[Marc]

So, did everyone have a good time? Love to hear your stories here. We also would like to collect pictures so we can post slide shows of the Rally....so if you have pictures or links to pictures, please post in this thread.

It was a great week!

Marc

[1spyder-1hd]

AWESOME........LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEARS SPYDERS IN THE SMOKIES RALLY!!!
MARY & TERRY

[musicarcade]

I had a blast at the Rally! Tuesday I headed out on my own for Alt ryde #2 and took a pic at Davis Dam.
Wed. I did the long ryde which I thoroughly enjoyed . I felt like we were in a parade whenever we passed a group of unsususpecting people. Met some great folks and met up with them the next day for a ride out to the dragon, which was the biggest thrill I've had on my Spyder. It was so fun we did it twice!
I can't wait to come back next year!
Here is a shot from Davis Dam

[musicarcade]

This is from Wednesday long ride up to Norris dam. This was our first stop. A Spyder infestation at a gas station!

[musicarcade]

Here is our little group taking a photo op before ryding the dragon.


hope to see everyone next year if not sooner!
If you're ever near Beaufort SC let me know!!

[imail4u]

Marc, on Sep 27 2009, 08:18 AM, said:

So, did everyone have a good time? Love to hear your stories here. We also would like to collect pictures so we can post slide shows of the Rally....so if you have pictures or links to pictures, please post in this thread.

It was a great week!

Marc

Hi Marc,
I would like to start by saying I had the "time of my life" this past week in the smokey's. The rides were great and the people were so friendly. Steve is the best! The RT is nothing short of awesome and sweet. Already checking on prices to trade mine in...LOL I also have had reservations for where I will stay next year. However, I would like to be the voice for the silent people that went and had to leave the dinner on Wednesday to go to a cheaper place to eat. I feel the Park Grill is a nice place and I went to only have a couple of drinks and socialize. They were a few people that left because they didn't have (or didn't want) to pay their prices. I am sure that they are more places in Gatlinburg that could accomodate us that has drinks and maybe a sandwich, as I say this literary. Maybe someone should check on this before next year. All the guys from Brp and yourself are very nice also. Pierre was a hoot! Dragontail is a must, as all the days rides were great. Now I am back home and look forward to more pics of this past week, so keep posting!!

I'm a Slayer of the Dragon

Thank You and especially Billy Bob for making this happens for all to enjoy.

Donna
imail4u

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....
It's about learning to dance in the rain!

[Marc]

Thanks Donna, we will see what we can do about giving more options for next year. We had 110 at the Steak house Wednesday night, but maybe we will add another night at a place like Smokey's where we had the Meet-n-Greet. Keep the input coming

[hammer663]

Marc,
Billy, Myself and Tony would like to thank you first of all for last minute stuff you did for us. Again we are sorry it was soooo last minute but with our own business it is really hard and we were so glad that one of our jobs was pushed back so that we were able to come. We had a blast. We met many new and familiar faces and enjoyed every minute. We did the touristy thing and did all the Ripleys, we did the dragon(would do it again!), Ober GAtlinburg(rode the spyders up of course), Lamonts BBQ and rode out in small groups for exploring. It was so great to see all the spyders and I took lots of photos of which I will post when I figure out how to downsize them. All the food was great, the Park Grill especially! I know many people drove their spyders there and if we did not have the time constraints we would have too, Although I felt gratefull for them being in the trailer and us pulling them nice where we were nice and dry on the way home!
Again, Marc, thanks.
Billy, Lisa and Tony Hammersmith
PS Hope to make it again next year.

[Marc]

hammer663, on Sep 27 2009, 04:41 PM, said:

Marc,
Billy, Myself and Tony would like to thank you first of all for last minute stuff you did for us. Again we are sorry it was soooo last minute but with our own business it is really hard and we were so glad that one of our jobs was pushed back so that we were able to come. We had a blast. We met many new and familiar faces and enjoyed every minute. We did the touristy thing and did all the Ripleys, we did the dragon(would do it again!), Ober GAtlinburg(rode the spyders up of course), Lamonts BBQ and rode out in small groups for exploring. It was so great to see all the spyders and I took lots of photos of which I will post when I figure out how to downsize them. All the food was great, the Park Grill especially! I know many people drove their spyders there and if we did not have the time constraints we would have too, Although I felt gratefull for them being in the trailer and us pulling them nice where we were nice and dry on the way home!
Again, Marc, thanks.
Billy, Lisa and Tony Hammersmith
PS Hope to make it again next year.

It was very nice meeting you and your family...glad you could free up to come down. Maybe we can hook up for some New York State rides sometime.

[Spyderjockey]

Hi Marc and everyone,

We arrived back home around 2:30 P.M. today and just like last year came back in lots and lots of rain and fog. All of us in our little group ( Ken, Spyderdude, Spyderman, Paul and my wife and I) all made it home safe. We had to leave 1 of our regular group, Mark V. from Virginia at Gatlinberg waiting for a part for his Spyder. Hopefully he has made it home by now. We had a great time at the rally even though we had a few glitches on the way down and some during the week. All in all though it was a great time again and I am looking forward to next years rally.

I would like to thank BRP for my gift certificate for being the 1st to register for this years rally, it was a plesant surprise. Also my wife would like to thank Corbin for her gift certificate for the most miles on the back of the Spyder. She was really surprised and is looking to see what she would like to get with the certificate.

It was great seeing all old acquaintenaces again and it was really nice meeting some new friends.

Thanks again to you, Marc for all of your efforts in this years rally and to Billy Bob for his idea for having rallies in the first place. Also thanks to all of the volunteers and dealers who made this rally a huge success!!

PS: Will post some pics. later.

This post has been edited by Spyderjockey: 27 September 2009 - 04:20 PM

[Marc]

Spyderjockey, on Sep 27 2009, 05:18 PM, said:

Hi Marc and everyone,

We arrived back home around 2:30 P.M. today and just like last year came back in lots and lots of rain and fog.

I thought about you guys all day yesterday...the rain was very heavy driving north. Glad to hear you made it home without any problems.

See you at the SpyderTalk/Ingles ride in a couple weeks.

[SpyderDawg]

Marc, on Sep 27 2009, 08:18 AM, said:

So, did everyone have a good time? Love to hear your stories here. We also would like to collect pictures so we can post slide shows of the Rally....so if you have pictures or links to pictures, please post in this thread.

It was a great week!

Marc

The rally was OUTSTANDING!! You guys did a fantastic job of putting things together for us Spyder owners so we could all get together! Steve did an awesome job on the daily rides. Met some great people, made new friends and look forward to next year!

[tjfischer]

Marc, I just want to say thank you. I had a great time. I will be there next.

I am truely looking forward to getting back to Tennesse

[hammer663]

Marc, on Sep 27 2009, 05:53 PM, said:

It was very nice meeting you and your family...glad you could free up to come down. Maybe we can hook up for some New York State rides sometime.

Marc,
Anytime you are heading our way please call us. We would love to ride with you guys, We ride alot in the summer on sundays and we do all the BRP events that we can do. Let us know,
Lisa and Bill

[Trickie Dick]

Marc. thanks so much for hosting such a great gathering. Janet and I had a terrific time. Meeting all the people was just a great experience. Thanks again to BRP for the nice gift certificate for the early sign-up drawing. The steak dinner was very good. I would recommend that place again.
Only negative was the Tuesday ride where we got separated from the main group and made several u-turns on a very busy highway. I'm sure next year a smaller group per ride will take care of that issue.
I'm already looking forward to next year. In the meantime, if anyone gets through Indy, please let me know. Would love to meet up with you again.
Dick

[ScottyD]

I had a great time, and I am looking forward to next years rally. Everyone involved did a great job. I thought the Park Grill was kinda pricey, but the food was very good, so I guess that wouldn't really be a valid complaint. Hopefully the weather will be a little more cooperative next year.

[wackydan]

Oh man... Where to begin?

I never thought I would get along so well with so many of you. I don't think I met any attendees that I didn't mesh with in some way. I found two groups that I spent the most of my time with and I think friendships were made there and I hope I don't have to wait till next year to see them again.

Great event and close to home (200 miles) for me. Wish my wife could have made it.

Some recommendations for next year.

Group rides... See if we can't break these up. 70 Spyders is a fun gaggle to be in no doubt, but sometimes it makes traffic management difficult. I like the large groups at times personally, but some don't.

If they didn't register for the rides, they shouldn't be on them or they should have to pay the $5 at the start of the ride and get wrist banded. It is not fair to the ride guide, or safety vehicle. And yes... thanks for the safety vehicles.

I volunteer (if I make it next year) to be one of the safety spyders. Doc did a pretty good job of helping get everyone through intersections, but if you are to have the larger group rides I would suggest the following.

- Safety vests for those Spyders that have a safety/traffic role. Imprinting "Guide Bike", etc will let all the riders know who is doing what during the ride and help other motorists understand why one of us is pulled out blocking a lane for others.

- Besides the guide Spyder and designated tail end spyder, add two traffic control spyders. The roles are small, and would not interfere with anyone's enjoyment of the ride. I know Doc and I as well as some others have enough lights to look menacing and be noticed when we pull into any intersection.

All in all, a very successful event for me at least. Got to really see what even my loaded down Spyder could do on the Dragon, and how great the Spyder was in the rain.

I miss you guys already.

[TharkunRT]

Well I agree the rides do need to be re-thought for next year, the issue of using "road cops" needs to be researched, some cities/counties have regulations that need to be followed. Just having a designated Spyder ryder blocking traffic, and riders ignoring red lights/traffic signs is not a good practice in my opinion.

[B1TTEN #509]

I have a call in to the Park Grill about maybe a discount. Thing is to find a place we can park.

What about having destination rides where we can all find our way there with provided maps, go in smaller groups?

How about activities so the family or spouse can come along as well? The trolleys go just about everywhere including the artist tour?

Look for the Spydertalk hat!!!

This post has been edited by B1TTEN #509: 28 September 2009 - 05:35 PM

[rnet]

I to would like to thank all involved with this rally. I had a great time here riding through the smokies and enjoying the spyder events. My only suggestion would be to locate another restaurant for wed. price, ($44 for meal and one beer) enough room to be comfortable (now I know what a sardine feels like), not enough parking, and my steak was very small and half fat, although it tasted good. Others around me were happy with their meals. All in all a very enjoyable event, will be back in the future. Mark, here's an idea, do a survey to find out everyone likes and were improvements need to be.