[Ducati] Motogiro D'Italia 2008?

[Mikiel Kingsley]

On 5/31/07, Scott Cloninger <scloninger at astecinc.com> wrote:

> Yesterday I was talking to George Betzhold and we thought it would be a
> great idea to attend next year's Motogiro.  "You only live once" and "You
> can't take it with you" were bantied about, but when it comes down to it we
> both want to experience riding in Italy sometime before we shuffle off this
> mortal coil.
>
> To that end, we had questions.
>
> 1)  When should we begin planning this trip in earnest?
> 2)  How much time off (from work) would be required for the trip?  I'd
> have a difficult time with more than a week (that's nine contiguous days
> including bookend weekends)
> 3)  How much money is involved to ride in the touring class including
> airfare, transportation, food, motorcycle rental, fuel, Motogiro entry,
> incidentals, and mememtos?  Basically, how much should I budget?
> 4)  Is lodging included in the Motogiro price?  Is rooming individual or
> in pairs?
> 5)  Where is next year's Motogiro?  I hope northern Italy, but I'm not
> real picky!
> 6)  When are any sorts of deposits due?
> 7)  How much Italian should I learn before I head that way?  Do any, some,
> most of the people understand any, basic, most English?  What's Italian for
> toilet?
> 8)  How can I have NCR build me a shiny new bike and call it Ms.
> Scotty...or Mr. Scotty...or something cool like that?  OK...this part was a
> joke, but I couldn't resist asking it!
>
> Basically, what's the scoop on the Motogiro?!?
>
> All help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Scott Cloninger
> Chattanooga, TN....transferring the flag to Albuquerque, NM in August!
> </pre>
> <p>
> ***********************************************************************
> </p>


Scott, you can start planning now, but there's not really a whole lot to
plan until the dates for the event are set.  Registration will begin in
November or so.  You'll need your passport handy, your driver's license, and
an International Driver's License (available at AAA for a mere $25 just make
sure they stamp your motorcycle endorsement on it).  The official
registration will ask you about having a medical certificate, but you don't
need that for the tourist class.  Until registration opens, start saving.
I've done the tourist class twice now and with airfare from L.A., giro
entry, bike rental, fuel, and beer money it comes to about $5000.  The race
is 5 days, but there are riders meetings and paperwork the day before, so
call it 6.  If you can afford to take more time off of work and spend a
little extra time it Italy, definitely do so.  One of the best days we had
this year was the day after the giro riding around Palermo on a rented
scooter.  Also, since you're taking the punishment of flying over and back,
you may as well enjoy your time there as much as possible.  This year my
trip was 10 days (including travel days) and I wish I could have made it a
bit longer.  Next year I'm thinking I might go crazy and take three weeks.
Lodging and meals are part of the giro entry, but only cover the days of the
giro.  Any time you're there before/after the event you're on your own.
Next year's race will start in Bologna, go to Sardinia (I'm assuming we'll
all be on an overnight ferry two nights) and then back to Bologna.  I
believe you have to pay for your entry by February or March.  You don't need
to know a lot of Italian (I think I know 10 words) since there will be
plenty of English speakers there and quite a few people who speak English
and Italian.  The first word I HAD to learn was "basta" (which means
"enough") because the Italians will just keep feeding you until you cry
uncle.

For a (low res) slideshow I made of the 2006 event go here:
http://www.mikiel.net/temp/motogiro.wmv

For a much longer (and better) slideshow of the 2007 event by Dan Bockmier
go here: http://www.bockmier.com/motogiro/MG07.wmv

Be sure to bring your camera and extra batteries!

> --
> -Mikiel
> '96 900SS/SP "Buttercup"