Page Updated March 26, 2008

19th ANNUAL AVA INTERNATIONAL RALLY

By Charlotte Ash
AVA Publications Director/Board Member
Posted 3/26/08

Bowling Green, Kentucky – Caves & Corvettes

     Bowling Green, Kentucky is the home of the AVA’s 19^th Annual International Rally this

July 8-10.  The diversity of the region makes it a perfect place to gather our friends and family for this AVA “reunion.”  A Shaker Museum, Corvette factory & museum, caves, amusement park, Civil War history… these are just a few of the incredible things you will find during your visit to Bowling Green. 

Monday night’s pre-rally event includes a special tour of the Corvette Museum for AVA pre-rally attendees only.  You will be able to see the ‘evolution’ of the Corvette from its original classic style to the modern-day version that still wows car enthusiasts.  Then it’s a sweet cruise of our own back to Beech Bend Amusement Park where we will partake in a tasty meal and some great music by Tommy Day & his Cool Country band!  Fun, food, friends, and family… what more could you ask for?

Some board members will be staying at the Baymont Inn because of its meeting rooms, where the Chapter President breakfast will also be held. Baymont Inn and Suites, 165 Three Springs Road, Bowling Green, KY 270-843-3200 Code: American Voyager Association.  The Super 8 Motel is another rally motel and is one of the newer motels in town.   For Reservations call: 270-781-4900 and Reserve your room with code: “American Voyager Association.”  Camping will be at the Beech Bend Amusement park in a beautiful wooded setting.  Campers will be a hop, skip, and jump away from the rally headquarters and banquet facilities.  Call: (270) 781 7634 to make camping reservations.  Tell them you are with the American Voyager Association.

The bike shows, bike games, rally registration, welcome and awards banquets, vendors, and AVA merchandise will be found onsite at the Beech Bend Amusement park’s Dallas Jones Pavilion.  Rally attendees will be able to come and go from the park without paying the amusement park’s entry fee.  However, if you decide to partake of the amusement park’s fun and games, you will need to buy an entry ticket.  You do NOT need to buy tickets to the amusement park to get into any of these AVA functions.  There will be a special allowance made for rally attendees who have not already registered, but beginning Tuesday afternoon, you will need to show your official AVA rally nametag to get into the amusement park without further payment.  Keep your rally nametag with you at all times!   There is plenty of parking for all AVA events. 

The infamous Mammoth Cave the world's longest known cave.  In addition to this magnificent natural wonder, Lost River Cave in Bowling Green itself offers the unique opportunity to ride a boat through a cave on the Lost River.  Green fields, cool caves, and great scenery are awaiting you in Bowling Green!

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BEECH BEND AMUSEMENT PARK- RALLY HEADQUARTERS

     Beech Bend Amusement Park will host our registration, bike games, bike shows, welcome dinner, and awards banquet.  You do NOT need to buy tickets to the amusement park to get into any of these AVA functions.  There will be a special allowance made for rally attendees who have not already registered, but beginning Tuesday afternoon, you will need to show your official AVA rally nametag to get into the amusement park without further payment.  Keep your rally nametag with you at all times!   There is plenty of parking for all AVA events.

Bowling Green Rally Will Be Loaded With Attractions!

By Gary Schill
AVA Webmaster/Board Member

     The AVA Rallies have always been a barrel of fun, but especially the last few years. And in 2008, things will really be crackin' as the AVA moves to Bowling Green, Kentucky for our 19th Annual AVA International Rally. From the Great Lakes in 2006, to the Great Plains in 2007, we now move to more great attractions for the 2008 Rally. To start off with, the AVA has arranged for a brand spanking new Super 8 Motel to be the Official Motel for the Rally. The AVA has also arranged to block all of the rooms, as in the whole Motel for this rally. The rooms will be blocked until June 16, 2008.  And, some of the best news, is the price the AVA has negotiated for this rally- are you ready for this!? $64.95 per night for a standard room with variable bedding arrangements, and $84.95 per night for a suite! And that's just the start! The hotel features a great breakfast room, an exercise room, and of course a pool. The hotel is close to the Rally Headquarters (Beech Bend Amusement Park), and will be a great place to relax or recoup after a day at the rally.

     Now, at this point, I'm sure some of you are going to be thinking, "what! Rally Headquarters at an amusement park"? What are they going to do, have the bike shows on the Merry Go Round, and assemble for the guided tours and rides at the Tilt-a-Whirl? To start with, the name Beech Bend Amusement Park may be a little confusing, oh sure, they do have a fun'r than a barrel  full of monkeys amusement park, which feature several rides and attractions, some of which are pictured below.

     But there is more than amusement park rides here! A more apt name would be "Amusement Center", as there are several other facilities located within the "Amusement Park", such as;

• The Amusement Park of course,

• Campgrounds, (Beech Bend Campgrounds are also the Official Rally Campgrounds).

• Splash Lagoon,

• A full blown oval race car track with other attractions on some non-race dates.

• A drag strip.

     And this is just all within the Beech Bend Amusement Park property. There are also many other attractions outside the Park including:

Lost River Cave and Valley
Boat tours float through lost river cave in the middle of Bowling Green on the shortest, deepest river in the world as claimed by Ripley's "Believe It Or Not."  The largest cave opening east of the Mississippi has provided shelter for native Americans, both Union and Confederate soldiers and the notorious Jesse James and his gang.

Kentucky's Cave Country
Mammoth Cave National Park is located just 30 miles north of Bowling Green, off I-65 exit 48.  Open year round and offering a variety of tours, nature trails, scenic boat trips, wild animals and birds.

Shaker Museum at South Union
A short drive west of Bowling Green on US 68/KY 80 takes you to the historic site of the South Union Shaker Village.  The Shaker society was established in 1807 and closed in 1922.  The village site is now on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Shaker Museum is open daily March 1 through December 1.

 Holley Performance Products World Headquarters
This 100 year old company makes every carburetor found on NASCAR vehicles.

     As you can see, there is lots of things to do at Bowling Green, inside and outside of the Beech Bend complex.  Keep in mind, that this is just the start of the 2008 AVA Rally page, there will be lots more info posted here in the future as soon as it is available. So, get ready for another great AVA Rally in 2008 at Bowling Green, Kentucky!

Official AVA Rally Motel Brand new motel with fitness room and pool. Super 8 Motel 110 Willamette Lane Interstate 65, Exit 28 Bowling Green, KY 42101 US Phone: 270-781-4900 Rates: AVA Rate of $64.95 per night (plus tax) for standard room (queen, 2 queens, or king) and $84.95 for suite. Entire motel is blocked for AVA through June 16, 2008. This is closest motel to Beech Bend Amusement Park - Rally headquarters. The Super 8 Motel is now completely reserved by AVA Rally attendees for this Rally. You must now make your Motel reservations at the Baymont Inn & Suites, or other area motels. Make your reservations soon before they are filled too. For Reservations call: 270-781-4900 and Reserve your room with code: “American Voyager Association” Alternate Official AVA Rally Motel Although we have the complete Super 8 Motel blocked for AVA attendees until June 16, 2008, the Super 8 does not have enough rooms to accommodate all rally attendees, therefore the AVA has arranged for the Baymont Inn and Suites, another very nice and well appointed motel, to be our second "Official Rally Hotel", and to handle the overflow. The Baymont will match the Super 8 for prices. While the Super 8 Motel is very close to the Rally site, the Baymont Inn and Suites is only 4 miles away. Follows is the info to reserve at Baymont Inn: Baymont Inn and Suites 165 Three Springs Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 270-843-3200 Rates: AVA Rate of $64.95 per night (plus tax) for standard room (queen, 2 queens, or king). The Blocked Rooms held for the AVA at this Motel will be held until June 16, 2008 For Reservations call: 270-843-3200 and Reserve your room with code: “American Voyager Association” http://visitbgky.travelhero.com/index.cfm/id/78352/aid/236/index.html

Official Rally Campground For an extended visit or family getaway, there is no  better place than Beech Bend Campgrounds.  Our campgrounds feature over 500 sites in a beautiful wooded setting.  All roadways are paved and all sites (except those along the Barren River) are "pull through" sites.  Both RV and tent camping are permitted. We have over 250  campsites that have full hookups and many have telephone/modem hookups available.  Complimentary WIFI service is throughout the campground so you can get to the internet without leaving your camper.  The facilities include bath houses and laundry facilities.  You are within a short walking distance to the Barren River (fishing permitted) or to the Beech Bend Amusement Park and Racetracks.  Bring your bicycles and explore.  Campfires are permitted and are just another way you can make yourself at home . . . and enjoy our campgrounds.  Pets are permitted with the only restriction that they be leashed and cleanup is required. Visit the Beech Bend Campground Website for more information, directions, and Reservations. Don't forget to give the code "AVA" when making reservations at the campground to get your AVA discounted price!