2009 National Meet Location Poll

[Al N.]

Well, it's that time again.

 

Time to choose a possible site for the next USA7s national club meet. Our first large scale meet was held in 2007 on the East Coast, at the infamous Tail of the Dragon at the border of North Carolina and Tennessee.

 

In an effort to make the next national meet more accessible to people from all over the country, I've compiled a list of possible locations that people have mentioned in the past. We'll leave this thread up for a few months, then make a final selection before summer 2008 is here, giving the organizers at least a year to prepare/plan.

 

Here's my 2¢ on how/why/when to cast a vote:

 

- Pick a place that you'd actually pay money to go spend time to see and hang out with other Seveners. In other words, although we are not accepting deposits yet, pretend we are.

 

- Don't necessarily pick a place based on its proximity to you. What's closest for you may be the farthest for others. Of course, you should plan for any travel/towing time when considering your options. People have discussed turning the caravans from the various regions meets in and of themselves.

 

- Keep in mind that the meet itself will be between 3 and 5 days long, and probably have an auto-x or track day thrown in at the beginning/end of it to satisfy the speed junkies. We will probably do more of a "moving roadshow" this time...with overnights in more than one location.

 

- In keeping with the "national level" meet spirit, it would be great to see takers from all regions...and car counts in 50+ range (hey, a guy can dream)

 

- I personally feel that our national meets should revolve around "significant roads". But of course, places with recreational and historic appeal are important too...especially for people who will be attending with family.

 

- I didn't leave an option for "Other"...if we don't get enough "bites" for any one place in this poll, we can open things up.

 

Want info on what you can expect at these locations? The site linked below is great:

National Scenic Byways Site

[pierats]

Hi Al,

 

I suspect one thing that will effect each of these locations is the time of year. The weather is a large factor in a se7en!

:7rain:

 

Should we also have poll for the range of dates folks would prefer? or list the times of year each place *should* have the best weather?

 

Cheers!

 

Tom

[locost7018]

My picks in order of fun: Colorado (just about anywhere except Denver, too crowded); Fayetteville, Ark/Branson, Mo area; or Door County, Wisconsin (NNE of Green Bay) area although no tracks close by on the last two. Assuming some people trailer to the starting site, what do they do with the trailer and tow vehicle while they are out for those 3 to 5 days? Russ

[pierats]

Al, we did the San Juan skyway on the USA2005 tour. It was *very* scenic but I don't think it compares to something like the TOD for twisties! (although I did manage to still have some fun!)

[snettleship]

Al,

 

Yes, I think this is a great time to start the planning stages with recommendations from club members. As for places, I think sites can't help but be a bit regional. Also, folks who only have so much vacation to spend on family will dictate dates. There are of course exceptions say Easter week more towards the south, but I would suspect for these folks they will be somewhat restricted to mid June through mid August.

 

Also, seems like for most Sevens oriented roads tend to gravitate towards twisty mountians. Certainly not a requirement, but that seems like what folks view as scenic.

 

I think people should vote the "Places" they would be willing to attend. If all of the above, then vote for all of them. This would help in determining what are the places people are willing to travel to. Heck, might be that many people would be willing to travel a longer distance in some cases. Low votes doesn't indicate a low interest in a national event, maybe just lower interest in those locations. Every National Club has these problems, but auto clubs are bad since hopping on a plane isn't as much in the spirit (unless of course you have the local dealer willing to rent LSIS cars...).

 

I also like the idea of a "moving" Event, but the logistics of packing/unpacking hotels/trailers and having activities for the "non-Seven drivers" might be more difficult.

 

Finally, while the list here is very interesting, the most critical aspect is who is willing to host? Who will be finding and negotiating with hotels, parks, activities...? I would expect that people involved in hosting will be somewhat regional. Probably should be hosted by leaders of a "regional" part of the club. Al & Mazda did a great job at TOD even though they were a healthy drive from there. If there are people out there who would be interested in providing hosting help, I think you should contact Al, since he us such a good instigator, and insdicate if you are willing to help with any choices above, or if you have somewhere else in mind.

 

There, that is enough opinion for now.

 

 

 

 

[Al N.]

Thanks all for your input.

 

Timing would probably be Summer 2009. In terms of the locations on this list...part of the reason the list looks like it does is due to the fact that we have some folks near the areas listed who might be able to help out.

 

I left off places like Tail of the Dragon or Barber Motorsports Park because they aren't as central as they could be. I think the more coastal the location, the more fitting it is for a regional meet in 2008 or 2010 (the "off" years for the national). For example, I think the Northern NY area around Lake George could be a blast, but it's too far East to attract say Gert, Stan, John Ch, and company.....

 

That said, I should have put in two more options (and I tried just now but couldn't

 

#6 - Dudes, I'm down for whatever. Name the time and place and I'll be there.

 

#7 - Sorry, all of these options sound too far away for me. See you at a regional in 2008.

 

Unless Mazda can add these to a poll after the fact, I don't know how to do it.

 

---

We had a run on voting and now bupkis. Is everyone in New Hampshire today?!?

[slomove]

I voted for Beartooth etc. because it is among the closest locations for me and obviously very nice. But I would just as well go to the western Ozarks and would have thought people more prefer it due to better central location. This will be key at the end for participation because I think it is not realistic for many of us driving/towing much more than 1500 miles one way for what is effectively a 2 week vacation (e.g. 2-3 days towing up, 5 days (maybe 7?) meeting/touring/track and then 2-3 days towing back.

 

I believe we are asking people to vote right now on a target without sufficient information. Maybe we should for each potential target region have a short white paper including information about nice roads, tracks, family vacation options, sights, distances from major metro areas, tour route proposal etc.

 

I know that is a little work but not a problem if we divide it up. I would volunteer to research the Wyoming or Ozark region (or cooperate with local folks) if that sounds like a good idea.

 

Cheers,

 

Gert

[slngsht]

Al, I'll try to add those choices to the database tonight.

 

I voted Montana / Wyoming. We will probably make it a big month long family vacation if job allows it at that time.

 

AND, I'll be driving right behind Boxologist ALL THE WAY OUT THERE :thumbs:

[Hudson]

I talked to Intercity Transport following the PNW Tour and they were VERY open to discounting if we could fill a truck at one location and if there is flexibility in timing they get even happier. So best rates would be (guessing) seven or eight cars with secure parking for a few days at both ends.

 

Central collection points in the east and the west anyone?

 

Ed

[Keith]

If it's in Colorado, I can run an autocross and/or track event.

[MHKflyer52]

Pikes Peak would be a fun drive and Colorado seems to be fairly central.

[Davemk1]

Nice to see people are interested in seeing MT. I like it here.

 

The photo is taken from my home office window here in Bozeman. Another day in hell.

 

Dave

 

 

http://www.serotta.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=35475&stc=1

 

 

[WestTexasS2K]

I would be game for anything other than Minnasota. That is about 2000 + miles for me. I will be game for most anything 1000-1500 mile range. I havent been to Yellowstone since I was a tot. That would provide a great excuse to go to the area and what better way to see it than a 7. Ozarks sound like fun as does Colorado. I have never been to the Black hills either so that sounds like fun too. Have car will travel to most places.

[BobDrye]

Using this data Westbygod or the mid west looks "great".

 

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1353350272_thumb463x_speedenforcmentmap.jpg

 

 

:7drive:

[slngsht]

I like the way you look at this :yesnod:

[powderbrake]

I also am concerned about what to do with the trailer and tow vehicle if we move to a different hotel each night. Perhaps there can be a safe storage location for the trailer and tow vehicle, and set up a loop to return to the storage location. This is what we did on our Ozarks tour in 2006.

 

I realize that it may be too early to worry about this, but are the gas stations close enough together in the Wyoming and Montana areas? On the Ozark tour, we all traveled together and stopped together, on a pre planned mapped-out route. I tried to keep the mileage between gas stations to about 80 to 90 miles for those smaller tanked sevens, and we did about 200-220 miles per day for 3 days. Gas mileage is not too good with "spirited"driving, and some of the really small towns didn't have premium gas. Perhaps we shoud take a poll of the range that each driver feels "safe" in attempting on a full tank of fuel with spirited driving. I imagine this trip would involve "cruising" to see the terrain , rather than the more racy roads like the TOTD or the previous southcentral Missouri Ozark tour.

 

This ( the Midwest or the Montana-Wyoming) being a pretty long trip for most people, it should probably have the ability to be a vacation spot for the non seven riders and kids. St.Louis has a lot of attractions besides the baseball team, and can be a good vacation spot, but it is 40 miles out to the beginning of the more "scenic" roads. Perhaps Branson in southwest Missouri would be a spot we could base from, and return to each night. It is on a big lake ( Table Rock Lake)with fishing and watersports and is family friendly, and of course it's hundreds of hotels and 86 musical shows and a theme park. There could be some good road cruises to the northeast and southeast out of Branson.

I looked at Microsoft's Streets and Trips , and it showed 167 hotels, 15 landmarks and 20 restaurants in a 5 mile diameter centered on Branson. Actually there are likely more restaurants than that, I haven't been there myself in quite a while.

 

Branson activities

Branson's website

 

slomove's idea of a white paper on the area, with proposed routes and locations and features that would help people choose woud be in order.

 

I'm voting for the Ozarks, but I am willing to go to Montana ( 1400 miles) or the Black hills (1000 miles even though I've been to the black hills & rushmore 5 times in the last 6 years, because I prairie dog hunt in South Dakota)

 

 

[jbanker]

I voted for the Ozarks. Location is fairly central and the area is great. One of our best family vacations was spent at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake for a week. The surrounding countryside had lots to offer with great roads. We did not spend much time in the town of Branson it's self; a liittle to "touristy" for my taste, but has lots to offer for families with children.

 

Jaunts down to NW Arkansas are easy and close by. One of the best BBQ joints I have ever been to was near Oak Grove, AR. My daughters and wife did not want to get out of the car because the place looked so bad. However, the fancy cars in the parking lot and awesome smell of hickory smoke was sending a different message to my son and I.

 

We all had to laugh when we saw a sign nailed to the front door of the establishment which read..."Even my mom is afraid to come in here". The place was decorated "on purpose tacky" but the food fantastic. I wanna' go back!!!

 

Jack

[Kitcat]

Build it and I will come (Or at least try to). The Montana/Yellowstone site is wonderful but my memory is that there are lots of wide open spaces and straight roads out there. We drove Going to The Sun road in Glacier Nat'l Park and it's full of twisties but also full of mobile homes, bicycles etc.. Scenic, breathtaking, but not much fun to drive. Its also abt 1800 miles from Cincy-in a Seven? Yikes!

 

It's about 1100 miles from Cincy to Denver. Its hard for us Eastern types to get a feel for just how big the west is. Keith has kindly offered to run an auto-x or track day. But it is about another 4-5 hours from Denver to Grand Junction. Ditto Bozeman up to Glacier National Park. The farthest I have ever driven my Seven in a day was 380 miles and I felt like a hero. To get out west, I will have to double that daily amount, to stay within the time I may have available. And the car will have to demonstrate a level of reliability heretofore never experienced.

 

So I vote for the closest site to Cincy (the Ozarks) but will be happy to give the other places a shot.

 

Perhaps a Seven "convoy" could be arranged from the east and we could share spare parts, repair manuals, tow ropes etc.. Maybe even a tow vehicle with an empty trailer??? Or a tow vehicle with a seven that could be swapped out for a broken down car and driven to the nearest repair shop?

[Davemk1]

As much as I love living here and can't imagine ever leaving it does have it down sides. I say this so that folks considering having the meet in this area can keep this in mind.

 

Driving for sport over some of the roads here in the summer can be a frustrating deal. The Beartooth has to be one of the coolest roads on the planet but during the summer (as long as school is out) there is a good bit of traffic and it goes slow. Folks are taking in the views. I've driven over the Beartooth a few times but never in my Seven for sport fun. It was a bit frustrating even in my VW station-wagon due to the motor-homes and the such. I imagine that if one were to drive it at first light it might be much better but keep in mind that the pass goes over 10,000 feet and it will be cold up there in the AM. Near freezing wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

 

Something similar in Yellowstone proper. During the summer it's just plain crowded. Not so much that you can't have fun sight seeing but if you want to drive for fun it might not be that much fun. The east-west route across the northern section of the park (lamar river valley) would be the best bet and spits you out of the park into Cooke City and later Cody if you like. This section has the least amount of traffic/tourist and could be fun early in the AM.

 

Kit Kat has it right that there are many long straight stretches of road. It is very open here and if it's hot or it's windy then you'll be hot and blown around. Most areas have little or no shelter. There are very few tree lined back roads that will protect you in an open car. I can promise no shade and at altitude the sun is strong and hot.

 

When you get away from these tourist areas there will be no one. The population density is bizarrely low. With all the election hub bub recently it was pointed out to me that the state of New Hampshire has a higher population than Montana does. This combined with an east-west border to border distance that is about the same as Chicago to DC means that there is no one here. The folks are are in in the summer all go to a few spots and all drive Motor-homes with Apache written on the sides. With careful planning routes could be picked that have fun twisty roads mixed with long straight open sections that will have near zero traffic. Just keep and eye out for wildlife on the roads and you'll have fun.

 

Anyway..........I feel like I'm trying to talk folks out of coming here and that is far from the truth. I write the above so folks know what they can expect and plan accordingly. I just pictured us all stopped atop the Beartooth highway and getting lots of dirty look from folks who thought it would be empty.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Dave

Bozeman MT

[Al N.]

Great feedback all.

 

In terms of the doing the "white paper"...a smart idea Gert. How about we leave this up for a few more weeks and then have the top 3 written up as white papers by various volunteers?

 

The great thing is that even for the 2 events that don't get ultimately selected, we have that information ready to go for future meets.

 

Jerry, great point about the gas. I have a 14 gallon tank and I still ran out! :ack:

 

Gert, I appreciate your offer to help with one of the white papers. I volunteer to do one of the others. If we have another volunteer with some experience planning an event to work with one of the locals, we'll be set.

 

In terms of "locals"...I'm sure we'd be able to pick the brains of the following forum members:

 

Montana - Dave Mk1

Ozarks - Powderbrake

Colorado - Skip & Keith

 

Again, thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.