To Our Members

Thank you to everyone who took time to post feedback on our BLOG. Your feedback is very much appreciated and will be included in our post-event review, where we assess what worked well and, more importantly, what we can do differently or better the next time.   

To say the turnout for CLUB H.O.G. 25 far exceeded our expectations is putting it mildly. Throughout our planning, we used the attendance from the last major anniversary in 2003 as a baseline – and then planned for a considerable increase. The turnout significantly exceeded our estimates. This was the biggest national H.O.G. rally by far – literally blowing past the attendance at prior events. We’re absolutely thrilled that so many of you made the trip to Milwaukee and joined us at CLUB H.O.G. 25 for this free member event – which included a great lineup of entertainment and activities. At the same time, we understand our members’ frustration with the lines and the crowded conditions. We also understand your disappointment if we ran out of event pins before you got one. Please accept our sincere apologies.

A number of the blog comments also focused on admission checks and concession prices. Please know that we did our best to check membership cards at the gate. The event was open to H.O.G. members and one guest per member. There was a brief time when a gate did not check memberships due to a miscommunication. Regarding the cost of food and beverages, concession prices were consistent with pricing at similar entertainment and sports venues in the Milwaukee market. Prices at CLUB H.O.G. 25 at Miller Park were set by Miller Park in accordance with their regular vendor agreements.

Again, we truly appreciate all of the feedback we received from you, our members, and will use it to help us plan future events. All of us on the H.O.G. staff very much enjoyed hosting you in our hometown of Milwaukee and we hope to see you again soon.

Sincerely,

H.O.G. Staff

The Last Hours, Feelings, and Reflections

Valerie and I chose to relax at the Summerfest Grounds after the parade and see some things before the crowd got too large. We had a late morning snack, planned our day, and then went to task. Val wanted to check out some of the ’09 models so I was more than happy to accompany her to the product display. It gave me one more chance to check out the new Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide and let her know how much I liked it. She particularly liked the new V-Rod Muscle and the Crossbones. I may have gotten her blessing for the Road Glide. I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

 

Discovery World was next on the agenda. Aside from it being a great piece of architecture, the displays are fun. Most of them are interactive, and allow for curious minds and inquisitive hands to explore to their hearts’ desire. Of particular interest to me were the Les Paul guitar display and the aquarium. If you are a musician, in particular a guitarist, Les Paul is a legend. I really liked the interactive topographical water display of the Great Lakes, and what they encompass and provide to their surrounding states. All of that, plus an absolutely gorgeous 360-degree view from the balcony.

 

From there we headed back to the Summerfest Grounds to catch a little bit of the performances from Puddle of Mud and Joan Jett. Joan was kickin’ it up pretty hard when I was a teenager in the late 80s, and you couldn’t help but like her if you were into punk rock. It amazes me that at 50 years old and after all of the touring, she still looks hot. It also gave us a chance to check out some of the seminars about “being on the road.” They encompassed everything from nutrition and fitness, to hair and skin care products. You know we’ve all got to look good in our own way while kickin’ it on our bikes.

 

Late afternoon we headed off to the hotel to get freshened up and head downtown for the street party. After a relaxing dinner overlooking the Milwaukee River at Kincaid’s, I took the gang on a quick paced tour of the downtown sites. No trip to Milwaukee is complete without a stop to Lucille’s Piano Bar and the Safe House. I know they’re cheesy, but everyone needs to experience them once. Make sure you know the password at the Safe House, if you know what I mean.

 

The evening was a mixed bag of feelings. I was still excited to be around everyone but ready to be home. I was sad that it was almost over but relieved to get out of the crowd. I was ready for normalcy but not ready to get back to work. I was ready to get on the bike and head home, but wanted it to be instantaneous. I was tired of having to be situationally aware to the point that I was mentally drained. I think most people would agree with this roller coaster of emotions. I also thought about the frustrations of the last three days. Was it hot? Was it crowded? Was traffic ridiculous? Were mistakes made and lessons learned? Did you have to stand in line? Yes to all, but do you know what? I expected all of that before I ever left for Milwaukee. It’s all part of an event like the H.O.G. 25^TH and the Harley 105^TH. Did the frustrations affect my fun? Absolutely not! Will I return to Milwaukee for the H.O.G. 30^TH? I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Sometimes you just have to be flexible and unselfish.

 

The ride home was uneventful. Traffic was heavier than expected but flowed well. The only slowdown was the Tri-State toll booth, where I’m sad to say that I saw too many of our brothers and sisters blowing off the wait at the toll booth and hitting the I-Pass lanes. Something told me, “These cats don’t have I-Passes …” The closer I got to home, the more reality set in. I thought about the yard work I’d need to do and how stacked my desk would be at the office. Pulling into the driveway was a treat thanks to a great next-door neighbor. She had done all of the yard work I thought I’d need to do! Check that one off of the list. With no rain and few bugs, all the bikes needed were a quick wipe down. The work pile at the office wasn’t that bad either. A few hours of diligent work, and I was home to a relaxing evening with the wife and cat.

 

In closing, I thank you for allowing me to be your eyes and ears for this historic anniversary. Believe me when I say that I’m honored and humbled. It’s another piece of riding history that I hope to fondly reflect upon in my later years of life. If you couldn’t be in Milwaukee for this one, I hope you find a way to make it to the 30^TH and 110^TH. If you see me on the road, please say hello. Ride safe, ride often, and keep the dirty side down.

 

Peace and Love,

 

Ricky

Bikers, Kids, and Cute Little Old Ladies

Wow, the last two days have put me in a head spin and this isn’t my first rodeo! There’s so much to see and do that even the best laid plans get thrown away. To top that off, there are so many people and the venues so crowded that you’ve got to be willing to take a step back and punt. I’m glad that my wife and friends are adaptable because we’ve made several diversions in our plans. Not that I’m complaining, mind you, because it’s proved to be quite entertaining just people watching. Thus the bikers referenced in the title...

The Summerfest Grounds were packed and truly rockin’. I couldn’t believe the people gathered to see Gary Allen and ZZ Top. If you didn’t get a seat early you were out of luck, but hey no worries. It was my opportunity to mingle and talk to folks to get their take on the weekend. The big white tent on H.O.G. Island was like an oasis in the desert. It was a great place to get away from the masses and into the shade to talk to other members. Allen from St. Augustine shared that he has been on his Road King for about one year and made it to Milwaukee for his first big rally. He was definitely having a good time.

We took a little time to check out the 2009 model bikes at the product trailer that was onsite. The crowd watching thing is a sure fire way to see what bikes the public likes. It looks like the big winner for ’09 is the Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide. It definitely had the most lookers and I think it’s one of the sexiest bikes I’ve laid eyes upon. Even little fashion queens were into it. Chloe and Emma came all the way from Paris, France with their parents, Eric and Laurence. Thanks to Mom’s translation I learned that the favorite part of the girls’ trip has been shopping at all of the dealerships. Truly, these two little ladies are future fashion moguls. Mom also shared that they fight over getting to go riding with Dad. Hopefully, they are future riders themselves!

We knew that Water Street would be another good venue to people watch and experience more of Milwaukee’s great food. Traditional Irish cuisine is what we decided upon and enjoyed the patio at Trinity. It was a continual stream of motorcycles and people in the early part of the night and I’m sure it continued into the wee hours of the morning. I knew we needed to call it an early night due to the parade today, so a good night’s rest was on the agenda.

My excitement and anticipation for the pending parade grew as I watched more and more of participants rolling into the staging area at Miller Park. Mingling through the crowd, I learned that this was the biggest Chapter Parade of Flags in H.O.G. history with over 500 chapters proudly flying their chapter flags. Like fellow Hoosiers Dick and Linda Judd who made the trek up to represent the Hoosier Hills Chapter in Bloomington, Indiana, I was stoked when we were told to fire ‘em up and get ready to roll.

The number of Milwaukeeans who turned out to cheer us on was absolutely unbelievable! More than once I had to choke back the tears as we were heading east toward Summerfest Grounds. That’s where the rest of the kids and the little old ladies come into play. If kids and cute little elders don’t tug at your heart during a parade, then you must not have a heart.

Peace and Love

History and Fun

 

Our day started early, with no regrets I might add. Man, did we have an absolutely awesome day!! We started with a ride down Lake Drive to the museum. As we rode, I thought about all of the history of the Motor Company and how well they've done at documenting our sport and making it available to the public. My first impression of the grounds was that it was a great piece of architecture to add to the many magnificent buildings downtown. Upon opening the door, I thought, this is way cool. It was industrial-meets-modern, with a touch of traditional design thrown in for good measure. I have to say my favorite part was the design center. I was in awe of the many hand-drawn renderings by Willie G. that became design items for our machines. What I wouldn'€™t give for a couple of those! Reading the first edition of Hog Tales was a treat as well. It's where our 25 years of family, tradition, and fun started. We topped the visit off with lunch in the museum restaurant, Motor. I have to say I was impressed both with the service and the food. I encourage you to check it out if you get the chance.

 

Miller Park and the CLUB H.O.G. 25 was the next item on the agenda. An early afternoon arrival guaranteed enough time to check out the vendors, watch the stunt riders and drill teams, and basically kick back and take it easy. A casual walk through the grounds proved rewarding as we saw old friends and got caught up on life. It was great to visit with so many people that I've been fortunate to meet over the years. I'€™ve said it before and it rings so true: we'€™re one big family bound together by our passion for riding the coolest motorcycles on the planet. Besides that, I'm on vacation and kicking back sounded like the best thing to do today.

 

The drill teams with their precision riding are always impressive, but I've got to say that Bubba Blackwell was my favorite performer of the day. He has such a zest for life, and exudes fun when he's performing. His smile says 1,000 words. I hadn't had the opportunity to see him perform on his CVO Ultra until today and man was I impressed! He is one talented cat. What'€™s even more impressive with Bubba is the amount of time that he spends with his fans, especially the kids. He'€™s one man who definitely embraces the future Harley riders of the world: our future H.O.G. members. If I were a kid, he'd have me hooked for life.

 

As the day grew into early evening all you could hear was the low drone of exhaust and see a constant stream of motorcycles snaking their way into Miller Park. Man the place was packed! I'd be remiss not to say that I could feel the excitement building. Limited space can present some challenges, but it was great to see people laughing, hugging, joking, and having an overall good time. I'm glad that so many of our brothers and sisters decided to make the 25^th shindig. We let Sugarland, with the cute little Jennifer Nettles, rock us for a while with their cool country sounds.

 

Our group wanted to experience some more of the culture this great city has to offer, so we left for a bit to enjoy some authentic Mexican food down on the near south side, in one of Milwaukee's historic neighborhoods. The food at La Perla definitely hit the spot and we were able to meet some new family that are friends of mutual friends. Once again proving it's a small world when you are part of the H.O.G. family.

 

Time for Kid Rock and did he rock! I'€™ve never seen so many people excited to see one dude perform. I have to say that the songs from his new CD are pretty good. The crowd was the biggest sea of people that I've ever experienced at any concert. I'€™m glad the folks at H.O.G. thought ahead to have the viewing screen under the beer garden tent and in the food vendor areas. It definitely allowed more people to enjoy the headline act for the day. All told, I have to say it was one great day packed with a whole lot of fun! Great job H.O.G. team! I can't wait to see what you come up with for the 30^th.

 

Peace and Love

 

 

Pop, and Our Service Men and Women

I somehow knew that today would be an unusual day. That was due to the fact that I slept very well Tuesday night. That’s something that’s abnormal for me before a road trip because I’m as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve. That said, I woke up bright eyed and early, ready to take to the road. As I sat on the back patio, drinking a cup of coffee and listening to the day come alive, I took some time to reflect on some past rallies, and the fun and memories they brought me. Everything that came to mind brought a smile or a chuckle. I also thought about my dad, whom I affectionately called “Pop.” A man who was not only my dad, but my best friend and business partner. I missed the H.O.G. 20th due to some unforeseen things. He encouraged me to go to the rally in 2003, but I chose to spend that Labor Day holiday at home with him. Today, my ride was for Pop.

Okay, now it was time to start getting serious and mentally prepared for the ride. I ran through a hundred different “what if” scenarios just to be on the safe side. I’m happy to say that none of them came to fruition. Our ride was quick and easy with no interruptions. I even took note of how light the traffic seemed to be. In a nutshell, it was an awesome ride. We made a couple of new friends on the way. A few years ago, H.O.G. produced a billboard T-shirt that said, “We’re like family, the ones you like.” We were getting fuel just before Chicago, and me being the shy quiet type, starting talking with a couple from Arizona. In our short time together, I learned that Roger and Teresa have a daughter who lives in Terre Haute, Indiana; the home of my college alma mater Indiana State. It just goes to prove it’s a small world, and it’s full of new H.O.G. family. We just need to reach out and find them.

As we hit Chicago, my excitement was building. It’s always a rush to see the skyline build. The city is just so alive! Appropriately, Muddy Waters was playing on the iPod. Man, how cool would it have been to be able to see Muddy in Chicago during the height of his days as a Blues giant? It was a breeze passing through the windy city, and our destination of Milwaukee was almost in eyesight. As we drew close to Milwaukee, people would flash us a thumbs-up or a simple wave. Just south of the city, people were starting to line the overpasses; waving and shouting. One fellow had an American flag, about 3’ x 5’. As we passed, I thought about all of the men and women who serve this great country to help preserve the freedoms that we so much enjoy. So to my friends like the Colonel, Sgt. Chris, and Brandon who have served, thank you! Our friend Lisa made a comment at dinner about the cat with the flag. “Seeing that flag made me feel like a soldier coming home.” I think she’s excited to be in Milwaukee.

After a quick check-in at the hotel, we headed downtown for some dinner and sightseeing. On the ride downtown, I remembered another reason why I like Milwaukee … front porches. I’d bet we saw 50 different families sitting on their front porches. The kids were playing, and the adults were talking. It’s nice to see families spending quality time together.

I was in the mood for crab legs, so I took the gang to the Riptide located in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward. I have to say that four pounds of lobster, crab legs, and shrimp certainly hit the spot for the four of us. To top it off, we got to enjoy sunset in the Milwaukee Harbor. What more could a person ask for?!

Peace and Love

 

 

The Countdown Begins

Every time I attend a rally the excitement and anticipation builds for weeks until it’s ready to explode the night before an early morning departure.  It’s comparable to how excited I was when I purchased my first new Harley.  With that said and the H.O.G. 25th and Harley 105th Anniversaries rapidly approaching, I am so ready to cut out of the daily grind of being a business owner and get to Milwaukee for some much deserved R&R! 

There’s something hopelessly romantic about a city that sits by the water and that’s just one of the things I appreciate and enjoy about Milwaukee.  Its cultural diversity, great food, classic and modern architecture, and friendly people make me feel at home.  One of the things I look forward to is getting up at twilight, riding to Veteran’s Park listening to the waves and the seagulls and watching the city come alive.  It’s just a really cool place to be.

It’s always great to see old friends and strike up conversation like you’ve not been apart, but it’s even more fun to usher new family into the fold.  My wife and I have invited two great friends, Bill and Lisa, to come along for their first visit to this great city and to find out what an Anniversary rally is all about.  I remember how excited I was about my first rally in Milwaukee and I hope to see the same happiness and excitement in their faces.  Along with that, the stunt riders and musicians at the 25th will certainly get me stoked for what the weekend will have in store.

I’ve ridden the ride in my mind a 1,000 times.  It’s a short one for us, only 340 miles.  It’s a quick 180 miles from home to Chicago.  I can see the congestion of the Dan Ryan and having to bump up the situational awareness a notch, but also its beautiful skyline.  I can see the traffic easing and getting lighter the farther north we go, losing the cages and finding more and more of our brothers and sisters on the road.  Hitting the Wisconsin state line and seeing that big brown sign that says ‘Welcome to Wisconsin’ lets me know we’re on the home stretch.  Then I’ll start to anticipate the growing skyline of Milwaukee and the fun that I know that this great city is going to provide me for the next 5 days.  WOW, what a ride and the fun has just started!

I hope you have a safe and great ride and that your weekend is a blast! 

Peace and Love