It is with sadness and deep regret that I announce the cancellation of the GAS (Go and Show) Route 50 Fiero tour. This event was announced before several major changes occurred in my life, and I struggled to press on regardless. But now, a go/no-go situation is staring me in the face, and I have had to make a difficult decision.

Time
The main reason for my decision to cancel the tour is the amount of time it will continue to cost me. This has already been an enormous investment of time, and with the passing of the one-year-to-go milestone, the tax on my time would multiply many times over. I just don't see how I can afford that.

Finances
The changes in my personal life have made me realize that I cannot participate in the tour myself. And I have been in denial that I could still pull it off by coordinating it from home. The entire time the tour is under way, I would still have to be off work, sitting at the computer and on the phone. Additionally, I would have to delegate certain responsibilities to the participants who go the entire distance. Even if they were willing, it would reduce their enjoyment of the trip.

Talent & ability
I have no talents in sales or business, and no ability to attract the kind of sponsorships and media coverage, etc., that this event deserves. That does not prevent it from taking place, but it does affect the promotion of the tour, and yes, even the quality of the experience. It also prevents any hope of having the tour professionally documented and distributed.

No guarantee of success
In spite of everything I could do, there is no way to ensure such an event goes as planned. In a static car show at one location, on one day, that's not the end of the world. But in this case, the slightest miscalculation or change of schedule has serious implications, because everyone down the road depends on things going as expected. If it were a handful of friends taking a Fiero road trip, that would be one thing, but this is much different, and there is great opportunity for things to go wrong.

Affecting friendships and could affect marriage
Changes to the plan have already put a strain on my relationships with a couple of friends, and with a year to go, there would surely be more. My wife has been great in tolerating my hobby, but I know that to continue with planning the tour means putting unnecessary stress on my marriage. I don't want that, and I will not allow it.

I hope everyone who was planning to participate in the Go and Show will still find a way to enjoy such an experience on America's roads. Organizing it was enjoyable until now, but it suddenly became an overwhelming burden, and no longer a joy. You could say I had to cut my losses.

I apologize for any inconvenience this means for those who have already started planning their portion of the trip. And I apologize to those who have invested some of their own time and effort into helping me put this together. Fiero people are the best, and you who have offered to help in so many ways have proven that to me once again.

I wish to thank The Fiero Store. They have kept the communication lines open, and have been so easy to work with. And their generosity and willingness to aid our enjoyment of the Fiero hobby has been impressive.

This announcement means my retirement from organizing and promoting Fiero events. It has been exciting, fulfilling and fun. I look forward to seeing my friends again - as a participant - in future Fiero gatherings!

Chuck Hodges

I forgot to say thanks to Cliff Pennock, especially for creating the GAS forum.

Sorry to hear this, but understand completely. I sent you a PM.

Mark

Realy sad to here the tour is cancelled, I was very much looking forward to it and willing to help in any way. Good luck with other projects. Mike P.S. If any one wishs to continue PM me.

You have spent a massive amount of time we all know, why not delegate the responsibilitys to upstanding individuals per state? I know for a fact (since i'm nearby to this state) there are a ton of Quality individuals who live in MD, how many states? Theres plenty of time for these indivduals to coordinate the event w/o dragging your personal life into the toilet if you keep a very minimal interaction that keeps your family #1.

Andrew

I was looking forward to the caravan making its way through Colorado and joining up for awhile. But it is definitely a HUGE project to undertake, with coordinating events, hotels, etc. Thanks for all the time and effort you've put in already.

I'll coordinate the Texas leg... oh, wait...

I completely understand. We all have to keep the main goals in mind. As you know I am a big fan of the Fiero, but the family comes first. It sounds like you are making the right choice. Thank you for the effort you have put into it.

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Paul

My IMSA Build: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/789315
HHP Adjustable Sway Bars: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/036556.html

I have received messages from people who did not hear the tour was cancelled, so I need to bump this.

The response has been very supportive. I was really worried. But cancelling now has a lot less impact than if it were cancelled later.

Many people have expressed hopes that the event could be "salvaged". If someone seriously wants to take on the project, I would be happy to share my notes & info. As for finding "coordinators" along the tour, forget it. In my past events, too many people said they would do things and then didn't. Route 50 goes through 12 states. I don't think you could find 12 people living near Route 50 in those states who are willing to make a commitment and take on responsibility. ( * Edit to say please see clarification in my next post below * ) Plus, someone still has to tie it all together, because what happens at any given point affects the rest of the schedule all the way down the road.

I simply bit off more than I could chew. But when this started, I had much more time on my hands, and was making 3 times my current salary. Life has a way of changing one's plans.

[This message has been edited by Just Say Go (edited 07-02-2009).]

Man I just found out .

Now to tell my cousin.

I understand why you canceled it. How are you doing?

Brad

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: ...How are you doing?

Thanks for asking! Mostly, I feel like my favorite dog had to be put to sleep... it was that much a part of me. But I am actually feeling some relief. It was just starting to get into the crunch time, where the anxiety of what still needs to be done and worrying about what I have forgotten gets my nerves tied up in knots. Now I can look into work-at-home stuff. And I just finished an introductory Web Design class, and enjoyed it, so I hope to keep working on that. Plus, now I can get more things done around the house.

I need to clarify what I said in my last post about not finding enough people to be coordinators - I didn't mean that to sound like nobody was helping. On the contrary, I got lots of great information, photos, suggestions, and all kinds of stuff from many people. And I DID get a few coordinators, like George Ryan and others at Mile High Fieros, the folks at Golden Gate Fieros, and probably one or two more I can't think of right now. Those were people who actually volunteered to be in charge of the tour through their area, not just pointing out some sites to see, things to do, route suggestions, etc. They were willing to be responsible for organizing and carrying out their part of the tour. That's what I meant that there wouldn't be at least one for each of the 12 states. I didn't mean to diminish the importance of all the great things a lot of other people did to help out.

quote Originally posted by Just Say Go: Thanks for asking! Mostly, I feel like my favorite dog had to be put to sleep... it was that much a part of me. But I am actually feeling some relief. It was just starting to get into the crunch time, where the anxiety of what still needs to be done and worrying about what I have forgotten gets my nerves tied up in knots. Now I can look into work-at-home stuff. And I just finished an introductory Web Design class, and enjoyed it, so I hope to keep working on that. Plus, now I can get more things done around the house. I need to clarify what I said in my last post about not finding enough people to be coordinators - I didn't mean that to sound like nobody was helping. On the contrary, I got lots of great information, photos, suggestions, and all kinds of stuff from many people. And I DID get a few coordinators, like George Ryan and others at Mile High Fieros, the folks at Golden Gate Fieros, and probably one or two more I can't think of right now. Those were people who actually volunteered to be in charge of the tour through their area, not just pointing out some sites to see, things to do, route suggestions, etc. They were willing to be responsible for organizing and carrying out their part of the tour. That's what I meant that there wouldn't be at least one for each of the 12 states. I didn't mean to diminish the importance of all the great things a lot of other people did to help out.

Did anyone at MAFOA contact you about the Leg through MD, if the "Powers to be" would undertake being in charge of the tour through that state, I would be willing to take some vacation time next year to help out.

I would help with the Va. portion . If any one wants to continue Pm me

well, we had the time off from work and the money to do this run, Looks like we will do the Hot rod Power tour in place of the GAS run in 2010, Keep watching www.capitolcityfieros.homestead.com for hotel listing for those who want to run the power tour in 2010

I am so angry about all the e-mails and posts from folks that read about the cancellation that have (1) made no contribution - no effort at all to help out with this massive undertaking (they just wanted to show up and enjoy it!) and (2) Fiero owners that were not planning to participate. I just don't think they have cause to say ANYTHING!!

While I haven't spoken with Chuck since his decision, I DO know that what he wrote was straight from his heart, and that it was sincere. He has struggled through some pretty serious life changes while trying to put this thing together, and the pressures on him were increasing daily. There is a LOT that goes into the planning and presentation of an event such as this. For most major events (such as the 20th or 25th, for example) that planning and pesentation is done by committee, but in this case one man tried to do it all - - that man was Chuck Hodges.

During our next conversation, I will certainly reassure Chuck that he is definitely qualified and capable of pulling this this off, and that there is enough talent within our community to "fill the gaps". But you know what?? That talent has never stepped forward (with a couple exceptions) to this point - leaving Chuck to do it all pretty much by himself. Chuck's letter only barely touches on the impact on his life that this event has had, plus I think his forecast for the impact it undoubtedly would have had during the course of the next year (without a lot of help) was actually miniimalized.

But here's some thoughts - - bear with me for a moment! This planning for the tour was pretty much complete (in "rough draft" form so to speak) from Washington DC to the Nevada border when the "realignment" was discussed. Why not use that foundation and go from there?? I think that if Chuck were to get some talented help to relieve him of some of the stresses that this could still happen. My next posting will outline my personal response to Chuck’s letter and suggestions that might help overcome those obstacles.

I agree with you and offer any help needed in the D.C.- Va. section Pm me