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2021 COG National Rally

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just gone:
It appears that since the 2021 planning was well underway when the 2020 National got Covid cancelled, COG is headed back east again next year. I'm not sure why the Southwest region of COG didn't come next in the rotation and my only guess is that they couldn't find anybody willing to be a Rally Meister.
Between the MSTA and now COG seemingly becoming East Coast oriented groups I sure wish the disgruntled members of both west of the Mississippi would form their own group (WSTG Western Sport Touring Group?). I'd certainly sign up in a hurry. Obvious answer to that is for me to do it...but no not gonna happen and that is probably the main problem...nobody wants to take on the work nor the resulting animosity from both established  groups. Probably not wise to take disgruntled people from other groups and expect them to not still be disgruntled with a new group, but I can dream, right?. So it appears that I will ride alone pretty much from now on or with only a friend or two but I quess that's OK.   I'm just venting my major disappointment here and fingers crossed for 2022.

They did put up a funny video (gotta give 'em kudos for a sense of humor  :chugbeer: :thumbs:) which I hope is still available after they make the real announcement tomorrow evening.

https://vimeo.com/439225979

edit: Ok, they changed it to make the real announcement so not so funny anymore....if there is a link to the old one I don't know what it is.

lather:
They do the best they can  with what they have to work with. Speaking of MSTA but I suspect COG is not much different. I have noticed that Texas which was once a strong supporter of HSTA/MSTA events seems to have gone off on their own, like California and Michigan before them. I think the membership is getting old and not much interested in traveling long distances across the wastelands to participate when they have great stuff in their own backyards. Is that why you  are you disappointed about STAR in West Virginia?

just gone:

--- Quote from: lather on July 24, 2020, 04:43:24 PM ---They do the best they can  with what they have to work with. Speaking of MSTA but I suspect COG is not much different. I have noticed that Texas which was once a strong supporter of HSTA/MSTA events seems to have gone off on their own, like California and Michigan before them. I think the membership is getting old and not much interested in traveling long distances across the wastelands to participate when they have great stuff in their own backyards. Is that why you  are you disappointed about STAR in West Virginia?

--- End quote ---

Yes, and you are correct about the two groups being much the same although I think that MSTA has a little bit higher volunteerism than COG overall but then there is almost no MSTA out west. Cog at least has some local events out there. I joined MSTA to help fill in the gaps in the COG schedule and of course the MSTA Hill Country event in Texas is always nice. I knew what I was getting (East Heavy group) when I joined the MSTA and in 2015 (?) I attended the COG National in Colorado and then hot wrist-ed it over to Springdale for the MSTA National. What a great summer that was. However my first National with COG was in Idaho and it spoiled me a bit. After the first half day slog getting out of Texas the rest was fantastic all the way up (except for maybe the Wyoming hailstorm) and I kept looking forward to another western event. From my few eastern events I pretty much decided that I just don't like going east of the Mississippi much (MSTA TWISTAR in SW Wisconsin was an exception, I first met Norm Kern there), it just gets more crowded and there really isn't anything that Arkansas doesn't have.
Don't get me wrong, I like both organizations. I'm just disappointed that neither does more out west. It's probably time I start looking elsewhere for next summer maybe here--->https://sc-ma.com/  they even have a C14 on their logo.  8)

lather:
My MSTA riding buddies share your disappointment in the lack of Western events, especially Tony who lived in San Diego for some time. We did have some in the past, two in Mammoth Lakes CA, one in Lake Tahoe and two in Taos, NM. More recently one in Rapid City, ND. I don't know whether you count Colorado as west but it is west of the Mississippi and we've had eight there.
The key to improving coverage is building membership. I know the MSTA executive committee is working hard on that but it is an uphill battle.

just gone:

--- Quote from: lather on July 25, 2020, 06:20:20 AM ---My MSTA riding buddies share your disappointment in the lack of Western events, especially Tony who lived in San Diego for some time. We did have some in the past, two in Mammoth Lakes CA, one in Lake Tahoe and two in Taos, NM. More recently one in Rapid City, ND SD. I don't know whether you count Colorado as west but it is west of the Mississippi and we've had eight there.

--- End quote ---
I can't argue any of your points, MSTA Nationals have certainly been west of the Mississippi. However, of the long established repeated local events, the Hill Country rally in Texas is pretty much it.
I do count Colorado as west. I was really tempted by both Colorado Springs and La Crosse (<---yeah, I know east of the river, but really close  :D ) but I had conflicts with COG commitments on those dates.


--- Quote from: lather on July 25, 2020, 06:20:20 AM ---The key to improving coverage is building membership. I know the MSTA executive committee is working hard on that but it is an uphill battle.

--- End quote ---
Agreed, COG is working on it as well. It's an uphill battle for all things motorcycles these days, even the once huge BMW groups are dwindling.

  Again. I'm just venting disappointment, not attacking either group. This Covid thing really screwed things up and I'm certainly not alone in that, but I had hopes for next year. I know that National rally planning can start 2 years ahead and it can be a problem to just postpone everything. However the rotation I expected COG's Southwest area to follow the Northwest area. I wanted to go to a western National and then head for Alaska. That was the plan this year and I guess (assuming post covid normal returns in 2021) I'll just have to make the Alaska trip by itself not associated with a national event. With my advancing age I don't think I can keep putting it off waiting for a western National from either group.
  I was disappointed that the groups weren't able to do more together, pretty sure that was COG's fault. Now that MSTA has partnered/associated (not sure of correct relationship nomenclature to use here) with BMWRA (they are also east in 2021  :( ) it's a missed opportunity. I'm not leaving either group, I just need to find another that has more to offer to my tastes, or just ride to rallys of only one or two in attendance.

For those of you reading this not associated with either group, you may wonder why I'm doing this here. The MSTA forum has relatively low participation (even though it is administered/handled very well by lather's expertise) and the COG forum just has too much of an iron grip over the forum (can't edit your own post after a weeks time without help/approval from a moderator) so I come here on relatively neutral ground to vent my disappointment. Pay it no mind, it's almost over. :'(
 ;D

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