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Post by fbomb on Jan 19, 2009 11:44:54 GMT -5
Let us know what you think worked and what else you think can be done better or different.
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Post by singincanary on Jan 19, 2009 12:16:24 GMT -5
Had a great time. I liked the events, and spending time at VTSC. The driving was nice, not too much, and some nice roads. This was my 4th year and it was just as much fun as the first.
I wouldn't mind making a trip back to Canadia, either Montreal or Niagara Falls. Might be tough with a lunch at SDC on Friday, but a quick shot up the northway for Friday night in Montreal, Saturday at VTSC and dinner at Dunham's Bay might be an option. Just a thought.
Or we could do a trip with less mileage, and more back roads.
Tough thing is that with this many people/cars, planning is a bit more involved. I think 2 packs this year was a good idea, but maybe even a split into 3 packs of 15 would have been more manageable, meeting up for meals only (restaurants would probably appreciate that too.) That's the only thing that I missed this trip was the sit down meals. I also had to bail on the final dinner as it was bath time at home.
Pretty much just thinking aloud, don't mind the ramblings.
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Post by fbomb on Jan 19, 2009 13:08:19 GMT -5
Planning is just rambling. Canada might be rough with a huge field. I have a feeling crossing the border with that many cars might be considered an act of war in Canada's eyes. Somebody or would be held up at the border making the pack have to wait until things were sorted. Maybe plan to get close to Canada and have a night visit with a smaller group. I could be totally wrong thou, also not everyone has passports. There is no doubt that splitting the group is a must. I think the itinerary thing worked wonderful. There was a sheet with the info of where we'd be and approximately when. That allowed the drivers to choose the food they want and not have to be stuck with one choice. The gas stations didn't have to deal with a bum rush of 40 cars and there wasn't a 2 mile line for the bathroom. Even if you got lost or wanted to meet up on a part of the run you were able to with knowing where we'd be. The back roads were great. We have an idea about next year that will allow us to have them with still keeping the option of hopping on the interstates in case of inclement weather or some other issue that throws off the timetable. There will be probably 2-3 preruns between now and the next trip so we can test out our ideas. The prerun this year helped immensely.
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Post by bravo12 on Jan 19, 2009 14:21:43 GMT -5
As far as the backroads: Sunday worked out perfectly, but we cut it close as far as driving those roads after dark. Not that driving on them is much more difficult in the dark, but if something were to happen out there, the lack of daylight makes things much harder to deal with. Just something to keep in mind for the next trip: plan on getting back on the highway by nightfall.
Breaking down into groups gives people options, too. People can decide if they want to take the backroads and play, or hit more highway and have a longer lunch, and jump into the proper group. So long as we're showing up at the same places around the same times, I think we'll continue to get the attention and get the impact we're looking for.
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Post by Grafton aka WV on Jan 20, 2009 10:39:50 GMT -5
backroads are awesome in the light but i think after dark it would be a little less stressfull on everyone to stick to the interstate after dark ( the roads to burlington were not "back road" imho the ones in NY on sunday were) they were all fun till we started playing catchup
the fact that a few *billy-esque* people got to go out on the ice and play was cool ( and your all welcome btw it was my fault ), that should be an option for everyone, let groups of 5 or so spread out and have fun for about 5 mins so we dont spend all day there and then everyone will get a chance to go crazy semi-safely.
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Post by bravo12 on Jan 20, 2009 10:55:53 GMT -5
Discussions are already underway about how to let people do stuff like donuts on the lake or some backroad drifting on their own without it reflecting on the group, or worse, becoming the responsibility of the group organizers. The main concern is that SOA will not want to be affiliated so closely with a group that goes out and tears up the local roads and parking lots like a bunch of high school kids. We all need to blow off some steam and have fun, so we're working on how we can all do that without it becoming a problem for the group. This year's event went way over the top, with the total contributions, the support, and the resulting press coverage; we'd like to see this thing get bigger and better each year.
I'm guilty of it myself - Todd and I did a few quick donuts on the snow in the parking lot in Oneonta, which is why I couldn't really tell the rest of the guys to knock it off a few minutes later. I was hoping everyone would just get it out of their system quickly before some locals called the police on us.
Long story short: we all have the urge to do something Billy-esque from time to time, so we're working on ways people can go out on their own and do that without it being the responsibility of the 48hrs of Tri-State organization.
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Post by Paisan on Jan 20, 2009 17:26:37 GMT -5
Interestingly there was not 1 but 2 troopers right on the other side of the snow mounds ticketing folks on the road at the same time....
But as bravo said we are working on a way for everyone to have their cake and eat it too.
-mike
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Post by toddlamp on Jan 21, 2009 8:36:24 GMT -5
I think this was a great trip. I loved the back road action and I don't mind after dark backroad driving. For me it was exciting.
What I want to see for next year is some sort of driving event. I know that a lot of people, myself included, wanted to take part is donuts or drifting and I will look into activities like that that can be done in a controlled environment.
Does anyone know of any Rally or Auto-x events up north going on in the winter months?
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Post by scrapin' on Jan 21, 2009 12:44:00 GMT -5
Actually Todd...there is a track in NY that was running like a snow drift thing the same weekend we were driving. I'm trying to find the thread on Nasioc but IIRC it required a membership and it was $$$.
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Post by bizzarboxer on Jan 21, 2009 13:31:14 GMT -5
Is anyone interested in doing a mid year Dragon Run?
I could probably arrange tours of some of the Nascar Shops and a tour of Crawford Composites (Dayonta Prototypes). I am not saying for sure, but given plenty of notice I could make some phone calls. All of these would be in the Mooresvile, NC area.
We could make the trip to Mooresville, stay overnight and then its about a 3hour run to Deals Gap.
P.S. There is also a really good Indoor Karting track that just opened up not far from the race shops.
-Rob (w/ trunk monkey)
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Post by Paisan on Jan 21, 2009 15:39:07 GMT -5
A driving event during the trip would basically loose the spirit of the event IMO. We are however going to be doing more of the driving similar to what we had on Sunday next year.
The events at Monticello are $$$ and any kind of event like that is an all day affair. We are looking at ways that people can have a little fun off the clock, perhaps in the evenings.
-mike
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Post by sterickson on Jan 22, 2009 17:00:19 GMT -5
As much as I dearly would have loved to get out on that ice, or have done a few doughnuts in a parking lot, I have to say that I don't really think it's appropriate for this particular event, especially as I think about liability issues and the comment made about Subaru's continued involvement. If there are enough of us that want to have that sort of fun, then maybe we should get together and do it when it's not connected to this event. Safety and responsibility should be a hallmark of the event, I think, even though I'm itching to find a snow covered lot I can safely and repeatedly lose control of my car in. As for the driving on the snowy roads after dark, I had no problem doing it and I see no reason for making sure we avoid such roads once it gets dark. If road conditions get really bad, the highway is always an option of course. Or perhaps some can remain on the backroads and some can take the highway. Splitting up into two groups seemed to work quite well and if we have more cars next year, then even more groups makes sense, to keep things managable. I want to thank the organizers and sponsors for putting together a great event. It was a blast to participate in and to help raise money for a good cause. -ste
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Post by Paisan on Jan 22, 2009 17:07:59 GMT -5
I agree on the snow driving at night, it shouldn't be an issue. If the conditions got real deep where we were worried a car would high center or go into a ditch, then we'd have to jump onto the interstates. Part of the mystique of the event is the difficult snow driving we often encounter. Who could forget the year we drove in a blizzard on the NYS Thruway from Albany all the way to Niagara Falls, ON? Thanks for the input and keep it coming! -mike
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Post by bizzarboxer on Jan 22, 2009 17:41:24 GMT -5
I will apologize first off for doing the donuts. It was not the right place or time for them. I get the impression I rubbed some people that wrong way and that was not my intention at all. I truly appreciate the time, work and effort put in by all the organizers and for the opportunity to take part in the event.
That being said. I think given the circumstances of our driving conditions and why we all love our cars, some way of being able to do it legally on the trip would relieve a lot of that pent up snowdrifting frustration and help hinder it from happening illegally in the future.
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Post by Paisan on Jan 22, 2009 21:12:01 GMT -5
It's all good. We are working on a way for folks to get that drifting/donutting thing out of their system. We all like to play and I also thank you for the appology. I also appologize for going off a bit on yah. I'm usually a bit shoot from the hip on things.
No harm no foul!
But yeah we are working on something so folks can have some of that kind of fun on the trip.
-mike
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