2018 Central CA Beemer Bash rally

[Richard230]

The 2017 Beemer Bash rally wasn't very well attended this year. I just received a copy of the club's December newsletter and it had this quote from their recent board meeting:

First, a decision was made to host the Beemer BASH again in 2018. We agreed to return to Quincy,
CA for one final year and then move the BASH in 2019. The reasons are quite simple. Costs are up,
participation is down and a move will freshen things up. One last year in Quincy with its perfect
weather, on-road and off-road riding options, amenities and central location will be an exciting end of
an era in Plumas County. The Board was asked to come to December’s meeting with a list of BASH
location options for 2019. Our emphasis will be on sites offering individual lodging reservations and
on-site food and beverage service.

[Daboo]

Hmm...I wonder if there was enough publicity on it?

Chris

[notacop]

I don't know about the publicity factor. It's in the MOA and the RA. Long time BMW folks know about it. Dealers may not be big on getting new purchasers interested in a local club that fosters attendance.
i was Pres of the South Coast BMW Riders in 91-92 and we hosted a rally. Wife and I did the food for the rally for a few years. That club and the San Diego club joined forces to host a rally in Big BEar but it fizzled after a few years. New riders wanna go to a clean Motel or Hotel and the wives want shopping and more civilized things than sitting around in the dirt having fun.
The clientele has changed.
Quincy is a loverly place but after a rally has been in a location a number of years, the roads are no longer new and the the interest wains.
Attendees are getting older and less interested in ground camping.
The 49er is back at Mariposa and attendance is down on that one too. Used to top a thousand folks. Now it's a couple hundred. BMW used to give away a motorcycle.
My how times have changed!

[Daboo]

I looked up Quincy on the map and it looked like it was in a great area. The location towards the northern portion of California put it within doable range for anyone coming from Washington or Oregon, and it wasn't too far for southern California.

I understand your explanation on the clientele and roads too. If you get relationships built, then the rally becomes a reason to meet old friends and the roads become just an excuse and a way to pass a couple hours. I went to a NT700V owners rally last summer and these people have been getting together for years. The riding for them is getting to and back home. The rally is the time to sit around and talk to friends.

Chris

[Richard230]

Quincy is in a wonderful location for motorcycle riding and camping. Many years ago the 49'er Rally was held there (in May) for a number of years, but you never knew what the weather was going to do each year. The first year I went to that rally in Quincy, it hailed when I arrived and rained the entire night before the rally ended on Sunday morning. Plus, it was common for morning temperatures to be around freezing. I was happy to see NorCal to eventually move out of Quincy, but even happier to see Central CA move back in years later in mid-September - after holding their rally in Paso Robles during the early 1990's.

I think it is just a combination of the rally needing a change, of lots of fires around the West Coast this year, and the usual reasons of everyone getting older and always having something else to do that weekend.

[Daboo]

...I think it is just a combination of the rally needing a change, of lots of fires around the West Coast this year, and the usual reasons of everyone getting older and always having something else to do that weekend.

Yeah. The group I've gone with on international prison ministry trips has something like six trips scheduled for next year. I'd like to go on at least three of them. But between kids coming into town, a bike trip with some friends to Banff and Jasper, and traveling to California on vacation, I can only do one. And I'll just have to see what rallies are scheduled and where for next summer to see if I can fit any of those in.

It'd be a lot easier if I wasn't married and didn't have kids to see...but I'd rather have them.

Chris