User:Whodabob/sandbox

The Victory Motorcycle Club "Founded in 1998 by Victory owners, to promote ridership and brotherhood amongst Victory motorcycle owners" 'History The Victory Motorcycle was first produced in the summer of 1998 as a 1999 model. The Victory Motorcycle Club traces it's roots back to a small number of riders and enthusiasts who were among the first purchasers of the motorcycle and desired a way to get fellow riders together. Three distinct internet sites eventually merged into what is now a world wide organization with over 90 chapters around the globe. Organization The Club is now an incorporated non-profit organization with officers and a Board of Directors elected by the membership at large. It's divided into 10 seperate regions containing over 90 chapters within those regions.Local Chapters are semi-autonomous riding groups that use the lager club as a means of associating and organizing with other chapters and individual members. While local chapters are allowed leeway in setting their own bylaws, they still must conform to the bylaws of the larger club. Membership is non discriminatory, if a person pays the dues, 15 dollars the first year and 8 dollars annual renewal, then they can not be excluded from joining based on their occupation or other factors. Website Since the inception of the club the internet was used as a tool of communication to introduce riders from a wide variety of locations to each other. While the website. www.thevmc.com, also houses general discussion message boards it is still the primary tool used by the club to organize events, rides, and make introductions. The website also includes several member interface features designed to benefit the member as he or she travels. Members can use the interfaces to find help if broken down, find recommendations on restaurants, get hotel discounts, as well as buy and sell in classifieds. The website also provides access to 27 aftermarket vendors through specific vendor advertising and message board space. Events To celebrate the first anniversary of the first Victory motorcycle produced eight members rode their Victory motorcycles to Spirit Lake, Iowa on July 4th, 1999. Spirit Lake was chosen because it's the assembly plant where every Victory motorcycle is manufactured. These eight dubbed their trip the "Victory Homecoming". It grew quickly in popularity and in 2002 Victory Motorcycles corporation got involved with funding the event. The event continues to grow and has been renamed the American Victory Rally and is held on the third weekend in August. It is still a collaboration between the club and factory with the factory contributing a substantial effort towards the activities and entertainment provided. That same year the eight who started what became the AVR also dreamt up a coast to coast relay ride. Factory workers fashioned a baton from motorcycle parts and this baton is passed from rider to rider across 14 "legs". The route closely follows the Victory Highway and has been dubbed the V2V for Victory to Victory. All riders are allowed to join, but the leg captain, the one carrying the baton, must be on a Victory. The ride alternates direction each year from east to west, then back west to east the next year. National Meet. In 2002 the club organized it's first National Meet. This rally is hosted by a chapter in a different region each year. The idea being to get riders from all over the country to ride to different places each year. Size and funding for this event has grown significantly over the years as well. In addition to the AVR, the V2V, and the National Meet the club also hosts regional and local events. Club dues are used to supplement funding for all the events.