2007 BerettaFest Proposals

[quad4berettagtz]

Ok folks,

We have a lot to cover in the coming months, and I am glad to announce the opening of the 2007 proposals.  Official proposals will be accepted from now through Friday, Oct. 13th.  This should be ample time for everyone to get their proposals submitted.  From what I've heard, some people have been doing their homework early anyway   Remember that proposals that are to be submitted must follow the official rules:

Official Bfest '07 Proposal Rules

For your proposal to be officially accepted (by myself and/or other committee
members) you need to abide by a few ground rules to keep this as simple as
possible for everyone involved. Plus- the better organized the proposal, the
better chance it has to win!

1. All proposals MUST be posted at minimum to the mailing list. We have always
kept official things on the list, enough said.

2. Your proposal needs to have backround info done on hotels in the area. Are
there many to choose from? What is the price range? You could go a step
further and get group price rates, scout out parking, and if the neighborhood is
nice. YOU MUST NOT GIVE OUT SPECIFIC HOTEL INFO TO THE LIST. Keep your info
"generic" so that the hotel identity can be kept confidential.

3. Activities: Group- look for things that we could tour as a group. ÂÂÂ
Is there a car plant nearby? Big accesory shop or performace parts shop (Comp
Cams, Extrude Hone)?? Or just something that a variety of people will enjoy... keep the
options open!
Free time- look for things more specific that people could
do in free time. Is there a touristy area that would be fun to visit? Theme
parks? Zoo? It is a good idea to keep this broad as well.

4. Optional Racing: Since our group is about 50/50 on drag racing, it is still a
worthwhile activity to have mapped out. Look into tracks, prices, drive time,
etc. Another thing to look at is other racing/driving opportunities. In past
Bfests we have road rallied, and autocrossed as well. Autocrossing is a great
alternative to drag racing. Look into possible autox groups that would run
events and talk to the organizers... perhaps we could get an event set up for
our weekend.

5. Local help: It is going to be a REQUIREMENT this year that your area has
local planners willing to help. I would hope that if you are proposing a site
that you would be the obvious choice for this... just don't shout out a place
if you aren't willing to back it up.

6. Tenative Schedule: put together a tenative schedule based on the usual
thursday through sat/sun format we have been running for the last few years.


Once again we will be accepting proposals until Oct 13th!  I am truly excited to get this years Bfest planning underway, and I can't wait to see the sites proposed this year.  I am sure 2007 will be a great Bfest with even more fun than ever!  Good luck to everyone, and happy proposing! ÂÂÂ

[cramez]

Sounds like I need to get working on Rockford  

To anyone else who may be working on a proposal, I would suggest keeping this in mind:

Drinking or not, we like to mingle and hang out in the parking lot around the cars.  If you have a hotel in mind, speak to a manager about their attitudes on this so we can have clear rules concerning what the hotel will allow us to do.

[irelynx]

(cramez @ Sep. 20 2006,21:48)Q
U
O
T
EIf you have a hotel in mind, speak to a manager about their attitudes on this so we can have clear rules concerning what the hotel will allow us to do.
Also, to add to that...

Keep in mind to check on the hotel's ability to keep the rooms in a block. This keeps most of the group from disturbing/waking other hotel customers, since we would be surrounded by our own group members.

One last thing, make sure the hotel has ample parking for us in addition to their normal customer flow. Remember that there could be anywhere from 30-60 berettas needing a parking spot.

(edit for personal opinion) It's a good idea to have a gap between the time event check-in ends, and the first activity begins. It gives people (latecomers/procrastinators) time to go grab some food or unpack before the group leaves to go to the first activity.

When writing a proposal, try to include estimated drive times to activities. Sometimes travel times from the hotel might play a factor in who gets the vote when the voter is having trouble deciding between their top favorite proposals.  

If anyone needs a proposal to reference, I would suggest taking a look at the 2005 Columbus, Ohio proposal & itinerary. Do a search on bnet and/or the bfest yahoo group & you'll find it.

[scannerman]

Bfest Proposal 2007

Dayton, Ohio

Dayton Ohio is located about 60 miles west of Columbus and about 60 miles north of Cincinnati Ohio.  The area that I’m looking to be around has 6 different hotels all around $80 to $90 a night for normal rates and I’m sure we could get group rates.  All with free parking and I’ll find the one with the most parking available.  We might even be able to get one with our own lot.    There is about any fast food restaurant and any nice restaurant that you could want within 5 miles of the area.  Everything is very easy to find and located just off the highway.   There are lots of attractions in the city with huge club and bar areas.  

Dayton is a city in southwestern Ohio, United States with a population of 166,179 (2000). It is the county seat and largest city of Montgomery County. The Greater Dayton area or Dayton metropolitan area encompasses a number of contiguous communities outside Dayton city proper, including Vandalia, Trotwood, Kettering, Centerville, Beavercreek, West Carrollton, Huber Heights, Troy, and Miamisburg, with a population of 848,153 (2000). Dayton is situated within the Miami Valley region of Ohio, just north of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.

Dayton plays host to significant industrial, aerospace, and technological/engineering research activity and is known for the many technical innovations and inventions developed there. The city was the home of the Wright Brothers, poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, and entrepreneur John H. Patterson. Dayton is nicknamed the Gem City, and is also sometimes referred to as the "Birthplace of Aviation." The Dayton area is home to several major international and regional corporations, including NCR, Reynolds & Reynolds, Relizon, Huffy Bicycles, LexisNexis, and Mead prior to becoming MeadWestvaco.
Information about Dayton from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton,_Ohio



Thursday, June 21
-1pm - 4pm >Check in at Hotel area or park TBD
Go to the Boonshoft museum of discovery
http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/
- 4 - 5:45pm >Dinner at Hooters and check in time
-6 - close >Explore city go to clubs, bars…  If there is enough interest there is also a chance to go to more drag racing at the local track.  $15 to run $5 to watch.  This will depend on interest.
www.kilkareraceway.com


Friday, June 22
- daytime - Free time to explore Dayton!!  Go to the US Air Force Museum
The world's largest and oldest military aviation museum has FREE admission and parking
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
- Possibly go see the Yellow Indy Convertible at the college downtown.  It is the real deal!
- Possibly group dinner time permitting
- 5:30pm >Drag racing at Marion County Drag strip or possibly could be of one or 2 other drag strips
http://www.mcir.net/

Saturday, June 23
-10:30am >registration open for Bfest Car Show at Englewood Metro park.
http://www.metroparks.org/_home/default.aspx
-Car show 11am-5pm
- 5pm on Relax at the hotel, clubs bars your own free time.

Sunday, June 24
-Check out, good-byes,
-Group breakfast/lunch/brunch

[quad4berettagtz]

Good Job, however for your proposal to be officially accepted I need you to post it to the Bfest email list on yahoogroups.  If you are not a member of this list already, please go to the beretta.net hopepage and there is a link to get signed up!  Thanks!

[AquaZ26]

Dethloff had showed me before that when Fiero had its 20 yr anniversary they had their meeting in Michigan.  GM brought out all the prototypes and all sort of crazy stuff.  Can someone do some research on this and see how hard it would be to do.

[oldadmin]

Posted to List, but not to board so here it is:

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Tourist area, Motels, not so much as what there is to do
but what can you fit in.

Located on the Niagara River about 20 minutes north of Buffalo New
York.

From Detroit Michigan (about 4 hrs drive time)
via the 401,to 403, to QEW, to 420 (400 series highways identical to
US interstates)

From Buffalo NY (about 30 minutes drive time)
I-90, Peace Bridge Ft. Erie to QEW, 420
or I-190 Queenston/Lewiston bridge, to River Rd.
or I-190 to Robert Mosses Parkway, to Niagara Falls NY,to Rainbow
Bridge

Starting with Motels. Hundreds all price ranges, however. They
basically fall into 3 geographical areas. Each area has it own
advatages/disadvantages

Area #1. Fallsview area. These are the Big name hotels, Sherton.
Marriote,Hilton, Embassy Suites, Radesson etc they are the most
expensive. Unless you must have a view of the falls from your room
window and be within walking distance of the Niagara Falls Casino
Resort http://www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com/ they have little else
to offer IMO.


Area #2 Clifton Hill Area Much more resonable price, walking
distance to Clifton Hill Attractions, one in particular has excellent
parking for Bfest needs, guarded 24/7.

http://www.niagarafallslive.com/clifton_hill.htm

http://www.cliftonhill.com/

http://www.fallsviewwaterpark.com/

Cant see the falls from your room. Easy Acess to People Mover.
Parking can be a big problem and expense should you drive
yourself to some of the attractions from any of the 3 areas

http://www.niagaraparks.com/
Stay at a Clifton Hill area motel and get an all day people mover
pass http://www.niagaraparks.com/planavisit/peoplemover.php
Walking distance to Casino Niagara (not the resort)
http://www.casinoniagara.com/

Motel Area #3 Lundys Lane Group. These are the cheapest Motels and
usually smaller. The primary Problem with these as it would be
necessary to drive to Falls Area attractions, any saveings in room
rates would quickly be surpass parking fees and hassles

Things to do Car related. My first thought was the GM Engine and
transaxle Plants in St. Catharines (about 20 minute drive) But they
will not be offering tours at that time. Next was Oshawa, however a
few calls found that they will be suspending tours at that time for
retooling for the new 2008 Camaro. The best I could find in this
area is the Ingersol Plant which will be offering tours at this time.
They produce the Chevy Equinox/ Pontaic Torrent, Being a GM group I
didnt bother checking the Ford plant in Oakville, Home of the Ford
Freestar (about 45 minute drive)Honda and Toyota Plants in Cambridge
making the Civic, Accord and Camrey, or the Honda Aliston Plant
making the CR V, Odessy and Pilot

http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehicle ... /index.jsp

However Ingersol is about a 90 minute drive from Niagara Falls. May
or may not be worth the drive. It would be possible to return from
Ingersol by way of Cayuga and

http://www.torontomotorsportspark.com/dragway/home.htm

before returning to the Falls

Other attractions. Well the question isnt really what there is to do
but what can be fit into the time available. One suggestion being
Marineland, http://www.marinelandcanada.com/ Excellent if your
bringing the family, be prepared to spend about 5 or more hours.
Marineland located about 10 minute drive from Clifton Hill motel
group and also from the people Mover system

Also to be considered by the more adventuress is the whirlpool jet
boat in Niagara-On-The-Lake
http://www.whirlpooljet.com/
Less then 30 minute drive. While in NOL before and/or after the Jet
boat. Winery tours and tasteings can be booked some free some with a
small fee. Winery tours are only open to those 19 and over, the
legal drinking age in Ontario

Finish of the day at http://www.niagarago-karts.com/main.html

Saturday car show and BBQ. May I recommend 2 possible locations

Queenston Heights (larger of the 2)
http://www.niagaraparks.com/nature/queenston.php

Kings Bridge Park (smaller but still more then big enough)
http://www.niagaraparks.com/nature/kingsbridge.php

Both have reservable Picnic Shelters however Kings Bridge the picnic
shelters are closer to the parking area

A 3rd area would be Dufferin Islands. More secluded and intimate
surroundings. swimming, but no Picnic Shelters therefore I rejected
it.

Browse the links, any questions additional details Ill be happy to
reply.

Cliff Sumbler
Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
csumbler@...

[quad4berettagtz]

Thanks Bryan!  If you haven't already I'm going to post the Dayton, OH on the list.

Remember folks that the deadline is THIS FRIDAY for all proposals to be in!  Since we do have more than one proposal, there will be NO extensions on the deadline!  Make sure to get those last minute proposals in!

[QuadPowah]

Beretta Fest 2007 Augusta, Georgia

Augusta, Georgia is a small city near the Georgia-South Carolina border which is easy to navigate, but commercially large enough to accommodate the  entertainment and touring needs of both residents and visiters. Augusta has more than 50 restaurants to enjoy, several highly rated bars for nightlife, and plenty of recreational facilities open to the public. Seeing as how the past 2 Beretta Fests have been in the North-East of the country, Augusta is a prime location for a change of scenery. Weather in June is usually nice and warm, however generally not nearly as humid as the North-East. Local attractions include:

-Riverbanks Zoo of Columbia, South Carolina (about a 75 minute drive from Augusta)
-Carolina Dragway in Jackson, South Carolina (A highly renowned professional drag strip), driving to Carolina Dragway is merely 15-20 minutes of driving from Augusta! Carolina Dragway
-Fort Discovery in Augusta, a National Science center featuring over 128,000 Sq. feet of displays on computer arts, communications and electronics.
-Funsville in Augusta, which has bumper cars, rock climbing, go karts, put-put and much more to offer. They also have group rates available as well as food and drink to offer.
-Local bars include Joes Underground, Surrey Tavern, Partridge Inn, The Soul Bar, and many more.

I have collected group rates from 3 great hotels in the area, their details are:

Hotel #1:
Group Rate for rooms with double beds are $61 a night
Group Rate for rooms with a king size bed is: $68 a night
Free Internet access in all rooms

Hotel #2:
Group Rate for rooms (King size or double bed) is $65 a night
Free continental breakfast
Free Internet access in all rooms

Hotel #3:
Group Rates for rooms are $74.95 + tax a night
200 Parking spaces
Bar located within Hotel
Free Internet access in all rooms

Tentative Itinerary for Beretta Fest 2007 Augusta, Georgia is as follows:

June 21st Thursday
3:00PM to 8:00PM Check in at Hotel
Hang out and get to know your fellow B-festers during this time. Those who have arrived can get together at one of the 50+ restaurants Augusta has to offer. A descriptive roster of all the restaurants will be compiled for B-festers to help make a group decision for those that decide to join us.

June 22nd Friday
11:00AM - 1:30PM Head over to Funsville for fun-filled group activity (bumper cars, go karts, rock climbing etc.)
1:30PM-4:30PM At personal leisure, attendee's can check out Fort Discovery or visit the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC.
5:30PM Group gathering at Hotel to prepare for Drag racing
6:00PM-Track Close Group Caravan to Carolina Dragway for an awesome drag racing experience (Very short trip).

June 23rd Saturday
11:00AM Register for BerettaFest Car show at local park (May Park or the Riverwalk Park)
12:00PM-3:30PM Car show- Includes haning and cooking out
3:30PM-4:00PM Awards Ceremony
4:00PM Group photo at location in park
And if I can locate a certified area, there is the possibility of later-day Auto-X

June 24th Sunday
One last group meal in the morning/afternoon
Check out and goodbyes

Beretta Fest 2007 Augusta, Georgia.

[QuadPowah]

Umh for some reason Yahoo Groups sent me an email claiming that I sent the proposal from an email address that is not registered with the group, which is bull, because it says so in my very own profile AND I always get Bfest emails. This meaning that the email with my proposal was never sent received by Bfest Yahoo Group... If someone could over look this problem and make sure my proposal is listed with the others I'd love that very much.

[irelynx]

(QuadPowah @ Oct. 15 2006,00:25)QUOTEThis meaning that the email with my proposal was never sent received by Bfest Yahoo Group... If someone could over look this problem and make sure my proposal is listed with the others I'd love that very much.
It was posted to the group by Mike a few days ago.

On a side note, rollingrock (from bstuff) had a Detroit proposal written up by the 13th. However, he had been awaiting authorization to be added to the yahoo group for 1-2wks, and still hadn't been authorized by the 13th. So he wasn't able to post his proposal to the group.

[QuadPowah]

Yeah that same damn thing happened to me last year...

Well I'm glad mine made it through, I didn't think it did... How do you navigate the group when you're logged in? Nothing seems to work for me, none of the buttons on the side bar function.

[quad4berettagtz]

Thank you for bringing this to my attention...  For some reason or another Yahoogroups has stopped sending me the email notices that someone is waiting for approval.  I just sent through 5 people!     I saw that rollingrock tried as far back as late Sept. to get in.  So, here is what I will do...  

Conisdering this is essentially my lapse that has caused this, I will allow him to post his proposal to the Bfest list ASAP.  Once this has been posted we will start the voting.  This will be the only late proposal I will accept, because it is my error.  Please have him post that proposal ASAP so we can keep things moving!

Thanks again irelynx for bringing this issue to my attention.

[Styluss]

I need to look at my Yahoo settings.... I'm not sure I recieved a single one of these proposals through the mailing list...

[irelynx]

(Styluss Customs @ Oct. 17 2006,11:10)QUOTEI need to look at my Yahoo settings.... I'm not sure I recieved a single one of these proposals through the mailing list...
I have mine set to email me the messages every 24hrs if there are any new posts. Sometimes it'll wait 2-3 days before sending the email, and there have been a few times where it doesn't email me at all. Yahoo is just flakey like that sometimes.  

I emailed (and PM'd) rollingrock to let him know, in case he doesn't check bnet. He's usually on bstuff daily.