We have received questions and comments about the Bash and messages flared up again today with the announcement of the Hayabusa Bash in Sept. So for ALL oRg'sters, here is my comment
I have attended the Spring and/or Fall Bash whenever possible for the last eight years. I have met the very best of my friends at these meet and greets. I surprisingly learned at my very first Bash how close-knit riders who are separated geographically could become when converging on a fantastic riding area bonded by a shared enthusiasm for motorcycling.
For me, it was especially strong because of the shared connection to a specific motorcycle. At my first Bash I didn't know anyone. However, as I approached people, I found them to be open and friendly. I was willing to learn and the people at the Bash were willing to teach. The majority of the people at the Bash were members of the Hayabusa.org website. It was there that the coordination and information were handled. But it wasn't an oRg "thing". It belonged to the members who put effort into it. Since a lot of the Mods/Admins from the oRg attened, questions, comments and complaints often got referred to them, but they weren't in a leading, managing or directing role...
For all of us, the connecting link was the Hayabusa. Gen I's were at the height of their popularity and were the meanest things on the road. I remember being overwhelmed by the motorcycles, by the people, and by the curves we traveled together. It was obvious as soon as I arrived that everyone was looking out for everyone, they were looking for an enjoyable time and they were looking to make great memories through a shared experience.
We worked on each other's scooters and we swapped parts. We did maintenance, we did mods and WE RODE! The magic happened when something unfortunate and in some cases tragic happened. The way the people came together to help reconstruct wrecked bikes, to be with people in the hospital, to loan bikes, cars, etc... It was a wonderful environment to be in when so many people worked together.
The organization would be rough and loose, there were occasional planned rides but really, there were two planned events... A group photo and a meal... At times people were happy and at times they weren't, but we kept coming because it was a great group of people. For me, it became family and it was my friends or friends of friends. At times, some of us complained because the bash was too big... Too many people we didn't know who didn't always have the same attitude or expectations that the majority did. But it was still fun and workable.
At times people have branched off with the intention of improving things, and making things better. But here is something that I have learned. Better and worse are very subjective terms. It is much more accurate to say different rather than better... Or worse...
Now, why am I writing this? Well, I want to explain the differences between the Bashes and the Hayabusa Bashes that many members have asked questions about. To me, the Bashes are meet and greets and the Hayabusa Bashes are planned events. If i had the resources, I would go to both... For different reasons.
The Spring and Fall Bashes are loose and fun and centered around people doing what they wanted to do and ride where they wanted to ride with a few target times and some planned rides together. We ate together and took photos, but some of the best times were sitting around the fire pit telling lies and laughing about the days events.
The Hayabusa Bash that will happen in May is a first. It has no history other than some of the people who will attend. Aside from the name and photos, most everything is happening for the first time. It is organized, with food and entertainment provided and scheduled rides and routes planned. It is open to all and openly advertised separately from the oRg and outside of the Hayabusa community. For me, it is that level of organization and open participation that I turn away from because of the impersonal atmosphere that I feel it would be.
Anyone who has been at a Bash that I have attended knows where they can find me 90% of the time I am in Robbinsville... Because I enjoy it. None of this means that the Hayabusa Bash is or will be better or worse, it is to say that it will be different. I want what I have always had at the Bash.
This month, I will likely attend my last Bash. I don't have the time to go to all the events, meets, concerts, trackdays, graduations, etc., that I want to, so I choose to be with my friends when and where it is our friendships that are the focus, not the event we are attending.
The oRg is an amazing place. People like some of the things that happen and dislike other things. Sometimes it may seem like the oRg's little corner of the webbernet is a little smaller now days... But every person who wanted something different and left to start something new took some of the oRg with them... In that sense, the oRg's reach is farther than we could have possibly imagined, because what is good about us is now being spread out to others via the different websites and efforts that sprang from your knowledge and willingness to build a community.
So, where's the new meet and greet? We need to make some plans yo!!!
I have attended the Spring and/or Fall Bash whenever possible for the last eight years. I have met the very best of my friends at these meet and greets. I surprisingly learned at my very first Bash how close-knit riders who are separated geographically could become when converging on a fantastic riding area bonded by a shared enthusiasm for motorcycling.
For me, it was especially strong because of the shared connection to a specific motorcycle. At my first Bash I didn't know anyone. However, as I approached people, I found them to be open and friendly. I was willing to learn and the people at the Bash were willing to teach. The majority of the people at the Bash were members of the Hayabusa.org website. It was there that the coordination and information were handled. But it wasn't an oRg "thing". It belonged to the members who put effort into it. Since a lot of the Mods/Admins from the oRg attened, questions, comments and complaints often got referred to them, but they weren't in a leading, managing or directing role...
For all of us, the connecting link was the Hayabusa. Gen I's were at the height of their popularity and were the meanest things on the road. I remember being overwhelmed by the motorcycles, by the people, and by the curves we traveled together. It was obvious as soon as I arrived that everyone was looking out for everyone, they were looking for an enjoyable time and they were looking to make great memories through a shared experience.
We worked on each other's scooters and we swapped parts. We did maintenance, we did mods and WE RODE! The magic happened when something unfortunate and in some cases tragic happened. The way the people came together to help reconstruct wrecked bikes, to be with people in the hospital, to loan bikes, cars, etc... It was a wonderful environment to be in when so many people worked together.
The organization would be rough and loose, there were occasional planned rides but really, there were two planned events... A group photo and a meal... At times people were happy and at times they weren't, but we kept coming because it was a great group of people. For me, it became family and it was my friends or friends of friends. At times, some of us complained because the bash was too big... Too many people we didn't know who didn't always have the same attitude or expectations that the majority did. But it was still fun and workable.
At times people have branched off with the intention of improving things, and making things better. But here is something that I have learned. Better and worse are very subjective terms. It is much more accurate to say different rather than better... Or worse...
Now, why am I writing this? Well, I want to explain the differences between the Bashes and the Hayabusa Bashes that many members have asked questions about. To me, the Bashes are meet and greets and the Hayabusa Bashes are planned events. If i had the resources, I would go to both... For different reasons.
The Spring and Fall Bashes are loose and fun and centered around people doing what they wanted to do and ride where they wanted to ride with a few target times and some planned rides together. We ate together and took photos, but some of the best times were sitting around the fire pit telling lies and laughing about the days events.
The Hayabusa Bash that will happen in May is a first. It has no history other than some of the people who will attend. Aside from the name and photos, most everything is happening for the first time. It is organized, with food and entertainment provided and scheduled rides and routes planned. It is open to all and openly advertised separately from the oRg and outside of the Hayabusa community. For me, it is that level of organization and open participation that I turn away from because of the impersonal atmosphere that I feel it would be.
Anyone who has been at a Bash that I have attended knows where they can find me 90% of the time I am in Robbinsville... Because I enjoy it. None of this means that the Hayabusa Bash is or will be better or worse, it is to say that it will be different. I want what I have always had at the Bash.
This month, I will likely attend my last Bash. I don't have the time to go to all the events, meets, concerts, trackdays, graduations, etc., that I want to, so I choose to be with my friends when and where it is our friendships that are the focus, not the event we are attending.
The oRg is an amazing place. People like some of the things that happen and dislike other things. Sometimes it may seem like the oRg's little corner of the webbernet is a little smaller now days... But every person who wanted something different and left to start something new took some of the oRg with them... In that sense, the oRg's reach is farther than we could have possibly imagined, because what is good about us is now being spread out to others via the different websites and efforts that sprang from your knowledge and willingness to build a community.
So, where's the new meet and greet? We need to make some plans yo!!!
You know the roads and the state.. Start organizing 
The year we tried registration fees for organized meals and t-shirts and release of liability forms for the organizers.... well I'm sure its still in the history here go have a look. It went over like a hot, wet, morbid fart in church. In fact I'm not sure it went even that well. Folks hated the idea, clearly there's still some in that mindset from what I've seen around places.
