Ultimately, given the "independent" ( 
) nature and behavior of sidecar operators, trying to get them all in the same place, at the same time, facing the same direction, with a camera operator is rather like making squirrels get ready for a family portrait...
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Egad! How ever shall you juggle the awesome responsibilities of donut hole procurement AND group photo wrangler!?!
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
When you first arrive at the Rally, you receive a packet with your name tag, shirt if you ordered one, pages with seminars, when and where ice cream rides will be, etc. If on the packet front it stated please show up with your sidecar outfit for a group photo and the date, time and location, it would help in getting the photo. Just an idea and of course it could threaten, show up or no donuts.
@miles-ladue Yippee! Gives me some time to research cat herding and squirrel wrangling and the application to independent minded sidecar drivers.
Egad! How ever shall you juggle the awesome responsibilities of donut hole procurement AND group photo wrangler!?!
Now wait just a Donut Missing Moment....I have not volunteered to bring any Donuts or their corresponding Holes to the 2026 National Sidecar Rally in Mena..... and my lack of volunteering is based on the utter lack of fellow Sidecarist to eat their fair share of Donuts and Holes at the 2025 National Sidecar Rally in Topsham, Maine.
Their inability to perform a simple task of each Sidecarist eating a specified number of Donuts and Holes resulted in me having to consume....as in eat.... copious amounts of Donuts and Holes to the point that I had to waddle out to my Sidecar rig.
So many Donuts and Holes were left uneaten.... that we donated boxes of left over Donuts and Holes to a local Food Bank, via our Rallymaster...Tom Gerken.
Ergo, youse people....yes.....youse people are going to have to find some other sucker....I mean VOLUNTEER to be the lead on Donuts and Holes.
Given that I will be driving/piloting my BattleWing Galactica more than 2,200 miles just to get to the Rally site....at my festering olde age, diminishing mental capacity...etc....I will have enough on my plate just to get there.
<poke!>
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PIUVU08gVL8
Jerry
I fly (and ride) to free my mind from the tyranny of petty things. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Well then, June in Arkansas should be pretty entertaining....
It doesn’t disappoint. In 21 we had the first ever indoor bike games because of the deluge occurring at that scheduled moment. The parade through town was also quite wet.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Neither rain, nor sleet nor gloom of night will dampen the enthusiasm.
Mail delivery is a whole other thing.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
You must know my USPS Carrier then..
You must know my USPS Carrier then..
Frankly, they're all pretty useless the past year.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Snagged a cabin at the rally site, registered with Steve Brown the Rally Master, offered to help, was told go have fun as they got it covered, So... the Iron Butt Alaska rig, Red Dog and I will head out to explore many of the backroads around Queen Willhelmina State Park. Not many flat straight roads in Western Arkansas, Thank God...
Steve says they are setting up both off-road and pavement tours, so bring what ya got to ride. You'll be okay. Heard the two lane route to nearby Oklahoma for lunch, then back was an easy day trip if you didn't mind curves and scenic views.
First weekend in June, the temperatures should be perfect for exploring the many backroads.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Mena in June.
Jan
I would be interested in know.....How Many people have registered thus far for this years' National Sidecar Rally in Mena, Ar-Kansas ???
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Jon reported 23 forms registered, and waiting on a few more payments as of late December.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
So I just registered for one of the non-Deluxe cabins. Seems there might be ONE Deluxe left, and at least one more non-Deluxe (for those that thought they might already be gone). My thinking was that a cabin would guarantee sunny weather... but that strategy didn't work the LAST TIME we were in AR. FWIW, the PAVILION is HUGE (we held the field events inside due to rain, last time). As some others have mentioned, I have to leave dark-thirty Sunday AM for the BMWMOA in VT. A few errands to tend to along the way... have to pick up my "missing" states of NJ, CT, RI, DE and ME along the way - and then pick up the spousal unit at the Boston airport and arrive at the MOA rally site in VT by Wednesday afternoon (while it's still possible to navigate a rig with KwikKamp trailer and find an electric outlet). Trying to time up that wicked I-95 corridor for late night and/or wee hours of early morning, if possible.
Those that have inquiring minds may want to research the World's Highest Hill, The Heavener Runestone (Hiking trail is a downhill, then return back up), Mount Magazine State Park (tallest AR mountain) and of course The Crater of Diamonds (you can try to mine your own diamonds... they are there). All are within a daytrip (some are a LONG daytrip) - or maybe along your ride to/from the rally. If you haven't been to the Queen Wilhelmina State Park/Lodge (and restaurant - and be sure to also visit the "Wonder House" right across the Byway from the lodge), it is located along the Talimena Scenic Byway - and both are MUSTS during your visit. Sorry, no recommendations for ice cream (I think there is a DQ in Mena); the Skyline restaurant probably serves the best breakfast in Mena (and *might* have pie).
See y'all there.
