INOA Tall Timber Rally 2018

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All this shite winter weather has got me thinking about next summer. One event I'm planning on attending is the INOA Tall Timber Rally in Elma Washington, hosted by the Northwest Norton Owners Club, held on July 16-19 2018.
Here's a link to their website with info about the rally:
http://nortonrally.com/inoa-rally-2018

Stephen Hill
 
Ill be there.
I went to the Quincy Rally in 2016, had a good time and made a few new friends. Wife and I in our truck camper went through Elma Wa. last Sept. on our way to Banff, Ca. Didn't know at the time this was the Rally location, we both commented how nice the area was.
 
Stephen:

Thanks for the heads-up. Although I haven't been an active biker for many years, I'll try very hard to make it to Elma. Look for a nearly bald, 5'8" tall 76-year-old with a Britsh (Lancashire) accent.

Incidentally, there's a big all-makes rally in Anacortes every fall, called the "Oyster Run" It's usually the last weekend in September, I think. Typically, about 25,000 people show up, thouugh a couple of years back, the weather was so good, attendance was estimated at 40,000. In the18 years we've lived here, I've never seen a Norton at the rally.
 
Stephen:

Thanks for the heads-up. Although I haven't been an active biker for many years, I'll try very hard to make it to Elma. Look for a nearly bald, 5'8" tall 76-year-old with a Britsh (Lancashire) accent.

Incidentally, there's a big all-makes rally in Anacortes every fall, called the "Oyster Run" It's usually the last weekend in September, I think. Typically, about 25,000 people show up, thouugh a couple of years back, the weather was so good, attendance was estimated at 40,000. In the18 years we've lived here, I've never seen a Norton at the rally.

Funny you mentioned that Oyster Run, there was a big group of riders on the ferry out of Port Townsend, the camper is mine. It was mid Sept.

INOA Tall Timber Rally 2018
 
At the Rally Fairgrounds July 14-15 there will be a Antique tractor pull, and on the 21st is a antique truck show.
 
The Oyster Run is a big event for a small town. Even an average attendance is about the same as the town's overall population of 20,000. It's surprisingly peaceful for such a big crowd. I usually go downtown on Saturday afternoon, after most participants have arrived, to take a walk-about and look at the bikes. The actual run is Sunday, and many of the folks actually do go have oysters for lunch. Many of the restaurants have special oyster dishes on their menus. Oysters are a major cash crop on the tidal beaches in the area.

It's quite spectacular coastal/countryside riding around here and up into the North Cascades on State Route 20. There are also ferry connections to the San Juan Islands. In the summer and fall, there's also a daily run to Vancouver Island. We moved here 19 years ago, after I retired from Boeing. When I finally leave, I'll be wearing a wooden overcoat.
 
Stephen:

Thanks for the heads-up. Although I haven't been an active biker for many years, I'll try very hard to make it to Elma. Look for a nearly bald, 5'8" tall 76-year-old with a Britsh (Lancashire) accent.

Incidentally, there's a big all-makes rally in Anacortes every fall, called the "Oyster Run" It's usually the last weekend in September, I think. Typically, about 25,000 people show up, thouugh a couple of years back, the weather was so good, attendance was estimated at 40,000. In the18 years we've lived here, I've never seen a Norton at the rally.
I was there in 2016 on my '73 red 850. I was parked over with the Cossacks Drill Team so it was a bit off of the main street. Mine was the only Norton that I saw. I now live in AZ so chances are slim that I'll make it back. See you in July as I'm coming up for the rally
 
I've only been to one of these in Lumby 2003 and enjoyed it. Tried to go in 2009 to Colorado but mechanical failures slowed us up and missed it.
Se we are going to try again this year since the location is "nearby" to Alaska. Will ride modern bikes and not bring the Nortons sadly.
Looking froward to it! and good excuse for a "short" ride.
 
I'm debating heading up, since I'm just down in San Francisco. I just need to to make sure I have the extra time off to do it right on back roads though. I lost my tow vehicle with the move out west, and have not desire to super slab it on the Norton.
 
What does the rally consist of? I'm considering on going down. Both my parents grew up in the Monte/Elma area. They used to flat track race at the Elma fairgrounds back in the day. Dad would tell me stories of riding his Matchless at the ORV park up the road.
 
What does the rally consist of? I'm considering on going down. Both my parents grew up in the Monte/Elma area. They used to flat track race at the Elma fairgrounds back in the day. Dad would tell me stories of riding his Matchless at the ORV park up the road.
Give Mark a call if you have any questions as he is the rally co-chair.
VICE PRESIDENT
Mark Zenor
21104 108th Ave Ct E
Graham, WA 98338
(253) 840-1536
 
Mark:

I'm afraid it's beginning to look as though I won't be able to make it. We have a BIG family wedding coming up shortly afterwards (eldest grand-daughter). There'll be over 200 guests, most of whom are the groom's relatives. His parents were first generation emigrants from India and were part of a large extended family. The guests are coming from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, India and several European countries. It's just about filled the Best Western hotel in Siverdale. The ceremony is in a State Park near Poulsbo.

I guess I'll have to wait for the next rally!


Frank Damp
 
I got a call from a friend who lives in Oregon. He has been planning on going for some time but can't take the whole week off. So he figured to go up for a day, see some friends and go home. He said he got a call from a friend in the Oregon chapter telling him there were no day passes. I thought this was odd as best to my knowledge this has never happened, so I emailed Mark about it and yes there are no day passes. The only consolation is that the concurs will be held outside the rally area so non rally goers can look at the bikes. Mark said it was because of the "liability" issue.
Sad very sad when a lawyer can ruin a fun event for everyone. It is even worse because as far as I know this wasn't advertised so there may be people who are turned away for the sin of not knowing. I know what my reaction would be if I had traveled all the way to the rally just to be turned away.
But, it isn't my rally and it isn't my call.

John in Texas
 
It's as well that I didn't sign up for the rally. We got a message a couple of days ago that our son and grand-daughter are coming from Japan, arriving Tuesday, for a 10-day visit. They moved to Japan for his job. Unfortunately, his wife's employer is stingy with vacation time, so she can't come.
 
It's as well that I didn't sign up for the rally. We got a message a couple of days ago that our son and grand-daughter are coming from Japan, arriving Tuesday, for a 10-day visit. They moved to Japan for his job. Unfortunately, his wife's employer is stingy with vacation time, so she can't come.
I hope you have a wonderful visit with your family.
 
I got a call from a friend who lives in Oregon. He has been planning on going for some time but can't take the whole week off. So he figured to go up for a day, see some friends and go home. He said he got a call from a friend in the Oregon chapter telling him there were no day passes. I thought this was odd as best to my knowledge this has never happened, so I emailed Mark about it and yes there are no day passes. The only consolation is that the concurs will be held outside the rally area so non rally goers can look at the bikes. Mark said it was because of the "liability" issue.
Sad very sad when a lawyer can ruin a fun event for everyone. It is even worse because as far as I know this wasn't advertised so there may be people who are turned away for the sin of not knowing. I know what my reaction would be if I had traveled all the way to the rally just to be turned away.
But, it isn't my rally and it isn't my call.

John in Texas
Hi
It is clearly stated on the Norton Rally web page in the registration tab that there are no day passes!
See here. Broken lnk removed

Thank you

Mark Zenor Co-Chairman 2018 INOA Tall Timber rally.
 
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