2010 Opel National Meet

[Aardvaark]

It should be pointed out that a few months ago John posted (or in chat or PM'd) he may soon retire and he and Connie may very well leave Springfield, Il. So future RT66 events past this year are very much in question unless they have changed their minds.
I'd let OpelJohn comment on this before including/excluding RT66 in the future schedule.
Just a heads up in case.

[Ooooner]

As for Charlotte wanting to host another National event, the answer is yes. The AutoFair is a great venue to hold such a meet. I learned a lot the last time we organized the meet for Charlotte. We now know what to do and what not to do. The first time is always a learning experience so the next time around, it should be even better.

But the date is flexible due to the fact that we are trying to get Atlanta into the mix and Springfield might be up in the air. Springfield is John's call there....

[MawandPawOpel]

Well first of all, YOU HAVE GOT BE KIDDING!! No, we hosted the biggy for the Nationals once. We gave everyone the time and big effort to visit with us here in Wa. and to see our style of Opel Show AND to enjoy the beautiful Pacific North West. Wait until our photo's are posted to see for your self what I am talking about. Just awesome here. I think you all should scatter the Nationals out amongst the country just to give eveyone the chance to host at least once for their club. You all are still keeping the event mainly on the East Coast. So enough said from us here in Wa. I am off to visit my Son, who is just back from his forth tour in the Middle East. I hear My Grandchildren calling too. Hope to see you all for our 2010 Gathering of Opels. It will be held in July at a new and different location. Talk later.
MawandPawOpel ( Mary and Walter)

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by MawandPawOpel Well first of all, YOU HAVE GOT BE KIDDING!! I think you all should scatter the Nationals out amongst the country just to give eveyone the chance to host at least once for their club. You all are still keeping the event mainly on the East Coast. So enough said from us here in Wa. I am off to visit my Son, who is just back from his forth tour in the Middle East. I hear My Grandchildren calling too. Hope to see you all for our 2010 Gathering of Opels. It will be held in July at a new and different location. Talk later. MawandPawOpel ( Mary and Walter)

If other parts of the country want to "host" an Opel National Event, then let them speak up. I am all for going to new places, such as Atlanta. If there were others in the Mid-West or West that want to host the event, then all they need to do is say so!

[Gary]

First off, Charlotte, Carlisle and Rt 66 are great venues because they are tied into a larger established event which helps draw large crowds and helps us to showcase our Opels and expose the marque to other car enthusiasts.

Next, my reason for starting this thread was to secure a commitment for a National event in 2010 and to make sure one was at least in the planning stages.

In the past there was a strong core of SoCal OMC members who put on a great picnic every year. Their 20th and 25th anniversaries were major events. There have been many changes in the OMC over the past 5 years and IF they were no longer in a position to host the nationals, I wanted to make sure whatever group volunteered had enough time to plan it out.

[Gary]

Originally Posted by BQS4 As for us, here in Atlanta, "WANTING" to do the Nationals, that is a DEFINITE "yes", as to when, just let us know what ya'll decide, again, I don't want to get in a fight, like last year. When it is decided, PLEASE post it so EVERYBODY knows the schedule.

Gene - If the Atlanta group wants to have an event, go for it. It does not need to have a national title for it to be successful. Carlisle is growing each year, as is Charlotte. If nothing else, it will give y'all () a chance to work out the bugs and build it up. We have yet to have an event around a road race or an SCCA event....

[BQS4]

If it's a "race" event tie-in, we have Road Atlanta with it's "Walter Mitty" i.e., old race cars, or we have drag racing at Atlanta Dragway, as for shows, we have just about everything from YearOne, to Stone Mountain, to whatever. We can do a "drive-in" style of eating with "The Varsity", or if a total German theme is needed, it can be like we're doing this weekend, Helen, GA. Plenty of malls for the ladies and wives to go shopping, if they want.

[wrench459]

Hey Gene
How about starting out small and working are way up.
I'm almost positive I can get the AMS parking lot for drifting,wet pad and just general fun for our Opels.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Gary We have yet to have an event around a road race or an SCCA event....

I'd love to have an event in Salt Lake City...the track there has a huge historic event every year. And Bonneville isn't that far away....

[timemachine]

Originally Posted by RallyBob I'd love to have an event in Salt Lake City...the track there has a huge historic event every year. And Bonneville isn't that far away....

I think we should have the national at Bob's and make it two weeks long. We could rent out Limerock or another track to test out our bolt-ons.


Jim

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by MawandPawOpel I think you all should scatter the Nationals out amongst the country just to give eveyone the chance to host at least once for their club. You all are still keeping the event mainly on the East Coast.

Originally Posted by goinmanta That said my vote is for: Georgia Opelers - 2012 (7th) RT66 - 2013 (8th) Charlotte - 2014 (9th) OMC - 2015 (10th) Carlilse - 2016 (11th) Tacoma - 2017 (12th)

To put it in perspective..

GA - South
RT66 - Midwest
Charlotte - Mid-Atlantic
OMC - California
Carlisle - Northeast
Tacoma - Northwest

Thats about as scattered as we can get.

Based on The Classic Opel Forums - Googlemap ME

Opels tend to be concentrated in certain areas. Due to previous shows encouraging Opelers in the area to restore (Tacoma area), or Opel businesses that supported the cars in the dark ages before the Internet and after Opel dealers shut down most service and parts. Look at the attached file and you will see how Opels are dispersed across the country. The Circle is a 400 mile diameter which is about the average range most will drive or come to a show. They represent current or at minimum recent Opel Clubs or Shows.

There is a large swath of areas with little to no Opelers. To host a National meet there just to have a meet in those areas would produce a VERY small show. Not to mention finding someone in the area to host it and put it together.

So other than the main shows mentioned:

OMC, Carlisle, Charlotte, GA Opelers, Rt 66, Tacoma..

Other locations for possible National meets would be

Texas Opel Club - The Texas Opel Club does do shows.. and are currently setting up a Fall meet / Campout.. That said, no one from that group has stepped up to do a National Meet

Rocky Mountain Opel Club - The Rocky Mountain Opel Club, has been VERY quiet for almost 4 years or more.

NorthEast Opel Club - The Fathers day show in Boston would be a good one, but last I checked they weren't interested in making it a National. I think mainly due to limited space at the venue. If Gary wants to make it a National I am sure we could find room

Mid-West Ohio - Vickie and Crew get together at her house regularly.. but a little small of a venue for a National.. and if they ever wanted to do one, again I am sure we could find room. But they are close to Carlilse and RT66 so not sure they would want to do it.

That covers 90% of Opels in the united states.. Without the NEOC and MId-West Opels we still cover about 85-90% due to overlap..

As for GA Opelers.. looking at the map.. what is south of Atlanta that would make a good location? Just thinking of the Florida Opelers.. if it were further south near Macon or even Savannah may encourage Floridians to come up.. But not sure how that would affect your crew in Northern GA. Figured after looking at the map I would mention it.

[baz]

Atlanta is a nice easy drive from central Fl

assuming every thing is ok next year, mary and i will fly into Charlotte , drive down to Orlando the next day , have a holiday and drive back on the thursday before the fall meet , its about 560 mile this is on top of the 4500 to get to the states so a 450 mile run to atlanta is a breeze ( theres a hooters in smellyville for some of our members also )

i cant think of much to do round macon btw , i used to lurk in perry just south of there

[opeljohn]

I posted a little bit about this on the rt 66 thread but figured I would weigh in here also. Some of this would be funny if not so serious. First a little trip down memory lane. 2005 the OMC Picnic a balmy evening and some fine folks were partaking of some liquid libation, Translation a bunch o drunks sitting around fixing the problems of the world. Charles Goin has an epiphany. Lets have a National Opel Meet and hold it in different locations around the country. Sounds good says all. Charles offers to hold said National in Carlisle the next year 2006. Okay says I how about Springfield in 2007. That goes over okay. The thought was it needed to come back to the west coast the following year and Tacoma was mentioned. Roy Bell was not at this event. Rodney from Texas was there and and offered his state for 2009. Of course it was a given it would be back to OMC for 2010 and then more or less rotate between these venues in perpetuity. Obviously things do change. At the Carlisle event Roy lobbied for Charlotte in 2008 and those in attendance said okay as nobody had heard different from Tacoma or Texas. When Texas was asked to pick up the torch for 2009 there was a deafening silence hence the mixup about this year. So now it comes to the future. I have asked those who participate in the Rt 66 Fest if they would like to host again in the future as there is no guarantee I or the Mother Road Fest itself will be here. To answer Keiths question yes at one time this was to be an OMC sanctioned event. Reality now is this group is heavily weighted east of the Mississippi so who makes the call? To sum it up I would like to wait til after this years event to claim a spot in the que.

[GoinManta]

I think overall we make the call.. but its truly up to those that want to host it.

As shown in the map.. 75% of Opelers are east of the Mighty Mississippi, that said.. NOT just the East Coast.. but everywhere east of the Mississippi..

We need the RT66 show (or show in that area) and/or Texas in the mix as the Midwest does have a lot of Opels So hopefully you can find someone to step in to take the reins.. be it RT66 or some other show in the area.

As I said it's definitely in the hands of those that put on the shows first and foremost. Otherwise Texas would already be in the mix, since no one has come to the table yet nothing has happened there. Maybe Otto or someone from the group can bring it to the group. As the Tacoma show pointed out not all the people that put on the shows are here on the forum and we shouldn't limit participation in the Nationals to only those that are here on the Forum. As long as we have a contact here to coordinate with.

The one thing we do have is time.. so far the concept has proven itself a good one for 5 years. With the "reset" in 2010 and 2011 we can be assured it will last till year 8 and with year 8 being the GA Opelers, since they are definitely up for it we are really talking about year 9.. (2013)

While I know 4 years can come and go in no time.. we do have at least 2-3 years to decide or find hosts for a 2013 meet be it in Texas, IL, or somewhere in the Midwest area.

So that said let us know how it goes at the RT66 show.. and what you find out.

[Aardvaark]

Okay. Last year by this time we knew for sure where the 2009 National was going to be hosted for over two months.

Is OMC going to do it or not? Or can someone else claim it? I'm planning my
trips for next year and need to know where it will be if I'm going to reserve that weeked to attend.

Would OMC please tell us their intentions? PLEEZE

[GoinManta]

Currently they are voting for new officers. Once OMC has the officers in place we will have an answer fairly quickly.

If not they could get bumped and Carlilse would get the Offical tag and work on the schedule based on other events.

[opeljohn]

Now that I have had the chance to talk over the issue with those who were at this years RT 66 Mother Road Fest, yes we would like to throw our hat in the ring. I agree with Roy that the GA group should have an early opportunity so we will defer to them and take a later available date. I did talk a bit about this with Gil at OGTS when I called about door prizes. Gil was not 100% certain the OMC event would happen but seemed to think it would come about. He also spoke about another event in the spring there and this coming May he will be going to a GT event at the Factory in Germany. I will have to say I hope the 30th anniversary Picnic does happen. OMC may become a thing of the past but it had a lot to do with where the Opel community is now. Time passes, things change.

[ben]

I'd love to have an event in Salt Lake City...the track there has a huge historic event every year. And Bonneville isn't that far away....RallyBob

that would be great
and do have good size group here too

[Anonymous D]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark Is OMC going to do it or not? Or can someone else claim it? I'm planning my trips for next year and need to know where it will be if I'm going to reserve that weeked to attend.:

To my knowledge, there will be a 30th Anniversary OMC meet, but details haven't yet been publicized.

[OpelJim]

Hi everyone,

As the OMC events co-ordinator/planner for 2009 here is the offical word on next years event i.e. the 30th anniversary of the OMC Club.

First let me say thank you to all of you who showed up and particapated in 2009 events. We did have fun.

I remember the 25th picnic it was awesome and we had quite a few cars there in Van Nuys Cal, so many more people than of recent years. I hope the turnout for 2010 is HUGE as it is a very special day in the OMC'S history.

I do think you all will be very happy to know we do have a tentative
"picnic" event that is in the formulation stages now.

The DATES are set and good for you to plan for now. OMC will be having a weekend of FUN things to do starting Friday August 13 and through Sunday August 15th 2010. The date and location of the "picnic" has not been locked in so no notice can be given at this time, but most likely it will be on that Sunday to end and cap off this weekend celebration. We need to secure and reserve the location this month and that is the soonest we can do so.

If you are planning your vacation time then put this in your day-planner/calender Friday August 13th 2010 Concorso Italiano Laguna Seca Golf Ranch Monterey California 9:30 AM to 5PM. This is a LOCK and the OMC members are invited to come and enjoy this event as the 1st day of the weekend party with the OMC members and guests who are welcome to attend all OMC events (any Opel owner or enthusiast, or former owner, Opel lover or friends of Opel owners)

For more information concerning the first days events go to:
Concorso Italiano - A Celebration of Italian Style

To be clear again plans for the the "PICNIC" are being formulated now by myself and other OMC former officers/members.
The 2010 elections will determine who will be doing most of the "work" planning and organizing of the 2010 OMC events and I hope to have a hand in the planning and dedicate some time in getting things completed too (even if I am not on the ballot or re-elected) We welcome anyones assistance who is willing to spend some time with us in doing what needs to be done to make this a very special weekend for Opel owners, and to make it exciting and FUN for everyone too. Could be bringing ICE to make sure we have cold drinks for everyone, or help in setting up the tables, manning the T shirt table, etc etc etc.

I hope you all plan on being involved in this weekend of activities.
If you want to camp out there are camp sites at Laguna Seca available and it might be wise to reserve one now as this is truly an international event.
If you prefer to have a hotel check out lower costs in the Salinas area (or anywhere 15 to 20 miles from Monterey) as Monterey hotels tend to be more costly.

So I hope to see all of you OpelGT members attend this OMC event.
As well as any and all Opel owners from around the world who can come.

See you all down the road

Jim Marchitto
OMC E.C.

[kwilford]

Moderator's Note: In case some folks are curious, I deleted a bunch of posts and edited others in this thread in order to get this on track and keep it that way. Thanks for the update Jim

[Aardvaark]

Thanks Jim.
(And Keith).

[opeljohn]

I am glad to see the controversy is some what cleared up. This should let us all know where at least the next three and possibly next five Nationals are to be held. I will say my intention is to have an Opel in the lineup at each of those events.

[GoinManta]

So it looks like this is for the next 5.. If all the coordinators and such are in agreement.

2010 - OMC (August 13-15 2010 - Additional Info TBA)
2011 - Carlisle Import Nationals (May 20-22 2011)
2012 - GA Opelers (Snellville GA ??)
2013 - Springfield - Rt 66 (Sept 2013)
2014 - Charlotte
2015 - OMC or Texas

BTW.. some geographical info.. to explain why to those in the west is seems we are keeping it on the "East Coast". First off we have to consider where the Opels are.. (See the PDF I made or check the member map). That considered, I think we have the events about as spread out as we can have them.

The problem is as previous events have proved over the last 5 years.. 800 miles is about the distance a Opeler will come for a meet, even a National one. So the meets will have to be near the highest concentrations of Opelers. So as much as events in Salt Lake sounds good, few would show up even for a National. That said.. I encourage to you to put on a annual meet. It doesn't have to be a National meet.. being close to CO, and the Southwest.. who knows it could encourage regrowth in the area and by 2014 the meets could be large enough to warrant a National meet designation. It's been a while since we have heard from the Rocky Mountain Opel group, looking at their yahoo group they have had 5 posts in a year.

Also one criteria for being a National Meet designee was a stable meet put on a group that has been around at least a few years. So we know what the area will support.

That said... the biggest area "missing" from the rotation is the Rocky Mountain and Texas area. Both have or have had active clubs and annual meets.. (Especially Texas) If they would like to put something together depending on OMCs future.. 2015 would be great for them. But as fast as 5 years can pass.. a lot can happen in that time as well

So that all said.. here are some distances to consider.

Carlisle to Snellville (676 mi)
Snellville to Springfield (659 mi)
Springfield to Charlotte (783 mi)
Charlotte to Carlilse (450 mi)

For reference

Miami to Snellville (678 mi)
Dallas to Snellville (863 mi)
Carlisle to Bangor, ME (637 mi)
Springfield to Minneapolis, MN (517 mi)
Springfield to Denver (910 mi)
Tacoma to Denver (1343 mi)
Los Angeles to Denver (1017 mi)
Tacoma to Los Angeles (1104 mi)

Charles

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by GoinManta So it looks like this is for the next 5.. If all the coordinators and such are in agreement. 2013 - Springfield - Rt 66 (Sept 2012) Charles

Believe you mean (Sept 2013), right?