Hoosier rides and some down-to-the earth frank questions and opinions.

[solo1]

Smokin' Joe asked about the CBR.  As Doc said, it's kaput.  I personally again would like to thank Doc and his family for doing all the work for that successful Hoosier ride.

I would also like to apologise for not making the southern Indiana rides in the last few years.  There were, and are, some nice ones.

We did the the ACDC ride last year and had some very good friends attending.  We also missed some friends that we thought would make it.   We thought we had a good, not great schedule.  However, we know that we can't offer some things.

The ACDC, because of the flatland in NE indiana, doesn't really have any challenging roads except gravel. The ACDC had no provisions for getting together and hoisting a few (or more)after the ride.
The ACDC had relatively expensive hotel rooms as that's all that was available. The ACDC met at our house for big burgers and kicking the tires after the ride.  That did go over well.  The ACDC was a new ride so that partially accounted for the small attendance.  THe ride was in June, not in September, but still not hot.

Mark (Mad6Gun) was very disappointed about the attendance.  I talked to him and said it was the first year.  Mark has a different employer now and I will be moving out this Spring so things are changing but we still would like to do something in the way of rides.

So here's some questions for the riders.
1.  Do you like booze with events?
2.  Do you like curvy roads with lots of scenery?
3.  Do you like to visit unique places like the ACD museum?
4.  Is your top priority kicking tires with friends?
5.  Do you like to ride at a leisurely pace (sometimes) and just enjoy the wind and scenery?
6.  Do you like garage sessions?
7.  Do you mainly like to ride in small groups, large groups, or solo.

We have nothing but flatland here in NE Indiana so we have to try to make up for it by other ways.  That's why we are looking for suggestions.

Indiana, IMHO, without the CBR, isn't very active.  Maybe our attention should be given more to rides in southern Indiana and helping those that want to do events there.

Whaddya think?

Solo1




 

[fudgie]

Kit and I had a great time at the ACDC ride. The museum was great esp since it was our 1st time there. The statues at Auburn were awesome, esp with the stories of them. We had a great time. We had to head out after lunch to find me a tux. We returned and had a great meal and visit with friends. Good seeing the NY folks and MO ones. We had to leave early due to another prior engagment at the x's.

So here's some questions for the riders.
1.  Do you like booze with events?   
   I like booze anywhere. 
2.  Do you like curvy roads with lots of scenery?     
Yes but not much anymore. I cant see the scenery to well if I gotta watch the roads. I'm more of a sweeper road guy unless its a 10 mph pigtail up a mntn.
3.  Do you like to visit unique places like the ACD museum?     
Yes.
4.  Is your top priority kicking tires with friends?     
Yes. sometimes we dont ride but just enjoy talking instead.
5.  Do you like to ride at a leisurely pace (sometimes) and just enjoy the wind and scenery?     
Yes
6.  Do you like garage sessions?     
Yes, as long as its not in March. 
7.  Do you mainly like to ride in small groups, large groups, or solo.
Depends. I like them all. If its a small group, I will only ride with a select few. I like to ride fast and hate waiting on others. I rarley will lead.

[fudgie]

Oh, the timing would be a factor to. Since we have a June run every year (I hope it continues) and IZ in july, those would be bad times to do another ride. Alot may not be able to attend one for the other.

The Buffalo farm up north was a huge hit with the Mayors ride a few years ago. Just a idea. 

[six2go #152]

1) I enjoy a little sip now & then, but not at a riding event.

2) Yeah, but as you said, we ain't got that up here.

3) Can take it or leave it.

4) Yep!

5) Absolutely!

6) Yeah, to a point.

7) I really prefer solo, but will ride with a few close friends on occasion.

Wayne:
IF you decide to try to set something up this year, maybe I could help with laying out a day ride. I have a favorite loop up into Michigan that I like to do. It takes about 4 hrs., but if we scheduled a lunch stop, it would make for a mid afternoon return to New Haven for tire kicking & BS'ing before an evening "Beef Burn".

Just an idea, let me know.   

[SANDMAN5]

1  No.
2  Yes
3  Take it or leave it
4  Kinda hard to prioritize things. Priorities change often 
5  ABSOLUTELY
6  Yes
7  Solo or small groups, too many 'unknowns' in large groups

[RTaz]

  Hey Wayne and Mark...you know Devl and I would love to come to one of your rides ... sometimes all you really have to do is send out an invite and have fun with the ones that show up...you will never please everyone...put together whatever you want to do send out an invite and ask people to reply...hope to see you guys soon....

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

1. Yep.
2. Yep.
3. Yep
4. I like to have a place (outdoor if not too hot) to hang out, have a drink and talk with other riders.
5. For seeing new places, leisurely is great, but I usually prefer a brisk pace.
6. Not too much. Tearing apart the girl away from home makes me nervous.
7. I like it all.

I really wanted to make the ACDC ride but we just couldn’t get there that weekend.

As far as alcohol, it’s not a big deal. I’d rather pack a bottle and hangout around the bikes after the ride than sit in a bar but, truly, it’s all good.

And, as you said, Doc and his cohorts can never be thanked enough for the good times and good memories they made possible.

[bigdog99]

Do you like booze with events?
if that is the focus, no. besides you wouldnt want to see me drunk, i dont even like me then.
Do you like curvy roads with lots of scenery?
some, like fudgie said, cant look and swerve
Do you like to visit unique places like the ACD museum?
yes
Is your top priority kicking tires with friends?
after the ride, yes always like to meet new friends with common interests
Do you like to ride at a leisurely pace (sometimes) and just enjoy the wind and scenery?
yes
Do you like garage sessions?
absolutely. only thing were not like texas, we have all winter to do ours, and fudgie puts his up for the winter. 
Do you mainly like to ride in small groups, large groups, or solo.
always, you just pay more attention in groups, no matter the size

[fudgie]

Hey Wayne and Mark...you know Devl and I would love to come to one of your rides ... sometimes all you really have to do is send out an invite and have fun with the ones that show up...you will never please everyone...put together whatever you want to do send out an invite and ask people to reply...hope to see you guys soon....

 

[fudgie]

absolutely. only thing were not like texas, we have all winter to do ours, and fudgie puts his up for the winter. 

I 'had' the intentions to ride a week ago when it was 50 out. Well it didnt happen. Either it rained or was way to windy. 

did you get your 0 deg ride in yet?

[Dave Ritsema]

Having worked on the Inzane staff for many of the events, I know how hard it is to put an event together. Even on a smaller scale like a state ride there is always a group of people that put a big effort into the event and it can be frustrating if the turn out is less than you were hoping for. I appreciate the efforts of all those fine folks that have put on events for us to enjoy.

The last few years have been a bit rough for me and I have not had the ability to attend as many get togethers as I would have liked to, but I hope that change is coming very soon for me in that regard.

Now after saying all that I agree with you Wayne that Indiana is not as active as I would like to see it, but as someone who has been part of the problem rather than part of the solution I feel I must apologize in advance. I too would very much enjoy seeing another Indiana gathering that brought folks out like the CBR and HSRI of years past.

One of the largest reasons I have not put on a state ride myself is for the reason you described, northern Indiana just does not have the roads that other parts of the state does. But another part of me thinks it is more about the people and the gathering than the roads. Perhaps we just need a larger group of people willing to lend a hand to put on a great Hoosier event in 2011.   

[fudgie]

Good idea Dave! 

[bigdog99]

absolutely. only thing were not like texas, we have all winter to do ours, and fudgie puts his up for the winter. 

I 'had' the intentions to ride a week ago when it was 50 out. Well it didnt happen. Either it rained or was way to windy. 

did you get your 0 deg ride in yet?

has it been zero yet? not sure. i will get it though. waiting on new grips now. not sure wether to call it the frosty paws ride, or just plain "WHY"

[fudgie]

absolutely. only thing were not like texas, we have all winter to do ours, and fudgie puts his up for the winter. 

I 'had' the intentions to ride a week ago when it was 50 out. Well it didnt happen. Either it rained or was way to windy. 

did you get your 0 deg ride in yet?

has it been zero yet? not sure. i will get it though. waiting on new grips now. not sure wether to call it the frosty paws ride, or just plain "WHY"

It has been single digits here a few times. It was 5 deg when I got home this morning. Figured since you were closer to the Artic then I am it would be colder! 

[bigdog99]

i will get her out soon, i am goin nuts.  the wife even asked me to go out and play. 
i must be gettin on her nerves too.
cant wait till spring. cant believe how much salt is on the roads this year.
will get pics when i do it, hopefully the wife offers to go and take the pics. 

[LandElephant]

Wayne,
Something that might help draw more riders is to theme the rides.  I just started working for a company out of Indy and we had a Christmas get together where I thought I was going to come home with a book called "Wierd Indiana".  While looking at it there were some neat places that I thought would be fun to go too.  Like Joe does with some of his rides, it's not alway  the roads but the destinations and the people.  The two spots that I thought would have been fun would have been "Magnetic Hill" and the "Pink Elephant".  Just a rantings from a traveler.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[R J]

Land Elephant.

Ya got any links?

I tried a Google search and got now where close that I could tell.

[wupster]

      The Hoosier state ride in last fall or river ride that Rainman organized was a great ride.
      and is from my understanding going to be on an on going basis.
      Southern Ind has all the good riding roads. Northern Ind has corn fields and flat roads
      but we have alot of places to ride to. museums, lakes, Historic places, etc. so take
      your pic.
                 I am not a drinker, but I don't mind being around drinkers as long as they
                 don't start acting stupid.
                 I'll ride anywhere flat, twisty's, mountains you name it.
                 I am comfortable riding with just about anyone, although goldwing riders
                 seem to be the worst. Can't stand having all that horsepower and not
                 using it.

[Willow]

I don't plan many rides, but I once got some advice from someone who does.

"Plan a ride that you'd like to go on even if no one else joins you."

Now planning a gathering is a different animal.  A gathering requires reaching a critical mass to be successful.  For that, at least for me, the attractiveness of the gathering will depend most upon the scheduling and what else is or is not happening at or near the same time.

[solo1]

Thanks everyone and also to you Carl.

Carl, you're exactly right.  I've always been a detail man at work and in my life.  If things aren't properly planned and scheduled, it does NOT make my day. The amount of time that I took last year for the ACDC  planning was way out of proportion to how relatively simple it was.   I also realize that things do go wrong and flexibility must be built in..

In the absence of great roads we in northern Indiana have to come up with something else to make it interesting. Lots of good ideas here on this thread. 

We've got to work fast if we want to get this on the VRCC schedule, especially if we do it in June (cooler).

[Black Dog]

Hey Wayne...

I agree with Fudgie in all aspects, but as far as the Hooch goes, that's only after the kickstands are down, and the cover is on my Lady...  Kickin' tires and renewing old friendships is what it's all about. 

Remember, some of us put on 300-500 miles just getting there, and unless it's an event like IZ, usually I only plan on 3 days, with Friday and Sunday being travel days.  Seeing some local points of interest is always nice, but again, it's the folks that make the event 

Black Dog

[MAD6Gun]

 I also want to thank everyone for there input on this. I have spoken to dad (Solo1) on this. I would like to put the ACDC ride on again. This spring is going to be hectic. Dad is moving out and my Girfriend Twila is moving in in July. BUT I still would like to try to put the ride on. Last year I was disapointed with the turnout. As several people have noted that the first year for ride wound be low on antendance. Dont get me Wrong I loved having everyone that showed up. I just wished more people could have made it. But conficts are bound to happen. I understand this. 

 The Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum is still the main reason for this ride. I have decided that the WWII Museum is out. I will probably come up with a ride back to the house. Anyhow I will talk it over with dad and other powers to be and get some ideas and post as soon as I can......Thanks again.....Mark.....

[Brad]

Land Elephant.

Ya got any links?

I tried a Google search and got now where close that I could tell.

http://www.amazon.com/Weird-Indiana-Indianas-Legends-Secrets/dp/1402754523

looks like an interesting book

[LandElephant]

The book was a hoot.  It was a white ELEPHANT gift from my company and Icouldn't give it away until almost the end.  I was hoping to keep it because I was going to use it as a white ELEPHANT gift with my family in Texas.  It did have some neat places ranging from the wierd to the macob (sp).

If I stay in the area I am in now (KY and Southern OH, IN) I might get the book and reinvestigate Indiana.

Does anyone know if the Village Inn Pizza in Ft Wayne still exist.  I remember many if not many, many moons ago it had a pipe organ inside.  Use to go there when I was a student at TriState University in Angola.

Charlie
Land Elephant

[six2go #152]

"Does anyone know if the Village Inn Pizza in Ft Wayne still exist.  I remember many if not many, many moons ago it had a pipe organ inside.  Use to go there when I was a student at TriState University in Angola."

Charlie:
I remember the Village Inn Pizza name from way back, but I don't think we ever went there. I moved to Ft.Wayne in '62. Would that fit the time frame that you remember? I just checked the "pizza listings" in the phone book and didn't find it. Musta disappeared from the landscape. Do you recall in what area of the city it was?

[six2go #152]

Looks like the Village Inn Pizza may still be in operation, if this is, indeed, the same one to which you refer:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/148/927407/restaurant/Curlys-Village-Inn-Fort-Wayne

I don't think that's it, Tony. Curly Armstrong's Village Inn is where I bought my 1st illegal bottle of "Hootch". It is still there & in business on Bluffton Rd. I don't think that building is large enough to house a pipe organ(could be wrong though). It seems to me there was a large pizza restaurant on Coldwater Rd. in the vicinity of where Border's now sits. Maybe that was it?

[doubletee]

Looks like the Village Inn Pizza may still be in operation, if this is, indeed, the same one to which you refer:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/148/927407/restaurant/Curlys-Village-Inn-Fort-Wayne

I don't think that's it, Tony. Curly Armstrong's Village Inn is where I bought my 1st illegal bottle of "Hootch". It is still there & in business on Bluffton Rd. I don't think that building is large enough to house a pipe organ(could be wrong though). It seems to me there was a large pizza restaurant on Coldwater Rd. in the vicinity of where Border's now sits. Maybe that was it?

Ya, I just realized that, but you responded before I could delete my first response. The pizza restaurant you mention on Coldwater was before I moved to Fort Wayne, so I'm of no help there. I'm with you - I know most of the pizza joints in town and don't remember hearing about Village Inn Pizza, so I don't think it still exists.

[six2go #152]

"The pizza restaurant you mention on Coldwater was before I moved to Fort Wayne, so I'm of no help there. "

Before you moved here? Probably before you were born!   

[fudgie]

Theres a Village Inn in Roanoke. Not sure about the pizza part but the place is packed on the weekends. Not sure how long its been there. I only been in there a time or two. This one and Curlys is the only place I know.

[LandElephant]

Sorry guys but you are asking me to remember a place that I use to go to once in awhile back in the mid 70's.  I was doing a stint at TriState University on a school program "Operation Bootstrap" with the Marines trying to get my degree and become an Officer.  It was toward the Coloseum I think, but that was 35 years ago.

Program ran out of money 2 quartermesters before I could graduate.  Never made Officer but did make Retired.  Got the letter from the Corp and headed back to MCAS El Toro CA.  Pulled in on a Saturday.  Started checking back into my Squadron and was sitting on the Tarmac on Tuesday heading to MCAS Iwakuni Japan and the big gray boat USS Midway (CV41). Came back 22 months later and three deployments under my A$$.  Got to love the Corp.

They didn't let any moss grow under these feet. Young, dumb and Full off ----- OPPPS Willow please don't delete this.

Charlie
Land Elephant

[Willow]

They didn't let any moss grow under these feet. Young, dumb and Full off ----- OPPPS Willow please don't delete this. 

Lol!  I won't delete it, Charlie, if you'll promise to work on learning to spell Corps.

P.S.  I was full of some of the same stuff.  I've not yet been fully decontaminated.   

[R J]

"Does anyone know if the Village Inn Pizza in Ft Wayne still exist.  I remember many if not many, many moons ago it had a pipe organ inside.  Use to go there when I was a student at TriState University in Angola."

Charlie:
I remember the Village Inn Pizza name from way back, but I don't think we ever went there. I moved to Ft.Wayne in '62. Would that fit the time frame that you remember? I just checked the "pizza listings" in the phone book and didn't find it. Musta disappeared from the landscape. Do you recall in what area of the city it was?

Is thiss the place be chance.

http://web1.userinstinct.com/17032540-pizza-hut-village-at-coventry.htm

[six2go #152]

"Is thiss the place be chance."

Nope, that's a Pizza Hut location. At the time Charlie is talking about, that area was pretty much undeveloped farmland.

If it was near the Coliseum as Charlie thinks, then I believe that it was the location I remember on Coldwater Rd. It has long since been replaced by other buildings & businesses.

[wupster]

    Charlie,
        You are right the village inn was on coldwater rd just south of I69
     I use to hang out there in the early 70's after football games and on weekends
     I believe it closed down in the late 70's. There is a Borders books store
     there now

[Chattanooga Mark]

So here's some questions for the riders.
1.  Do you like booze with events? NO

2.  Do you like curvy roads with lots of scenery? You Bet

3.  Do you like to visit unique places like the ACD museum? Yes

4.  Is your top priority kicking tires with friends? I enjoy that

5.  Do you like to ride at a leisurely pace (sometimes) and just enjoy the wind and scenery? My knee dragging days are long gone. I enjoy the journey as mus=ch as the destination.

6.  Do you like garage sessions? Yup

7.  Do you mainly like to ride in small groups, large groups, or solo. Usually solo but small groups are OK at times. If there are too many risky riders or competition between some, I'll gladly wave them by.

     Is it possible to consider a year round monthly breakfast meeting at the same place to build interest and consistency. That way the 'local' crowd can get to know each other more and build on on a plan.

Thank You,

Mark

[solo1]

Thank you Mark and all the rest......................  Back on track.

Mark and I will see what we can come up with.

[godfire]

Thank you Mark and all the rest......................  Back on track.

Mark and I will see what we can come up with.

Looking forward to it!