National Rally Arrival Procedure - Montana Owners Club

Woodyswanch · 06-30-2022, 02:08 PM

Arrival procedures-all attendees please read
I was going to wait awhile to post this but we have so many coming in I thought it would be a good idea to be proactive.

The normal arrival times for the Rally will be from noon to 5 PM. There may be some exceptions and we'll do our best to get people in. There should be a phone number at the sign in area for the early and late arrivals. Please call this number and we will expedite a parking crew to come to your rescue.

The only big exception for arrivals will be on the seventh. Any and all people who have volunteered to help may come as early as they can on the seventh. But not before I've had my morning pot of coffee. This has the making of a real cluster fork so we need everyone to be patient. The "Parking Team" volunteers will have priority to enter and park. This will expedite other arrivals once we get our volunteers mustered.

Now what to look for. The only road that gets you to the fairground is CR 34 (East Monroe St). Most will come from the west, some from the east. We will use gate number 3 for entry. This will be the only gate with people/pennants/orange cones/whatever we can do to get your attention, unless Marcia wants to barricade gate two. When you get on CR 34, SLOW down, if you overshoot the entrance you just added some time and frustration to your day. DO NOT turn onto the gravel road west of gate three. It will ruin your day.

You will enter a large parking lot and turn (right) to head west. There is room for multiple rows of rigs. Just pull behind the one in the shortest line. We will try to get to everyone in the order they arrived. No guarantees, please be patient. Some will arrive to an empty parking lot, some won't. Timing is everything. We will also try to de conflict multiple rigs going to the same area.

There should be a canopy in the middle of the lot with several people lounging around on golf carts, drinking fruity drinks with little umbrellas and staring at their phones. This is where you will be signed in and given your own personal parking professionals (ppp). The ppp will guide you to your assigned campsite and assist you in parking. They are required to make sure you do not encroach on your neighbors site. All sites will be professionally marked with spray paint. Encroachment is punishable by requiring you to move your rig to be inside your area. This will be shown as a yellow card. The red card comes on the third try and requires a trip to the local liquor store. Believe me, you don't want to go there.

If you have questions on your water, electric or sewer, the ppp should be able to answer them. If not we will find someone who can.

That is pretty much it. Simple if the weather cooperates, the arrivals are spaced out, and we get enough helpers when we need them. The arrival times are to give the parking staff a chance to enjoy themselves. Staffing for the odd arrival late at night or early in the morning is actually quite boring. There will be a separate post in the volunteer thread to inform the volunteers what to do.

So happy trails and we are looking forward to meeting everyone in September. And yes, I did cut and paste this from last years rally with some minor edits.

Woodyswanch · 06-30-2022, 08:13 PM

If you come in earlier than the seventh (or early morning of the seventh) and no one knows you are there and you happen to see your site is empty and you decide you will park and you don't see the paint lines and you park wrong and you screw up everyone else and we have to move all those affected and they wonder why and you don't want me to rat you out and you don't have a good bottle of bourbon and you can't find the liquor store, well, you're screwed.

Please, please, please be careful when parking un escorted. Different rallies park differently. You can not go by the faded grass. Your rig must be inside your lines with everything extended inside your lines. This is where the domino affect really does happen. If you are unsure, wait for a "Parking Team" member or one of the wagon masters to give some assistance. Even this doesn't guarantee error free parking. But it does minimize it. The park isn't all that big and someone will help you.

Woodyswanch · 07-06-2022, 08:41 AM

I have heard that Elkhart County Fairgrounds is not allowing camping prior to the seventh. There will be a few exceptions for the Wagon Masters. This is due to a prior rally and the need to perform maintenance prior to our rally. For those hoping to check in early other plans need to be made. I have not asked about Harley Hill. There are other campgrounds in the area, along with WalMart and other big box stores that may allow boon docking. There is also a large parking lot behind the "Lux". No need to cook breakfast. Good luck, we're all counting on you.

Woodyswanch · 07-22-2022, 12:38 PM

For those curious, the National Rally Arrival Procedure test will be closed book. No electronics allowed. Please bring a sharp number two pencil and an eight ounce tumbler. Ice is optional.

Woodyswanch · 08-04-2022, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodyswanch

For those curious, the National Rally Arrival Procedure test will be closed book. No electronics allowed. Please bring a sharp number two pencil and an eight ounce tumbler. Ice is optional.

I just reread this. Whwew. I almost wrote sharp number two tumbler and an eight ounce pencil. That would have been embarrassing.

Woodyswanch · 08-13-2022, 07:31 AM

The first fifty campers will get a "Parking Team" bobble head. But only if they get here in time.

Butchl · 08-29-2022, 05:00 PM

Perhaps you can post a picture of the Bobblehead!!
It might slow down the arrivals!!
Looking forward to our first MOC Rally

Woodyswanch · 08-29-2022, 05:32 PM

Dang things are still on back order. Who'd of thunk they would be so popular. So much for the ebay resale.

Woodyswanch · 09-02-2022, 07:56 AM

It's September second, do you know where your Monty is?

smkn454 Mike · 09-02-2022, 08:04 AM

Smkn 454 Mike here,
It's waiting for me to load it..��
I've got my vest all fitted and ready for action!!

Woodyswanch · 09-02-2022, 08:07 AM

Well quit wasting time talking to me and get that baby vacuum packed, bubble wrapped, and placed in a secure location. The rally goers are depending on us.

Gaditchdoc · 09-04-2022, 10:40 AM

For those of us scedule to arrive on Wednesday, what time can we begin to check in? 1200?

Woodyswanch · 09-04-2022, 11:22 AM

The normal and preferred arrival times are between Noon and five PM. The exceptions on Wednesday are for the volunteers on the "Parking Team". Those on the team that can get in before noon are encouraged to do so. They have priority all day until we get fat on bodies. We have over half of all rally goers arriving on Wednesday. Without the volunteers we can't park. So if you want to get in before noon you can. Just remember you may be sitting in the parking lot until we can get our staffing up to speed. Remember, the volunteers will need to set up to one degree or another before they will be available to park. They won't just drop the rig and head to the front to help.
Wednesday should be a very interesting day.

Mont77 · 09-04-2022, 01:49 PM

Be there around 9:30 to get setup and then to the front for parking duties

Woodyswanch · 09-04-2022, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mont77

Be there around 9:30 to get setup and then to the front for parking duties

Thanks Frank.

smkn454 Mike · 09-05-2022, 07:43 AM

I'm planning on being there by 10 or 10:30 on Wednesday. Thinking that I had all my ducks in a row 1 stepped out if line & now the whole row is flustered. The line leader duck, my very new Chevy dually decided it doesn't want to go & is dripping diesel from the main fuel line! I'm going to the line leader's repair shop early tomorrow am but I think she's to homesick to make the trip.
Fortunately, I have another line leader duck ready to step in & be a temporary replacement to keep all the other ducks in a row! See you Wednesday AM !

Woodyswanch · 09-05-2022, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smkn454 Mike

I'm planning on being there by 10 or 10:30 on Wednesday. Thinking that I had all my ducks in a row 1 stepped out if line & now the whole row is flustered. The line leader duck, my very new Chevy dually decided it doesn't want to go & is dripping diesel from the main fuel line! I'm going to the line leader's repair shop early tomorrow am but I think she's to homesick to make the trip.
Fortunately, I have another line leader duck ready to step in & be a temporary replacement to keep all the other ducks in a row! See you Wednesday AM !

WOW!!!! Miracles do happen. I mean, I have a back up coffee maker, but a back up truck? Truly impressive. Safe travels.

Woodyswanch · 09-16-2022, 04:20 PM

Happy trails to you, until we meet again....

smkn454 Mike · 09-16-2022, 06:48 PM

Same to you...see you next year

smkn454 Mike · 09-20-2022, 04:57 PM

Well,
Woody the 1st pass was a good start, but on pass #2 we blew out the right front shock. Both front shocks were brand new & were $1200 each. The one that failed ended our night because it blew out & totally froze up. Oh, well that's racing! We'll try it again next month.

Mike Black

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