Topic: SOHC4 Family Reunion Aug 15-17 2017 Dolores Colorado

[Bankerdanny]

I started a thread (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,160369.0.html) over in the 2016 World Tour section about 2017.

Participation in this year's Relay Rally has been dismal to say the least. I was thinking that perhaps it was time to consider a single ride-in event. A (very) small scale Sturgis or WingDing if you will.

I would like to know how many people might be interested. I am going to add a poll to my thread, check in and let me know and if we can gather sufficient interest I will go to the next step and look at possible locations.

Thanks,

Danny

**UPDATE** The dates are August 15-17, 2017. I am still trying to finalize the location other than the vicinity of Durango, CO. I will update this again when I have the campground.

**3-28-17 update, the location is set! Dolores River Campground: http://doloresrivercampground.com/
Make your reservation ASAP and mention that you are with the SOHC/4 group. BD

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That might be tough, but I'm all over it if it's in the Southwestern US.

[Bankerdanny]

Right now I am leaning towards the idea of Arkansas.

It's a lengthy trip from the coasts, about 1500 miles from LA and 1300 from NYC and Philly and 1200 from Phoenix (I know, not a coast). But 650 from Chicago, 630 from Atlanta, 850 from Denver, only 300 from Dallas.

I have read really great things about the rides there.

[Gene]

Right now I am leaning towards the idea of Arkansas.

It's a lengthy trip from the coasts, about 1500 miles from LA and 1300 from NYC and Philly and 1200 from Phoenix (I know, not a coast). But 650 from Chicago, 630 from Atlanta, 850 from Denver, only 300 from Dallas.

I have read really great things about the rides there.

Arkansas is pretty.  My Mother is from there.

[Bankerdanny]

I am trying to relocate the conversation on this event to this thread, so that in mind here is what I posted over there:

What I need to know is (1) How far would you be willing to ride to attend an event (2) Where are you located (I need a city and state please) and (3) what would be the best time of the year for you?

I will create a spreadsheet and track responses for a couple months and then select a couple of locations that would maximize participation.

Here is my vision for an inaugural event:

• 25+ people.
• A location that offers an opportunity for great scenic cruising as well as some twisties for people that want to exercise the sporty sides of their bikes.
• Options for both camping and hotels. A campground that offers an option of cabins, like the Plymouth Rock Campground I stayed at for Rockerbox would be ideal.
• Someplace that is no more than a 2 day ride (or one long day) for the largest number of participants. In my opinion, 400 miles is a long day, particularly on an SOHC4. So that means a radius of around 800 miles from the event location.
• Most people arrive Friday night and we kick off with a breakfast ride Saturday and finish with brunch on Sunday so everyone can head for home Sunday afternoon.
• I am thinking that this is a riding intensive event. A Saturday morning sport ride, a Saturday afternoon cruise/sightseeing ride and group lunch. Dinner Saturday is an open fire cookout at the campground. If there was an actual drive in movie theater in the area, that might be a fun group event. Another sport ride Sunday morning followed by packing up for those who plan to leave after a ride somewhere for brunch

What I would hope the event would be is a fun, casual, relaxed weekend where members who only know each other's forum handles get a chance to meet and ride together in real life. I have really enjoyed doing that with the local members I have met over the years.

Thanks for your responses.

Danny

[Mooshie]

I will get this kick started:
What I need to know is (1) How far would you be willing to ride to attend an event (2) Where are you located (I need a city and state please) and (3) what would be the best time of the year for you?

1) Arkansas?  Hmmmm, well I guess I will be riding 1500 miles then
2) Santa Barbara CA
3) I just need enough time to take the time off of work.  Pick a nice time of year for wherever the ride is

[seanbarney41]

Id be up for this.  Danny, so far your ideas are solid.

Ideally, I would ride as far as I have to, meeting up with more and more members on the way...a great excuse to go on an epic trip.  Realistically, 500 miles is totally doable.

I live in sw michigan and often turn a beakfast rin into a 200 mile sunday.

Anytime of year is good.  I live where it gets too cold and snowy for motorcycles, so a good excuse to throw a bike in the van and drive somewhere warm would not be the end of the world.

[70CB750]

1.  400 miles
2.  Northern Virginia
3.  Year around, except when roads are snow covered

[Don R]

 If it falls in between drag races I'd be in.

[Gene]

To paraphrase Mooshie . . .

1) Arkansas?   well I guess I will be riding 1500 miles then
2) Seal Beach CA
3) Arkansas gets hella cold in winter, could be Spring - I have a fall trip planned so not sure I could get the time off.

[Bankerdanny]

Thank you everyone.

No worries about Winter Gene. My initial thought is early June and failing that Late Sept or even early October. Fall is supposed to be quite lovely in that area of the country. My goal is to avoid real heat, but I don't want cold either. A daytime temp between the low 70's and low 80's would be my preference.

[tlbranth]

I like the idea but Arkansas? From Seattle? On a CB750? You might want to consider what they do on the Naked Goldwing site. They have an Eastern, Central and Western get-together with pretty good turnout. Often people in the Central region come to the western gathering and last year I went to the Central which was in Deadwood, SD.

[kpier883]

I will get this kick started:
What I need to know is (1) How far would you be willing to ride to attend an event (2) Where are you located (I need a city and state please) and (3) what would be the best time of the year for you?

1) 800 Miles
2) Birmingham, Alabama
3) Fall or Spring

[ofreen]

I like the idea but Arkansas? From Seattle? On a CB750? You might want to consider what they do on the Naked Goldwing site. They have an Eastern, Central and Western get-together with pretty good turnout. Often people in the Central region come to the western gathering and last year I went to the Central which was in Deadwood, SD.

Regional meets are more likely to be successful.  It is 1600 miles from here (SW Idaho) to Eureka Springs, AK, and that is if the interstates are used.  I'd prefer the secondary roads, so add another 400 miles probably.  Grinding out miles on the superslab is more work than fun and a waste of time, gas and machine unless your only goal is getting from point A to point B as fast as possible.  So 4 days each way would be 500 mile days.  Doable, but not much time to stop and smell the roses.  That would be 8 days riding, then I presume a couple of days hobnobbing with fellow old Japanese bike aficionados.  So I'd have to have 2 weeks available.  I suspect the numbers will be similar for a lot of other participants.

[FunJimmy]

I'd love the oppertunity to meet SOHC members on a road trip.
Riding interstates in a big fat drag and I'll typically add another day or two riding secondary roads to get to the destination. I travel light so a motel or cabin is essential. A pub goes a long way to helping FunJimmy flourish as well.

1) 1000 - 1200 miles
2) Vancouver BC
3) July-Sept

[Bankerdanny]

Greg,

Regional would be ideal, but what I am trying to do right now is get one in the books and then hopefully expand in future years if the first one works.

[tlbranth]

I'm 71 years old. Do it soon.

[ofreen]

Greg,

Regional would be ideal, but what I am trying to do right now is get one in the books and then hopefully expand in future years if the first one works.

I hope you can make it go.  It will be fun.  Mooshie was talking about having one here in the west.  I'll ride the 750 about anywhere but time is going to be a factor unless I manage to retire next year.

[Gene]

I'm 71 years old. Do it soon.

HAHAHAHAHAHA  . . . . sorry, that's good comedy.

[Bankerdanny]

Ride time is definitely a consideration. Iron Butt riders notwithstanding, covering more than a few hundred miles a day on an SOHC is an accomplishment, so being willing to ride 1,000+ miles just to get to the event is a serious commitment.

In addition to my original idea of the Ozarks I have also considered an off-season visit to Sturgis. The MC camping infrastructure is obviously already present and I it appears that there is some really beautiful riding around there and of course it's an easy ride to Mt. Rushmore.

[BomberMann650]

I'm 71 years old. Do it soon.

HAHAHAHAHAHA  . . . . sorry, that's good comedy.

Time is of the essence!

[Don R]

 I was reading the history section and the first Midwest ride was up 61 starting in Dubuque Iowa riding north into Wisconsin. Maybe this time we could go to Dubuque or the quad cities and ride 61 south to the reunion. Nice road and some scenery. Just a thought.

[fatmatt650]

1. 2000 miles is kinda far but doable with a 2 week vacation.
2. Pacifica, CA
3. Fall is better as my work schedule slows down.

I'd prefer Colorado or somewhere further west but if it's in Arkansas I might still be up for it.

[Bankerdanny]

OK. Well, I am going to find some time this week to review the responses I received here and at the original thread in the Relay Rally board and decide the best location.

Based on a superficial review though it does appear that maybe moving farther west will make sense for the first one.

[Bankerdanny]

So a quick update, I had nine people respond, 8 of who gave me an idea of distance they could cover.

4 from SoCal plus an Idaho and Vancouver BC, a couple other Midwesterners like me, a Birmingham AL and and a Virginia.

So based on the sample a western location of some sort makes sense. I need to plot some cities on a map, draw a circle and see what I come up with.

More to come.