Looking for a fun "unrally" of Guzzisti on the mid-May weekend?
The MGNOC rally calendar has nothing in the SE for that weekend, http://www.mgnoc.com/rally_calendar.html, so, if you are in range, consider the "Fifth South'n Spine Raid," 15 -17 May.
Originally, the leader of this gathering, Dr. Phil Haynes (docc), a V11 Sport rider from Nashville area, had in mind a spine-frame fest in the southeast. That has, for various reasons, evolved a bit, at least into other Guzzis and the occasional Ducati as a token Baloney bike.
But the heart of the event is to keep it small enough to be fun and yet too big for local police to transport us all to jail. As for the latter, do not mean from road antics -- tho that has been a near thing now and then! -- but from our traditional "move the motel room chairs into the parking lot and drink beer and eat pizza until the local cops drive through to discuss the situation with us" post-ride party on Saturday night. On two of the Raids, our Friday evening practice party has brought troopers to visit. No arrests (of Raiders!)(so far), but some of the occupants of neighboring rooms have been hauled away. Really. Guess we provided probable cause, but the others argued more with the police, never a wise move.
Seriously, the usual MO is for Raiders to arrive anytime during the Friday, with nearly all there by 7 p.m. (can't miss the first party), then up (too) early on Sat a.m. for the ride. This is usually a challenging 250-300-miler with a leisurely lunch somewhere in the middle.
Saturday night is beer, lies, pizza, bourbon, and grappa time, tho the order varies. A few wives seem to find this amusing enough to come along, tho they may attend simply to avoid the costs and hassle of wiring bail money.
Sunday a.m., it's sidestands up and heading home.
This year's Raid will base out of the (surprisingly inexpensive for in-season) Comfort Inn in Newport, Tennessee, c. 40 miles SE of Knoxville, at the confluence of several interstates, e.g., I-40, I-81, & I-75. In other words, in striking distance for anyone who must or needs to slab it. And, oh, my, the twisting roads nearby. We will try for a north-south loop into Virginia, so we can keep the sun at our backs most of the big Saturday loop. Yee ha.
For more on this year's Raid, go here:
http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.p ... ntry155101
For more, with pix, of prior Raids, go here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.p ... opic=10135
Hope to see you there.
Bill
The MGNOC rally calendar has nothing in the SE for that weekend, http://www.mgnoc.com/rally_calendar.html, so, if you are in range, consider the "Fifth South'n Spine Raid," 15 -17 May.
Originally, the leader of this gathering, Dr. Phil Haynes (docc), a V11 Sport rider from Nashville area, had in mind a spine-frame fest in the southeast. That has, for various reasons, evolved a bit, at least into other Guzzis and the occasional Ducati as a token Baloney bike.
But the heart of the event is to keep it small enough to be fun and yet too big for local police to transport us all to jail. As for the latter, do not mean from road antics -- tho that has been a near thing now and then! -- but from our traditional "move the motel room chairs into the parking lot and drink beer and eat pizza until the local cops drive through to discuss the situation with us" post-ride party on Saturday night. On two of the Raids, our Friday evening practice party has brought troopers to visit. No arrests (of Raiders!)(so far), but some of the occupants of neighboring rooms have been hauled away. Really. Guess we provided probable cause, but the others argued more with the police, never a wise move.
Seriously, the usual MO is for Raiders to arrive anytime during the Friday, with nearly all there by 7 p.m. (can't miss the first party), then up (too) early on Sat a.m. for the ride. This is usually a challenging 250-300-miler with a leisurely lunch somewhere in the middle.
Saturday night is beer, lies, pizza, bourbon, and grappa time, tho the order varies. A few wives seem to find this amusing enough to come along, tho they may attend simply to avoid the costs and hassle of wiring bail money.
Sunday a.m., it's sidestands up and heading home.
This year's Raid will base out of the (surprisingly inexpensive for in-season) Comfort Inn in Newport, Tennessee, c. 40 miles SE of Knoxville, at the confluence of several interstates, e.g., I-40, I-81, & I-75. In other words, in striking distance for anyone who must or needs to slab it. And, oh, my, the twisting roads nearby. We will try for a north-south loop into Virginia, so we can keep the sun at our backs most of the big Saturday loop. Yee ha.
For more on this year's Raid, go here:
http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.p ... ntry155101
For more, with pix, of prior Raids, go here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.p ... opic=10135
Hope to see you there.
Bill