Triumphrat

Kirk · 08-08-2008, 10:46 AM

We've had some great rallies in Niagara Falls, London, Detroit and Parry Sound in the last few years, along with a lot of great rides down to P.A.

We have active packs in Detroit, London, Ottawa, Buffalo and the Niagara area, along with some much loved orphans out of the Toronto area. RAT seems to be growing, with and without dealer support, and those who have attended the rallies always seem to have a good time.

On our last trip down to the Mid-Ohio races, I took the time to talk to Kevin White of the SWOMP pack and Henry Gerst of the Motor City RAT pack. I put forward the idea of resurrecting the Great Lakes RAT rallies that Triumph put on some years ago in our area. There are so many talented members from all the packs now that I think we would be able to do this, with a lot of work mind you, even if Triumph didn't want to get on board with us. We have had great support from some of our local dealers at our local rallies and I can't help but think they'd want to pitch in and help us with a regional event like this. The general idea is to have the rally at a different location every year as this would keep it from getting stale. Plus, this would spread out the work load for all of us. We could set up a steering committee to help organize things at a central point and count on local members to suggest food, lodgings and of course, great local roads. If we did this right, we could wind down some of the local rallies and concentrate of one big event each riding season. This would cut down on costs and time for each of us and would free up more time for everyday riding. At the same time it would create an even greater opportunity for us all to get together and meet old friends and make new ones, along with building our Triumph community each year. With a big event like this we'd have no problem getting RAT members from all the northern states and Quebec to come along!

So that is the idea! I like the idea because even though it would be a huge undertaking each year, the word load would be spread around and we, the local members, could keep control on how it's put together each year.

So post your opinions and don't worry about hurting my feelings. If we're going to do this for 2009, we have to get going on it right away.

Ottawa675 · 08-11-2008, 09:54 PM

I like the idea Kirk. And in particular taking into account that we are usually left a little to our own here in the Great White North.

The only concern will be to find a central location for a gathering. In the event of another summer like the one we are having this year, with record breaking rainy days, I'm not sure that R.A.T. members will want to venture very far if they do not have or own a trailer.

Burly · 01-10-2009, 10:56 PM

Just put down a deposit on a S3R, so hopefully everything goes as planned and I'll be out and about come spring. Let me know when something is going to happen and I'll be sure to come along. May bring some jap bike friends along for the ride if thats OK with the rats.

Kirk · 01-14-2009, 06:28 PM

Burly,

I'm still thinking about doing something for Ontario because I have firmly decided to not do the rally Niagara Falls again. I've thrown this idea out to a number of others and everyone seems to like the idea but it's hard to plan anything concrete this time of the year, especially when it's as cold as it is today!!

I like the idea of doing something north east of Toronto and I really see it as being more of an informal weekend rather than another full blown rally. My brain is just too frozen to give it anymore thought right now though.

If I can get some more positive feedback on the idea, either on this site or our local site at www.ontariorats.com I guess I'll have to un-thaw sooner or later and get to work putting something together.

At this point, I'll wait and see what kind of interest there is and who'd like to give me a hand.

I'm looking out the window now, it's dark, the wind is blowing the snow around and it's about -30 degrees with the windchill. Sounds like a perfect night to think about getting together on our Triumphs in the spring!!!!