FJRBandit
Well-known member
I suppose it's time to start considering our plans for this year's SFO. We need to at least get our dates locked down so that those who have to bid for vacation or otherwise plan out their riding schedule for the season know what dates to pencil in. I would like to get this nailed down in the next couple of weeks. While MrsBandit and I would be honored to host the event for a third straight year, we know that some people may prefer other venues. So I wanted to again throw it out there to open up discussion and see what the consensus is for the location and time for SFO this year.
There are many things to consider when trying to set up this type of event. First and foremost, since this has become mainly a Fall rally we want to be considerate of the long running and ever popular EOM that is set this year to be held Sept 20th -23rd in Maggie Valley, NC. So I would think that we don't want to do anything any later than Labor Day, which would be the weekend of August 31st - Sept. 2nd or on the other side, any sooner than Oct. 12th-14th. To that end, we really don't need to do anything later than Halloween to accommodate our friends riding down from Yankeeland. Also, I haven't seen anything on Hooterville but I believe that's usually in early October.
That being said, I would propose the following weekends (Saturday date only listed):
September 1st (Labor Day weekend), October 13th, 20th or 27th (Halloween weekend).
When it comes to location, the easiest thing obviously is a Jemison redux and if that's what the majority wants, that's what the whole shall get. But I'll throw out a couple of other locations for discussion purposes.
There is a nice hotel in Monteagle, TN that would be perfect for our event. The Smokehouse has reasonably priced rooms, cabins and an authentic Tennessee Smokehouse restaurant onsite that is outstanding! Monteagle is located along I-24, roughly 1 1/2 hrs south east of Nashville and 45 minutes northwest of Chattanooga. I don't believe they have tent camping sites, but surely there are some campsites nearby. The riding in the area is good and Cherohala is only about two hours away. Also in the immediate vicinity are Little River Canyon, Mentone, AL, Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, TN just to name a few. For those that have never been in that region I think you would find it very nice and enjoy the riding the area has to offer. If this is a place of interest, I will give them a call and see what kind of group rate we can get (likely in the $70-$80 range).
Traditionally, SFO was held in the Arkansas Ozarks. I try to make a pilgrimage there at least once a year myself. It's probably my favorite area to ride motorcycles east of the Rockies. I have confirmed that The Hub has officially closed as of Fall 2017. There are plenty of other options in and around north central and northwest Arkansas. If the majority want to go back to Arkansas this year then I will work on checking around for hotels/basecamps. I don't need to extol the riding in this region, everyone here is aware of the awesomeness that is riding in the Ozarks.
So I want to propose these three options for consideration -
Jemison Redux - simplest, easiest thing for me to plan and make happen, needs to occur later in October, essentially Halloween weekend just as we have done the last two years. Decent riding, but not a lot of great twisties.
Monteagle, Tennessee - good location, good hotel and great restaurant onsite, no "banquet" just meet, eat and ride some good/great roads. We can likely do this one on any of the aforementioned weekends.
Ozarks area, Arkansas - awesome riding, no "banquet" just meet, eat and ride some great roads. Probably in either Harrison, AR or Mountain View, AR. I know of a couple of fishing/biker camps that offer clean no frills accommodations for the hotel people like me and the tent campers as well. We can likely also do this one on any of the aforementioned weekends.
So let's hear it guys and gals. What is it you all want to do this year??? Please comment on your preference for location and which particular weekend you prefer.
There are many things to consider when trying to set up this type of event. First and foremost, since this has become mainly a Fall rally we want to be considerate of the long running and ever popular EOM that is set this year to be held Sept 20th -23rd in Maggie Valley, NC. So I would think that we don't want to do anything any later than Labor Day, which would be the weekend of August 31st - Sept. 2nd or on the other side, any sooner than Oct. 12th-14th. To that end, we really don't need to do anything later than Halloween to accommodate our friends riding down from Yankeeland. Also, I haven't seen anything on Hooterville but I believe that's usually in early October.
That being said, I would propose the following weekends (Saturday date only listed):
September 1st (Labor Day weekend), October 13th, 20th or 27th (Halloween weekend).
When it comes to location, the easiest thing obviously is a Jemison redux and if that's what the majority wants, that's what the whole shall get. But I'll throw out a couple of other locations for discussion purposes.
There is a nice hotel in Monteagle, TN that would be perfect for our event. The Smokehouse has reasonably priced rooms, cabins and an authentic Tennessee Smokehouse restaurant onsite that is outstanding! Monteagle is located along I-24, roughly 1 1/2 hrs south east of Nashville and 45 minutes northwest of Chattanooga. I don't believe they have tent camping sites, but surely there are some campsites nearby. The riding in the area is good and Cherohala is only about two hours away. Also in the immediate vicinity are Little River Canyon, Mentone, AL, Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, TN just to name a few. For those that have never been in that region I think you would find it very nice and enjoy the riding the area has to offer. If this is a place of interest, I will give them a call and see what kind of group rate we can get (likely in the $70-$80 range).
Traditionally, SFO was held in the Arkansas Ozarks. I try to make a pilgrimage there at least once a year myself. It's probably my favorite area to ride motorcycles east of the Rockies. I have confirmed that The Hub has officially closed as of Fall 2017. There are plenty of other options in and around north central and northwest Arkansas. If the majority want to go back to Arkansas this year then I will work on checking around for hotels/basecamps. I don't need to extol the riding in this region, everyone here is aware of the awesomeness that is riding in the Ozarks.
So I want to propose these three options for consideration -
Jemison Redux - simplest, easiest thing for me to plan and make happen, needs to occur later in October, essentially Halloween weekend just as we have done the last two years. Decent riding, but not a lot of great twisties.
Monteagle, Tennessee - good location, good hotel and great restaurant onsite, no "banquet" just meet, eat and ride some good/great roads. We can likely do this one on any of the aforementioned weekends.
Ozarks area, Arkansas - awesome riding, no "banquet" just meet, eat and ride some great roads. Probably in either Harrison, AR or Mountain View, AR. I know of a couple of fishing/biker camps that offer clean no frills accommodations for the hotel people like me and the tent campers as well. We can likely also do this one on any of the aforementioned weekends.
So let's hear it guys and gals. What is it you all want to do this year??? Please comment on your preference for location and which particular weekend you prefer.
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