2004 Winter Rally

458 guests! Do we know how to throw a party or what? There was so much interest in this year's rally, we had to close the entries in order to keep it to a manageable number. The folks at Camp Blanding's Recreation Department and our own Rally Committee put in a major effort to accommodate this record number. Somehow our kitchen team stepped it up yet another notch and provided plenty of bratwurst and huge steaks, getting one and all fed in fine fashion.

Each year we try to improve the rally experience. This year we had a great band on Friday night, some really interesting seminars, and a free surprise gift to every entrant, These were in addition to other features added in recent years, like both a street ride and GS ride and a free swap meet. Thanks to some great support from a host of fine businesses we gave away $7,500 of door prizes! Please support the terrific businesses that support us, they're listed below.

Here are a few photos of the rally. (If you have a slow connection, these pictures might take a bit of time to download.)


Waterfront weekend home sites. Camping 'neath the trees on the shore of Lake Kingsley.

Our ride leaders provided local knowledge and ride routing assistance to rallygoers.	Despite heavy rains the night before, no one drowned on the GS ride.

This year's swap meet found new homes for nearly $3,000 in oldies but goodies..	Frank Cooper (Adventure Motogear) is one of our favorite vendors.

Our seminar presenters this year were Sue Galpin on ridin' and Bob Donaldson on wrenchin'

Saturday dinner, always a highlight, grill-yer-own 12oz. steaks.	When the temps drop (as they occasionally do in FL), it's nice to have a warm place for dinner.

Lars Roth rode down from Ely, MN and won our Most Northerly Rider award.	Our own Becca Yates won the free track day at JenningsGP door prize.
Rally Prize Winners: 50/50 Winner: Cotton Morlock of Orange Park, FL won $614 (club share donated to FL Nat'l Guard Foundation, supporting families of active Guardsmen) Grand Prize Winners: 1st - $500 Gift Certificate from Miller BMW - Diana Allen, Jacksonville, FL 2nd - $250 Beach's Tour Certificate - Barb Koch of Columbia, SC 3rd - $200 Track Day at Jennings Certificate - Becca Yates, St. Marys, GA Penguin Guess Game (how many pieces of candy): (Winners receive a ceramic penguin) Penguin A - Joan Secrest guessed 450 / total was 445 Penguin B - Natalie Pensa guessed 250/ total was 246	Rally Awards Winners: (Each wins free admission to next year's rally) Youngest Rider - Charles Martin, 17 years old Senior Female Rider - Ardis Kellerman - 73 years young Senior Male Rider - Bill Atwell, 80 years young Longest Distance Two-up - Steve & Belva Brunner from Fayetteville, NC Most Northernly Rider - Lars Roth rode from Ely, MN (nearly Canada) Longest Distance Ridden to Rally - Arthur Tarian rode 1620 miles from South Dakota. Coolest Bike - Claude Bodine for his 1000cc /2 Conversion.
Big thanks to our many door prize donors (especially to Dusty and the staff of Miller BMW for their continuing, outstanding support of BMWNEF) Miller BMW Motorcycles, Dusty Miller BMW of Daytona, Bill Perretti A & S BMW Motorcycles, Jane Beach Motorcycle Adventures, Rob Beach BikeLog, Ron Baroody Bing Agency International, Charles Laughridge BMWMOA Country Store, Sandee Lumpkin Bob's BMW, Bob Henig Chase Harper, Ron Harper Hannigan Motorsports, Marketing Manager Helen Twowheels, Linda Helmet Sunblocker, Peter Harris Highway Ottoman, Mike Motolights, Tina Whitehorse Press, John Conti Widder Electric, Enthusiast Tucker Rocky Distr, Jason Mauk Ztechnik, Mac Bensen Sara Hales Steve Fox Barb Beyerl Roxanne Andrade	And to our vendors: Frank Cooper of Adventure Motorcycle Gear Richard Lane of RL Motorcycles Kirt Lynch of Atlantic Beach Motosports Mike Patch of Highway Ottoman Paul Perdue of RideHide Rudi Urban of Sargent Cycle Products Marty's Mobile Detailing Lastly, thanks to all those who arrived as guests and left as friends. We hope you enjoyed the rally, our biggest and best yet. Ride safe and come back next year.