[DeTomaso] How About Vegas Covention in March?

[John Taphorn]

Hey Art.

I appreciate your thoughts on this and encouragement to get others to offer 
their opinion.

I have been eager to consider alternative dates for other reasons.

I would like to see the event held at a Venue where we could show the cars 
in a Ballroom.  I would love to see the Vendors display their latest 
restorations.  Additionally, I would enjoy establishing a Chapter Car Show 
Competition where each Chapter selects one car from their membership to be 
displayed in th ballroom and a team of judges awards a winner.  I don't know 
what the criteia for the show would be and perhaps a car may only be shown 
once every "X" number of years. My aim would be to get the Pantera Vendors 
talents showcased and create some teamwork amoung the Chapter members to 
work together in prepping a member's car.  Those who have attended the Plaza 
know that there is a genuine advantage to looking at cars in an indoor 
environment with your favorite beverage in hand.  This is an element of the 
Fun Rally that could help keep it fresh year to year.

That said, the challenge faced with the current dates for the Fun Rally is 
that it is Las Vegas peak season and it is therefore difficult to afford the 
Resort Hotels that could accommodate the display of cars indoors.  If we 
were in Vegas during the off-season, the opportunity would be different.

As I have written before in the POCA Newsletter, the nicer hotels, that 
could accommodate cars indoors, would force us to guarantee a certain number 
of room reservations to provide us the Ballrooms at an affordable price. 
During peak season those rooms would almost be 2X the cost of the Orleans. 
If we tried host the Fun Rally at that time of year, I fear many would stay 
at less expensive venues and commute to the Host hotel.  As a consequence, 
we would not meet out room target and break the POCA financial bank.

I also believe that younger owners with families find it difficult to attend 
Vegas in late April/May.  The obstacle is that their children are in school 
and parents are reluctant to take them out.  I am in this boat and 
appreciate the issue.  If the Rally was scheduled during school break, that 
would help.  This conundrum is unfortunate as younger families represent an 
expanding demographic of DeTomaso owners.

If we held the Fun Rally in the summer, we could get superior pricing and 
families would be available.  Although as you point out, it would be to hot 
for the track event and the California owners, I am told, generally do not 
have working AC.

Another issue to keep in mind is the availability of the organizers.  The 
Event is orchestrated by very few people.  I know at least one of them would 
gladly step back if someone else would step up.  It is fine and dandy to say 
lets have it in March; however, Bob Reid is digging through tax returns and 
couldn't be a resource?  Who will step up?  This is not to say the Fun Rally 
Committee is not open to change; rather to make you more sensitive to the 
issues involved.  The committe has made many changes over the last four 
years to accommodate the will of the majority.  We want to create a 
compelling reason for people to attend, make new friends and have fun

JT
Fun Rally Co-Chair