2010 Southern California GTG ideas, We need input!
 

My brother (imdji) and I would like to put on another GTG this year. We would like your input. Where would you like to start from? Where would you like to go? What would you like to do once you get there. We may do another Speedway cruise (the last one was a great success), or the Nethercutt Museum tour again. Those of you that missed either one of those, you really missed out. Either way, we will try to advertise several months before the event so folks can plan ahead. We would also like to see some vintage cars join us as well. These events are a lot of fun, and we like to see a variety of cars join us in the fun. Please post your thoughts here, or email Dennis @ igroupinc@yahoo.com

I think the thing with the vintage cars/owners is that they might be hesitant to do the "drives". Maybe just plan a meet/greet at one destination? I like the drives but also realize that maybe some fintails, pontons, or ??? might be in attendance if there wasn't 4 plus hours of driving. I'd love to see a bunch of the older vintage cars personally.

How about something south of LA but north of SD? Or East of both? Maybe joshua tree, temecula, or cleveland national?

If I remember, there is a large car show in Temecula once a year, and maybe we can participate in that as a group. just need to find out when and who to talk to.

There are five recommended core brand elements to keep in focus when planning a MB event of any type:

a. Contemporary
b. Quality
c. Inclusive
d. Expertise
e. Fun

Brainstorm on how to implement any or all of those core elements, and you'll be on the right track to a successful GTG.

We have put on several GTGs in the past, and have a pretty good idea about all of those elements (just ask any of the former attendees). We could just say we are going to a certain place at a certain time and date without any input from the forum members, but we just want to get some ideas about where some folks would like to go and what they would like to see at an event like this.

How about a trip to the Mercedes Benz Classic Center in Irvine. They are normally closed on Saturdays, but are open by appointment? Then again the Speedway was a great time!

I did some poking around and the only thing I found was the Temecula "Rod Run", which is strictly a hot rodder thing for pre 1974 and earlier cars. Sounds fun, but not sure that its a good idea for our group.

We did that early last year. They opened the doors for us and let us snoop around. I can't go back there without sufficient funds needed to purchase windlace for four w123 wagon doors though.... :o

Another road trip would be a trip on SR 74 from I-5 to Lake Elsinore (there a few wineries there), or the Palms to Pines section east of Hemet to Mountain Center then down the switchbacks to Palm Desert?

I have not done either, but they both sound like they would be best done in Spring.

San Diego GTG
 

How about Stone Brewery in Escondido for a GTG. I'm sort of in agreement with the comment above about the owners of the older cars (Finnies, 113's) not wanting to do the long drives all over the place. Or maybe get a large detail shop like Lloyd's in Carlsbad to do a seminar. (I don't know, just throwing it out there).

Michael

91 R129
04 W203
70 W113
70 108 Limo
70 108 SEL

Meguiar's in Irvine also does detail seminars for car clubs/groups, but Lloyd's in Carsbad would great, too!

That sounds wonderful to me. I am the "long distance" attendee from Grass Valley (up north, towards Reno) and I have always enjoyed meeting you guys and going on the drives that were set up on here.

I would be willing to wait for spring - as ROLLGUY needs time to set them up, and even pre drives the routes !!! so his are the best organised Drives, I have been lucky enough to experience,
and they have given me the most wonderful appreciation of the Southern California area a Nor Cal personsuch as me, could ever hope to get.

The people who attend - are great,
too!!! Many of the attendees I have already met!!!

Toyota Speedway in Irwindale was the last one, and I had a blast!!!

So. Cal GTG
 

Meguiar's would be good. Maybe meet early on a Saturday morning in N. County SD. Drive up to Cars & Coffee in Irvine, then over to Meguiar's. And for those that don't want to get up early can just meet up at Meguiar's. Maybe lunch in Newport, Irvine, Costa Mesta afterword.

Just throwing it out there.

Any get together would be great. Would love to get some older cars to attend.

Gathering Of The Faithful
 

Sounds like fun to me .

I'm in the L.A.Metro area and never seem to hear of anything here , everything is always South of us .

I don't mind driving my oldies that's what they're made for . if you don't like driving your Fintail , you need to sell it .

I drove my 300CD on the last TT Run and I routinely put my 1959 Metropolitan Nash through its paces far & wide .

Okay Rollguy, What do you think? Are thinking of doing this soon? Do you like any of these ideas?

M

Actually I like them all. If I had my "druthers", I would do one a month until I have been everywhere, and done everything. We all know that that is not possible. My brother (IMDJI) talked about going to the Peterson Museum, or maybe the Justice Brothers Museum and then to Irwindale Speedway again. Actually, he is the real organizer. He did the Route 66 and Speedway Cruise all by himself (including the pre-run of both ends), so he is the expert IMO. I just want to get some ideas to throw at him so he can plan a great run (with or without my help).

GTG
 

Okay, that being said, how about a first unofficial get together here in SD N. County. More of a meet and greet so that folks can get to know each other before doing a run in the future. Truth be told, I would love to have a monthly thing for folks with older cars to get together in the N. County. (N. County seems to get treated like the red headed step-child and it seems like a good time to put an end to this). So how about a Coffee & Donuts meet someplace on Saturday the 27 of Feb? Is that enought time to let folks out there know?

Michael

I personally have other plans that day, but you should start another thread and make it happen. I think just a meet and greet would be a good thing.

Rollguy,
Thanks for getting things started. I think your idea of a monthly GTG drive is awesome! Sorry to hear that you can't make the 27th. For sure just a date, not set in stone. Maybe March 6,7,13,14 would work for you. I'm sure everybody would love to see your veggie Benz's. Per your request, I will start another post to get something started for the end of the month or first weekend in March for a meet and greet. (I think it would be a good thing as well)
Please count me in for whatever event you get going.

Michael

Count me In
 

Sound like fun again.

Can't wait to see Jim B put another 1,000 miles on his 560.

Buzz

Me too! and nice to hear from you again Buzz!

Hey everybody. I never check this section. I almost
always am in the diesel section only. My bad.

I will keep checking back here. I live in Palmdale / Antelope Valley / High Desert.

Willing to drive as far as Temecula / North San Diego.

I like the South of L. A. , north of S. D. idea.

Yeah , Me Too !
 

I don't have the time I'd like to spend here so I usually head straight for the Diesel Discussion Forums .

There is a GTG tomorrow (Saturday) headed up by Michael C. at: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/events-gatherings/274273-n-county-gtg-2-a.html

Keep looking for more info on the No. County GTG's in the events section.

The most recent GTG's have been open to any MB. The first one I went to was only for Diesels (mostly 123's), but the ones after were open to all. My brother and I have put on a few, and I/we believe that they should not be for Diesels only. I think they are more fun when there is a wide variety of 'Benzs there. I would like to see more newer and older cars at the GTG's.

South of LA and North of SD sounds like Orange County :)

My 72 gets 15mpg at best but I'm willing to show her off with all her daily driver blemishes, if available.

There's a place called "Beach Burger" on Beach Blvd in Huntington Beach. They have certain days where VW's gather, sportbikes, hotrods, ect. The menu has a good variety and it's location is very nice because the PCH around here is very nice (especially coming from South OC up to HB).

There's also
http://www.friscos.com/
(City of Industry Waitresses are usually cute and between 18-22 years old :) )

Downey, CA has a few classic car get-together/car show/ diner type events (weekly) but its been a while and getting to / from there is a bit of a pain (without the young, cute, short skirt wearing waitresses to make it worthwhile)

Places To Eat
 

I'd love it if you could assemble one post with these and other places to drive to , I'll copy it and print it out , Spring has sprung so it's that time again...

Agreed , open events tend to be more fun right until the high dollar newer cars that don't ever drive anywhere begin to show up . that always kills off any event .

Hey, if you're gonna show up with your 4.5, then I'll bring mine...would love to show off "The Red Baron".:D

Also

Cars and Coffee in Irvine every sat EARLY am

Huntington Beach has a couple of meets every sat EARLY am
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/carshow-donuts-huntington-beach.html

Cars & Coffee is always great! But be there by 6:30 or you won't find a place to park.

6:30 a.m.?

Good Lord, after a long week of getting up early in the morning for work, it's going to be a cold day in hell for me to get up that early on a Saturday to show my car. :eek:

Okay, BTT. I'm in.

I guess this is the so-Cal connection for get togethers. Anything planned for later this year? I see I missed the one in May in SD.

Now I'm subscribed, so will check back on this section of the forum.

We have another GTG in the works for late August, stay tuned......