Bills at it again
Posted: 09 Aug 2008 06:18
Remember Bill Dragoo from Oklahoma when we were in Arkansas? He won the Adventurerider Challange and is hoping to add to his list with this ride coming up. This is a email from Bill that tells it all---------------------------------------------------------
I need your help to succeed in this. Deadline, this Monday by noon or thereabouts! I promise if ever given the opportunity, I will do the same for you. Please read this email before accessing the link and feel free to pass it along to anyone else who might be willing to give me a nod.
After familiarizing yourself with the need, click on the link below to access my rider profile. Then go to my blog where you can add comments. You will need my vin# to log in. WB10185A75ZL41103 Motorcycle name isn't needed, but it is a F650GS. Copy this, then click on the link and you can paste it in. Log in as a new member, then enter the vin. It's a small fuss, but not too bad to get on the site. Please take the time.http://www.bmwxplor.com/riders/Shadetree
Ok, here's the deal. I just learned that I have been selected as a semifinalist in the BMW GS Trophy competition to be held in Tunisia, October 15-24th. I am one of 20 from which they will pick six to compete as finalists in Spartanburg, South Carolina August 28th. I will copy BMW's criteria below, but basically, here's what they want to know. Anything positive you can share about my leadership abilities, riding skill, fitness as an ambassador in a worldwide event, general athletic ability, you get the drift. I am competing against men in many cases, half my age, but this is not a race, per se. It is a skills competition. Balance, control, and the ability to think as well as ride through tough situations will be paramount. Please keep this fun but serious. I intend to show, largely through the comments from you, that my friends are first class people; the kind of people BMW will be proud to have represent their motorcycles.
Here is some of what I received from BMW today.
Dear International GS Trophy Finalists -
Congratulations on making the cut to be one of the top twenty riders selected for Team USA. We now have a few additional requirements that are vital for our selection of the six finalists who will go to Spartanburg on August 28 for the on-site ride test that will determine the final three chosen to represent the U.S. in Tunisia from October 15-24. The selection to date has been arduous enough for us, now the hard work really starts as we call your fellow riders and your local dealer to find out more about you.
The absolute final deadline to provide this information is Monday 5PM EST, August 11.
This gives us just four days to select our six finalists which we will announce on August 15 EOD, so the sooner you can give us this information, the easier it will be for us. If you do not respond by the Monday 5PM deadline, your entry will be dropped and another rider will take your place.
Immediate Requirements
5) You will want to encourage as many friends, family and riding buddies to go on to your blog and post glowing recommendations about you (they don't have to be BMW owners - let them register using your own VIN number). This is one of the ways we determine what kind of ambassador you will be for the GS Trophy. .
Criteria
As you talk to your friends and riding buddies to provide references or to post on your XPLOR blog, again bear in mind the criteria we are looking for and that we announced on August 5. Remember that we are not just looking at riding ability - we also want the "people" skills that will make teamwork possible and the whole experience as enjoyable as possible for all concerned. Tunisia will be a tough ride - that is why we are looking for riders who will appreciate that old German saying that "We laugh because it is forbidden to cry."
What We are Looking For
Skill (The basic ability of the rider, including familiarity with the heavier enduro bikes - competition is a plus but not a final determinant, because almost all competition is on smaller, lighter bikes than the F 800 GS you will be riding in Tunisia. We are not looking for professional racers: more like, gifted amateurs.)
Experience (Amount of dirt riding done both in years and in mileage on a consistent basis especially on BMW bikes, including training in enduro parks like Hechlingen and Spartanburg, participation in AMA Adventure or Dual-Sport rides, XPLOR rides, amateur rallies etc.)
Teamwork (Being able to work with others as a team is critical: assisting or leading group rides or in other GS-challenge type events, this also includes expertise useful to a group like mechanical aptitude, EMT/medical training, military, etc. We are looking for a good comrade and not a "look at me, I'm a star" kind of person.)
Fitness (You must be absolutely, physically fit to do this ride, upper body strength, endurance are all important.)
Ambassador (We expect you to be articulate enough to talk into a camera, and know enough fellow riders to share your experience as broadly as possible - but we want above all for our American riders to be great ambassadors for the USA during the event.
Laurence Kuykendall
Community & Communications Manager
BMW Motorrad USA
200 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677
Here is a link that describes the event:
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/xplorgs/tunisia.jsp
I cannot thank you enough for helping make this possible. I just want my shot in Spartanburg. The rest is up to God...and me.
Bill
See you all soon, David H
I need your help to succeed in this. Deadline, this Monday by noon or thereabouts! I promise if ever given the opportunity, I will do the same for you. Please read this email before accessing the link and feel free to pass it along to anyone else who might be willing to give me a nod.
After familiarizing yourself with the need, click on the link below to access my rider profile. Then go to my blog where you can add comments. You will need my vin# to log in. WB10185A75ZL41103 Motorcycle name isn't needed, but it is a F650GS. Copy this, then click on the link and you can paste it in. Log in as a new member, then enter the vin. It's a small fuss, but not too bad to get on the site. Please take the time.http://www.bmwxplor.com/riders/Shadetree
Ok, here's the deal. I just learned that I have been selected as a semifinalist in the BMW GS Trophy competition to be held in Tunisia, October 15-24th. I am one of 20 from which they will pick six to compete as finalists in Spartanburg, South Carolina August 28th. I will copy BMW's criteria below, but basically, here's what they want to know. Anything positive you can share about my leadership abilities, riding skill, fitness as an ambassador in a worldwide event, general athletic ability, you get the drift. I am competing against men in many cases, half my age, but this is not a race, per se. It is a skills competition. Balance, control, and the ability to think as well as ride through tough situations will be paramount. Please keep this fun but serious. I intend to show, largely through the comments from you, that my friends are first class people; the kind of people BMW will be proud to have represent their motorcycles.
Here is some of what I received from BMW today.
Dear International GS Trophy Finalists -
Congratulations on making the cut to be one of the top twenty riders selected for Team USA. We now have a few additional requirements that are vital for our selection of the six finalists who will go to Spartanburg on August 28 for the on-site ride test that will determine the final three chosen to represent the U.S. in Tunisia from October 15-24. The selection to date has been arduous enough for us, now the hard work really starts as we call your fellow riders and your local dealer to find out more about you.
The absolute final deadline to provide this information is Monday 5PM EST, August 11.
This gives us just four days to select our six finalists which we will announce on August 15 EOD, so the sooner you can give us this information, the easier it will be for us. If you do not respond by the Monday 5PM deadline, your entry will be dropped and another rider will take your place.
Immediate Requirements
5) You will want to encourage as many friends, family and riding buddies to go on to your blog and post glowing recommendations about you (they don't have to be BMW owners - let them register using your own VIN number). This is one of the ways we determine what kind of ambassador you will be for the GS Trophy. .
Criteria
As you talk to your friends and riding buddies to provide references or to post on your XPLOR blog, again bear in mind the criteria we are looking for and that we announced on August 5. Remember that we are not just looking at riding ability - we also want the "people" skills that will make teamwork possible and the whole experience as enjoyable as possible for all concerned. Tunisia will be a tough ride - that is why we are looking for riders who will appreciate that old German saying that "We laugh because it is forbidden to cry."
What We are Looking For
Skill (The basic ability of the rider, including familiarity with the heavier enduro bikes - competition is a plus but not a final determinant, because almost all competition is on smaller, lighter bikes than the F 800 GS you will be riding in Tunisia. We are not looking for professional racers: more like, gifted amateurs.)
Experience (Amount of dirt riding done both in years and in mileage on a consistent basis especially on BMW bikes, including training in enduro parks like Hechlingen and Spartanburg, participation in AMA Adventure or Dual-Sport rides, XPLOR rides, amateur rallies etc.)
Teamwork (Being able to work with others as a team is critical: assisting or leading group rides or in other GS-challenge type events, this also includes expertise useful to a group like mechanical aptitude, EMT/medical training, military, etc. We are looking for a good comrade and not a "look at me, I'm a star" kind of person.)
Fitness (You must be absolutely, physically fit to do this ride, upper body strength, endurance are all important.)
Ambassador (We expect you to be articulate enough to talk into a camera, and know enough fellow riders to share your experience as broadly as possible - but we want above all for our American riders to be great ambassadors for the USA during the event.
Laurence Kuykendall
Community & Communications Manager
BMW Motorrad USA
200 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677
Here is a link that describes the event:
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/xplorgs/tunisia.jsp
I cannot thank you enough for helping make this possible. I just want my shot in Spartanburg. The rest is up to God...and me.
Bill
See you all soon, David H