Detroit - Chicago (Somewhere In Between) Meet

[Anna-chan]

autox is an idea but to set something up like that would be difficult. you would need someone with access to timing equipment, radios, cones, and permission from the land owner to use whatever parking lot, finding the parking lot/location, money to pay for the use of the parking lot, someone would need to pay for a permit (depending on local ordinances), waiver/liability forms would need to be drawn up, etc etc.

my opinion is, if you are going to try and organize a large group of people for a meet, especially in the off season, hitting up NAIAS, would be the easiest. all we'd need to do for people coming from out of town, is set up a block of room at a hotel to stay for the weekend, everyone can meet up at NAIAS, look around as they please, eat when they please, and then later on at night, hit up a local bar or night life area. i don't know about you guys but if i'm traveling that far, i'd want to stay out there for a couple days atleast to make it worth it, instead of driving hours, meeting up for a few more, then driving back.

otherwise, i suggest waiting until next summer to allow for ample time to plan. for instance, if you'd want to set up something like, MIDWEST MAZDA FEST.

my two cents.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Parking during NAIAS is a disaster.

 

[tunersteve]

I really think Ann Arbor is a waste of an idea. There's nothing to do, and aside from our 'fun run' route, you wouldn't really be able to get involved out there. Not to mention the roads, you see the problems.

I like the Ft. Wayne idea, seems centrally located. Keep in mind, we're talking about MO, MI, IL, IN, OH, PA, and maybe some Canadian people meeting somewhere.

 

[o0n8]

a whole weekend would be great so maybe smething next summer would be good

 

[Anna-chan]

i looked at the fort wayne website. there is nothing to do there. if people like the auto cross idea, i suggest contacting the indy scca and see what would need to happen to make something like that possible, unless we have indiana locals that could point us in the right direction.

 

[tunersteve]

What about Indy?

 

[xJAZx]

i think no matter where it is next spring for midwest mazda fest would be the best idea

 

[TheDoc]

i looked at the fort wayne website. there is nothing to do there. if people like the auto cross idea, i suggest contacting the indy scca and see what would need to happen to make something like that possible, unless we have indiana locals that could point us in the right direction.

I put a call into the Fort Wayne Convention and Visitor's Bureau and have a guy who's going to call me back with information regarding permits. I also placed a call with the SCCA in Fort Wayne and got some names of who to talk to about renting a lot if we can't get one from the city.

The Visitor's Bureau seemed to suggest the city would "lend" us a lot if we can guarantee a certain number of hotel rooms/revenue.

Text/PM me, Anna.

 

[tunersteve]

Really good support so far on this. Let's plan for a late Oct. early Nov. date if we try to do it this year.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Really good support so far on this. Let's plan for a late Oct. early Nov. date if we try to do it this year.

Really good support for an early Spring meet, not late Fall.

 

[tunersteve]

Really good support for an early Spring meet, not late Fall.

Originally there was talk of doing something around Thanksgiving. Depending on timeframe and planning, it could be done at either time.

 

[Anna-chan]

I put a call into the Fort Wayne Convention and Visitor's Bureau and have a guy who's going to call me back with information regarding permits. I also placed a call with the SCCA in Fort Wayne and got some names of who to talk to about renting a lot if we can't get one from the city.

The Visitor's Bureau seemed to suggest the city would "lend" us a lot if we can guarantee a certain number of hotel rooms/revenue.

Text/PM me, Anna.

Let us know what your callbacks say. if everyone likes this autox, we should see if indy scca would like to sponsor the event (possibly lend us some timing equipment)

Really good support so far on this. Let's plan for a late Oct. early Nov. date if we try to do it this year.

IMO it too late to plan anything for that time frame. folks are heading back to school, starting to save up for the holidays, family vacations, etc so i don't think there would be enough interest in doing anything like this for the end of the year. factor in hotel costs, food, and gas, it'll be an expensive weekend.

Really good support for an early Spring meet, not late Fall.

i would look at a early may late april time frame. depending on what thedoc's callbacks say, we could really do a full on weekend autox event, i.e. trophy's, sponsors, the whole bit, especially if you're talking about getting a good portion of the midwest involved (and canada? someone had mentioned them a little bit ago)

Originally there was talk of doing something around Thanksgiving. Depending on timeframe and planning, it could be done at either time.

100% sure that if something like this is planned during thanks giving half the interest is out the window. i don't know about you but i like spending time with my family during thanksgiving.

also, if i'm stepping on anyone toes here please let me know and i'll back off. (read the sig title, i can't help it)

 

[MikeLikesMazda]

I really like the autox idea. I've always wanted to try it but never actually did

 

[solidtrance]

If we are looking at an early spring meet, I know that was not the OP's intention, then there is already something planned that we can attend. What about "Midwest Mazdafest" in Indy?

I just read through the whole thread and see that this has been mentioned before, so i vote for Indy.

Regarding thanksgiving, I agree about spending time with the familly, and saving for the holidays.

 

[tunersteve]

I would also prefer to have it before Thanksgiving, for that very reason. If we don't do this this year, then something next spring is just as fine with me.

 

[Anna-chan]

I would also prefer to have it before Thanksgiving, for that very reason. If we don't do this this year, then something next spring is just as fine with me.

if something were to happen for that time frame, what were you thinking about doing? are we talking a general meet up/bbq in a forest preserve (just an example) or something else?

If we are looking at an early spring meet, I know that was not the OP's intention, then there is already something planned that we can attend. What about "Midwest Mazdafest" in Indy?

I just read through the whole thread and see that this has been mentioned before, so i vote for Indy.

i would love to go to MWMF again but that is a Indy Rotary Club held event. yes, 247 could meet there but then again, i think it would be cool to hold our own event.

 

[tunersteve]

Just some sort of informal meet. Over a weekend during the fall, maybe some quick fall color run and a meet & greet. Like you said, it's hard to plan a bigger meet given the short time frame, but we could come up with something.

 

[Blendercloud]

My intentions are to hold an event before the end of the year. Given the areas we are looking at (Northern US), It will need to be before full-fledged winter hits.

These are the the potential ideas:
Eastern Chicago area
Indianapolis
Fort Wayne
Lake Geneva, WI
South Bend

I think that Lake Geneva would be a gorgeous place for us to all meet. However, it is very much out of the way of the Toronto folks (which I very much want to include in this meet).

Geographically, Fort Wayne or Indianapolis are the two best bets. Fort Wayne is much more centrally-located, but I'm not sure what kind of recreation there would be for us. The benefit to Fort Wayne compared to Indianapolis is that we could eat/stay for less money, and Fort Wayne is just small enough that we might be able to find an interesting rural fun run to see some nice autumn scenery. We would need someone close to the Fort Wayne area to scope out a nice route though.

I'm all for some sort of autocross, but we also have to think about liabilities and all the forms that go along with that stuff. Not to mention finding the venue and equipment. I'm just not sure if all that can be put together in time. I definitely think that we should all go to the Midwest Mazdafest and as a group represent 247 if we can.

Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming!

EDIT: I have some business contacts in Fort Wayne. I could probably have them check out the best rates, places to eat, and a rural fun run route.

 

[ms6acton]

everyone just come to canada! haha

 

[br289165]

Do you even know what your talking about? You shouldn't be so obvious about your downriverness.

I really think Ann Arbor is a waste of an idea. There's nothing to do, and aside from our 'fun run' route, you wouldn't really be able to get involved out there. Not to mention the roads, you see the problems.

I like the Ft. Wayne idea, seems centrally located. Keep in mind, we're talking about MO, MI, IL, IN, OH, PA, and maybe some Canadian people meeting somewhere.