[urq] FW: UPG 2008 Planning

[urq]

... I've been a bit hesitant to mention this, but I went ahead and created a
group in Yahoo Groups called urquattro under Sports & Recreation =>
automotive => classic cars.  The audifans website just can't seem to support
things like polls or pictures.  We can do the polls there if people would
like ... I certainly wouldn't want to force this on anyone, and I'm open to
other ideas for getting this sort of functionality ... thoughts?  The
intention is not to move the group away from audifans, just a way to provide
some extra functionality . 

I'm with Ingo . for me the major reason for thinking about doing the drive
is to be able to meet with the other audifans I've met via the list.  In a
way, having some sort of event like an ALMS race actually tends to take away
from that.  I suppose that may have been what made Pikes Peak so good a
venue ... everybody's stuck on the hill without much to do but walk around
and chat with the other audifans ... I suppose I wouldn't mind having a bit
of fun in say an autocross style, but that isn't a requirement . and by no
means do I need to have a full on ACNA driver's school to make it
interesting.  

I looked at the map, yes, it really doesn't seem to make much difference
between Topeka and Omaha, both are on the major interstates, and are far
enough south where the folks coming from back east won't have to deal with
Lake Michigan.  If there is a lot of Sturm und Drang about "The Plains,"
perhaps we can talk about Rapid City, SD and the Black Hills.  I created a
poll on the Yahoo group, but it says all of the data gets tossed if more
selections are added.  Right now I think I got the major cities we've
discussed: Topeka, Omaha, Jackson Hole, Colorado Springs, Moab.  Poking
around the map I see that Memphis, TN isn't that much farther.  Let's kick
out a few more possible sites and I'll plug them into the poll.  If we go
with this, folks will need to be subbed to the Yahoo group . so those who
want to participate can submit a subscription request with UPG2008 as the
comment.  I was amazed to see how many spammers try to latch onto a brand
new group!  I have to approve requests . and only members can see anything
beyond the group messages . of which there are none .

 

Once we start to gel on the location, we can start to talk about when . and
perhaps what.  

FYI, the BMWMOA (motorcycle group) puts together an annual event ... it's
interesting to note that they don't seem to try to locate it centrally ...
but the rally is the event ... they have meetings for the various
sub-groups, but the goal is to get there and be a participant not a
spectator.  That is the model I'd prefer to see for the UPG.  I do happen to
be one of the "more the merrier" sorts of people . While the intentions of
the UPG should be made clear to all who consider attending, I'd hate to
think that we consider ourselves so highly that we'd want to turn away urq
fans who don't have an example to bring to the meeting.  

Even though I recommended having feeder events toward the main event, as I
think about it more it seems to make things more difficult ... make it take
that much longer to get to the common point.  It might be best to plan any
regional UPG events separately.  Perhaps we have the main event earlier in
the year with the others later (or vice versa of course).    

Steve B
San Jose, CA (USA)

Ingo Rautenberg <ingo.rautenberg at gmail.com> wrote:


One thing that really makes an event like this fun is the comraderie 
not just of the event, but the fun of the caravan getting there. 
However, the fact is we WILL NOT be able to please everyone. So I 
suppose we could make two events (one on each end of the country) 
with the option to have the die-hards go to both. Another idea would 
be to make the event coincide with an American LeMans Race. Just a 
thought.

Maybe we should have people suggest different venues, somebody put 
together a website poll for the choices and go from there?