Suggestion for two Round-ups...

So is this a dead topic already? Craig just posted this years round-up numbers:

Not one from the 11 western states! Let's get motivated western guys! The first thing we need is a single point of contact to find out who would be willing to come and how far. This person doesn't have to plan the event, just take a census. I'm pretty junior and not even an official MCCI member yet so maybe one of the western state reps could do this.

 

I'd love to get a pole happinin' but I, unfortunatly, have no idea how to do it. Only a handfull of people(so far)have replied that they would be interested and have given the distance they would be willing to travel...so it seems that there may not be much interest....hope I'm wrong though!

 

There's absolutely no reason that there cannot be a 'West Coast Meet', Roundup II, or whatever you want to call it. There's obviously some genuine interest and if I read some of the posts correctly, at least a couple of people who are willing to get something started. This is the biggest obstacle to getting a large scale meet off the ground, someone who is willing to do the organizing and do the do. I know that there has been some criticism that the Roundup has not travelled west, so this is a very reasonable alternative. Having two large scale meets is likely the better way to go with the mileage to travel being a big concern to many and the cost of fuel that goes up more often than down. These are certainly valid issues to have to deal with.

The things you need to look at when considering a location are.....
*What is there in the way of suitable lodging that has the extras (dedicated parking area, showfield) that we'd need and would be willing to be affordable?
*What is around where the meet is being planned to do?
*Is there a drag strip reasonably close? Can we book it for a day at a cost that we can afford? Are their affiliations going to make the safety rules hard for us to adhere to?
*Are there any businesses, etc. that would be willing to support our meet?
*Are there things around the meet area that we might need (stores, fuel, pharmacies, food)?
There's more, but these hit the basics. There's also several big time elements that have to be taken into account. For a large meet, you need to start setting things up a good year in advance, if not more. The larger hotels book conferences and events at least one year in advance and clients have to so they can get the dates needed. John and Craig know this and I, myself, am hosting a national classic emergency vehicle meet here next August and booked the host hotel before Christmas '04! You absolutely have to start stuff at least that far in advance. If you're looking for sponsors, you have to start begging, and that's pretty much what it amounts to, at least a year ahead. The strip needs a lot of notice also, if they can even accomodate your request. John found strips that couldn't guarantee us a date because of their regular bigger clients.

I've done two regional meets here in '02 and '03 and they had to be set up far in advance.

I'm quite sure that there would be a large base of support for a West Coast meet. I know there would be a lot of info available to help from those of us that have done meets before for you to use. Bottom line is that someone has to step up and make it happen. I, personally, would like to see that happen.

I also want to nip one issue that I also heard floating around regarding locatons of the Roundup. This was never just a MCCI dictation. The '05 meet proved that. It was brought up at the meeting last year that a large percentage of the membership were looking for a change of venue. If the locations were by club mandate, this year in Owensboro would have never happened. John stepped up and volunteered. This is how things happen. Now, granted, there was not a proxy vote for those that didn't come to the '04 Roundup, but there has never been a need for this voting procedure before. If there are enough members that feel differently for any future issues, I'm sure this could be addressed. Like I said, MCCI is a club (I still like to call it a family) of the members and not a dictatorship.

You guys want a meet? GREAT!!! Someone step up and we'll do everything we can do to help in any way we can.

 

Here is ther bottom line. Somebody needs to step up and host a Western Mini-Meet. That is all it takes. Here is what I suggest:

-Start out by having a mini-meet at an already existing show. That is where the first seven Round-Ups in Columbus, OH were held. The first one I went to (which was the third Round-Up) only had 10 cars. The last one in Columbus had 22 cars. You have to start somewhere.

-I would suggest having this show in northern California, and maybe as far west as Utah. These locations would be withing an 8 hours drive of most people in the west.

-One can't plan something like this a month from now an expect people to show up. A year's notice would be best.


-Club voting does NOT decide where a Round-Up is held. If that was the case....everybody would vote that it be withing 5 miles of their own house. It happens because somebody steps ups and says "I will do it". Until that happens out west.......it won't happen.

 

Craig/Wes, if and when we get someone to take point on this, would it be possible to print an article/ad in the newsletter asking for those interested to contact "so-and-so"? I'm sure there are people out there who never come to this board yet subscribe to the newsletter.

 

A vast majority of the MCCI membership does not visit this board....so putting it in the newsletter is a must. Once somebody decides to "head it up"........trying to get a concensus on a date and city will be impossible. Somebody just has to step up, set a date and location, and go for it.

To join, print off an application at: www.maverickcometclub.org

 

We westerner's laugh at 8 hour trips.

-I would suggest having this show in northern California, and maybe as far west as Utah. These locations would be withing an 8 hours drive of most people in the west.

LOL. Lots of S. Cal isn't even within 8 hours of N. Cal. And nowhere in Utah is within 8 hours of anything, lol again, but some great scenery. I'm all for N. Cal, but the simple fact is that anywhere it's put people are going to be traveling long distances. But that's just the way it is out here, I don't mind. I'd bet average traveling time would work out to something more like 12 hours. Reno, about 17 or so for me, if I made good time. Best time from Tucson to 75 miles N. of Reno, 14:15, 280Z when the speed limit was 55. I averaged about 70 including all stops and cities for 1000 miles or so. And I slowed way down for the last 200 miles after the ticket where the cop asked me if I knew that over 90 was an arresting offense in AZ. LOL. He only chased me for about 10 miles, I didn't know he was back there, took a while for him to catch up, it was curvy and it was fun dropping it into 3rd from 5th and whipping around cars at any place I could. Back when cops had a sense of humor, he looked a little stunned when he asked me how far I had come that day, it was still pretty early and I'd done 800 miles already. Ahhh, the good old days. 'Course now I would never go over the posted speed limit having learned all laws and rules are there for MY PROTECTION and NOT because they want all my money.
I will officially volunteer to check track prices and particulars, lodging won't be a big problem in Nevada, hotels and casinos everywhere you look. But I'll do a little looking into that too. I know that area pretty well, grew up at that point 75 miles north of Reno. I'll post some stuff in a few days, see what comments occur.

 

Okay Maverikrick. I just moved from Phoenix last December...remember you're so far south you're practically in Mexico...anywhere's far for you!

While you look at Reno I'm going to look at Eureka, CA. They have a drag strip and it's on the coast north of the bay area. It looks like a really nice town. I'd like to hear the opinion of someone near there.

I've been doing a little research into how many board members live in the western states and provinces (sorry I keep leaving the Canadians out). I counted only members who've been active in the last two months and so far I'm up to the letter "M". Here's the breakdown:

California 40
Washington 25
Arizona 15
Colorado 9
Alberta 8
Oregon 8
British Colombia 6
New Mexico 4
Utah 3
Idaho 3
Wyoming 2
Nevada 1
Montana 1

Well, the numbers certainly say that Northern California/Nevada would be a good choice. How did Washington get so many Mavericks? Do you guys pass them around?

 

Cool.

The whole north coast is nice. You might want to check rainfall though. They're on the wrong(wet) side of the Sierras. Don't know what their rainy seasons are. Been through there but don't really remember it, thinking a little isolated.
And I'm only 160 miles from Phoenix, ON the border. 800 miles from Phoenix to Reno, ain't close. But then neither is Colorado, you must be a real westerner.

 

again, i'd have to say that it would depend on my race schedule for next year and that won't be out til the end of the year. also if i'm in the running for the championship i can't miss a race. i don't have a real street maverick yet that i'd trust to go far so my main interest would be the racing. i've done the car show route and it's not my cup of tea. i do enjoy a cruise but not an all day show. i would be interested if i can fit it into my schedule. course i'll be retired by then so racing will be the only schedule that could conflict.

 

Eureka! I like the sound of that! I think that would be doable for me...not sure how much further I could go though. I just worry about...ahem...car troubles. Of course over the past 15 years my Mav has never let me down once!

 

I would suggest leaving out the drag racing this first go around. Renting a track is expensive and without knowing how many will show up the first time.....you can't count on that. Remember.....baby steps. You have to learn how to walk before you can run. We have 12 years of learning how to walk over here on this side of the river.

 

Craig is correct..baby steps. Don't go too big until you know what attendance you can expect, especially for a first time event.

It seems that there is at least one of you that is quite willing to do the research into host hotels, etc. so go for it. That's how this type of thing gets done. One thing I did here is that if you have more than one hotel in the area that fits your needs, go back and forth between them and pit one against the other for their business. You do the 'They offered me this so what can you offer me better?". It does work as long as you act sincere and don't expect TOO much. Be realistic about what you can get for the price.

Obviously, now you know that you do have our support. We'll help in any way we can. If you guys do want to have a meet, you'll have to get hot NOW for next year. Keep us advised. I really hope that this works for y'all.

 

See Craig and I disagree on this issue.......................
I say leave the show out and go drag racing
but thats just my

 

i think if i was to want drag racing included i might see what the schedules for the tracks are in the area. most have a friday night test and tune, where you'd only have to pay the entry fee. also some of the tracks have a club night/day where they let club members run against each other. just a thought.