I have very concerning news about the rallye. Attendance has been declining every year while costs have been going up every year. We barely broke even this year. 

First I would like to address costs. They have been going up because the owner of Big Cypress Marina has raised our fees every year. 10 years ago we paid $2500.00 per event which included exclusive use of the campground, firewood, and port a potties. This year we were charged $4400.00. I would have expected an increase in the quality of the facilities over the years for such increases but the reality is we have the same crappy rutted roads and horrible showers. To add insult to injury this year Tom Tanner decided to park a 40 foot derelict boat in our registration area which required attendees to park in the road and block traffic during registration. We were informed by Tom when we paid our bill this year that there would be another increase next year. 

Secondly I would like to address declining attendance. Frankly, in my opinion our rally has become stale and boring. We all show up and put the same bikes in the same bike show and sit around waiting for the same award ceremony we have had for the past umpteen years. I tried to introduce field events one year but there was not really room to do them so we discontinued the idea. Due to the limited space we only have room to do a bike show. 

In all these years of conducting the rallye I thought Big Cypress Marina was the only option to have the rallye in the Lake O the Pines area. That is not the case. Last weekend I rode out and met with Don Rainey at his campground one mile north of Jefferson on highway 49. I was blown away. He has a 100 acre facility with 50 pull through RV stations. There is an enormous covered pavilion with a stage, lighting, sound system, and concrete floor. There is a nice set of clean showers. He has tables and chairs for 400 people that would be included in the rental. There is a huge open area in the center of the park we could use for field events and the bike show at the same time. There are lots of trees and options for tent camping as well as the RV hook ups. He has a water truck that will wet down the dirt park road twice a day to keep the dust down. He is a member of the Jefferson tourism board and has received permission to spend $1000.00 for radio ads in Shreveport, Longview, and Marshall to promote our event. He owns and operates a vintage narrow gauge train that runs from the depot in Jefferson through the piney woods and the edge of the campground. By providing the pavilion, tables and chairs, and sound system it will save us 4 days of labor by the volunteers who put on the rallye. Being only a mile from town gives us easy access to the restaurants and shopping in Jefferson without the worry of hitting a deer at speed on a dark country road such as what happened to our dear friend Norm. Don has agreed to provide all of this for the same rate of $4400.00 we paid Big Cypress Marina. The only thing Don’s facility does not have is a view of the lake. If I need that I’ll get on my bike and ride out to see it. I would like to have a full 2 day event. One day for field events and one day for the bike show and rolling concours. 

As current rallye chairman I am recommending we move the rallye location. I know this will be a controversial proposal but we really have no choice. We cannot operate the rallye at a loss which is what we are faced with next year. We must mitigate costs and increase attendance. I am more than happy to volunteer as rallye chairman again but only if we implement these changes. I cannot do otherwise as a responsible club member. If tradition and a view of the lake overrule this essential change for fiscal responsibility then I would decline to continue as rallye chairman. 

The bylaws of the club do not require a majority vote to move the rallye. It is up to the executive committee but it would be foolish not to have a healthy discussion among the members to determine what course we should take. Anyone is welcome to call or email me to discuss one on one. The executive committee will be taking a trip out in the next few weeks to finalize the details. Any member is welcome to attend to tour the campground.