Let's ask the question - which location will draw the most participants, in the most comfort, and have the most non - Fiero attendees.
Hawaii?
Redding?
Santa Cruz Mountains?
Tehachapi?
Tehachapi: - Is at 4,000 feet and very pleasant in the summer - Is scenic and has some excellent curvy roads all over the place for an outing - Has several places for the car show - Has an active hotroding, car show population and would probably have lots of non Fiero attendees - Has nice moderately priced hotels (negotiated rates probably less than $75) - Has a lot of Fiero owners in the area - Is the home of West Coast Fiero
Tehachapi is: - 447 miles from Phoenix - 325 miles from San Francisco - 246 miles from Las Vegas - 232 miles from San Diego - 157 miles from Orange County - 136 miles from Riverside - 115 miles from Los Angeles - 40 miles from Bakersfield
WCF and I can help with the arrangements.
Give it a thought and some consideration.
Regards,
David
IP: Logged
01:59 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I guess if you go back enough years any place can be West. Just a few hundred years ago the beaches at Plymouth were the West in the US.
I'm just teasing too, Christine. But some of these folks are getting way too serious here. I mean telling the guy who works his @$$ off to put the show together that if he doesn't have the show outside of California that he can't call it WestFest anymore? That's a little much don't you think? It don't get any more West than CA without leaving the Continental US. And trust me, this is not because I am a fan of California. I am really not. I just happen to live here right now. John can call the show anything he wants and have it anywhere he wants. People can come and have fun or they can stay home. If John decides to have WestFest in Vegas this year I will most likely come. If he decides to have it somewhere in CA again, I will most likely come. Either way it is his choice. Looks like there are enough people in Vegas interested in a show that if WestFest is not there, they can put on a show of their own... and probably lots of us from CA will come.
IP: Logged
02:25 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
"Westfest has never been outside Cali" - we took over the abandoned FOCOA show in 2003. We got 20 cars, the lowest attendance of any show. A previous show, put on by Bill Prince back in, I think, 1999 in April, drew around 25 cars. Vegas shows have been the lowest attendance. Both shows had DELUGE rain, the earlier one DURING the show. I like to go places with zero chances for rain, or very hot temps.Vegas is a crap shoot (no pun intended) for weather. Could be monsoon rain, could be 116 degrees. Too unpredictable.
We like to alternate the shows between north and south every other year. Here is what we've done so far:
2000 San Diego - south 2001 San Leandro (bay area) - north 2002 Truckee - north 2003 Vegas - south 2004 San Simeon - south 2005 Truckee - north 2006 San Diego - south 2007 Monterey bay - north 2008 Solvang - south 2009 - ? Santa Cruz Mountains - north 2010 - ? Big Bear - south (OK, maybe Vegas, but I've been promising a Big Bear show to Duane Rodman for years!)
That gives north and south people a fair shot at a closer show every other year. Why not Redding or Vegas? We try to make the shows closer to where the larger clubs are, because it means better attendance. You folks have no idea how tight the budget is on these shows. If we want to keep printing T-shirts, having trophies, and dash plaques, we have to hit break-even or better. Otherwise, the show loses money and it's only a matter of time before it's over. Man, if you guys only knew the rabbits we've had to pull out of hats to make these shows self-supporting! Literally, we're BARELY making it. Last summer, during the height of the gas price spike, we *just* broke even. We only had 24 registered cars, the lowest since 2003 in Vegas. If gas prices stay down, I hope attendance will be better this year.
Right now, the largest and most active club is Golden Gate. The Sacramento and Valley club have been showing up in pretty good numbers, too. The Monterey show had the highest attendance for the banquet - 73 - in all the years of Westfest. Car registration was solid. The southern shows do OK, but not quite as good as northern shows. The odd thing is that Truckee shows kicked butt, and it's farther north than I'd think the socal, Vegas and Arizona people would like to travel. We won't be doing shows there any more. They built condos behind the Best Western, and the scenery isn't so great any more at the showfield. Plus, it's just way far north for the socal and Vegas folks.
Don't get me wrong on Vegas - I like going there, but it's a LONG drive for the majority of potential attendees, and the weather is always a question mark.
I hope this answers your questions.
[This message has been edited by fierobear (edited 02-18-2009).]
Let's ask the question - which location will draw the most participants, in the most comfort, and have the most non - Fiero attendees.
Hawaii?
Redding?
Santa Cruz Mountains?
Tehachapi?
Tehachapi: - Is at 4,000 feet and very pleasant in the summer - Is scenic and has some excellent curvy roads all over the place for an outing - Has several places for the car show - Has an active hotroding, car show population and would probably have lots of non Fiero attendees - Has nice moderately priced hotels (negotiated rates probably less than $75) - Has a lot of Fiero owners in the area - Is the home of West Coast Fiero
Tehachapi is: - 447 miles from Phoenix - 325 miles from San Francisco - 246 miles from Las Vegas - 232 miles from San Diego - 157 miles from Orange County - 136 miles from Riverside - 115 miles from Los Angeles - 40 miles from Bakersfield
WCF and I can help with the arrangements.
Give it a thought and some consideration.
Regards,
David
Ta-HATCH-a-PEE is cool....
!BUT NOT AS COOL AS 'VEGAS, BABY!
(Plus, I see YOU live in Ta-HATCH-a-PEE).
I live in Nevada, We enjoy; Legalized Prostitution, 24/7 Alcohol sales, (walk down the sidewalk, legally, with a drink in you hand!). Gamble your life away, or go home a Millionaire!!! (You're mileage may differ). CHEAP room rates, right now. UNLIMITED other things to do like... 24/7 Food, Gaming, Drink & Night Life...
PLUS, It's ONLY 246 miles from Ta-HATCH-a-PEE ! (*That name alone would look goofy on a T-Shirt!). Get out and see the world, If you're afraid your Fiero can't make the trip, then trailer it! (**We'll be the rowdy bunch at the bar when you arrive).
If not too many cheap-skates, we might even book SPRING MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS RANCH. (But expect to pay). 120~150 MPH allowed, but you have to pay for the emergency personnel for on-site attendance + track time. (NOT cheap).
Places close early I think. but maybe that's a good thing driving back home DOWN the mountain.
Close? places don't close in Vegas, in 2006 San Diego we got there at midnight and could NOT buy beer, what a crock coming from NV
Everyone I asked who came to Vegas fest all said it was a blast. And many people did not show up as Phil had on the FOCOA site the show was cancelled, even while he was at the show the site still said cancelled. So it is hard to say it was slow because it was Vegas. That show bearly (<--ha ha, pun) came together, thanks again Bear.
And I KNOW the pics from that show top the others, not the ones posted on here anyway.
Since the show was here, the club here has added 100+ members
I could list all the great things Vegas has to do but I would be typing all night.
Respectfully, the travel time, car preparation time, show time severely crimps most folks ability to partake of the vices of a place like Vegas, if they indeed wish to partake thereof.
From my limited knowledge of the event, many people just spend one night and often double up to keep the cost low. Westfest is, I think, a family event, for many.
Also, when the event was last in Vegas, we were all six years younger and the cars were six years newer. Weather is more important to many now, than then.
It is all about the cars, after all.
So, I say no deal!
Regards,
David
IP: Logged
09:34 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
Also, when the event was last in Vegas, we were all six years younger and the cars were six years newer. Weather is more important to many now, than then.
David
That is starting to be an issue for people - the age of the car, and not wanting to drive it really long distances.
I had hoped, after all these years of marketing, getting people's addresses and emails, that we'd be able to *increase* attendance, but it seems we're barely holding the same number of cars (or a slight decline) with new people showing up, but old friends dropping out. It's really been a struggle to keep this show going. We keep having to cut back on trophy classes, not only because there are fewer cars to classify, but because of the lowering amount of money to pay for them. We have to put the show in an area that's as central to the core of our attendees (bay area, sacramento, valley/modesto/merced, and LA) to ensure we get enough folks to sign up to make the show pay it's own way.
IP: Logged
11:02 AM
D2inDFW Member
Posts: 262 From: Tehachapi, CA Registered: May 2008
The obvious thing here is that the Vegas club, with their new 100 members since the last show there, should just put on a show in Vegas.
Organizing one of these events is a lot of work! If you want a show in Vegas, go for it. Why is it so important that WestFest is there? You've apparently got a huge club. I put on the Coast Run every year with no club support and it is a success.Just do it.
IP: Logged
12:06 PM
PFF
System Bot
Rickady88GT Member
Posts: 10648 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
The obvious thing here is that the Vegas club, with their new 100 members since the last show there, should just put on a show in Vegas.
Organizing one of these events is a lot of work! If you want a show in Vegas, go for it. Why is it so important that WestFest is there? You've apparently got a huge club. I put on the Coast Run every year with no club support and it is a success.Just do it.
I like this idea. If it is considered, please do us Fiero owners a favor, do not try to compete with other Fiero events. Some may want to be at several shows, drives and get togethers each year.
The obvious thing here is that the Vegas club, with their new 100 members since the last show there, should just put on a show in Vegas.
Organizing one of these events is a lot of work! If you want a show in Vegas, go for it. Why is it so important that WestFest is there? You've apparently got a huge club. I put on the Coast Run every year with no club support and it is a success.Just do it.
Ya know, I was thinking about this today, and I got an idea. How about we make a roving "Fiero Road Trip!" event that's not a show, just a get together, and not too close on the calendar to either Westfest (almost always the last weekend in June) and the Coast Run (always in late October)? We've done a few things like this before. Remember how much fun the Palm Springs Run was, which we did twice (in January, when the weather is sh*tty here, but great there)? Why not a Vegas Run at an off-time, but when Vegas weather is OK? Maybe in April?
So Vegas folks, let's talk about this, coordinate schedules and ideas, and make the first annual get together the "Fiero Road Trip...VEGAS!!!"
IP: Logged
06:47 PM
D2inDFW Member
Posts: 262 From: Tehachapi, CA Registered: May 2008
Ya know, I was thinking about this today, and I got an idea. How about we make a roving "Fiero Road Trip!" event that's not a show, just a get together, and not too close on the calendar to either Westfest (almost always the last weekend in June) and the Coast Run (always in late October)? We've done a few things like this before. Remember how much fun the Palm Springs Run was, which we did twice (in January, when the weather is sh*tty here, but great there)? Why not a Vegas Run at an off-time, but when Vegas weather is OK? Maybe in April?
So Vegas folks, let's talk about this, coordinate schedules and ideas, and make the first annual get together the "Fiero Road Trip...VEGAS!!!"
Things are shaping up for a Santa Cruz Mountain show. We did our scouting trip today, and the place that is our first choice is looking pretty good. We have a bunch of details to go over, but as soon as there is news to report, I'll post it.
The dates for our first choice location would be in July, either 10-12, 17-19, or 24-26. Any preferences on dates?
IP: Logged
03:05 AM
kevin Member
Posts: 2722 From: Elk Grove, CA USA Registered: Jan 2000
Fierobear, I like the Santa Cruz idea! The Fiero-istas down south should like your decision as well, it is a beautiful place in this world. I forsee a good turnout. Now, for those Fiero guys down south, how about a seperate event for Vegas? Perhaps some of us northern guys would not mind attending that venue as well. Two is better than one Can some dates be discussed, perhaps in September? Just my thoughts...
Fierobear, I like the Santa Cruz idea! The Fiero-istas down south should like your decision as well, it is a beautiful place in this world. I forsee a good turnout. Now, for those Fiero guys down south, how about a seperate event for Vegas? Perhaps some of us northern guys would not mind attending that venue as well. Two is better than one Can some dates be discussed, perhaps in September? Just my thoughts...
Cordially, Kevin
Don't make it too close to the Coast Run in October. We don't want people to be having to choose which event they can afford to go to.
IP: Logged
04:15 PM
SILVERMIST Member
Posts: 212 From: San Bruno. Ca. USA Registered: Apr 2002
If the person organizing the event is in CA and does all the work then they should have it where they want. If people want a Vegas show why don't they just have a Vegas show of their own? I do not see why you could not have both just have them in different months so all that wanted to go could go.
IP: Logged
10:52 PM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
If the person organizing the event is in CA and does all the work then they should have it where they want. If people want a Vegas show why don't they just have a Vegas show of their own? I do not see why you could not have both just have them in different months so all that wanted to go could go.
Works for me. I'd do anything I could to help. I would just ask that the other show not be too close to ours on the calendar so people can get time off and afford both.
IP: Logged
11:12 PM
Mar 16th, 2009
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
but maybe that's a good thing driving back home DOWN the mountain.
