COG (Concours Owners Group) has just announced the location of the 25th anniversary National Rally. It has been a secret since the 2012 National, and was announced at the banquet last night at the 2013 National in Idaho.

Looks like a possible.

Did I miss the date?

Probably details on the COG site, right? And I assume they still welcome other bikes besides
Connies?

pb

* Last updated by: PaulAB on 9/6/2013 @ 8:07 PM *

@PaulAb - they sure do welcome just about anything from little dirt bikes (they have off road rides planned at every event) to big honking trikes, CanAms, Harley-Davidsons, whatever.

People trailer their bikes to Nationals. We laugh at them, but let them attend. Besides, many come from thousands of miles away. Members from California, Washington, Oregon, and Canada will be attending the 2014 in Tennessee.

They let me join with my badazz ZX14. You could attend as a guest (a little more expensive registration fee) and many do.

There are informal rides every day, leaving out anywhere between 8am to 10am (usually earlier) that often go until late afternoon. You just have to talk to everyone the night before and see what is shaping up for groups forming to go ride the next day. Much fun, if you find the "fast" kids group you are in for a treat, get to see C14s getting down through the curves like a sportbike.

Below is the link to the 2014 National website, and on November 1st or around then, the Registration link will go live.

The main rally hotel is listed under the Lodging link, with the direct (not the 800) number, you have to call them direct and say you are attending the COG 2014 National Rally in order to get the fantastic rate of $79 / night plus tax of course - which at a fancy Holiday Inn is awesome.

COG 2014 National Rally

P.S. The hotel is probably going to be completely booked by COG, we expect to fill every room, and one thing I've learned about COG people is they book a year in advance, so don't wait too long. I already did.

* Last updated by: privateer on 9/7/2013 @ 3:51 AM *

Thanks Privateer!

I'm reserved at HI for the Ralley; looks to be a great one.

I referred to you online when I updated my membership, hope that doesn't jinx me.

Actually, hope to see you there in June.

I may go to the Dragon in October this year; and if time permits, take excursion toward Johnson City to look the area over. Guess its only about 3 hours from the Dragon.

Best wishes,

pb

+1

I have my room reserved at HI, I paid my reservation fee to COG, and I have the time off from work booked.

Going to be over 500 members at this, it being the 25th anniversary and all.

It may jinx you so don't own up to knowing me. I cause some trouble on the forum. Who me? Naw.... never!

I will have my camper trailer by then, but want to stay at rally central in the HI where all the action is.

PM me sometime I'll give you my actual name and my email and phone number.

I will also have my Spot 3 online and feeding into the COG spotwalla page. Many of us are doing this so we can save a plot of where everyone came from and turn it into a poster or something.

One thing in my favor many of them may not recognize me, they will be expecting BIG John not skinny John.

I gave up my room at the Holiday Inn, decided to take my camper trailer and stay at the campground nearby. A lot of the guys and girls from the SouthEast region of COG are camping (they do that a lot) and it will be fun.

They suggested I move south to warmer climes. But I thought, naw.... I need the winter to get projects done on the bike. Though I think this winter's projects are the end of it, once I retire, I won't have the money to do much to it anymore. Thankfully I got just about everything I could think of done, other than magnesium wheels and Brembo brakes, and I can live without those.

You can work the wrenches in the warm climes just as well, ya know?

COL less in the south, too, generally speaking.

I've got a new member and her fiancé coming to the Siverdamnit along with me this summer. They are looking fwd to it eagerly. She's on a FJR and I don't know what he will be riding as he is trying to decide what to purchase for the his new experience as a performance machine owner and not just a HOG member. LOL

Might be a BMW K1300/1200 or a Duc or ? Maybe he will be up for the new BMW nine-T?

Anyway, COG silver should be good. I'l look for skinny John and since I never met Big John; no confusion/ no problem.

I think you and I own this thread.

Pretty much just waiting now, Paul.

I will actually be down near the Dragon the weekend before, then home for the week, then back for the National.

Camping both events.

Now that I have the TimeOut trailer, I can't think of too many reasons to stay in motels / hotels anymore. :)

Yeah, copy that. I see on the COG site that you gave up your room for camping. I had a buddy decades ago who, with his wife, trailered behind his Guzzi LeMans . They had a great time bikin' and campin'. There was no truth to the rumor that she had to cling to the trailer!

Is the OTP twosome taking the hotel room you vacated? I sent in a small donation to help fund that effort.

I am waiting too; for some kind of break in this weather and it looks like it might come this weekend into next week.
Tonight its sub zero again but should actually get a thaw by Thursday and rain on Sun-Mon with high 30's or low 40's for temps next week!!! Yeah! As long as nothin' leaks, I will be a happy "camper"; so to speak.

Won't get the bike out till March in any case; but looking fwd to riding again for sure. Lots of roads around here are heaved so often and badly that they are miniature roller coasters! Also got large sinkhole size potholes as well. So even Jeeps gotta take care on some of them!! For Cryin' out Loud.

Catch you later and at Silverdamnit fer sure.

"Participating in a gun buy back program because you think that criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors have too many kids." Huurraaah!

* Last updated by: PaulAB on 2/11/2014 @ 5:41 PM *

I think the US guy coordinating the OTP travelers missed my post, and asked too late. If I had seen the post asking for lodging for the OTP guys I would have held onto it and let them take it.

I am off work today. I work for the State of Maryland, helping Vets get jobs and training, and the State (headquarters in Baltimore MD) issued a State office closing alert last night for today. So we are basically forbidden from going into work.

I'm telling, I cried a river about that. NOT!

So we have over a foot of snow here, and its still snowing even in western Maryland where I am. And we didn't get the worst of it.

The bike battery is probably dead again, I needed to start it almost every day after work since there is not a electrical outlet in the storage unit. And I missed the 2 days now due to the weather. Oh well, I have a Shorai in the kitchen in storage maintenance mode just waiting to go in.

I'll be at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in the campground area at the National, with most of the guys from the SouthEast region who seem to camp everywhere they go. LOL I don't think these guys ever stay inside at a rally.