| Howdy,
I write a little synopsis after each event. This year’s was such a huge and such an eventful Rally that I’ve struggled with keeping it brief. In fact, we decided to do a book on the entire event, so that’ll be coming with photos and details. Yesterday I was provided the synopsis by a first-timer from Florida. Here it is, short and sweet, close to as he said it.
The Chip had another record year, with more people attending the party than ever before. He couldn’t believe the immensity of the project – the camping, the internationally prominent artists’ performances that were free to campers, the food, the beverages, the bikini contests on the beach, the Ms. Buffalo Chip Pageant on the Wolfman Jack Stage, the North American Hill Climbers’ Associations qualifying hill climbs, the 2500 horsepower mud drags, the machine guns for rent at the firing range, dozens of biker-specific shopping sites and he didn’t know just how many more things he may have just missed. 
He was amazed to have seen folks from all over the world, gobs of people, all getting along and all smiling. He never saw a single argument or dispute, it was always something like, “Hi, how are ya? Where ya from? How’s that steak?” Etc.
 | Despite 6 consecutive days of thunderstorms everyone was always smiling and having a good time. The showers worked. The bathrooms were continuously attended by smiling faces and people who obviously took pride in keeping them spotless. The outhouses in the campground were attended to.
He was surprised by the diversity of food available. It seemed like more than a dozen food outlets provided a variety of quality foods at prices that were lower than even at home. Even the drink prices at the more than 20 bars were lower than at the bars at home or at other local establishments. He saw that the crowd appreciated the fact that prices were but a fraction of what would routinely be expected at any other major entertainment venue. 
He commented that the Lichter Exhibition and that whole area was world-class, as was the Metzeler bike show. Also remarkable was the visible cooperation of local law enforcement who even came out to direct traffic to make it easier to get in and out of the Chip, though he said he seldom left because, with the beach playground in the daytime and the famous entertainment every evening, there was really neither desire nor reason to leave. He had an amazing experience and will be back with friends.
I was so proud of the crew for keeping everything functioning so well throughout the challenges posed by the weather. That hailstorm won’t soon be forgotten, even by those who didn’t preserve a baseball or softball-sized hailstone to show the folks back home.
Thanks to all of you for allowing us to enjoy this rally with you and for expressing your appreciation for the improvements the crew worked so hard on all year. We were all thinking of what’ll be next year’s projects as you were waiting for that Sunday morning thunderstorm to abate before leaving, as we always do,
Gotta keep rollin’ Gotta keep ridin’, Keep searching ‘til I find what’s right,
And as the sunset’s breaking we spoke to the Plain at first starlight,
And we said, Next Time, Next time We’ll get it Right!
Roll me away – and ‘til then
Ride Free, take Risks and we’ll see your smilin’ faces again next August,
Woody & Crew | 
 |