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[65GT]

I'm happy to announce what could be a major new WBCCI annual event, starting in 2010, and your Unit, or unit members, are more than welcome to attend.

In mid-June I inquired with Pocono Raceway Management about holding a WBCCI Rally during their August 2010 Nascar Race weekend.

While in Madison, I received word back that the track was very receptive to having us there.  They have agreed to provide us with our own reserved parking area, in the infield, just east of their Turn 2.

Some features of the rally:

> True Wagon Wheel Parking
> Short walking distance to FREE Showers and 24 hour restrooms.
> Short walking distance to infield vendors which include both souvenirs, prepared food and supplies (ice+) vending.
> 3 or 4 Day Rally (Thu-Sun, or Fri-Sun) - by individual choice
> View all practice, qualifying, races from the infield, included in the price (no need to purchase grandstand tickets).
> Depending on the size of the group coming, we may be able to negotiate free pre-race pit paddock passes (very likely), group pit road/track tours, early (Wednesday) arrival, discounted grandstand tickets, etc.

This is a dry camping event, yet water will be available to us in the infield.  Generators are allowed, and we will designate a piece of the outer wheel for generator parking.  Here is a link to Pocono Speedway camping rules:

http://poconoraceway.com/camping_rules.asp

Pocono Raceway won't have their 2010 Nascar dates, likely until October of this year, so we don't know the actual dates for the August 2010 races.  As soon as Pocono gets their dates, I'll update those leaders/members that show any interest.

At a minimum we can fit 150 Airstreams into a three ring wagon wheel that will encompass the majority of the area set aside for us by Pocono Raceway.  If by chance we attract more member rigs than that, they'll give us even more space!

The spectacle of a wagon wheel formation of mostly shiny silver travel trailers in the infield, will likely draw attention from the media, and we'll be prepared with pre-race publicity releases, inviting any and all (media) to come on out, see us, and spend some time.

If you'd like to hear more about this brand new rally, as details develop, just write back and we'll keep you on distribution.  Feel free to add this as an official event for your unit in August 2010.  With so much to do on this race weekend, rally fees are expected to be just enough to cover group firewood for the weekend, determined by how many actually attend.  Depending on the size of the group, we may find some crazed members willing to cook breakfast for 100+, and maybe we can even make a fundraiser for charity out of that.

For comparative 2009 costs, were this race on our schedules for this year, costs from Pocono would be:

Thursday Arrival
$100/Airstream + $50 per person

Friday Arrival
$50/Airstream + $50 per person

Again, these fees include viewing all practice/qualifying/races from anywhere withiin the infield, and the amenities of showers, bathrooms, etc...

I created a little promo piece for the event, and the Wally Byam logo that appears on the satellite images, at the very end, show the exact location Pocono Raceway has set aside for us.  Vendors/Showers/Bathrooms are immediately to the left of that logo.

http://13panels.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/1008XX-WBCCI-Nascar-PhotoStory-Promo.wmv

If you're within driving distance, make sure that your unit is aware of this event.  I'll be sending a letter to all Region 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Region Leaders, and Unit Leaders sometime in August...  Consider this your SW sneak preview...

Indicating WILL ATTEND as of 7/18/09 :

2820
2759
6006

[RoyMac]

Hi Leo

This sounds like a great idea. Region 2 will help all we can.
Thanks for thinking of this great event.

Roy MacDonald
Region 2 President

[65GT]

Here's a little promo piece I put together for our newsletter.  For now it serves the purpose.  No real details (although where the WBCCI logo appears, that's our site), but enough to get folks aware that they should be looking for MORE information on this as time goes by...

[KerrBett]

Leo: This sounds like a blast!  We'll be watching for more info - its just a nice 1 day drive for most of us in Ontario.  Great idea.
Cheers,
Kerry #5417

[65GT]

What's really great is that Pocono management thought this was a pretty cool thing to do.  We've done a number of 'event' rallies at this point.  What gets us into unique locations is playing up on the history of Wally Byam Caravans.  Show these folks the historic wagon wheels, Airstreams in other countries, and you can see the eyebrows raise just a little bit.

The Pocono event should be a big one -- we'll see...

Stay tuned... 

[65GT]

Kerry,

In case I wasn't clear -- we're very happy to make this a JOINT rally for as many units that would like to come.  If you get it on your official 2010 unit calendar, and a few other units follow suit -- this could be a pretty big deal.  We've certainly got the real estate, we've got the facilities, and there's a whole lot going on at any track that's running a full schedule of NASCAR events for the weekend...

[65GT]

Gail and I have been to no fewer than half a dozen Pocono weekends.  Often staying in a hotel, sometimes just a really long day trip, just once camped outside turn 3, in the Airstream, next to the grandstands, but we've never stayed in the infield.

Well, if everything we already had going there wasn't enough, for this August race (not on our calendar) they've go TWO full days of concerts -- FREE to everyone in the infield!!

I've got an inquiry in to see if this is typical, annual, but if it is -- this rally, and this location, become a complete no-brainer for units in 2010.  This will be AWESOME!

"Billed as ‘The Music of the Mountains’, Pocono Raceway will play host to a weekend of Bluegrass prior to the August 2nd Pennsylvania 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. The two days of concerts, Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, will feature top artists – Ricky Skaggs, Steep Canyon Rangers, Charlie Sizemore Band, Dailey & Vincent, Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes, Blue Highway and SteelDrivers – and is free to infield campers attending the race."

Here, have a look:

http://poconoraceway.com/NEWS-2009_02_23.asp

and

http://www.yabutz.com/happeningz/

Wow!!

[KerrBett]

Leo: We are already working on another plan for that weekend, but we have time to see how we can shuffle things around - no contracts signed as yet but we have a verbal understanding.  If we can re-arrange things, then I think we could generate a lot of interest for a Unit caravan to a Pocono Race Weekend Rally.  Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Kerry

[65GT]

Just as soon as I can grab the real dates, we'll blanket all units/regions within a 500 mile radius and see how many are willing to put this on their official calendars.

I checked with Pocono.  This is their first year offering the two day (starts at 6pm each night) FREE concerts.  They're going to see how it goes, and if received well, they'll look at it for next year.  I think it's one heck of a way to fill an infield!  It's an excellent way to promote a track/race.

Oh, I also found out the SPEED stage is "very close" to where we'll be.  SPEED TV runs a number of live shows from that stage.  Nascar Live, Trackside, Nascar Now, Nascar Smarts, a pretty full weekend of broadcasting.  Not sure if we're parked  close enough to get some background TV time, but Wally's could certainly overwhelm that audience, maybe with club banners and flags.  Maybe there's a contest to be had there too?  

I can rig a MetroNY flag onto a 5' wide T-bar and get it on TV.  How about you?  

I think that other thing the Ontario Unit is looking at would be much better in September, don't you?  

Wagon wheel parking, 2 nights of concerts, a full 3 days of Nascar, what's not to love?  

[KerrBett]

September?  No, we are thinking July, so that is what we are working on now to shift our Unit event.  The first weekend in August is a long weekend in Ontario, so many people will have time to travel to a race weekend.  We have a banner and flags that we use at rallies (1st place at the July 4 parade at Madison) so we can be visual when needed.  This sounds better all the time!

Kerry

[65GT]

Just did a little mock-up for the race parking...  If we actually get 102 Airstreams I may have to readjust that inner circle -- 108' across might be a little tight... 

Oh, so you're just looking at Airstreams laid out in the parking area, and I believe it is to scale.  That access road should be 30' wide, and the track (the road at the back of the photo) should be 60' wide.  Still needs confirmation with the track, waiting on it now, and then I can verify.  All of those Airstreams are 30' models...

Of course there is nothing in the plans that says we have to have 102 Airstreams.  This rally is fully scaleable and profitable no matter if we have 20 Airstreams (I think we'll have that in the 1st week of registration) or 400 Airstreams.  Modifying the layout for any number of Airstreams takes about 20 minutes max...

Click on the pic to enlarge, the text to download...


http://savewally.org/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1506.0;attach=1732;image

[65GT]

I managed to put this one together just prior to the Super Bowl, just didn't have time to get back to here to put it up...