Rally e-newsletter April 26, 2005

CELEBRATION RA
OCTOBER 6-9, 2005

THE CELEBRATION/CALSONIC ARENA
SHELBYVILLE, TN

Lots of information to pass along, so sit back and enjoy.

Registration

Rally registration is up and running on the BMW RA rally website. You can download a PDF form and send it in or register on-line. Yes you heard me correctly! You can now register on-line. Last year many of you asked if we could add this feature for this year's rally. You can charge your pre-registration to your VISA, MC or Discover card. Pretty slick, if you ask me.

Jack Daniels Luncheon

If you've had time to read your latest OTL, you'll notice I talked a little about the Jack Daniels Distillery and Luncheon. I had the great pleasure to spend the afternoon with Joe Rossman, Director of Marketing Services setting up this luncheon. The JD Luncheon will be held on Friday, October 7th. A couple of years ago, the folks at JD built a pavilion on top of the hill over looking the distillery. During the summer and early fall months, they have luncheons on Fridays at which they serve typical TN fare. Even though they close this pavilion down the week before our rally, they have agreed (with some gentle arm-twisting) to host our group on Friday of the rally.

The luncheon will include a tour of the distillery and some time to walk downtown for those have-to-have JD souvenirs. The full luncheon menu includes: BBQ Pork, Tennessee Fried Catfish, Hush Puppies, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Pickles and a Brownie.

And I know you're all saying: "Will there be any taste-testing?" Yes indeed....although Jack Daniels is in a dry county, the folks at JD will have Lynchburg Lemonade for "sampling". In addition, we will have a bluegrass band playing during lunch and weather permitting, a fire in the fireplace. Nice thing about this luncheon, is that you will not have to worry about your mode of transportation. We will bus you from the rally grounds in Shelbyville to Lynchburg and back. In fact, I want to make this very clear, you cannot attend the luncheon unless you ride "da bus"! You can only register for this luncheon on-line and the number of attendees is capped at 390. So if you're interested, register early.

Vendors

I've been receiving a lot of e-mail requests from vendors interested in vending at Shelbyville. Vendor registration is now on the rally website with the layout of Calsonic Arena, fee schedule, vendor information and on-line registration. Vendors can also download a registration form and send it in to the Vendor Chair, Mike Gillespie. As vendors become registered, I will post them on the rally website along with links to their websites. Vendors can register on-line at: www.bmwra.org/rally/vendor.html

Entertainment

If you like bluegrass music, this is the place to be. Friday night's band is one I think you'll really enjoy: Iron Horse. They are based in Alabama and kick you know what when it comes to bluegrass music. You can count on traditional, rocking and even a little Metallica (bluegrass style of course!). As I write this newsletter, the guys are in Europe touring and educating those folks on a truly American genre. Check them out at: www.ironhorsebluegrass.com

Motorcycle Training

ERC: The ERC course has been laid out and you can sign up at the rally website. Check the right hand masthead for a link to the sign up site. ERC classes will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00am until 3:00pm with a break for lunch. This is a great opportunity to take this course!

DBS: We are still working on a site for the Dirt Bike School. Keep checking the rally website as we will post this information as soon as it is finalized.

Seminars/Speakers

Fred Rau and David Hough will be back at the RA! Their "Coffee with Dave and Fred" was so much fun, we're going to do it again. In addition, each gentleman will conduct an additional seminar with topics I'm sure you enoy. Bob Young with the NHTSA is also scheduled to speak. Skert is back for her dropped bike demonstration. We'll have the usual tech seminars and I have a couple of surprises planned.

As you can see, we are zooming along with rally preparation. I'll keep you posted on rally activities. The BMW RA rally website is your main source of information as this rally rolls along, so make it a point to check it periodically. I plan to post participating vendors, "how to get there", rally program, DBS, Trials Class and additional riding activities.

I hope you are enjoying your summer. Keep riding safe!

Debbi Harbour, RAlly Liaison
BMW Riders Association

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