We’ve been working on some of the preliminary planning for the reunion – including some of the early ride planning and figure out the logistical details so it’ll be slightly more elaborate than “slap some food on a table and let them fight over it.”
Though that might be fitting, given the madness level of the participants – but in the end we didn’t want to create yet another scooter apocalyptic disaster in a small town. We’re still paying off the last one we caused.
Here’s the results of our first poll (we likely will do one or two more as we get further in planning):
Results of our Poll:
Scooter Size:
150 to Maxi Scooter – 12 votes
100 to 150cc – 4 votes
50cc to 100cc – 7 votes
Car/Other – 1 vote
Motorcycle – Zero votes
Sidecar – 1 vote
Will you be doing the self guided ride?
Yes – 21 votes
Maybe – 3 votes
How long for the ride?
4-5 hours – 14 votes
2-3 hours – 5 votesw
6-8 hours – 4 votes
1-2 hours – zero votes
Want a tshirt?
Yes – 15 votes
No – 4 votes
Maybe – 4 votes
Dinner?
Burgers/hot dogs – 16 votes
Catered simple dinner – 9 votes
Vegetarian options – 2 votes
Vegan Options – 1 vote
Non pork/non shellfish – 1 vote
So right now, the voices in our heads have spoken and we’ll be aiming for a 4-5 hour ride time (not including stops), either burgers/hot dogs or a simple catered dinner…. final result may be a combination of both.
Most of you will be bringing something between 150cc and a Maxi scooter, but there will be a decent number of 50-100cc machines. Most of you will want a Tshirt so we will be giving the opportunity to get one – but it’ll be an option, not a requirement.
Timing:
Right now the loose plan is for a Saturday (non long weekend) in July or August, but we will pin down an exact date fairly soon. Arrival for 7:30am, a simple continental breakfast will be provided for you to munch on while we hand out the self guided ride directions and have a meeting – and everyone will set off at roughly 9am.
This will not be a timed ride, and prize plaques will not depend on how fast you complete the self guided ride – in fact prize plaques will be given out according to a strict dogmatic interpretation of rules we developed after long consultation with some guy we found ranting in a laneway. Tinfoil and rubber chickens may be involved in the judging process.
There won’t be a big prize as we aren’t sponsored, will only have a small contribution for food and such – but we will have some small unique little things for a giveaway that will surely live in a place of pride on your mantel for a long period of several minutes before being tossed in a dumpster to avoid having to explain things to your inlaws.
We will have some little things if you are brave enough to do this ride in full costume and scooter decoration – because that’s the mad thing to do, and we respect that.
Notes on the ride:
We are taking inspiration from some of the amazing rides planned out at great effort and with great thought by the former rallymasters – starting of course with Rob Harris and taken over by Sabina and Carole Anne and the amazing folks at Studio cycle.
We can’t replicate their talents, we’re frankly neitther competent (mentally or otherwise), or skilled enough – but we will be aiming for as small scooter friendly as possible roads and some interesting little side stops for you to take pictures at. It’s possible those pictures – while not giving you points towards winning a scooter – will get you a little special something.
We would like people to take funny photos, while respecting driving regulations and local property. While we’re pretty sure our reputation in our local community cannot in fact drop any lower, we really don’t want to find out.
I mean it’s expensive for the local villagers to buy all those tar, feathers, and effigies. And I don’t think the last effigy caught my essence really, so I’d prefer to avoid that if I can.
Hopefully not a disease or time spent in jail, but we can’t promise anything.
We will be aiming for 4-5 hours of ride time, with stops every 20-45 minutes and gas stations along the way (or just off the way) every 100km or so. (There is an Esso at the start point in Goodwood, ON – so you can top off your fuel when you start.)
Because this will not be a timed ride, there won’t be a set schedule of times to set off at – after the continental breakfast you simply set off when ready and follow the route we will have provided.
You’d think this would mean we’d be able to provide the route beforehand and therefore you can just program a GPS and take it easy but nope, you are going to have to actually read a piece of paper and try and understand what “Turn left at the right, yeah no yeah.” means because we figure you need a reminder of the razor sharp mental focus you had to have at the actual rallies.
So that’s the plan as it stands right now – subject to change with the whimsical requirements of the voices in our heads of course.
Badgers may be a requirement, you never know.
We’ll keep updating, keep planning, and keep providing more details as we make them up and slap them into our giant wall of push pins, photos and red yarn.