michigan.... yes... closer for me... only like 6 hours

 

HEY just a thought! we could use the parking lot of one of the many deserted FORD PLANTS

 

yeey AutoX! I'm hearin the Ford plant idea

 

#3 has been the killjoy for me for the last two years.

 

Dan, maybe you should have every attendee paypal you 20 bucks each so that its a bit more worth your while to spend 100's of hours planning other peoples fun.
Would be nice to one day make a 944 fest, too far though. I'll just wait for the pics.

 

Name the spot, I'll be there for sure. I can't wait.

 

Jackson, MI is only about 300 miles and 5 hours for me...sounds interesting and scenic. Later July would work out great, I hate to miss the BRIC Vintage race at Road America which is usually around the 18th

 

i'm all about MI

 

Have it at Nelson....um...ok, basically ANY track.... and I'm there. Although, I can understand that having a track day adds a huge chunk of organizing effort to the event. How about piggy-backing the Fest at a track where a DE event is being hosted by another region? That way, the Fest has nothing to do with organizing the track event, but people can still work the track days into the weekend with the Fest. That would drag us track-hounds out of hiding.

 

BRIC is why I missed 944 fest last year. No worries this year, the schedule was bumped up to July 13-16 at RA.

 

Blackout dates for me and mine:
Race 1 - May 6-7
Race 2 - June 3-4
Race 3 - June 24-25
Race 4 - July 29-30
Race 5 - Aug. 26-27
Race 6 - Sept. 23-24

The racecar, driver, and crew are all fully booked those weekends!!!

 

OK, Folks.. since nobody has taken this and run with it, I have a proposal to discuss. Don't get too excited, It is JUST A PROPOSAL!!

I have been offered Nelson Ledges road course in NE Ohio for a one day FRIDAY lapping event early August for $3000. We are invited to stick around Saturday to watch some Porsches run and have our fun.

Here are some very serious thoughts about the matter.

$3000 is a lot. The guests will be expected to pay to cover expenses. Just because we have a track does not mean novices will be allowed to go out and run wild. We'll have to get instructors, ride-givers, and students. Free-for-alls just are not going to cut it. The lapping day would be Friday, say 8 to 4.
Maybe Friday eve we do a grill out, where you all bring something to throw on the BBQ, misc beverages and munchies. The good old days of me feeding the gang are done. Saturday the track belongs to someone else, so we will be herded over to a corner field to spectate and operate on our BEST BEHAVIOR.
Saturday could be our fun day, with a cruise, poker run or road rally type of thing. We'll go somewhere that resturants are available, have lunch, drive around all day, and have dinner somewhere else. There really isn't a lot of opportunities for food near the track.

Here are a few VERY MAJOR concerns that need to be addressed.

Nelsons is a low budget venue. There is only one flush toilet in the whole compound IIRC. Basically a lot of fields, tire walls, a few picnic type shelters and a ribbon of asphalt. This is going to be a "primitive camping" kind of setup.

I don't believe there are any hotels or resturants within several miles. I'll have to do some research to see what is out there.

I'm not doing any dyno, art show, door prizes, etc. If someone else wants to undertake these tasks/financial responsibilities I can show you how, but I'm not doing it.

I'm fine with just one single spectacular trophy, a "Best in Show". If someone else wants to make a dozen trophies, I'll pass them out.

I would not advertise this one except here. I'm ready to downsize. I'm ready to get back to the roots of this event, a dozen hard core folks around a campfire. Forget the masses, the motels, the lodges and gators.

If I am to go with this, I want volunteers for jobs. I need pledges of $$$. How much would you pay for one day of track access? How much would you donate for a :30 track ride? Is this financially feasable?

Feedback, PLEASE. You need to convince me.

 

944 fest countdown begins... 19 weeks away.. WOO HOO!!!

NO GATOR?? Maybe a rented trail blazer tho...

 

well let me see, if we have 40 people we each would need $75 to pay..if more then the price would go down, and thats just the track. We need a good est. on how many would show then a # to put towards a paypal payment.

 

Ihave to agree with Dan. my first 944 fest was, and still is one of the BEST weekends of my life. , Hell I drove from Central Illinois to attend.. and it was worth 3x the distance for a weekend drive.
It was intimate ( Not Brokeback mountain intimate..) and the genesis of what was to become the penultimate gathering of 944 enthusiasts I have ever attended.

Bigger isnt always better, but in this case unavoidable.. "Were all here because we're not ALL there!"

I swear i met about 100 new people last year at fest 06, itwas great seeing the old guard as well as meeting the new attendees.

DanP, we will miss you- but your baby is getting to be an adult. Perhaps we can all just move in with you.