22nd Annual IMOC Rally
by Steven Rossi

On September 11, 2005, the Italian Motorcycle Owners Club (IMOC) once again held its all-Italian Rally in familiar Sturbridge, Massachusetts. And once again, attendance records were not only broken, but shattered when the cognoscenti convened along the edge of the lake at the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club.

A full show field down below, four-wheeler parking in excess up top, a packed concession inside and shot-gun fire over the hill could perhaps cause concern among the uninitiated and new recruits. But for those of us who have been down Hamilton Road before, the miles turned to smiles when the $5 was paid at the gate to unlock the treasure trove of Italian exotica the lie ahead.

Yes, examples of anything and everything were on hand, most times, in multiples…beyond just a single sample. For those who may be new to our fraternity, it could take years to come across this vast array of machines which read like an entry from the Encyclopedia of Motorcycles.

On this given Sunday, there was enough variety to validate the fact that the IMOC Rally is the oldest, longest-running and biggest all-Italian gathering in America! This year, having been overwhelmed at the gate, we actually lost count of what came in. But we do know that we supplied 100 more pins and registration packets than in 2004, and we breezed right through those.

So after last year’s 353 Italian bikes and 600-700 participants, it appears that 2005 resulted in an easy 400 bikes on hand and certainly 700-800 people on the ground. What we do know, is this is basically what attended…though the specific quantities remain hard to pin down:

If anything, what this shows is that we’re going to need more help at the gate next year. So if you’d like to volunteer, please contact ye editor.

Award-wise, here’s who brought home the hardware…starting with the featured marque
–Aermacchi, including Harley Sprint, etc:

BEST AERMACCHI, 2 STROKE Mike Mahan 1969 H-D Rapido
BEST AERMACCHI, 4 STROKE Chris Frost 1965 SS 350 Sprint

BEST APRILIA Vinny Vallars 2003 RSV

BEST BEVEL DUCATI Rich Albee 1979 750 GT
BEST BELT DUCATI Will Hadder 1993 888 SPO
2nd BEST BELT DUCATI Tom Whittaker 2000 Monster

1st ETCETERINI Louis Saif 1983 Ducati TT1
2nd ETCETERINI John Hemling 1974 Ducati 750

BEST LAVERDA Dave Laemmle 1982 Montjuic

BEST BIG GUZZI John Chicole 1967 V700
2nd BEST BIG GUZZI Scott Kegelman 1993 1000S
BEST SMALL GUZZI John Tavolacci 1939 Airone

BEST SCOOTER Ken Dreleus 1952 Vespa

BEST SINGLE Harry Elliot 1970 Ducati Mark 3D

HIGH MILEAGE AWARD Eric Eckman 1982 Laverda 1200

LONG DISTANCE Bob Viall 1975 Moto Guzzi 850 (from Cleveland, Ohio)

CONCOURS CUP Robin Lawrence 1981 MV Agusta

PEOPLE’S CHOICE Steve Bolvari Moto Guzzi Chopper

Numerous dealers were also present as well, on their day off, and they were all extremely generous with door prize donations. Which would logically lead any sincere enthusiast to conclude: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ITALIAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER!

Like last year, the event also gained enough critical mass to garner good media coverage. The New England Sports Network (NESN), which carries the Boston Red Sox games, was on hand filming a segment for their RIDE.TV show. The MOTORCYCLIST’s POST publication also worked the field to the delight of its readers.

The 2006 event is already booked for Sunday, September 10 at the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club in Sturbridge, MA. Watch www.imocusa.com for details, along with MOTOCICLISTA. Bimota will be the featured marque, and we’ve already made contact with their new importer in New York…who seems quite interested in participating.

We’ll also have new IMOC parking pucks for sale at a nominal fee for the grassy area. We (or at least our side stands) just can’t keep up with demand for plywood planks. And we look to improve the P.A. system.

In the interim, it’s not too soon for you to start planning for next year as well. Spread the word, feel free to volunteer, help work the chat pages on the internet, pull that old crock out of the shed and get ‘er ready – there’s plenty of time. The 23rd Annual IMOC Rally on Sunday, September 10, 2006 at the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club in Sturbridge, MA promises to be bigger and better than ever!

The 22nd annual IMOC Rally was held on Sunday, September 11th, 2005 at the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

For more information about IMOC, the annual rally or to receive MOTOCICLISTA, IMOC's monthly newsletter, please contact:

Bob Andren - 401.397.4253 | bobkandren@verizon.net
Steven Rossi - 860.873.2999 | sldmrossi@aol.com