Jeff/Illinois
Well-known member
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New Places, New Faces, New venues! New Cars... what could be more fun than that???
Brent mentioned it in a post on attracting new Model A members and I still think it is a great idea. I fully agree. French Lick is perfect; central location, . . . I can't see how it would fail. It would be the best all around membership and interest creator in the Model A hobby. The national clubs would profit from it, maybe even allowing them to hold the cost of membership down in the future or even lowering it.
Maybe there could be a poll done on this idea too.
Actually since I go to Sturgis about every other year I can say the reason I go is not what you happen to think. The reason I go is the beautiful scenery like Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, Crazy Horse, Badlands, I'll stop there as you can see it isnt really the party maybe for a few of the old types it is. Its the fun and beauty of the scenery. Just my 2 centsTim, those are valid points and I see where you are coming from and may I make one suggestion for you at the bottom of this post?![]()
Chuck, common logic says that what you are saying about it slowing down makes sense however I just got back from an antique car tour in Sturgis, ...and I can tell you from experience that there ain't "squat" out there. So what is the attraction that has bikers coming back year after year with bigger crowds? Well, the actualy truth is probably the booze and the b*** --err nevermind, it's the party. Well think about it, that is basically what the National Meets is, ...one big week long party for a bunch of Model A-ers. The swap meet at the National Meet are always different each year, and likely would see new stuff just like Hershey sees new inventory arrive each year.
As far as "who would sponsor it?", I think you would find many "event planning" companies that would love to be contracted for that job. So what about all the sub-tasks you ask? Let the Chapters sponsor it. For example, if the same chapter handled doing the "trouble tent" area each year, life would be much easier for them because more people could be dedicated to one task. They would have one liason who coordinates with the event planner to ensure they have what they needed. They would also learn off of their mistakes from the previous year. The same with Judging. The JSC could handle their own needs of lay-out, registration, judge selection, and coordinate through the event planner.
Tim, if I am keying up on one thing you are describing, it is seeing different areas of the country. To me it sounds like this is a great excuse to impliment the MARC or MAFCA National Model A Tour which would be a week-long tour either hubbing out of the same hotel each day, --or a progressive week long tour that would be held in a different location each year. If this sounds like fun for you, I have something you may be interested in. While I am not interested in doing this again, I would give you all the routes, contacts, and information for you to host a tour. Here is a small itinerary...
SUNDAY:
Registration, Meet & Greet, and Get to know the Town tour ramble.
MONDAY:
The tour will kick-off with an opening Banquet & breakfast for all participants. This day's tour will be about 125 miles long and will take you on back roads to Countryside Winery where folks can tour the facility. Then you will travel through SW Virginia ending up at Steele Creek Park for a catered Chicken Dinner on the grounds. After lunch, you will travel by police escort through the town of Bristol to Bristol Motor Speedway where you will be able to drive down onto the speedway for a group portrait. When leaving you will be able to make a few passes down Bristol Dragway before heading to Holston Dam and its Weir Dams. Once back at the host hotel that afternoon, there is games for the kids. Swap meet and Trouble Tent will be open each evening.
TUESDAY:
Tuesday's tour is only 30 miles long but starts out at a local mall where the cars are put on exhibit at 9:00 am for the morning where locals can view them. The mall is open for the women to shop (and are offering special coupons in your goodie bags), and this is a great time to do Touring Class Judging if their is interest. After lunch on-your-own in the Mall's food court, it is off for a drive through the town of Watuaga and over to the Rocky Mount State Historical site for ice cream and live re-enactment of the vintage farm. You will leave at about 4pm and make the short trip back so you can be ready for the 'Hillbilly Hoedown' in the parking lot with live music and games. This party goes from 6pm til 9pm.
WEDNESDAY:
This day you will be traveling to Tennessee's oldest town named Jonesborough where you will be getting free admission to the National Storytelling Center and listening to storytellers. From there you will be traveling along the countryside following the Nolichucky River and the trails of Davey Crockett until you reach D. Crockett Birthplace State Park where there will be a catered BBQ lunch awaiting for you by the river. Afterwards you will travel through Tennessee's 2nd oldest town on your way to a Llama Farm for the kids young & old to mingle with all the farm animals. From there you will be traveling to the Gray Fossil site where there will be refreshments in the parking lot and your admission pre-paid. Leaving there you will travel more backroads back to the host hotel. Today's trip is 98 miles and should take about 7 hours to complete. Ice cream social is a part of this evenings events and is free of charge.
THURSDAY:
Today's trip will be 116 miles and will take you towards the town of Elizabethton where there will be refreshments waiting at Fort Sycamore State Park. From there travel into Elizabethton and cross over the covered bridge on your way to Snap-On Tools who have arranged for you to tour their plant to view how Wrenches and Ratchets are manufactured. This tour weill take approximately 1 hour to complete. From there you will be driving along the now-paved Tweetsie narrow-gauge railroad bed on your way to Roan Mountain where a box lunch of Ham or Turkey is provided. Seating will be creekside or under the Pavillion. After lunch you will travel more backroads on your way to see two TVA Dams (Watauga dam & Wilbur dam) where afternoon refreshments will be provided. After touring & leaving the dams you will be traveling to the facility of Borla Exhaust where a tour will be given showing how stainless steel automotive exhaust systems are manufactured.
FRIDAY:
Final day will be 109 miles and will take you along the Dan'l Boone Trail as you look at many civil war sites including the Washington College. We will be stopping at the Mountainview Bulk Foods Amish general store and driving through several Strawberry & Tomato farms where roadside stands will be set-up. From there you will travel to the historic town of Erwin for lunch on-your-own. You will view many antique shops in the historic district. After that tiring walk through town, you will travel to the Hutchin's Farm at the edge of the Cherokee Nat'l Forest for home-made ice cream where over 100 early engines will be operating by the East TN Ant. Eng. ***'n. for your viewing pleasure. When you are finished, you will have a hour long drive back to the host hotel where you will prepare for a Closing Banquet that evening in the Ballroom.
SATURDAY:
Depart for home.
Tim, for that tour, we charged $175 per Car & Driver, and $80 per passenger with kids under 10 half-price. Total mileage was about 475 for the week of driving and each day started at about 8:30 am and finished between 4 & 5 pm. Let me know if you want to host this and I'll give you all of the necessary stuff where you can pull it off. Don't feel overwhelmed because my family did it last year for the Model T club. Any takers??
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