Davis Motorcycle Rally News

[Ozarkryder]

I know there are some on this site that have attended the Davis Rally in New Hampton Iowa, some multiple times and some of us many years in a row. For us it was a Must Attend event, time to get together with a group of friends we have been camping with at the rally since the late 1990's. The rally has been losing attendees and vendors for a while now, and a few years ago the event was cut from Fri, Sat & Sun to officially just Saturday and Sunday.

This is not on the Davis Motorcycle Rally website as of today, Tues, 3/21/17, this a a copy and paste from the Davis Motorcycle Rally Facebook page. (The first paragraph was deleted, as it was not germane to this post.)

Needless to say, we're all excited about the riding season inching closer and closer. To that end, I am happy to tell you that we've set the new date for the 2017 Davis Motorcycle Rally! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, August 5th and more importantly tell all of your riding friends, especially those not on facebook or otherwise technology challenged. ��For a variety of reasons that I won't take up more space diving into here, we made the decision to move this year's rally to a different weekend. It's going to be a one day event officially, but we'll fill you in on all the details in the coming weeks. For those who like to come and stay for several nights to catch up with friends, that will most certainly be available as has always been the case. Stayed tuned for a lot more key information about this year's Davis Rally. For now, I'll leave you with this...we're taking this event back its humble beginnings this year in every aspect possible.Hope to see you all in August!Dan Davis

So. Date changed, and a single day event. And during Sturgis, no less. Needless to say the comments weren't positive on the Facebook post.

Our group comes from as far away as SW Missouri, Michigan and North Dakota. The consensus is that a one day event isn't worth a 400 - 600 or so mile trip. The group will still get together at another event or just a nice riding/camping/RV spot on our own, but it seems the Davis Rally is a thing of the past.

[randyg]

This rally hasn't been to good the last few years. The first time I was there was 2008 I think. We got there Saturday morning about 9:00 and the parking lot was full of bikes and trikes I don't think you could fit another one in there. There is some nice riding in northeast Ia. There was all kinds of vendors the park was full of campers. Than I was there in 2015 on Saturday morning at 9:00 there might have been a dozen bikes and trikes. Very poor turn out. Some of the people I talked to heard they were gouging the vendors. The vendors quit coming. It was a nice peaceful rally. I don't see the point of paying them $25 to ride out there. Hopefully they can get it going good again. Have a good one.

randyg

[pmar6004]

This rally hasn't been to good the last few years. The first time I was there was 2008 I think. We got there Saturday morning about 9:00 and the parking lot was full of bikes and trikes I don't think you could fit another one in there. There is some nice riding in northeast Ia. There was all kinds of vendors the park was full of campers. Than I was there in 2015 on Saturday morning at 9:00 there might have been a dozen bikes and trikes. Very poor turn out. Some of the people I talked to heard they were gouging the vendors. The vendors quit coming. It was a nice peaceful rally. I don't see the point of paying them $25 to ride out there. Hopefully they can get it going good again. Have a good one.

randyg

Hey Randy,

What rallies are you considering in place of the Davis Rally? May I suggest the 3rd Annual Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally, which takes place July 11th - 16th, in the beautiful Black Hills of SD. If you go to the rally's website, www.d3wr.com, it has all the details, the schedule of events and where to register. Let me know if you're interested, as I'm the Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally Coordinator for TrikeTalk as well as the T.O.I. Coordinator for SD. I'll be arranging a ride along for TT members that are attending the rally that come to SD from the east, as well as hosting a riding event at the rally on the 14th. Feel free to drop me a PM should you have any questions. My email address is at the bottom of this post. Hope to see you and many other TT members there.

Regards,

pmar6004

Attachment 44271

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

We have not missed a year since 1990. With the change a few years ago, the kids took over and have run it into the ground.

A 1 day event will no cut it and it's done as far as i can tell.

Oh sure, there will be some that come but vendors will not.

And with sturgis at the same time, its over.

Gene and his wife must be looking down and wondering how the kids could have ruined a great rally in a few short years.

[Ozarkryder]

It has been waning for a few years, ever since they started to make changes after Gene died. The attendees also got older, and with the years riding they didn't need to get as much gear, so the vendors didn't make as much either. No sales = no show. I don't think the kids really want to run the rally. They kept raising the vendor fees, and (according to some folks we know in town) a few years ago they even proposed that they should get 10% of the garage sale proceeds and extra income the local businesses made because of the out-of-towners. Obviously that didn't go over too well.

The group we have camped with for 15 years is getting together at Hay Creek in Red Wing, MN the traditional Davis Rally weekend.

We will be going to Maggie Valley Monday-Wednesday, then up to MN for the weekend. I suggested riding, but Gloria thought it would be a better idea to trailer so we will be fresh to ride with friends at the destinations. I am looking forward to gathering with folks from 2 of my favorite groups - Trike Talk members and our Davis Rally camping crew.

[randyg]

Just got a email back from the Davis Rally. They cancelled the 2017 rally. Dan Davis said this winter they will consider the 2018 rally. So I guess we will wait and see what happens.

randyg

[Ozarkryder]

Figured as much - the web page hasn't been updated, and the Davis Motorcycle Rally completely disappeared from Facebook. Won't be holding my breath as to the Davis Rally continuing. It's a shame - that was a fun rally and made some good friends over the years.The folks we have camped with for the last 15 years or so already had made other plans to meet in Red Wing, MN. Should be a good time.