by Fred Jewell

WHY DOES THE CLUB DO A MILEAGE CONTEST EACH YEAR?
(just in case you were asking)

First of all, I, (your not-so-humble contest designer), have always felt that our club is a riding club, not a TT club as other leather-clad organizations tend to be. (TT in this case meaning Tavern to Tavern, not Tourist Trophy). BMW riders have always been associated with touring, long distance riding, and, since the advent of the R80GS, adventure/dirt riding. A mileage contest tends to reinforce those ideals, rewarding and challenging those who go a little further, ride a little longer, chase down new sites and roads less traveled. That being said, these contests have evolved from one that originally rewarded someone who went the most miles (Rand) to a raffle style that gave everyone a chance, no matter how small.

I feel that a mileage contest is something a new or prospective member would see that we take our riding seriously, and that’s something that might entice them to join the club. These contests also encourage members to go outside of what I call their “150 mile cocoon”, something that many of us have spent time in. I design these to encourage members to find new roads, sites, attractions, or locations that they may not have ever had the chance to do so, and have fun along the way. There’s something that a little competition does to a person that might make them take a chance, explore somewhere new, and have a chance to be rewarded for their efforts.

Which brings me to this year’s contest. This year the grand prize is not a set of tires awarded by raffle, but a winner take-all $500 gift certificate to A&S, with a second place $150 gift certificate and a third place $100 certificate. It will be a combination of miles traveled, bonuses, and double bonuses to earn points, so go on, set out to challenge others (or just yourself) and see something other than what we see in our “cocoon”, and have some fun!

PLAY BALL! THE RCB 2026 MILEAGE CONTEST IS TAKING THE FIELD!

The season is upon us, and it’s time to connect our national pastime with our favorite pastime, which of course is riding motorcycles! Yes, this year’s mileage contest is going to involve baseball along with accruing miles on our motorcycles. As ever, the contest is open to members in good standing only, no purchase necessary. It begins on April 1 and ends on September 15, 2026. There will be a grand prize of a $500 gift certificate to A&S, of which their general sales manager Randy is generously donating half. The winner can use this to purchase tires, gear, clothing, service, whatever he or she needs. There will also be prizes for second and third-place finishers; $150 A&S gift certificate for second and $100 A&S gift certificate for third place. Again this year, YOU NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN! That’s because this year the winner will be the member who gathers the most points during the contest; second and third places going to the second and third most point gatherers. Winners will be announced at our Christmas party.

RULES:
You must send me a picture of your beginning odometer(s) on April 1 (or any time after) to my phone 916 230 0951, and don’t forget to tell me who you are. You must also send me your ending odometer picture(s) on or before September 15; this is mandatory this year as failure to do so will forfeit any bonuses you may have picked up, so DON’T FORGET! All pictures of bonus locations should have your motorcycle in them whenever possible. The bonus locations are (mostly) for the California minor league teams’ stadiums located throughout the state. Each bonus location can only be visited once to earn points, and you don’t actually need to go to a game, but you should, they’re fun.

POINTS:
Riders will earn 2 points for every 1,000 miles traveled during the contest, no limit, rounded to the nearest 1,000 miles.

BONUSES:
Ball 4, take your base: Each participant will get 1 point automatically for the River Cats stadium, no need to actually go and visit the stadium. Singles: Get one point each for visiting the following baseball stadiums and getting a picture of your bike and the stadium sign –

The Modesto Nuts (now the Roadsters), John Thurman Field, 601 Neece Drive
The Stockton Ports, Banner Island Ballpark, 404 West Fremont Street
The San Jose Giants, Excite Ballpark, 588 East Alma Avenue

Doubles: Get 2 points each for visiting the following baseball stadiums and getting a picture of your bike and the stadium sign –

The Fresno Grizzlies, Chukchansi Park, 1800 Tulare Street
The Visalia Rawhide, Valley Strong Ballpark, 300 North Giddings Street

Triples: Get 3 points each for visiting the following baseball stadiums and getting a picture of your bike and the stadium sign –

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, LoanMart Field, 8408 Rochester Avenue
The Inland Empire 66ers, San Manuel Stadium, 280 South E Street, San Bernardino
Lake Elsinore Storm, The Diamond, 500 Diamond Avenue

Home Run – Go to both of the following stadiums and get a picture of your bike and the stadium sign and you will double your points:

The Reno Aces, Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Avenue
The Las Vegas Aviators, Las Vegas Ballpark, 1650 South Pavilion Center Drive

GRAND SLAM! After getting the previous Home Run bonus, go to each of these two locations, get your bike and the signs in the pictures, and double your points once again:

The Rocky Mountain Vibes, blocktickets Park, 4385 Tutt Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO
The Garden of the Gods Trading Post, 324 Beckers Lane, Manitou Springs, CO. (This has nothing to do with baseball; I just truly enjoy the Garden of the Gods. It’s a really cool place and well worth visiting while you’re there)

So go out, warm up in the bullpen, take those practice swings, put on your helmet and hit one over the fence, and enjoy our national pastime while riding your motorcycle. HAVE FUN!