The Not The Brass Monkey Rally

[Ruralman]

This year was my first Brass Monkey so my views will be different than someone who has been a regular over a long time.
My observation was that I didn't think this event was any more commercialized than any other I have been to so I don't have a problem with that.
I do think though that there are definite improvements that could have been made and that after so many years things would have been a little better - the most obvious of these would have been a big Marquee that included the band so that there was a covered area for dancing and to get out of the weather. (It was very muddy under foot in front of the band)
The fact that it was raining this year didn't help but on a windy or really frosty night the marquee would have value (bit like the set up they use at the Pissed Penguin only a bit bigger).
We spent quite a bit of the evening cruising the smaller bonfires and talking to people - that kind of socializing is great to do and much easier away from the noise of the band where you can really only communicate with people you know. The supply of wood for all the small fires seemed to work OK.
I guess having a good time is about attitude anyway isn't it.
While I have no problem with the Chatto Creek club having an event of their own I still ask the question - why clash it with the Brass Monkey? - why not get someone onto the inside of the Brass organising committee and improve it ?? It may be getting stale, and yes it did need more entertainment (some of their plans were probably buggered up by the weather, but they should have seen this coming and had a plan B) but isn't this a sign of a need for new blood rather than giving up on it?
It did look like you had a great night and a great set up, although maybe only able to handle limited numbers, but how about moving your date to July when it usually gets to the really cold bit of winter, or maybe the shortest day? and helping to improve what has become a bit of an institution on the motorcycle calender?.

[Jantar]

.... While I have no problem with the Chatto Creek club having an event of their own I still ask the question - why clash it with the Brass Monkey? - why not get someone onto the inside of the Brass organising committee and improve it ?? It may be getting stale, and yes it did need more entertainment (some of their plans were probably buggered up by the weather, but they should have seen this coming and had a plan B) but isn't this a sign of a need for new blood rather than giving up on it?
It did look like you had a great night and a great set up, although maybe only able to handle limited numbers, but how about moving your date to July when it usually gets to the really cold bit of winter, or maybe the shortest day? and helping to improve what has become a bit of an institution on the motorcycle calender?.

You raise some very good points RM, so I'll answer as best I can. The clash of dates is intended. That is so that the Chatto Creek members who wish to socialise with friends at the BM can still do so, then can return to Chatto Creek at any convenient time for our own socialising, entertainment etc.

I do not believe that the OMC would appreciate interference with the way that they run the BM, anymore than the Chatto Creek club would appreciate interference in how we run the 1000 miler etc. That is why we set up our get together as an alternative, not as competition. The Chatto Creek site is only able to handle limited numbers as you point out. So although we will repeat it next year, it won't be advertised as a public event. It will still be word of mouth only.

In years past the BM had two bands in the evening, each of a different style, so that if anyone didn't like a particular band, there was a better than even chance that they would enjoy the alternative one. I can't remeber when they changed to one set of entertainment in the afternoon and a different one in the evening, but I do recall it was a backward step. Then to use a poor band like The (not so) Clever Monkeys repeatedly is a very poor move. Like many others I can rember when the bands played at a volume that it was possible to talk and socialise around the Bonfire, or you could move closer to the stage if you wanted to dance. But be honest, how much dancing ever takes place at motorcycle rallys?

At early rallys the afternoon entertaiment varied each year. We had events like the dyslexic motorbike, Tug of War etc. In recent years it has been exactly the same. And not to take anything away from the freestyle motocross boys, but surely a change to something else would be nice.

[Ruralman]

Sounds then that you are trying to run a complimentary event rather than a competitive one - with a warmer venue which has undoubted appeal!!!

The afternoon entertainment is another interesting issue isn't it - for many, especially the adventure rider fraternity, we'd rather be off exploring somewhere on the bikes and then come back for an evening of socializing, so theres probably less interest in afternoon entertainment from us.
Maybe this is a thing to be considered by organizers - organize entertainment and competitions away from the site so bikers can ride and have some other fun too???? - it could possibly help spread the economic benefit of a big group of riders around the local community a bit as well. Probably a lot more important for the warm season events.

WE were looking for you at the site, but after we'd got set up and done some cooking and by then you'd gone. Catch you next time. Would the Chatto Creek pub be a good venue for the overnight stop on the summer adventure ride weekend we have discussed?

[xknuts]

But yes the good old days with the coppers full of free soup.

The soup was rubbish this year, not even flavoured water even if it was Watties powdered soup!!

No I just want them to keep out the young cheeky whipper snappers out.

I was pissed this year when my neighbours (young w/snappers) wrecked a quad doing wheelies around & around my tent PLASTERING my Triumph in thick MUD all over, into the fins, carbies tank etc. I was not a happy chap! Will I be back? Probably

The afternoon entertainment is another interesting issue isn't it - for many, especially the adventure rider fraternity, we'd rather be off exploring somewhere on the bikes and then come back for an evening of socializing, so theres probably less interest in afternoon entertainment from us.

In 20 years of BM I have not seen the afternoon entertainment yet!! And still I enjoy the comraderie. Great to meet new KB faces!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

The OMCC are open to new ideas and suggestions for the BM. The BM committy meet regularly through out the year organising things. Like many other rallies they all start being the same, been to one rally you been to them all.

The bigger the rally gets the harder it is to organise, try and come up with new entertainment idea's, it may work and it may not, most people like to watch but not par-take in.

ie; at the Vincent they struggled to get a few people to do the helmet run, and the was only a couple of tug-of-war teams.

I go to these things for the social factor of it all...

[laRIKin]

The soup was rubbish this year, not even flavoured water even if it was Watties powdered soup!!

Well I never tryed the soup as I did not have a cup.
Had beer instead.
And was told to get in and drink it before there is to much ash.
Now that will give it some flavour and some ruff-age for you. LOL

I was pissed this year when my neighbours (young w/snappers) wrecked a quad doing wheelies around & around my tent PLASTERING my Triumph in thick MUD all over, into the fins, carbies tank etc. I was not a happy chap! Will I be back? Probably

Last year I had to ask and I did it nicely.
For a kid to stop ripping up the track on his MX bike the track where the bikes were trying to get out on the Sunday morning and were crashing in the mud.
He went back up to his dad and talked to him, I though here we go.
The penny must have drop because the bike was put away.

I want bike rallies like the old days.
If you are not on a bike, you did not get in.
If we had a support car and trailer, we would park it down the road.
And one bike would stay back and out side the rally site to pillion the driver in to the site.
Rant over.