Howdy all, new Airmarshal Dwight Small just stepping up to take over for Tony. Many thanks for all the time he put in. Not quite sure what to do yet, and helpful hints are appreciated.
I like to go on the T-Bone Classic ride put on each year by a guy I used to work with. Lives right down the road from me. In WY that means down the highway only about an hour or so. Either way it is a fun charity ride that raises money for a local family in need. I'll put up info when I get it about this years ride.
Just got word of the "Rolling Rally" passing through WY on the way to the MOA National Rally in Great Falls, MT. They will staying for two nights in Cody, Wednesday June 23rd and Thursday the 24th before heading on the last leg to Great Falls. I am hoping to meet up with them in Cody on Wednesday evening. Initial plans will have my wife and dog coming along in our truck that provides me a nice place to sleep each night. Below is the information I received about the ride to the rally.
Airheads 2021 Missouri Rolling Rally
You are invited to the 2021 Missouri Rolling Rally!!! If the phrase “Rolling Rally” just sounds like another way to get a group of cheapskates with old Airheads together and ride across the country…then you should probably join us.
If you feel like this is too much information and you would like less, feel free to call or text me anytime: Scott Hubbard 573-855-4983.
It’s all in the details…or the lack of: After a successful inaugural run to the 2019 BMW MOA National Rally in Nashville, the Missouri Rolling Rally is back. The 2021 BMW MOA National Rally is 24-27 June in Great Falls, MT-The Missouri Rolling Rally is a “non-planned”, “non-event” that will map out a “loose” route from the Missouri to the BMW National Rally in Great Falls. We also hope others rendezvous in other parts of the country, and if you’re coming from the east side of the country, consider funneling in to Missouri to join us.
The Route: Exactly how “loose” is the route? Well, the planning committee voted unanimously to head “West”, everything after that was a spit 50/50 tie so we will leave that up to each rider. What we did manage to lock in each night’s camping locations by dates. When you look at these dates/stops, remember that everything was planned “backwards” to provide flexibility for individual schedules while still placing us all in Great Falls, MT on the start day of Thursday, 24 June.
So what if a rider really, really wants to detour from the route and ride that very special road or maybe stop by Aunt Nellie’s in Crossroads, WY to pet their favorite chicken??? Sounds great- They can catch up with the group later in Cody or Great Falls. There will be no hard feeling. This isn’t like “unfriending” someone on social media…it’s expected that riders will break off and join up as we ride. It’s your ride- Make it what YOU want!
So why even do this then? Very simple- Because nostalgia is cool, but reality isn’t…Airheads can break down and it usually takes a combination of knowledge, tools and parts to fix them. This route ensures everything you should need to make it a reality. You see, each night’s camping location is conveniently located at/near an Airhead member’s home along the route. Brilliant!!!
Platte City, MO Mark Nelson (Home of ABC Platte City Tech Days), 13380 State Highway N, Platte City, MO. What can I say about Mark? No…seriously, what can I say about Mark…Oh yah- I’ve never left there hungry!! Mark has a great shop for any quick repair needed. We will be starting the ride from Mark’s home Saturday morning for a leisurely 275 miles. Eastern travelers can show up Friday night to camp in the yard, locals can show up Saturday morning or just catch us on the route to Grand Island.
Grand Island, NE Camping at the Grand Island KOA: https://koa.com/campgrounds/grand-island/ which is about a mile or so from John Wayne’s home (Not that John Wayne-Former NE Air Marshal), 1101 Nebraska Highway 2, Phillips, NE. John usually pushes an Airhead out by the road to mark his driveway. He has a great shop for repairs with a few of his personal Airheads. We will figure out a dinner plan, but I heard the KOA has hot pizza. We will head out Sunday morning for the 380 mile ride through the Nebraska Sand Hills.
Hot Springs, SD Camping at the home of Jeff Ecker (SD Air Marshal/International man of mystery), 245 North 5th Street, Hot Springs, SD (phone 605-890-2615). Jeff is so cool, he is allowed to touch the art at the museum! We rode to his SD Tech Day last fall and enjoyed the very best in Airhead riding and hospitality. He guided us on rides through the Black Hills and even took us all into town for a dip in the creek. Jeff is simply an exceptional host and literally opened his shop, yard and home to us all. We have scheduled two days here because there is so much to see including Mount Rushmore. If you are leaving later or trying to catch up with the group, you can do it here since we have an extra day built in. We will leave Tuesday morning for the 400 mile trip. There are multiple routes to choose from so take your pick.
Cody, WY Camping at Cody KOA https://koa.com/campgrounds/cody/ or any number of other local spots in town. Tony Lehman (Former Air Marshal and ABC Tool Loan guy), 1841 Lane 12, Powell, WY. Tony has some tools and a garage for repairs. Also, Bob’s Motor Works in MT is about an hour away for needed parts. We expect to go into Cody for dinner where you can still get a bison burger and watch a gunfight!!! We have scheduled two days here because there is so much to see including Beartooth Pass, Yellowstone, a museum and all the beautiful sites in downtown Cody. If you are leaving later or trying to catch up with the group, you can do it here since we have an extra day built in. We will leave Thursday morning for the 325 mile trip. There are a number epic routes to choose from so take your pick.
Great Falls, MT ABC Airheads Tent (Unsolicited knowledge, tools, parts and food). https://rally.bmwmoa.org/
Sunday morning at the Rally is the same every year as the Rally is empty by noon- Every man for himself so have a safe trip home!
What the Rolling Rally is: When you attend a Rally everyone generally wakes up and discusses their individual plans for the day. Some folks take it easy and some get adventurous and pile on the miles seeing epic sites. At the end of each day, everyone ends up back at the Rally discussing their version of the day’s adventure. That’s what we will do- The difference is that we will join up at different campsites along the trip. Each rider is welcome to join in whenever and wherever they would like and take different routes to the next day’s camping location.
What a Rolling Rally is NOT: It is not an Airport- You don’t really need to announce your arrival and departure. If you don’t like the route, camping or food, then you can change it as you and your riding partners like. But, If you are heading West during these dates, it will be great to see you.
Is it an “Airhead event”? I’d say it is an “Airhead sponsored” event and we should all feel great about inviting folks along to see how we BMW riders do it. Airheads have been “Piggy backing” of the BMW Rallies, and other bike events for years so it would be nice for us to be just as welcoming.
Make your plans and invite your friends. We hope to see you somewhere along the route on the 2021 Rolling Rally!!!
These are the good old days and the opportunity for a “Remember when…” story.
I just reserved a tent site at the Cody KOA...hope to see you there!
I tried to take the WY Airhead flag to the MOA National in Great Falls, MT but I didn't make it much farther north than Cody, WY. I missed the rolling rally by a day but got to meet our former Airmarshal Tony. He was nice enough do some repair work on my mandolin and get it back in action. I mistakenly took a ride through Yellowstone National park and that got me saturated in socialization. So I just couldn't get myself to continue north figuring the rally would be just as crowded as the park. Instead I headed over to the Big Horn Mountains in WY and did some beautiful mountain descents in the rain. Found out that my old Belstaf coat was no longer water proof...some coats of NiKWax are going to be applied. Either way Shell Canyon was beautiful even if it was raining which is unusual for WY.
The TBone Classic charity ride poker run is July 24th. This is a poker run that costs about $25 to join and benefits a needy child in WY. It will start in Centennial at the Whistle Pig Saloon then go to Centennial, then Laramie, then Woods Landing, then RIverside, and back to the Whistle Pig Saloon where there will be live music and free camping in the field by the bar. I'll be hopping on the ride in Centennial and camping in Saratoga that night. The ride has a wide variety of motorcycles so come on out and have a great time riding and help raise some money for a sick child in WY. All proceeds go to help a family and no profit is taken by the organizer TBone Anthony Lawson. He has even put up his motorcycle to be raffled off.
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