No one going to this?

Cosmic Jumper - are you going?

I certainly approve of the term - Remember - be nice.

Hope you enjoy the Mid Atlantic Spring Rally. I'd like to make it some year. I guess I'll add it to the list of gatherings we'd like to go to. Had hoped to make it out to Oregon for the Northwest Scooter Rally some day as well.

As for the Iron Range Maxi Scooter Rally - you could get some grief for calling it that. Some militant there will quickly remind you that it is the Iron Range Super Scooter Rally. It is in a great location and some pretty decent scenery. It is an "all for one" type of rally (like most) side trips not generally available and while not discouraged they are also not encouraged. The only rally I know of that allows for and in some ways encourages go it on your own riding is the Scooting The Ozarks (STO) Rally.

ScooterBob has a link at http://www.silverwing600.com/rally-information-f2/irssr-4-23-26-june-2010-mountain-iron-mn-t1047.htm

The only rally I know of that allows for and in some ways encourages go it on your own riding is the Scooting The Ozarks (STO) Rally. Do you think the STO rally encourages going on your own or they just refuse to try herding cats. It's such a beautiful area that any road you take is great and they get a lot of hardheaded (we prefer independent minded) riders from Texas. You know you can always tell a rider from Texas, but you can't tell them much. Your rally in the mid-atlantic area sounds great also. So many rallies; so little time. The most important thing is to just enjoy the ride, even if it's just a run to the corner store.

I really think that they do refuse to try herding the cats. Most scooter rally's are relatively small and so they tend to want to include everyone in all activities. That is not necessarily our (Kim and I) style of riding.

I' not anti group rides and think everyone should try one at least once. But, like Tim (Cosmic Jumper) I do not like getting into position behind someone who can't keep up or who won't maintain the following distance. I do recognize that all who participate may not ride the way I do and so I moderate my self and my riding to match the group. Members of the group should communicate with each other to ensure that the rider in front and behind you know who you are.

This rally does look like it will be a fun time.

This rally is just 3 weeks away. Go to their website for more info.

http://www.midatlanticscoot.com.

Alright, let's hear about it and better yet show us some photos.

Sorry Dale, but no photos. But there may be some posted on the BUSA forum though

The Mid-Atlantic Scooter Rally (MASR) was very good. While there were many folks booked in at 3 or 4 other local motels, the tiny (~12 unit) Hollander Motel serves as Rally HQ: Late Friday was the welcoming BBQ -sorry to say Dale, but that'd be a yankee BBQ, not a real, southern BBQ- as folks checked in from all over the map.The grill was provided by the motel hosts as was some of the 'Burgers, 'Dogs & condiments. The rest was contributed by Rally goers. I'm proud to announce that I brought along several pounds of Pulled Pork I'd cooked up earlier that day. Not good n' proper smoked BBQ, mind you, but a welcome taste alternative to the same ol stuff.

The usual tire kicking and meet n' greet went on in the parking lot while some of the rally goers ducked into their rooms and brought out some 'adult' beverages to share.

Saturday morning everyone gathered at Yoders Buffet restaurant --all 120 of us. They provided us with a private room, and a PA sound system and chalkboard. It was an All You Can Eat place with a great selection of the usual breakfast fare.

After the breakfast Rally Chief, Will Lewis gave the 'How to Ride in a Group" safety talk and other pertinent ride information. Then it was out to the parking lot to assemble for the ride.

The ride was pleasant enough. This locale is not known for its stunning geography, but the ride was nice. The ride was broken up into 3 groups leaving 5 minutes apart.

The route was along rural roads, and as this area has a great many Amish farms we had to be cautious of the many horse & buggy's traveling the roads as well as dodging the ever present road apples.

Anyway, it was off to a local steam railroad to enjoy the train ride across the country side. While the some of the others opted to peruse the shops or hung out in the parking lot for more tire kicking.

In the parking lot I was lucky enough to participate in an impromptu disassembling of the body work on a Burgman 650, as the owner was having a problem with the digital display dashboard and his newly-installed HID Projector head lamp conversion.

All went well, and everything was fixed, reassembled & ready to roll as the last train arrived.

Back to the motel(s) for 'happy hour', then back to the restaurant at 6:00 PM for the banquet and awards raffle.

There were lots of generous name-brand sponsors --Twisted Throttle, SAENG Engineering, GIVI, Coocase come to mind, as well as hundreds of smaller prizes. There were plenty of prizes, and everyone won something.

I'm proud to announce that the scooters ridden to the rally vastly outnumbered the trailer queens. I can't recall all the states where the rally goers came from, but it was really interesting to hear the english speaking 'competition' going on between the riders from Eastern Shore Maryland, the Boston riders, and the Canadian folks. I don't know who may have won, but it was all good-natured fun. The 'Longest Distance' award went to one of the Canadian riders coming over 900 miles --including a 13 hour ride from the Toronto environs on the 2nd day.

Due to family obligations I was unable to be there for the Sunday Breakfast, optional mini ride, and kiss'n & gett'n. I rode the hour and a half ride home later Saturday night in some light rain. But otherwise the weekend weather was cooperative for all the riders.

There'll be another Rally coming up this fall -usually in September- and I'm sure looking forward to being there again.

Edit: Forgot to mention; there were ~93 maxi scooter on the Saturday Ride. Quite an impressive sight to see.

Tim
'03 Silverwing, Cosmic Jumper
Philadelphia

Excellent report!

See folks a lot goes on at a rally. And, as you can imagine they are difficult to plan and execute. So if you encounter a few snags - cut the organizers a break.

Thanks for letting us know a bit about your experience.