Quote from Dennis Peabody on May 8, 2023, 8:54 am

If your route is taking you near Spokane, WA Would like to meet you if you would like to take a break in the area.

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on May 8, 2023, 9:10 am

Dennis Peabody, I will be going through Spokane, on my way to Missoula for my first nights' stop.

I'll send you a PM, private message, and we can arrange to connect to meet that day.

Quote from NCGLSidecarist on May 11, 2023, 2:50 am

Unfortunately Ruth and I are not able to make it this year. Our granddaughter is graduating from HS and her party is on the 24th. So proud of her and wouldn’t miss it for the world! Not even for a sidecar rally. Wishing all of you a very safe and enjoyable ride and rally! Enjoy!

Quote from Tax Man on May 12, 2023, 11:59 am

I've reserved the Gull Point Lodge in the park for the rally headquarters.  The lodge is the large log building on the shore of the lake.

 

Quote from Tax Man on May 12, 2023, 12:05 pm

Those who have not yet registered for the rally should note that the registration fee goes up by $10 on June 1st.

Quote from Tax Man on May 12, 2023, 12:18 pm

I talked with John Dennis, Iowa's State Representative for USCA, this week.  John used to host the East Central Iowa Sidecar Rally, a one day event, at the National Motorcycle Museum grounds in Anamosa, IA.  As CCJON commented in an earlier post, the museum will be closing this year and some of the bikes and display items will go on the auction block.  It is worth going some distance out of your way to see what they have on display.

 

Quote from Tax Man on May 16, 2023, 3:46 pm

Today I began receiving emails and a phone call from rally registrants saying they received an email saying they need to pay the registration fee for this year's USCA national rally.  CCjon told me that it was something the online rally registration program did when mail-in registrations were added to the list of registrations.  Because the information appeared without online payment, an email was automatically sent reminding them to pay the fees.  Apparently it is another instance of technology giving us unintended consequences.

If you registered by mail and sent your check payment with the form for registration(s) and shirt(s) you may disregard emails saying you forgot to pay.  Unless, or course, it comes from bandojan@ncn.net.  That would be me.  :^)

Quote from Szkudlarek on June 2, 2023, 10:22 am

I'm all signed up.  Just wondering are there lighting bugs to see at night.  Oh being near the lake how many gallons of bug spray should I bring sleeping in a tent.

Just dave

Quote from Thane Lewis on June 5, 2023, 10:34 am

Quote from Szkudlarek on June 2, 2023, 10:22 am

I'm all signed up.  Just wondering are there lighting bugs to see at night.  Oh being near the lake how many gallons of bug spray should I bring sleeping in a tent.

Just dave

All of it. 

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on June 8, 2023, 8:48 am

Question for the @Tax Man:  Will there be signage on Hwy 86 that tells us where to turn into the Gull Point State Park ?

As in, are we entering that park on Edgewood Drive, off Hwy 86 ?

There are a few roads off Hwy 86 that take you into the Gull Point State Park, just wanting to have a heads up, so I know in advance to program my lead sled as to which corner to power slide the rear end of BattleWing Galactica into the road we need to take.

 

Quote from CCjon on June 10, 2023, 11:58 am

To anyone bringing their dog in a sidecar to the rally, can you show me how you have rigged up the harness?

Am in the process of training a six month old puppy to ride in the sidecar. Want to make sure he cannot jump out yet still be able to lay down, sit up or curl up in the nose when we get to riding on the street. Am open to ideas and advice. 

So far, am giving him treats while he sits in the sidecar while in the garage, no motor running.

 

Quote from DRONE on June 10, 2023, 9:40 pm

Quote from CCjon on June 10, 2023, 11:58 am

To anyone bringing their dog in a sidecar to the rally, can you show me how you have rigged up the harness?

Am in the process of training a six month old puppy to ride in the sidecar. Want to make sure he cannot jump out yet still be able to lay down, sit up or curl up in the nose when we get to riding on the street. Am open to ideas and advice. 

So far, am giving him treats while he sits in the sidecar while in the garage, no motor running.

 

Exactly my way of thinking -- give the dog the freedom to sit, stand, sleep, or turn circles, but not get out of the car.

My tether system is really simple.  First of all, I bought a Ruffwear Webmaster harness (www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY7SIP9/).  The secret to this harness is the 2nd belly strap that most harnesses don't have.  Then I tied a loose loop out of paracord  around the rearmost belly strap.  The paracord loop (or you could use a nylon cable tie) under the belly becomes the attachment point for your tether. 

For the tether, I use an ordinary 5/8" nylon leash (www.amazon.com/dp/B081YHK13N/).  I trimmed off the handle end of the leash and used a 5/8-inch nylon tri-glide (www.amazon.com/dp/B071P9354L) to create a new loop that goes through a ring bolt secured to the floor of the car.  The trick, of course, is deciding where to put your anchor.  My dogs have never shown any inclination to jump out of the car TOWARD the tug, so I'm able to place my anchor in the floor of the car amidships and over to the port side.  On a different rig, I found a good tether point up in the nose.  You'll have to puzzle it out.

With this setup, the leash is totally out of the way, and when my dog circles three times before laying down he just steps over the leash which is long enough to be slack and underfoot.  I'm using a cushion on my dog platform, of course, so the leash sinks into the cushion when he lies down on top of it.  And using a tri-glide on the tether, I can adjust the length of the tether easily during the experimentation phase.

I adjusted the length so that he can TRY to jump out, but when he does, he gets jerked back right as he starts his leap to freedom.  

Quote from SwampFox on June 11, 2023, 8:13 am

Drone's approach is essentially the same as ours.  With Maddie we used a PetSafe Sure-Fit Harness as it has a ring directly under the chest, attaching with a rein snap and incorporating a swivel to prevent binding as she spun around.   It's good for the sidecar to become the dog's "home" similar to kennel training.

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on June 11, 2023, 9:07 am

This little puppy is FAR TOO CUTE for @CCjon.

I can just hear that puppy singing:

I'm too cute for your sidecar, too cute for your sidecar, too cute by far.......

 

Quote from Reardan Tom on June 11, 2023, 1:16 pm

With my three co-pilots over the years I've used the similar harness, the chest harness with a ring between their front legs on the chest. I made up a leash with swivel snap hooks on both ends and an eye bolt under the front of the seat. I don't recall the exact situation on the Ural but on the Liberty I removed the seat altogether and the eye bolt went through the wall that holds the front of the seat up at the proper angle to be comfortable for people passengers. For the pups, I put thick foam down at the same height as the wall I refer to under the seat. After a time two of the three got to where I no longer used the leash. Archie and Petey would stay in the sidecar no matter what. Henry was a different story. He'd never have ridden without being restrained. For Petey, the sidecar was his safe place and he was very protective of the bike. Anyone who ever reached out to pet him when he was in the sidecar got educated real fast. A snap and a growl says DO NOT TOUCH ME!! Out of the sidecar he was quite docile. He wouldn't get out until I tipped the windshield ahead and gave him the OK. Archie on the other hand, stayed in until I told him he could get out. But he'd keep a close I where I went and given enough time, he'd get out and come looking for me. When someone opened the door where ever I was, he'd find me and lay at my feet. He was very friendly with everyone whether in the sidecar or out. He was born to be a biker.

Quote from CCjon on June 11, 2023, 5:09 pm

My wife Amparo insisted he have an Apple AirTag on his collar... which you can see in the photo.

FM, knowing Apple, maybe that tag plays iTunes too.

 

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on June 11, 2023, 11:27 pm

If your "shaggy dog" is missing, don't bother checking the Apple app...just go look in my sidecar. He will be resting in there.

Does the "shaggy dog" have a name yet ?  Like..Snickers

Quote from Reardan Tom on June 12, 2023, 8:28 am

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on June 11, 2023, 11:27 pm

If your "shaggy dog" is missing, don't bother checking the Apple app...just go look in my sidecar. He will be resting in there.

Does the "shaggy dog" have a name yet ?  Like..Snickers

Makes me think of our ride from the Stevenson rally up in the Mt. St. Helens area. We'd made a stop at Cougar Rock and were getting ready to go when Archie tried to jump in the wrong sidecar. He was shocked to hit the cover stretched over the top. Can't think of the fellow's name but he's an attorney from Seattle. His was a BMW with a Ural sidecar, ours was a Ural. We all laughed which seemed to embarrass Archie. He tucked his stub of a tail, hung his head and got into the right sidecar. Only seconds later he was enjoying the ride again. Vernon Wade, his brother Andy, Aaron Jennings on his Ratacade and the Beemer rider were on the ride. Fantastic ride.

Quote from Reardan Tom on June 12, 2023, 8:33 am

I'm thinking this bunch of posts needs it's own thread. Perhaps?