SCCoO Invitational Meet???

[SeanMatteson]

For the past couple of years, I've been tossing around an idea in my head (yes, the brain is so small, there is enough room for this! :rolleyes: ).

In the past, a bunch of us have enjoyed the hospitality of other clubs/chapters at single day and/or weekend car shows/meets. What about us hosting one???

In the last two weeks, I've driven by the Ancaster Fairgrounds near where I live, and I keep eyeing the parking lot area thinking, "What a great spot for a car show." For those who don't know, there are swap meets a couple of times a year at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. This place has typically been used for agricultural displays, and the like. They hold the Ancaster Fair here annually. There are spaces both indoors and out. I'm thinking I'll try to find some time to contact someone there and talk about the feasibility of having the property for a car show type event.

Now, before you all get up in arms thinking I'm taking things into my own hands, sit down and shut up! ...You may not have noticed, but there has been a coup in the club, and I have overthrown Ed as prez! ...OK. Just kidding.

I'm willing to look into this venue knowing full well that there may be better locations, and I'm inviting you to speak up. ...All of you! Let's have your ideas as to whether you think we could host a single day or a full weekend event. The scale would depend on just how far reaching you want the invitations to be. IMO, I'd like to see us host something that would draw some of our American friends up this side of the border. Maybe we could have a one day car show, and a one day track event at TMP or St. Thomas. We may even be able to work a dyno day into the mix. Yes, I know, these are pretty lofty aspirations, but this chapter of the SCCoO has a history as one of the single most active chapters, and yet the others all seem to have their own annual events, and we really don't.

Speaking of our American brothers/sisters, I know you folks frequent this forum from time to time. If you read this post and you'd like to comment, please feel free. It would be most helpful to get a feel for the kind of response we could expect from the USA!

Please, give this a little thought and share your ideas/concerns. No, it doesn't have to be held in Ancaster or Hamilton. It could just as well be out in the GTA, but the drag strip is closer to where I'm at. Let's toss this around a bit, do a little brainstorming and see what we can come up with.

Reality is, we're probably too late to put something big together for this season, but there's no reason we couldn't start planning for something for next year and make it a great success!

...So, c'mon now. Let's hear it?!?!?! :cool:

Best regards,

Sean

[SeanMatteson]

I'm thinking this doesn't have to be a SuperCoupe event, specifically. That way, guys the likes of Matt and Mikey can feel comfortable! ;)

Seriously though, I was thinking that we could open this up to all T-Birds, or all Fords, or maybe even make it more broad than that. Does anybody have any contact info. for other T-Bird related clubs in the area? ...Like the classic stuff too? Ed?

Best regards,

Sean

[fast Ed]

Sean, this sounds like a fantastic idea. The only worry I have about something like this getting enough club members to actually pitch in and help with the organizing and running of the event. It would definitely take more than a few people to do so.

Let's see what response we get here from the club members, if they would be interested in participating in something like this or not.


cheers
Ed N.

[fturner]

This is a great idea Sean......

A big meet would be great and as an alternative I could check out at the Cayuga Speedway to see what it takes to use the camp grounds there for a weekend, and see about setting up time on the drag strip.

Nice my brain (all 3 cells of it) is racing LOLOL

Frit

[SeanMatteson]

Sean, this sounds like a fantastic idea. The only worry I have about something like this getting enough club members to actually pitch in and help with the organizing and running of the event. It would definitely take more than a few people to do so.

Let's see what response we get here from the club members, if they would be interested in participating in something like this or not.


cheers
Ed N.


Ed,

I agree 100%! It will be imperative that we get lots of help. The more people we get involved, the less the burden will be on any one person. What about other clubs? If we were to make this a T-Bird event, but include cars from all years, is there another club operating in the area that might be willing to pitch in? It might mean this wouldn't be so much an SCCoO event as a general T-Bird event, but so what?!

Fraser,

Camping might be a good idea, as it will help keep costs down for those who wish to participate. Of course, there are other options for people who aren't into sleeping on the ground. ;) And some oval track racing might be cool too!

Everyone else:

Where are you people?! ...Must still be sleeping today. ;) Let's hear your ideas too!

Cheers,

Sean

[fast Ed]

Sean, the Southern Ontario Thunderbird Club, www.sotbirdclub.com , put on an annual show in Bayfield, Ontario (Lake Huron, Goderich area). This year's date is Sunday, July 24. Perhaps some of our members should attend this event, to get some ideas, and talk with the SOTC people about possibly coorganizing an event.


cheers
Ed N.

[Kobassa Power]

Sean,

I admire and support your initiative , enthusiasm , leadership, creativity and mentorship 100%.
You're a great candidate for Walmart management. :p he he

Do a feasibility study and see what is involved. ( Ancaster is an ideal location )

Try using a point form format so that we don't miss anything from a cluttered thesis format.

Issues for consideration may include: travel, timing, costs, accommodations, duration,itinerary and schedule agenda, enthusiastic participation versus apathetic rejection , sponsorship, vendor participation, grab bags, voluntary human resources, games such as pin the tail on the Varrik ?, etc.

My buddy is part of the PT Cruiser club and they have an annual get together in Niagara Falls, with great participation . Maybe we can get a few ideals from their marketing template.

http://www.cruisethefalls.com/

[charged92]

Great idea Sean. If this ends up going put a post in the events forum here http://66.49.240.208/index.html I belong to this club which is based here in London. Great bunch of guys. I'm sure some will make it out. I am the only SC guy in the club, but hey....we can't all be perfect. :p

[SeanMatteson]

Sean, the Southern Ontario Thunderbird Club, www.sotbirdclub.com , put on an annual show in Bayfield, Ontario (Lake Huron, Goderich area). This year's date is Sunday, July 24. Perhaps some of our members should attend this event, to get some ideas, and talk with the SOTC people about possibly coorganizing an event.


cheers
Ed N.

This is a great idea, Ed. Unfortunately, I'm heading down to Cincinnati to visit family that weekend, so I can't be in attendance. Anyone else available?

John Z., I appreciate that feedback. ...And you're right. We may even be able to learn something from the folks who choose to drive PT Cruisers. ...As bizarre a bunch as they may be. ;)

Regards,

Sean

[Andrew Wang]

Great idea, count on my help. Yes I agree, plan for next year.

[92strokedbird]

July24 i am going to Memphis,Tenn.This would be great but we need to come up with a location maybe even closer to the border for our American friends who might attend.We need to set a date early enough so that we can circle this on our calendars and let the wives know we are busy this weekend.A meet like this would be great,something similar to our Oakville meet which was a huge success. :)

[Ira R.]

Speaking of our American brothers/sisters, I know you folks frequent this forum from time to time. If you read this post and you'd like to comment, please feel free. It would be most helpful to get a feel for the kind of response we could expect from the USA!
Well, I think it would be a great idea, as long as they let me back into the country when it's over! :eek: :rolleyes: I think a weekend next spring sometime would be fun. Of course, the further east the easier my drive. I'm starting out 9 or 10 hours from Toronto.

But no camping. I'm too old for that crap anymore, and the stuff takes up too much room in the car.

Ira

[thekidz]

Sean you must have had parallel processors figure that out. LOL. I think that is a great idea. Since we have a new events co-ordinator I vote we leave everything up to him. He has very big shoes to fill. (Literally :) ). Seriously now. Most events are held in the summer and the fall. How about something to coincide with the may 24 / memorial day weekend. Memorial day might be better. Don't think we could get a track 24 weekend. Hell I might even have a car by then. I would be willing to throw my time and support behind this. Possibly my wife too. She's a great organizer. Just give me a time and a place and i'll have the kidz push the car there so we can meet. LMK what I
can do

Craig

[EGGZ_90 _SC]

hey guys this sounds good.. if you guys are planing a meet (this is just my 2 cents cause thats all i have left from buying parts for my SC) i think it might be a good thing to hit the Falls for a weekend... i know i need to get the hell out of Brantford for a bit..lol... as for the camping thing... i heard that the new camp ground on the strip in the fall has some real nice spots.. the camp ground is called The Howard Johnson...lol.. so just count me in...

[coolhand]

Sean.............You can count on me for any help you need. I have a lot more time on my hands than many of the younger members and a lot of contacts. Please dont hesitate to call whenever you want. I realize that for the ease of many of the members, a GTA location would be optimal, but consider perhaps a location more central to both the Niagara area and the Kingston area, as they are the major crossings for many of our American cousins. I am sure a number of the TCCOA members would be willing to participate in this endeavor. I will scout out some locations over my way, and forward the info to you. Perhaps a day at Mosport would be an idea.
Let me know if an old boy could be of any help.

[SeanMatteson]

...We've got lots of good ideas!

I agree that camping may not be appealing to everyone. It was just one idea that might help to have us all together in one spot, with a bargain basement price.

As far as location is concerned, nothing has been decided yet. I agree that we'll want to choose a location that is as central as possible to those interested in attending. We'll need to keep gauging interest in order to determine where that may be.

I think we also need to consider the venue. Basically, picking a spot purely because it is geographically located closest to where the all the attendees are coming from doesn't mean it's going to be a good place to hold an event like this. This is meant to be a car-related meet, so I suggest we also give thought to choosing a spot where there's something car-related to see or do. We have drag strips at St. Thomas, Cayuga and Grand Bend that I know of. We have road course type tracks at Shannonville, Mosport and Dunnville. There are asphalt oval tracks near Cayuga, Oshweken, and Orillia that I know of. Dyno facilities are probably centered more around Toronto, with Tag in Oakville.

What other options would there be? Maybe a tour of the Ford operation in Oakville, or check out one of the engine plants in Ontario?

If we want to bring families into this, we should probably look at places where there will be some good non-car-related things to do. Lake Erie has some really nice beaches for the ladies and the children to enjoy, and Port Dover in particular even has some quaint little shops for the ladies to check out. Niagara Falls would also have a lot to offer. If we stuck with the Ancaster Fairgrounds idea, there is the Wild Water Works in Hamilton, down near the QEW, plus lots of shopping for the ladies at Limeridge Mall or the Ancaster Power Center. Staying in the city would ensure there were lots of good restaurants around.

Another consideration is that choosing a more rural setting will probably give us much better bargaining power for accomodations, etc. If we choose a location in the city, we're likely to get gouged for hotel rates, etc.

...Just more thoughts. Hopefully this will spark further discussion here.

Cheers,

Sean

[1HUMINBIRD]

There are some awesome ideas posted here, for sure. I would love to travel up for a meet in Ontario. A day a Mosport, just driving as hard as you want to go, sounds real cool. Also, the tour at Oakville would be great and I know that my family would love a day at the beach.

From down here I don't know what I can do to help, but if you need any help, as always, just ask (assuming I can attend??).

Have a great day!

Scott

[fturner]

As far as location goes, I'm leaning toward what Sean is suggestion (mainly because I'd be very close to it all LOLOL).

Sean as I mentioned to you, Oshweken's track was paved last year, and I know they have a place they do burn out contests etc several times a year. Rumour has they are considering a new drag strip close to Oshweken as well. As for dyno's I'm going to ask around as I have a gut feeling there might be one around here.

If a commitee is to be put together for this, count me in for sure. Actually, judging from the response so far, I would say we get a team put together to start on this now........ Ed.. just a thoughts anyways.

Frit

[sumzxr7]

Sounds like a great idea, i would be willing to help out as well..

Cheers.
Samir

[SeanMatteson]

And I found the following:


AUGUST 2005

Join your fellow SOTC members at the annual All Ford Celebrations.
Located at the Ford of Canada HQ, Oakville, ON. Sunday August 21, 2005 - 10am-4pm.
This is NOT a SOTC sponsored event. Special 50th Anniversary T-Bird "Feature" this year. Check the Thunder
News for full details.


Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of the "Thunder News", so I don't have any more details than this. Since we don't seem to have anyone who is available that weekend in July to attend their car show/meet up in Bayfield, maybe this is another opportunity at which we could acquaint ourselves with this other T-Bird club.

Best regards,

Sean

[fast Ed]

Sean, if this is the usual Ford Canada event at Oakville HQ, it is open to unmodified vehicles only. Fine for some of our members, but not all unfortunately.

BTW, if my schedule is clear otherwise, I'm going to try to attend the SOTC show in July.


cheers
Ed N.

[coolhand]

Sean
I have a meeting with the PR folks from my service this week to talk to them about adding some support to your idea. Might be in the form of a display or something. A friend of mine suggested something for the kids to day, and keeping in line with the wheels theme, might be a bike rodeo for them. One of the banks lends a lot of support to these if you schedule one. Just throwing some ideas around.

[fturner]

Ok, sorry to drag this back up, but IF we're serious then we'd better get bustin on this now for next year.........

(God help me) but if need be I'll head up the team to get this off the ground and going.

So in light of that.... first off, we need to get a team lead going on this, so everyone cast your votes etc and lets rock and roll.

Frit

[fast Ed]

Frit, as much as would love to see this happen, I really don't think that we have the manpower or resources to pull this off. Keep in mind that most clubs which are organzing this type of event have a more formal structure, with dues paying members to help create funds for the club to have access to.

I'm going to try to get up to Bayfield for the Southern Ontario Thunderbird Club show in a few weeks:

http://www.sotbirdclub.com/index.html

Perhaps at that event I can get some ideas and input from their executive.

A few people had mentioned trying to do something in conjuction with the NJTACC, the New Jersey gang. IMO this is would more likely to be pulled off, at a location in New York that is somewhere around halfway between Southern Ontario, and Jersey.


cheers
Ed N.