Re: AudiFest '99

[Derick Farfan <bg18461@binghamton.edu>]

I'd go, I am in Binghamton, Ny (upstate)

"Kevin D. Caldwell" wrote:

> Have it in Detroit...
>
> merlin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   owner-quattro@coimbra.ans.net [mailto:owner-quattro@coimbra.ans.net]
> On Behalf Of Buchholz, Steven
> Sent:   Thursday, February 04, 1999 4:56 PM
> To:     The Quattro List; 'Jim Griffin'
> Subject:        RE: AudiFest '99
>
> > Okay folks, it's that time to start thinking of AudiFest again. To start
> > the
> > discussion, we need to consider a big question:
> >
> Thanks for raising the issue again Jim!
>
> A lot of good thoughts have been put forth so far.  I have to admit that I
> am also one of those people who are in the camp who would prefer to have the
> event scheduled for something other than the Pikes Peak Hillclimb.  Notice
> that I did not say that I didn't want to go back to Colorado Springs, or
> even up to Devil's Playground ... just not at the particular event.  The
> reason I am of that opinion is that by the nature of the event you must get
> out early and wait in line to get up the hill ... at which time you are
> stuck to a certain area on the mountain until the end of the event ... when
> you get to sit in another long line of traffic to go down the hill.  Now, if
> I knew that at some point Bobby Unser would fly by in the Audi Pikes Peak
> car (or Audi showed at least some sign of supporting the event) I would be
> likely to change this feeling ... :)  I have gone to AF primarily to get a
> chance to hang out with my friends from the quattro list, and quite frankly
> the event itself tends to make that more difficult.  Since we are there on
> the hill and there IS an event going on with the excitement of a contest and
> the fact that different people have different interests it tends to cause
> folks to get spread out.  As we learned at AF97, the rigors of having to
> live for a few hours at 13,000 feet can dissuade some from attending for
> health reasons.
>
> >From my experience it is the time spent at Steve Eiche's house or at a pizza
> place in Colorado Springs that I would be more interested in.  I was not
> able to attend the associated driving event at Pueblo at AF98, but this is
> more the sort of thing I would be interested in.  I'd also love to be able
> to plan on being there for a couple of days with a fairly centrally
> organized lodging setup to maximize the opportunity to interact.  I'd love
> to see a day spent like what we did at AF97 in the museum waiting to go up
> the hill ... everyone kicking tires and popping hoods and comparing notes.
>
> All that said, 1999 is going to be a special one for Audi fans.  Audi's
> presence at the Monterey Historics means that we have a rare opportunity to
> be able to see a lot of cars and people that would otherwise at least
> require a trip to Europe.  It will be a multi-day event, with plenty of
> opportunities to congregate and do the things I want to do.  It is for this
> reason that I strongly suggest that as many Audi fans as possible plan to
> attend the Historics, and I think it would be cool to have a qlist-centric
> AudiFest there as well.  Audi is working with AQCUSA in setting up the
> event, but that doesn't mean that the qlist can't have their own thing.  It
> just so happens that I am involved with the effort to put the event
> together, and I can tell you one thing that is lacking at the current time,
> and that is an event like the Pueblo Springs event at MH98.  Anyone
> interested in a q-list driving event associated with the Monterey Historics?
> There is an old airport in Marina (near Monterey) where the local AX folks
> hold autocross styled events.  We will certainly keep the qlist updated with
> information regarding common hotels and such as they develop.  If there is
> enough interest from qlisters we might even consider setting up separate
> accomodations from the ones that QCUSA is recommending just to be sure that
> the qlisters can hang out in the same place.
>
> The fact that Monterey is SO close to the left coast does make it difficult
> for many to attend, so it makes perfect sense to me to make plans for other
> AudiFest events as well.  I personally think that the fact that Audi does
> have some presence at the Mount Washington Hillclimb makes it a natural
> candidate.  Perhaps we should schedule an AudiFest in Colorado on the 4th of
> July weekend, but just listen to the hillclimb on the radio while taking
> laps at Pueblo Springs ... :)  My only suggestion is that the events not be
> held at the same time if at all possible ... you never know who is going to
> want to drive from far away and would hate to have to choose between a road
> trip or a local AF event.  I would also suggest that if there is going to be
> any other associated driving event that the plans be made for the overall
> AudiFest to be more than one day to allow for fellowship ... Vorsprung durch
> Kameraderie!
>
> Finally ... why is it that we are only considering sites in the USA?  I
> suggest that we schedule an AudiFest in New Zealand ... or perhaps
> Scandinavia ... Ingolstadt?  :-)
>
> Just think of the shirt ... AudiFest Tour '99 ... :-)
>
> Steve Buchholz
> San Jose, CA (USA)