Were The Polaris Guys There?

[Phil"the grizz']

Haven't heard anything... Man thats what happens when you miss Branson!! Killing me not knowing whats up.... Thanks Phil

[Hunters Friend]

You picked the perfect year to miss then. For the previous 7 years we have had someone from corporate here to Q&A. This year they let me know right up front that they were against the wall for deadlines and did not see how they could attend. Fair enough and understandable.

 

OTOH - they plan to be heavily involved with number 10.

[Toyman]

I missed what was said at the Sat. lunch by the N. Carol. dealer.

 

Would hope someone will chime in a give us the scoop.

 

Had a great time cruising in God's Country on my 2000 Chief.

[Phil"the grizz']

You picked the perfect year to miss then. For the previous 7 years we have had someone from corporate here to Q&A. This year they let me know right up front that they were against the wall for deadlines and did not see how they could attend. Fair enough and understandable.

 

OTOH - they plan to be heavily involved with number 10.

Thanks Mike,,,,,,, and its never a good year to miss Branson.... Sure missed you Buddy! Missed everyone!!!

[Brock]

yeah, glad to see they are taking deadlines serious and actually busting ass to keep promises....if they got to miss a year guess this was as good as any if the end result is as good as they promise.

 

see ya next year Mike....already laying out the propaganda at work so there will be no surprises when I want a full 10 days off work. LOL

[Hunters Friend]

Lol go get em Brock! One thing is for sure, other than the anticipation waiting for KISS to unveil their latest costumes , I dont think there has ever been as much hype waiting to see what a company is gping to release.

[Hunters Friend]

You and Karen were VERY missed, believe me. Same with Rosie, Brian, Charlie and others.

[Chiefin]

They coulda sent someone,,, a flunkie to pass out Polairs shirts,, Represent the Company ,,,guess all the office gang is in the shop building Bikes in their armani suits,,,, Yeah,,,thats it

[Hunters Friend]

Eh... wrongo

 

They did have someone - Mark Moses.

 

Stated he was working under an NDA. Stated that there were 20 such people working under the same agreement. Stated that a couple of those people were at the IRIP. Had a reasonable amount of information that he could disclose. Spoke that a radiated motor is not something that is going to happen. Instead they are working on new designs with oil cooled. Spoke to dealerships and the number ultimately achieving approximately 150 nationwide and that not all Victory dealerships would be Indian dealerships.

 

I have said this before and will say it again. Just because I throw a party no one is obligated to come. Not Gilroy, not Kings Mountain, not Polaris. Not even you Chiefin.

 

(Cough, cough... that's right - you haven't been here either. )

 

What happens if Phil decides to throw an Indian party out in Colorado? 335 has a BBQ. Eddie has the Barn. There is 4 corners. Greenwood might think Tyler Texas would be a good spot for a party. Does everyone get a company rep at their "Indian" party?

 

It humbles the hell out of me to think for the past 8 years we have even been acknowledged by the owners of Indian. Yes, we have quite a few of them concentrated here - but the reality is this. Each year we bring in something around the area of 150 to 200 bikes and riders. Man, that doesn't even equate to hardly 1% of the stock Gilroy ever sold. But yet, that 1% is just enough to get corporate to jump through hoops over the years and lend a hand, pick up a pricey ticket for a catered meal, and generally have someone flown in to do a Q&A.

 

Believe me, they have done enough and I for one am very thankful.

[badndn]

Ok...I'm a realist. Don't take this as negative, but it's just the truth. If they wanted someone there....they would have had someone there. They didn't have anybody at the Barn back in early October either. They fly people all over the nation for these 'committee' meetings. They got money to burn. Indian is not owned by a person or a small company anymore. It is and will always be "different". I love Mark Moses, but he would have been there anyway. They will be there (or anywhere) on a 'as needed' basis. When THEY need to be there and it benefits them. If they have the new Chief ready to roll out and get some free publicity, they will show next year. Maybe.

 

They didn't have to even have a question answer session. They didn't have to send the CEO. They didn't even have to buy a meal. All they had to do was hang out. They could have drove on their personal time.

Edited May 22, 2012 by badndn

[indian al]

Ok...I'm a realist. Don't take this as negative, but it's just the truth. If they wanted someone there....they would have had someone there. They didn't have anybody at the Barn back in early October either. They fly people all over the nation for these 'committee' meetings. They got money to burn. Indian is not owned by a person or a small company anymore. It is and will always be "different". I love Mark Moses, but he would have been there anyway. They will be there (or anywhere) on a 'as needed' basis. When THEY need to be there and it benefits them. If they have the new Chief ready to roll out and get some free publicity, they will show next year. Maybe.

 

They didn't have to even have a question answer session. They didn't have to send the CEO. They didn't even have to buy a meal. All they had to do was hang out. They could have drove on their personal time.

 

 

 

 

They did. they asked Mark to do this. Mark is in on there commities. he flies down there for all kinds of indian related meetings to do with the bikes not his dealership. dont make this an indian bashing thing ed ok?

[badndn]

They did. they asked Mark to do this. Mark is in on there commities. he flies down there for all kinds of indian related meetings to do with the bikes not his dealership. dont make this an indian bashing thing ed ok?

Why would it be an Indian bashing thing? I love Indian as much as anybody. Let's not make it an over moderated Indian/Polaris love-fest either. Let people speak their mind without trying to moderate opinion. The fact remains they did not send a corporate rep to the event. They should have and there is really no excuse for them not doing so. Mark is not a corporate rep. Let's just discuss the merits of the thread and not try to make it something else.

[Brock]

I don't think he is bashing...just being factual. Yes Mark has insight...but Mark is a dealership owner and not a Polaris/Indian employee.....that is the difference. His knowledge and such may be valid and right on the money....but he was an Iron Indian Rider Association member and friend long before he became the owner of Indian of Charlotte. HE would have been there with or without them...as he was.

There are apparently a few people on their committees as Mike K alluded....but yes they could have stuck someone that is an Indian Motorcycle employee on plane or gave them a few days off to ride an Indian down for the event even if just to fly the colors without saying anything or making any formal appearance.

 

Dont feel bad...they did not come to THE BARN the past two years in a row.....Mark did but he is family and does not count.

[Hunters Friend]

Definitely two ways of looking at the same fish with one calling it a pet and the other calling it a meal.

 

I dunno, I have always been of the opinion that no one is obligated to do anything on behalf of Hunter's Friend - Handan or myself when it comes to this rally. I have also stated the exact same thing for the leadership of IIRA. I realized a long time ago it was a helluva an expense to Mike and Dave to come here and told them on several occassions it was absolutely reasonable for them to skip future rallies.

 

Do I expect Polaris to be here for #10? Oh absolutely. Would I be offended if they weren't? Not necessarily. Again, the original intent was Mike Wilson wanted to get together here in the Ozarks to meet up with some friends and go for a ride and that was it.

 

We have ahd almost zero press coverage of the event for the past 9 years. From day 1 we were told and continued to be told

 

"If the event is 300 - it will make the Branson newspaper. If it is 1,000 - it will make the Springfield newspaper. If it is 10,000 it will make the Kansas City Star."

 

When you really break it down, it is really is a small small rally/gathering of which there are literally dozens around the nation.

 

I can honestly say I was only offended once (genuinely offended) when Kings Mountain did not show up at the grand opening of the dealership in Paducah Kentucky. Regardless where the store was (strip mall) or the immediate size of the market (Paducah) I thought it showed a complete lack of class to not be there supporting a dealer who sunk an obvious amount of money into their product.

 

Beynd that, from my perspective I have always felt thankful for the help (large or small) we have received. IOW I think the fish is a pet.

Edited May 22, 2012 by Hunters Friend

[Eraserhead]

Leadership from the IIRA was there though, Joe Howard, HarleyNot and myself.

 

Polaris/Indian does not have an obligation to show up, but they did send some shirts and asked Mark Moses to represent them. They provided a luch for all in attendance, to me, that's showing up. Thank you Polaris/Indian for what you did do.

[badndn]

I don't think they are obligated at all. They owe us nothing. Although they have used us when it is convienient and to their advantage. Again, not being negative just factual. That said, I personally feel like it would have taken VERY LITTLE effort or money to have someone there. For no other reason than to show they are willing to do a little more than the minimum they have to do. It would have been a small gesture of good will and thanks for the support. So... when a billion dollar company chooses to not send a single representative to an event you have to ask yourself why. I feel like it was not important enough to them. I can't think of a single other reason. They ain't that busy. It just didn't hit the scale as a "must do" thing.

Edited May 22, 2012 by badndn

[Hunters Friend]

They ain't that busy. It just didn't hit the scale as a "must do" thing.

 

Which again leads me back to my previous posts where I said almost the exact same thing. We are not on the scale as a "must do" which in turn leads me to be very thankful for the parts that they have done and were under no obligation to do.

[indian al]

I don't think they are obligated at all. They owe us nothing. Although they have used us when it is convienient and to their advantage. Again, not being negative just factual. That said, I personally feel like it would have taken VERY LITTLE effort or money to have someone there. For no other reason than to show they are willing to do a little more than the minimum they have to do. It would have been a small gesture of good will and thanks for the support. So... when a billion dollar company chooses to not send a single representative to an event you have to ask yourself why. I feel like it was not important enough to them. I can't think of a single other reason. They ain't that busy. It just didn't hit the scale as a "must do" thing.

 

 

 

so we will see you next year then?

 

 

Al

[badndn]

I don't know. Will I see you at the Barn? What does that have to do with anything? Polaris should have had somebody there.

[badndn]

Which again leads me back to my previous posts where I said almost the exact same thing. We are not on the scale as a "must do" which in turn leads me to be very thankful for the parts that they have done and were under no obligation to do.

 

So if they ignore us that's cool? Just throw us a little bone every now and then... What they are obligated to do and what we expect them to do or what they should do are different things. I just don't see patting them on the back for not giving enough of a shit to have a human being at the event. Not a thing we can do about it but I don't think t-shirts and a meal make it all good. We don't have to thank them for saying our event wasn't important enough to be attended by even one Polaris rep. They have had MONTHS to get someone there. I just don't think it was too much to ask. Maybe I am just totally wrong.

[Dang picken]

You ain't wrong . Big companies see it from Money angle . The feel like they can sell the product with out our help . They don't care about owners who already own the product . They figure that only a small percentage of us will buy a new bike any way . They will target the 35 to 45 year old market . Not us old guys . Hang tight to your older Indians they will go up in price . I just wonder how close to the indians we know will the new one look like . Not much I think .Just my 2 cents worth

[Brock]

I dont think you are wrong eddie.....and i have a feeling some wanted to be there but were told no. it is not the hometown setup we knew before...but is over now. whether it was intentional, bad planning, last minute change, or someone in marketing decided it was better to not go than to attend and have absolutely nothing different from last year they are willing to share. either way it is done....their legacy will be written based on the bikes they bring out in the beginning, how well they are accepted by the motorcycle public....not on whether they attended one of the regional bashes for IIRA. Afterall, they thought it was all by IRG....hell cant remember last time I saw an active IRG event or even someone that is active member.

 

I plan on being in Branson next year to see it and hear it myself if they attend....I am going for everyone else and this being 10th year anniversary. I will get drunk with or without anyone elses involvement. Hell, if I make it from Charleston without a major breakage I will be happy after my last trip on my Gilroy Chief turned into a debacle with blown engine outside of Little Rock....and that was with a rebuild. LMAO

[Last Resort]

Leadership from the IIRA was there though, Joe Howard, HarleyNot and myself.

 

:Beer-Chug[1]:

[badndn]

I dont think you are wrong eddie.....and i have a feeling some wanted to be there but were told no. it is not the hometown setup we knew before...but is over now. whether it was intentional, bad planning, last minute change, or someone in marketing decided it was better to not go than to attend and have absolutely nothing different from last year they are willing to share. either way it is done....their legacy will be written based on the bikes they bring out in the beginning, how well they are accepted by the motorcycle public....not on whether they attended one of the regional bashes for IIRA. Afterall, they thought it was all by IRG....hell cant remember last time I saw an active IRG event or even someone that is active member.

 

I plan on being in Branson next year to see it and hear it myself if they attend....I am going for everyone else and this being 10th year anniversary. I will get drunk with or without anyone elses involvement. Hell, if I make it from Charleston without a major breakage I will be happy after my last trip on my Gilroy Chief turned into a debacle with blown engine outside of Little Rock....and that was with a rebuild. LMAO

if you are there, I will be too. Let's be rubs and haul them in Scott's toy hauler though.

[pole dancer]

Wow - another reason i don't get on this forum! Understand that everyone has their opinion, but really - until YOU are there, then i don't think you deserve t express your opinionl Totally had a good time and i had thought this was what it was suppose to be about. Voice your opinion, but some don't have any right to talk the shit they are! In fact, if you are ALL THAT then maybe you need to be working at Polaris/Indian!! Just say'in!!