2008 NE Husky Gathering (in case you didn't know)

Alright,
Heres the lowdown for the “N.E. Husky Gathering” on 6-7 September 2008.
A couple of things right up front before I get to details.
1. Please keep this “on topic.” If it is not in reference to the event…..don’t post it.
2. If you have an individual specific thing/question, (ie. I have a 44 ft rig, can I easily get in and park, etc.) please PM me or e-mail me. My e-mail address is chod325@yahoo.com
3. Huskys only. Exceptions are spouses, significant others and kids who attend with a Husky Mounted Sponsor. No exceptions so don’t ask. Non Husky riders may attend minus their bikes. This is the Husky Gathering and not a demo days. Husqvarna USA has not yet mentioned that they will be able to provide the same support as last year due to the transitional period we are all going through.

OK please follow the above rules when posting and here are the details so far.
Event is 6-7 Sept 2008.
Location is different than last year due to situations beyond our control. The location is on my property and my neighbors (Huge farm and lotso woods!) Address for directions is 3122 Duanesburg Churches Rd Delanson, NY 12053. (Arrows will be up on event days to facilitate guiding the Husky faithful)
Event registration is $25.00, pre-registration, $30.00 the day of the event. (Sorry this is a little more than last year but darn near everything has gone up due to fuel costs!)
Registration includes insurance coverage for the day and all the amenities we can provide for a fun filled Husky weekend and a complimentary event T shirt.
Pre registration checks can me mailed to the above address and use my name.
Pets are OK as long as on a leash. There is a dog boarding place 10 mins away ($18 a day) and a Holiday Inn 15 minutes away for those that don’t want to camp.
There is ample level parking, miles of marked trails, as well as a lengthy grass track section for the MX guys and some of the Senior/vintage folks out there. The well arrowed trail loop will be open 8 a.m. to dusk (unless there are some Baja guys with huge lights!)
Primitive camping means no hook ups available. Porto Johns will be on site. Not to fear, my house is right across the street from the parking fields and I offer the amenities of the downstairs for “evening bench racing with your favorite beverage while watching Husky DVD’s on the big screen as well as the use of shower and laundry facilities. Washed bikes are allowed in the house but no riding boots. (great to be a single guy again!)
Event will have a Best Husky contest. We will be having a “peoples Choice” voting system for 2 categories of best Husky; Best “B.C.” Husky (Before Cagiva-pre 88) and Best “A.D.” Husky (After Dick Burelson-88 and newer)
We cannot promise how much at this time as things continue to come in but we will again have the raffle for the “Husky swag” that will be given away at the event like last year. (I think all went home with at least something and in many cases several things and there was that 1 guy from Ohio that seemed to win all the time…anyhow)
If you want to show up on the 5th also that is OK as I will be getting last minute things done and on site.
Well, that’s it for now and hope to see as many of you as possible this year. Last year was great and hope this year is better. Don’t forget the 3 “disclaimers” at the top of this Thread before posting and Sept cannot come fast enough. Further details will be provided as I get them.

Joe Chod

This looks awesome. 2 questions:

1.) for Chod: How many bikes turned out last year?

2.) For the general public: I live in NC. I am the only one in my area that owns a beautiful Husky. Anyobody want to pal up & split the gas for this trip? P.M. me.

ABout 35. Looks like about 50 this year. Furthest south I know for sure is south Md. Possibly 1 from Va. I could PM them to see about "Carpooling". I thought about the carpooling and if you guys want to look into that I could play "travel broker" and try to pair you up if you let me know your location and intentions.

Joe

Anybody driving over from the southwest? San Diego?

I could drive a ways to meet someone, then split the gas from there. You know, it is $4.00/gal. Someone has to go represent the South. Do you guys have grits up there or should I bring my own?

By the way, I live pretty close to sea level out here in south-eastern NC. Am I going to need to do anything special to the TE to ride where you are?

So far it looks like my only option will be to ride my Husky down. Gotta feeling I'll need pillows & liquid pain killer once I get there LOL

I am near Philly & would jump in with anyone coming through here. I only have a single bike rack, so if anyone has a trailer with room, I would consider splitting gas. PM me if this might work

Thanks

mxracernumber1 , meet T-Bone (give each other a shout) .........maybe a drive up 95 to phliiy then head together from there??? I also need to contact my bud from south MD.

Joe

Joe, do you have any sign ups from out west here in So. California, AZ or southern NV yet? Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoniex and Las Vegas or points in between.

Unfortunateley no on from west of the Mississipi but we have gotten some great swag fro husky supporters to give away at the event since the sponsors could not make it but wanted to show there support (we will give blatant plugs for them to the attendees for sure!)
OK all....Gas is big $ and a long drive is a long drive so I thought we could dicuss here the idea of some folks car pooling. Some guys in Souther PA and points south discussed it asa an idea and since we got folks coming from Mass and heading west and from buffalo/pittsburgh area heading west and others coming from South west/central/east Pa, I thought you all could chime in and then coordinate with someone along those 5 beaten paths that all lead to the event (#1, from southeast, I95/NY Thruway, #2, from east, Mass pike/NY Thruway, #3, from south central, I81/I88, #4, from west, I86/I88, and #5, from northwest, NYS Thruway/NY state route 30. I can help coordinate if I know of someones location that is registered but it really will work if you post where you are, where to could link up and then if someone replies to you or if you see someone pheasible, then contact them via PM and seal the deal.
Just an idea that I hope helps.
Joe

I'm coming from just across the border from Buffalo, At this moment it looks like I'm riding, but if I get my jeep back up to snuff, I'll have a trailer & can take a couple additional bikes & riders from the area, I'll know for sure by next week.

mxracernumber1,

I think im the one Joe is talking about wanting to go from Virginia. i live in Virginia Beach, Va. Its about an hour out of the way from I-95. I was going to rent or barrow a truck due to mine only getting about 6 miles a gallon. I would be willing to split the cost of gas if we could use your truck. i could even get us a 6'x10' trailer. it might help out T-bone also. let me know what you think and what times you were looking at going and coming back.

mike

Not just you down that way diesel. Also I am gonna be out for the next week.........reunion of some army buds and will be in st louis til the 17th. New news is working on getting a baby dozer and skid steer to MX up the grass track a bit. Nothing big but something to get some air off of and no triples with flaming hoops so the vintage guys have no fears......very novice friendly.

Joe

Dale Wickline in the house. I'm in southern Maryland ( Waldorf area ) and have access to a couple of trailers, 4 bike & 6+/- bike, and have a supercab Ford pickemup.

Get yer ass to Waldorf and we can figure it out. I may go a day early if Joe need the help. I definitely would welcome carpoolers.

Dale

I am back. Event coming along fine. Pre reg coming in still and the shirt proof is at the printers now. 2 sided.......many colors and something old and something new with its design. You all will love the shirt. I may even let you guys have a peek at it before the event. Swag is coming in........bling, suspension tuning/services, shirts, tires and hopefully more on the way. (those that were solicited for a "donation" and have not replied still have time if you are reading this)

Trail loop is looking good too. Working getting the skid steer and bucket into the grass track area to MX it a bit but nothing a 75 CR400 can't eat up. Also finished the bar at the house for evening "bench racing" sessions.

Still no word from Husky themselves as they are very busy. I hear they are aware of it but as mentioned..very busy. I think I speak for all to say that 2 days working for all of us are better than making the event and we all are still in awe of getting to ride the prototype TXC's last year.

I hope some of you that are still thinking about it decide to come and there are many coming from all over so if the drive and the $ for the trip are an issue....please contemplate the carpooling. Got room for semis if need be.

Any that need or want to come earlier are welcome too, just let me know or you will arrive to an empty field (but an already arrowed and ribboned course........and security by rabid attack deer)

Weather has been around 85 in the day and like 55 at night so bring adequate warming stuff for camping. Single women can of course stay in the house with me. Just kidding.
There is a hotel (15 minutes away...Holiday Inn) for those not wanting to camp.

A local photographer will be on scene to document the event and she will also take any action shots for you at a very reasonable rate. She will also compile a disk of the event photos and video snips for mailing out after the event for a very small fee. (like disk, time to burn disks, and postage/packaging)

Lastly, The local boy scouts wanted to know about "eats". Meaning typical grill stuff as they have asked about doing a grill service as a Boy Scout Troop fund raiser for their next jamboree. If not, grills are welcome as the parking field is about to receive its 2nd cutting for hay and the fire hazard will be minimal.

Well thats the news for now and get ready for a good one.

Joe

FWIW,

Wish I could take a drive across the northern half and attend but.........I was at Drum for 5 years and really like the climate there this time of year. Sounds like it's already a success. Looking forward to the AAR ; Have fun over there!

Need carpoolers from Maryland on up. I have room for 4 or 6 bikes and 2 -3 riders. 2 is more comfy in my truck but 3 can do it.

PM me

Dale

OK
Heres an update.
Grass track is nice and groomed. 8 foot wide on average. Some whoops and bumps but nice far all skill levels ( and older bikes with 7 inches of "Plush?" travel). All bannered up and ribboned. Looks better than a used car lot! Banners complments of Spectro oils as well as those course marker pennant thingys. Course ribbon is of course red and white "Husqvarna" brand; courtesy of Rob at Husky. Woods is a mix of GNCC type (Open) as well as some tight single track and even though no rain here all week.....moist greasy spots in the pine groves where the "travelocity Gnome" lives. Laminated Bright orange arrows are up to guide you on the trails as well as bright Green "W's" (wrong way) for those who were riding KTMs as of last year and may still have a little left over "brain damage" until they made the wise choice and switched over to Huskys.
The event will be covered by "Trail Rider" magazine and should be in the Nov or Dec 08 issue. Make sure you have your sunday best riding gear for photo ops for the mag and as mentioned before, we also will have a pro photographer here who will take the photos for free and I will put em on a disk for mail later. (see me at sign up for that)
Event T's are printing as we speak and I guess I will give a taste of the event and post the design of them once they are done to ensure they are what they are supposed to be (Awsome frickin design on front!........Sponsors shamelessly listed on back.....all in 1000's of colors.......ok ........lots of colors)
Lots of Bling, tires, oils, gift certificates, clothing, hats, plastics, and other stuff to raffle off too and also some nice Big $ things for "special" Raffles. Also a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to one of our own to help with medical expenses for a recent illness. All raffle tickets at sign up.
Big orange Moose arrows will be up from NYS Thruway at the exit for Rt 30 south (# 27) for those coming from North and Northwest and from the 2 exits off of I88 (#24 and # 23) for those coming from West, South, and East. Enttry rd to event will have a big Spectro banner or a Husqvarna Banner to give you a "whoah....your here" reference point.
Boy Scouts backed out (something about a date with some brownies????) and were replaced by local "future Farmers of America" (thats a youth group of farmers for you West coast dudes) for the Saturday grill concession and they just offed a big black Angus to grill his delicious flesh for us too......home grown and frickin delicious. USDA inspected and USDA butchered and not done by the "trail cutting crew" I assure you.

The house is across the street from the parking field/camp area and the amenities of the house will be of course open to the ladies attending (several Spouses as well as some "local ladies" and then for bench racing and DVD's on the big screen after dark along with your fav bev of choice. If you have a fave DVD, by all means bring it (bike vids only........)

Folks can show on Friday as I will be in and out but around all day. If anyone wants to arrive earlier, your welcome but let me know so I can arrange accordingly. Also no rush to get out of the area by sunday night either. A relaxing Husky Weekend is the intent.

I am making last minute tweaks for an awsome event and would like to hear from all that plan on attending but have not registered to ensure I got enough of everything for all. All I can be certain is I got enough area for camping, enought trails, enough shirts, and enought time. Not sure on enough food, "refreshments", and bling to give (C'mon.....we always want more.....got lots already but hey....we're Husky riders and deserve nothing but the best).

Well....... gonna get back to building the extreme ramp then through the fire hoop over the triples with 2 bengal tigers in between the 3 triples. (vintage bikes only!)

Lets hear from you all to make sure I am not missing something........I hope not. Am open to ideas that are realistic with about a week to go; i.e. swap meet table at sign up, etc)

Joe