Mosquito Beemers: Photos from the National Rally

The National Rally July 21 to 24, 2005

Our trip to the National Rally was a great success and many club member showed up. Although we have all been asking the seminal question "why, how Lima Ohio," the turnout was record with about 8200 showing up. It will be by far the biggest turnout ever for a National Rally. Susan and I left Wednesday and rode old Route 30 the whole way. After crossing the terminal moraine the land got flat and boring, it was like riding a CADD grid lined on both sides by corn fields. Finding direction however was easy as it was just parallel roads. Venders were wowed by the exceptional Thursday turnout and many were sold out by Friday morning. Susan and I did gate duty on Friday and were able to greet Cliff and Debbie Masnik, Dick and Donna Beyerle and Dale and Nancy Kramer personally. Susan had to direct Donna to the first aid station for attention to a burn on her leg from the hot exhaust pipe on their Uber bike, while consoling Dick after said bike tipped over when the stand augured into the soft ground in the parking area. There was record heat and we were all riding to in from the hotel in minimal gear, hence Donna's burn. In addition to the already mentioned enthusiasts, Club members that attended were Larry Ward, Tom Fear, Rose Morris, Pat Fletcher, Dan and Denise Miller, John Weston, Ron Weese and our newest member Brett Betz.

All seemed to be keeping the economy alive in the vendors area and few were without goodies. I think the most interesting news is that the Uni-go Trailer company of Christ's Church, New Zeeland has been purchased by Schoolhouse Motorcycle Accessories of Lebanon, OH. Schoolhouse hopes to be manufacturing the trailers here by first quarter of next year. Without the unfavorable exchange rate from the New Zeeland dollar to the U. S. dollar and shorter shipping distance, they clam there will be a substantial reduction in price. In the classic bike area we found that the idea of the Uni-go is hardly new and took a photo to prove it. The following photo montage will tell much about the rally that words can't.