Ladies, Gentlemen and all the rest of us:
Let the planning begin for this year's Corn Daze drivabation!
There is already talk of making it a weekend event in June in Peoria when the GREAT RACE passes through.
It was a blast last year and it would be great to get a bunch of midwestern Speedsters together again.
Stan Galat, Rich Drewek, Joe Fortino and I are in. Who else?
Participants, event ideas are welcome.
Bob Garrett
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Dates etc to come...
More corn...
Amazing, Rich! also Amazing Rich!
Just so it doesn't look like I'm on the John Deere take...
Sweet!
How 'bout the old Dekalb winged ear of corn on the front fender instead of the Mobil pegasus?
A little esoteric for us Midwesterners, Ted, but not bad, not bad at all.
Yeah, especially if you're running E85 gas!
The badge of honor for all attendees.
I like corn. Dates?
I've got to leave the dates up to our 2 Peoria guys, they will be responsible for removing the women and children from the streets. All I know at this point is that the "The Great Race" rolls through Peoria on Monday 6/24...details to follow.
Marty:
Working on that. Do you have any dates you like?
The badge of honor for all attendees.
^ I. Want. That.
No fooling around. Really.
Mr. President, we can probably figure something out.
The badge of honor for all attendees.
^ I. Want. That.
No fooling around. Really.
X2
It'll brighten up my silver car, and it's just cool!
X3
Rich--I'm tempted. Maybe plan it for early to mid fall. We will be in Prague and Paris from
August 20-Sept 10 for our 30th anniversary.
Jack-
I think we're nailed down pretty hard for the weekend of Saturday 6/22- Monday 6/24.
The current thinking is that we'll use Saturday as a travel day, with a dinner at a local restaurant that night. Sunday would be the activities portion of the program, and anybody that wanted to hang around for the "Great Race" Monday could do that. Travel back could be Sunday night or Monday, whatever folks wanted to do.
Cory has committed to being here WITH the Hoopty, and Rich will be down with his red-rocket. I'll be there, as will Bob. I'm hoping we can get some Chicago/St. Louis/MI guys (I'm talkin' to you Tom B.). Perhaps if we ask really nicely, Mr. Hines will grace us with his presence.
Last year was a hoot, and we just met for a day on a random Thursday when it worked out for Cory. This year we'll have an actual plan, since Bob's in charge.
Come on out. We'd love to see you.
Rich:
"Cobasus" lives, like Pegasus and unicorns!
Stan---I ust might join you. I have to visit a friend I help support in an asssisted living plkace near where Rich Lives and might as well drive the Speedster as the Sonatta. Thanks for the invite!----Jack
Any idea of local hotel? I plan on heading down Saturday and what I can to stay thru Monday.
Joe, last year I stayed in Morton, just a few miles north of Stan's place...plenty of chain motels there to choose from.
Hotels in and around Peoria are plentiful and varied. We get a reputation as a hick community sometimes, but we are the home of Bradley University and Caterpillar. We have two symphony orchestras, a couple of theater companies, a medical school, three major hospitals and a site of significant medical research. Population in the area is about 300,000.
The medical school is about to open it's surgical simulator program that is garnering international attention and will draw surgical students from all over the world once it is running in April.
We are also the home of one of I think three government Agriculture Laboratories. The lab has been the site of several major discoveries and developmental programs over the years.
And of course, we border Stanistan. Some say, that no matter what you drive into Stanistan, when you return it is aircooled.
To add to Bob's Peoria civic pride message...I'll have to admit, I thought I was taking a trip last year to a much smaller town. Peoria is actually a pretty cool (for Illinois that is :-) place and quite scenic. The drive through the "Highlands" was very delightful. Bob, maybe you should look into finding a great photo opportunity overlooking the river/lake. The corn? Not too much growing within the city limits of Peoria. Now Stanistan...that's another story.
Guys, I would like to attend, but you've got to pick another weekend! I'm assuming that this year is set, but please consider a different weekend, maybe in July next year. My wife's birthday is June 18th and my youngest son's birthday is June 20th. This year is the big 40 for my wife, so it will really be a big deal.
Guys, I would like to attend, but you've got to pick another weekend! I'm assuming that this year is set, but please consider a different weekend, maybe in July next year. My wife's birthday is June 18th and my youngest son's birthday is June 20th. This year is the big 40 for my wife, so it will really be a big deal.
Tom: Dates not set yet. We have some ideas, and we'll settle on it by the end of this week, so hold on. By the way, what days do work for you? Miss your wife's 40th, why don't you just find a nice freeway overpass to sleep under for the rest of the summer. Yikes!!
Bob, please don't take me into consideration this year. Too many moving parts. Wife's 40th, followed by trip to Germany with the family and an outside chance of a job at VW and a move to Chattanooga. I'll let you know later if I'm sticking around and we'll try for 2014.
OK, Tom! Best wishes to you and yours as all this unfolds.
Another member who would be a hoot to see at Corn Daze Deux would be the elusive Joe Soltis. Though him finding a moment in his busy schedule would be tough any day of the year. Joe, you listening?
Well as long as you guys don't mind a spyder in the mix 
once the date is set I might be down for this 
Now THIS is how you publicize an event! Congrats on the way you Corn Daze are going about announcing the event!
Good for you, Ricky! From the land of the Californicators to Stanistan! Now that is cool!
Danny my cruising low light is about to die on me... I'm itching to take the little guy out but this mid-west weather is cramping my style... In Cali I would easily average 8,000 miles a year I would be surprised if I put 3k last year 
I hear ya! Depending on the year, I get between 3 and 6K here in the northeast. The rain today is washing the salt off, any day now.
Don't get too excited, Danny. We had rain Sat/Sun/Mon. Snow tonight.
Whereforouthou does this Rick99GSX hail from?
Hi Rich,
Last year my wife and I moved to O'Fallon IL from sunny California (military move). I'm Just an old Air Force MSgt that enjoys cruising with the wife on the weekends 
I usually post a bit more at the "other" spyder website 
. Back in Cali we attended the 2010 Morro Bay meet and met a whole bunch of great guys like Jim Ignacio, Vince, Dusty and many more. We are looking forward to this spring to get our cruise on 
Hmmm... Illinois is certainly close enough for you to consider the Carlisle gathering in May. there will be a caravan from that area, I believe. Rooms are going fast, so a quick decision is recommended.
