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Agree with all Osh said.
I was at Pilgrim rd at 9am & the damn line for signing up for test rides had to be 2 blocks long already...screw that, I can test ride bikes any saturday at Hals. The tour lines for the factory were incredibly long...already been thru it several times so I didnt bother. Total time at pilgrim...maybe 10 minutes.
So then I headed down to summerfest grounds..I didnt buy the 3 day pass so figured I would do the day pass deal. Got there about 9:45 or so. About 10:30 they start announcing "no coolers, no cameras, no backpacks, etc etc." Well I had brought my backpack with camera & coat inside..kinda hard to carry stuff on a stripped down dyna. Then I also found out they were going to open the gates at 11 but not sell day passes till 12...so screw that idea too. So far I have wasted over 2 hrs & accomplished zero.
So I did the House deal...Ok but not great, just a lot of t-shirt & leather dealers. Big assed mall basically. State Fair I enjoyed. Pretty women, Richard petty driving deal..I didnt do it but it was still fun to watch. The drinks are pricey..$5 for a MGD or Mikes lemonade. I had a rum & coke & it was $5.50!!
Rhett Rottens show kicks ass. Very cool when he sits sidesaddle as he screams along the track. Worth the $5.
Then hit Hals....worst parking there is. Its a total cluster getting out. Getting in is ez but the "security" folks tend to be asses & dont want to let you out onto Moorland even tho your tire is 3" away from the rd. They want you to go all the way around the building & screw with mega traffic. If you happen to get a New Berlin cop at the exit tho, they are cool & will let you out with no problems.
Saw Pauls Sr & Jr from Orange County. Very likeable fellas. Ran around shaking hands, got on top of their hauler & were tossing frisbees into the crowd. Nothing at all like the screaming idiot Sr plays on TV.
The Teresi dyno truck is there but its not being used very much. They want $20 for 3 runs. In sturgis in 2000 it was free. The times are totally ridiculous as well. Completely stock evo's that they claim are running 12.2 at 112 mph & putting down 86hp. That truck is a farce.
Crowds are thin from what I have witnessed at previous rallys. I was expecting a lot more bikes. Maybe this weekend they will show up?
Going to do the Franklin distribution plant & capitol drive as well as Club HOG tomorrow.
So far I would give the whole event a B-. The Harley dealers get an A because they really look like they have done their part & got the vendors & other stuff out there. Harley dropped the ball as far as I am concerned.
From what I have seen of their efforts they get a D-. Even the parking at summerfest is a joke. us locals know where to go & park near the gate for free. But far too many out of towners dont & they take the first lot which says "event parking $10". Hmmm pay $10 & park 4 blocks further away then those of us who paid 0. Lots of guys riding by the main gates completely lost.
I think the "free" party is going to be a total cluster. Veterans park is kinda isolated & you really only have a narrow road leading in & out. I will be nowhere near that place.
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