Wayne Garrison interviews Gene Grider about the early days in our club. The interview is an important part of our history.
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BMW Motorcycle Club of Indianapolis
Where Serious Motorcyclists Gather
This isn’t a ‘history’ as much as it’s a typical rally report ‘back in the day’.
’94 IOWA RALLY REPORT
Article for the Indianapolis BMW Club newsletter.
We had heard good reports about the Pure Stodge rally held in Iowa City, IA over the past few years and wanted to check it out for ourselves. Irmi and I decided to leave Indy early on Thursday, get to Iowa City by early afternoon, spend 3 nights camping and enjoying the traditional Pure Stodge beverages.
We eventually came across T.J. & JoAnn King, John Flora, Cindy Nichols, Wayne Garrison and Darlene VanTreese (who was on her first long bike trip), Wendell and Diana Owens, Archie and Theresia, Domnic LoDuca (and his cigar), Charlie and Martha Thomas and several others I don’t remember. This rally, for those of you who haven’t heard about it, is in it’s 18th year, costs $22 per person for preregistered, includes 3 nights camping, if you get there “early” (the rally actually starts on Friday) and has 3 meals and all the “beverages” you can consume included in the fee. Heck of a deal!!
As is the norm for us, we got wet on this trip. But the wet part happened within 6 miles of the house on Thursday morning and lasted for about 1 1/2 hours. The rest of the trip was moisture free (except for the humidity factor!). I guess I would just as soon get it out of the way early!
We also were going the opposite way of the flow of traffic into Indy for the Good Guys Hot Rod street car meet. It was like having a portable, constantly changing car show traveling past us. Kept us entertained all the way to Iowa City (thank goodness….it’s a long boring trip up I-74 without it).
The rally is held in a nicely maintained 20 acre campground. Pine forests, reasonably flat areas to pitch the tents, lots of shade, warm (though never hot..but not ever cold either) showers with minimal wait time, plenty of restrooms (installed facilities or port-a-potties), about a dozen parts and accessories vendors and a food vendor (in addition to the meals included with the price of admission) that had great ice cream, funnel cakes and round french fries covered with a special cheese sauce (didn’t they fellow rally rats…guess where we spent some of our rally bucks!). If the ride over was better (and it could be if we hadn’t wanted to get there quick) this would be one of those “You Can’t Get Any Better Than This” events. But the location, activities and facilities make the trip worthwhile.
We landed late Thursday afternoon, got signed in, the tent pitched and went for a walk in search of the beverage truck. No more than 100 yards from the tent, we stumbled across Chuck and Joel Veech. These folks were in the M.S.F. instructors prep class that Tim B(alough). and I took about 12 years ago (now, time corrected, that was like 26 years ago) (gosh, was it that long). Both of these guys were into some serious relaxing when we joined them and we had a nice visit with some folks we’ve not seen in several years. Like a lot of rallies, this was a homecoming affair also.
Dinner Thursday night was barbecue beef sandwiches that was about as good a barbecue as we had tasted in a while. The meat was done consistently thru and had been slow cooked over hardwood charcoal by someone who knew what they were doing with an outdoor spit (drool, drool, drool). The aroma from the grills had settled over the camp as we started to eat which added to the already great setting for dinner. As we had mentioned before, the beverages were cold and in plentiful supply also.
For breakfast Friday morning, we headed to the Amana Colonies, upon recommendations from several former attendees. If you go, go hungry. Large family style servings in a unique setting at the Colonial Inn (located in Amana main), brought out by a waitress who had worked there for the last 43 YEARS and had a unique method of dealing with the customers. They have one of the best tasting pancakes we’ve ever had, but don’t bother asking for the receipt. All you will get is a chuckle. A lovely way to start the day off. Charlie and Martha Thomas joined us for the feast, but declined the ‘touring’ for the rest of the day.
Saturday morning was a repeat of the breakfast routine with several Indy club members loading up on callories. The restaurant had to put us in to a separate dining room (normally reserved for presentations) as there were enough folks that showed up, setting at a regular table just wasn’t going to work out. I had to take the shocks up a notch to support the ‘extra load’ after we left!
Amana main is kind of like Nashville, IN, although not as big, with lovely shops that feature locally manufactured goods. Irmi decided to explore (was there ever any doubt?) after we took a hike in search of restrooms (inside joke..ask Irmi for the details) after which I rode north towards the river. We got back together a couple of hours later and set off on the Colonies trail. There are 7 total colonies, or towns, that comprise the Amana colonies and each one has a unique claim to fame. Amana main is geared more towards tourists than the other 6, but each have a unique store or building that was from the 1870’s to 1930’s period and conducts business similar to then (except for prices!!).
The remainder of the afternoon was spent following the rivers around the southcentral Iowa area which provided some gentle rolling hills and curves for an enjoyable afternoon of 75 degree sunshine and blue sky riding enjoyment.
Friday nights dinner, again provided by PSTA, was some tent clearing chili that was strong enough to be “enjoyed” for the next several days. This, along with the endless glass of beer and arrival of some of the Indy BMW folks kinda rounded out Friday.
Saturday was a stay in the grounds, take a nap and watch the field events kind of day. Cookie Monster (Chris) did his usual amaizing things on his K bike and was a treat to watch. Another beautiful day for doing just about anything outside that you could want. The grounds had really filled up by this time which provided a number of camping rigs and setups to look at. I think attendance was mentioned at the awards on Saturday evening at being around 950.
The PSTA is a multi-brand club and as such had a wider varity of bikes to look at in attendance than other events we’ve been to recently. For example, someone had a beautifully restored ‘Guzzi in traditional Italian colors with most of its engine cases polished and some extreme detailing. A real beauty to look at. Drool marks courtesy of Bob Cross.
During the field meets, there were 2 folks who competed in some of the events on bicycles! One fella was touring with a bike (pedal type) that had his 3 or 4 year old son being pulled in a trailer. Talk about some creative packing!! All this makes for an interesting rally. The field meet was enjoyable and the events were creative. For example, the European trials (spelled UR-A-P**ING) required you to grab several tennis balls with your right hand, ride 20 feet and set these balls down on a tray with your left hand, turn and ride over a plank, turn and get a soccer ball with you left hand and set it on a tray with your right hand, then speed up to and stop in a small box with your front tire. With a stop watch running. The one we really liked was the Stripper Art. 2 people event. Passenger starts it off with getting a large pair of pants and a shirt on over his/her regular clothes. They then hop on the bike. The rider and passenger then races to the other end of the field and stops. The passenger hops off the bike, strips these clothes off and changes places with the rider. The former rider must then put the pants and shirt on, hops on the bike and they both race to the other end of the field. Former rider, now passenger, hops off the bike and takes the clothes off and tosses them in a pile. With a stop watch running. Getting the visual image here? Great fun!!
More looking, visiting and enjoying the good weather followed, plus another nap, to prepare us for the nights entertainment. Saturday nights dinner was the famous steak dinner with all the trimmings. Real good food (refer to my comment about the BBQ) done just right. Quite a feat for someone feeding 950+ people. But the PSTA pulled it off without a problem. They even ran the waiting line past the beer truck. And if that wasn’t enough service, the PSTA commissioned a golf cart, put a ice cold keg of beer in it and drove it down the line filling up the glasses of anyone who was thirsty!! Such service.
The awards banquet had all the usual longest, oldest, youngest, etc. As a side note, Irmi and I won a door prize that came in handy the next day. A custom fitted sheep skin cover for the bike. The cover was made by BLA (should it be baaah) Wool and Wear Sheepskin Products and fits our seat just right. The ride home Sunday was kind of hot and humid and the seat cover was REALLY a welcome addition. The Aubrecht family attends several rallies and can make covers either there or by mail. Tom and Michelle did the fitting and cutting, LaVerne (Mom) does the sewing, Bob (Dad) entertains the customers and supervises. If you want a top quality, good looking, custom fit cover for your seat, we recommend these folks highly. As a note, they make a full line of items from sheep skin. Nice looking house slippers, special covers, dusters, etc. Call them with your needs. They can be reached by mail or phone at either 3148 12th Ave Ext. N.E., Iowa City, IA, 52240, 319-351-2823 or 2687 Rohret Road, Iowa City, IA 52240, 319- 683-2313.
Friday and Saturday night entertainment (other than watching the folks that had come to the rally) consisted of a blues group Friday (who was apparently just starting to perform together) and a country/rock and roll band Saturday night. If there was anything that just wasn’t up to par, the entertainment was it. But that is, like colors, a matter of one’s individual tastes.
If the definition of a great rally is one held in a beautiful location, with plenty of room for camping and facilities, with good food and plenty of cold “refreshments”, with roads to attract riders and several tourist attractions to visit, then this rally gets an A+. Add in the cost factor and mother nature cooperating and you get an even better reason to go again, which we will. Our hats are off the PSTA who put this annual event on, the rally organizers, Julius and Gina Dusterhoft, and all the participants who make this a great event to attend. The ads appear in the RA, MOA and Road Rider/MCN magazines for this rally, or you can contact Julius and Gina Dusterhoft, c/o Pure Stodge Touring Association, P.O. Box 2143, Iowa City, IA, 52244
Wayne and Jim thanks for taking the time to do the interview. Gene and I were friends back in the 70’s when Mamie and I were Indy club members. I just paid him a visit and talked a good hour about old times. He also used to fly a Piper Cub. Gene, Jim Wynings and Pop kept me supplied with used parts for my custom BMW ventures back in the Aircooled days. He method for checking the aerdynamics on his then state of the art Swift fairing was surely unique.
Awesome interview. Thank you to Gene for sharing with the club and to Wayne and Jim for this piece of history on “The Indianapolis BMW Club”.