MH99: Update/Request for volunteers (long, but please read)

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

I just thought I'd post an update on MH99 ... the celebration of 100 years
of Auto-Union and Audi to be held at the Monterey Historical Races at Laguna
Seca next August ... sorry it is so long, but I hope that most of you will
be able to take the time to read it through ... thanks for your time!

We had a conference call last night for a couple of hours ... and I've got
to say I'm getting pretty doggone excited!  Even though the event is still
over 8 months away there are a LOT of things that need to be taken care of
as soon as possible.  There is a fairly small group of people now working on
the project, and there is a need for people who can lend a hand ... so I
thought I'd post a request to the list(s) ... 

If you think that you might be able to free up some time to help, please
feel free to contact me via direct e-mail
(mailto://Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com).  In general I don't think I'd say
that it is mandatory that you live in northern California, but for some of
the things we need to do I'd say it would be preferrable.  While the
coordination that we are doing is under the auspices of QCUSA, I personally
would not mandate that volunteers be QCUSA members, but here again it would
be preferred.  Tasks that are now active include: coordination for the Audi
corral, "mini concourse" and parade lap, arrangements for lodging for the
event (including camping), arrangements for the banquet and related events,
marketing and communication, transportation arrangements (primarily
trailering for cars).  

One big suggestion for those of you who might consider camping (especially
with an RV) on the track for the event ... think about getting your
reservation in ASAP after they open the track for reservations on January
4th!  The Monterey Historics are a big event, and I understand there is a
rush for reservations for the area outside Rainey Curve right after they
become available.  I know that Scott Mockry got hooked up with a group that
was parked down there at MH98 ... perhaps he might have some wisdom to pass
along on this subject ...

There is a bit of an effort to try to get as many historical Auto-Union
vehicles as possible for the corral/concourse.  They also seem to be
focusing on A4s, black S-cars (no, I don't know why they are looking for
specifically black ones), Avants and "vintage" cars (no, the QTC was not
mentioned ...).  I personally would love to find an AU1000SP somewhere to
drive ... but then I would have to leave the Fox, 4kSQ, 5kqAvant, ur-quattro
and V8Q/5-speed at home ... hey, I guess I can make those cars available to
those folks who will have to be leaving their cars at home ... first come,
first served!  The GTI Fox is available to anyone who would like to take
care of restoring it prior to the event ... since it is over 20 years old it
might qualify as historical ... :-)

There is also some talk about putting together a driving event/safety school
in the area at about the same time as the historic races.  This may or may
not actually happen, but the options that were discussed included track
events at Sears Point or Thunder Hill (Laguna Seca will not be available) or
an autocross-style event at the Marina Airport which is in the Monterey
area.  If anyone who is planning to attend MH99 has an opinion on whether or
not they would be willing/able to attend such an event, please let me know
that along with your preference.  I'd also be interested in hearing from
folks who might want to help with putting this together ...

Finally, I thought I'd see if there have been any discussions about folks
from outside the USA attending the event.  I'm pretty sure that Tom Nas has
been considering it ... this is going to be a pretty big deal ... are there
any discussions in the QOC about making the trip?  Anyone else?

Hope to here from some of you soon!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

PS - I'm also still looking for people who live in Northern California and
are members of QCUSA who are interested in signing the petition to create a
Northern California chapter of QCUSA ... hopefully in time to be official
for the Thunder Hill event to be held in January ...