Carlisle's just 3 weeks away!

Well from here you go up. 

So... we got a call from Carlisle staff yesterday and apparently we are the ONLY replica manufacturer signed up for the show.  They said they can't give us the entire building to ourselves and are trying to move us to a TENT outside.  Damn-it, I was on a waiting list for YEARS to get INSIDE...  Not sure what we are going to do, maybe request a refund and just show up as spectators and hang out for the weekend...

Well, that sucks...the replica theme of this weekend is slowly dying, I think. 

Sure looks that way, Bob.  Is Henry not coming this year?

Sucks doesn't quite cover that move....So why can't Carlisle Production put you inside a building with other vendors ......segregation ?  As a gathering weekend for Speedsters & Spyders we'll survive,  we have a great time socializing and spend less than a day at the actual show .

Alan:  Agreed.  The SOC gathering will still soldier on.

Lane:  I'm not sure, but doesn't look like it, if Carey is the only company registered.

The times, they are a changin'...

Geez.....   I go away for a few years and the place goes to hell!

"So why can't Carlisle Production put you inside a building with other vendors ......segregation ?"

Alan, have you looked at those Beck guys?  Serious cooties. 

On the serious side, if we become the only replica/kit folks at Carlisle we can consider other options in terms of time and location.  The showfield is nice enough, but that's not why I drive all that way.

I agree, Lane.  We did discuss this last year or so, in case the revised Carlisle show wasn't really what we wanted.

 

 

One of my clients this week runs the Detroit Auto Show.  We plan to put him together with another client of ours who is heavily involved wit the new NC Car track, as they are looking to start some shows and such.  Might be a good venue for a show plus some track time... just a thought.

"...plus some track time..."

Now that get's my attention!  Hey @Alan Merklin, aren't you planning to move somewhere down this way?

North Carolina, that sounds pretty good, Carey.

"The showfield is nice enough, but that's not why I drive all that way."

No, you probably drive all that way just for the Egg Sammiches..........

Thursday night is my favorite part of Carlisle followed by Friday evening and then the Friday drive/activity. I bug out on Saturday morning because I'm kinda done with the showfield & awards banquet.

I come to see the SOC folks and their cars :-)

With that being said, there's a strong chance that I won't make it again this year. My 93-year-old mom just entered hospice and doesn't have long. I'm off to Kansas on Sunday for the duration.

My eldest is visiting from Taiwan after 1.5 years and I hope to see him. I was going to see him and then head off to Carlisle, but all of my plans are now up in the air :-/
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Understandable, Tom.  Priorities.

Lane,   we're headed this summer to Elkins WV.

We gather annually for friendships renewed we as a group we sorta " stop by " at the Carlisle show  . The hotel venue, cruises and Saturday night dinner is what we all most enjoy. ..IMHO, leave things as they are as they work for a our large group. 

Family comes first, Tom...  That's why I've been missing for a few years.  Everyone understands.  

Carlisle is a handy venue and that's all that our group really needs.  No matter where we get together, it will be a short ride for some and a much longer ride for others.  Some people will come and others will not.  Just the way it is.  You do what you can.

Some Vinegar-based North Carolina 'Que with 'Slaw sounds pretty good, though!

Lane Anderson posted:

On the serious side, if we become the only replica/kit folks at Carlisle we can consider other options in terms of time and location.  The showfield is nice enough, but that's not why I drive all that way.

^ I regret that I have but one "like" to give for this comment. I know this thing has a lot of inertia, but there are a lot of really nice places east of the Mississippi, and a lot of times to get together that are better than mid-May. Wednesday it was 80* and sunny. Today's high is 47* and spitting rain. 

Do we need a passport to visit Stanistan?

Seriously, I might consider heading west, depending on what's going on, etc.

But Carlisle is a good location for a number of folks, and an easy day's drive for some.  There will never be a 'perfect' location, but it's worth the drive to get together, wherever it is.

Carey I'm really sorry this is happening. You belong in the pavilion. Hoping to see you there anyway, as I have a lot to learn.

We're coming in from Alburqueque  and in full support of Carey and his gang. I hope to be the first one to buy the lads a drink at first chance. 

We'll be there faithfully and bring no milk, soft wood lumber nor steel.....:-)

Yeah Carey (@chines1), if you decide to forego being an exhibitor I hope you and the kids (Mike and Brad) come anyway.  It sure wouldn't be the same without you.

I also want to be clear, I am not looking to replace Carlisle, and I imagine that as long as the club is there, we will be there, even if just as spectators amongst the group and not displaying.

My idea behind NCCar is simple, they are looking to promote the track and have more events.  We need more events centered around our hobby.  The "Run n Guns" of days past were a blast and Chuck used to love kicking the snot out of the Cobra guys...  I'd like to do that again.  I think there are enough in our group that we could have our own show, including similar hobbyists from the area, and maybe even some track time or competitions.  I will also say that this is WAY out of my wheelhouse, not to mention the time that I would have to dedicate to something like this, however the parties involved either do this for a living or are retired/semi-retired car lovers, so they can focus on putting something like this on.

Again, not looking to replace the Carlisle gathering, just looking to add to our hobby, give the magazines something to write about, and give the owners something to brag about.

^ I'd do my level best to make something like this a destination. I'd rather go to NC than PN, I'd rather build a visit around a trackday, I'd rather get together sometime besides Mid-May. 

@Stan Galat have the stars aligned for a trip to Carlisle?  

Never been to Carlisle, but I understand it is a great experience. However, it is tucked into one corner of the country, with the potential  in May for less than optimal weather both for long distance driving attendees and the activities that go with the event, and that makes it less attractive as an option for a number of people. 

I guess it has become the "default" national gathering for our loosely knit club.

The guys on the left coast, where I imagine most of the cars are, and the weather and driving distances are conducive to getting together pretty frequently, have it pretty good.

The midwest and the south are a different deal.

Driving season is limited in the midwest, and when the weather is good, there is a lot of pressure to make the most of the time to do stuff outdoors. Stan, Rich and I tried to establish a routine gathering with Corn Daze a few years back, but it didn't stick.

Driving season is also limited in much of the south unless you love heat. I've learned that first hand over the last three years. Also, we just don't seem as tightknit as the guys in the northeast and the west.

I'd love to see at least a southern regional or east of the Mississippi gathering somewhere like NC with a track and perhaps some other attractions.  

Doesn't have to effect Carlisle or any other gathering, just another option.

However, done the right time of year for good weather, advantage of track access etc. could make for a fun time.

The real trick, as always, is to get a couple of people to take ownership of organizing and planning something.

Just my dos centavos! Probably pretty self serving.

 

Looks like I may have poked the bear unintentionally.  Sorry 'bout that folks.

Geesh all I DID was pull a donut :~)

That's all I'm asking for as well, Bob.  I'd like to see what's behind door number two  

Lane Anderson posted:

Looks like I may have poked the bear unintentionally.  Sorry 'bout that folks.

@Lane Anderson

I sent you a PM.

I would see no issue with some folks proposing additional gatherings that might allow others on this site the opportunity of attending.  The Carlisle gathering has history and constant (and faithful) support to get it organized every year, and meets the needs of a lot of members on SOC.

However, additional gatherings that hopefully would not take away from Carlisle attendance could be held as needed.  Even one-off get togethers could suffice, but it takes a lot of planning and organizing for these events.

Well then, look around your area (where-ever YOU may live, not just near "Extra-Cylinders-Bob" up in Canada) and see what's going on.  There are tracks and events going on all season long all over the country (and up in Cananada, too, once the ice is off the ponds...in , like, late July!)  All you have to do is pick one that looks interesting and not too expensive, talk it up on here and see if you can get people to go.  It could be vintage racing or a decent show or even a cruise night - just get out there and have fun!

I know it gets harder to gather people together once you get outside of New England - everything is much more spread out, out there - but there are great events going on out in the hinterlands.  I'll be hitting at least two "Vintage Racing" weekends this summer in NE, maybe 3 if I manage Watkins Glen, and you can find events, too.  Elkhart Lake (never did like calling it "Road America") is up in Wisconsin (like, half-way to the friggin North Pole!) and attracts cars and drivers from all over the World.  Road Atlanta has Vintage racing and car corrals and all that stuff - Do you think the guys at the gate think that you're driving a replica?  They can't even tell that a real 356 is made by Porsche!  Same thing for Laguna Seca!  Get out there!  Watch some racing!

So I applaud Carey for trying to get something going beyond Carlisle and the West Coast soireé.  Look - Carlisle is, well....CARLISLE!  We'll all keep coming because it's, well.....CARLISLE!  Egg Sammiches!  Really cool rides through beautiful countryside!  A really decent (and grassy) show field!  A hotel that puts up with us!  Rain!  And a lot of really cool stuff that keeps us coming back.  But it's like our season opener and after that - - - - What?  We have to find more to do.

(I don't know why this is all BOLD and I can't fix it so get over it).

Go find some cool things to do as a subset group of the larger SOC and let us know about it.  NO, if it's in Florida I an NOT gonna run all the way down there for your 2 months/Spring and 2 months/Fall of good driving weather, but other people might join you who are closer.  Same thing for waterlogged Arkansas or up near Chuck Berry's home town of St. Lou or out in the West and Sou-West.  Find something cool to do.  Let others know.  Get us together and.......

HAVE SOME FUN!!