when is the 5er fest gonna be in the westcoast?

[ElGuappo]

Eric, you should PM Mark Wicker about the current efforts for the West Coast 5erFest. He has been spearheading things thus far, but everythign has been under the radar and unofficial.
Myself and others in the NorCal group have offered our support and energies and whatever the hell else can be put to good use to get this tin can in the air.

Jay3

[Wiseguy]

Meh. I'm just a silly Australian. What do I know about the geography of the US? So, at the risk of derailing the thread, what makes the Heartland, the Heartland?

It's where they find dead farm animals with their hearts surgically removed and drained of all blood.

[eurowannabe]

The problem with Phoenix is there are no fun roads around.

AGREED! Tucson would be better because Mt Lemmon is close and the road is a blast! Plus there are other places that would be fun to see.....Phoenix is relatively flat and has little to offer for an event like this.

[stuartinmn]

it's my understanding the Cheese & Brie set in Austin diss'd supporting 5er Fest, hence the reason it wasn't held in Central Texas. Probably was a good thing anyway, there was bad weather in Central Texas during the weekend.

Rich

Oktoberfest is in Ft. Worth this year - is the Austin chapter helping out in hosting it? If so I would imagine they had enough on their plate this year.

[tacm]

The problem with Phoenix is there are no fun roads around.

AGREED! Tucson would be better because Mt Lemmon is close and the road is a blast! Plus there are other places that would be fun to see.....Phoenix is relatively flat and has little to offer for an event like this.

AND it is only 65 miles from the border WOO HOO!!!!!

[wkohler]

The problem with Phoenix is there are no fun roads around.

AGREED! Tucson would be better because Mt Lemmon is close and the road is a blast! Plus there are other places that would be fun to see.....Phoenix is relatively flat and has little to offer for an event like this.

AND it is only 65 miles from the border WOO HOO!!!!!

What border? They're all here anyway.

[SD45T-2]

palm springs is good and so is Tucson


I am Holding my mouth shut regarding the border sh#%. Lets stick to Cars Please

[wickahead]

Eric, you should PM Mark Wicker about the current efforts for the West Coast 5erFest. He has been spearheading things thus far, but everythign has been under the radar and unofficial.
Myself and others in the NorCal group have offered our support and energies and whatever the hell else can be put to good use to get this tin can in the air.

Jay3

Jay3,

Thanks for speaking up... Sorry, work has been stoopid crazy, so I have been kept away from the more important things...

Anyway, the idea I had (based on conversations with other NorCal board members) is that Monterey Bay would be a great site (specifically Marin - outside of Monterey). The reason for this suggestion is that this is where all of the Golden Gate Chapter's auto-x events are held (.

IIRC, one of the big pulls for 5erFest in the past has been the auto-x (it was a mandatory event before this year, IIRC).

Some of the nice things about Monterey Bay are the tourist attractions (Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row), the close proximity to San Francisco and Napa Valley (for those significant others or for extended stays).

Yes, I have been in contact with the GGC, and they have a process to go through (guidelines/ application w/ review; financial impact, scheduling with other events [for auto-x]), and more. I sent off Layton an email a lot earlier in the year (right in the middle of this year's prep of 5erFest), and he asked that I defer until after 5erFest.

So Eric, please add Marina/Monterey Bay to the equation (although some scouting still needs to occur for hotels with parking structures, large lawn-areas/open-spaces for group photos, fun driving routes, etc.)

Mark
(Okay, back to work)

[Kenny Blankenship]

Mark, Jay sent me a PM and I think Monterey has great possibilities. Certainly we can add it to the list.

I'm stuck in Las Vegas right now but in the near future we can discuss what needs to be done going forward.

[Bryan in SB]

Reno? Phoenix? Palm Springs? in May,June or July?

Why the desert when one can have the coast? Sonoma is niiiice. Anyone have any contacts at Infineon Raceway????

[wkohler]

I would think the situation revolves around wanting to have the fest towards the western side of the country, but not so far away as to prevent those where the radio stations start with W from wanting to come. That being said, I am against having the fest here in Phoenix - Flagstaff or Tucson would be better, but not by much.

[SD45T-2]

Sedona has a Nice set of twistys threw the canyon and isnt too busy to tourist's and its a nice ride with the windows down.
then 89 goes into Jerome,prescott and wickenbug and those are twisty too.

But Im going for either

Reno or Tucson

[wickahead]

Reno? Phoenix? Palm Springs? in May,June or July?

Why the desert when one can have the coast? Sonoma is niiiice. Anyone have any contacts at Infineon Raceway????

Yeah, Infineon Raceway sounds great.... Buuuuut, the cost to rent the track is prohibitive. (The GGC does rent the track out for track days - 1x or 2x a year, and even then, open to all types of cars, and even then I think they barely break even).

[robeyff]

Just my 2cents: It's a long drive but the West Coast is due - Marin, Napa, etc. great locations.

If you build it we will come

[eurowannabe]

Reno? Phoenix? Palm Springs? in May,June or July?

Why the desert when one can have the coast? Sonoma is niiiice. Anyone have any contacts at Infineon Raceway????

First, lets get back on track here. The western 5er fest would be held in the fall (Sept or Oct) to give the easterners time to recover from the May event and prepare for the western event.

Second, it should be held in a location that encourages the eastern 5ers to make the trip, very few are likely to come if its ON the west coast.

Third, to infer that the desert areas of this country are not "nice" is.....well, showing how little you know about the deserts. It's hard to argue with 300+ days of sunshine a year for those that like to have a clean car.....and be outside. Both of which will be needed for an outdoor event like 5er fest.

Fourth, if the western event is going to be like the eastern event then it will likely change locations yearly. This affords variety and a chance for people to see different parts of the country.

Fifth, California is not the only western state with a racetrack, almost every major western city has one nearby.....and using those will likely be cheaper than any track in California. If a track event is planned an auto-cross is the best way to ensure everyone goes home without body damage.

....and finally, 5erfest west should be held in a place that offers more than wine tasting, the highest gas prices in the country and expensive lodging, regardless of how "nice" everything else is.

It seems rather logical to have it in Las Vegas where the turn-out is likely to be the highest, or somewhere east of there, maybe even Denver or Colorado Springs, hell, even Flagstaff could be an option, lots to see and do there. (see: Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, Monument Valley and Sedona, arguably the most beautiful desert areas in the country).


.....that is all!

[grahamular]

First, lets get back on track here. The western 5er fest would be held in the fall (Sept or Oct) to give the easterners time to recover from the May event and prepare for the western event.

The tentative plan seems to be to hold "5erFest" in the vicinity of the west coast, not separate East and West events.

Second, it should be held in a location that encourages the eastern 5ers to make the trip, very few are likely to come if its ON the west coast.

I think there would be a respectable turn-out from the eastern half of the country regardless of where it is held in the "west".

[dez528e]

It seems rather logical to have it in Las Vegas where the turn-out is likely to be the highest, or somewhere east of there, maybe even Denver or Colorado Springs, hell, even Flagstaff could be an option, lots to see and do there. (see: Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, Monument Valley and Sedona, arguably the most beautiful desert areas in the country).


.....that is all!

I don't think this did anything to get everyone "back on track" - it just puts your opinions out there for whoever is going to finally coordinate this thing, and it seems to heavily favor the guys on the east coast (to include them). They spend enough money on their cars already and probably alot just to get to their event, and here it's being suggested that they have to go to two events in a year?

I think that my biggest concern about doing anything near tourist attractions in Arizona is that they would be full of motorcycles around that time of year. There's also still monsoons in September.

[Wiseguy]

First,

I don't agree with having it ON the coast. Let's look at the last 2 5erFests, neither were "on" the coast, hell.. South Bend was in the midwest and a solid 700+ miles from the nearest ocean.. Chattanooga has to be a solid 300 miles from the beach as well.

I am thinking that a location that's within a day's drive of the major west coast cities will work well, this way it won't be more than a 2 day drive from most of the east coast.

Whatcha all think?

[wkohler]

I like that idea. Everything is cheaper and less-busy inland, as well.

[eurowannabe]

I was under the impression from earlier posts that there were to be 2 5er fests, an east and west event. When did that change? If it did then I'll shut up and let it happen however and wherever it is being planned.

Personally I don't really care where it is held, I would just want to see it in a place where a high turnout from all parts of the country can be assured!

It's all about a location that is for the betterment of ALL!

[wkohler]

I saw that idea presented, but most people, I think (I could be wrong), are going for a single one situated toward the western half of the country.

[wkohler]

I hate to mention this, but what about Salt Lake City? It isn't too far from everyone out west (a reasonable drive from Phoenix, Vegas, California, Portland and Seattle). Just a thought. So much was built for the Olympics, so lodging shouldn't be too bad.

[johnnye23]

[Shawn D.]

I was under the impression from earlier posts that there were to be 2 5er fests, an east and west event. When did that change?

It never changed because it was never the plan, just a suggestion. Sure, having a single one will make some folks have to drive a good bit further than others, but we have a hard enough time getting folks to step up and do the work for the one event each year -- just how do you two-event proponents suggest we take care of that issue?

[eurowannabe]

I was under the impression from earlier posts that there were to be 2 5er fests, an east and west event. When did that change?

It never changed because it was never the plan, just a suggestion. Sure, having a single one will make some folks have to drive a good bit further than others, but we have a hard enough time getting folks to step up and do the work for the one event each year -- just how do you two-event proponents suggest we take care of that issue?

Shawn,

I suggest you talk to Pacific Sharkfest and Southeast Sharkfest (E24s) and ask them how they do it, they seem to do it every year, and get cross-over attendance. One is held in May the other in September. Hell for 3 years there were 3 Sharkfests, if you count the one I co-hosted in Vegas, until PSF changed their date to clash with our Vegas event. The 6er schedule also included a Palms to Pines run in Feb or March, so that would make 4 6er events per year. There is enough enthusiasm in this group to pull off 2 without any problems, or conflicts.

Hey, one event is fine with me, but 2 would be that much better, that's all I'm saying.

IT CAN BE DONE! ....and it would be something that 5ers could attend that can't swing going cross-country. For those that can afford it and make the time to travel then they'd have 2 events they could attend. Please don't tell me that one 5er fest is enough to last the whole year....especially when everyone comes home from 5er fest and says they can't wait for next year.

One thing is for sure, I wish 5erfest to be successful regardless of where or how many are held.

[Shawn D.]

I was under the impression from earlier posts that there were to be 2 5er fests, an east and west event. When did that change?

It never changed because it was never the plan, just a suggestion. Sure, having a single one will make some folks have to drive a good bit further than others, but we have a hard enough time getting folks to step up and do the work for the one event each year -- just how do you two-event proponents suggest we take care of that issue?

I suggest you talk to Pacific Sharkfest and Southeast Sharkfest (E24s) and ask them how they do it, they seem to do it every year, and get cross-over attendance.

IT CAN BE DONE!

I have no need to talk to either of them -- it's not my desire or concern to generate two. I don't think you're understanding my point against two. I wasn't talking about the attendance aspect, I was talking about the organization aspect. In the E28 community, where are the folks who will step up and organize for two?

[C.R. Krieger]

Having been to that part of Kansas, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the even Oklahoma panhandle is a lot more fun ...

[Tammer in Philly]

Having been to that part of Kansas, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the even Oklahoma panhandle is a lot more fun ... :roll:

C'mon, you know you want to run an autocross on a one-mile-square grid of rural routes!

I vote that next year's event be somewhere west of Denver. I like the SLC idea; situated very close to many, many national parks for folks driving out from the East who want to make a trip of it. It's not too far from Cali, far enough north to make it accessible to Oregon and Washington, and far enough East to make the drive for true coasters doable.

-tammer

[landspeed]

Does anyone live in SLC? If not, that'll be difficult for scouting purposes.

[some guy]

Why not just do it in the Denver area? All you booze hounds aren't going to like SLC much.