Should the club move from Reinbeck to a new location? POLL

[Robert Luland]

Top of the afternoon to ya gentlemen. I've been to Rhinebeck every year since it started but this was my first year as a vender. It absolutely sucks! The turnout was low but the people coming in were what we call tourists. These people are not there to buy greasy antique motorcycle parts, They're there for a show. Everything thing from the barrel of death to motorcycle jumps. The best was Saturday afternoon. I heard the loud speaker go off and I thought I was hearing things. I mean I thought I was finally achieving the high I always wanted from that wife beater juice I consume. Then it went off again about an hour later, I wasn't imagining things. The Biker Billy Cooking Show will be held in building E at 2:00. Holy smoke'n bunny turds! This isn't a AMCA meet, it's a damm circus and the AMCA is the freak side show. These clubs work their asses off to put this event on and I feel that it's in vain, the clubs deserve better. That damm fair ground is set up for one thing. Cold cash. They put on the whole carnival show so they can rack in $15.00 per head at the gate, $5.00 for a hockey puck cheese burger and $3.00 for a cup of coffee. After what happened to Clete Borchert a couple of years ago, most of my favorite venders and friends will never return. I can't believe that we can't find a venue in the Hudson Valley like Oley that would be more than glad to have us and call it the Hudson Valley Super Meet. So I decided to start poll. Should the club move from Rhinebeck to a new venue? Bob L

[DEWGARINC]

Well put! sometimes the truth hurts! too bad because all the chapters put a lot into this.But it does not change the chain link fence, locked gates over priced food, and I have to add the bathrooms back by the track -stunk so bad of urine outside and in thursday and friday am that it was unbelieveable.my friend parked his bike in the park, to look at something the next thing he knew they were on the loud speaker to move it, when he returned he was greated by 6 security guards giving him a bunch of lip service and threatening to tow it -whew-nice way to show him how much they want him to come back, ya he parked wrong but 6 of them given him crap!

[knuckcrazy]

I have to agree.
Thanks to all the chapters for your hard work but.....
after a 13 hour drive I was not impressed. Beer was $5.00 for a very small cup (no way it was 12 oz). Food for the three of us was way north of 40 bucks (resturant no problem, sitting at a picnic table eating hot dogs or whatever way to much). Tons of open vendor spaces. Tons of rules, I talked to more than one vendor and the general thought was low turnout because of conditions, grounds rules.
I will save my days off from work, the 500 dollars in gas, the 600 dollars in motels for a meet that I can carry MY own beer can around, eat a hot dog that costs less than some NOS parts and talk to Motorcycle folks with out worring about breaking any rules.
I dropped off some tins to go to my painter via a friend and tried to give him a little care package that comes in a bottle for his efforts but the gate guards did all but call the local law.
And GOD forbid we try to go thru the gate any earlier than 10:00 am, What was that all about??
And don't try and bring a cooler and sit in the food court to eat lunch you didn't buy there.

Cant wait until Wauseon and Davenport!!!!
Bob

[46EL]

When I see bad weather coming and 200 people who are potential buyers standing in line waiting for 10AM to get in a gate on Friday my blood boils. Total sales for me $290. Gas and Gate fee was $100 so i'm at 190 profit. I sold a Tire and a Battery Box for $100 and that was bailout for what I had invested prices. That brings me down to $90 total profit. A day to load, a day there and another day unloading makes 3 days Net PROFIT of 30 bucks per day. Never again, everything else I own which isn't much will go on ebay and then i'm done. Thw writing is on the wall. All the money is in Europe and Japan. It's not Rhinebeck totally as I blame the Politicians and big business that gave away all our manufacturing jobs. Also I have a friend in New York State who was bringing 3 nice sets of Knuckle tanks this past weekend for me to sell. He also had a wad of cash and was looking to spend about 3 grand on a large list of Indian Chief stuff for a project. He gets there at 8AM and the flunky at the admission gate tells him to come back at 10AM. He went home and swore he would never come back and he didn't and won't in the future.

[bill campbell]

by far the closest meet for me but I also think its way over rated will be going to the meet in the mid west next year and not going to the rinebeck flop meet

[rwm]

the sign can't be any easier to read

[t-jacobs]

Nothing beats the Oley atmosphere in my opinion. I went to Rhinebeck two years ago and thought the same as what I am reading here. I would like to see the chapters who work hard for this meet to move to a more intimate small town location. If I want thrill shows I will go to a state or county fair.

[portagepan]

Where is Rhinebeck?
Mike

[Ross]

As one who attended the Viking meet and had a great time I have to ask the question. When there are so few pure vintage motorcycle opportunities...WHY PUT TWO NATIONAL MEETS ON AT THE SAME TIME ??????

[sirhrmechanic]

Anyone wants to schedule a swap meet and AMCA event in Stowe, Vermont as part of the annual Stowe Car Show... we'd love to have ya! We are expert at car/bike meets, flea markets, etc. No chain link fences. Lots of accomodations. Love bikes w. great riding nearby. Canada close w. lots of enthusiasts.

www.vtauto.org is the site for the car meet. www.britishinvasion.com is another one we do.

I don't expect everyone to pull up stakes... but the Stowe Car Show flea market is awesome and we would welcome the event.

Cheers,

Pierce

[Paquette]

As someone who most of you know, and I do work for a lot of you ( Worsham Castle Cycle Leather) I know many of the folks that put on the Rhinebeck Meet, and I consider them friends more than customers. I was there the second year when Clete Borchette was accosted ( no other term for it) and I myself was messed with by cops because I was walking around drinking a beer. I was asked for my licence to which I replied " I am not driving why do you need my licence". I went on Friday and was home on Saturday. The location is excellent, and the folks putting on the meet are my friends but I told them that we are antique motorcycle bikers and 2 thing we do not like are RULES AND COPS and Rhinebeck has way too mant of both. Just My opinion and I may loose business over this but it is what it is--Michael Paquette--6671

[rwm]

three of them watched the ticket line at the front gate

[acmesurplus]

As a vendor I am happy with the way the Rhinebeck coalition meet is handled. That said I am not happy with the admission fee for potential buyers. It seems a bit high given the price of food, beer etc. I enjoy the variety of things to do and see there. I don't see it as a circus or sideshow. I see it as a day of entertainment and a fantastic venue to see the timeline, look for parts and bikes, meet friendly people, see things you wouldn't normally see and have a good time. Who knows?? you might even find that elusive intake manifold you need. I say hats off to Steve Barber, Mudfish, Mike, Drew and all the other major players who give up a lot of time to make this a super meet for all. I will be back next year for all three days. Let's all hope for better weather...the timeline is much better viewed outside.

[John Mertens]

I will put my vote on Davenport. clean rest rooms . good food . and just a great place to go to see good vending. grate people that run it. also grate board track raceing.very good motels close to the fair grounds also camping at fair grounds. just my opinion. thanks Johnny.

[Glenn]

agree with everyone what was the deal with 5 or 6 LEO's at the front gate coming in when parking ??