Honda F Stock Rally (Gatlinburg Tenn.)

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:30 pm

For those of you who have not read the threads I put out about a nationwide rally. Please read this and let me know what you think I am very serious about this and want to put this together.

I think I want to take this big maybe try to set up a rally like the Honda Hoot like Jim (JSGAuto) had suggested.

This is not something that is going to happen overnight as you would guess. I am going to need a lot of help and cooperation and most of all commitment. This is obviously not going to be a one man undertaking. We, I need to set up a committee. I think I would like to see the name as James (JMZG) suggested Honda F Stock “Thanks James “. If there is any other suggestions please feel free to voice them. I have added this link for you all to browse and tell me what you think.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2077326_organize-motorcycle-rally.html

The two locations I think we should shoot for are Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC. This is where the Hoot use to take place. It’s known and the cities welcomed the revenue.

I know this is going to take a lot of hard work and persistence but I know if we put our heads together and charge forward we can get this done. There are going to be road block and times when it looks like it’s not going to happen but I know if we can apply the persistent we have with keeping these wonderful machines running we can do this. At first it will most likely be a small rally but over time if and when it takes off it will get to be big really big. Here is my e-mail address ekmiranda@optonline.net Any Thoughts and or suggestions send them all are welcome. Thanks well in advance

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:32 am

Might want to contact someone from the the BMW owners group....those guys know how to put on a rally.
Barry

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:22 am

Barry ,

I think what is going to happen is I am going to try (or should I say will ) set up a National ride all riders are welcome of course from this site and also friends and family. Somewhere Mid West and once that is done. Have it every year same time same Bat Channel and let it grow.

I think trying to go balls to the wall and set up a hugh rally right from the get go is going to be to big of an undertaking. So I would think the first step is to decide on a location then pick a month that would be agreeable to the masses and contact a member or two in the local area to help.

I just checked Google mapes and it looks like the mid way from east to west and north to south is somewhere around a town called Hutchinson Kansas

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:41 pm

Emil, sounds like a great idea, but Hutchinson, Kansas ??? Dude have you ever been to Kansas, no insult intended to you folks from the sunflower state, but a curvy roads is one with turns that have a 4 mile radius and there aren’t many of those. Not to mention bike rallies = warmer weather = tornado season in Kansas. Did you fall down and bump your head Emil? ha ha

Honestly it does sound like a great idea but I would certainly vote for something like Knoxville or Asheville. And of those two Asheville has the better riding in all 360°, in my opinion. Again not dissing on you Knoxville riders. But good rides in Knoxville are a good ride away. In Asheville you are surrounded by good rides. Side note: If ever in Asheville, check out 694, comes off the parkway and ends right in downtown, fun little road. And 694 is just a spur road. Even for the guys that gather in the Pigeon Forge area you are missing some incredible roads north, south and east of Asheville

Anyhow, GREAT idea especially since Honda dumped the Hoot, let me know if I can help.

I also realize that you folks on the west side of the big land mass have some great riding also so we can’t count them out as a possible venue, but you guys in the middle just got screwed when it comes to twisties.

david

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:05 pm

djhurayt wrote:

Emil, sounds like a great idea, but Hutchinson, Kansas ??? Dude have you ever been to Kansas, no insult intended to you folks from the sunflower state, but a curvy roads is one with turns that have a 4 mile radius and there aren’t many of those. Not to mention bike rallies = warmer weather = tornado season in Kansas. Did you fall down and bump your head Emil? ha ha

Honestly it does sound like a great idea but I would certainly vote for something like Knoxville or Asheville. And of those two Asheville has the better riding in all 360°, in my opinion. Again not dissing on you Knoxville riders. But good rides in Knoxville are a good ride away. In Asheville you are surrounded by good rides. Side note: If ever in Asheville, check out 694, comes off the parkway and ends right in downtown, fun little road. And 694 is just a spur road. Even for the guys that gather in the Pigeon Forge area you are missing some incredible roads north, south and east of Asheville

Anyhow, GREAT idea especially since Honda dumped the Hoot, let me know if I can help.

I also realize that you folks on the west side of the big land mass have some great riding also so we can’t count them out as a possible venue, but you guys in the middle just got screwed when it comes to twisties.

david

DJ I could not agree with you more I am just trying to find a happy mid point but it seems that to get the twisties one needs to go a little further west like CO or where I had orginally suggested.

I am of the mind to go for the twisties of course but on the other hand don't want to discount any guys from the west but as with Sturgis and the Hoot people came from all over and did not care about the distance.

I wish more would chim in to voice a location if not than from what I am getting through PM's and on the board it will more than likly be in the Asheville area.

I posted Kansas in the rides and rallies but everything is still up in the air. I might have jumped the gun but what the hell it's all in the planning stage at the moment

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:36 pm

Just kidding with ya, (and I know you know that) and I also know your Kansas (make it a mid point so everybody can make it) idea is with good intentions.

I'll just glance at your avatar and know it is in good humor also.

But those folks in the heartland are just screwed; there are no roads there. It is like the “Florida” Tail of the Dragon joke, 11 turns in 318 miles.

But, really if this thing does gather some momentum let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Hope all is well with the family. You need to get down here and I can show you around our playground.

Talk later,
david

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:47 pm

I used to be involved in a BMW touring bike group that put on a national rally each year (not the BMWMOA or BMW RA rally). ~ 500 or so folks, basically take over most of a resort hotel for a long weekend, hold tech seminars, rides, banquet Sat. night, etc.

What we ended up doing with location was alternating years along a general east/west theme. Let's see if I can remember: Little Rock, AR, Santa Fe, NM, Gatlinburg, TN, Jackson, WY, ____, Iowa (can't remember the city -- on a major river), etc. This year they're in Vermont. Seems to have kept most folks happy.

Good luck, and hat's off to ya for taking this on!

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:11 pm

mneblett wrote:

What we ended up doing with location was alternating years along a general east/west theme. Let's see if I can remember: Little Rock, AR, Santa Fe, NM, Gatlinburg, TN, Jackson, WY, ____, Iowa (can't remember the city -- on a major river), etc. This year they're in Vermont. Seems to have kept most folks happy.

Good luck, and hat's off to ya for taking this on!

That sounds like a good plan and something to keep in mind.

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:20 pm

Of course I have to vote for Asheville, it is only 45 min's away from me. Nashville would also be a nice place, more central located, more attractions and probably cheaper hotel rates.
There are plenty of nice roads to ride outside of Nashville, especially toward Cookeville.

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:43 pm

Tedly wrote:

Of course I have to vote for Asheville, it is only 45 min's away from me. Nashville would also be a nice place, more central located, more attractions and probably cheaper hotel rates.
There are plenty of nice roads to ride outside of Nashville, especially toward Cookeville.

Ted ,

Hope all is well

I am definatly leaning torward the NC. / TENN. area I did not even think about the Nasheville area. Good twisties out that way?

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:08 pm

I think I have picked out a spot for the F Stock Rally Gatlinburg Tenn. its right next to the Great Smokey Mountain National park. What makes it nice is its right next to The Tail of the Dragon & alot of other nice twisties. It seems that I have gotten most of the requests for this area. So I think for the first time this is the spot as mneblett wrote we can move it around from year to year to accommodate other regions.

What I will need is 1 or 2 Members in the local area to start thinking about a few routes to lay out and discuss and maybe even a nice slow onre for a poker run and if a third member very local could start investgating lodging. I am going to start to make calls to local bike shops and Honda to see if we can get support and get the word out in that area when the time comes.

Any other ideas guys???

MB-5 Joined: Aug 02, 2010 Posts: 10 Location: Fairfax, VA

Gatlinburg's a great choice.

As a starter for local routes, the BMW group that was there in 2003 (the K1200LT touring bike group) still has the previous years' info available on the website. This link takes you to the Gatlinburg suggested rides page: http://www.curvecowboyreunion.com/CCR2003/ridingroutes.htm

The http://www.curvecowboyreunion.com/CCR2003 page has more info on the event and local resources, including the hotel we took over for the long weekend (visible up on the hill next to the "A" in August in the top picture -- nice to be up out of the terrible tourist-trap at the foot of the hill (Pigeon Forge)).

HTH!
Mark

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:21 pm

MHN750F wrote:

Gatlinburg's a great choice.

HTH!
Mark

The wife and I were looking at some you tube rides down that way last night and they look great. I am really looking forward to putting this together and it seems that Gatlinburg has alot to offer in the way of things to do. Plus I want to ride the TOTD

MB-5 Joined: Aug 02, 2010 Posts: 10 Location: Fairfax, VA

spike wrote:

Plus I want to ride the TOTD

If you do, do it during the week -- on the weekends the incredibly stupid squids and the HEAVY LEO presence make it a not fun experience.

Everyone should do the Dragon once to be able to say "BTDT," but FWIW, IMO there's lots of better, safer, just as challenging roads in the area (the ride by the dam, the Skyway, etc.).

Also, FWIW2, if you want to do camping, there's an *excellent* motorcycles-only campground nearby on the NC side: http://www.ironhorsenc.com/ Super husband and wife owners.

Mark

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:55 pm

What dates are you thinking of?
I think I could be easily coaxed to do another Tennessee run this year. Wink

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:09 pm

Be sure and check what else is going on that week? They have a lot going on there. I really like it there but if your there when the street rodders are there your screwed. Unless that's what your looking for. Laughing

MB-5 Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 26 Location: NEWPORT. TN

I live in Pigeon Forge and there is car shows on 10.11. 17.18 weekends in September.If you come on those dates it is bumper to bumper of cars.Sometime it take three to for hours from the interstate to Pigeon Forge.

Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:30 am

cb1100fer wrote:

What dates are you thinking of?
I think I could be easily coaxed to do another Tennessee run this year. Wink

John that’s great to hear.

I am thinking of sometime late spring early summer of 011. Because of the distance and what I have in mind I don't want to rush this. I think it is going to take a fair amount of planning. Not something I want to slap together in less than a month.

Even the dates I think I might need help with because I don't really know what the weather conditions are like there maybe spring / summer is not good ??? I don't know. Location is set, now we need to work out some dates and know long.

I would almost like to see multiple and maybe even a poker run and donate the money to A.C.S. for children.

Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:33 am

This whole thing sounds like a great idea.

I am sorry that I won't be able to go but.......

Yes, Kansas is flat.

I really do believe if you start a bowling ball at I-70 in Denver

it would end up in K.C. with out a problem.

There is a place that has lots of curves that is closer to the middle of

the country.

Has anyone ever riden in the lower portion of Missouri?

They have a lot of the kind of roads I think we all like, of course,

this is if memory serves me but my sometimers disease(sometimes it

works and sometimes it don't) isn't too bad.

Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:10 pm

Emil,

I am in!

A small non-official fall ride may not be a bad idea. Would help to work out some logistics and get fimiliar with the area.

Jim

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:46 pm

JSGAuto wrote:

Emil,

I am in!

A small non-official fall ride may not be a bad idea. Would help to work out some logistics and get fimiliar with the area.

Jim

That sounds like a plan the way I just mapped it out though is an 840 mile one way ride all through the mountains at like 18 hours. This I think we would need to leave on a thursday or come back on a monday. And when you say smal whats small. And when are you suggesting we do this ????? I know you said fall but when in the fall

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:13 pm

spike wrote:

And when are you suggesting we do this ????? I know you said fall but when in the fall

Anytime in October is Beautiful down here. Not to cold yet either.

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:33 pm

Tattoo wrote:

spike wrote:

And when are you suggesting we do this ????? I know you said fall but when in the fall

Anytime in October is Beautiful down here. Not to cold yet either.

I was think the same thing sometime in Oct. I will need to check scheduling with my job to take a day or two off but it sounds like a plan

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:35 am

Don't know how many members will be attending but the Barber Vintage Festival will probably be scheduled for the second weekend of October.

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:12 am

nailman wrote:

Don't know how many members will be attending but the Barber Vintage Festival will probably be scheduled for the second weekend of October.

This is just a recon run visit the town and check out the area. Not an official ride but of course anyone wanting to join me is more than welcome. I am thinking early Oct. leave on Friday morning and come back maybe on Sunday maybe Monday. I will be hooking up with Ted (Tedly ) when I get down there

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:34 am

spike wrote:

nailman wrote:

Don't know how many members will be attending but the Barber Vintage Festival will probably be scheduled for the second weekend of October.

This is just a recon run visit the town and check out the area. Not an official ride but of course anyone wanting to join me is more than welcome. I am thinking early Oct. leave on Friday morning and come back maybe on Sunday maybe Monday. I will be hooking up with Ted (Tedly ) when I get down there

Second weekend of October is our anniversary. It's our 25th, and I'd lose some very valuable parts (to me, at least) if I even suggested this...

Ride Safely, boys.

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:45 am

spike wrote:

I will be hooking up with Ted (Tedly ) when I get down there

Well there you go. Have a safe ride.

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:36 pm

Tattoo wrote:

spike wrote:

I will be hooking up with Ted (Tedly ) when I get down there

Well there you go. Have a safe ride.

I am probably looking on heading down to Gatlinburg the last weekend in Sept-24th through the 27th or the first weekend in Oct -1st through the 4 most likly going to leave long Island sometime around 2 in the morning

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:51 am

I'll look at getting the time off and see who else from around here might be interested in coming with me. End of September should be pretty nice there with perfect temps and not too much traffic. I miss those roads........ Crying or Very sad

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:57 am

cb1100fer wrote:

I miss those roads........ Crying or Very sad

I'll put our roads up against anyones roads for riding anywhere! Very Happy

Looking forward to it! Very Happy