Southern Vermont gears up for BMW RA Rally

This huge teeter-totter is part of the obstacle course at this year's BMW RA rally in Pownal, Vermont. Photo courtesy BMWRA.org

You’ve likely never heard of Pownal, Vermont, but if you’ve driven Route 7 from Massachusetts into our fair state, you’ve been through it. Years ago, the state ran a dog track, which for years has been Pownal’s most prominent eyesore. But in the coming weeks, you won’t even notice it thanks to the hundreds of BMW motorcycles expected to attend the BMW Riders Association rally, held from July 29 to August 1.

The site is now called the “Green Mountain Energy Park,” and on yesterday’s trip south of our offices, we saw Max BMW staff directing huge loads of firewood, rocks, dirt and stone to be used as obstacles for a GS track. There’s also a massive teeter-totter that riders will climb and descend. Looks to be a great time and a shot in the arm for local businesses.