Registration Information

      Click on Form to download Registration PDF file.

Please be sure to register ALL family members or participants in your rally team.  Children under 5 are no charge.  Please include them on the registration form so we can establish accurate participant counts. 

Accommodations

2008 MTR HOST HOTEL:

President Abraham Lincoln Hotel
701 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701  

The Block at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel is now full.
There may be a few remaining rooms outside the block at the higher normal hotel rate. 

The President Abraham Lincoln Hotel offers spacious rooms and suites in a prime downtown Springfield location adjacent to the Prairie Capital Convention Center.  When it's time to relax, guests at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel can enjoy a heated indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna with locker rooms and a fitness center.  The Abraham Lincoln has blocked 175 rooms at $88 for a standard room.  There is a 3 night minimum stay at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel. Please note that bicycles will not be allowed in the guest rooms.  Enjoy all that MTR has to offer by staying at the host hotel.

Telephone: (217) 544-8800
www.PresidentAbrahamLincolnHotel.com
$88 / Night + Tax for Standard rooms.  Mention “MTR 2008” to receive the special MTR Group Rate.

Bicycle Storage

A 24-hour secure bicycle storage facility will be offered at the Prairie Capital Convention Center located next door to the east of the Abraham Lincoln Hotel.  Bicycle check-in and check-out procedures will be utilized to insure safe storage and control of all stored bicycles.  Please be sure to indicate on the registration form if you will be utilizing the on-site storage facilities and the number of bicycles to be stored. No bikes are allowed in downtown hotels.

Parking

Parking in the downtown is limited to covered parking lots adjacent to the hotels.  There is a $6 per day fee.  Be aware of low overhead clearances and remove bikes before entering lots. Parking for taller vehicles and trailers is still in negotiations. Please check back later for more information.

Overflow Hotel  # 1:

Hilton Springfield Hotel 
700 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701

  Located across the street from the host hotel and is an excellent choice if you cannot commit to the three day minimum stay at the host hotel. No Bikes allowed in the hotel room.

  Reservations available after September 15
Telephone: (217) 789 - 1530 
$93 / Night + Tax for Standard rooms

Other Overflow Hotels:

There are also several hotels within close proximity to the Abraham Lincoln hotel in the event that overflow rooms are needed. 

State House Inn – (217) 528-5100
http://www.thestatehouseinn.com/ 

Carpenter Street Hotel – (888) 779-9100
http://www.carpenterstreethotel.com/

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Hotel Accommodations, Camping & RV facilities & Family Activities, please contact the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-545-7300 or on the internet at

www.visit-springfieldillinois.com 

Camping & RV Areas

Mr. Lincoln’s Campground and RV Center Springfield     (217) 529-8206   4 miles SE
Riverside Park Campground                       Springfield     (217) 753-0630  6 miles NE
Springfield KOA                                            Rochester    (217) 498-7002 13 miles SE
Double J Campground and RV Park           Chatham       (217) 483-9998 18 miles S
Sangchris Lake State Park                          Rochester     (217) 498-9208 20 miles SE
Lincoln’s New Salem Campground             Petersburg    (217) 632-4003   20 miles NW

Breakfast

A full Breakfast Buffet of fruit, eggs, bagels, bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy, potatoes, pancakes or French toast, cereals, breads and beverages will be available on Saturday and Sunday morning at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel. Breakfast Buffet fees will be $12.50 for Adults and $6.25 for Children under 12.

Lunches

The cost of the lunches for the Saturday and Sunday rides are included in the cost of registration.  Please indicate on the registration form if you would like a vegetarian lunch.

Friday & Saturday Nights

Friday and Saturday night dinner is on your own.

Sunday Rally Banquet

The banquet festivities are a large part of the MTR weekend’s fun and shouldn’t be missed by anyone!  Be sure to join in, we know you’ll enjoy the food, the entertainment and the other MTR riders!  The Banquet will be held at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. Tentative menu is Tuscan Grilled, Bone-In Pork Chop and a Vegetarian Option.

Vendors & Workshops

During your spare moments be sure to check out the Vendor Display Area. A variety of vendors from around the country will be displaying their latest accessories, tandems and cycling toys. Check out what’s new and what you “can’t live without”!   We also have on tap a variety of workshops to entertain and enlighten you on a variety of topics.

MTR Merchandise

The 2008 Midwest Tandem Rally Jerseys are going to be a hit. Specially designed by artist Kay Lum for MTR, the jerseys are bright and colorful!  Make sure you take time to check out the full color jersey photos on the 2008 MTR web page at www.mtr2008.org   Indicate your jersey requests on the registration form.  T-shirts and commemorative Bicycle Tags are also available.  This year we will have a DVD video for sale.   Note that we cannot guarantee merchandise orders received after July 1, 2008.

Refunds

Refunds for registration and meals will only be granted upon receipt of a written request to the Registration Chairs.   Written cancellations must be received by August 1, 2008.  A $10.00 handling fee will be charged.  After that date, we cannot honor refunds.  We regret that there will be no merchandise refunds.

SAG Support

No one ever wants to break down on the road, but sooner or later it’s bound to happen. SAG support will be available in case of emergencies.  Show your fellow rally participants you are a Responsible and Safe rider by insuring your bicycle is in good working order before bringing it to the rally. Emergency SAG support will be provided on Saturday and Sunday routes only.  There will also be assistance through our vendors for miscellaneous parts or accessories between rides.

Safety Requirements

All participants are required to wear helmets on all scheduled rides at MTR 2008.  Your Safety is a concern for all of us!

How to Get to MTR

To get to Springfield, Illinois:

COMING FROM THE SOUTH ON I-55 (ST. LOUIS)
Take the 6th Street Exit (#92) to Downtown Springfield. Stay on 6th Street, at Washington Street turn right. Go two (2) blocks. Take a right on 9th Street. Go two (2) blocks. Take right on Adams to Hotels

COMING FROM THE NORTH ON I-55 (CHICAGO)
Take the Clear Lake Avenue Exit (#98). Clear Lake Avenue merges with Jefferson Street. . Take a left on 9th Street. Go two (2) blocks. Take right on Adams to Hotels.

COMING FROM THE EAST ON I-72 (CHAMPAIGN)
Continue straight ahead on Clear Lake Avenue, it will merge with Jefferson Street. Take a left on 9th Street. Go two (2) blocks. Take right on Adams to Hotels.

COMING FROM THE WEST ON I-72 (JACKSONVILLE)
Take the 6th Street Exit to Downtown Springfield. Stay on 6th Street, at Washington Street turn right. Go two (2) blocks. Take a right on 9th Street. Go two (2) blocks. Take right on Adams to Hotels.

Distance From Midwestern Cities:

Appleton, WI                             360 miles
Cedar Rapids, IA                      253 miles
Chicago, IL                                198 miles
Dayton, OH                                322 miles
Grand Rapids, MI                      350 miles
Indianapolis, IN                          206 miles
Minneapolis, MN                       525 miles
St. Louis, MO                               97 miles

Tentative Schedule of Events

Friday August 29

        ·          Registration & Info Pickup     Noon – 9 PM
·          Vendor Set-Up                        Noon – 4 PM
·          Bike Storage                            2:30 – 10 PM
·          Vendor Displays Open          4:00 –   9 PM
·          Ice Cream Ride                       4:30 – 7:30 PM  

Saturday August 30

        ·          Bike Storage                          6:30 AM – 9:30 AM
·          Registration & Info Pickup   7:00 - 10:00 AM
·          Ride Announcements           8:45 AM
·          Ride Mass Start                   9:15 AM
·          Lunch                              On Route
·          Bike Storage                        2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
·          Vendor Displays Open       3 – 9 PM
·          Seminars                               6 –7   &   7:00 – 8:15

Sunday August 31

        ·          Bike Storage                            6:30 Am – 9:30 AM
·          Ride Announcements              8:45 AM
·          Ride Mass Start                       9:00 AM
·          Lunch                                On Route
·          Bike Storage                              2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
·          Vendor Displays Open              3 – 5 PM
·          Social Hour & MTR Banquet     5:30 PM +

Monday September 1

        ·          Bike Storage                        7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
·          Ride of your choice / Departure

Need More Information?

For the most up to date information concerning MTR 2008 go to www.mtr2008.org   

MTR Chair Sam Waterstreet  
chicagotandems@mchsi.com  (630) 556-3182

Registration:  Mary & Phil Kohl
Phil_Kohl@att.net  (630) 789-8181

Vendor Inquiries: Frank & Sheila Mueller (847) 740-2990
fnsmueller@ameritech.net

Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau:        
(800)-545-7300 or (217)-789-2360
http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/