20 / 13 It's Coming! Be Prepared!

[benebob]

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

And everyone says, "John, how can I help?"

That's where things have gone wrong. It isn't or shouldn't be about one person dictating or being looked to as the leader but rather a group/committee working together, bringing different ideas, backgrounds and desire's to the discussion then deciding what will work and what won't.

Personally, I miss the banquet style dinner etc but also won't be the financial backer again for such an event. I know how cheap and uncommitted many are here. I'd still love to see such a dinner held at the wonderfully designed Antique Automobile Association's Museum in Hershey. It is a great organization. Sure it isn't the closest at about an hour away for a group drive but it is well worth it, would be a private event in the evening so you'd have a great place for pictures, a private tour, etc. Really for any dinner, NOW is the time to start looking as all of the banquet facilities book up quickly well ahead of time.

Another option could be a track day at Pocono Raceway or a Thursday/Friday rental of Maple Grove. Again, this takes money to organize and lay out ahead of time, which goes along with the whole need for a real club which maintains a non-profit legal status, a bank account, liability insurance, ability to post sponsored events to bring others into the fold, etc.

Again, there are plenty of others with ideas out there, talk about them and make the best happen.

[LetItSnow]

Originally Posted by benebob

That's where things have gone wrong.

Trick of it is, there are folks who are more aware of what's been historically successful and what's possible by finances, potential interest, proximity, time and general availability.

It's no matter of ego that when it comes to my local Subaru club, I'm The Man... Where are we going, Rob? What time, Rob? Yeh, it can be a hassle sometimes, and you will never please everybody. Still, for the group I know the answers best, so I wear the hat. My delegation options are limited, but everything gets done.

Pennsylvania, from my eyes, is that state south of mine with three AHL hockey arenas and Morgantown. I can organize a drive from NY to Reading, but that's the extent of my regional knowledge.

Would we be better off with a thread of interests to kick the planning off? Maybe.

This thread shouldn't turn too far from topic, but I think a brainstorming thread could be beneficial. Plain and simple, there needs to be one or a few people on an organizational committee. I don't mind being part of the machine, but I'm a better finger than a lung, so to speak.

[Hocrest]

I'll offer to help out. I want Reading 20/13 to be better than some of the past ones. While I value the time standing in the parking lot and drinking, we do need to have other things scheduled to help entice people to drive cross country for this event.

I think the other comment's are correct, there should be a committee. In the past I've helped out and plans that I made and posted about conflict with other events.

Admins, Is it possible to get a private forum set up for the committee?

[RSVX]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

Admins, Is it possible to get a private forum set up for the committee?

If Earle deems it so, I'll gladly create it and apply the appropriate security.

[Earthworm]

I'm all for a new venue as well. Since this is another milestone meet it shouldn't be spent almost exclusively in the hotel parking lot even though it's nice to catch up with friends after such a long time. However, regardless of the location, I'll still be there.

I would seriously like to mirror the 10th anniversary meet in the future. It was my first and still my favourite meet to date...Reading X was a close second. It was also our largest North American meet.

[ensteele]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

I'm all for a new venue as well. Since this is another milestone meet it shouldn't be spent almost exclusively in the hotel parking lot even though it's nice to catch up with friends after such a long time. However, regardless of the location, I'll still be there.

I would seriously like to mirror the 10th anniversary meet in the future. It was my first and still my favourite meet to date...Reading X was a close second. It was also our largest North American meet.

I agree, but it is going to take lots of help to do something like that.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

I would seriously like to mirror the 10th anniversary meet in the future. It was my first and still my favourite meet to date...Reading X was a close second. It was also our largest North American meet.

Both of these meets were a year in planning. Even if you started from scratch today with a location, you would be having in in the middle of July, as we did in Lafayette. (driving across the country, in the middle of summer, with a 20 year old car generate a failed head gasket or two)

Look back at the apathy of the 20th Anniversary forum. a lot of talk, but no action...

i firmly believe if we had not combined the 20th with Reading, it would just wither away the way the 15th did.

[Earthworm]

I agree. By no means would I expect to organize a meet like those in the time we have left. I'm already thinking ahead to 25.

[ensteele]

Originally Posted by RSVX

If Earl deems it so, I'll gladly create it and apply the appropriate security.

Make it so Number 1.

[RSVX]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

I'll offer to help out. I want Reading 20/13 to be better than some of the past ones. While I value the time standing in the parking lot and drinking, we do need to have other things scheduled to help entice people to drive cross country for this event.

I think the other comment's are correct, there should be a committee. In the past I've helped out and plans that I made and posted about conflict with other events.

Admins, Is it possible to get a private forum set up for the committee?

Originally Posted by ensteele

Make it so Number 1.

Created. Security Applied. Once I have the list, all appropriate members will have access. Earle, you already have it.

[B 4 You]

i picture earl coming this year driving one of these..

[Green1995SVX]

Originally Posted by benebob

That's where things have gone wrong. It isn't or shouldn't be about one person dictating or being looked to as the leader but rather a group/committee working together, bringing different ideas, backgrounds and desire's to the discussion then deciding what will work and what won't.

Personally, I miss the banquet style dinner etc but also won't be the financial backer again for such an event. I know how cheap and uncommitted many are here. I'd still love to see such a dinner held at the wonderfully designed Antique Automobile Association's Museum in Hershey. It is a great organization. Sure it isn't the closest at about an hour away for a group drive but it is well worth it, would be a private event in the evening so you'd have a great place for pictures, a private tour, etc. Really for any dinner, NOW is the time to start looking as all of the banquet facilities book up quickly well ahead of time.

Another option could be a track day at Pocono Raceway or a Thursday/Friday rental of Maple Grove. Again, this takes money to organize and lay out ahead of time, which goes along with the whole need for a real club which maintains a non-profit legal status, a bank account, liability insurance, ability to post sponsored events to bring others into the fold, etc.

Again, there are plenty of others with ideas out there, talk about them and make the best happen.

Ben-

As much as these are wonderful ideas, and would certainly work with a "normal" group of car enthusiasts, the membership of this forum has really shifted to a lower income group. Many of the people that attend Reading can barely afford the hotel room, let alone something like this. It would not be advisable for ANYONE to bankroll this venture. Many members here are unreliable and uncommitted. You'll have 50 people commit to show up and pay for dinner, and only 20 will follow through. Then whoever put up the money will be stuck with the bill.

The value of our cars has bottomed out and made them accessible to nearly everyone. It is certainly not what it used to be. People continue to buy SVXs with no regard to ownership costs. Yes, they're very inexpensive to buy, but they are not inexpensive to own. There is a thread going on right now where a member is struggling to come up with $800 to purchase an SVX. What happens when the transmission unexpectedly goes bad? Undoubtedly, it'll sit in a back yard, or be parted out.

I predict that we will see a dwindling attendance of Reading until all of the cars "maintained" by lower income owners have been taken off the road due to their lack of ability to keep them going.

This group can't be treated like a group of people who own classic Sunday drivers. It's unfortunate, but it's not what this is.

I'd like to also mention that I know this is not the case for everyone here, but it certainly is the trend.

[benebob]

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

Ben-

As much as these are wonderful ideas, and would certainly work with a "normal" group of car enthusiasts, the membership of this forum has really shifted to a lower income group. Many of the people that attend Reading can barely afford the hotel room, let alone something like this. It would not be advisable for ANYONE to bankroll this venture. Many members here are unreliable and uncommitted. You'll have 50 people commit to show up and pay for dinner, and only 20 will follow through. Then whoever put up the money will be stuck with the bill.

The value of our cars has bottomed out and made them accessible to nearly everyone. It is certainly not what it used to be. People continue to buy SVXs with no regard to ownership costs. Yes, they're very inexpensive to buy, but they are not inexpensive to own. There is a thread going on right now where a member is struggling to come up with $800 to purchase an SVX. What happens when the transmission unexpectedly goes bad? Undoubtedly, it'll sit in a back yard, or be parted out.

I predict that we will see a dwindling attendance of Reading until all of the cars "maintained" by lower income owners have been taken off the road due to their lack of ability to keep them going.

This group can't be treated like a group of people who own classic Sunday drivers. It's unfortunate, but it's not what this is.

I'd like to also mention that I know this is not the case for everyone here, but it certainly is the trend.

Honestly Mike, that's a crock of sh$%. The average member you speak of can afford their $100 a month cell phone bill, afford $100 a month digital cable, $400 ipods, pads and phones, things I could have never dreamed of affording when I was in their shoes. It is much more a matter of priorities and williness than money. This is coming from the same person who couldn't justify the hotel at the 10th anniversary so I found a campground and saved enough money to pay for all the food and gas there and back. The rest of the trip too about a year to pay off on my cc.

I for one would be embarassed to encourage SOA to become involved to see a bunch of cars that the owner should have spent that money on wax then even the gas to drive to an event in a parking lot strewn with beer cans and wine boxes.

Since you opened pandora's box on affordability. The hotel prices are higher than that of the meets for the TVR car club's annual out of the Woodwork not including the fact that the amenities are pretty much nil. Last year was at the Bucks County C.P. (directly across the street from Seasame Place), this year it has moved to a private resort in Princeton, which includes golf, tennis, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, etc. and the price has remained $15-25 a night cheaper than Morgantown. Over 3 nights looks to be about the same a couples dinner at a high quality banquet!

Personally, I'd be perfectly content with a park pavillion rental, a pig roast, neon crushing contest (if we can still find one) and a bon fire at the camp ground but it is the "build it and they will come" approach. Figure out what we're doing, figure out the costs associated with it and post in now. If someone makes the decision that their cell phone is more important that is on them, cheaping it down will only result in cheaping down the car.

[Green1995SVX]

Originally Posted by benebob

Honestly Mike, that's a crock of sh$%. The average member you speak of can afford their $100 a month cell phone bill, afford $100 a month digital cable, $400 ipods, pads and phones, things I could have never dreamed of affording when I was in their shoes. It is much more a matter of priorities and williness than money. This is coming from the same person who couldn't justify the hotel at the 10th anniversary so I found a campground and saved enough money to pay for all the food and gas there and back. The rest of the trip too about a year to pay off on my cc.

I for one would be embarassed to encourage SOA to become involved to see a bunch of cars that the owner should have spent that money on wax then even the gas to drive to an event in a parking lot strewn with beer cans and wine boxes.

Since you opened pandora's box on affordability. The hotel prices are higher than that of the meets for the TVR car club's annual out of the Woodwork not including the fact that the amenities are pretty much nil. Last year was at the Bucks County C.P. (directly across the street from Seasame Place), this year it has moved to a private resort in Princeton, which includes golf, tennis, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, etc. and the price has remained $15-25 a night cheaper than Morgantown. Over 3 nights looks to be about the same a couples dinner at a high quality banquet!

Personally, I'd be perfectly content with a park pavillion rental, a pig roast, neon crushing contest (if we can still find one) and a bon fire at the camp ground but it is the "build it and they will come" approach. Figure out what we're doing, figure out the costs associated with it and post in now. If someone makes the decision that their cell phone is more important that is on them, cheaping it down will only result in cheaping down the car.

You make some excellent points. In fact, I agree with everything you said.

Mike

[ensteele]

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

You make some excellent points. In fact, I agree with everything you said.

Mike

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