[Gary]

Save the date! for the 2017 Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen! sounds like a fun time.

2017 Grand Prix of Watkins Glen

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

Glen festival - Cars of the Autobahn

I am participating with my GT at Grand Prix festival in Glen for the last four years. The Festival consists of various events as shown here: http://grandprixfestival.com/index.html
You have to choose one of those events that are all run the same day, using different routes.

In 2017 one of events is called Cars of the Autobahn and should be of special interest to Opelers. It will be dedicated to German marques except for BMW and Porsche which will get their own dedicated year soon. http://grandprixfestival.com/marque.html
Suggest that Opelers should be part of that event. The application form is for all events so be sure to check mark Tour de Marque - Cars of the Autobahn unless you have desire to be on your own with different car.

Note: If you are intending to participate, register ASAP as the number of participants is limited and they often fill the list before Christmas. In addition, due to the expected number of entries, they will review all entries to ensure the diversity of German makes and styles.

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

Bump!

Some events of Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival are already filled (Glenora Run). Event that would be of interest to us is Cars of Autobahn. There are still open spaces but the event is filling up quickly. http://grandprixfestival.com/marque.html

The price includes two tickets for 2017 U.S. Vintage Grand Prix. U.S. Vintage Grand Prix presented by Jaguar - Watkins Glen International

I have sent my Registration via email this morning.

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

Yuk, yuk!

31 October 2016

TOUR DE MARQUE - CARS OF THE AUTOBAHN

Your car has been approved for the Tour de Marque.

Carole B. Pierce
Director of Events
Watkins Glen Promotions
607-535-3003

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

Still waiting?

I received the following email from organizers of this event.

The Grand Prix Festival Committee is aware that there are many wonderful cars out there that just don’t have enough numbers for it to ever be feasible to make them the featured marque. We don’t want to exclude those cars, so we are inviting the whole country of cars built in Germany - before 1980 - to participate, with emphasis on marques other than BMW and Porsche. They turned out in numbers when those marques were featured, so we hope they understand that NSU and Opel deserve a turn now.

And so, we invite your German-manufactured vehicle to enjoy the 2017 Chateau Lafayette Reneau Tour de Marque, featuring Cars of the Autobahn.

The Chateau Lafayette Reneau Tour de Marque is a full-day Stone Bridge Driver event featuring the Vintage and Sporting Marques of the Autobahn, built before 1980, with emphasis on marques other than BMW and Porsche. Beginning with registration at Chateau Lafayette Reneau Winery at about 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 8, 2017, participants will enjoy a real driving enthusiast’s day from the 9:30 a.m. drivers' meeting prior to the rally, to brunch at Watkins Glen International around 11 a.m. followed by laps on the Watkins Glen International race track, two laps of the Original Road Course, finishing with display parking at LaFayette Park. This is also the site of the Legends Speak forum discussions, and only a block away from the rest of the action on Franklin Street, which continues with laps of the remaining Stone Bridge Driver events, culminating in the 4:30 p.m. arrival of the SVRA Heritage cars for their laps and display parking. The evening activities sign-off with a fireworks display over Seneca Lake, visible from the lakeshore at the north end of the village.

The Tour de Marque event will feature examples of vintage and sporting models from German manufacturers, built prior to 1980; since BMW and Porsche have been featured in previous years, this event’s emphasis is on all the other great German marques. The event chairperson will consider each entry on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility for the event, including “landmark” vehicles that may not totally conform to this description (possibly to include very special examples of those two marques.)

Over the weekend following the Friday events, many Stone Bridge Driver participants head up to the WGI track for the SVRA vintage races, which occupy them for one or both days, then they find dinner and enjoy the local flavor. Other participants use Festival Weekend as an opportunity to enjoy the Finger Lakes experience, be it wine/beer/spirits/cheese tastings, visiting the many museums in the area - Corning Museum of Glass/Glenn Curtiss Museum & Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport, taking in a dinner- or excursion- boat ride on Seneca or one of the other lakes, a visit to the Windmill Farm and Craft Market between Dundee and Penn Yan, or any of the many other activities the area has to offer. For 2015, organizers developed a Wonderful Waterfall Tour that took travelers on a self-paced ride to visit man of the spectacular and beautiful waterfalls in the area. This was revived in Spring 2017 for the Grist Iron Brewery Waterfall Ramble. This could be made available to your group.

The Grand Prix Festival Committee is aware that there are many wonderful cars that just don’t have enough numbers to ever be feasible to be the featured marque. This event is being promoted directly to owners and clubs of those German marques that sometimes aren’t seen in great numbers. For this event to be successful, we need you and your German car to join the fun!

If you think your German Car will attract a crowd, contact Bruce at:
[email protected] or 607-793-3426 to discuss where it fits in this event.
To register, contact Carole at: [email protected]; 607-535-3003
or visit www.grandprixfestival.com/marque.html

 

[Gary]

Just received this. They are looking foe Opels!

The Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen is featuring "Cars of the Autobahn - Mercedes Benz and Friends" for 2017. See www.grandprixfestival.com, Stone Bridge Driver Events, Tour de Marque to see details of this great driving event and to register your vintage or sporting (pre-1980) German marque car. Porsche and BMW have had their years, and we want to feature all the other fantastic German cars, starting with yours. Contact Tour de Marque Chair Bruce Coulombe [email protected] for details.

 

[GoldGT]

I am considering it.

 

[dsmith]

I will send them an email and see if I can get in. I want another crack at that race track!

 

[Gary]

Would love to go, but with the Nashville Nationals a month before and the need to save up for the Las Vegas trip, it is not in the cards for this year...

 

[dsmith]

I just got an email that they want my Opel. Sending in my registration. Gary, I live only 60 miles from Watkins Glen. Deb and I would love to have you stay at our big farm house for FREE, if that would entice you. Would have a room for PJ too! It would be a fun weekend.

 

[GoldGT]

I just sent my registration in although I did not previously contact anyone for "approval" we will see what happens. Where is the best place to stay? I guess I would have to drive out on Thursday night it's a 4 to 5 hour ride.

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

There are not too many hotels in Glen and most of them are quite exclusive with high prices for that weekend. Even if you decide to pay 250-350 dollars per night, it is difficult to get a room for that weekend as there are hundreds of cars and thousands of visitors. This is huge event.

I usually stay in Corning which is beautiful small town, about 30 minutes from Glen. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars. It is usually full of classic cars for that weekend that stay there and commute to Glen.

I will also drive on Thursday as it is 6-7 hours drive for me.

 

[GoldGT]

There are not too many hotels in Glen and most of them are quite exclusive with high prices for that weekend. Even if you decide to pay 250-350 dollars per night, it is difficult to get a room for that weekend as there are hundreds of cars and thousands of visitors. This is huge event.

I usually stay in Corning which is beautiful small town, about 30 minutes from Glen. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars. It is usually full of classic cars for that weekend that stay there and commute to Glen.

Have you picked a hotel yet? I am still waiting for confirmation that my car is accepted and then I will make reservations. My son may come along as navigator.

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

Ramada Inn, Painted Post (Corning).
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramad...erview?CID=LC:RA:20160927:RIO:Local:SM-ramatl

 

[GoldGT]

I am IN!
Please find attached your confirmation in the 2017 Watkins Glen International Tour de Marque – see you in September!

 

[dsmith]

:yup:Welcome aboard! PJ and I may even take you to our favorite wings restaurant.:yup:

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

:yup:Welcome aboard! PJ and I may even take you to our favorite wings restaurant.:yup:

...and beer tasting...and wine tasting...
They reserved special parking for Opels only. You don't believe me? See the picture. :veryhappy

 

[slracer]

...and beer tasting...and wine tasting...
They reserved special parking for Opels only. You don't believe me? See the picture. :veryhappy

What I see in the picture is 4 EMPTY wine glasses that either held white wine or were not used (no tell tale red residue on the bottoms)! :lmao:

Doug

PS - OPE(L) parking, how coo is that?

 

[GoldGT]

Starting to get psych'd about the trip to the Glen.

I am sooo looking forward to driving on the track but I am also sure I will be disappointed at the speed that we will be driving behind the pace car.

 

[P.J. Romano (R.I.P.)]

Starting to get psych'd about the trip to the Glen.

I am sooo looking forward to driving on the track but I am also sure I will be disappointed at the speed that we will be driving behind the pace car.

It really does not matter, just driving on that famous circuit is a thrill. My wife certainly hopes that it will be VERY slow.

I have received the final schedule. I attached it as it might make some more Opelers to join us.
Program includes tickets for U.S. Vintage Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday. I will definitely watch it on Saturday.

Finally, our friend Norbert has sent me the whole bunch of German flags. Each participating Opeler will get one. Let’s have fun.

Oh yes, complimentary bottle of wine should be consumed after the drive only. :yup: