The Date of the Isle of Vashon TT
By David Freiboth - Ride Coordinator
The realities of staging the Isle of Vashon TT are very complex. This
article will try and shed some light on the philosophy that drives the
VME leadership to take the course they do concerning the release of the
date for this premier Northwest old bike event.
While the Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts is a not-for-profit motorcycle
club the Isle of Vashon TT is our money making event. It's hard not to
make a few bucks on a popular event when volunteers commit their spare
time to provide the essential skilled labor that actually makes the show
go. We don't make a killing but it does help supplement a dues base that
produces an excellent club newsletter and other club activities. The
dues base and proceeds from Vashon underwrite production of the next
year's TT. Proceeds from the event have also contributed to the club
Building Fund that, when put to it's intended use, will establish a
permanent club facility dedicated to the "...restoration, preservation
and enjoyment of vintage, classic and antique motorcycles." In short,
the club is pretty straight forward concerning the economics of staging
the event. We charge a fair price for a quality product, make a modest
profit when the weather is good and accept the full liability if the
weather damages attendance as it has in the past.
With the economics in focus a key element to continued success of the
Vashon TT is the ability of the VME leadership to insure the future of
the event. The decision to only release information to the members of
the VME is your leaderships attempt to give you the power to control the
event by whom you invite. It is the considered opinion of most of the
leadership that over promotion may potentially threaten the future of
the event. That the club chooses not to further release the date is due
to the problems experienced in the past. Years ago when the event was
promoted outside the club the Island was overrun with non-members and
non-participants who, in many cases, saw this "Old Bike Rally" as an
excuse to flagrantly break the law and thereby endanger the event.
Thus the "secret" date, although the date is really not secret. It is,
however the property of the membership of the VME, the sanctioning body
of the "TT". Release of the date to the membership is all that has been
authorized by the club due to the negative effects discussed earlier.
Whether a member wishes to release the date further is subject to their
discretion although the club believes that the membership, by and large,
supports the current policy and applies proper discretion when releasing
the date to non-members. The invitation most likely will also encourage
the invitees to bring out those old and odd bikes.
Alternative suggestions about how the club could manage overuse of the
event (different time of the year, different location, middle of the
week) misses the central point. The essence of the Isle of Vashon TT is
its location and current logistics. With about 60 volunteers the VME
stages a major "old motorcycle" event on an entire island in Puget
Sound. Careful planning and a little luck has prevented the residents
and the bureaucrats from shutting down or severely curtailing the event.
This is a testament to the quality and the method in which the club
manages the affair.
Secret date? Hardly, join the club - know the date. Unlike some
motorcycle clubs we do not restrict membership. In fact the name of the
club was carefully considered to project an atmosphere of open enjoyment
of motorcycling. Being enthusiasts our membership is not restricted due
to type or age of ones motorcycle. In fact motorcycle ownership itself
is not required. All we require is an enthusiasm for old bikes, the
history of motorcycling and a respect for whatever form such enthusiasm
is expressed. Literally anyone can sign up, pay their dues and be fully
informed about the VME and it's events.
The officers of the VME hope the motorcycling community understands that
we take our responsibility to the membership very seriously. Your VME
leadership is committed to exercising the good judgment that will insure
the future of the experience that is referred to as "one of the most
popular (old motorcycle events) in the Northwest."