Parry Sound Sport Bike Rally! Use it or lose it!!!!

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first year i was riding i was up with my friends for our annual party weekend and it happened to fall on the rally weekend. didn't know anything of it and figured i'd roll into town to check it out. Other than seeing some bikes here and there, there was nothing to see. If I have to go looking for the entertainment and events it kinda takes the fun out of it(for me anyways). All i seen were a bunch of bikers parked, like a timmy's convention. Also the ride up there is boring as ****( I took the 400, im suer there's better roads but I didn't have a guide with me). It was an uber hot day and chewed teh **** outta my tires on the way up and back especially when your on it. My friend gave me a warning on the way that the rally was on and to look out for LEO but didn't see ANY with radar setup or even cruising for that matter and i was glad cause that highway is so open and smooth you can easily cruise 2+. straight up, it needs to be IN town with the side venues/events in town if possible IMO. I cruised all over parry sound looking for something that day and all i seen was parked bikes, no info booth or anything. I rode for 15-20 before grabbing my steaks and splitting. my exact reaction and impression as a first timer stumbling on it was-MEH. thats NOT the impression you want to leave lol. To make it a winner I'd maybe post up some nice routes from different geo areas for the non locals to get there, have as many events in town and TOGETHER as possible, hold it at a park or beach area where there's stuff to do other than pose like a timmy's, post up good routes up there to hit(group rides). I like the Collingwood idea from RETRO, with wasaga so close that'd be the SHIZNIT! Although if ya think the cops are bad in parry sound......
 
So I guess this isn't worth the trip???
 
Too far for beer and buds.

However, if there were closed roads to run! I'd make the trip in a heartbeat!

I think a sport bike rally would have a better time at a racetrack that you could camp at vs a fairground to hang out and pose.
 
I was thinking of going to up. Make a weekend of it... Sorta... That speed run looks like fun
 
iridebikes said:
Why do you keep saying they're giving us the town? The town has been pushing the rally further and further out now for years. They don't want us there, its fairly evident.
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Judging by the number of people that come to watch the thunder run, you couldn't be further from the truth! It's kind of nice to see generation watching and waving as all the bikes go by. To me it's worth the trip ..... good friends = good times!!!
I love going (as I have for the last 13yrs) but can't this year due to a family wedding ........... MAN I HATE WEDDINGS!!!
PS 2 thumbs up for Foley .... the only year we missed it was because of the tards that caused all the damage to the bandstand the previous year.
 
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I see that the rally has been moved to the Foley Fair Ground. Does that mean the bikes won't be parking near the Bobby Orr arena now and will be isolated to the fair ground?
 
It's so sad to see this happen to events in small towns. These towns want the revenue but don't want the work and hassle that comes with it.

I had the good fortune to attend the Biker's Reunion held in New Liskeard this past weekend. (And if you people think Parry Sound is too far...LOL...Try going there.) We were only halfway to New Liskeard and you could tell something big was going on, Temagami had support signs up for the event and many of the sponsors and supporters weren't even in New Liskeard. The region recognizes people need places to stay and eat...and guess what? They can't all fit in New Liskeard.

Cop presence was visible and there were most certainly a couple of "dickish" officers. Including a blacked out SUV that pulled over two people on a demo ride and apparently impounded the bikes! However, police in town were MORE than friendly, respectful and seemed genuinely supportive of the event.

There were tons of activities. Shows during the day, organized rides 2-3 times a day going to different scenic parts of the country. Most had food at the end of the ride (yet another revenue stream!)

The event was hosted on the waterfront right downtown. Plenty of camping and all the shops/bars were open. Tons of entertainment everywhere.

Now most people (on this forum) will look at this and say "Well that's a cruiser event, that's why". Have you guys ever stopped to wonder why these towns would prefer cruiser events over sportbike rallys? All riders need to eat, all riders need a place to sleep and all riders (well except for many on this site) like to hang out with their own kind. This means both types of riders are revenue streams. Yet for some reason, cruiser rallies survive while events like this die. Maybe you're just not as cool as you think you all are. :) Maybe...just maybe people don't want riders down wheelies through downtown.

If the organizers really want this event to survive, tell them to attend a rally that works. Steal the ideas you can from events that are doing this well and bring them into your event. If people think the ride is too long and boring, provide alternative routes to make it to the fairground. Don't give directions that are "Go highway 400 to highway 69 until you hit Parry Sound". There has been other stuff in here that has been suggested as well.

I remember traveling through this event when I worked in sales in the region. It's got potential.
 
Well. I have not been for years.
Last time I was there a guy on gixxer 1000 looped during the parade and I never went back.
I guess things have changed as today I called and actually found a room on the first call, this never was possible years back.
I'll give it a go and do the less travelled routes off 124 and 518.
 
levert said:
Well. I have not been for years.
Last time I was there a guy on gixxer 1000 looped during the parade and I never went back.
I guess things have changed as today I called and actually found a room on the first call, this never was possible years back.
I'll give it a go and do the less travelled routes off 124 and 518.
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The Legend of Crowdpleaser Lives On!

There was a video of that wheelie loop kicking around years ago. Not able to find it now.

Edit: here it is: [video=youtube;yTFSrKkVVmo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTFSrKkVVmo&feature=related[/video]

The guy is on the site, but last posts in 2009, indicated legal beefs related to 2x dangerous driving, etc. Oops.
 
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Crowdpleaser was on Labusas for years.
He did express remorse for his actions,lol.
I have never met him and as much as i did not like his actions he did sound to be a good guy.
Sometimes even the best make errors.
?
What was the crowd numbers last year?
I know when i went it was always around 1000.
 
levert said:
Crowdpleaser was on Labusas for years.
He did express remorse for his actions,lol.
I have never met him and as much as i did not like his actions he did sound to be a good guy.
Sometimes even the best make errors.
?
What was the crowd numbers last year?
I know when i went it was always around 1000.
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Yeah, I've seen him on Labusas also.

I don't know on numbers. It definitely peaked the year after Crowdpleaser's faux pas at around 2000 attendees, but the Ontario Party Pooper's (OPP) crackdown and the change of rally management effectively killed the numbers after that. Last i was up there for the rally was 2006. See my sig link.
 
Went friday to sunday, had a great time and super weather.

And the roads might as well have been closed, I didn't see a single OPP outside of the town itself! Some of the good roads are freshly paved too! Great riding.
 
518 is killer!!!
 
Last I heard Crowdpleaser's GSXR1000 motor is stuffed in a quad!
 
The rally was a lot of fun. 632 was incredible. I cant wait until my next trip to the area and next year's rally.
 
I stayed in town.
The group of guys I met at the hotel were great.
When I got there it was empty??? Because everyone was riding!.
No cops.
The roads were good and lots of good stories at night at the hotel.
It seemed to me the fellows who were at the Travellers inn were all about riding, no show boats or posers, real decent guys.
It actually was good seeing a lot of serious riders, reminded me of 20 years ago.
Im in my 50s and I can tell you that in the morning seeing all the young partiers clean up everything was refreshing. The owner of the hotel was impressed, a great bunch.
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