Dropped my car off for the pulley upgrade/yearly maintenence yesterday in So. Cal. and chatted with Kendall a bit about the Rally. I have never been to a car Rally of any type (never considered it before buying the GT) so my views are simply as an interested observer. Came up with three conclusions in talking/corresponding with a few attendees.
First, Vegas sounded like a unique and almost perfect place for the Rally because as a city there is not only plenty to do and great places to drive, but they have the ability to house everyone's car in a safe, easily accessible area that became a central meet and greet location. I have heard this more than once that the parking garage was like an informal Rally central where there were always a few people milling around working, detailing and talking about their cars. That is amazing considering there were 125+ GT's. It will be hard to duplicate that perfect storm of scenarios that made Vegas so good and so appealing to everyone as a destination. I understand the desire to move the Rally around to other locales, but I would almost suggest an every other year return to Vegas....there is another track there or set-up of last track could be changed.
Second, obviously attendance is getting bigger every year and this may not be a prime issue, but having the Rally run mostly over the weekend might also increase attendence. A lot of us have jobs that make it difficult to get away during the "meat" of the week. Swinging Thurs-Monday or Friday to Tuesday might make some people like myself attend as much as we could instead of saying....I can only make a day and a half, why bother. Also this thing seems to be growing each year and in listening/corresponding with this years attendees I would add in this recommendation. Take it a little more upscale. We all have GT's and are willing to pay for quality. Charge a little more and go for the dazzle treatment. This is not a criticism as I was not there and I know how hard it is to organize big events. The Forum always does a fantastic job of providing a quality event for a very reasonable price to us. From what I have heard about all three Rally's is that they have gotten progressively better each year. And that has to do with the most awesome group of passionate owners the world has ever seen. :thumbsup:thumbsup to everyone who worked so hard to make this the best Rally ever. You have set a high bar and I am just relaying an outsider/never been to a Rally persons opinion. Any event can be improved and if people have realistic ideas on what would make it better I would be curious to hear them. :cheers
Third, I like DP's idea :thumbsup of a Regional Rally in between the big National Rally. Great minds (or slightly insane ones :confused) think alike. I brought that exact topic up to Kendall yesterday. I don't know how that would work, but if anyone has suggestions I would love to kick the idea around with the group. I really guess it depends on the area you live. Obviously there are a lot of GT's out here (West Coast) so it could be relatively easy to pick a location that would encompass a lot of GT's and be within an easy 400 mile driving radius. Just a thought.
That said I am going to Vegas tomorrow and it is the first time ever that I am not particularly excited about it. I know that will change once I am there (that place always perks me up :biggrin) but I know there will be the afterglow of GT glory in the air still and I can't say that I am not a little sad that I missed it. Would have love to have put together some faces and names. :cheers
