Whew.
(cliff notes- meet joe, breakfast at Ritz, plan wednesday informal get together in Ritz ballroom, tour SSV, hit Woodward, tour Ford Conference and events center, plan dinner and aesthetics, pick up personal GT, dinner with GT team members, sleep, hit Roush, meet crazy GT technicians/drivers/engineers, tour wixom, make 534 U-turns, eat lunch, send GT Joey and his son on a 600 mile trip)
That's the only way I can describe the last two days. GT Joey and his son have now departed dear old Detroit and are back to the NYC. We just spent an action packed two days planning for the Rally and going through the motions on a "test run" to get a feel for the logistics. All I can say is, be prepared for complete, total, unending, ridiculous, out of control MANIA! GTJoey's son got so pumped up he smashed a water glass at breakfast (ha!). I don't want to give away too much, but we spent ALOT of time with ALOT of cool people and I think everyone will be absolutely thrilled to do the same.
Monday morning we went to Saleen Special Vehicles, and Mike Zielinski, who is nothing but an absolute pleasure to work with, gave Joe and his son the VIP tour. Just like we'll do in August, we went station by station, asked questions, discussed parts, took photos, chatted with the guys and gals on the line, etc, etc.
It was alot of fun, and truthfully, it never gets old. That's the fifth time I've been at SSV for an extended period of time, and I can't wait to do it again. Everyone can look forward to meeting the SSV team, the assemblers, paint squad, etc. We're going to park the cars in a really conspicuous manner that should cause traffic jams, and the folks in Irvine will have some nice surprises and opportunities for everyone coming. Bring your portfolio books and a silver sharpie.
After we departed SSV, we went on to the Ford Conference and Events center. We made plans with the helpful folks there for a very "GT" themed interior while we have a strolling supper and meet and greet. There is also a 5 piece large video wall that we'll be showing some neat videos on. We're gonna stuff tons of owners, and nearly an equal amount of GT Team members in the building that night. Should be great for photo ops, chatting, a nice dinner. I've partied there before and the catering is top notch, and Ford Division is really stepping up big time to help put this on.
I sent Joey and his son off to tour the Henry Ford ( a great option for downtime for families in August), and made a special pickup :wink It was white and blue, and had 1.6 miles when I picked it up. And no, it wasn't nerve wracking at all driving off in front of a 20 deep crowd. :lol What are the odds? GT Joey is actually in town the day I pick up my GT and is my inaugural passenger. Lucky guy! We discussed the car and fended off the crowds as it was parked under the awning of the Ritz front entrance.
We went on that night two have dinner with two of the GT team members. One brought a white/blue GT500 and I took some nice pics of my new ride with that car and the crew. It was a tremendous evening, as we told war stories, learned more about the car than I can remember, and discussed the who's who of the Rally. Jamal Hameedi and Steve Denby are both hilarious, and when you get a chance, you absolutely have to talk to these guys at the rally. It's great fun to be around people who love their job when their job happens to be a 550hp car you own. We made plans for an informal gathering the wednesday of arrival to hang out in one of the Ritz ballrooms. These guys, and plenty of the GT team will be on hand.
Today we started the morning at a special top secret location, and got to see a yellow GT with a full roll cage, several GT500's, a red GT, a heritage GT, and many more all being worked on, toyed, massaged, etc. We got to meet some more GT crew, including the man who basically hand fabbed most of the centennial car parts, and could put these things together in his sleep. He brought out a modified GT that sounded KILLER with it's pulley, FRPP header and mufflers. LOUD! The only man in the room that could handle it was a Tier 4 test driver who will be at the Rally as well.
We finished the day off at Wixom, with the help of John Pfieffer and Fred Goodnow. They've had to go through some changes here and there in the planning, but it's gonna be a great saturday. John is a technological GT encyclopedia, and taking the tour of Wixom with him was great. Row after row of finished GT's in all combos, GT's screaming on the dyno, a preview of what'll be coming in the yearbooks. It was another great time and a chance to nail down the who what when where. All in all a jam packed 30 hour period.
It's going to be a TON of fun. I'm already waiting waiting waiting to see 75 GT's come to life, roaring down the roads on this once in a lifetime deal. Ready??? You better be, GTJoey was so pumped up, he had waitresses at the Ritz giving high fives and smiles.
Brief Itinerary without spoiling specifics.
Wednesday -
Beginning ~5pm until needed ballroom cocktails and packet pickup
Thursday -
Depart ~7:15 AM in groups to SSV for tours.
Parking arrangements until 8 AM. Tours begin at 8, run til 3pm.
Welcome to stay all day, return to hotel, participate in Saleen activities.
Evening - SSV plans being finalized, possibly no official event.
Friday -
Late Morning - Ford Motor Company WHQ Photo Opportunity
Afternoon - Opportunity to individually see Henry Ford attractions (i.e Henry Ford Museum, IMAX, Auto Hall of Fame, Ford Rouge Factory Tour)
Pre-Dinner - Yearbook pickup and distribution
6pm-10pm(reserved til midnight depending on crowd desire) - Dinner, Meet and Greet, Presentations at the Ford Conference and Events center
Saturday -
Depart - ~7:15 AM to Wixom Final Assembly
One hour tours in groups every :20 until 3pm.
Discussion with GT team members, FoMoCo employees.
3pm - police escorted drive off to Woodward.
Cruise Woodward, opportunity to return to Hotel.
Depart Woodward to Camilo Pardo's Studio for Event Closing Party
Can't give it all away :wink
(cliff notes- meet joe, breakfast at Ritz, plan wednesday informal get together in Ritz ballroom, tour SSV, hit Woodward, tour Ford Conference and events center, plan dinner and aesthetics, pick up personal GT, dinner with GT team members, sleep, hit Roush, meet crazy GT technicians/drivers/engineers, tour wixom, make 534 U-turns, eat lunch, send GT Joey and his son on a 600 mile trip)
That's the only way I can describe the last two days. GT Joey and his son have now departed dear old Detroit and are back to the NYC. We just spent an action packed two days planning for the Rally and going through the motions on a "test run" to get a feel for the logistics. All I can say is, be prepared for complete, total, unending, ridiculous, out of control MANIA! GTJoey's son got so pumped up he smashed a water glass at breakfast (ha!). I don't want to give away too much, but we spent ALOT of time with ALOT of cool people and I think everyone will be absolutely thrilled to do the same.
Monday morning we went to Saleen Special Vehicles, and Mike Zielinski, who is nothing but an absolute pleasure to work with, gave Joe and his son the VIP tour. Just like we'll do in August, we went station by station, asked questions, discussed parts, took photos, chatted with the guys and gals on the line, etc, etc.
It was alot of fun, and truthfully, it never gets old. That's the fifth time I've been at SSV for an extended period of time, and I can't wait to do it again. Everyone can look forward to meeting the SSV team, the assemblers, paint squad, etc. We're going to park the cars in a really conspicuous manner that should cause traffic jams, and the folks in Irvine will have some nice surprises and opportunities for everyone coming. Bring your portfolio books and a silver sharpie.
After we departed SSV, we went on to the Ford Conference and Events center. We made plans with the helpful folks there for a very "GT" themed interior while we have a strolling supper and meet and greet. There is also a 5 piece large video wall that we'll be showing some neat videos on. We're gonna stuff tons of owners, and nearly an equal amount of GT Team members in the building that night. Should be great for photo ops, chatting, a nice dinner. I've partied there before and the catering is top notch, and Ford Division is really stepping up big time to help put this on.
I sent Joey and his son off to tour the Henry Ford ( a great option for downtime for families in August), and made a special pickup :wink It was white and blue, and had 1.6 miles when I picked it up. And no, it wasn't nerve wracking at all driving off in front of a 20 deep crowd. :lol What are the odds? GT Joey is actually in town the day I pick up my GT and is my inaugural passenger. Lucky guy! We discussed the car and fended off the crowds as it was parked under the awning of the Ritz front entrance.
We went on that night two have dinner with two of the GT team members. One brought a white/blue GT500 and I took some nice pics of my new ride with that car and the crew. It was a tremendous evening, as we told war stories, learned more about the car than I can remember, and discussed the who's who of the Rally. Jamal Hameedi and Steve Denby are both hilarious, and when you get a chance, you absolutely have to talk to these guys at the rally. It's great fun to be around people who love their job when their job happens to be a 550hp car you own. We made plans for an informal gathering the wednesday of arrival to hang out in one of the Ritz ballrooms. These guys, and plenty of the GT team will be on hand.
Today we started the morning at a special top secret location, and got to see a yellow GT with a full roll cage, several GT500's, a red GT, a heritage GT, and many more all being worked on, toyed, massaged, etc. We got to meet some more GT crew, including the man who basically hand fabbed most of the centennial car parts, and could put these things together in his sleep. He brought out a modified GT that sounded KILLER with it's pulley, FRPP header and mufflers. LOUD! The only man in the room that could handle it was a Tier 4 test driver who will be at the Rally as well.
We finished the day off at Wixom, with the help of John Pfieffer and Fred Goodnow. They've had to go through some changes here and there in the planning, but it's gonna be a great saturday. John is a technological GT encyclopedia, and taking the tour of Wixom with him was great. Row after row of finished GT's in all combos, GT's screaming on the dyno, a preview of what'll be coming in the yearbooks. It was another great time and a chance to nail down the who what when where. All in all a jam packed 30 hour period.
It's going to be a TON of fun. I'm already waiting waiting waiting to see 75 GT's come to life, roaring down the roads on this once in a lifetime deal. Ready??? You better be, GTJoey was so pumped up, he had waitresses at the Ritz giving high fives and smiles.
Brief Itinerary without spoiling specifics.
Wednesday -
Beginning ~5pm until needed ballroom cocktails and packet pickup
Thursday -
Depart ~7:15 AM in groups to SSV for tours.
Parking arrangements until 8 AM. Tours begin at 8, run til 3pm.
Welcome to stay all day, return to hotel, participate in Saleen activities.
Evening - SSV plans being finalized, possibly no official event.
Friday -
Late Morning - Ford Motor Company WHQ Photo Opportunity
Afternoon - Opportunity to individually see Henry Ford attractions (i.e Henry Ford Museum, IMAX, Auto Hall of Fame, Ford Rouge Factory Tour)
Pre-Dinner - Yearbook pickup and distribution
6pm-10pm(reserved til midnight depending on crowd desire) - Dinner, Meet and Greet, Presentations at the Ford Conference and Events center
Saturday -
Depart - ~7:15 AM to Wixom Final Assembly
One hour tours in groups every :20 until 3pm.
Discussion with GT team members, FoMoCo employees.
3pm - police escorted drive off to Woodward.
Cruise Woodward, opportunity to return to Hotel.
Depart Woodward to Camilo Pardo's Studio for Event Closing Party
Can't give it all away :wink
