Triumphrat

Prairie Rat · 10-05-2008, 10:15 PM

I got sick of looking at my post so I had to create another . Does anyone know how strong in numbers the Alberta RATS are ?? And if anyone has numbers on how strong in numbers the canadian RATS are that would be great too !! ???

Calliway · 10-06-2008, 04:40 PM

Hard to say. i would thnk that you could contact Triumph in the US and get those numbers. I am trying to keep the Edmonton Group going but it seems to have little to no interest. It sad really because I went to the Nelson Rat Raid this summer and there were some real strong groups and I would sure like the Edmonton Grup to be like that and in future have a Prairie Rat Raid....

Prairie Rat · 10-07-2008, 01:00 AM

I as well had the good fortune to run into some strong RAT packs at Moto GP Indy. What in your opinion what factors would contribute to a strong club ? What types of things would attract new membership and retain existing membership ?

cbwright · 10-07-2008, 01:36 AM

The short riding season doesn't help. An old friend of mine used to lead the Blackfoot RATs and always sent me notification of their rides, unfortunately they never fit with my schedule. Closest I got was getting to Bearberry just as they were leaving.
It takes a certain number of people to make a organised club viable and when you consider that the the pool of Triumph owners isn't that big, I'm afraid you would wind up with about three people that would end up doing everything.

Prairie Rat · 10-07-2008, 11:57 AM

All to often that is how it ends up CBW . But really if you had a decent nucleus it may not matter if they did all the work. It may be easier to look after and build from there . Of course the busy schedules of Albertan these days certainly doesnt help .

Calliway · 10-07-2008, 11:45 PM

Yeah, its tuff. Because of the moneyh situation in Alberta people just buy them and dont actually care about what riding a Triumph is all about. I am going to try and kickstart the Edmonton group since the last leader moved. Hopefully Echo has a good database of customers emails etc....

Over the winter I would say a monthly breakfast would keep everyone together and keep the glue sticky.

b25bsaboy · 10-08-2008, 01:00 AM

Good Evening,

As the original Rat Pack Leader for Black Foot Motor Sports, I have to agree with all of your comments with regards to the new Hinkely Triumph Riders.
When I passed the responsibility several years ago to Doug Jonston, all was well till he like Dave Silk at Echo either layed their bikes down or were hit by a four whelled car/truck. Thus both it seems they have walked away from something they dearly loved. But in retrospect, it was about the time that Triumph themselves stopped sponsering Rat events such as the Rat Raid's across North America and it was left up to the dealers to carry on. We all know how that went over, as I haven't attended the Nelson Raid for several years and although the dealer based out of Victoria did an excellent job overall, it wasen't the same without Triumph themselves. I myself rfeally enjoyed rubbing elbows with Chris Ellis and his partner, who often attended these events.
There is no simple answer with regards to a Triumph Rat Club. I have been asked to take over the responsibility again, but right now, work is totally assnign. The biggest problem with any club, there is no volunteers other than the Rat Pack Leader who does all the work. I belong to several clubs and this is the case every time.

Just found a 1998 yellow Thunderbird Sport and want to start a Mad Bumble Bee Club here in Calgary, but you have to have a Yellow TBS to be a charter member.

Prairie Rat · 10-08-2008, 05:53 PM

This Chris Ellis you speak of . Is he by chance the Triumph dealer rep for Canada. I have heard this name in before.

So Triumph used at one point used to be involved, hmm and now its up to the dealers.

Seems to me that having a strong club and events would be beneficial for sales? Bikes gear trinkets??

Is It the same all through Canada where it is left to the dealer now??

b25bsaboy · 10-08-2008, 06:13 PM

Mr. Prairie Rat,

Just saw your post, and Chris Ellis is VP for Triumph for the North American Market.

Three years ago was the last time that Triumph from the UK sponsored all North American Rat Raids. Since then, it's up to the local dealers. This poilicy is North American wide.

Having a strong club and events without the direct involvement of Triumph overall has been a dismal failure. Why? My feeling is that unless enough people feel strongly enough to have the local chapter flourish, it will never happen if only one or two people do all the work. You may want to talk to your local dealer and see what he or she feels about a local Rat Pack for Triumph's.

Rick MacPherson

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Rat

This Chris Ellis you speak of . Is he by chance the Triumph dealer rep for Canada. I have heard this name in before.

So Triumph used at one point used to be involved, hmm and now its up to the dealers.

Seems to me that having a strong club and events would be beneficial for sales? Bikes gear trinkets??

Is It the same all through Canada where it is left to the dealer now??

DrTriumph · 10-08-2008, 07:55 PM

Distance is also a problem. I live down in Lethbridge, I believe there are 2 or 3 triumphs in the area, by the time we hear about RAT functions in Calgary they are over or it is too late to schedule in. Often there were mid week meetings that I saw, and when you live 230ish km away, kind of hard to make the meetings. I am a die hard triumph owner of a 2005 sprint. It is a shame that there is not a more active RAT club around...

Another thought.