General Category => Other Things Simplex => Topic started by: pd on October 18, 2015, 09:21:30 PM
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I just read this on Facebook :
?Darren Chafin : " Also, the dates for 2016 have changed slightly. The new dates are July the 21st - 25th 2016. Thursday through Monday."
Read more : https://www.facebook.com/groups/367725103281365/?fref=nf
Pete . :)
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And the year after that it will be Wednesday than Tuesday the following year and so on and so on. To the one that have to work for a living this is becoming bogus. I'm already burning a week and a day to go now and the bargains I was hoping to find just move away.
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And the year after that it will be Wednesday than Tuesday the following year and so on and so on. To the one that have to work for a living this is becoming bogus. I'm already burning a week and a day to go now and the bargains I was hoping to find just move away.
It doesn't matter what the official days of the meet are anyway! Unless the fairgrounds is willing to lock people out until the first day of the meet, people will still go 4-7 days early to find the deals.
There is ZERO chance that the fairgrounds will lock people out, as that is how they make money. If the VMBC wanted to stop the early birds, they would have to rent out the fairgrounds early, and lock people out on there own. NEVER going to happen!
See all you guys there next year!
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You are right Rick. Already planning on an early arrival!
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And the year after that it will be Wednesday than Tuesday the following year and so on and so on. To the one that have to work for a living this is becoming bogus. I'm already burning a week and a day to go now and the bargains I was hoping to find just move away.
This has been a problem with the VMBC meet forever and probably will be a problem forever. I share in your frustration. The fact of the matter is that it's a club set up by and targeted towards retirees. They don't care what days of the week the meet falls on, they are available and have no work conflicts.
At the same time the club talks about needing to recruit new members and get the "next generation" involved, the membership is aging, etc. I am in that so-called "next generation" and am not even close to being retired. A couple of years ago corresponded significantly with Darren about the realities of what that means for people like myself as it relates to meet attendance. I explained how the dates are really hard on those of us that work for a living and he agreed everything I laid out. In fact, he even wrote about it in the club magazine multiple times. I even pointed out that the retirees would still all attend if the meet was REALLY over a weekend - it would just allow the meet to viable to those of us that work by being centered around a weekend. The club sorta-kinda made an attempt to to come up with better dates, but the reality was that not much actually changed.
I've gone to the meet before as a working-for-a-living guy. The first year, I went on a Saturday and was seriously disappointed. For all practical purposes the meet was shutting down by that point. The next year I actually took a day off work and went on a Friday (I was relatively local to the area at the time). Friday was drastically better in terms of overall activity level, but it was clear that I was STILL late to the party.
A major part of the problem (also something I discussed with Darren) was that folks arrive VERY early and by the time the real meet actually starts, they are packing up and ready to go home. They've done all the buying, selling, and riding that they wanted to do. This won't ever change because the fairgrounds allows camping and collects the fees and the VMBC isn't going to stop them. I do think that the VMBC can stop essentially encouraging it by sticking to Fri-Sun model, but hell will freeze over before they go to a three day meet from five (more below). I also don't think the early birds will EVER be stopped unless the fairgrounds takes a stand and locks people out which is extremely unlikely. Part 2 of this problem, if I wasn't clear earlier, is not just that they are arriving early, it's that they are then ready to leave smack dab in the middle of the meet, Saturday evening or maybe Sunday morning. I can't even imagine how bad it will be on Monday in 2016 - nobody will be there except for a few stragglers.
My solution is this:
I know it's unpopular, but I think the meet should be 3 days, tops: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Thursday and Monday could be travel days for folks from out-of-town instead of activity days. It would also mean that folks that can only make it on Saturday or Sunday won't arrive to find a total ghost town with folks packing up their trailers and campers. The working folks might be able to actually make it, the retirees would still attend, and the club would save some $$$$ by reducing facility rental to three days instead of five. The working crowd may be able to swing taking a single day (and a Friday at that) off of work vs. digging even more into the work week. The early crowd will still be a problem, but I think my proposal would help condense everything so that anyone interested can actually come to the meet and experience it in full swing on a Saturday or Sunday rather than having it picked over with many people ready to pull out.
Then again, the Cushman Club of American (I am not a member) is even worse...their meet for 2016 is June 6-10 which is a Monday-Friday. ??? It doesn't fall over a weekend at all! :o
Do I think things will ever really change or that my suggestion for a three day meet with ever happen? Let's just say that I'm not going to hold my breath.
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You are right Rick. Already planning on an early arrival!
What day are you thinking?
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Maybe work Monday then get there afterwards. Or just skip work all week! Will need to work out time off with Travis. No man left behind! he loves it!
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Maybe work Monday then get there afterwards. Or just skip work all week! Will need to work out time off with Travis. No man left behind! he loves it!
I think I will be there early this year. If I can't beat them, I might as well join them!
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So , we should just plan on being there Monday and leave Saturday , right ?
Pete . :)
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So , we should just plan on being there Monday and leave Saturday , right ?
Pete . :)
That's what I'm thinking!
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This is getting complicated . LOL
Pete . :)
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Hmm, that's interesting. I appreciate the info. Sounds like it won't be worth going, if I'd need to show up day(s) early just to do a little "shopping around". Let alone, taking time off work and travel expenses if that's the reality of what happens there. Too bad. I had considered maybe driving down for "it" in the future.
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Hmm, that's interesting. I appreciate the info. Sounds like it won't be worth going, if I'd need to show up day(s) early just to do a little "shopping around". Let alone, taking time off work and travel expenses if that's the reality of what happens there. Too bad. I had considered maybe driving down for "it" in the future.
It is worth going, imho, just don't expect to find the rare part. The best part of the show is the people! Come out and ride with us! Even with last years rains, everyone I spoke with still had a good time. There will still be many people there through Saturday night, but a lot of people will leave early Sunday morning.
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Yeah ... Come on down . Last year was the first for me . Rained enough to float an anchor , but I/we still had a good time . I'm planning on being there again this coming Summer .
See you there . ;)
Pete . :)
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Well I'm still only planning on arriving Friday afternoon and will be there til Monday. I hope that there will still be something to see if not there are things to see on the way home. That and if moves to far up the week and there is no good bargains left and nobody left to visit with. I can find other places to travel to on my vacations.
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My wife and I are planning on being there early also so we can do some shopping, but we won't set the kettle korn up until the first day of the show. It really sucks watching all of you guys running around and there I am stuck in the popcorn stand lol. It is still a long way off though, and we know how plans can change.
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My wife and I are planning on being there early also so we can do some shopping, but we won't set the kettle korn up until the first day of the show. It really sucks watching all of you guys running around and there I am stuck in the popcorn stand lol. It is still a long way off though, and we know how plans can change.
It may suck , but you do a good job of covering the smell of old musty bikes with hot buttered popcorn . ;)
Pete . :)
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Speculating my next stay at Portland!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381465837143?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
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Speculating my next stay at Portland!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381465837143?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
So , Tom , you really didn't like getting flooded out ? ;)
Pete . :)
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Purple on the Doppler does tend to get ones attention!
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Purple on the Doppler does tend to get ones attention!
True , that^ .
Our current campground is at about 8 feet above sea level . Christmas eve , the owners had everyone move out due to the possibility of flooding . It didn't , but was very close . The river that runs by rose to 8.5 feet , due to days of rain . Any more and our site would have been under water . High tide at the wrong time would have been kinda wet here .
Hopefully , the next meet will be drier and more sunny .
Pete . :)
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I'm going on the 21st ...staying till Sunday afternoon
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I'm going on the 21st ...staying till Sunday afternoon
Hey Bruce, what ever happened to the trucks you and Ken were building? How about an update on that thread?
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Only 2 weeks left and I will be in Portland! Hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Post up if you are attending.
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Packin up stuff now!!
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I plan to arrive with Herb Weeks from Mobile, Alabama, on Wednesday! Mike
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The meet is just a little over a week away now. I still have a little to do to my little compact. I'm not going to have much time if any to get any bugs out. At this point I'll settle for just a completed scoot. I think it has turned out well although I wished I would have went with a darker shade of red. Too late now. Had quite a few new possible members inquire about the meet lately through email, phone calls, and our facebook page. I think we are going to have a very big meet this year if the weather co-operates. We will see. I hope to see everyone arriving safe.
Darren
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Ditching work tomorrow and Friday. Gotta Get ready to Go. With any luck I should have a decent tent for all of us to be able to get out of the sun. Looking forward to that good fellowship Indian just spoke of!
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W e are heading out Sunday afternoon, staying in Peoria il Sunday night and will be in Portland in good time Monday. Hope see a lot of you there.
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I hope to have something to ride. I have been tied up with doing things for the in-laws my compact is still apart my simplex bikes I've not touched in months and the wife's Cushman still needs work. Shoot my trailer is full of items from the in-laws property. If I had to leave now I couldn't. :'(
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I hope every one going to Portland has a good time ,sounds great. wish I could go somewhere like that. The only Portland I have been to is the one in Maine i,used to go there to visit my younger brother, that was until about eight years ago. good luck every body. eric
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When are you planning on showing up in Portland Reese?
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Sometime Friday afternoon. That is if I can unload the trailer before next week. That and the drive doesn't hold any traps for us. :o
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We're going to try and be there Thur/Sat. This will be the first time. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Safe journey for all.
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We're going to try and be there Thur/Sat. This will be the first time. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Safe journey for all.
Bob, look for my black enclosed trailer on Simplex Hill. It has a Servi-Cycle winged logo on the back door, thanks to James, AKA, Sonrisers. Come on by and introduce yourself to us!
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James, do you have a day and time planned for the Simplex photo lineup? I'm thinking Friday or Saturday afternoon?
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I think Saturday would be a good time....maybe around 3pm. we are going to be there monday and I hope we can get our usual spot on the corner. If so we will try to get a spot big enough on the corner.Everybody needs to stop by the Kettle Korn when you arrive. Hope to see many new faces this year.
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I spent some time getting ready today. Gased up the bikes, loaded the trailer, getting my swap meet stuff together, as well as the rest of the shirts I have left.
I checked the weather, and it looks like it is going to be smoking' hot!
I can't wait to get there!
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I have the trailer loaded also. Will load the back of the truck Tuesday after lunch .
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We just got to Portland and got set up. Our usual corner was already taken. Still plenty of room, but filling up fast. I don't know how early a guy would have had to be here to get our usual corner.
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As much as it pains me , I likely will not make the meet this Summer , unless things change in the very near future .
Things are simply not working out to that end .
Our co hosts pulled out due to health reasons . That leaves us as the only hosts and my going to Portland would leave my wife alone with no transportation in case of emergency .
The hitch on the Jeep took a dump . I rigged it as good as I could , but I'm not sure it would make the trip .
Not to mention that I get no cooperation from my '57 .
And , I looked at the forecast for Portland . If I were 40 years younger and never been bear caught ...
Anyway , I hope all that do attend have a great time .
Stay cool .
Pete . :)
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Sorry to hear Pete.
I think it was the first time I went to Portland the temperature was in the mid 90's all week. That was a hot one, but I'll take that over the rains from last year.
I saw on the Facebook page that they have already started the nightly parades. Unbelievable how early this thing gets going!
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We got here last noght, and I have heard a lot of ppl saying that Walmart parking lot was full on Saturday night, then Sunday morning they all started lining up at the gate. I don't know of it is true or not, but one guy told me that someone from the fair was letting ppl in if they parked clear in the back on saturday, but they had to pay him $5. I would think something is gonna have to change, sounds like ppl are pretty upset because of the early birds.
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Hello....if any of you remember who I am....sorry I've been away for so long. Sonya & I will arrive sometime Thursday.
Remember how my bike wouldn't stay running when I brought it last time? It was a stupid mistake inside the flywheel (I'll post a pic in the motor section later).
Will be glad to see you again at Portland.
Mike & Sonya
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Hi Mike, I thought you had gotten out of the scooters. Welcome back!
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James, how crowded is it up on Simplex Hill?
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I was so aggravated at the bike when it wouldn't run at Portland, I brought it home & didn't touch it till last night.....nothing like waiting till the last minute huh....
I finally got the Kubelwagen project finished & been having fun with it. I"ve still got a studebaker in the shop that needs a lot of attention, but just didn't want to miss out on portland. I'm sweating right now that the new battery for the little blue honda will show up tomorrow....we plan to leave tomorrow night.
Mike & Sonya
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Still room over there, but the grumpy peddlers are all spread out, they usually try to stick together but there wasn't anywhere big ebough they could all be together. We got Brenda a Honda express so she could ride around, from one of the grumpy peddlers. I was gonna post some pics, but my phone takes photos too big for the site, so I guess I will have to wait til I get home to resize them on our computer. Having fun, heat isn't that bad when you find some shade, and not that humid today....last night was really humid when we were setting up.
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Still room over there, but the grumpy peddlers are all spread out, they usually try to stick together but there wasn't anywhere big ebough they could all be together. We got Brenda a Honda express so she could ride around, from one of the grumpy peddlers. I was gonna post some pics, but my phone takes photos too big for the site, so I guess I will have to wait til I get home to resize them on our computer. Having fun, heat isn't that bad when you find some shade, and not that humid today....last night was really humid when we were setting up.
James, if using an iPhone, email them to yourself and select medium size. That should allow you to post them.
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Who doesn't believe that place will be a ghost town by Sunday.
Mike Sal
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If everyone is going to start showing up this early I guess I will do that next year Then burn out Friday night to go back home. I bet there's going to be people leaving on Friday or Saturday morning.
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How is it going in Portland ?
I'm spending most of my time in air conditioning as it's rather thick and very warm outside .
Today it was just plain oppressively hot here :
Clear
92 °F
Felt Like 114 °F
No wind
(https://i.imwx.com/images/maps/truvu/map_specnewsdct-08_ltst_4namus_enus_650x366.jpg)
Pete . :)
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Got to Portland mid-afternoon & saw Rick, Kartjockey & Sonrisers....and a couple of new guys from the web I hadn't met before....plus the "old crew" Ernie & Bob. Was able to purchase a new ignition coil from Wayne, but still no spark.....we'll see what happens tomorrow.....
Rain storm blew in around 6pm & Sonya & I helped kartjockey hold down his awning.....lots of other folks now have wrecked awnings....dozens of them.
Calling for rain again tomorrow.....we'll see......Did find some much needed bicycle parts. Rick has found several Simplex parts.
Mike Sal
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We have a storm brewing here . It's forming to the North and starting to swing in our direction .
Hopefully , it won't be as nasty as what you guys had this evening .
Pete . :)
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I got to Portland Thurs. Met Rick.S and Kart jockey. Lots of nice Simplexes. Left before the storm but got caught on I-75 going home. It was hot but not unbareabele.
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We had high winds and an inch and a half of rain out of that storm last night . Trees and a bunch of limbs down all over town . And , of course , the requisite power outages . More bearable temps and humidity today .
Pete . :)
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Many thanks to all the wonderful people from this site that we met at Portland. What a great bunch of folks. Willing to share ideas, stories, and information. For a first timer to Portland I thought it was first rate. Had a blast and looking forward to next year and bringing something to ride. Thanks to Rick for a ride on the Simplex Stretch. I'm sure everyone has followed this build as it progressed. Let me tell you, it rides as sweet as it looks. Hope everyone had a safe passage home. Bob
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We had a nice time visiting with the gang also. Was frustrated that the bike is still on the blink, but the rest of the meet was fun. We left Saturday evening so we could recover on Sunday.
I think everyone was in agreement that next year we'll all come a day or two early & then leave early.....just like all of the old timers. I just don't think they will be able to change the culture that has evolved within the club.
Mike Sal
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Dang , now I have two less days to get the '57 ready . :(
Well , IF I get it running by then , I think I will have executed some kind of miracle . ;)
As for changing culture , if ya can't beat 'em , join'em ? When in Rome ... you get the picture .
Glad you guys had good time .
Pete . :)
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Great time at Portland as always! Got to meet Butch27 and Bob53, and his friend Mike this year.
All the usual crew was there and we all had fun just kicking back talking about bikes, cars, women, ect! LOL
As always, I forget to take many pictures, but I did snap a few.
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Here are some of the goodies I picked up.
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Wooden floorboard covers? Was that a real "thing", or just somebodies idea?
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Wooden floorboard covers? Was that a real "thing", or just somebodies idea?
Sonrisers is a wood worker and made them. They were in a box of parts I bought from him. If anybody wants them, let me know. I think he said they are made of mahogany.
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There were more Simplex bikes there than anything but the Cushmans. Not very many guys had one...there were gobs of em everywhere and on trucks or trailers. Seems they're all being found and dragged out.
I've struggled with if few things of late or I woulda thrown he truck together. Next year I guess.
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It WAS the most Simplexes I've seen.
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Finally got a chance to get on here. We had the best time we've ever had at Portland this year. Only had 26 Simplexs' this year for the group photo, but it was still a lot of fun. We were able to play instead of just pop corn the whole time. It was hot, but worth the trip. it was nice meeting new people and the same crowd. The floor boards are walnut, and I would have used them, but then I found some tread plate and had it powder coated.They would look nice with a few coats of clear, and the back side routed with the same round over bit.
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For those of us who couldn't attend, how were the prices for the bikes and other items that were for sale? Were they reasonable, overpriced etc.?
Just curious,
Vince
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I thought prices on everything at the meet were about the same as in the past....not sure about the simplex parts as the guys had them all scooped up by the time we got there, but I think they got some good deals. Bob Legron was selling some of his excess parts.
I got some good deals on bicycle parts. I haven't been able to find any used parts here locally, but at Portland, there was a whole stack of them on the ground & the guy said, take them all...they're free....& I bought new fenders for 2.00 a pair....
Mike Sal