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2018 Eastern V-Strom Rally, Stecoah, NC. May 17-20, 2018

51K views 350 replies 46 participants last post by  Dread7 
#1 ·
The Eastern Rally is already "booked" at The Iron Horse Lodge/Campground for May 17-20th again in 2018......the weekend between Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekend. The IH is holding the entire campground for us "V-Strommers" until January 14th to make our room/cabin/bunkhouse reservations, and then they will open it up to the General Public starting January 15th. REMEMBER: call the Iron Horse prior to January 15th if you want your same room, or different "digs" from last year. Tent Campers require no reservations at this time.

As Stalky Tracker has mentioned in a previous thread, our Eastern V-Strom Rally was written-up in the Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine back during the summer. Great article, as it spoke highly of what V-strommers are all about. We tried some new ideas this year, and a few riders have already volunteered to help with the 2018 Rally, bringing some of their different ideas to the organizing table........should be fun, different, but also the "same"......if that makes any sense??!! The Wheels thru Time Museum Ride/Tour was a huge hit with the dozen or so riders who went this year on Saturday. Look for it again in 2018.

This is not really a "Sign-up" Thread (just yet), but more of a reminder to make your reservations ASAP, and maybe ask Santa for some farkles in your stocking?? Look for new faces leading the pack in 2018, but with the same old "veterans" there helping out as well.

The Eastern Rally is the same weekend as the Romney, WV get-together.......which sounds like an outstanding rally itself from past responses here on the forum. Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles and go into them..........

Merry Christmas/Happy New Year/and God Bless........

444
 
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#316 ·
It was nice to finally put a face to you @realshelby and talk a bit of shop with you. I unfortunately missed your clutch tech session as I was heavily sedated from the sugar rush of the freakin' awesome super chewy fudge brownie ice cream sundae and went to bed early. My loss. Thanks for presenting your fix to the dreaded clutch chudder of the V-Stroms. My 2003 is a victim and needs your clutch fix.
 
#317 ·
Gotta agree with Shelby here. I showed up to the meet more so to see members/friends from past meets rather than the motorcycles. Heck, I didn't even ride! But I will be taking my 03 for sure next year! Can't wait!
 
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#324 ·
Ta! Da!

Made it home on Monday night without hitting anything but bugs. No tickets (deserved at least 2) and the deer stayed in the woods, instead of hurling themselves into my windshield. Buck83 and I stayed an extra day and we rode the Cherohala (I think, the rides kinda blend together) on Sunday. My only minor, snively complaint is I had booked Bunkhouse 1 for 3 days and had to move to the other Bunkhouse for my extra night there.

Thanks to those that worked on the Rally and I plan to attend next year as well.
 
#325 · (Edited)
Made it home last night (Thursday). Total trip was 12 days and about 3400 miles. A great trip overall.

It was great to meet new faces as well as old friends at the Rally. As others have pointed out, it was some of the best weather we have had at the Rally, at least the six (6) I have attended. And the food was great, as usual. Thanks to all who attended as you are the ones who made the Rally a success.

Looking forward to next year, reservations already made.

Will post up some pics later, after I mow and bale the front yard.
 
#326 ·
Hey all, if you're on Facebook and want to be part of the Eastern Rally group over there, the link is below. It's a private group, so Buck83 has to be approve once you click to join. It's mostly a way for us to post pictures and spread information about the rally each year for those who don't visit this site regularly.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1684269304996800/
 
#327 ·
2641 miles later, I finally made it home safe and sound. Rolled in today around 15:30 with 95F temps, which is almost unheard of in Chicago.
Wish I would have taken pictures, but after the rally I headed off to MO to make our annual family reunion and decided to do some "sight seeing" along the way. Needless to say I got stuck on a gravel bar near Black River south of Ellington MO.
The more I moved the bike the deeper it got... Then it tipped and my feet would sink when trying to pick the bike up. I ended up flagging down a local passing by and he helped me lift it up and he pushed while I got out of the sandy gravel. Poor guy was covered in the sandy mud and crap my tires were flinging up, he refused to take any money for his troubles or dry cleaning. I owed him my life as it was 90+F, I had no service and couldn't get it up/out on my own. Needless to say my off road was limited after that. Didn't stop me from touring some county roads/trails and seeing some familiar sights.


As others have mentioned we have now entered the 21st century and have a Facebook group. Any photos from the rally will be emailed to Stalky to go on the official website. Whatever is most convenient for you.
Feel free to utilize it for sharing photos, organizing rides or anything like that just make sure you drop a line on the forum occasionally for those "old timers" not on Facebook. Not mentioning any names (caughMark444caugh).
It's you guys group, please utilize it as you like. I will add more admins once Big B and others join in. Right now my only purpose on it is to keep out spammers so utilize the tools anyway you may see fit. The calendar feature on FB is above par and hopefully we can utilize it next year for those already on to invite friends.
I plan on creating an Eveny page for next year's rally once I get unpacked, showered and a good night's rest.

T-shirts... stickers...schwag...
A few mentioned Sat night about a contest or open forum for input on 2019 T-shirts. I'm completely okay with this. I just picked it up because the previous members doing it couldn't make it and I really wanted one. The only problem I have is if we have more participation on design than those attending or buying shirts. Otherwise again it's you guys rally and I'm just trying to do my part to give back and keep up participation.
The company alone is top notch and the roads sort of sell themselves. So whatever momento you guys would like to see for next year I'm open to suggestions.

Will post the 5 or 6 photos I bothered taking shortly and again, thank you to those who attended for the company! It was a fantastic time and wouldn't have been the same without the group. Until the next time, be careless.

Buck
 
#329 ·
Glad you got out okay. Thanks again for the swag work. Unknown off-road by yourself can be a problem with a 500 pound bike. Been there done that and I decided that off-road by myself is very risky. Next year I want to put knobbies on the GS and ride with a group to explore the area off-road.

I'm already working on a group ride on tarmac that I will lead. The ride will be for people who ride 5 to 10 miles an hour over posted speed, and who like to stop often for pics and pee breaks:grin2:. @mark444 why don't you start a 2019 rally thread.
 
#330 ·
You guys are horrible

I was supposed to sell my bike after last years event but I came to this one and now confirmed for the next one.

I want people to fully understand that my bike sat for an entire year in my shop with a battery tender and stabilizer in a full tank of gas. I tried to knock all the spider webs off but missed a few and knocked them off after unloading at the rally.

Started right up, ran awesome all weekend.

And look what you guys made me do. When I ride up my tush gets a beating from the stock seat so I had to buy that Corbin seat from MikeG for next year! (I personally blame Big B for that as he was riding a Corbin and expressed how much he liked it over the other brands).

See you guys next year
 
#335 ·
A few more:

Meeting.




Hockey on the big screen, YES!




Dale's tour




Group photo, Sunday morning.





Will post more on the website over the weekend.
 
#336 · (Edited)
A few more:

Group photo, Sunday morning.

The "Dirty Dozen, Minus 2"........(L to R)......Buck83, STCorndog, Frosty, Happy Hooker, OMGyourSexy, CLovett, Eric (probably in Alaska by now?), Brickmouse13, Chase, Stalky Tracker (behind the camera lense).........and "Fergie" the Wonder Dog.
And that looks like Towres (Mickey) hiding behind Happy Hooker???
 
#338 ·
Been adding and updating photos on the website, for those interested. More to come.


Oh, almost forgot, a couple of pics for RealShelby. :grin2:





 
#341 ·
Spokes, not that I am aware of. I will be there the week of September the 4th but for one day only and not on the Strom. I am thinking next year (2019) will be a 2 event year for the Strom folks. You never know, we will need to discuss this at the May rally in 2019. September and October are great times of the year to be in the Smokies but the weather can be extreme at the later dates. I am thinking next September would be something to aim at for a second meet.
Most riders like myself cannot commit very early to this schedule but I will know if I can do the September 2019 meet by the time we see each other in May next year.
Getting ready to retire and looking forward to visiting the Horse several times a year after I depart the workforce.
Prowler
 
#345 ·
Yes.

Oh, you want to know when it is. >:)

May 16 - 19, 2019 at Iron Horse MC Lodge. It's always the weekend after Mother's Day. Or you can check the website (link in signature below).

Get those reservations in, Iron Horse holds those dates for us until sometime in early January.
 
#346 ·
2019 Rally is about 24 weeks away. We have another month before the Iron Horse no longer holds rooms for us that weekend. After that they'll likely go quick.
I got furloughed this week (that's the railroad for you) and the next day started talking about the 2019 Rally with my wife.
 
#347 ·
2019 Rally..........

Guess it's time to start a New 2019 Eastern Vstrom Rally thread.....??? Thankyou Roy (Stalky Tracker) for posting the information. And........thankyou "again" Roy for all the Rally Work you do behind the scenes.......continuously updating the rally website, contacting attendees from 2018, coming up with Ride Routes and new venues for rides. While most of us are in Winter Hibernation, living off our stored-up fat, Stalky Tracker is constantly chipping away at the next Rally Duties starting 1-2 weeks after the last rally.....and he lives in Wisconsin where it is cold as a Witch's Left Mammary!!!!!!!!!! He's the one that has all rights to be taking a Long Winter's Nap......:fineprint:
He's a "keeper"..........:kiss:
 
#349 ·
The Eastern V-Strom Rally website link is in my signature below (or EasternVstromRally.com). May 16-19, 2019 at Iron Horse MC Lodge in Stecoah NC.

There's also the Romney Rally in Romney WV, the dates haven't been set yet. https://www.stromtrooper.com/events/419617-2019-romney-camp-n-ride.html

And the Cache Rally in Gardiner MT, June 14-16, 2019. https://www.stromtrooper.com/events/415859-6th-annual-cache-rally-june-14-15-16-a.html


Hope this helps, if not holler and we'll try again. :laugh2:
 
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