Opel Nationals DATE Change!

[Ooooner]

It's never too early to talk about the Opel Nationals! The 2008 Opel Nationals will be held Friday, September 12th, Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th, 2008

Note date changed from September 12th through the 14th to September 5th through the 7th, 2008!

The Nationals will be held during the Bi-Annual Food Lion AutoFair at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Concord is about 30 minutes north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
I have been checking on blocking motel rooms for the Nationals and I have come to the conclusion that I need to ask everybody's opinion on what they would like to do.
The motels, that are only about a mile form the Speedway, are Sleep Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn, etc. There are others but those are the ones I checked out. The prices are averaging around $129 per night with a 3 night minimum! Eleven miles to the north, along Interstate 85, there is another Sleep Inn that offered me a group rate of $69 a night with no minimum nights you have to stay. There is also a Hampton Inn across the street from this one but they are to get back with me on the prices. I am assuming they will be in line with the $69 a night deal at the Sleep Inn.
There are advantages to the motels near the Speedway such as restaurants, a great Mall, race shops and being very close to the Speedway where the Nationals will be held. The motels that are cheaper don't have those things but they are only eleven miles away.
The 2008 Opel Nationals is beginning to "shape up". I have been discussing our National show with the Speedway officials and they are going to help us out with promotions and a great site for our cars.
More later. I just need your thoughts on motels....

Thanks!

[73Manta72gt]

Hi Roy, glad to see your on the ball gettings things organized. any differences in parking between the hotels? I assume many people will trailer cars to the show. It would be nice to have a large parking area.

[hallgeir]

As mentioned before, I am planning to come over for this event, and I`m bringing a friend too. At least one, maybe more. If you would assist us in booking a room when that time comes, we would be very glad. Since we are flying in, and don`t have a car, we would prefer the alternatives close to the speedway.

[sawdust]

If my car can make it to North Carolina then another 11 miles won't matter. Hopefully it is a scenic 11 miles.

Are there any attractions that would make it worth while to get there on Thursday?

Will the show schedule be similar to what we did in Springfield?

[BQS4]

Roy;
Another thought, if you intend doing it like Carlisle, is if this motel has a conference room for the *ahem* bench racing and such? If not, what about a conference room at a resturant?

[tomking]

I would opt for the 11 miles away at the Hampton Inn assuming their rates are competitive with across the road.

[wannaopel]

I would opt for the Hamton Inn 11 miles away. 11 miles each way of cruising with other Opelers is a Bonus.

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by hallgeir As mentioned before, I am planning to come over for this event, and I`m bringing a friend too. At least one, maybe more. If you would assist us in booking a room when that time comes, we would be very glad. Since we are flying in, and don`t have a car, we would prefer the alternatives close to the speedway.

Hallgeir,
It would be great for you and your friend to come from Norway! Are you flying your Opel in?
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is only about 30 minutes from the Speedway exit. Someone (probably me) can meet you at the airport and our Southern Hospitality will take care of you from there! Of course, once I zero in on a motel and book the rooms within the next few weeks, I will let everyone know and help you out with reservations.

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by 73Manta72gt Hi Roy, glad to see your on the ball gettings things organized. any differences in parking between the hotels? I assume many people will trailer cars to the show. It would be nice to have a large parking area.

Helmut,
I'm glad you mentioned about the need for a large parking area. I had not thought about that and it is needed. That was something I noticed at Springfield. John had picked out a great motel with a large parking area!

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by sawdust If my car can make it to North Carolina then another 11 miles won't matter. Hopefully it is a scenic 11 miles. Are there any attractions that would make it worth while to get there on Thursday? Will the show schedule be similar to what we did in Springfield?

Sawdust!
Good to hear from you. As for things to do if you came down here on Thursday, yes, there is much to see and do. If you are into NASCAR, then this will be heaven for you. Rouch Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEI Racing (Dale Earnhart Racing) Hendricks Racing, etc., are around here and you can tour their facilities. The AutoFair will be in progress and believe me, you would need all four days to walk through the entire place. Just the AutoFair will keep you busy the entire time itself!
As for the schedule, that hasn't been made yet. We will have dinner on Friday and Saturday nights somewhere. Usually on Friday's, during the Autofair, I have everyone come over to my house for BBQ, Baby Back Ribs and all bunch of other food and drink! It depends on how many people are coming whether I can handle a big crowd or not. Hopefully, we can do that. But it's all in the planning stages right now.

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Roy; Another thought, if you intend doing it like Carlisle, is if this motel has a conference room for the *ahem* bench racing and such? If not, what about a conference room at a resturant?

Gene,
Of course we will have "bench racing" in a conference room. What would a Opel meet be without that! I did check on those and they do charge for the use. That will be something that will be required for me to book the block of rooms.

[kent]

I gotta say at half the price whats 11 miles! I'm planning on making it to this meet, around 1200 miles each way.

[newman27]

Having never been to one of these before, I have to ask - will that 11 miles turn into an hour or more of stop and go traffic to get to the Speedway? If so, I would opt for the closer hotels to eliminate sitting in event traffic.

Matt

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by newman27 Having never been to one of these before, I have to ask - will that 11 miles turn into an hour or more of stop and go traffic to get to the Speedway? If so, I would opt for the closer hotels to eliminate sitting in event traffic. Matt

Matt,
The AutoFair requires that the car clubs be "in place" at the show field by 7:30 AM. The main gates open to the public at 8 AM. There would be no traffic to speak of at those times. The reason they want us there so early is because of the traffic. If the weather cooperates, there will be 100,000 people!

[hallgeir]

Originally Posted by Ooooner Hallgeir, It would be great for you and your friend to come from Norway! Are you flying your Opel in?

Yes, and the flight # to look for is: GT 1900

[Wolf Spyder]

Come on!!! We're Opel owners! We doe everything...ahem.....shall I say economically?! It has to be the $69.00 room or a tent!

[newman27]

Originally Posted by Ooooner Matt, The AutoFair requires that the car clubs be "in place" at the show field by 7:30 AM. The main gates open to the public at 8 AM. There would be no traffic to speak of at those times. The reason they want us there so early is because of the traffic. If the weather cooperates, there will be 100,000 people!

Thanks Roy! Given that, I see no reason to pay for the closer hotels especially if they require three days regardless of your actual stay.

Matt

[manta a]

Roy-
Did you try calling Expedia? I went to a show in Dallas in September, and the couple that set it up got a much better rate with no minimum stay than was obtainable by dealing with the hotels directly.
Brian

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by newman27 Thanks Roy! Given that, I see no reason to pay for the closer hotels especially if they require three days regardless of your actual stay. Matt

I was thinking the same way but I just wanted to pass this along to everyone to see what everyone wanted to do for a motel. Three nights required at $129 a night is a little crazy to me. The $69 a night sounds like a better deal to me even if it means driving 11 miles each way from the motel. I still have to check on parking, conference room, etc., before I make an executive decision as to the motel we will stay at. Please keep in mind that there aren't any restaurants at the exit where these motels are but there are great places to eat on Speedway Blvd., near the Speedway.
I am going to be checking on other motels in the area and see what I can come up with but at least I know what people are thinking...

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by manta a Roy- Did you try calling Expedia? I went to a show in Dallas in September, and the couple that set it up got a much better rate with no minimum stay than was obtainable by dealing with the hotels directly. Brian

Hummm. Worth a try, huh? Thanks for the suggestion...