the only hydration option for the rally guests. The coolers were filled by hard working volunteers who took the nights off so they could also enjoy some time at the rally. By Saturday evening, the coolers needed to be emptied and packed on the trailer for earlier departure on Sunday. We really expected people to bring in their own water from a grocery store or a gas station ... or fill their glasses from one of the faucets on the facility grounds. In retrospect, maybe furnishing any water at all is setting expectations, and needs to be addressed. I don't know. This is something we need to look at.
Thanks for coming.
Sue
sagerat
Boxers uber alles
Sue, you've hit the nail on the head, which is better than hitting it with your tire. *rimshot*
Anyway, I think most folks assumed the water coolers would be there until Sunday morning. I appreciated the cold water all the other days. I can't remember if the map in the program showed the faucets or not. If it didn't, then you could anticipate more lines at sinks and showers to fill water bottles and/or bladder bags such as CamelBaks.
I think supplying water at summertime rally is critical.
Again, to me most of this is picking at nits as overall I had a great experience at the rally.
Sue
Friend of the Marque
We saw people filling their Camelbacks and wetting down their cool vests at the water coolers, which were filled with ice. This was frustrating for those of us who were lifting 5 gallons of water at a time, continuously. Filling those jugs and lifting them on and off the carts and tables throughout the rally days was back-breaking work. Buying pallets of bottled water would be easier, but at crazy expensive costs.
I am an old-school sort of rider, and I use my rally mugs to get water from bathroom faucets at rallies, all the time. It never even occurred to me that others don't do this. I know .... huh! Who knew? Ah well - Lessons learned.
dcmcrider1983
Back road scratcher
Sue,
It's really not a big deal--and perhaps my comments came off as too negative. It's readily apparent the organizers and volunteers worked their tails off. I had no problems filling my water containers (camelbak, mug, etc.) from faucets. It's just once in a while a cold drink felt good on a hot summer day. I have noticed--and this is not unique to Billings--that there's a certain "roll up the sidewalks" atmosphere to the rally as the closing ceremony approaches. I appreciate that it's been a long week and the closing ceremony is an opportunity for the organizers and volunteers to finally relax a bit and take a much-needed bow.
Perhaps my view is just a little colored by the fact I had a mechanical issue on the way to Billings, so "my rally" consisted of a late Friday arrival and trying to pack everything in on Saturday. And I missed the RPU class I was supposed to work on Thursday.
As I was marooned in Sturgis at the BMW shop I came very close to just heading east once my bike was fixed. But, I'm glad I didn't. Thanks again for a nice event.
pglaves
#13338
It is obvious to me from some of the comments in this thread that some people just shouldn't go to rallies. The level of nirvana some folks seem to demand just doesn't happen when camping at a rally in a new little mini-city of a few thousand folks.
Showers were available. Water was available. Food was available. Shade was available. Air conditioned spaces for vendors and seminars were available. Grass to camp on was available.
If finding these things exceeded a person's situational awareness, then maybe a rally is the wrong place to be.
Showers were available. Water was available. Food was available. Shade was available. Air conditioned spaces for vendors and seminars were available. Grass to camp on was available.
If finding these things exceeded a person's situational awareness, then maybe a rally is the wrong place to be.
Early arrivals for volunteers
As a still somewhat newbie and volunteering at a rally for the first time, I arrived early on Wednesday to get a shady spot and was willing to work for that early arrival; unlike so many of the others arriving early. What's up with that?
I was disappointed in the lack of any type of information, site control, security, etc on Tuesday and Wednesday and even early Thursday. I think a bit more control of the site early should be looked into.
Maybe its just me but I was surprised how many folks show up early and expect, showers, water, shade, food, no lines, etc, and do nothing to help the event happen, this amazed me!
I help at a car show with over 11,000 cars, it takes over 2500 volunteers for the long weekend. We have tight security, before and during the event, the volunteers sign up in February, request up to 3 options and up to 3 shifts; the volunteers get assigned their shifts by a post card, In April. Volunteers get a shirt and are entered in drawings specifically for the volunteers. (a nice perk, but it costs $ and takes more volunteers to run the volunteer shifts scheduling)
Early arrival, I'm sure my comments will fire up a storm. Arrive early pay $15.00/night, work a volunteer shift get a nights lodging back, or sign up as a volunteer and get a card to get in early, or?
Or maybe its fine the way it is, I was just surprised so many early birds were not helping out.
I was also surprised that Billings had a noise ordinance that requires all cars and trucks to have as loud an exhaust as possible!!!
See you next year, RIDE SAFE!!!
As a still somewhat newbie and volunteering at a rally for the first time, I arrived early on Wednesday to get a shady spot and was willing to work for that early arrival; unlike so many of the others arriving early. What's up with that?
I was disappointed in the lack of any type of information, site control, security, etc on Tuesday and Wednesday and even early Thursday. I think a bit more control of the site early should be looked into.
Maybe its just me but I was surprised how many folks show up early and expect, showers, water, shade, food, no lines, etc, and do nothing to help the event happen, this amazed me!
I help at a car show with over 11,000 cars, it takes over 2500 volunteers for the long weekend. We have tight security, before and during the event, the volunteers sign up in February, request up to 3 options and up to 3 shifts; the volunteers get assigned their shifts by a post card, In April. Volunteers get a shirt and are entered in drawings specifically for the volunteers. (a nice perk, but it costs $ and takes more volunteers to run the volunteer shifts scheduling)
Early arrival, I'm sure my comments will fire up a storm. Arrive early pay $15.00/night, work a volunteer shift get a nights lodging back, or sign up as a volunteer and get a card to get in early, or?
Or maybe its fine the way it is, I was just surprised so many early birds were not helping out.
I was also surprised that Billings had a noise ordinance that requires all cars and trucks to have as loud an exhaust as possible!!!
See you next year, RIDE SAFE!!!
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