Gentlemen,
I'm truely sorry that everyone could not be accomodated but this was not a phenomenon only related to PNW. Many people who wanted to participate were unable to for various reasons of their own. I've had the pleasure to deal with hundreds of people. I didn't have my SOHC4 built to ride yet and was given a loaner. I rode through snow storms and 100 degree heat on 2 occasions in order to meet a rider who rode solo across Nevada after braving his snow storm then I had to meet a rider that had a schedule to keep due to his vacation time while the next region was waiting on him with plans of their own. Some planned farther out than others because they could while others made last minute plans. I had my issues making the ride just as I've had my issues making this HUGE project happen. Try doing this in the middle of a divorce. Many guys had bike issues, many guys had family issues, many guys had job issues, many guys had money issues, many guys had many other issues. Life issues. Tornadoes. Floods. Snow storms. Torrential rains. Extreme heat. The guys MADE it happen. I knew this would not be seamless. I had a difficult time bringing on a coordinator for PNW and Rat so graciously volunteered to complete the coordinator team for which I am grateful. I was really doubtful that PNW would have a cordinator. I resorted to begging on occasion. Why? No one wanted to volunteer! Yes, GZ poked through some regions and I thought we may have to use UPS on occasion and not have the continuity. Again the guys MADE it happen. They got GZ to PNW. From the beginning the plan was to do this over a 6 month period and we ran over. That's not so bad but it had to end sometime and Seaweb has always been the planned endpoint as the ride's northern/westernmost participant. Ask him about the issues he too is facing. He too MADE it happen. I didn't think we'd be ready for 2011 but he masses demanded it so we kicked it off. We all learned lessons as we went. We all should have learned from those before us and taught those coming up behind us. MANY of us watched this from the very beginning and followed it daily. Did we really know WTF? A definite NO. We learned on the fly but we MADE it happen. I put WAY too much effort in this to be a one time event. I knew this would only be a warm up for next year. I hope somone can continue this great event but make it even better next year. There will be issues next year too. Guaranteed like life, death and taxes.
Lessons taught, lessons learned. Let's start the planning for 2012. Perhaps we can start with you guys and reverse it this time? The Daytona 200 was an excellent idea for a springtime kickoff. When can you guys start this and is there an event to start with? I'll put the ball in your park now.
Speaking of which I probably won't be available for much of the week as I am attending the funeral of my mentor, Mr Sonny Ralston in Paducah, KY. Without him my life would have been entirely different and I would not have had the pleasure of all your company nor that of Godzilla. Here's to Sonny!
Here's to 2012. Bigger and better. Godzilla ROCKS!
Jerry
