2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I waited patiently to post this in 2005, so here it is.
I think we need to start thinking about the meets for this year. 2004 has been a rough year, but we had some great gatherings both in Carlisle, and in Cinci. However, as great as the Carlisle was, it is somewhat limited to the east coast people, and hardly any show up from the mid and western states. Maybe we should figure out a better, more suitable location for more members or even folks that only visit this message board. When looking at the map, St. Louis seems like a perfect location. Maybe mn12nationals ? Let's hear it !!!

Mods, please leave this in glove box for now, it might attract people.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I was going to bring this up at some point as well. I think Cinci is a great idea. Carlisle is great, but last year wasn't quite as great as the year before. It might be time to mix it up a little.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I'm all for planning meets! Carlisle is cool, but I may be biased since its a lot closer than St. Louis or even Cinci. I say let's kick different ideas around and come up with more than one or two. I think one each month or so once the weather breaks would be awesome!

I would like to see demographic data for our membership and we could try to cover as many areas as possible. Properly done we could give virtually everyone an opportunity to attend at least one gathering.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I said Cinci above, i meant St. Louis. Carlisle is closer for me too, but I've already done it twice and would like to try something else this year. I probably won't make it to Carlisle this year.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

Well besides the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals - June 3-5 - we have...

2005 Fun Ford Weekend Events

1. Mar 5-6, 2005 15th Annual Mustang and Fast Fords Spring Break Shootout, Orlando Speed World Dragway, Orlando FLA

2. Apr 1-2, 2005 1st Annual Cajun FFW Nationals, No Problem Raceway, Belle Rosem LA

3. Apr 14-17, 2005 15th Annual Peach State FFW Nationals, NHRA's Atlanta Dragway, Commerce GA

4. Apr 29-May 1, 2005 15th Annual Texas Thunder FFW Nationals, Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX

5. May 21-22, 2005 2nd Annual Garden State FFW Nationals, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown NJ

6. Jun 3-5, 2005 8th Annual FFW Nationals, Cordova Dragway Park, Cordova ILL

7. Jun 24-26, 2005 7th Annual Old Dominion FFW Nationals Virginia Motorsport Park, Richmond VA

8. July 8-10, 2005 15th Annual Buckeye State FFW Nationals, Norwalk Raceway Park, Norwalk OH

9. Aug 5-7, 2005 14th Annual Thunder Valley FFW Nationals Bristol Dragway, Bristol TN

10. Aug 20-21, 2005 10th Annual New England FFW Nationals, New England Dragway, Epping NH

11. Sep 9-11, 2005 1st Annual Heartland FFW Nationals, Heartland Raceway Park, Topeka KS

12. Sep 16-18, 2005 15th Annual Ford Mustang World Finals, The Texas Motorplex, Ennis TX

13. Oct 1-2, 2005 3rd Annual Pacific FFW Nationals, Califonia Speeday, Fontana CA

14. Oct 29-30, 2005 3rd Annual Valley of the Sun FFW Nationals, Firebird International Raceway, Chandler AZ

http://www.funfordevents.com/
All Fun Ford Weekend events feature a two day car show with a perfect venue for displaying the ultimate in Ford's finest show quality automobiles judged in Top Twenty-Five and Best in Class categories. Car show participants also get to enjoy an array of entertainment such as Drag Racing, Exhibition Cars, Manufacturer's Midway, Swap Meet along with being the first to see some of Ford Motor Company's project and new vehicles! You may even get lucky and be grabbed for an interview with Dennis Gage of the My Classic Car television show. And don't forget, once again, for 2004, the Late Model Editor's Choice of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine receives a full color feature in their magazine! Our goal is to provide you and your family an affordable weekend with lots of Ford friends and tons of Ford fun!!!

I hope to go to Carlisle this year, but I would like to see some other meets as well. We don't necessarily have to have a national event for a backdrop either as the Cinci meet showed last year!

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I vote for #13!!! (heh heh)

The other idea that came up in my head was something along the lines of a "Mark VIII power tour". The event could start on one coast, wind through a set itinerary, taking a long drive all the way across the country, making various, pre-determined stops along the way, and ending at the "other coast".

That way, anyone interested in "joining" the parade, could jump on-board at any pre-determined meeting spot, and 'cruise" as long as they feel like it.

For example:
lets say the cruise starts in California. As an example, San Francisco.(yea, I know...biased, but its just an example).

Those on the west coast could all meet at a specific location, at a specific time(a nice 2 hour window, or whatever), and then head east/south-east. Stop in bakersfield, grab a few So-cal guys/gals, and head to veags. Pick up a few more, and head to arizona...those that started in SF who cannot continue can bid farewell, and return home, having logged in several hours of drving, stopping, eating, pictures, etc etc etc. Once word gets out to certain 'cheap-o chain hotels'(motel 6, Super 8, travelodge, etc) they will re-reserve a few rooms. For those who decide to join us at the last minute/hour, they can always sleep on the floor(serve them procrastinators right!)

If this is to become serious, folks could "pre-register" so to speak, so we all know 'who's coming' and where we will meet them. I would suspect anyone along the way could plan to gather, and meet/stop/eat/rest at any given point.

For Example: the 15 Mark VIII's plan to rill into Barstow between 3:30pm and 5:00pm. we'll stop at the Foster's freeze on hwy 23E. anyone who needs to rest/pit stop/eat/sleep, this is the spot. we will stay here for approx 90 minutes. if everyone is "good to go" we head on to the next stop, some 220 miles away...a co-pilot is recommended"

This could become one long-ass Conga line of mark VIII's.

It may sound far fethched, but this is exactly how all of our Nor-cal gatherings have happened. Typically, I started as the farthest north, headed south, and picked up other members along the way like a friggin snow plow. it has worked flawlessly every time.

Granted, a "national cruise" is alot more complicated...but man...say the word, and I'm ON MY WAY!!!

anyone?


EDIT: there's more thought. We could perhaps offer some rewards/awards for those that travelled the most miles. "the big 1k award" or something.

Even more, I dont know if anyone has any ties with certain autochains, but if an event like this ever got "spoonsored" by say FPN, or whatever, those dealerships that were interested in the publicity, could offer "support vehicles"...you know, an expedition with a flatbed trailer for those unfortunate casualties....


man...my brain is starting to smoke.

anyway...this could potentially reach the national spotlight.

Lincolns across America
The Mark VIII power tour
Lincolns of NATIONAL Distinction

help me out here folks....this is my dream.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I was actually waiting for you to bring some fresh ideas.
How far are your folks willing to travel ? I won't go farther than 1k, it's just too tough with the modded car ... are you willing to go that far ? The cruise would be nice, but it's usually easier to join and support another big event already in the making. I know it sounds like someone else is doing the work, but we have to face it, our community is rather small.

I am a strong Mark VIII power tour supporter starting today !!!

edit: now I'm gonna go and stare at the map ...

and let's see those membership numbers.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I can commit to 1k miles as well. Once underway, I am sure I'd be able to handle more.

I totally agree how much easier it is to get everyone to just show up to an event...trust me...the organizing is the work...the rest is just driving and washing!

However, I enjoy the driving the most. I love meeting all you folks, swapping stories, and shaking the hands of those that have made this all worth while...but organizing something this big is alot more than a few PM's/emails and cell-phone calls.

not to mention the amount of notice I would need to get time off work, and get the car up to snuff.

Besides, no one wants to drive across the desert in the summer.

Jeremi, I would never expect anyone to drive a "barely boosted" car more than 500 miles, let alone 1000.

Hell, by the time I get to Vegas, with a few stops for food/gas/stretching, 12 hours has been used up. I'd probably make it to Arizona...that means I wouldnt meet half of you...but it would be really cool to start a log book, and have everyone sign it...having it start in San Fran, and end up in NY or NJ....that would be something really cool, you know? Or have a vile filled with pacific ocean water or sand, and have someone pour it out in Florida, or Mass/R.I.

yea...I've been thinking about this for quite some time.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

The World Ford Challenge in St. Louis was great, but it was only two weeks before Carlisle, so only a few people showed up: Sharon (Trixie), Jay (Jayello), Keith Brown (Stpro), and me. Oh, and a guy that I passed on the way down in a gold first gen with HIDs and ground effects, whose name I forgot unfortunately. Keith got quite a few runs on the track, and the rest of us all came home with trophies from the car show.

http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/dcboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=100595

Gotta admit that there weren't too many cars in our class though (still, my car kicked ass regardless }(). It'd be great to have some more competition this time around.

Honestly, I'd like to go to Carlisle, but I'm just not up for the drive.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I can do about a 1200-1300 mile round trip. Any more than that and you almost need to take a whole week, and i don't think there are a lot of people that can take a whole week off for a meet.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

Wow, a Mark VIII Power Tour across America!

THAT would be the ultimate IMHO. I would certainly be interested in participating. Excellent idea, just excellent.

I think I read once of a similar past event for the Mark VII on another board. Does anyone have any experience in setting something up like this?

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I say get Stanley to do it. He's got contacts all over the place, and loves this sort of thing.

hey news man...you interested???

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

If the timing is right I can make it to a St. Louis event. My wife has family there. Not sure if the family would like driving in the mark that far. We have taken the escape in the past and it wasn't that bad. I can make it from upstate NY to St. Louis in 17 hours straight. Maybe fly them out and I'll drive or just leave them home, but I can do a St. Louis meet. Cross Country would be great, but work starts to get busy when it warms up (people drink more beer). I could probably meet up somewhere like 8hrs west of me if it happens.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

Can someone with Admin status punch in the Carlisle, FFW and WFC dates in the Calendar function? This would be a start.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

Count me in if the road show rolls through metro Atlanta. We have the Atlanta dragway located in Commerce, GA - http://www.atlantadragway.com/ that is a great venue for a gathering of Mark's. They have the Southern Super Heavy Shootout 5 tentative scheduled for November 5th, and for Viperfreak Joe... the Viper Club Meet on July 31 }(


Here is a pic of me at last years event SSHS4 being owned by Disney's Mark VII:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_img_a/723493_7_full.jpg

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

Atlanta is a fun town. Maybe i'll be able to make it to the SSHS this year.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

I'm also down for about 1k miles. But more than that is just a huge expense. Somewhere in the $200 category (gas wise)... too much $$ for a mk8 meet in my opinion.

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

All of this is very interesting... I’d of course welcome all of you to the Aug 20-21, 2005 10th Annual New England FFW Nationals, New England Dragway, Epping NH. What could be better then NH, live free or cheap...

I’m curious about the idea of a cross country trek. If someone actually drove completely across the United States, say from Cape Cod, Massachusetts (there are few places further east) to anywhere California, would they not of course have to drive back? (Rhetorical question :7 )

I kinda love the idea, but it sounds like a one-way party not to mention, a two week journey with all that stopping here and there.

Cinci was a blast last year, but to be honest anytime I get to hang out with a group of you fine ladies and gentlemen while simultaneously tying one on, it’s always a blast. The people have way more to do with the fun factor then the location. That being said, I don’t mind a long drive, but assuming I can afford the expense this summer, for me it’s gotta be a one time deal. I can generally take one long haul, so last year that meant I went to Cinci but not Carlisle (which is actually much closer to me). I’ve gone out to the big Chicago meet a few times and that for me is a little over 1K 1-way. Even once I’m in Chi town that still puts me only a little over 1/3 the way across the country.

You know I was just thinking, about the one year I must have had a lot of free time on my hands, I got in Carlisle, Port Clinton (which was crazy on numerous levels), and Chicago. Not counting the local New England meets, and I think Lincolns on Lincoln Street, in NYC (Long Island). That was a very MK8 year... seems like such a long time ago.

I think if something is planned well enough with enough notice given, some really crazy big meet is exactly what this club needs.

-J :7

www.bradleyreport.net

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

You know the other thing I was thinking... way back in the day, we used to plan all of our big regional meets so that they never overlaped, so someone could go to Carlisle, the Metro NY meet, New England, Ohio (Port Clinton ), and Chicago. Because if this each meet drew a large group of people.

-J :7

www.bradleyreport.net

RE: 2005 Mark VIII meets ???

Would it be a good idea to set up a poll, with a list of the interesting dates above? That would help us gauge the number of people willing/able to go to a particular meet.