Annual Early 911S Registry Event

[2pt767S]

Curtis and Mike, thanks for the comments. The week's events, if the Solvang gig happens will be a marathon for sure, ending on Sunday with the Phoenix Club swap meet. I think a 20th year celebration could justify a weeks worth of activities. we'd have a driving event, open houses, the Lit show, and a swap meet to round out a special Early S Registry milestone. I,ve talked to Chuck Miller already and if there is enough support, we might just pull it off.
The advantage of a relatively compact radius of events along with an efficient time table could, in my opinion, give us the most driving, socializing, and hanging out time for our buck. Also the SoCal weather would be ideal. And The gathering of a couple hundred long hoods would be priceless.

[2pt767S]

Thanks Eric. The 356 group has also used Solvang. The big hotel there ( Cort ), has the largest parking area I've ever seen. And is in the middle of great entertainment (shopping) for our wives. The beauty of Solvang is shorter distance to LAX on Friday and outstanding driving roads nearby. With a high number of participants, we would use several routes w/ various distances to suit everyone's "leisure" driving pleasure.
Truck your car to LAX and fly in if need be and ship back when done. The option is all your's my friend. Hauling with others from your area would reduce costs, and save days. And remember, a full load is better then a half load.
I'm not sure a concours would fit with all the driving, bugs, dirt and all. Besides, driving is more fun than rubbing paint.
I look forward to our time shared as always. We've solved many world problems in the bar at the Hilton.
BTW, attended my first 356 event at the Monterey Hilton. Was the 40th and went on for the week before the PCA showed up. We did a lot that of driving and socializing for sure. Once PCA rolled in things got a lot stiffer. Besides, they didn't understand our old cars. Drove em nuts.

[911pcars]

Here's my $.02.

What's wrong with Vegas, again? Was there an access issue from some regions? It is closer to the east, although the guys from Vermont (Jens, Rick C.) might say that's a pretty weak attempt. Room rates and vacancies are sure to be on the side of a large consumer group at this point in our economy and there are many hotels to choose from. While $10, all you can eat buffets might be tough to locate, a lack of eateries is not a problem in and around Vegas. Besides, Tabs lives in Vegas (insider data) so I figure he knows of the most cost effective buffets with large quantities of food and drink.

In addition, there are lots of roads, straight flat ones that is. However, Las Vegas Speedway should be available for the adrenaline rush and preferred over doing same on public roads. DE, autocross, drags and time trails possible. Maybe off road racing too. Visit Carrol Shelby's plant next to the Speedway. I heard he found more original Cobra chassis.

I remember the 10th anniversary when I first met Ray Crawford, Sam Del Cioppo, Eade (fresh from Colorado), Randy W., Jim Moore, Will Sanchez, Rick Cabelli and several others. I've still got the attendance roster as a historical artifact. Might be worth something in 58 years.

And the Las Vegas yellow pages has the largest section devoted to escort services in the world. Thought I'd throw that in. Elvis's are there too. Want to get married and/or divorced that same weekend? No problem.

If a hotel is booked now, a room should be cheaper than a one night stay on skid row.

Like I said, my $.02.
Sherwood

[2pt767S]

Sherwood, thanks for the Vegas suggestion. The problem there is logistics and roads for drives. Solvang is vertically aligned between north and south in Ca. and provides for an easy drive on Friday to cruise the open house tour prior to the lit. show. The drive from Vegas to the LA basin is much longer and does not integrate into a tour route as easily as Solvang. Also, I am considering my spouse's attitude about hanging out in town while I play follow the leader w/ the group. Solvang or Vegas? No brainer there. Also, this is a non-track event as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of opportunities @ Calif speedway for that.
Please, don't take this wrong, but all I am attempting here is to provide an extension of leisure things to do which, IMO, is more in keeping w/ the spirit of the Lit. show/open house weekend, not create a longer marathon week.
A suggestion was made John Audette at the start of this to create a West Coast Early 911s Registry Holiday in keeping w/ the 356 Holiday spirit. I think I've provided that. Besides, as I've stated earlier, the 356 events are the result of a long history and far more refined. And, they don't "track", let the RGRUPPE do that.
It is difficult enough for me to take this on w/ the window of opportunity prior to the Lit Show next March and if someone of higher authority in the S Registry does not act soon I cannot do this because I am not able to do a last minute scramble by myself to put it together. I would appreciate a go or no go so I can get on with it or not.

[Scott Clarke]

Doesn't Southern California have enough events in its vicinity? Yes, SC (and central California) has great roads and nice towns, and lots of registry members. There are other locations in the country that also have most of those amenities. On a weekend familly drive this week I was thinking about John's post, and about how good an Oregon event would be. I can imagine the same is true for people in many parts of the country. I vote for a roaming event, ala Parade. For me, the landscape of the event is an important component. Beautiful roads and towns make it worthwhile. For this reason, I'd not consider attending an event in Las Vegas.

A roaming event would enable people to participate, if just once, in this kind of thing that they otherwise may not be able to pull off. For some of us, the time and/or money to travel to distant events is a stong disincnetive towards participation.

All that said, I think the notion of a large Registry event is great, regardless of location.