FJRBandit
Well-known member
****Edit****
And the winner is.......
Jemison, AL (essentially the same set up as last year - camp at my place and hotel at Clanton Inn, BBQ dinner, shrimp boil, live music, etc....)
Oct. 26th thru October 29th - this is the same weekend as last year. Although it was a little warm for our friends from the North, that was very unusually warm weather for us for that time of the year. Actually, we could just as easily have low 50's and rain at that time. So, it's some what of a crap shoot, but historically it's one of the driest times of the year for us. It worked out well last year, hopefully it will for us again this year.
See post #14 in this thread for more info.
The Official SFO 2017 thread will be started later. Until then, use this thread for comments, suggestions, etc....
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Original post follows:
It seems it was just yesterday that Mrs. Bandit and I were waving goodbye to the last of the riders to depart from SFO 2016. But, keeping in mind that some people need to request vacation months in advance I wanted to try and get something locked down for this year. I thought I would throw it out there for some input before moving forward with the plan for this year.
The consensus at SFO back in October was that we would do a redo in 2017. First of all, let me say, that is fine with me. This post in no way should be interpreted that I don't want to host again. If everyone wants to line it up and have a repeat of 2016 in Alabama, I'm game. But my thinking is we kick around dates and also a couple of alternatives to Jemison. Here are five options I have considered, I would appreciate constructive comments.
Keep in mind, when commenting on the dates that CFO/MOFO is already scheduled for September 1st thru 4th in Jefferson City, Missouri and EOM is scheduled for September 28th thru Oct 1st in Wytheville, VA.
If we are going to have SFO in Alabama again this year, I have three different weekends to choose from, with my perceived pros and cons for each.
Jemison, AL (essentially the same set up as last year - camp at my place and hotel at Clanton Inn, BBQ dinner, shrimp boil, live music, etc....) on either of the three following weekends:
September 14-17th - This is the weekend of the MotoAmerica Races at Barber. I view this as a pro, while others might consider it a con because they want to ride, not go watch someone ride. The races at Barber are cool and don't necessarily consume the whole day. Plus, the weather at this time of the year is generally perfect.
October 5th thru 8th - This is the weekend of the Vintage Festival at Barber. I view this as a major pro, while, again, others might consider it a con because they want to ride, not go watch someone ride. The Vintage Festival is Barber's largest draw of the year and as many of you already know it's just a fabulous event. Plus, the weather at this time of the year is also generally perfect. The con I see is that it is the week following EOM, but some of you might be able to swing throwing both meets into the mix back to back.
Oct. 26th thru October 29th - this is the same weekend as last year. Although it was a little warm for our friends from the North, that was very unusually warm weather for us for that time of the year. Actually, we could just as easily have low 50's and rain at that time. So, it's some what of a crap shoot, but historically it's one of the driest times of the year for us. It worked out well last year, I'm all for it again this year if that is what everyone wants to do.
The other two options I was thinking would be either the Smokey Mountains on the weekend of the coming Great American Eclipse - which would be August 18th thru 21st. I am already planning on being there and will be staying in a cabin just outside Knoxville at the really cool Windrock Park. We could have it there, plenty of camping and right now plenty of cabins. I'm not sure how much of a host I could be - but the eclipse is going to epic and I'm sure we can manage. We'd be in the prime riding area east of the Mississippi. Cons - It will likely still be warm, as we are in the South and it is still August. Thoughts????
The last option is take SFO back to it's roots in Arkansas, either September 14-17th or Oct. 12th thru 15th. It's not a well kept secret that I love riding in Arkansas. So, if you guys (and ladies) would prefer that we return SFO to Arkansas in 2017 then I'm game for that too. I would think we'd just stay at The Hub again, or possibly in Eureka Springs. By the way, the Fayettville Bikes, Blues and BBQ rally is set for Sept. 20th thru 23rd. We damn sure don't want to be anywhere near those roads during that all out tractor parade.
In either of the last two options, there will be no pre-arranged dinners. Everyone will be on their on, it will be ride, eat, drink beer, sleep and repeat. At Windrock we would have access to outdoor grilling and those of us in cabins can host cook outs as well.... at The Hub, they have a nice restaurant onsite that serves dinner Thursday thru Saturday night and a couple of adult beverage stores one mile up the road. So both of these options would be very laid back and more of a "you're on your own" event although we would all be there together.
Let's kick it around here for a week or two and then we'll lock it down, whatever the decision may be.
And the winner is.......
Jemison, AL (essentially the same set up as last year - camp at my place and hotel at Clanton Inn, BBQ dinner, shrimp boil, live music, etc....)
Oct. 26th thru October 29th - this is the same weekend as last year. Although it was a little warm for our friends from the North, that was very unusually warm weather for us for that time of the year. Actually, we could just as easily have low 50's and rain at that time. So, it's some what of a crap shoot, but historically it's one of the driest times of the year for us. It worked out well last year, hopefully it will for us again this year.
See post #14 in this thread for more info.
The Official SFO 2017 thread will be started later. Until then, use this thread for comments, suggestions, etc....
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Original post follows:
It seems it was just yesterday that Mrs. Bandit and I were waving goodbye to the last of the riders to depart from SFO 2016. But, keeping in mind that some people need to request vacation months in advance I wanted to try and get something locked down for this year. I thought I would throw it out there for some input before moving forward with the plan for this year.
The consensus at SFO back in October was that we would do a redo in 2017. First of all, let me say, that is fine with me. This post in no way should be interpreted that I don't want to host again. If everyone wants to line it up and have a repeat of 2016 in Alabama, I'm game. But my thinking is we kick around dates and also a couple of alternatives to Jemison. Here are five options I have considered, I would appreciate constructive comments.
Keep in mind, when commenting on the dates that CFO/MOFO is already scheduled for September 1st thru 4th in Jefferson City, Missouri and EOM is scheduled for September 28th thru Oct 1st in Wytheville, VA.
If we are going to have SFO in Alabama again this year, I have three different weekends to choose from, with my perceived pros and cons for each.
Jemison, AL (essentially the same set up as last year - camp at my place and hotel at Clanton Inn, BBQ dinner, shrimp boil, live music, etc....) on either of the three following weekends:
September 14-17th - This is the weekend of the MotoAmerica Races at Barber. I view this as a pro, while others might consider it a con because they want to ride, not go watch someone ride. The races at Barber are cool and don't necessarily consume the whole day. Plus, the weather at this time of the year is generally perfect.
October 5th thru 8th - This is the weekend of the Vintage Festival at Barber. I view this as a major pro, while, again, others might consider it a con because they want to ride, not go watch someone ride. The Vintage Festival is Barber's largest draw of the year and as many of you already know it's just a fabulous event. Plus, the weather at this time of the year is also generally perfect. The con I see is that it is the week following EOM, but some of you might be able to swing throwing both meets into the mix back to back.
Oct. 26th thru October 29th - this is the same weekend as last year. Although it was a little warm for our friends from the North, that was very unusually warm weather for us for that time of the year. Actually, we could just as easily have low 50's and rain at that time. So, it's some what of a crap shoot, but historically it's one of the driest times of the year for us. It worked out well last year, I'm all for it again this year if that is what everyone wants to do.
The other two options I was thinking would be either the Smokey Mountains on the weekend of the coming Great American Eclipse - which would be August 18th thru 21st. I am already planning on being there and will be staying in a cabin just outside Knoxville at the really cool Windrock Park. We could have it there, plenty of camping and right now plenty of cabins. I'm not sure how much of a host I could be - but the eclipse is going to epic and I'm sure we can manage. We'd be in the prime riding area east of the Mississippi. Cons - It will likely still be warm, as we are in the South and it is still August. Thoughts????
The last option is take SFO back to it's roots in Arkansas, either September 14-17th or Oct. 12th thru 15th. It's not a well kept secret that I love riding in Arkansas. So, if you guys (and ladies) would prefer that we return SFO to Arkansas in 2017 then I'm game for that too. I would think we'd just stay at The Hub again, or possibly in Eureka Springs. By the way, the Fayettville Bikes, Blues and BBQ rally is set for Sept. 20th thru 23rd. We damn sure don't want to be anywhere near those roads during that all out tractor parade.
In either of the last two options, there will be no pre-arranged dinners. Everyone will be on their on, it will be ride, eat, drink beer, sleep and repeat. At Windrock we would have access to outdoor grilling and those of us in cabins can host cook outs as well.... at The Hub, they have a nice restaurant onsite that serves dinner Thursday thru Saturday night and a couple of adult beverage stores one mile up the road. So both of these options would be very laid back and more of a "you're on your own" event although we would all be there together.
Let's kick it around here for a week or two and then we'll lock it down, whatever the decision may be.
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Plus, we wouldn't have you being "workers" instead of "riders"! If you take your time to come visit us, we'll take care of the rest.
