Here we go!

Thank you all the people who helped make the run happen. I am humbled by the generosity and hard work of my friends. Off running in the morning. I'll try to post while on the run but I can't promise. See ya in a few days!

The Maps

Here is the complete route on Google Maps. Click Here to go to the Google Map. There you can print out the parts you need. The Run Books will be handed out at the Bash and the Kick off at Cool Beans.


View The 2009 Gypsy Run Route in a larger map


The Autumn Bowl
73 West Street.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Between Milton and Noble
(Greenpoint)

Click here for map.


Fri. Aug. 28th
The Kick Off
Cool Beans Coffee Shop
304 Kinderkamack Rd
Oradell, NJ 07649
(link to map)

Fri. Camping
The Gypsy Run Racetrack
6764-7198 Ethan Allen Hwy
VT 05261
(link to map)

Sat. Aug. 29th
Camping
Brookside Campground
4952 Route 32
Catskill, NY 12414
(link to map)

Sun. Aug. 30th
The Throwdown!
210 Division St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(link to map)

The Chase Truck

We have a great support team this year. Metalhead Greg and Radar are our chase and advance drivers. Greg is one of the best chase drivers on the planet and Radar is looking to dethrone him. So here is the deal with the chase truck. The chase truck will be following the run. If they sees anyone by the side of the road they will stop and help. There will basic tools and supplies on the truck. The truck WILL NOT wait around all day as you try to fix the unfixable. If you can't sort yourself out on the side of the road in a timely manner, on the trailer you go. There is an advance truck that will be arriving at the campsites before us and setting things up. This truck will be equipped with a major compliment of tools and supplies. (welder, compressor, generator, Etc.) That is where will try to fix you up right. The chase truck is not going to carry your personal shit, so don't ask. The driver's numbers will be published in the run books.

Rain dates are for Pussies!

I checked the forecast today and this is what I found.

Thu Aug 27 Partly Cloudy 78°/59° 10 %

Fri Aug 28 Partly Cloudy 74°/62° 10 %

Sat Aug 29 Scattered T-Storms 75°/64° 40 %

Sun Aug 30 Scattered T-Storms 80°/60° 40 %

I am hoping this turns out to be another example of the historic inaccuracy of weathermen. If not, the run is still on. Because rain dates are for pussies! We had a bit of rain on last years run and we still made every mile and had a blast. So plan on getting wet. Pack your rain gear but hope that the weatherman is yet again WRONG!

Monday

I have been getting some emails asking about various details about the run. Sorry if I have not been clear on some things, I will try to fix that right now.

Is it OK to come for a day, or go right to the campsite?
Everybody is welcome anytime for as long, or as short, as ya want. If yer bike is down, come to the party on Sunday. Just show up and have a good time.

How much will it cost?
There are no fees. The only official cost is the camping for Saturday night. $12.50. you pay when you check in, just tell them you are with the Gypsy Run.

How do I register for the run?
There is no registration. Just show up.

How do I know where to go?
If you come to the Bowl Bash, I will be handing out maps. If you are at Cool Beans for the Kick off, I will be handing out maps.
The PDF maps will be available for download on Wednesday.

Stickers!

Bowl Bash UPDATE!

I fucked up on the address for the Autumn Bowl. Here is the real address, with updated map.

The Autumn Bowl
73 West Street.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Between Milton and Noble
(Greenpoint)

Click here for map.

Some of the bike show trophies...

Local Hospitality

Last year New York started a "crack down" on loud pipes and non DOT helmets. Usually how this goes is the first few weeks the police are out in force, they write some tickets then they get on with something more important. Last year they set up a "Motorcycle Safety Inspection" checkpoint on the main route to a local mega rally and wrote a bunch of tickets. I thought this was all over with, but I was wrong. Read all about this years effort here. This is one of the many good reasons why I don't post the route maps till the last minute. We did not run into anything like this on the run last year but my personal moto is "It is better to have it and not need it that need it and not have it. " so at the very least HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK IN ORDER! (Insurance, Registration and a valid Motorcycle Endorsement.) You can ride away with a ticket for loud pipes, you ain't going anywhere if your bike gets impounded. I don't want to scare anyone off, but it is better to think about it now.

The cat escaped...

I was keeping this under my hat, but the cat is out of the bag. This year we have a special guest along for the run, Easyriders' chief documentarian Michael Lichter. Anyone who has spent any time with Mike will tell ya the same thing, "good guy to be around, once he gets that whole focus thing down he might get something published". There is a little known fact about Mike, He LOVES it when you flip him the bird when he is taking your picture. You probably won't get in a magazine, but he will appreciate it. (Am I kidding? Only one way to find out...) All joking aside we are blown away that Mike can go anywhere in the world and he decided to come to our run. Thanks Mike!

The Kick Off

The official kick off is 10:00 am at Cool Beans Coffee Shop. Feel free to come by early, they open at 7:00. The food is good, the coffee is great and the girls behind the counter are even better. We will be there around 9:am to get properly caffeinated and pass out run books.

Cool Beans Coffee Shop
304 Kinderkamack Rd
Oradell, NJ 07649
(link to map)

And now, a word from our Sponsors...

“The Gypsy Run is our kind people on our kind of bikes. Sponsorship of grass roots events that are centered on riding in an investment in the future of this culture, and Biltwell Inc. is proud to participate.”
Bill Bryant - Biltwell Inc.
Co-Founder of the El Diablo Run

“As far as we are concerned, we are planning on being a major sponsor of the Gypsy Run every year. The web flow alone from the blog and forums completely geeked out our web guy and brought a ton of interest in us. For a grass roots run, Walter and company do it right. Just ask anyone who has been on the run and they will tell you the same.”
Andy Camay - American Icon

“You would be a fool to miss this! The best time I have had in years.”
Mike Plazzo - 47 Industries

“I like Gypsy Runs! They am fun and we drink lots!”
Dr. Benway - Winner of the Best Bike Prize GR08

Locations

Here are the all the locations for the run. The map links are for reference only. They are NOT the run maps.

Thur. Aug. 27th
The Brooklyn Bowl Bash
Autumn Bowl
73 West St
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(link to map)

Fri. Aug. 28th
The Kick Off
Cool Beans Coffee Shop
304 Kinderkamack Rd
Oradell, NJ 07649
(link to map)

Fri. Camping
The Gypsy Run Racetrack
6764-7198 Ethan Allen Hwy
VT 05261
(link to map)

Sat. Aug. 29th
Camping
Brookside Campground
4952 Route 32
Catskill, NY 12414
(link to map)

Sun. Aug. 30th
The Throwdown!
210 Division St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(link to map)

Hotels

Here are some Hotels for the guys coming from out of town.
Before the run starts the closest Hotels to Cool Beans is in Paramus. A bunch of guys stayed at the La Quninta last year. Click here for a map with all the local hotels.
After the run I have some reconditions. There are some sketchy places near the party, so try one of these. They are within a mile or so of the party.

Nice and cheap.
Super 8 South Hackensack
410 Route 46 West
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
(201) 440-4476

A bit spendy, but you can talk them into a better rate.
Hilton
650 Terrace Ave.
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604
(201) 288 6100

The Pre Run Party (UPDATE 5pm Start)

Arron from the LFTC has set up a pre run party in Brooklyn for Thursday night before the Gypsy Run.
The party starts around 5pm. It lasts till it's over. The Gypsy Run Crew will be on hand to drink all the beer and hand out some swag to the guy who does the best "skateboard trick". We will also have Run Books with a special ESCAPE FROM BROOKLYN section.
Autumn Bowl
67 West St
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Click HERE for a map.

The Bike Show

During the Party on Sunday we will be having our version of a bike show. We have thought long and hard about the prizes we would be giving out. We thought instead of the typical trophy and a hardy pat on the back, we should give out prizes that motorcyclists would actually use everyday. Like this. You will have to wait till sunday to see all the prizes, (in all their awesomeness!) But without further adieu... The Categories!

BEST BIKE The overall best bike on the run.
THE ALMOST MEMORIAL JOE SCRAPER BEST BRITISH BIKE AWARD The best british bike on the run.
HIGH MILAGE Is awarded to the person who rode the farthest to the run
THE MacGyver This prize is awarded to the person who completes the best roadside repair.
ROLLING DEATHTRAP This prize is awarded to the person who completes the run on the bike that shouldn't have made it.
THE BMF This prize is awarded to the person who goes above and beyond, Has the highest batting average, can pull off wearing plaid, can carve a Tiki out of a thousand year old oak tree equipped with nothing more than razor sharp wit. The Bad MotherFucker.

This year we are adding something else.
THE SUPER AWESOME ROBOT LUNCHBOX WITH FIGHTING SPRIT RAFFLE
We are going to combine a triditional 50/50 with a raffle. You buy a ticket to get a chance to go home with the ULTIMATE GYPSY RUN GIFT BAG and a pocket full of cash! Beat that H.O.G Rally!

The bike show is only open to bikes on the run. The raffle is open to everyone.

Camping

We have found some amazing accommodations for this years run. Friday night's campground is actually an old horse racing track. The owner has graciously let us pitch our tents for the night, and he will be opening the main building so we can have use of the facilities. It is a half a mile from a liquor store. A mile from a gas station/grocery store. There is a bike shop within five miles, and there are some great local diners. Did I mention that we will be the only people there? Perfect!
Saturday night set up is a traditional camp ground with traditional camp ground amenities. Pool, Bathroom, shower, Etc. We have reserved Area 51 for the Beer garden and the pavilion for setting up camp. There is local gas, food and a bike shop within 10 miles. The campground is just few miles from the bar of legend! The guys that were on the first Gypsy Run know what I am talking about, the rest of you are just gonna have to wait and experience it yourself!
Ya know what they say, nothing in life is free... oh wait. actually friday night is free. Ya know what they say, nothing on saturday is free. That they are right about, saturdays camping will cost you $12.50. But, to make up for that inconvenience I will buy everyone beer.


Friday camp site


Area 51

Let's go to church!

This years end of run Party / Bike Show / Throwdown is gonna be a little different. Darren (DSL on the boards) has graciously offered up his super secret private bar for the party. This is in a part of town where there are few people and cops fear to tread! (I am taking some poetic license, but the point is we won't be bothered) There is a full bar and we will be cranking up the grill for some snacks! Feel free to invite anyone to the party. The address and coordinates will be in the info section on the site and in the run book.