Question for DDT

I wasn't the 'founder', but... I did participate enthusiastically! It all started with a couple in Ocala, FL... Mark & Pat Croft. Mark had a Valkyrie and posted on our Florida board. I responded, and we rode together for a time. I'd been pondering on the difficulty we'd had trying to put group rides together... Mark and Pat were also perplexed by this...

Members in Florida were scattered all over this geographically rather large state, and hooking-up meant everybody had to make a long ride just to join up with other riders to then begin a group ride. An idea popped into my thinker muscle one fine day... I called it 'The Great Florida BBQ Quest'...

I just so happen to really like BBQ. Mark & Pat do too. The idea of the 'Quest' was that we'd simply announce some BBQ joint somewhere in Florida we would be trying out on the following Saturday, and we would invite any interested riders to join us for lunch. The idea was that we would visit that place to 'evaluate' its offering, but the real reason was to provide an excuse to ride and meet fellow Valkers.

Since meeting early in the morning and doing a group ride seemed impractical, our thinking was that we could all ride from our various locations and still meet up... Those who lived close enough to each other could join up for a mini group ride, and everybody was free to ride wherever they chose. Eventually we even did a few 'overnighters' to extend our time together and our ability to ride together.

The response was very light at first. In fact, it was not unusual for only the three of us to show up for the 'meet & greet'... Still, we kept it up, and we would post a little write-up about the ride, food, etc. In time, a few folks at first began to show up... then more and more... until we had rather impressive turn-outs and loads of fun!

The VRCC had already been established... more or less. The message board was operational, and we did use it. However, a couple of other boards were also used back then, and hearing about this one elsewhere is how many folks got attracted to this board...

The VRCC was an interesting innovation at the time. It just sprung up out of the minds of a couple of very creative folks, and it used a novel and previously unheard of business model... No membership dues!

All successful clubs before this one had relied on dues for much of its funding, but the VRCC relied entirely upon advertising mostly, plus sponsorships and event proceeds, and on donations and contributions too. What a concept!!! Membership rolls exploded immediately!!!

The success in Florida came from a couple of important factors, I think... First, the no-dues aspect of the club was extremely attractive and offered no participation barrier to anyone. The second was the message board. This provided what I call 'an electronic club house in cyberspace' that neutralized the huge obstacle of distance. The third, and in our case arguably the most important, was the participation of couples and not just solo guys.

We were richly blessed in that way, but it didn't occur to me right at first. In short order, however, it became obvious, though, and more than anything else, I credit that with the long-term success. Mark and Pat are a wonderful couple and perfect 'hosts' or center pieces for such an activity to revolve around. Other couples soon, too, began to become 'unofficial leaders', catalysts of a sort, around which still others were then drawn...

That was more than fifteen years ago! I recently moved back to Florida, and I've had the great pleasure to join in on a couple of their activities... Things have naturally evolved over time, and new faces have replaced most of the ones I'd known way back when... But, the participation levels, closeness, affection, and friendship are still alive and well, bigger and better than ever!

New 'leaders' have stepped up to fill the void when the old ones have stepped aside, but... The VRCC with its 'culture', message board and the Valkyrie motorcycle at the core, this group has found a unique way to come together and celebrate that special bond that we know on a much larger scale... Good folks treating each other with genuine respect and affection... sharing a slice of life that simply cannot be found anywhere else.

DDT