ICR's descended on the annual DFS (Ducks Fly South) Ducati Rally held in Delonega, Ga. the weekend of Oct. 6-8. Despite dire and ugly weather predictions, 9 members made the trip and staked out a campsite at the TWO campground in nearby Suches, Ga. As you might expect, the "lumpy power" branch of The ICR's were well represented: Doug & Jimmy came on their 996's, Patrick & Bud on their vintage 750 bevel drives, Chris on his Guzzi, Kirk and myself on our 900ss's, Bert on his KTM Duke, and Drew showed as the solo inline guy with his F4 .

After an evening ride down route 19 Friday night to scope out bikes at the Rally headquarters in Delonega, our group returned to the campfires of TWO for a night of beverages and lie swapping.

Saturday morning proved the weather wizards wrong again as the sun was out and temps were perfect for a day of wearing out perfectly good tires and brakepads. Bud's 750 served as camp alarm clock when the old bevel fired and sang its song through those non baffled, high mounted, reverse-cone megaphones. Oh, man, I love the sound of a Duc in the morning!

All in all, we did around 400 miles on Saturday. We managed to get to most of our favorite stretches of Ga. highway with routes 60, 348, and 180, to name a few, providing ample and challenging opportunities to push and enjoy our own and each others bikes. Our ride continued and was, except for a passionate, impromptu, roadside debate with some cruiser types about proper biker etiquette and traffic management, hassle free. We went our separate ways and ended the day with a loud, wonderful, traffic free run down Rt. 60 to TWO where 9 worn out ICRs finally climbed off 9 dirty & bug splattered motorcycles. Doug and Patrick rode off to represent the ICR at the evening Rally Banquet and the rest of us peeled off the leathers and waited for "Pyro-man" Drew to do his thing on the campfire. We had a right nice blaze to go with the beverages consumed and friendly visitors that found their way to our site through the night.

The night was righteously capped off when Doug & Patrick returned with none other than the "Best Ducati" Award given for the Rally! The plaque was passed to the winner.... Bud Turner and his 1975 750 Sport. Needless to say the celebration and the fire got bigger. Congratulations, Bud!!

Sunday dawned less pretty and that, along with various domestic, work, and other responsibilities of life led us to decide to load up and call it a weekend.

Good time, good & safe ride, no mechanicals. Great weekend!

David Ludwig
1999 900ss

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