rhinebeck camping prices

[aka HAWG]

OZ it sounds like your just a BIG crap disturber, you know ridin around on that indian cheif alerting pedestrian of your movements, and hollywood was only talked to - OZ go to your room and think about what you've done

your GOOD friend HAWG

[billpedalino]

For the reasons stated above, and for a host of other reasons, we no longer vend, nor attend the Rhinebeck meet. Its too bad, as it's the only one in my home state thats accessible for me. I am a pro law and order guy - I support law enforecment in almost all cases. However, I will not be man handled, either physically or verbally either by those local hay seed cops or by those mentally challanged rubber-guns....

[sirhrmechanic]

Speaking as a nine-year veteran police officer... a life-long vintage (and modern) bike enthusiast... and a many-year attendee at Rhinebeck, please allow me to jump in with a couple of thoughts.

First, Steve, the members of the Dutchess County Sheriff's Dept. that were working traffic and that I saw on the grounds were acting about as professional as any dept. I can think of. They had the ingress/egress done well, traffic was flowing and things looked very well-organized. They had stuff coned off, managed traffic well and were not giving anyone grief that I observed. There was even one MC officer who was hanging out much of Saturday over by the corner of the buildings and by Rat and Harbor Vintage, and he was having a ball with the AMCA folks... clearly one of the tribe!

Also, let me argue that your characterization of the current generation of officers is far from accurate. With an economy and job market in the toilet for the last several years, LE departments can pick and choose from the best and the brightest... hundreds apply for any opening and many of them these days are prior service military, college graduates and otherwise top-tier candidates. No department these days is hiring Taco-shell-lickers or dumb-asses. Those people are living in their parents basements and occupying stuff. Do alpha-hotels still fall through the cracks and end up in PD uniforms? Yup. Occasionally But don't paint the whole profession that way and certainly not the new generation, because I'd argue that we're seeing some of the best kids our nation can offer up applying to wear uniforms (of all kinds) these days.

I can't speak for the Wackenhut set, but understand there is a difference between a professional LEO and security. In selection, training and general deportment. Again, however, if folks at Rhinebeck had one Farva/Tackleberry type who was not acting professionally, contact his supervisor and be specific. Dnd don't refer to them all under the same umbrella.

On another note, one of the reasons I go to Rhinebeck is that it is a blast to see bikes putting around the aisles and through the fairgrounds. I was blown away to see one of the 'wood framed' 1890's bikes running around in the AM Sat. Early in the morning, in particular, it's just amazing to see what's running around. Sirens and loud pipes? I don't care, enjoy hearing well-tuned old engines and tire-drive growler sirens. I think that's the point of the meet! But I don't make the Fairgrounds rules. If the rules are to keep the noise down, well, that seems stupid for an antique bike meet. But they own the fairgrounds and if AMCA wants to meet there, we have to obey their rules or get a Loud Pipes clause written into the rental agreement.

I also would point out that by late-morning Saturday, the crowds were way too thick for anything but very slow riding... and the pedestrians were not exactly paying attention to moving bikes; there were ankle-biters riding their bicycles around; and more than a few lookie-loo's wandering in a chrome-trance and completely oblivious to anything around them. Yet a couple of bikes were still bombing around the aisles at speeds that would make stopping or swerving darn near impossible. Their right to go those speeds? I suppose... and I admire their ability to handle early bikes with that much skill. But there is 'what is allowed' and 'what is smart' and sometimes the two are at odds. When some 8 year old girl steps in front of you, it may be her fault. It's more likely her parents fault. But who's going to get blamed when Darwinism rears its head and she ends up as a hood ornament on a VL? Not the little girl or the parents... It will be the out-of-control rider, no matter how in-control he was.

Last, I was standing with one of the Fairgrounds guys as he had a discussion about golf carts and similar up by the Yankee Region Caravan. Apparently, some dingbat with a Hover-round or some other form of welfare Winnebago fell of it last year at the meet, hurt her arm and is now suing the Fairgrounds for 7 figures. They figure that by the time it's done, they'll be out a couple of hundred thousand dollars in legal fees and settlements. I am, in fact, surprised that AMCA and Yankee Region are not named in the suit, too... As a result, the Fairgrounds is being very cagey about anyone driving a golf cart or other form of scooter without proof of insurance. Stupid? Yup. I'd suggest the fairgrounds invest in a chipper and rather than transport said dingbat to the ER they run her and her boo-boo arm through the chipper. But I am probably in the minority opinion on that. Then again, I am a big fan of Darwinism.

So if you have some gripes, so be it. Personally, I had a ball at Rhinebeck and do every year I go. But I'd ask that you not take your gripes out on the police in general or even the majority of the Wackenhut guys who are doing thankless job for crappy wages... And with that thought in mind, if anyone wants to start a thread on ambulance-chasing lawyers and dingbats who fall off Welfare Winnebagos, count me in.

For one last thought... I watch this Paul Harvey monologue every now and then for perspective. His father was a career officer. My guess is that he knew what he was talking about. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB9-NcunsKc

Cheers,

Sirhr

[Paul G Bergeron]

thanks for your comments I am not trying to suggest that all cops are bad but the main antagonest seems to have a name kale short round with enough attitude to go around his waste told us he was a local cop we had a little exchange at the camper sign up threatened to throw joel in jail had his hand on his mace had to defuse that one they needed police protection to help keep heads cool while being ripped off by fairgrounds camping fees . someone suggested another venue clearly we are not welcomed by the fairgrounds people the sign up lady asked us who invited us anyway i told her this was our clubs function as least i think I was welcomed and invited paul bergeron minot maine 7989

[Skirted]

Being new to this and having attended one meet in Jefferson and then Oley this year I am reading this thread with interest. One of the things that struck both my wife and I at Oley was an event that size with loud bikes riding and weaving around people all day, ear drum pounding open pipe bikes being run on the stand, and yes even a siren or two as well as various other activities that at any other event of similar stature would attract a security team like bees on honey. But.....refreshingly that was not the case at least while we were there during the day. I suppose there was security but it seemed to be very inconspicuous as I can't recall seeing one uniformed officer walking the grounds after about 5 trips around the place between Friday and Saturday.

With so many of our freedoms being wittled away at events like this due to lawsuits and a few whiney people, it was wonderful to attend an event where it seemed to us that freedom and personal responsibility were still is style. Welcome back America! It really did make the event that much more enjoyable and guarentee we will attend again and again. I understand I am basing this on a few but seemingly honest reports; if the security team at Rhinebeck isn't able to back-off considerably either because of poor management or established rules from someones lawyer, I think it would be in the best interest of AMCA as well as the insured life expectancy of the meet year after year to select a venue where vendors and attendees don't feel like they are prey waiting to be pounced on as soon as they step out of their hole.

[vph-d]

It seems to me that you guys need to find a different place to hold your meet.
VPH-D

[servicardenise]

I sure liked the Harmony meet.
Denise

[MMasa]

I'd attend and vend if it moved to a more friendly location. It fills a big hole between Oley and Wauseon. In that part of the country, it could easily be the largest AMCA meet in a few years. The plain fact of the matter is that the venue itself totally sucks. JMO
Mark Masa

[cube74]

I have brought my family to Rhinebeck every year to camp and show our motorcycles. We have always enjoyed this meet and I usually defend it. We come with several motorcycles and my son brings antique engines and tractors for the tractor show. We come with two trailers loaded and help to put on the show. This year I was hardly in the yard when I was chased down by a golf cart and told I didn't stop at the gate. I had been waved through by the security people but this guy didn't get the memo. He then began to explain to me the rules. No awnings out at the campers unless there was 10 ft separation between the awning when extended and the next camper. Something about a county rule. I proceeded to unload and took my 53 Chief through the fairground. I was idling along in first gear between two buildings in front of the camping gate, when this one rent a cop yelled at me to slow down. If I was going any slower I would have fell over. Later in the meet on Sunday AM my daughter was riding her Honda CL 350 through the fairgrounds and she had a rent a cop yell at her to slow down also. On Sunday there is hardly anyone there and she just idles along. She is licensed and registered. I come here to have a good family time and this all just sours it.
As to the fairgrounds being sued I will bet you they have just as much risk having a poodle show and thats why they have insurance covering the events. People are looking to sue all over, not just motorcycle shows.

[masworld]

I heard alot of complaints about the Security force, the bald fat guy was a prick! But, there was a real cop there on a motorcycle who was very cool, I think he was a sheriff,
but the security guys are a real problem, we need to do something!

[MMasa]

?......real problem, we need to do something!

Like move the venu?

[Robert Luland]

Can I get an Amen!

[knuckcrazy]

Can I get an Amen!

AMEN!!!!!!