Slingshots in the Ozarks (Wed, Sep 19th 2018, 9:00am - Sat, Sep 22nd 2018, 10:00pm)

Quote from dlmoxley

I agree regarding the places to ride. We attended the event in 2016 and to be honest it had some issues with the organization of the group rides. Two days in a row, the group we joined got split up and we ended up spending a fair amount of time trying to catch up with the other part of the group. One our second ride, we got split up again. The group sweep was not briefed on the destinations, plus we could not contact the lead. We never saw the rest of the group until we returned to motel location. Suffice it to say, the rides did not pan out well (at least on the rides we joined).
All that aside, I see that SLINGSHOTROADSTERS has taken over the event and they have been known to put on good ones. We thought we would give it another shot.

I have developed a great friendship with a couple that I got to know when we stopped to help a fellow Slingshot rider on one of the 'group' rides (2015). I was also there in 2015, 2016 & 2017... Generally I think that most of the 'planned' group have way to many rider for a good ride. the last two years we did a lot of group riding but a small group 6 - 8 Slingshots...

This is, by far, my favorite “Ralley”. It’s the end of the selling season for Vendors who travel and they are more laid back and friendly. It is far more “personable” and relaxed. And.... the rides are awesome and well planned.
(Aggressive means just that! Intermediate means just that! And Sightseer means just that!

There are great places to eat and all types of roads from Mild to Wild. I would bet that if this Ralley were moved or halted, many owners would hold it there anyway.

Quote from Painter

This is, by far, my favorite “Ralley”. It’s the end of the selling season for Vendors who travel and they are more laid back and friendly. It is far more “personable” and relaxed. And.... the rides are awesome and well planned.
(Aggressive means just that! Intermediate means just that! And Sightseer means just that!

There are great places to eat and all types of roads from Mild to Wild. I would bet that if this Ralley were moved or halted, many owners would hold it there anyway.

I have high expectations this year - Alan wasn't perfect but for a one-man show did a darn good job and sure tried hard when he fell short. This is a favorite of ours as the attendance is less than Maggie Valley there are more rides, more ride leaders, good roads in every directions, and great people

I would have to seriously consider not attending if it moved or the rides were limited.

I'm sure if the Eureka Spring event gets moved as rumor has it, that some group of fine people would come forward and have one of their own. The rides from ES are second to none and the smaller crowds make it more manageable. Alan did a great job on limited time and funds. The one thing he did have was enough rides for everyone. MV this year had all but one of the rides filled before the event even started.

I accept that I am strange and not like most folk but I don't care much about riding with a LARGE group. If it gets over 8-10 slings or bikes then it's too big a pain in the butt to try to keep everyone together. Then you've always got that one that won't stay within a reasonable distance of the bike in front of them and instead of getting on the tail end they always want to jump right in the middle of the pack at every stop. In my limited experience it takes a good ride leader and just as if not more importantly it takes a good tail gunner. Having communications between them is worth it's weight in gold!

Quote from Ghost

I accept that I am strange and not like most folk but I don't care much about riding with a LARGE group. If it gets over 8-10 slings or bikes then it's too big a pain in the butt to try to keep everyone together. Then you've always got that one that won't stay within a reasonable distance of the bike in front of them and instead of getting on the tail end they always want to jump right in the middle of the pack at every stop. In my limited experience it takes a good ride leader and just as if not more importantly it takes a good tail gunner. Having communications between them is worth it's weight in gold!

Feel free to add insights to ....

How To: Group Ride

Quote from Ghost

I accept that I am strange and not like most folk but I don't care much about riding with a LARGE group. If it gets over 8-10 slings or bikes then it's too big a pain in the butt to try to keep everyone together. Then you've always got that one that won't stay within a reasonable distance of the bike in front of them and instead of getting on the tail end they always want to jump right in the middle of the pack at every stop. In my limited experience it takes a good ride leader and just as if not more importantly it takes a good tail gunner. Having communications between them is worth it's weight in gold!

I had the pleasure of being the 'tail gunner' for 5 years that took 250 -- 300 bikes on a 250 miles ride from Northern Indiana to the Southwestern portion of the State. I'm glad I had arranged police assistance along the route. (Don't remember how many different Departments we went thru---the commander who always gave me a hard time was are local State police --- 4 years later I found out why??? I road in on a Gold Wing and he was a HD biker.....We did ALWAYS have a good group of State Officers....The Commander was a Shriner and the ride was a fund raiser for Shriner's Hospitals.

And as @Ghost says much more fun with 6 to 10 Slingshots --- leader, rocking chair, or tail gunner.

I agree with @Ghost on the ideal group is 8-10.... maybe fewer than that. At ES last year we have some really good ride leaders..... Exceptional in fact. @Slingrazor took 17 on the aggressive ride and it looked like a roller coaster the entire day at speeds (Shall we say) that took us at times a bit over posted limits.

Leaders explained the ride including route, speeds, what to look for and all we given options to break off, go with another group or split up into smaller groups. Leaders watched the group and adjusted the ride accordingly.
Good ride leaders are the key!

I will be there WITH my wife Allison this year. She said she could only take off work for either the fall event Bike Week in Panama City or she could go with me to AR. And I could tell she actually wanted to go to Eureka Springs with me. She had been online looking at all the mountain views, specialty shops, and great food. It was no brainer for me. I have way more fun when she is with me. So I canceled Panama City and she and I will be there. ..

The only two events that I have planned this year are the Ocala FL event and Eureka Springs event. Anything else would be a last minute plan.

I can also confirm that I didn't even care if I was on a big ride when I was out there before. I had fun just hanging out around the vendors and having a cold beverage while talking to everyone. So i dont even mind if it's just a few people that want to ride with me. Maybe we could ride to the restaurant overlooking the valley one time ... Then maybe ride over to that big Casino across the state line.... And if there is a group that ride pretty fast we could join it for a couple of spirited runs.

Quote from rabtech

I will be there WITH my wife Allison this year. She said she could only take off work for either the fall event Bike Week in Panama City or she could go with me to AR. And I could tell she actually wanted to go to Eureka Springs with me. She had been online looking at all the mountain views, specialty shops, and great food. It was no brainer for me. I have way more fun when she is with me. So I canceled Panama City and she and I will be there. ..

The only two events that I have planned this year are the Ocala FL event and Eureka Springs event. Anything else would be a last minute plan.

I can also confirm that I didn't even care if I was on a big ride when I was out there before. I had fun just hanging out around the vendors and having a cold beverage while talking to everyone. So i dont even mind if it's just a few people that want to ride with me. Maybe we could ride to the restaurant overlooking the valley one time ... Then maybe ride over to that big Casino across the state line.... And if there is a group that ride pretty fast we could join it for a couple of spirited runs.

I plan on being there and if Allison wants a 'calm ride' she can spend a little time with me.

Rab have a Great Day...

@rabtech, I’m sure we can make a run to the restaurant you mentioned. It’s the Cliff House Inn. Here are a couple pics from there.

I'm Inn for that ride as well (get it - INN) as one to the casino if anyone is taking names yet

Quote from ivor

I notice from a number of remarks that a few of you keep referring to the rally being moved.
To put this straight Alan Burlison approached me and requested Slingshotroadsters would take this over from this year to which I agreed.I know Eureka Springs which I like very much.I spent a month there some years ago.I have arranged with the same hotel to run the rally there.I have never been to this hotel.I am told it’s good so hopefully it is.My philosophy is if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.I do my best to run a decent Meetup.This one is harder than usual but can assure every attendee I am doing my best to make it a big success and have absolutely no intention of ruining from what I understand has been a really good event for the last 3 years.

Thanks for clearing that up. Having seen mention of the event possibly being moved (in this thread) it made me wonder if they meant from Eureka Springs or to somewhere else within Eureka Springs (not this year obviously since the flyer is out and is clear enough as to the location of the event).

Quote from ivor

I notice from a number of remarks that a few of you keep referring to the rally being moved.
To put this straight Alan Burlison approached me and requested Slingshotroadsters would take this over from this year to which I agreed.I know Eureka Springs which I like very much.I spent a month there some years ago.I have arranged with the same hotel to run the rally there.I have never been to this hotel.I am told it’s good so hopefully it is.My philosophy is if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.I do my best to run a decent Meetup.This one is harder than usual but can assure every attendee I am doing my best to make it a big success and have absolutely no intention of ruining from what I understand has been a really good event for the last 3 years.

That's outstanding to hear @ivor. Can you expand on the "this year" comment?

The wife and I are really looking forward to it. This will be our first "full" time to attend. We drove up on Saturday last year just to check everything out, but this year we've signed up for it all! Looking forward to meeting you guys and gals come September. There will be several of us from the "Oklahoma Slingshot Riders" group attending.

Anyone staying at a RV park??

Quote from adventure4me

Anyone staying at a RV park??

I would but I can’t keep up with you and the wild RV crowd!!!

^^^^^ Ah, give it a try!!

once i resolve thus dispute Im lll know whatbthe hrck Im doing