SMB Rally for 2008?

[cellularSTEVE]

I didn't see any past posts so I thought I would ask:

Anyone know where the rally is going to be this year that SMB West puts on? I want to plan some trips over the next several months and thought I might check it out.

Anyone been to one? Your thoughts?

steve :c3:

 

[jage]

I tried to go to the Utah rally and was informed that tickets has sold out in January of 2007. But then again us used owners might be persona-non-grata.

:b4:

 

[Ford_6L_E350]

I've thought about going to the big rally, but it seems like too many people in one place at one time. I really prefer a smaller get together 10-20 vans for a nice social gathering.

Mike

 

[cellularSTEVE]

Well the reason why I ask is that I am not going to do an Alaska trip like I had originally planned, so I want to start planning a few shorter trips. I am always up to meeting others on the road.

 

[Ford_6L_E350]

Too bad you can't make it to Alaska. It's a great trip. We've driven up twice and I'm ready to go again. The drive up is worth the time. Especially along the coast. Be sure to get a copy of the MilePost (http://www.themilepost.com/) to be your guide. Get the MilePost if you are only thinking about going!

We ran into you last year in Zion - October I believe.

This year I'm taking 3 weeks in early June - CA to IA and back to see family.

Sept in the Southwest Nat'l Parks. And maybe Oct if my wife doesn't go to Egypt.

Possibly we will run into you on the road. Certainly, we try to look up and talk to every SMB owner we see.

Mike and Dorothy

 

[charlie56]

From what I have been told, the SMB rally is still in the planning stages for this November.

 

[cellularSTEVE]

Mike,
I certainly remember meeting you and your wife in September in Zion. There were 3 SMB's, one from SMB West (mine), yours from Indiana and the Mercedes Sprinter from Texas. It was fun checking out each others rigs.

For me, Alaska will have to wait for another year or two.

Where will you be in CA. If you are up to it, maybe a few of us will meet up with you. I hope to plan 3-4 1 week trips in CA/NV over the next few months.

steve :c3:

 

[daveb-SMB]

I believe Alan said it's in Mexico where that train runs that hauls RV's on the flatcars, something they don't do anymore. Supposed to be the big brother to the Grand Canyon.
DaveB

 

[alta825]

would that be Copper Canyon?

 

[daveb-SMB]

Yes that's the place he said. I thought that was what they were/are working on for (I think) the next run.
DaveB

 

[John and Dana]

We are currently work on the order for our new SMB and I know that Alan and Liz have been in Copper Canyon with a group from Overland Journal for the past 3 weeks.

 

[bitburger]

Copper Canyon comments

I just returned from Copper Canyon (on motorcycles) and it would seem to be perfect for a Sportsmobile. It is paved to Creel and then graded dirt roads to Batopilas and Urique. There were many trails that were clearly 4x4 trails, poor by any description. They were even tough on a motorcycle.

You could pick the level of adventure and you would be sure to find terrain to match.

Copper Canyon (or Barranca del Cobre) is a Mexican National park and is the big brother to the Grand Canyon although I would position it as different not actually better or worse.

This time of year, it was cool at the bottom and snowing at the top. Summer is supposed to be hot at the bottom and beastly hot at the top. :a5:

That said, many of you are from places that get hot in the summer so perhaps it won't be as bad for you folks

Services are plentiful although basic. There are quite a few Fords trucks in that area, it was the most common brand truck we saw.

Spanish would be very helpful if not essential. The people were uniformly friendly although the English was sparse. My second year spanish seemed to do fine although we didn't speak on politics or philosophy.

I met several people in truck based campers as well as many other US based motorcycles groups, it would seem that the profile of CC is growing and it is seen as an alternative to the areas that seem to have crime issues (Baja has received poor press in the last year).

 

[yvrr]

Alan mentioned at last year's Rally that it might be in Mexico this year and, as far as I know, that is still the plan, around November. It won't be in Copper Canyon since it is a long, hard, 2-day drive from the border to Creel and there aren't facilities there for the number of vans expected.

SMB did one Rally to Baja previously (the year before we got our van) and Alan said that the logistics were horrendous! Remember that SMB caters the breakfasts and dinners (there is a LOT of food at these rallys!) which involves a couple of large trucks to bring along the food, supplies, etc. Then there is the issue of making sure everyone has gas and water on board, etc. One the recent events, they erect a large tent and have tables for meals, etc. I'm not sure that they will include all of this if they return to Baja this year...

 

[EMrider]

Alan mentioned at last year's Rally that it might be in Mexico this year and, as far as I know, that is still the plan, around November. It won't be in Copper Canyon since it is a long, hard, 2-day drive from the border to Creel and there aren't facilities there for the number of vans expected.

SMB did one Rally to Baja previously (the year before we got our van) and Alan said that the logistics were horrendous! Remember that SMB caters the breakfasts and dinners (there is a LOT of food at these rallys!) which involves a couple of large trucks to bring along the food, supplies, etc. Then there is the issue of making sure everyone has gas and water on board, etc. One the recent events, they erect a large tent and have tables for meals, etc. I'm not sure that they will include all of this if they return to Baja this year...

I like the November timeframe quite a bit. Summers are jammed with family stuff. An SMB group trip to the east side of Baja would be very tempting.
R

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Last time I talked with Alan, he was still talking about Mexico, and mentioned somehting about trying to line up "an escort" through the problem areas of Baja.


Herb

 

[Joanna-SMB]

What about the new passport requirements for a trip to Mexico?

 

[John and Dana]

The new passport requirement went into effect in February. You are now required to have a passport to travel into Mexico via car. The good news is you should have plenty of time to get one between now and February.

My wife and I just got back in February from two months traveling the BAJA and the press reports about problems with tourist are blown way out of proportion. There have been a few problems but most of the cases have been people who put themselves is stupid positions. From what I understand they were either traveling at night or camping by them selves in a remote areas.

 

[charlie56]

Passport Tip
If you do apply for a passport, make sure you use the online form, then print it out and submit it to the passport office as your application. This makes the wait time considerably less. When I submitted my application they told me 3 months but the passport arrived withing 2 weeks, it was actually dated within a week of the application. That was without asking for it to be expedited. My wife (on the otherhad) didn't use the online form and had a 12 week wait.

 

[adventureduo]

I just got off the phone with SMB and they said they're next rally is going to be in Death Valley next spring... so that would be the 2009 rally i suppose?

 

[jage]

Did someone say forum rally instead? Oh, I was sure I just read that. :a4: