V.O.C. Reunion 2002

Marion, Illinois USA

(Report from Bob Haigh)

The 2nd of August saw six members of the Yorkies (centre 5) board a plane at Manchester Airport heading for Chicago to take part in the Virago Owners Club USA annual reunion in English this would be a rally.

We were met in Chicago with a stretched Lincoln limo, which whisked us off to our host's home where after a few beers we slept off the jet lag. Saturday morning and we were up and ready for anything but perhaps not temperatures up in the 80's so early in the day. Then they started to arrive, members of the Chicago cruisers with their spare bikes for us all to try out for size, these bikes were to be loaned to us free of charge for the next two weeks. This is when we met Rudolpho Cortez who had flown up from Columbia to join our band of travelers.

Sunday morning saw us load up our chosen bikes and head off 380 miles to Marion in the deep south of Illinois, and temperatures of 105 if the roadside signs were to be believed.

This American style of event lasts a whole week and people travel from all over North America to stay at the Executive Inn for a week of ride-outs and partying. One young girl travelled alone over 2500 miles on her 500 cc Virago from British Colombia.

On Monday we were called to a press conference with radio interviews, papers and even ABC news in attendance (we managed a 30 second slot on that nights TV news). At the welcome party sponsored by Yamaha we greeted by the Mayor of Marion and the event was officially opened.

Much of what took place over the next week was very familiar, guided and self guided rides, bike games and bike shows during the day. Live bands, disco and karaoke in the evening, oh did I forget to mention drinking, all very normal except for the fact that the temperatures never dropped below 85 and we never saw a drop of rain.

The final Saturday night saw us all at the formal presentation evening for a three course meal (all in the price) which started with the playing of National Anthems and a slide show of photo's taken during the week. There were awards for the bike games and the bike shows (Bev Henderson won 2nd for her borrowed 535) the furthest ridden, the oldest rider which no one seemed to want to claim, the list goes on and on. Finally the six Yorkies were called up and presented with an inscribed award each, titled "Over the Pond Award" in recognition of our efforts to get there.
Our little group of Bits, Canadians, Columbian and hosts headed up through the flat lands of Illinois for another week of biking in and around the Chicago area. Sightseeing, shopping more drinking (this was to become a trend) and all too soon it was time to board the plane back to good old Blighty and of course the rain that we had all missed so much.

Many thanks to all in the US that made this experience such an enjoyable event.
Bob Haigh (Centre 5 rep)