cheri
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Post by cheri on Nov 15, 2014 6:42:26 GMT -8
Hi All, Are there Rallys that are not, how shall I say, competitive? Rallys look like fun, but my camper is never going to match the ones I see in pictures. I'd like to give it a try, but don't want to embarrass myself.  |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Nov 15, 2014 8:04:59 GMT -8
Cheri, I feel the same way. The big rallies do look very competitive. Kto17 hosted a VTT rally in GA last May and it was very friendly and fun and about meeting people and just seeing the other trailers. No one was critiquing trailers. It was samll, but even among the small group, there were trailers that were glamped, trailers restored to pristine perfection and trailers still in phases of restoration. If you are interested in seeing other trailers and meeting the trailer folk, I don't think you should shy away from going to a rally.
I've seen other rallies posted here that appear to be more social than competitive. And you could always host a rally in your area and make it whatever you wanted it to be.
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Nov 15, 2014 20:43:25 GMT -8
Cheri, I feel the same way. The big rallies do look very competitive. Kto17 hosted a VTT rally in GA last May and it was very friendly and fun and about meeting people and just seeing the other trailers. No one was critiquing trailers. It was samll, but even among the small group, there were trailers that were glamped, trailers restored to pristine perfection and trailers still in phases of restoration. If you are interested in seeing other trailers and meeting the trailer folk, I don't think you should shy away from going to a rally. I've seen other rallies posted here that appear to be more social than competitive. And you could always host a rally in your area and make it whatever you wanted it to be.
I completely agree with Susie's comments. I have been to some of the largest vintage rally's in the country and I do not get the feeling that they are competitive at all. If you want to see competition, go to a Corvette, Porsche, or any Concours event where they pick the spec's out of the pepper, and the judges wear white gloves.
Trailer rallys are completely laid back, just friends trading stories, and ideas. The open house day is the place to be for any new comer to learn about different trailers.
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Post by bigbill on Nov 16, 2014 8:46:26 GMT -8
Just pack up and go to any rally you can get to. Don't be concerned with what your trailer looks like because there will be nicer ones and worse ones but you will find most of the people are just there enjoying each others company. Everybody does things a little different, there is no set standard. You restore to factory original, I convert to modern comfortable for me, and we all build what we can comfortably fit into our budget. The object is to have fun.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Nov 16, 2014 13:53:50 GMT -8
Rallies can be a blast. I've been to the biggest and the smallest. They are all fun. That's because the people are all nuts and are aflicted with the same disease you have. You will really feel at home with your trailer at a rally and HEY! It doesn't even matter if your trailer is finished or not. Matter of fact, you may get more visitors and questions with an unfinished trailer than one that is complete. That's probably because people get to see the work of art in progress.
I've always wanted to build "The Visible Trailer".... Remember the "Visible Man" or Visible Woman" clear plastic anatomically correct doll that shows all the guts and skeletal features? Why not do a trailer like that out of lexan and expose all the critical areas so people can look inside and see how it's done. I think it would be a kick to drag around to the rallies....
I must say that the smaller rallies are a bit cozier but you usually know everyone at those. And they are usually relatively close. The larger ones like Pismo and Buellton are kinda far away for me but I need to start getting to them again. Just to keep up with the Flyte Camp people I guess...
The larger ones can be a pain to get into. They sell out so fast. So it's a toss up. But what ever you think about rallies, don't EVER let the fact that you don't think you cut the mustard stop you from attending. Like I said, an unfinished trailer will prolly get more attention and a trailer that you think is plain could actually be the hit of the rally. Ya just never know. And competition is something I never even thought about or cared about at a rally. About the only thing people seem to compete at out there is who is the nuttiest.
I say go and enjoy. You'll never meet a better group of people in your lives. They are just as nutty as you are and in many cases they will out nut you.
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Post by vikx on Nov 16, 2014 22:00:17 GMT -8
We've only got one "show" with prizes up here. (XXX Root Beer near Seattle) The rest are just plain fun for most. Trailers, kids, dogs, cats, ferrets, music, friends.
Nobody is going to critique your trailer. There's always something to like.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Nov 17, 2014 7:03:40 GMT -8
Strictly a "Fun" Rally....
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fizzy
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Post by fizzy on Jun 25, 2015 16:56:46 GMT -8
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jeremiah
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Post by jeremiah on Nov 6, 2018 5:28:15 GMT -8
The Rallys that I have been to are all for fun.no trophies, but there are fun awards. If a Rally is competitive, the Person Promoting it is ALLOWING that type of attitude ! I attend Vintage trailer Meets / Rallys and you always have the option to have your trailer open or not. I have always felt confortable and opened our trailer. People like to look. It helps promote our hobby. My interest in this hobby is non competitive. I respect every trailer that comes out. Promote the Experience.......
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HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Nov 6, 2018 6:58:23 GMT -8
We have only attended one ralley and we loved it,everyone we met were enthusiastic and more than willing to show us their campers, there were no attitudes to deal with and everyone seemed to have a good time.
What I found interesting was the number of vintage camper folk were also into vintage cars. Danny
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datac
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Post by datac on Nov 6, 2018 10:31:25 GMT -8
If anything, I have the opposite problem with the local rally- too many trailers I'm deathly afraid to share the road with, and a bloody tongue from keeping my mouth shut.
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jeremiah
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Post by jeremiah on Nov 6, 2018 13:52:32 GMT -8
If anything, I have the opposite problem with the local rally- too many trailers I'm deathly afraid to share the road with, and a bloody tongue from keeping my mouth shut. about ? |
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datac
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Post by datac on Nov 6, 2018 14:18:28 GMT -8
If anything, I have the opposite problem with the local rally- too many trailers I'm deathly afraid to share the road with, and a bloody tongue from keeping my mouth shut. about ? Hot glue, rattle can, contact paper and barn wood restorations held up only by wishful thinking and cute fabric choices. If you can't say anything at all, don't say anything at all. Some this year I was afraid to walk past, let alone share the road with. One memorable example had most of the interior streetside wall covered with ceramic tile while the carriage bolts dangled jauntily in the breeze.  |
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jeremiah
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Post by jeremiah on Nov 6, 2018 15:06:51 GMT -8
I have met some great fun people at Rallys, I have been in contact with one couple fir 5 years now.
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Post by Teachndad on Nov 25, 2018 5:53:34 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
I have visited some of the larger rallies the last few years as well as participated in 4 of them. The ones I participated in ranged in size from 35 trailers to 125.
I never sensed any competition. There is plenty of refreshments flowing and sometimes it seems like people use the rally as a reason to party and drink.
The one thing I don't like as a participant are open houses. I prefer rallies that do not have an open house, I will show my trailer to anyone who asks to see inside at these rallies though.
My first rally had 125 trailers and a 3 hour open house to show my trailer. I was down for that and willing to sit for 3 hours. However, I am registered for the Pismo Rally in California in May 2019 and that has a 5 hour open house!! To me that's just work. It just takes the fun out of it for me. I always wanted to participate in this rally, but I am seriously having second thoughts about it. I am still working so I don't have the luxury of arriving a few days early to hang out and relax.
Rod
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