ITS ALIVE...., here ya go john :) Options

[VegasRacer]

Anybody out there? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/poke.gif)

[WRX914]

yup! I'm here John...

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

[ThinAir]

I'm still here. I've had quite a bit on my plate lately and haven't had any chance to try to put together a real plan to propose to the group. I'm sorry to have left the rest of you hanging like this.

I'm in Phoenix every third weekend to see family because my father-in-law is under hospice care. We thought we were going to lose him after the last few days, but he's rallied again.

Between his situation and some work insanity it has made it hard to concentrate on figuring out something to propose or go get out and scout anything. I'll try to put something together this week.

[9magazine]

If we go thru Gallup (I used to live there), there are some pretty good back roads for driving. But its 3 hours east of Flagstaff.

I would still think a small to mid size route of driving then head to a meeting place for fun, door give-a-ways, tech, car show etc. Time to talk to people!

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

[9magazine]

Something that just crossed my mind... am sure the magazine would love to sponsor say a Saturday night social hour! Bring lots adult kool-aid and kiddie drinks for everyone.

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

[VegasRacer]

I was talking to a guy at work today who told be about a great trip he had taken recently. He said the highlight was the drive into Jerome.

[9magazine]

What is the status of this event?

Brian Minson
9 magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

[ThinAir]

Take a look here: Proposal for this year

At this point I'm leaning towards April 29 & 30.

[VegasRacer]

If we are going to make this happen, we need to do it NOW! We are running out of time. There are several of us who are willing to help, but we need a local guy (that means you Ernie) to take the lead.

We seem to be in agreement for the most part. We just need to work out enough of the details so we can go public and give people a chance to make plans.

April 29 - 30 or May 6 - 7. I don't care. Pick a weekend.
Start in Flagstaff on Saturday morning.
(we need to find a motel for out of town travelers on Friday night)
Saturday = FUN
Saturday night motel in Prescott.
I did some research and recommend Forest Villas Hotel, 3645 Lee Circle, Prescott 86301
Sunday just a half day of activities before the long drive home.

[VegasRacer]

I started a poll in The Garage regarding the date for this event. The results seem clear. May 6 - 7 works better for more people. I think the response has been positive enough to show that the Route 66 Classic will be a success. Let's go forward and make it happen.

There are several hotels on West Route 66 in Flagstaff. I think that would be a good place for Friday night. They are just down the street from the Historic District.

Can we find a place for breakfast (at 9:14 AM) that is convenient for the people that are joining the party on Saturday morning? I hope there will be a group caravan up from Phoenix.

The drive on Hwy 89 is planned for Saturday. A good look at a detailed map will help us plan our stops along the way. Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome. I am sure there is more to see than we can cram into 1 day.

We also need to block off a few rooms at a hotel in Prescott. Dinner reservations might not be a bad idea if we are going to have a group of 10 - 15 (or more).

The plans for Sunday are not as refined. A drive to Congress and a picnic lunch in Yarnell, and then home.

Who is with me on this?

[ThinAir]

I'm in.

I'll make some inquiries in Flagstaff to arrange for Saturday breakfast and to identify a hotel. I'll ask on the AZ 914 email list if anyone has any recommendations for hotels & restaurants in Prescott for Saturday evening. As well as places that might be able to handle putting together Saturday lunch for us.

I know we've talked about the idea of awards, and maybe we can do something like farthest drive or "Spirit of the West" (for having the guts to come or doing your 914 in a very individual way, or some other show of individualness), but I'm not the one to put that together and unless we've got someone who can take that on I'd rather we just forget it and look to next year.

I'm out of town this weekend to Phoenix so nothing will happen until next week, but I'll make it happen as fast as I can. I've got some ideas on hotel & breakfast places.

[VegasRacer]

I think we really need to get most of the details nailed down and go public with an 'official' thread sometime this week.

Keith - are you still willing to do the shirts?

I liked the non-traditional / fun awards classes we had at the RRC. Does anybody have the tools and talent to make something for us? Steve?

[VegasRacer]

** EXECUTIVE DECISSION **
The 2006 Route 66 will happen on May 6 - 7.
I will make a public 'official' post on Thurs or Friday.
I am begging for your input. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/pray.gif) Please.

The basic format and route are posted above.
Here is my proposal for some of the other details.
I spoke with some Flag natives today and got some good suggestions.

Out of town participants arrive in Flagstaff on Friday May 5, 2006. My recommendations for a host hotel are on Route 66 in the Historic Downtown area, near the Train Station. There are also 3 Breweries within walking distance. The best is the Beaver Street Brewery. There is a Days Inn or a Motel 8 a few blocks up for about $60. My source from the area suggested the Monte Vista Hotel. It is a historic hotel in the heart of the action. A few of the on-line reviews complained about the noise from the bar on the main floor that is open until 2 AM. I have not been able to check on rates or availability.

My friends from Flagstaff said that The Little America would be a nice place for our group to have our 9:14 AM breakfast and start our cruise. They agreed that our planned route of Sedona - Jerome - Prescott is an excellent drive.
We can work out the specifics of where we might want to stop along our way.
Last year nobody wanted to eat lunch after a big breakfast.
An ice cream cone snack was enough to hold us until dinner.

I suggested a motel in Prescott a few post above. I will check again to see if I can find a better option. Any ideas are welcome. The same for dinner on Saturday night.

Sunday is a cruise to Yarnell and Congress.
A picnic lunch sounds like a good idea.
After lunch everybody will head home.

I would like to have some sort of awards classes.

I think we still have time to do shirts also.

Speak now or forever hold your peace.
More input would be greatly appreciated.
Please help plan this fun 914 event.

[ThinAir]

Flagstaff Hotel - The Monte Vista's cheap rooms are $65 for a room with a shared bathroom, $75 with private bathroom (Monte Visa Hotel Rate Page) Another similar option is The Historic Weatherford Hotel. I stopped by the Weatherford this afternoon and just barely missed the hotel reservation person so I'm going to call tomorrow to find out about availability. If the criteria is to be within walking distance of the downtown bars, then either will work, but I personally favor the Weatherford. The one difference between the two is that the Weatherford does not have TV or phone in the rooms, but these rates are for rooms with either private or shared bath (depending upon availability) whereas the MV is for shared bathroom at the same price. One advantage to the Weatherford is that it is 1/2 block from the quilt shop where my wife works. I could probably make arrangements with the owner for overnight 914 parking and having them all in one place would make it easier for Flagstaff's finest to keep an eye on our rides. BTW, I love Beaver Street Brewery and eat there often.

Prescott Hotel - I checked the web site for Forest Villas Hotel and it looks pretty good. I don't know hotels in Prescott very well, but I knew they had a Holiday Inn Express (which has the advantage of included continental breakfast). According to their web site the rate is about $120! - although they also say they have group rates so I'm going to call tomorrow and see what they can do. The Comfort Inn has similar rates to Forest Villas and also has continental breakfast included.

Saturday Breakfast - I can't say that I'm fond of Little America. Expensive and stuffy. I'll have info on a more down-home alternative tomorrow.

Sunday Lunch - Gregg Robbins emailed me about the picnic area near Yarnell not being very good and suggested that we eat in Congress. When I was in Phoenix this weekend I ran into someone from Congress, who said there are no good eating places in Congress. He said lots of bikers like to do the round trip on Yarnell hill and they all seem to stop at Bufford's Buzzard Roost Cafe in Yarnell. He highly recommended it. My feeling is that we do lunch after there after the run to Congress & back.

Awards & such - I emailed the Arizona 914 Yahoo group asking for ideas on hotels, dinner places and asking for volunteers to work on some kind of awards. Other than Gregg's response, I got zip. Unless we just go visit the 99cent store and find some goofy things to use for awards, I don't see me getting awards together. I don't know where we should go with that. I'm going to ask tomorrow about Saturday night restaurant ideas when I talk with the Prescott hotels. I sure wish we knew someone who knew Prescott better!

This post has been edited by ThinAir914: Mar 22 2006, 11:20 PM

[ThinAir]

The Poll for R66Classic showed 12 people that will likely come. I'm sure we won't really know without some kind of registration. Is anyone set up with PayPal to receive funds for registration?

If we do advanced regsitration with a registration fee I would think that we would look to include Saturday dinner and perhaps Sunday lunch in the package. I would guess that shirts would be an individual expense just like hotel arrangements.

[VegasRacer]

Thanks for the reply Ernie. It is good to have your local input. The Weatherford would be great if we can get reservations. I don't think they have very many rooms. Walking distance to the Beaver Brewery is not a priority. Somewhere close to The Historic Disctict and Route 66 is good enough. Another concern is that I expect Joe Sharp will be bringing the Neverland Express. I want to be sure we stay at a place that has room for him to park.

I have no clue about another option for a breakfast place on Saturday. Expensive and stuffy is not our style. I'll be thrilled if you can come up with something half as good as last year.

My suggestion for the Forest Villas in Prescott was just a shot in the dark. I only have the internet for information. Any leads you can get from locals is much better. A free continental breakfast is a good thing.

We still need to find a place for dinner in Prescott for Saturday night.

Bufford's Buzzard Roost Cafe sounds perfect for lunch on Sunday.

T-shirts I can handle. I am not an awards guy. Maybe we can get LvSteveH to create some. I will start a separate planning thread to bounce around some ideas for classes and trophys.

I had dismissed the idea of a registration fee. It is a bit of a PITA to collect plus there is always a last minute add on or cancellation. I thought since we are running late with the planning it might be easier to have the event 'pay as you go'. I think we will be a small enough group that this should not be a problem. My guess is we will have at least 10, probably 15, and maybe 20 people.

[VegasRacer]

Ernie (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/poke.gif)
If we are going to have this event we need to make our choices and go public.
People need time to make plans. PLEASE! We need to do this NOW!

[9magazine]

Hey guys! I can do the awards if you want. I will call around and see if we can get some prices. The magazine will sponsor the awards.

Also I would be willing to donate some of our show bags, cd-roms and is Sean Lee can get the new 9 magazines shirts ready I will bring those as well for everyone.

Email me directly guys or call me on my cell 928-221-1052. We have to take the daughter back to school this weekend so I will be away from my computer.

Brian Minson
9 magazine

PS: our magazine car won't be ready in time (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) Might have to bring the ole 944 unless someone wants to rent their car and get it on the cover of a future issue HINT HINT. LOL

[VegasRacer]

Excellent Brian. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) Thanks.

[ThinAir]

Flagstaff Hotel - Parking for Joe means that anything downtown is out. I've found an EconoLodge at 914 S. Milton which is a bit of a walk, but still within walking distance of downtown. The rate is $54.95 per room for Friday night and they have plenty of availability. Several other places that I contacted in the same area were sold out. I think this would work well.

Prescott Hotel - Colony Inn This is a somewhat older hotel, but not old (as in historic). I've been by it many times and it always seems clean. Prices can't be beat. Group rates are $49 for King and $59 for 2-Doubles. It's right next to the local Village Inn restaurant and just a couple of miles from downtown Prescott. FYI, there is also a biker group staying there at the same time. I figure this is a pretty good endorsement of the place. I need to call them back and confirm that we'll be staying there. They have us down as "Porsche 914 Group".

I need to call back and confirm if we want this. A check of most of the other possibilities shows they are sold out or they don't answer their phone.

Saturday breakfast in Flagstaff - There are two "Route 66 diner" type restaurants here that I've contacted. My preferred one is can't handle us because they have too many regulars and Saturday morning is packed. My second choice is "Mike & Rhonda's" aka "The Place". It doesn't have quite the charm, but it's good basic diner fare with good prices. I've not been able to match up with the contact to confirm that they can handle us, but the initial inquiry said yes so I think it's safe to assume we can do it. This is the place that the local car club (Flagstaff Cruisers) calls their own and they have a whole wall of their pictures. I think it will do well.

I still don't know about Saturday night restaurant in Prescott. A Search of Online Yellow Pages shows lots of possibilities and I'm sure we can come up with something. I don't think we need to wait for this before making an announcement.

Work has turned into a madhouse this week so it's taken me longer than expected to be able to contact folks. My granddaughter is due to be born on Monday (if not before then) so I don't know for sure what my schedule will be. I'll try tomorrow morning to contact "The Place" about Saturday breakfast. If Ellie doesn't arrive before Sunday I'll be heading for Phoenix on Sunday and then probably be there all week, but I'll be checking in here and will have my cell on (928-853-7754).

This post has been edited by ThinAir914: Mar 24 2006, 04:50 PM