| Author | Message | ||
     Cupcake_mike |
⬆️ yes sir! | ||
| 1313 |
OK, some info to spark discussion, or - heaven forbid - some decision making. There are 'public BTS' tours (Behind The Scenes) and the group or 'private BTS' tours. The private BTS tours are scheduled with reservations (which requires money to be paid). But with these come the benefits that only our group will be included on our tour. We can ask questions, and should be able to tailor things to our Buell-centric interests. The public BTS tours seem to be available at any time anyone is interested, and we would not be guaranteed to only have us in the group for a public BTS tour. To me, this points to the private BTS tour being the one we want. And it's possible that the private BTS tour could be cheaper in the end. The main 'drawback' to the private BTS tour is that the are only offered on 2 days of the week and at 2 times each of those days. The days are Wednesday and Friday, and the times are 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. My thinking is that the 10:30 tour likely has to end by 1:00 for the next private BTS tour to come through, but the 1:00 tour could last as Screamer put it 'an entire afternoon'. This makes me believe that the 1:00 time would be our preference. Now, picking between the days - Wednesday and Friday - is the next challenge. Some people head up to Road America Friday for their free chicken dinners - oh, wait. Those don't happen anymore! I guess people that are recently retired forget those kinds of details. That's right...some people head to Road America on Friday - early for the weekend of racing. For this reason, I am leaning towards choosing Wednesday for our private BTS tour. If we spend all afternoon at the museum (keep in mind that we can tour the rest of the museum at our leisure outside of the BTS tour), then we can head back to East Troy for Ourdee's customary Wednesday night meet, eat and greet at Gus's or opt for dining somewhere in the area of the museum. Even though it might be too early in the week for some to participate, I'm still leaning towards Wednesday. I have info on costs, but I will have to save that for a later time - either over lunch tomorrow or about this time tomorrow night. So - for now - what does everyone think? Is Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. agreeable with everyone who wants to participate? Does anyone have any strong feelings toward the other time or day? | ||
| Zac4mac |
sounds good to me, Brankin, even if I have to pony up extra $$. The older I get, the more I appreciate history. Z | ||
| Steeleagle |
Wednesday at 1:00 works for me. I'll have plenty of time Wednesday to tour, since I'll be retired. ...and chickens will be playing with the Ducs at Road America this year! BTW, thanks, Brankin!! Now GET OFF MY LAWN!! | ||
| Ourdee |
Unless we get 10 people yelling for another time, it looks like Wednesday at 1:00 for the HC2019 HD museum tour (fingers crossed). As far as the Gus meet, diner time is usually based on convenience. Sometimes we get lucky enough to have events come together based on convenience. We had a nice diner at some place out of the blue a few years back. I am not opposed. | ||
| Court |
If you are well behaved . . . . Brankin may take you to a top secret Mexican place that was a late night hang out for the Buell Elves . . . | ||
| Ourdee |
Is Brankin going to behave too? I like Mexican. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
Wednesday it is then. Thanks to Brankin for doing the hard part. | ||
| Court |
If Brankin suddenly begins to behave . . . well, 30+ years of my life will have been wasted . . . since the day he first arrived as a young intern . . the first day the Hearse rolled . . . the the night we tried . . . i mean we really tried . . . to party all night in NYC and ended up in the bathroom of a McDonald's on Upper Broadway . . the only thing in this world as consistent as the sun rising and setting is Brankin's misbehavior . . . You can count on him!  | ||
| Court |
Just in case you wonder how long he's been around . . . .  | ||
| 1313 |
That build sheet is from the day before my birthday. How cool! And it must have been very shortly after I started. I recall interviewing with Erik my first day back from school term - a Monday - in April 1991. I'd LOVE to find a bike that I built and add it to my garage - preferably an RSS. Although realistically I'd have been more likely to have built a 1991 RSS (which were all supposed to go to Japan) than a 1992 RSS. But, truth be told, I didn't build all that many bikes. Now that I've opened my mouth, I hope that I haven't put my foot in it. As much as I'd like to have a bike I built, I certainly don't have the room for it. But enough about memories from the past, we're here to talk about making memories in the not-too-distant future... | ||
| Zac4mac |
Alicia is a 1991 RS1200. If you didn't work on her, I'm sure yo saw her build.  | ||
| 1313 |
OK, I promised to disclose cost information. There are a few ins and outs to it, but I think I've read between the lines to come up with the unwritten  Any BTS tour, private or public, adds $20 to the price of admission. This is over and above the normal museum admission. Museum group admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors (regular prices $20 and $14). So a private BTS tour, with reservations for 12 participants, would be $34 per each of the 12 participants. I expressed my concerns about not being able to round up 12 participants, which is what prompted the discussion around the public BTS tours. A key detail was mentioned: "If you do the group reserve you can keep the extra admission tickets – they are good for a year. You can give away as gifts or prizes." What I read out of that is that we need to make the minimum reservation of 12 participants to ensure that we get a private BTS tour, but it's not unheard of to have less than 12 actual participants in a private BTS tour. Unfortunately, the fewer actual participants there are only raises the cost per participant. In the end, I received a recommendation: "I recommend that you pick a date, and make a reservation for a group of 12." So, unless we have commitments from more than 12 people (to a maximum of 20) that they will be participating Wednesday, May 29th at 1:00 p.m., we should follow the recommendation. However, private group tours must be reserved and paid in advance. So $34 for 12 participants means $408 must be paid upon reserving the date and time. If there are concerns about the cost, here's the breakdown based on the amount required when making reservations divided up over the number of participants:  With all the legwork I've done getting the info, I'm set on experiencing a private BTS during this years Homecoming. I'd probably still be in if we only end up with 6 participants ($68.00 per person) but I'm the type of person who can't put a price on happiness... So, here is where the rubber meets the road: How many people are still in, and how can we cover the costs for our reservations? I can make the reservation, but I'd rather not keep $400+ tied up for ~ 2 & 1/2 months. The sooner we get the per person cost down to a reasonable level, the sooner we can reserve our preferred day and time. Brankin = Yes Dennis = Yes, still? Ourdee = Yes, still? Steve = Yes, still? Zac = Yes, still? Dave = Yes? James = Yes? Mike = Yes? If all 8 are in, that would lower the per person cost to $51.00 - which I know might be difficult for some - but can we get more to commit, so the per person cost will go down? So, with all that, what does everyone think now? | ||
| Steeleagle |
I'm in for sure. I'll EVEN forgo the senior rate if it helps. That's the kind of guy I am!! Squirrel, but related: Some folks will be in Springfield the weekend before. I can see about group rates in East Troy for us non-campers, but who's going to hotel the week? I know they'll ask for a number. | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm in for the museum. | ||
| Zac4mac |
 | ||
| Dave |
Nice LEG-work Brankin on the HD BTS tour! Of course I'm in. Just spit-ballin' ideas.... I wonder if we can get commemorative 10th Anniversary shirts with a KW hatchet buried in the head of a blood soaked pegasus? DAve | ||
| Ourdee |
Slots are going fast. (Message edited by ourdee on March 07, 2019) | ||
| Canario |
I'm in for the museum. | ||
| Ourdee |
Going, going. (Message edited by ourdee on March 07, 2019) | ||
| Tootal |
Well if Zack is going I guess I am!!  | ||
| Mnscrounger |
Absofreakinlutely, I'm in! | ||
| Ourdee |
1313 yes Steeleagle yes Ourdee yes Zac4mac yes Dave yes Canario yes Tootal yes Mnscrounger yes _____________ down to 51.00 Only 4 slots left. I wouldn't wait too long. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Hold a spot for Don (Oz666), I'm sure Crusty and I can persuade him... Z (Message edited by zac4mac on March 07, 2019) | ||
| Ourdee |
Zac, Can you get a hold of oz666 and have him pop up and say yes? | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
I'm in! | ||
| Ourdee |
Going quickly. (Message edited by ourdee on March 08, 2019) | ||
| Odd |
I'm in | ||
| Zac4mac |
OK, I'm in but Don has prior engagements and can't make it. He said he would LOVE to but... See y'all soon! Z | ||
| Ourdee |
1313 yes Steeleagle yes Ourdee yes Zac4mac yes Dave yes Canario yes Tootal yes Mnscrounger yes Cupcake_mike yes Odd yes _____________ down to 40.80 Only 2 slots left. I wouldn't wait too long. |
