About the 2018 Finger Lakes Rally

Always Labor Day weekend; for 2018:
August 31st to September 3rd

For those who want to plan your trip to the rally really early, and if you are a rider who travels by GPS, here are the coordinates for the rally site, the Watkins Glen Hidden Valley Group Camp, front gate:
N 42° 21.820' W 76° 54.895'
Find other useful information at http://www.watkinsglen.com including lodging for those without a tent. You might also check the graphics-heavy Chamber of Commerce web site, and you can reserve rooms online at some of the hotels/motels here .

Would you care to see a road map of the local region at Watkins Glen? Here also is an image of a hand-drawn map of the Hidden Valley Campground which you may print. (Press your Back button after viewing map.)

Go to the Preregistration Form

2018: The 44th Annual Rally

Year after year our visitors tell us the Finger Lakes Rally is one of the nicest, friendliest motorcycle rallies. Again this year, it's held at one Hidden Valley Group Camp
Main Entrance of the most beautiful settings ever to park a BMW, set up a tent, and find someone to talk with. Once again, you will be able to camp at the Watkins Glen State Park's Hidden Valley Group Camp.

Enjoy three nights camping, two catered dinners, free coffee, a live band, great door prizes, rally pin and mug, terrific facilities, flea market (bring your stuff to sell, or buy stuff and take it home), exciting touring, on-site Sunday morning services, bike judging, snack bar, and more. BMW riders and their guests only.

Camping areas range from ultra quiet to right near the action. CPAP sleep machine users: we have an area for you with electric outlets, at the back end of the vendor area. It should be marked with signs. You will probably need an extension cord.

Rally Fees

	Pre-registered	At Gate
Adults (12 and up)	$65	$70
Children ages 6-11	$30	$35
Under 6	Free	Free

All fees are in US Dollars. Pre-registration forms and checks must be postmarked no later than August 20, 2018.

Gate opens at 9:00 AM Friday. Sorry, no early arrivals, no pets, and no individual campfires. Note that there is no ATM machine at the rally site. The closest would be in the village of Watkins Glen. More information: use our contact form, or email us at rally@fingerlakesbmw.org, or write to: Finger Lakes BMW Club, PO Box 35, Webster, NY 14580.

If you do email or write, please do not wait until the rally is in progress, as we will all be there and Internet access is spotty at best.

Events

Enjoy a wide variety of events on the rally site, and nearby. See our Attractions section for more. Some of the regular events:

Awards: Long Distance Male/Female, Oldest, Youngest, Largest... These are all calculated by the information you write on your registration form at the rally. Write legibly. Awards are for BMW riders only.
Door Prizes: The big prizes usually include riding suits, helmets, tires. Lots of other prizes as well: hats, clothing, books, flashlights, certificates, and chain lube.
Meals: Admissions include Saturday and Sunday evening dinners by our acclaimed local chef. Vegetarian meals available upon request at rally.
Live Bands: Live music on Saturday night.
Bike Judging: Ride your bike onto the judging grounds, and let rally guests vote on the winners.
Flea market: Bring items, and leave with cash, or find gently used necessities. Clothes, accessories, parts, and more. Additional flea market information here including a form to pre-fill before you come, to save some time.
Seminars: Details available on arrival. In the past, we've had talks about foreign travel, packing for long rides, airhead tips and tricks, riding safety, and more.

Food

Both Saturday evening and Sunday evening catered meals are included with rally admissions. These dinners are usually served about 5:00pm. Dine inside in the Main Lodge, in our massive big-top tent, or use your Kermit chair by your tent.
Rolf's Hots: Our famous White and Red Hots and Italian Sausages Shoppe is open from late morning until evening. Enjoy Rochester's famous Zweigle's Whites and Reds, along with delicious Italian sausage sandwiches. We will also provide you with all the accessories including grilled peppers and onions, sauerkraut, and more.
Breakfast is available for purchase on Saturday–Monday mornings. Entrees include scrambled eggs, meats, toast, pancakes, French toast, fresh fruit, yoghurt, juices, dry cereal, etc.
A special police breakfast is an alternative purchase: locally prepared donuts are trucked in before dawn from downtown Watkins Glen. Enjoy them with your free coffee.
The Pop Stand has more than pop (soda). Bags of ice, chips, chocolate things, and all items needed to grow zits.

Tentative Schedule

(The final schedule will be published in your Rally Program.)

	What	From	To	Where
Friday	Registration opens	9:00 am	Late	Registration Tent
	Pin Table	10:00 am	10:00 pm	Main Lodge
	Hots, Pop & Snacks	11:00 am	11:00 pm	Food Tent
	Flea Market	Noon	6:00 pm	Near Main Lodge
Saturday	Donuts & Coffee	6:00 am	10:00 am	Main Lodge
	Breakfast opens	7:00 am	10:00 am	Main Lodge
	Pin Table	10:00 am	8:00 pm	Main Lodge
	Hots & Sausages	11:00 am	3:00 pm	Food Tent
	Pop, Snacks & Ice	11:00 am	11:00 pm	Food Tent
	Flea Market	Noon	6:00 pm	Near Main Lodge
	Self Guided Tours	Noon	4:00 pm	Table in Main Lodge
	Dinner served	5:00 pm	6:30 pm	Main Lodge
	"Flying Boxcar" Band	8:30 pm	12:30 am	Main Lodge
Sunday	Donuts & Coffee	6:00 am	10:00 am	Main Lodge
	Breakfast opens	7:00 am	10:00 am	Main Lodge
	Pin Table	10:00 am	6:00 pm	Main Lodge
	Hots & Sausages	11:00 am	3:00 pm	Food Tent
	Pop, Snacks & Ice	11:00 am	11:00 pm	Food Tent
	Vintage Bike Judging	Noon	3:00 pm	Near Big Top
	Flea Market	Noon	6:00 pm	Near Main Lodge
	Dinner served	5:00 pm	6:30 pm	Main Lodge
	Awards Ceremony	7:30 pm		Main Lodge
	Evening Movies	8:00 pm	12:00 am	Main Lodge
Monday	Breakfast & Donuts & Coffee	6:00 am	9:30 am	Main Lodge
	Hot Breakfast opens	7:00 am	9:30 am	Main Lodge
	Pack your gear	Dawn	Closing	Rally Grounds
	Grounds close	Noon		Ride safe!

Go to the Preregistration Form

Local Attractions

For up-to-date visitor information, visit the website of the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce , or call them on 607-535-4300. You'll find they are very helpful. You can stop by
Rally Sunrise when you arrive in town; they are at 214 North Franklin Street (Rt 14), and open from 9am until 5pm every day, and later on Saturdays.
The Corning Museum of Glass is open from 9am until 8pm every day, and they have some terrific special exhibits. If you sign up in advance on their website, you can even attend a short glass making class.
There are now at least 32 wineries around Seneca Lake. If you want to catch up on what's new, visit the Seneca Lake Winery Association . You can download a map, and decide what interests you. Most have free or low cost tastings, and there are even a few with small restaurants. Drink responsibly.
Here are a few other nearby destinations: from ice-cream parlors to little towns - enjoy the back roads in the area by using this Google Map .
If you want to spend a half day, you can travel right around Seneca Lake. Here's a Google map , with riding directions.
Here's a "waterfall tour" submitted by rally guest Herb Dyer. Google link , with directions.

Maps you may print ahead of time — PDF files

Local Destinations	203 KB
Glen Curtis Museum	143 KB
Around Seneca Lake	109 KB
Ride to Ithaca	225 KB
Wellsboro Diner	152 KB