I agree! Nobody is doing a Husky-specific ride in NC. Most folks here think they only make chainsaws. Western NC is definitely the place to do one, especially if it includes a little d.s. action on the blueridge parkway. Maybe between Maggie Valley and Cade's Cove TN??? I'd be willing to pitch in and help on that one. April-May would be perfect, before the gators migrate upstream to eat the tourists. :smirk:
The reason i had previously posted that it would be a nice area is because i have been through that area in a car. There are so many places to ride out that way with tons of trails. Those mountains and hills are killer. With no one around. The other thing i liked about it is that it is more centrally located. Looking at a map, looks to be about 600mi to Joe Chods place, (2nd Annual Husky Gathering) to that area, and 400mi to Tallahassee. Strait shot of course. I think if it was more centered on the east coast, not necessarily in Yanni23's area, but close, It would attract more Huskys. The first two have been a long drive for most being up in the NE Corner sort of. With all the great work Joe Chod did for last years, The pictures looked awesome. Sadly work kept me from going at the last minute. Just my $.02 but i think it should be looked into for somewhere in the middle. Plus it puts it closer to my house!!! mike
WNC is VERY central. 11 hours from New York or Florida...can't be any easier than that. I do well with what I do simply because you can get here from anywhere it seems. My locale is in the middle of 3 National Forests and a National Park...the Great Smoky Mountains National Park...which is the most visited of any in the U.S. for a reason. Diesel, you're 7 hours/15min. and 450 miles from here. Yanni OUT>>>>
I'd love to have a Gathering here in the Yanni backyard, but just FYI, to ride here you have to be street-legal, which will eliminate a great deal of the Husky faithful... I say we do it anyway and see who shows up.
I vote for the Wolverine/Tomahawk trail system, early June. I am just dyin' to get up there and ride that off-road paradise!
Ive never been to Michigan. I would love to go though. Im sure there are areas around Yannis or other areas where you dont need a DS. I agree that it would limit the participants if required. Once again though, I think more would show if it was in the middle somewhere. How about in the Hatfield Mccoy areas? All the towns have odinances to where you dont need a plate to drive through town. Plenty of all type of trails, restaraunts, places to stay and closer to the middle. Just a thought. mike
+1 for Hatfield. Plenty of lodging and camping options. Off road and road legal, all would be welcome. Just my 2-cents
West coast-East coast and a National Husqy rally. What might be a cool idea would be to organize a couple of rallies. Lets say an East coast and a West coast rally to start off with. West coast Husqavites could organize their rally at a central location Maybe somewhere in Nevada or Utah or anywhere half way between the Canadian border and the Mexican border. The east coast guys can do the same thing over on their side. If thing work out well then we can schedule a national meeting a year or two afterwords; somewhere smack dab in the middle of the US like Colorado, Oklahoma, of Missouri. sound kinda cool to me. Might also give Coffee and the rest of the Husqy community here a louder voice when we want to be heard on a specific issue.
Definitely cool idea, and CO would make the most sense. Things like regional and national meetings have been attempted and have occasionally been successful. Tough to do when people are coming up with their own traveling expenses. In the end it usually comes down to a few dedicated people making the longer trips. I'm curious, how would several of us meeting and riding elevate our status in the Husqvarna community?
Hey all........this all sounds like good ideas and having done 2 already one must not forget that the logistics of the site and the participants is the tail that wags the dog. What I mean is it must not just be feasible but executable by both the organizer and the participants. For example......insurance for riders (gives peace of mind when you are far from home) facilities (water, secure and adequate parking and camping, toilets/porta potties.........yes guys....there are women there). Also if it is a plate only ride, many of our 2 stroke bros and ALL of our vintage would be excempt. Lets face it, this is a huge country and even the national MX and HS sseries has gone to a east/west format due to keeping cost down and then they have a east west shhotout. I think of the idea of as many regional are the best and I travel down south to visit in the NC area and the MI are to see friends and would easiyl schedule my plans to attend these if they happen. The idea of a huge cafe husky and other husky freaks gathering seems like a dream though unless one of us hits the lottery though. I would say all of you keep banging away at having regional events. They start small nand get bigger with time and they are the most fun you can have with your pants on. For the 3rd NE gathering we are planning bigger and better and the ideas keep flowing. Just an FYI......we had some from the Hatfield-McCoy area at NE gathering 2 and that was glanced over as a East coast idea. However with the econmy doing not so good and it is not as simple as going on a plane to a meeting (C'mon.........gear, tools, and one sexy, sweet, and awsome performing bike is a little harder to move around the US than a laptop!) What I mean is it is a little more complex than "if you build it............they will come" especially since the organizers must shell out cash in advance for expenses. I would be willing to assist witn any event and if a west coaster could provide me a loaner bike.......I would sell some of the neighborhood kids to pay for a plane ticket to attend! Never rode in the "land of hi speeds and no trees" except fot teraing across Ft Irwin and 29 Palms in Hummers! Want to do it someday before I croak. Sorry for the rambling but just my 2 cents Joe4
This is usually what happens. Occasionally people notice regional rides that are far away and post something like this, or PMs. And then someone comes up with a spare bike. In fact there is a Baja ride going on next month. (hint)
I agree with you joe. Thats why i suggested the Hatfield area. http://www.trailsheaven.com/ 1. You can ride in the towns without a plate. 2. Plenty of trails (and variations i.e. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced) over 600 miles of trails 3. Plenty of mountain roads for the DS guys 4. Easy to organize (I have talked with them before for organizing a large group ride) 5. Not private property so no insurance needed. 6. Plenty of Places to stay including hotels and camping with water and toilets. 7. Most local places to stay will even host a large gathering of people. 8. Most places to stay are a few hundred yard accesable to tails and or trail heads. 9. centrally located in the eastern area of the U.S. Just a few things that come to mind. One time there and you will want to comeback. I think it would help that it is already set up for everything that would be needed. I really cant think of a downside to that area. No matter where it is, people are going to have to travel. That is why i was saying that someplace centralized would be better. Plus, everyone is always wanting to go to the Hatfield trails. I tink it is the Best place in the East Coast to ride. It has everything for everyone. I will be going there a few times this year. Mike
Ok, I can not see how you can do better than Hatfield for a eastern gathering location. Dirt Days is June 10-14 and Trail fest is Oct 8-12, just make sure it does not fall on those dates, it will be packed. The best riding (IMHO) is the two trail systems from Gilbert - Man - Logan. Anyone want to start throwing dates around? Last two weekends in July are out for me (National trials in VT & NY). Early to mid May could be nice, good camping weather, kids are still in school so weekend family groups should be minimal.
Just a couple things,,,,how much is a permit to ride their trails??? Another thing is that the Husky gatherings are for Huskies only,at least the last 2 have been,and holding the gathering in and on public land will be like having a gathering of who ever wants to show up,riding a Husky or not,,,unless the plan is to rent one of the trail systems just for us. I didn't see anything about it( I just did a quick skim of their web page),but do you have to be an AMA member?? I already am a member but I'm sure other people are not,and that would be another $40 they would have to spend if they needed to be a member. Just a couple of things to look into and mostly just my 2 cents. Maybe there should be 2 gatherings for the east coast,one for the people that live further south,and one for the people that live further north. Have them about a month apart from each other,that way you could go to both of them if you would like to. Again just my 2 cents.
No AMA needed for Hatfield. A yearly membership fee is required, $50 range (I think, need to look it up). At one time you could purchase daily, but a normal 3 day ride cost about the same as the year. Tons of places to purchase the permits, even at the trail heads during limited hours. My thoughts is, when it comes to riding, who ever wants to go along can. Just a reason to gather fellow Husky riders together and put names and faces together. What a better way to get more people interested in a Husky than swaping bikes with a brand "X" bike to see what your bike is like. I just see the gathering as an organized list of times and locations where Husky activities will be happening. Some people will want to camp, some a cheap hotel and some may want to keep the wife happy and get a room at the Chief Logan Lodge so she can do the spa and you can get dirty. I think the state park even has things like horse rides available. Make a longer family vacation out of the gathering and catch some white water rafting while in the area. People travel from all over just for the New River Gorge. This does not have to be dirt only. Any one with a SM will find this area heaven also. When Snowshoe posts their summer event list, perhaps something of interest could be going on at the mountain and that would be a great day trip to crank twisties to Snowshoe and back.Last year KTM held their adventure days at Snowshoe. Wouldn't that just make the blood of the "orange" boil if a clan of 610's came rolling in.
