2010 Opel National Meet

[Gary]

Now that the 2009 National meet in Tacoma is over, it's time to set a location for the 2010 meet. Any volunteers?

[Ooooner]

I had thought the California Club was going to be the one in 2010. Then it was to come back to Carlisle for 2011. Is this right or am simply crazy? Hey... maybe you better not answer that last question...

[opelspyder]

I don't mean to jump the gun here on anyone, but there was talk about the Atlanta area hosting a National Meet. There are a ton of places and show to join in on that could be with the meet.
Keith

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Ooooner I had thought the California Club was going to be the one in 2010. Then it was to come back to Carlisle for 2011. Is this right or am simply crazy? Hey... maybe you better not answer that last question...

You are correct sir. That is what I remember also. Cali in 2010 and Carlisle 2011. Something about the OMC's anniversary and they getting the nationals.

[Ooooner]

As I remember it, 2010 was to be in California, 2011 in Carlisle, 2012 in Springfield and 2013 in Charlotte. I am willing to let the Atlanta gang have the Charlotte slot for 2013 if that's what it will take to let Gene and the boys host a National event. Their club is a very active Opel club and deserves to be able to host the event sometime.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Gary Now that the 2009 National meet in Tacoma is over, it's time to set a location for the 2010 meet. Any volunteers?

Please refer to your post # 83.
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/opel-ev...ocation-4.html
I'm under the impression this had already been decided for 2010. But I'm sometimes
mistaken?

[MawandPawOpel]

I feel that the Opel Nationals should be given to an area that has never had it before and not cluster it on the East coast alone. Why not Texas? I am not sure of any other Opel Clubs locations that may be willing. But Cal. is set for 2010.

[Ooooner]

Texas has been given many opportunities to host a National event but there are no "takers" there... Not sure why, though....

[opelspyder]

Texas has had several opportunities, with no chime in. I think when first forming the national meets, California was decided for 2010, but then things changed as more areas other than 4 locations wanted to host a national event. There might be 8 locations that are willing, and they diserve equal opportunity. I think it should move around, but I think also it doesn't have to be in the same location or order each time. I also think a East and West coast should have there own shows, but I hate to divide our group as well
Keith

[Aardvaark]

It would be good if one of the OMC in California folks would post
their intentions fairly soon for the 2010 nationals as I believe they have
the first claim on it at this point. But like I said before, I could be wrong.
The earlier this is cast in stone the better for many of us who may want to plan to attend. Obviously exact dates and other details aren't required
at this point in time.

[Gary]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark It would be good if one of the OMC in California folks would post their intentions fairly soon for the 2010 nationals as I believe they have the first claim on it at this point. But like I said before, I could be wrong. The earlier this is cast in stone the better for many of us who may want to plan to attend. Obviously exact dates and other details aren't required at this point in time.

Thanks, Mark. That was the main reason for starting this thread. (Although, looking back, I could have worded it better) The Opel Nationals is "the event to attend if you can only attend one" and some people need a long lead time to plan their trip.

2010 is an anniversary year for the OMC and that's why that date was set several years ago. If the OMC is not going to put on a large scale picnic next year, there are a bunch of Georgia folks who would love to host the Nationals.

[MawandPawOpel]

I personally don't think we should have 2 divided Opel Nationals. I mean really folks. This is the Opel Nationals..THE EVENT of the year. The main event for all who can to attend. Lots of work goes into planning and pulling all together for a really fun time for all. I just wish you all luck in working this out. Needless to say we planned for the event way in advance and folks , if they don't like the area or event, they won't attend. So do your thing, if you get the event, the folks will be there if they really want to carry on the Opel name. SO hang in there.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by MawandPawOpel I personally don't think we should have 2 divided Opel Nationals. I mean really folks. This is the Opel Nationals..THE EVENT of the year. The main event for all who can to attend. Lots of work goes into planning and pulling all together for a really fun time for all. I just wish you all luck in working this out. Needless to say we planned for the event way in advance and folks , if they don't like the area or event, they won't attend. So do your thing, if you get the event, the folks will be there if they really want to carry on the Opel name. SO hang in there.

How many cars from East of the Mississippi have you had at your meeting?
How often have you driven 3,000 miles one way to visit an East-coast Opel Nationals?

Yes, there IS room for two big meetings per year!

Dieter

[stevyz]

Originally Posted by opelspyder I don't mean to jump the gun here on anyone, but there was talk about the Atlanta area hosting a National Meet. There are a ton of places and show to join in on that could be with the meet. Keith

this would work for us southeast opelers

[opeljohn]

The concept for a traveling National Opel Meet was first floated by Sir Charles at the 25th OMC picnic. Up until that time the OMC event was the defacto National event. 2010 would be the 30th anniversary of the start of the OMC picnic and in my opinion it would be a shame if it did not take place and host the Nats that year. From what I see and hear that may not be a forgone conclusion. This kind of an event needs someone to step up and coordinate things. I get the feeling the folks who have been doing that out there are getting a might burnt. If next year is open then by all means let Atlanta have it. We have had the honer of hosting one in Springfield but lay no claim at this time to another one. It would be nice to see one in Kansas City or Denver. Look at a map you would be hard pressed to be much fairer. Connie and I have tried to nurture the event here in the midwest and there is a good group who attend. There are equally good groups elsewhere in the country and they should be allowed to feel a part of this community. What I would love to see is one of our Nats show the numbers they get in Europe.

[MawandPawOpel]

I Will AMEN TO THAT. We had a really great 3 days here in Tacoma. Not only was it An Opel Event, it was a "see the Great Pacific NorthWest Event".
Give the folks in Calif. a few days to recover their trip here. I am sure they will get back to you all. Thanks for your words of wisdom John. Best to you and Connie.
MawandPawOpel
John and Paul Kaman

[West Coast GT]

If there's to be a 2010 National in California, count me in for attending. If it's anywhere in Northern or Central California, I'll volunteer to organize and run a day trip while someone else handles the main body of the event.

Pipe Dream: Someday, it would be cool to have the Nationals held at Bonneville and attendance fees bumped up enough to sponsor RallyBob's speed run.

[GoinManta]

OMC IS doing the 30th and the reset of the Nationals Calendar.. Making it the 5th National Meet.

From what I gathered talking to Gil they are finalizing plans as we speak. But since its going to be such a large event, they haven't finalized everything yet.

Simply the National schedule was to rotate through the Major events.

OMC Picnic (Southwest)
Carlisle Imports (Northeast)
Route 66 - IL (Midwest)
Charlotte Autofair (South)
Tacoma Meet (Pacific NW)

This gives every region of the country a chance to be a "National Meet"

One of the key factors in being in the rotation was being a larger show that had built a tradition of having fairly well attended meets already. If memory serves when we started the list the NE Opel Club didn't want to be in the rotation with the Boston show, No one from the Texas Opel Club ever spoke up to do one of the events, and the Georgia meet hadn't really kicked off yet. So thats why those aren't in the schedule.

So tentatively the two oldest shows, OMC and Carlisle, will probably always have a place in the rotation. But nothing says that other shows can't be added or even replaced with other shows depending on if the current people putting on the shows decide to back out, or get out of Opels entirely, etc..

So the only shows I know that are written in stone are:

2010 - OMC 30TH Anniversary
2011 - Opels at Carlisle - 15TH Anniversary

Tentatively penciled in..

2012 - Route 66 - Springfield
2013 - Charlotte Autofair
2014 - Tacoma

But as Roy offered.. The GA group could do the 2013 slot.. if they wanted too.

Possibly Texas could host the 2012 or 2014 meet.. Haven't heard from them on the subject since we started it. Same could be said for the Boston show..

The one thing we don't want to do is put on a National meet in an area where there isn't a group to support it and/or one that hasn't put on a show before. That would be asking for a meet with very low attendance and could ruin it for a lot of people.

Case in point would be this years Tacoma meet. Due to the economic conditions it didn't get a lot of people to travel to it. From what I could tell, only Gil and Dennis from Opel GT Source, Todd, Debbie, Tammy and Steve from Opels Unlimited, Myself and about 3-4 others traveled to the show and that said, Opels Unlimited and Opel GT Source both regularly attend the Tacoma show whether its a National Meet or not.

Thats no fault or reflection on John, Mary and all that put the show on. They did a great show. I am sure it was definitely more a factor of economics. It cost me close to $1500 to fly out, get the hotel, and rental car.. and in these economic times not everyone can do that or be comfortable spending that kind of money right now. The point is that if they didn't have a regular show with a solid group that comes regularly.. it could have been a disaster. But because they have a group that always turns out, it was a fun show and I had a great time.

[Ooooner]

I could not have said it better, Charles. I think you hit it on the head that the Nationals should be held where there is a tradition of turnout for Opel events.

With that being said, that is why I said Atlanta should be awarded one of the National events in the next few years simply because they have displayed an active club with their own shows. They also travel to other events as well. I would love to host another National event in Charlotte but I would give up the 2013 slot just so Atlanta could have a shot at it. Charlotte can host another one in the future. 2013 isn't written in stone. I just want to be fair to everyone.

[GoinManta]

I too think the GA Opel group definitely has proven themselves by traveling well on their own to the Carlisle, Charlotte and Rt66 meets.. that and they have been having good showings at their own meets.

So this is where the rubber meets the road. Who wants to host 2012 would be where to start.

Maybe we should do it on a vote with each group putting in a request to host. There is plenty of time.. and it really comes down to who WANTS to do it and come 2-3 years down the road if they are still ready to go. By doing it this way we would know who WANTS to do it and where people want to go to..

After OMC in 2010 and Carlilse in 2011 we have three slots between 2012-2014..

Then in 2015 it could be OMC again, as it would be the 35th OMC meet and 10th Opel National Meet..

[BQS4]

I have been holding back, watching as to where this is going, but, without going into detail, there is a lot that can be done, here in Atlanta, there's also a lot of events we can combine with. So, whenever it gets settled and when ever the first opening is, we'll get our plans together. I just don't want a "fight" like last time.

[GoinManta]

Truly I think the decision is best made by the event coordinators. Going back to the whole who "WANTS" to do it..

As I mentioned the only National date set in stone is May 19th, 20th, and 21st 2011 and thats Carlilse.

2010 is currently OMC and there 30th unless they decide to not do it.. which I can't imagine happening. But as for a date it hasn't been set (Traditionally its been in August).

I personally am good with 2012 for GA, since Y'all haven't had a crack at the Nationals yet.

That would push the RT66 show to 2013, and Charlotte or Tacoma in 2014.. depending on who is still wanting to do it then 5 years is a long time away but as we all know it creeps up quick at the same time.

[Ooooner]

Originally Posted by BQS4 I have been holding back, watching as to where this is going, but, without going into detail, there is a lot that can be done, here in Atlanta, there's also a lot of events we can combine with. So, whenever it gets settled and when ever the first opening is, we'll get our plans together. I just don't want a "fight" like last time.

I believe we are approaching this the correct way this time. 2012 is/was going to Springfield but if they decide it is not what they want to do this time, then that would open that slot for Atlanta. Otherwise, I will let Atlanta have Charlotte's slot in 2013. Maybe we could just push the dates back one year and slip Atlanta in there somewhere!

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by GoinManta Truly I think the decision is best made by the event coordinators. Going back to the whole who "WANTS" to do it.. As I mentioned the only National date set in stone is May 19th, 20th, and 21st 2011 and thats Carlilse. 2010 is currently OMC and there 30th unless they decide to not do it.. which I can't imagine happening. But as for a date it hasn't been set (Traditionally its been in August). I personally am good with 2012 for GA, since Y'all haven't had a crack at the Nationals yet. That would push the RT66 show to 2013, and Charlotte or Tacoma in 2014.. depending on who is still wanting to do it then 5 years is a long time away but as we all know it creeps up quick at the same time.

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.

[GoinManta]

Well..

This is how I see it:

2010 - OMC
2011 - Carlisle
2012 - GA Opelers or Rt 66
2013 - GA Opelers or Charlotte or Rt 66
2014 - Charlotte or Texas or Rocky Mountain or Tacoma (TBD)

I guess the question is do John (rt 66), Roy (Charlotte), or John/Mary (Tacoma) WANT to put on a National Meet again?

The other question in the air.. is does the Texas Group or the Rocky Mountain Opel group want to host a national. Haven't heard from either as a group in a long while.

As for a "fight".. maybe old age is kicking in.. but I don't think there was a fight last time.. it seemed like more of a miscommunication than a fight

I think it was more of a matter of the GA group jumped in to fill the void because we hadn't heard from Tacoma in the forum, and thought they weren't going to do the National meet. While all along they were preparing for the National meet behind the scenes since the main organizer wasnt on the forum.

Anyway, since nothing past Carlisle 2012 is in stone.. and some of the events now have a taste of hosting the "Big Event" we just need to get their input as to if they even want to do it again.

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)

By 2018.. who knows who of us will be left