What's your feeling with trying to start up a National Prius Meet this year? Maybe August? My initial stab is a meeting somewhere centrally in the US, to minimize the distance from both coasts. Have it late summer... I used to do these way back when I owned a 1975 Bricklin SV1. Typically you have: - a Prius Concours D'Elegance - trophies for say, Best Series 1 prius, Best Series II, Best Paint, Best Original, Best Modified - an awards banquet - Swap meet - Vendor Displays - Maybe someone from Toyota?? - Birds of a Feather discussions - problems, fixes. - Lots of fun, friends, food and PRIUSES!! May the threading & Brainstorming begin!!
Hey dbarry, I had thought of this, too! I think it would be a fun time! I was actually thinking it would be way cool to have at least one Prius owner from each state (and province). Everyone would rally to a point in the Midwest. It would also be pretty noteworthy, because maybe this hasn't been done before. And, could even be some good PR for the car. It may help to ask what time of year works best. My guess is early or late summer (before or after people's summer vacations). Cheers, -bob
I talked with some folks who do loads of shows - they suggested East - Hershey, PA East - Atlantic City, NJ East - Poconos, PA Central - Paducah Ky - this is the west side of the state bordering IL. Central - New Orleans (although HOT in August) Central - Tunica, MS (had to look this up, oddly enough 14 large resort casinos just South of Memphis) West - Vegas West - Lake Tahoe, Reno West - SanFrancisco They've seen a lot of clubs hold meets at Casino Resorts, as the rooms are good, usually nice convention rooms, low prices. Also important is having "other activities" for family members. Don
I was thinking of this idea for a while. Then i called myself nuts and didn't post. I'm glad you did. Crazy guy. lol. i love it. August should be good for me. I would attend. Imagine the huge caravans of Prius going to this event. There could possibly be a very large number turn out. It could also be very small.
V8, A long line would be cool!! The Concours has always been my favorite.. all the cars lined up outside, everyone having a good time, all the Hotel folks wondering where all their clean towels went...
School starts Aug 24 for our HS junior and we will be gone on vacation for most of the rest of the summer. May be next year. Lisa
New Orleans is always a good spot because it gives Prius owners another reason to actually go, you know? You pick a random city or town nobody's heard of and it makes it harder to convince people to go. Of course, putting the event in the center of the US always runs the risk of isolating the coasts...New Orleans is a three day drive from LA, and while I would make that particular drive (my family being in New Orleans), the incentive for making that drive certainly isn't as strong for a city most people don't know of. Following the familiar city concept, I think Vegas and San Francisco are good bets, since people think of Vegas as fun and San Francisco as the city everyone seems to love. Lake Tahoe seems like it might be a bit more expensive (this is just a guess) and not quite exciting enough for most people who consider it a place pretty much for skiing.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LeVautRien\";p=\"68952)</div> So... does this mean that if we go to New Orleans we have a place to stay? lol
Don - Great idea, and it's actually one that I've had in mind recently. Depending on geographic participation, my thoughts were to possibly have 2 - one East Coast and one West Coast since #1 in Prius sales is California and #2 is Virginia. But if we get enough folks to say they would meet up somewhere collectively, that would be even better. Or maybe we could start a "tour" and have the National Meet change locations (regions) each year? I guess it will all depend on what the general consensus is - I'm in for wherever it is. However, this won't be the first National PriusChat meetup - that was in Seattle last March Right bookrats, Bob Allen, and seasalsa?
Threw it up as a Global Announcement so that the whole site sees this thread. I'll leave it as an Announcement for a few days.
Hi All, I have been having the same thought. We must all be sharing a brain cell. I would personally vote for Vegas or San Francisco but would lean stronger for Vegas. Hotels are cheap and plentiful (it would be off season there), lots to do for the family (although why they would want to do anything besides gaze starry-eyed at a sea of Prii is beyond me), closer to home for me. I understand that for you folks out in the mid-west and on the east coast this might not be the best locale but just about everybody likes Vegas! On the down side it is hotter than halifax there in August and it might not be convenient for some people. Therefore I think the idea of having two meets, maybe even held on the same weekend in opposite ends of the country might be the best solution. Oh, and to add to the awards suggested perhaps an award for the farthest traveled to get to the meet; for the best mileage averaged by the last reading on the MFD at the time of arrival; earliest purchased classic (check registrations for date) and newest car to attend. The meet is a great idea and I think if you all decide to do it we should definately get in touch with Toyota and also with some local dealerships to see if they want to fork over some swag. After all, if we are doing the advertising for them the least they could do is pop loose with some key chains or the like . Let me know if there is any way that I can help to get this idea off the ground. Take care, Tisza
Great idea! My first thought was that I'd be willing to drive wherever (for the shear pleasure of driving my new baby!), but in reality, scheduling would probably prevent me from going to the west coast. I would vote for either mid-America or, even better, one on the east coast and one on the west. Virginia was suggested for the east--that would be awesome!
Colorado gives the canadians a shot at attending. Who wouldn't want to cruise to the mountains in August?(spoken like a true Texan)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ray Moore\";p=\"69017)</div> I like the Colorado idea...it's a (long) 1 day trip for me, it would be relatively cool, we could pick an area where hotels would be available for the whimps and camping would be nearby for 'real men'!! :wink: It would be a huge haul for East coast, and a pretty tough trip for west coast, but a gorgeous place with a large variety of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from. And a chance to try out 85 octane gas and a trip up I-70 to the Eisenhower tunnel to see just how well the Prius does on that steep climb--a good opportunity for those who haven't see their battery down to 1 pink bar or up to 8 greens!
The Eisenhower tunnel is no problem, did a weekend trip to Colorado last fall. A little snow, a lot of elevation change! I'd sure volunteer my fine city and state for a Nat'l meet-up. Frank was right-on: Harleys and Prii in Sturgis! What a combo. Anyways SD is pretty much middle of the country (driven to both coasts 2.5 days either way). We have great roads thru the Black Hills (that's why the Harleys come every summer). Lots to do and see here. I'd drive a long way somewhere else, to meet everyone. It's just cool to think of all those Prii, not making a sound as we cruise downtown.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finman\";p=\"69055)</div> I'm just imagining the contrast, first the parade of Harley's rumbling through the streets, scaring children and old ladies, breaking windows and sending grown men cowering behind doors. Then the parade of Prii all in stealth mode silently rolling down the street while the rumble of the Harleys still rings in the spectators' ears! 8)
I would love to attend something. The best part is that I won't need to use a map to get there! For the Chicagoland group, I created a map showing the location of each member (no names, just dots) to help find centralized locations for meet-ups. I would be interested in seeing a plot of the US distribution. I suspect that the largest nuymber would be on the West Coast. But don't count on me to pick through the 86-page member list plotting all the US locations.
