Subaru Crew - Events

paisan

Ok folks, with the auto-shows mostly behind us, let's get the ball rolling for a trip to SIA. We could roll a BBQ into the mix and drag the families along. Maybe hit an auto-x while in IN also? Just some thoughts.

-mike

pattim3

folks at SIA. If you all can come up with a date early, it'll help me try to schedule something. I'll keep watching for info.!! Also, I can try to get some "tour" information and see if we can get a more detailed tour once it starts to gel.

Thanks!

Patti

francophile

I'd be really interested in doing this. I think big factories are pretty cool places to visit; all those big, industrial-strength gadgets!

We had once upon a time been targetting April 2001 but that seems impractical now. How about May, or June? Does it make any difference to the folks with kids to have it before or after school is out? Patti, is there any advantage to doing a tour at a particular time of year; model changes, seeing a new model that hasn't made it to dealers yet, anything like that?

Cheers,
-wdb

paisan

I'll likely make it a 3 day weekend. And anyone brave enough to ride with me is welcome and welcomed.

-mike

soon2bsubee

After school is out would be better for those with kids..maybe June

paisan

Anyone want to do the weekend before or after July 4th? I guess we should make a date or we'll keep putting it off.

-mike

rsholland

at least to me, anyway.

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am a sucker for any type show that is automotive oriented. I just got back from the "Commercial Truck, Trailer & Technology Expo" at the Baltimore Convention Center.

I had a chance to dream about being a large rig operator, and climb in Kenworths, Internationals, Peterbilts, etc.—certainly some distance from anything Subaru related, but great fun nonetheless. Think I came back with about 5 pounds worth of brochures.

One big surprise for me, and something I can actually relate to, was the new 2002 Dodge Ram Quad-Cab pickup. I didn't expect to see that there. If you like the current Ram you will love the new 2002 model. It's a real looker, and a big improvement over the current Ram from a function standpoint. While I couldn't sit in it, I did get up close and personal with it. I also got to pick the brains of one of the Dodge factory reps. It was a very interesting conversation to say the least, especially regarding all the current turmoil going on at DC these days.

Another total surprise, was the showing of International's all-new Class VII trucks. They're totally new, and very European looking.

Another surprise was the Class V Chevy Bruin concept crew-cab pickup with a 10" bed. I've seen this in several car/truck mags.

If any of the MD Subaru Crew is interested, the show goes through this Saturday. You have to register ( a real hassle!) to get in, and if you don't have a coupon (I did fortunately), it will cost you around $35.00. With my coupon, it only cost me $10.00.

If anyone's interested, here's the URL of the sponsoring group: www.ntea.com or go to:

http://www.worktruckshow.com/default.htm

Bob

rsholland

This weekend, there's the Motor Trend International Auto Show of the Eastern Shore, going on at the convention center in Ocean City MD.

No, I'm not going.

Bob

pattim3

are probably best for me. I'll check to see when a good time for SIA would be (thanks for the suggestion WDB).

Patti

kate5000

I'd be very interested... never been to an automotive plant in my life, and to see how our soobs are made would be a hoot.

Paisan, I'd like to take you up on your offer to give me a ride... will you stop at San Francisco on the way from NY to IN? ;-)

For me, time when kids are out of school would be the best.Then I can even drag my teenage daughter along on this tour. She's crazy about everything Japanese (Pokemon influence), so she might even enjoy it.

dannyka

And Mike, on your way to SF, you'll probably have to pass through Utah, so slow down just enough for me to jump in...

-Dan

paisan

Although, you laugh, I almost drove to SF this coming summer, so i *could* have given you all a 1 way trip. I hope you are good at hopping on dan, cause slow for me is about Mach 1

-mike

ateixeira

I've been to too many auto shows. If I mention one to my better half, she'll probably spank me silly.

What else is near Lafeyette? I have to "sell" this as a family vacation, and we don't have friends that live around there. Any theme parks for kids?

I bet paisan could actually do all that driving on a long weekend. Too bad Montana dropped their "reasonable and prudent" speed limit.

-juice

paisan

Tell them it's a learning experience... Teaching about how factories work, also we can find a park and have a big ole bar-b-q and toss a frisbee or something...

-mike

ateixeira

It's funny, but I hadn't even thought of bringing them along on the tour. I'll mention it. She'll probably laugh, but we'll see.

-juice

bat1161

I just saw on the SCOA site that the covered bridge tour is set for April 29th. Does anyone know what time we are meeting? Anyone else planning to go? I am looking forward to it.
Mark

ateixeira

I plan on going. Should be fun. Garry goes through a lot of trouble organizing these events, and he always manages to get a good assortment of Subies (not just Outbacks and RSs).

Last time we have 3 Foresters and an SVX. In fact, the only thing missing was a newer Outback, funny enough.

-juice

paisan

Where is that going to be at? Maybe Mark and I can caravan down from SI?

-mike

bat1161

Mike,

The details are on the SCOA site. I have one other question though: What is a FSB radio? As for caravaning down, sounds good to me.

BTW anyone going to the NY Auto show? Since I'm off on April 13th, I figured to opening day.
Mark

paisan

to the auto-show, not sure when probably a sunday, since i'll be going with mark my subie salesman. Be forewarned though, on the highway I set the cruise on 77 and don't slow down for anything smaller than a Semi-trailer

-mike

miksmi

Mark, I'm attending the SCOA covered bridge tour and the NY show on Friday the 13th. Email when it gets closer to the NY show.

FRS = Family Radio Service = walkie talkier. I posted about this earlier in this Events topic. It's painful but scroll back and search for "FRS". If you email me the URL I'll add it to my profile and we'll share it with everyone.

..Mike

russ9406

I will be going.
Russ

bat1161

Mike (miksmi),

I found the earlier posts covering the FRS radios. They were # 586 & 590. (I haven't figured out how to cut and paste links into here yet.) I will try to email you the links.

Mark

noclass

Spring Tour of 10 Covered Bridges hosted by the Subaru Club of America and the Central Penn SAAB Club will be on 29 April 01. Assembly point is the Holiday Inn in Denver PA at 10AM. Tour starts about 11AM and will cover 10 Bridges over 115 miles of Lancaster County. The Holiday Inn has a pretty nice Breakfast Buffet for $6.25 a person for those who arrive early with the hungries. If your thinking of attending, please drop us an email at scoa@subaruclub.com so we have an idea of how many cars we will have. Tour ends at the Perkins Rest on Rt. 30 just outside of Lancaster. Event is free and open to all Subaru and SAAB owners. See www.subaruclub.com for maps and info. Heads up for hotel and motel seekers, that should be a busy week-end so book early.

francophile

As I posted over on Meet The Members, I live about 25 miles from Denver. I'm going to do my best to be there. If there is significant interest I'd be happy to whip up a few maps of *my* favorite roads, and to invite folks to venture a bit further north and see beautiful Berks County, where I live. There are even covered bridges there ;-)

And, although I'm a satisfied Subie owner at the moment, I know a thing or two about Saabs, such as why they used to make one called the Monte Carlo. I've even been known to own a Saab during days past--including what has to be one of the single strangest looking cars of all time, the Saab 95. Not the Nine-Five of recent vintage, the Ninety-Five from the 60's. It looked like the b*st*rd offspring of a Saab 96 and a '57 DeSoto, but it had an amazing 2,000 pound carrying capacity, a rear-facing 3rd "way back" seat that my young-at-the-time son just loved, a 4-speed shift mounted on the steering column, and of course the freewheel feature.

Long story short, Saab folks are welcome too :-)

Cheers,
-wdb

paisan

Anyone else going? Bat I know you said you might be going.

-mike

ateixeira

I'll probably go. Upper case Mike may go as well. We're both trying to do some family activities while we're there.

Garry has lots of SVX-owning friends. Should be interesting. At the last meet, they even talked about getting all the SVX owners to go to this one. Hope so!

-juice

paisan

Well keep me in the loop, if you guys are gonna make, it I'll twist some arms and come down, my buddy may have his yellow wrx by then too.

-mike

miksmi

Upper case Mike will be there. I'm researching steam locomotive rides for me, err, the kids. Lower case mike, come on down; I want to check out der Trooper! WDB, I'm spending the night before somewhere; any inexpensive hotel recommendations or website to get me started?

..Mike

ateixeira

Mike: share any info you gather. We're likely doing the same thing.

Not sure about the train ride, but the museum and shopping, plus an overnight stay, for sure.

-juice

soon2bsubee

Mike, in Strasburg, PA, there is the following train stuff (we went one very cold December weekend way back when Mikey was around 4):
The Strasburg Railroad...nice ride thru the countryside in a steam-driven train with old cars
The Pennsylvania RR Museum....all kinds of locos, cars, etc, including a GG1 in Tuscan Red
Train Barn...a large building with incredible layouts
The TCC's Toy Train Museum...also really nice, especially for Lionel collectors.

Two more words for you: DIM SUM !!!!!

miksmi

Sheesh Serge, remind me to consult you for all my travel needs. NY, PA, FL.. I'm sure there are more states you know! Thanks buddy!

GG1 that sounds familiar. Spock, explain!

C'mon now, don't tease me with dim sum. Remember the name of the restaurant?

..Mike

paisan

C'mon now, I live in NYC, any dim sum we get out there will be like McDonalds to me

I'm gonna plan on making it, have to see how far a drive it is to get there. I dunno if I should take the trooper, or the XT6. I dunno if I'll be able to keep up with Mike in his legacy GT with the Trooper, although with the XT6 I know I'll keep up

-mike

soon2bsubee

Folks

see these links

 http://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1

 http://www.rrmuseumpa.org


 http://www.steamlocomotive.com/pennsy/rmop


 http://www.traincollectors.org/toytrain.html


 http://www.choochoobarn.com/choochoo.html


 http://www.strasburgrailroad.com

Paisan, the dim sum was in a restaurant called Hong Kong City Barbecue down the street from me in Ft. Lauderdale.Mike and I went there for lunch when he visited...

miksmi

Ah I thought was going to get dim sum in central PA. Yes, that was good dim sum!

PRIMO links! You da man! Thanks Serge.

..Mike

noclass

http://home.earthlink.net/~eggrimes/index.html

Garry

bat1161

At this point I am planning on going, but only for the day. Too much going on to do the whole weekend. Paisain, let me know if you are going. I also have to agree, there's no place else for dim sum on the east coast.

Mark

paisan

Cool, I am gonna go for the day, and Mark from the dealer is likely going to come. He's penciled in! What time do you want to plan on leaving SI? It'll be nice to caravan out there, makes driving easier. And the final question is:

XT6 or Troopa?

-mike

rsholland

I think I'm in too. At this point, it's 90% definite. Trying to convince the wife to come along. So far, so good. We just need to see if there's anything else happening that weekend, as far as the kids are concerned.

Bob

bat1161

If its just the two of you, my vote is for the XT6. It'll be great to see Mark again, hope he comes. I haven't really thought as to what time to be leaving yet. Figure @7:30 or so? We still have a little time to work out the details.
Mark

paisan

Cool as it gets closer we'll hammer out final details.

-mike

ateixeira

XT6. I've never even ridden in one. This has to be my best shot.

-juice

noclass

Please remember to email scoa@subaruclub.com if your attending the Covered Bridge Tour. We will cover 10 Bridges over 115 miles in about 4 hours of driving. Event is for Subaru's and SAAB's, sorry no Troopers (hey I own 2 of them 88 & 96).
We won't have enough copies of directions or enough seats at Perkins Rest if you don't tell us your attending.
SCOA
www.subaruclub.com

paisan

I'll take the trooper just to annoy you

Well hopefully the XT6 will be functioning.

-mike

miksmi

My brother and I are planning our 2nd annual road trip to the Cedar Point amusement park for CoasterMania -- two full days of riding 14 coasters in Sandusky, OH, right on Lake Erie. We'll leave DC about 3pm on Thursday, drive 6.5 hours, ride coasters for two days, and drive back Saturday night. If you're not familiar with Cedar Point, it's regularly rated one of America's premier amusement parks. I never understood what that meant until I arrived. It's well manicured, has lots of broad avenues, good flow, and is safe (buff, armed security -- more akin to state troopers than security guards -- are evident; misbehaving children or miscreants won't spoil your visit).

I conquered their newest coaster last year. Check out the stats of the Millennium Force:

• 93 mph (hmm, last year it listed at 92 mph, must have followed juices's cold air intake mod instructions)
  
• 300 foot drop (yes, that's a football field on end)
  
• 80 DEGREE vertical drop (you're weightless)
  
• 122 degree banked turn (steepest non-inversion banked turn on a coaster)
  

See stats and pictures of the coaches (note there are no sides on the car and no shoulder harness; just a lap belt and a T bar pressing on your legs) and ride video.

Excellent air time on the drops. Very smooth. In my admittedly limited coaster experience, Millennium Force is the best. It feels like you're flying (says this former general aviator).

You must be a member of a coaster enthusiast organization like ACE to buy CoasterMania tickets (see Cedar Point).

Links:

Millennium Force and coaster demographics at Cedar Point, courtesy of rcdb.com. Yes, a database of roller coasters!

Directions from Canada, Connecticut, Florida; quite thorough. Address: Cedar Point , One Cedar Point Drive , Sandusky , OH 44870-5259 , 419-627-2350

Local area information.

Request a brochure.

Note: cedarpoint.com availability has been spotty today.

So, would any coasterholics care to join us?

..Mike

edit: Before anyone busts my chops about the punctuation, apostrophes appear (when they should) in my source but not when formatted. I believe WebX is having a bad day.

ateixeira

Saw a special on coasters this weekend on TLC. Figured you were an ACEr.

-juice

miksmi

juice, you've go me figured out.

..Mike

miksmi

Info: Rausch Creek home, track layout, directions.

Rausch Creek Motorsports Park
978 Gap Street
Valley View, PA 17983-9749
v570.682.4600 f570.682.9051

It's 2.5 hours from both Philadelphia and New York City, 3.5 hours from Baltimore, off Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg. Cost is $179 for 1 day, $279 for 2, plus $40 NASA VA membership.

More details on this i Club thread.

I had never attended driver training until last year and I must say I am now hooked. I believe track driving is safer than driving on DC's Beltway (fewer idiots on a track than public roads): You receive classroom instruction; an instructor demonstrates how your car handles on the track, then rides with you the entire time. Passing other cars in Group 1 (beginners like me) is only allowed on straights and only after the driver of the lead car signals that it's safe to pass. Safety is taken seriously and rule violators are ejected from the track, no refunds. This explains how NASA operates their driving schools.

Oh, and if you're new to the forum, I drive my wife's GT wagon. I wouldn't be able to live with the consequences if it was unsafe.

Ok WDB, this is your chance! Hutch, will your WRX be broken in by the middle of May? Dennis, I know you want to do this

Speakest up thou and I shall allay thine fears with rally bread for thine belly! (seriously, ask questions.. I was apprehensive at my first track day)

..Mike

edit: Thanks, Dan.

dannyka

...will Hutch's WRX be broken in by the middle of May, right? :-)

-Dan

miksmi

Oops, Freudian slip. Thanks, Dan.