Scooter Rally Rain Plan?

March 10, 2015 11:30 AM

Have you ever attended a scooter or motorcycle rally? If so, have the organizers had a good plan for activities in case of rain?

My local scooter club, like many clubs across the country and Europe, plans a yearly rally. We happen to be in Memphis, where we host about 100 guests for a weekend in April. Rallies generally have two days of rides, entertainment at night, communal meals, etc. We have been very lucky over the years with the weather, but I have attended other rallies where it rained all weekend and only the most committed riders have ventured out. Which sucks because you are kinda stuck in a hotel room or drive your car to see local sights. Still fun, but you miss out on the feeling of community that happens when you spend all day on two wheels with a large group of like-minded folks.

So. I'm looking for ideas on group activities for a bunch of scooter enthusiasts in case of rain. The activity needs to be very low cost or free, in a venue that would accommodate up to 100 people. Needs to be easily planned at the last minute, but we could put in some work beforehand for stand-by purposes. A tie-in to the scooter vibe would be welcome, but not necessary. We're in Memphis, but it's not location specific. We've considered an afternoon movie matinee, but can't get too excited about it. Eating and drinking in a bar works ok, but that's usually reserved for the evening's entertainment. We could plan a group meet-up time at Graceland, Civil Rights Museum, etc, which would work, but I'm trying to be a little more creative. Our rally is music-oriented, since Memphis has so much to offer there.

What sounds fun to you if you were in this situation?

posted by raisingsand to Travel & Transportation (3 answers total)

I'm a regular rally attendee and rallymeister for two small rallies. A couple of years ago a rally I attended was hit with a record-breaking storm, pinning us inside for a day. The rally venue had a big-screen TV and someone had thought to bring a few motorcycle movies (On Any Sunday, Dust to Glory and Faster). Someone ventured out and brought back chips and pretzels and we made the best of it.

The big rallies I've participated in don't try to plan contingency activities. On rainy rally days, people tend to congregate in common areas or wander into town to loiter in restaurants. If your event were in the Nashville area, I'd suggest a group outing to the Lane Museum. I don't know Memphis very well; maybe there's a gearhead museum of some type there?
posted by workerant at 12:11 PM on March 10, 2015

Yeah, I've been to a bunch of rallies and there never is a contingency plan. I don't want to "make the best of it", I want our folks to go home and say "It rained all day Saturday but we did X and it was SO MUCH FUN!"

(If I have to sit through Quadrophenia one more time I will claw my eyes out.)
posted by raisingsand at 1:25 PM on March 10, 2015

Contingency plans can't always be made because of the costs involved in reserving facilities "just in case". So it is easier to incorporate some alternative activities into the weekend, rain or shine. Example. I'll bet you that not everyone who comes has a spouse or girl/boy friend who rides. What do they do? Do they even come at all if there's nothing for them to do? We have in the past made arrangements with the local DPW to use a closed hockey rink (it was summer) for some rainy day activities, anything from frisbee to flying kites indoors. At other events we have done the same by reserving a local school gym. With a good Boom Box you can have an instant sock-hop. (these public areas are usually far cheaper than renting a hotel facility)
posted by Gungho at 1:42 PM on March 10, 2015