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There are some big changes for 2020, so you need to read this. There will be a “too long, didn’t read” section summarizing the changes in Post #2
Welcome to the 2020 Georgia Military Vehicle Rally (20GMVR) Official Info thread.
This is our 14th annual event. If you've never been, watch this:
A short video about the GMVR
If you've never been and you want to see thousands of pictures from prior years, you can see them all, broken down by years:
2019: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threa...eorgia-rally-multimedia-thread-19ssgr.191543/
2018: I can’t find it. I must be getting old.
2017: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-thread-17GMVR
2016: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-GMVR16-Thread
2015: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...timedia-thread
2014: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-SSGR14-thread
2013: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...timedia-thread
2012: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...timedia-thread
2010: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?59085-Newer!-2010-GA-Rally-Multimedia-Thread
I can’t find any of the others. 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 are all missing. There is a Facebook page that's open to the public (i.e. I don't think you need to have a Facebook account in order to view the albums): https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaMili...os/?tab=albums
What: The 2020 Georgia Military Vehicle Rally (20GMVR) is open to all military vehicles, foreign and domestic and all historic military vehicle enthusiasts. The rally features vehicle displays (in a laid back, non-organized fashion), swap meet, trail rides (offroading), hardball convoy (an organized convoy to a local attraction), camping, breakfast/lunch/dinners served from an authentic military kitchen trailer; all in a relaxed, family friendly environment.
When: November 4-8, 2020. Rain or shine.
Where: Durhamtown Plantation-an offroading facility in Union Point, Georgia. 2350 Randolph Church Rd, Union Point, GA 30669, 770.622.0148. GoogleMaps link: https://goo.gl/maps/dWVZt6K1iuR2
Who: We are Low Range Productions, a small, non-profit, all volunteer organization that puts on the event and www.steelsoldiers.com, arguably the internet’s largest historic military vehicles website and forum. We have put the event on non-stop, since 2007. You are a historic military vehicle enthusiast, interested in the preservation of military vehicles from all eras and countries.
Why: Because this is one of the best rallies in the country. Great offroading, with obstacles, mud or easy trails, great swap meet, laid back atmosphere, beautiful fall weather, etc. If you miss this event, you’ll regret it.
How (much): The rally doesn’t charge for anything other than food. It’s free to be a swap meet vendor and if you bring your own food, you won’t pay for food. The rally sells t-shirts to pay for the attorney, the accountant and the insurance policy we started carrying a couple years ago. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s free. Durhamtown will charge you for the following:
A. Attendance: If you’re at the rally, you’re using D-town’s facilities and they charge for that. If you plan on going off-roading, either as a passenger or a driver, the armbands you will purchase for the off-road park also cover your entry fee for the event (paying to be on D-town’s property). These fees are:
Drivers
$30 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of Jeeps and 4x4
$50 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of side-by-sides
$35 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of ATVs
$30 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of 4 wheel military vehicles
$50 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of 3 axle and larger military vehicles
Passengers
$10 – This is a 1-day passenger pass for any vehicle.
B. Lodging: If you sleep overnight on the premises, you will be charged for whatever is appropriate (primitive camping, an RV rental spot, a cabin or a Durhamtown RV). If you leave the rally each evening and stay offsite, obviously you won’t pay for anything other than your drivers/passengers armband. For campers, (General Camping, Vendors, Etc.) D-town will require a parking pass this year to be displayed on the rearview mirror or dash. You will receive this when paying for RV Site, Camping site. Security staff from Durhamtown will be monitoring the Rally area to ensure that all overnight campers have this displayed. RV Sites with power require reservations.
Camping-No Power-Sewer-Electric: This is the people who are camping in their vehicles or tents. These are the camp sites referred to as primitive and they are $10 per person per day.
Camping spots:
The cement pads in the vendor area are 25' x 50' and are $60 per day with a 2 day minimum
The power and water spots along the line where the MKT used to be are $40 per day with a 2 day minimum
Primitive camping in $10 per night per person
That’s the basics.
Here’s the details:
November 4-8, 2020. A few people show up earlier than Wednesday, but the rally doesn’t officially begin until Wednesday. The main days are Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning, the place clears out quickly. If you can only make one day, don’t plan on it being Sunday. Activities begin in earnest around 0900. There are night trail rides, so I’d say activities continue until 2200 or 2300 hours. Since the rally doesn't begin until Wednesday, if you show up on Monday and pick out a place, you may be asked to move once the staff shows up and begins organizing the field. Just a heads up.
Durhamtown Plantation is an offroad facility with tens of thousands of acres. There are areas that are dedicated to hunting, shooting, motocross bikes, ATVs and full size Jeep/truck trails. Durhamtown allows attendees to camp in their vehicles or tents for a primitive camping fee and they also offer cabins with varying levels of amenities and permanently parked RVs that act as cabins. Durhamtown has shower and bathroom facilities on the property so primitive campers have access to such amenities. Durhamtown’s address is 2350 Randolph Church Rd, Union Point, GA 30669 and their number is 770.622.0148. 10 years ago, they said that standard internet GPS programs (MapQuest, Yahoo/Google maps) would take you to some pretty crazy places because D-town was in such a rural area. They still have this disclaimer on their website, but I suspect map apps have gotten a lot better. I know I tried Google maps and it got me to D-town correctly. However, in order to ensure you don’t get lost, I would make sure you know how to get there before leaving. Their website has directions (here: https://www.durhamtown.com/directions-to-durhamtown). If you plan on renting an RV space at the rally field (they have about 10 spots with power and water) or a cabin or RV, you need to call their main office or go to their website and get your reservation. These fill up fast, so prepare accordingly.
What do I do when I get there? The first thing you should do when you get there is going to the Durhamtown Lodge if you are renting a cabin or an RV or renting an RV spot in the rally field. Get squared away with them first and then come down to the rally field. When you get there, stop at the rally registration tent. DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ELSE FIRST. Stop at the tent. They’ll get you squared away for the rally. They’ll tell you where to go, they’ll tell you any late changing information that this thread may not contain, they’ll take your money for the spectator’s fees, etc. They’ll direct you towards the parking/camping/swap meet areas. Swap meet vendors: We have enough space that we allow vendors to take as much space as they need. Please be polite and take only what you need. If you show up with a 53’ tractor trailer, we’ll make sure you get all the room you need and the way we can do that is making sure that space taken Is appropriate. There are aisles or rows set up in the swap meet area and we ask that vendors do not take their everyday transport vehicles in and out of the swap meet- we need to limit the amount of vehicles in movement in the swap meet area for safety. It’s tight quarters and with so many children and pets, we do not want someone getting accidentally run over. When you arrive at the rally, the registration tent personnel will direct you to the swap meet director and that person will show you where to go. There is a buy/sell/trade thread for the rally. You can post what you're looking for and what you can bring for sale here: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threa...y-vehicle-rally-buy-sell-trade-thread.197930/
Campers: When you get there and you hit the registration tent, they’ll take your money for the primitive camping fees and point you in the general direction of where you need to go and you can pick out the area that makes you happy. Once you’ve left the registration tent, you can get your campsite set up and begin enjoying the rally.
Offroaders: The offroading and trail rides are simply spectacular-we have everything from the very mildest trailrides that you could take a 100 point, trailer queen restored WWII Jeep on with absolutely no worries, all the way to very challenging terrain and of course, mud. Durhamtown does have a swamp, so if you love repacking wheel bearings-we can indulge. We always have 5 ton wreckers at the event, so there is no recovery operation we aren’t capable of performing. The opportunity to see a Deuce or 5 ton taking on a complicated obstacle course is awesome- and getting to see a 70+ year old Jeep showing that it still has what it takes to get the job done is something anyone can appreciate. And if you’ve never been on a night ride-offroading in the dark is super fun.
The rally does not organize trailrides – we tried every way under the sun for years and there was just no way to herd all the cats effectively. If you want to go on the trails, go find a few friends and ya’ll create the trail experience you want: easy, medium, crazy, etc. If you have a problem you can’t manage, send someone to the registration tent and we’ll send help.
Absolutely, unequivocally, no driving will be allowed if we think you’ve been drinking.
Hardball convoy: The hardball convoy is another way that the rally offers attendees an opportunity to participate with their vehicles. We take a group on a short trip (approximately 20 miles one way) on Saturday morning. This began completely by accident, as a bunch of guys loaded up and went to Union Point for lunch years ago and they inadvertently created the convoy. Over the years, it morphed into a feature of it’s own. It serves two purposes: it allows folks to get cool video and pictures of their trucks in a convoy with lots of other trucks and it allows attendees who aren’t offroading a chance to participate in the event with their truck.
Over the years, we had lunch at a state park, and the Greene County Recreation Center. The lunch was the excuse to have the convoy and we always knew it was a flimsy one. And the difficulty of managing thirty trucks, plus lunch for an unknown number of people has always been a challenge. So for 2020, we’re simply doing away with the lunch. We’re going to come up with a route, we’re going to try and find some volunteers to record it and then we’re going to turn everyone loose. This will achieve the goal of a fun trip with your friends, capture some video but instead of keeping you away from the rally for 3 or 4 hours on the busiest day, you should be back within an hour.
NOTE: Hardball convoy participants are required to run with their headlights on. We ask that emergency flashers not be used, since this is technically illegal for a vehicle in normal operation. We also ask that drivers not honk horns at the videographers-we’re trying to capture the distinctive sounds of the vehicles in actions, not a cacophony of horns blowing. Don’t worry-the videographer can see you.
2015 Hardball convoy:
NOTE: If you want to take part in the hardball convoy, we (GMVR) need to take a picture of your valid insurance card for the vehicle you're taking on the convoy. You can send this to me here on SS, through the rally Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaMilitaryVehicleRally/), etc.
Food: Ugh. The least fun part of writing up the 2020 thread.
Last year was SCSG-G4’s final year of MKT operation. Mike put such a herculean effort into doing this and never complained and I have little doubt the 120+ vehicle count of the rally is in large part due to his ludicrous service. Mike strived to give attendees an authentic experience of eating in a military kitchen trailer and cooked very good food in the middle of a field.
I know many of you will miss the chili-mac, but ya’ll are insane. I’m still looking forward to seeing you, but ya’ll are crazy.
This year, D-town is working on expanding their restaurant operations and hours and the rally is working on some alternatives as well. There will be more about this later.
Call for Volunteers: The Georgia Rally is run by volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talents to make this event happen. We are not paid, have full time jobs and are driven by a passion to help the historic military vehicle hobby grow and prosper. Please keep this fact in mind when you have complaints or feel that the guy camping next to you snores to loud. Volunteering makes the rally happen. Please use your gifts and talents to help where you are comfortable and can make a difference. If you do volunteer, you are making a commitment and as fine men and women you need to honor that commitment. Please PM me or Gunnermac if you’re interested.
Volunteers Needed:
Registration: We need volunteers to man the front gate and check in rally attendees and familiarize them with the layout of the field. Kenny can't stay there the entire time; he needs time for trail rides, convoys, social time, etc. We are looking at 3-4 hour blocks of time dependent on the number of volunteers. This is a great way to meet everyone and make a difference.
Logistics: There is always a need for pickup of ice, moving this item from point A to point B, finding something and many other items. Attendees who can volunteer for 3-4 hour blocks to be available for running around and odd tasks are welcome. We will have other needs and I will post them as the need comes up. You can post your desire to be a better and bigger part of the MV community by posting here or pm’ing me or Gunnermac.
Set-up and take-down: When the rally gear arrives (typically Wednesday, sometimes earlier), we need 8-10 guys to help set up the tents, tables, chairs, signs, handwashing stations, etc. And we especially need help taking it down Sunday.
This is important: we’re always short on both of these items and Sunday especially but this year will be way easier without the MKT.
Weather: As this is a week / week and a half later than we usually do the rally (due to D-town scheduling issues), we ask that you look at the weather data I’ve collected. In order to assist attendees in knowing what they’re in for, I have used two sources of historical temperature data:
The Weather Underground website (www.wunderground.com), which gets it’s data from the weather station at the Augusta Regional Airport, 75 miles away.
I have also sourced a second set of data from the Farmers Almanac, which gets its data from Dark Sky, a weather data aggregator which was recently purchased by Apple. Source: https://darksky.net/dev/docs/sources
The last 10 years weather on November 6th:
2019 temps: 75/52; 73/51
2018 temps: 78/59, 78/46
2017 temps: 82/0 (data not collected), 81/60
2016 temps: 75/38, 73/44
2015 temps: 77/65, 77/68
2014 temps: 79/55, 72/40
2013 temps: 76/50, 72/51
2012 temps: 52/38, 52/40
2011 temps: 70/47, 66/43
2010 temps: 57/35, 54/30
Note: in 2016, the wind was epic. A 10'x10' tent that was anchored with 4 tent stakes was completely pulled out of the ground and hit me in the head. Got really lucky it didn't hit my eyes or mouth. Be prepared for this sort of thing. If you're using tents, awnings, etc., make sure they're strong enough for inclement weather and make sure you have enough hardware to anchor them.
Please prepare accordingly-the weather could be perfect Southern fall weather, requiring nothing more than a t-shirt or it could be very chilly and rainy. At night around the campfire, you will likely want some kind of a jacket and perhaps hat, gloves, etc.
Communications: Durhamtown is in a rural area and cell phone reception is spotty at best. We have found text messaging to be a viable alternative to calls. Your phone will send the message when it catches a signal and the recipient will receive the message when possible.
Multimedia: There will be a multimedia thread that I’ll put up as the rally begins. We ask that all pictures and video links be shared there, so it’ll be a central point for attendees and visitors to enjoy. There is a Facebook page for the rally, you can see it here: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaMilitaryVehicleRally/. Any time I add an update to the rally thread, I'll add it to the Facebook page.
FAQ:
Is the rally child and animal friendly?
Yes-but as in all aspects of life, please show consideration for others. Aggressive dogs or constant barkers should be managed in a respectful way and poorly behaved children will be muzzled. The Georgia Rally is a family friendly affair, so behave accordingly.
Four years ago, we had an incident where a child was bitten by a dog. We ask that dog owners and caretakers of children exercise caution to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen. We are not implementing a leash rule, so we ask that everyone be aware that accidents can happen and be cautious towards others. As my dog got older, he got a little weird around strangers (aggressive). As a result, I stopped bringing him to the rally. My poor parents are now his dogsitters. He misses coming to the rally but he brought it on himself.
How many people will be there?
It’s safe to say we should have over 250 attendees and at least 100 military vehicles, plus trailers. The last 4 or 5 years, we’ve floated between 120 and 140+ powered vehicles.
Do I have to be a member of www.steelsoldiers.com to attend? What if I don’t own a (or can’t bring my) vehicle?
No, you have to be interested in the historic military vehicle hobby! If you do not have a vehicle, this isn’t a problem. We can probably even find someone to let you ride with on the trails if you wish to go.
Is there electricity at the rally? Yes and no. In the general camping field, no. There are 12 spots in the main rally field you can rent from Durhamtown for $25 a day that have power and water. Some of these have 3 pin/30A power, and some have dual 3 pin/30A as well as 4 pin/50A power. All have water spigots, and they now have a sanitation hookup (added in 2015). Two of these are taken for the MKT.
Do I need to bring firewood?
YES!!!!!!! Bring an entire forest! We cannot have enough. Pallets and other debris are not allowed. It has to be firewood-nothing that will leave behind glass, steel, nails or other fragments.
What is the rally weapons policy?
Durhamtown has a shooting range and we have seen a few snakes over the years in the woods, so firearms are allowed, but we do ask that attendees not open carry in the rally field. We are trying to promote a family friendly atmosphere and there are some PR issues at play as well. We appreciate attendees understanding on this issue.
Release of Liability
Steel Soldiers, Low Range Productions, LLC and/or Durhamtown Plantation, and any person acting in conjunction with those entities will not be held liable for any injuries to anyone attending the Georgia Rally or damage to personal/private property during the Georgia Rally. All persons accept this personal responsibility and release Low Range Productions, LLC and their agents (rally organizers, volunteers, etc.) and/or Durhamtown Plantation and their agents (employees, etc.) from all and any liability resulting from injury or damages to property from or by attending the rally. Attendance at the rally is and will be understood to signify acceptance of these terms.The LRP Georgia Rally is a Family Friendly Event. Violators will be asked to leave.
Field layout:Click image for larger version (yes, these are from 2018, but the layout has remained the same).
We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank our 2020 sponsor, Memphis Equipment, for their assistance. Without them, we'd have had a much more difficult time with the 2019 event. We thank them for their support of the GMVR and the historic military vehicle hobby.
Prior years event pics:
Welcome to the 2020 Georgia Military Vehicle Rally (20GMVR) Official Info thread.
This is our 14th annual event. If you've never been, watch this:
A short video about the GMVR
If you've never been and you want to see thousands of pictures from prior years, you can see them all, broken down by years:
2019: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threa...eorgia-rally-multimedia-thread-19ssgr.191543/
2018: I can’t find it. I must be getting old.
2017: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-thread-17GMVR
2016: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-GMVR16-Thread
2015: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...timedia-thread
2014: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-SSGR14-thread
2013: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...timedia-thread
2012: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...timedia-thread
2010: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?59085-Newer!-2010-GA-Rally-Multimedia-Thread
I can’t find any of the others. 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 are all missing. There is a Facebook page that's open to the public (i.e. I don't think you need to have a Facebook account in order to view the albums): https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaMili...os/?tab=albums
What: The 2020 Georgia Military Vehicle Rally (20GMVR) is open to all military vehicles, foreign and domestic and all historic military vehicle enthusiasts. The rally features vehicle displays (in a laid back, non-organized fashion), swap meet, trail rides (offroading), hardball convoy (an organized convoy to a local attraction), camping, breakfast/lunch/dinners served from an authentic military kitchen trailer; all in a relaxed, family friendly environment.
When: November 4-8, 2020. Rain or shine.
Where: Durhamtown Plantation-an offroading facility in Union Point, Georgia. 2350 Randolph Church Rd, Union Point, GA 30669, 770.622.0148. GoogleMaps link: https://goo.gl/maps/dWVZt6K1iuR2
Who: We are Low Range Productions, a small, non-profit, all volunteer organization that puts on the event and www.steelsoldiers.com, arguably the internet’s largest historic military vehicles website and forum. We have put the event on non-stop, since 2007. You are a historic military vehicle enthusiast, interested in the preservation of military vehicles from all eras and countries.
Why: Because this is one of the best rallies in the country. Great offroading, with obstacles, mud or easy trails, great swap meet, laid back atmosphere, beautiful fall weather, etc. If you miss this event, you’ll regret it.
How (much): The rally doesn’t charge for anything other than food. It’s free to be a swap meet vendor and if you bring your own food, you won’t pay for food. The rally sells t-shirts to pay for the attorney, the accountant and the insurance policy we started carrying a couple years ago. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s free. Durhamtown will charge you for the following:
A. Attendance: If you’re at the rally, you’re using D-town’s facilities and they charge for that. If you plan on going off-roading, either as a passenger or a driver, the armbands you will purchase for the off-road park also cover your entry fee for the event (paying to be on D-town’s property). These fees are:
Drivers
$30 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of Jeeps and 4x4
$50 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of side-by-sides
$35 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of ATVs
$30 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of 4 wheel military vehicles
$50 – This is a 1-day drivers pass for all drivers of 3 axle and larger military vehicles
Passengers
$10 – This is a 1-day passenger pass for any vehicle.
B. Lodging: If you sleep overnight on the premises, you will be charged for whatever is appropriate (primitive camping, an RV rental spot, a cabin or a Durhamtown RV). If you leave the rally each evening and stay offsite, obviously you won’t pay for anything other than your drivers/passengers armband. For campers, (General Camping, Vendors, Etc.) D-town will require a parking pass this year to be displayed on the rearview mirror or dash. You will receive this when paying for RV Site, Camping site. Security staff from Durhamtown will be monitoring the Rally area to ensure that all overnight campers have this displayed. RV Sites with power require reservations.
Camping-No Power-Sewer-Electric: This is the people who are camping in their vehicles or tents. These are the camp sites referred to as primitive and they are $10 per person per day.
Camping spots:
The cement pads in the vendor area are 25' x 50' and are $60 per day with a 2 day minimum
The power and water spots along the line where the MKT used to be are $40 per day with a 2 day minimum
Primitive camping in $10 per night per person
That’s the basics.
Here’s the details:
November 4-8, 2020. A few people show up earlier than Wednesday, but the rally doesn’t officially begin until Wednesday. The main days are Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning, the place clears out quickly. If you can only make one day, don’t plan on it being Sunday. Activities begin in earnest around 0900. There are night trail rides, so I’d say activities continue until 2200 or 2300 hours. Since the rally doesn't begin until Wednesday, if you show up on Monday and pick out a place, you may be asked to move once the staff shows up and begins organizing the field. Just a heads up.
Durhamtown Plantation is an offroad facility with tens of thousands of acres. There are areas that are dedicated to hunting, shooting, motocross bikes, ATVs and full size Jeep/truck trails. Durhamtown allows attendees to camp in their vehicles or tents for a primitive camping fee and they also offer cabins with varying levels of amenities and permanently parked RVs that act as cabins. Durhamtown has shower and bathroom facilities on the property so primitive campers have access to such amenities. Durhamtown’s address is 2350 Randolph Church Rd, Union Point, GA 30669 and their number is 770.622.0148. 10 years ago, they said that standard internet GPS programs (MapQuest, Yahoo/Google maps) would take you to some pretty crazy places because D-town was in such a rural area. They still have this disclaimer on their website, but I suspect map apps have gotten a lot better. I know I tried Google maps and it got me to D-town correctly. However, in order to ensure you don’t get lost, I would make sure you know how to get there before leaving. Their website has directions (here: https://www.durhamtown.com/directions-to-durhamtown). If you plan on renting an RV space at the rally field (they have about 10 spots with power and water) or a cabin or RV, you need to call their main office or go to their website and get your reservation. These fill up fast, so prepare accordingly.
What do I do when I get there? The first thing you should do when you get there is going to the Durhamtown Lodge if you are renting a cabin or an RV or renting an RV spot in the rally field. Get squared away with them first and then come down to the rally field. When you get there, stop at the rally registration tent. DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ELSE FIRST. Stop at the tent. They’ll get you squared away for the rally. They’ll tell you where to go, they’ll tell you any late changing information that this thread may not contain, they’ll take your money for the spectator’s fees, etc. They’ll direct you towards the parking/camping/swap meet areas. Swap meet vendors: We have enough space that we allow vendors to take as much space as they need. Please be polite and take only what you need. If you show up with a 53’ tractor trailer, we’ll make sure you get all the room you need and the way we can do that is making sure that space taken Is appropriate. There are aisles or rows set up in the swap meet area and we ask that vendors do not take their everyday transport vehicles in and out of the swap meet- we need to limit the amount of vehicles in movement in the swap meet area for safety. It’s tight quarters and with so many children and pets, we do not want someone getting accidentally run over. When you arrive at the rally, the registration tent personnel will direct you to the swap meet director and that person will show you where to go. There is a buy/sell/trade thread for the rally. You can post what you're looking for and what you can bring for sale here: https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threa...y-vehicle-rally-buy-sell-trade-thread.197930/
Campers: When you get there and you hit the registration tent, they’ll take your money for the primitive camping fees and point you in the general direction of where you need to go and you can pick out the area that makes you happy. Once you’ve left the registration tent, you can get your campsite set up and begin enjoying the rally.
Offroaders: The offroading and trail rides are simply spectacular-we have everything from the very mildest trailrides that you could take a 100 point, trailer queen restored WWII Jeep on with absolutely no worries, all the way to very challenging terrain and of course, mud. Durhamtown does have a swamp, so if you love repacking wheel bearings-we can indulge. We always have 5 ton wreckers at the event, so there is no recovery operation we aren’t capable of performing. The opportunity to see a Deuce or 5 ton taking on a complicated obstacle course is awesome- and getting to see a 70+ year old Jeep showing that it still has what it takes to get the job done is something anyone can appreciate. And if you’ve never been on a night ride-offroading in the dark is super fun.
The rally does not organize trailrides – we tried every way under the sun for years and there was just no way to herd all the cats effectively. If you want to go on the trails, go find a few friends and ya’ll create the trail experience you want: easy, medium, crazy, etc. If you have a problem you can’t manage, send someone to the registration tent and we’ll send help.
Absolutely, unequivocally, no driving will be allowed if we think you’ve been drinking.
Hardball convoy: The hardball convoy is another way that the rally offers attendees an opportunity to participate with their vehicles. We take a group on a short trip (approximately 20 miles one way) on Saturday morning. This began completely by accident, as a bunch of guys loaded up and went to Union Point for lunch years ago and they inadvertently created the convoy. Over the years, it morphed into a feature of it’s own. It serves two purposes: it allows folks to get cool video and pictures of their trucks in a convoy with lots of other trucks and it allows attendees who aren’t offroading a chance to participate in the event with their truck.
Over the years, we had lunch at a state park, and the Greene County Recreation Center. The lunch was the excuse to have the convoy and we always knew it was a flimsy one. And the difficulty of managing thirty trucks, plus lunch for an unknown number of people has always been a challenge. So for 2020, we’re simply doing away with the lunch. We’re going to come up with a route, we’re going to try and find some volunteers to record it and then we’re going to turn everyone loose. This will achieve the goal of a fun trip with your friends, capture some video but instead of keeping you away from the rally for 3 or 4 hours on the busiest day, you should be back within an hour.
NOTE: Hardball convoy participants are required to run with their headlights on. We ask that emergency flashers not be used, since this is technically illegal for a vehicle in normal operation. We also ask that drivers not honk horns at the videographers-we’re trying to capture the distinctive sounds of the vehicles in actions, not a cacophony of horns blowing. Don’t worry-the videographer can see you.
2015 Hardball convoy:
NOTE: If you want to take part in the hardball convoy, we (GMVR) need to take a picture of your valid insurance card for the vehicle you're taking on the convoy. You can send this to me here on SS, through the rally Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaMilitaryVehicleRally/), etc.
Food: Ugh. The least fun part of writing up the 2020 thread.
Last year was SCSG-G4’s final year of MKT operation. Mike put such a herculean effort into doing this and never complained and I have little doubt the 120+ vehicle count of the rally is in large part due to his ludicrous service. Mike strived to give attendees an authentic experience of eating in a military kitchen trailer and cooked very good food in the middle of a field.
I know many of you will miss the chili-mac, but ya’ll are insane. I’m still looking forward to seeing you, but ya’ll are crazy.
This year, D-town is working on expanding their restaurant operations and hours and the rally is working on some alternatives as well. There will be more about this later.
Call for Volunteers: The Georgia Rally is run by volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talents to make this event happen. We are not paid, have full time jobs and are driven by a passion to help the historic military vehicle hobby grow and prosper. Please keep this fact in mind when you have complaints or feel that the guy camping next to you snores to loud. Volunteering makes the rally happen. Please use your gifts and talents to help where you are comfortable and can make a difference. If you do volunteer, you are making a commitment and as fine men and women you need to honor that commitment. Please PM me or Gunnermac if you’re interested.
Volunteers Needed:
Registration: We need volunteers to man the front gate and check in rally attendees and familiarize them with the layout of the field. Kenny can't stay there the entire time; he needs time for trail rides, convoys, social time, etc. We are looking at 3-4 hour blocks of time dependent on the number of volunteers. This is a great way to meet everyone and make a difference.
Logistics: There is always a need for pickup of ice, moving this item from point A to point B, finding something and many other items. Attendees who can volunteer for 3-4 hour blocks to be available for running around and odd tasks are welcome. We will have other needs and I will post them as the need comes up. You can post your desire to be a better and bigger part of the MV community by posting here or pm’ing me or Gunnermac.
Set-up and take-down: When the rally gear arrives (typically Wednesday, sometimes earlier), we need 8-10 guys to help set up the tents, tables, chairs, signs, handwashing stations, etc. And we especially need help taking it down Sunday.
This is important: we’re always short on both of these items and Sunday especially but this year will be way easier without the MKT.
Weather: As this is a week / week and a half later than we usually do the rally (due to D-town scheduling issues), we ask that you look at the weather data I’ve collected. In order to assist attendees in knowing what they’re in for, I have used two sources of historical temperature data:
The Weather Underground website (www.wunderground.com), which gets it’s data from the weather station at the Augusta Regional Airport, 75 miles away.
I have also sourced a second set of data from the Farmers Almanac, which gets its data from Dark Sky, a weather data aggregator which was recently purchased by Apple. Source: https://darksky.net/dev/docs/sources
The last 10 years weather on November 6th:
2019 temps: 75/52; 73/51
2018 temps: 78/59, 78/46
2017 temps: 82/0 (data not collected), 81/60
2016 temps: 75/38, 73/44
2015 temps: 77/65, 77/68
2014 temps: 79/55, 72/40
2013 temps: 76/50, 72/51
2012 temps: 52/38, 52/40
2011 temps: 70/47, 66/43
2010 temps: 57/35, 54/30
Note: in 2016, the wind was epic. A 10'x10' tent that was anchored with 4 tent stakes was completely pulled out of the ground and hit me in the head. Got really lucky it didn't hit my eyes or mouth. Be prepared for this sort of thing. If you're using tents, awnings, etc., make sure they're strong enough for inclement weather and make sure you have enough hardware to anchor them.
Please prepare accordingly-the weather could be perfect Southern fall weather, requiring nothing more than a t-shirt or it could be very chilly and rainy. At night around the campfire, you will likely want some kind of a jacket and perhaps hat, gloves, etc.
Communications: Durhamtown is in a rural area and cell phone reception is spotty at best. We have found text messaging to be a viable alternative to calls. Your phone will send the message when it catches a signal and the recipient will receive the message when possible.
Multimedia: There will be a multimedia thread that I’ll put up as the rally begins. We ask that all pictures and video links be shared there, so it’ll be a central point for attendees and visitors to enjoy. There is a Facebook page for the rally, you can see it here: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaMilitaryVehicleRally/. Any time I add an update to the rally thread, I'll add it to the Facebook page.
FAQ:
Is the rally child and animal friendly?
Yes-but as in all aspects of life, please show consideration for others. Aggressive dogs or constant barkers should be managed in a respectful way and poorly behaved children will be muzzled. The Georgia Rally is a family friendly affair, so behave accordingly.
Four years ago, we had an incident where a child was bitten by a dog. We ask that dog owners and caretakers of children exercise caution to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen. We are not implementing a leash rule, so we ask that everyone be aware that accidents can happen and be cautious towards others. As my dog got older, he got a little weird around strangers (aggressive). As a result, I stopped bringing him to the rally. My poor parents are now his dogsitters. He misses coming to the rally but he brought it on himself.
How many people will be there?
It’s safe to say we should have over 250 attendees and at least 100 military vehicles, plus trailers. The last 4 or 5 years, we’ve floated between 120 and 140+ powered vehicles.
Do I have to be a member of www.steelsoldiers.com to attend? What if I don’t own a (or can’t bring my) vehicle?
No, you have to be interested in the historic military vehicle hobby! If you do not have a vehicle, this isn’t a problem. We can probably even find someone to let you ride with on the trails if you wish to go.
Is there electricity at the rally? Yes and no. In the general camping field, no. There are 12 spots in the main rally field you can rent from Durhamtown for $25 a day that have power and water. Some of these have 3 pin/30A power, and some have dual 3 pin/30A as well as 4 pin/50A power. All have water spigots, and they now have a sanitation hookup (added in 2015). Two of these are taken for the MKT.
Do I need to bring firewood?
YES!!!!!!! Bring an entire forest! We cannot have enough. Pallets and other debris are not allowed. It has to be firewood-nothing that will leave behind glass, steel, nails or other fragments.
What is the rally weapons policy?
Durhamtown has a shooting range and we have seen a few snakes over the years in the woods, so firearms are allowed, but we do ask that attendees not open carry in the rally field. We are trying to promote a family friendly atmosphere and there are some PR issues at play as well. We appreciate attendees understanding on this issue.
Release of Liability
Steel Soldiers, Low Range Productions, LLC and/or Durhamtown Plantation, and any person acting in conjunction with those entities will not be held liable for any injuries to anyone attending the Georgia Rally or damage to personal/private property during the Georgia Rally. All persons accept this personal responsibility and release Low Range Productions, LLC and their agents (rally organizers, volunteers, etc.) and/or Durhamtown Plantation and their agents (employees, etc.) from all and any liability resulting from injury or damages to property from or by attending the rally. Attendance at the rally is and will be understood to signify acceptance of these terms.The LRP Georgia Rally is a Family Friendly Event. Violators will be asked to leave.
Field layout:Click image for larger version (yes, these are from 2018, but the layout has remained the same).
We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank our 2020 sponsor, Memphis Equipment, for their assistance. Without them, we'd have had a much more difficult time with the 2019 event. We thank them for their support of the GMVR and the historic military vehicle hobby.
Prior years event pics:
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