2007 Vintage Rally - Metro NY 50th Anniversary

65GT · 10-24-2006, 04:58 PM

I've been tasked with hosting a Vintage Rally to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Metropolitan New York Unit #072. Our unit was chartered on June 21st, 1957. My understanding is that the Metro NY Unit has always primarily been a Long Island based unit.

We're actually exploring a week long celebration with the 2nd weekend specifically focused on being a larger gathering with a vintage focus. Two weekend rallies with a short 75 mile 'caravan' to take place during the week totalling three 2-night stays at various locations on Long Island followed by a 3-night close-out.

Right now the dates are open -- likely late spring or early fall. Initial thoughts are you can sign up for as many segments or individual nights as you like. The 1st weekend will almost definitely be at Indian Island Park in Riverhead, NY

http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp1.cfm?dept=10&id=883

for a satellite view try here:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=15...34761&t=k&om=1

After that 1st weekend we're considering getting a vineyard co-sponsor (dry camping IN a vineyard with wine tasting, etc., on the North Fork) for Sun/Mon nights.

Then we're thinking onto an oceanfront beach location for Tue/Wed nights.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1...8,0.017381&t=k

The second weekend Thu/Fri/Sat location is up for grabs. My efforts right now are to get as close to NYC as possible. My reasoning is if people are going to travel all the way here (from ME, MA, NH, VT, RI, Upstate NY, PA, VA, etc., to camp they MIGHT want an opportunity to hop on a subway and go into Manhattan Saturday morning/afternoon.

My focus right now is dry camping on a university football field with a view...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1...7,0.017381&t=k

So after all that warm-up -- here are a couple of questions...

Are there any vintage owners within reasonable driving distance that would be interested in attending at least the 2nd weekend of the event?

IF I'm not able to get this exact university location (which is just OFF Long Island by the way) are vintage owners turned off by heavy city traffic (you'll get near it one way or another) to come over to Long Island for a weekend outing?

Are there any courageous vintage souls out there (or otherwise for that matter) that this looks interesting to? Of course anyone can join us for any part of or entire week. Folks from NE might find this quite an adventure to take the New London CT ferry over to join us for the 1st weekend OR take the ferry over just to tour the vineyards and farmlands of the East End before they hook up with us near the city?

You can bet that this week-long celebration will be working family -- kid friendly. We may not have many working families with us mid-week, but hey -- the kids don't need any wine anyway.

So it's completely raw and YOUR feedback, thoughts, and ideas are welcome. Oh yeah -- and of course we're trying to finalize all of this in time for printing in the WBCCI directory without a TBA for a date. No pressure -- but for some reason my EYE is twitching...

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peegreen · 10-24-2006, 05:12 PM

Do you have dates? Is it just for vintage? Will you invite the past vintage presidents of the Metro unit? I think Riverhead was my second Metro rally when I was 8 back in 19....

LI Pets · 10-24-2006, 06:45 PM

Sounds great, we need the dates to make commitments ASAP.

If I can help in any way let me know.

funchucky1 · 10-24-2006, 06:53 PM

Same here, Leo.
If you can use a hand, let me know.
I think it sounds great.

And heck, if anyone wants to come to the island and avoid the traffic (coming from the north, anyway), they should consider the ferry across the Long Island Sound. The trip is nice, relaxing....and it's neat to see your little siver trailer on a big 'ole ferry.

I know I don't have to sell you guys (Leo or Bob), but our NE friends may need sellin'!

LI Pets · 10-24-2006, 07:02 PM

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65GT · 10-24-2006, 07:38 PM

All of the events will be open to all. I'm working on having a real vintage presence at least that 2nd weekend but everyone is welcome. We've got some old timers coming for the 1st weekend in Riverhead. Many don't own trailers anymore -- some are approaching their 90's.

Dates are actually secondary to finding a spot to hold that second weekend. I've got to find the facility first and then find out what dates are available. So it's 2nd weekend location; then dates that location is available. We're trying to work it backwards at this point. I'll be going to SUNY Maritime on Thursday morning as I'm not doing so well getting them by phone at this point. I'll be taking plenty of shots including a panoramic if I can find a decent viewpoint (there are on-site buildings in the way).

I think we're ruling out summertime as most Metro members go off and do their own thing for the most part. It's tough to coordinate every one's summer event weekends.

Bob and Chuck thanks for offering to help -- consider yourselves signed up!

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66Overlander · 10-24-2006, 08:22 PM

Sounds fantastic! I'd love to make it for part or all, but it may turn out to just be too far from Michigan. Lorrie and I have no idea what our vacation plans will be for next year, so I'll keep watching for the dates, just in case we could make this fit into that "out east" trip we have been thinking about for a while. But don't hold your breath. Good Luck!

65GT · 10-25-2006, 10:16 PM

We'd be happy to have you! It looks like the Fort Schuyler (SUNY Maritime) is a go! I'm going by there tomorrow to get the details. The dates just shrunk up a bit. Their facility is only available to us between Memorial Day and August 15th (there-abouts). We're probably better off looking at early June -- we'll see how it goes.

Turns out we can't get on the football field -- it's million dollar range Astroturf. We've got parking lots to the north with a view (shown) and also have the option of parking streetside all around the fort (also shown). Parking on level pavement with awnings opening to grass, shaded areas, and waterfront sites. I'll have pics tomorrow -- I hope this one works out!

65GT · 10-28-2006, 04:35 PM

Here's a link to some of the pre-planning photos of what we hope will be a great weekend Vintage Rally in 2007. The date is to be announced but we're now focusing on June 15/16/17...

http://www.airforums.com/photo...ges.php?c=3224

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LI Pets · 10-28-2006, 05:09 PM

Sorry to say.........I have a conflict with that week

65GT · 10-28-2006, 05:26 PM

Well it's only one part of the celebration. They're going to start out in Riverhead the weekend before and then rally all over the island Sun/Tue/Wed and then head on over Fort Schuyler for Thursday night. At least that's what we're trying to work out now. If we go much later we're on top of the WBCCI International in Perry GA. If we go much sooner we're stomping on folks Memorial Day weekend plans. If we go for July or August we're talking hot (not as hot as Perry GA mind you) and HUMID -- something we really want to avoid.

I hope your conflict goes away! Again it's not final yet, but you can see why we're trying to pull this weeklong celebration off when we are...

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robandzoe · 10-28-2006, 06:34 PM

Leo,

June is looking very!, VERY! busy. We will be hosting out May 31-June 3rd rally here in central NY. Let me know the vintage weekend, and we will do our best. June 22d people will be heading towards Perry, GA as the Vintage Parade in is on or about 25 June this year.

Rob

65GT · 10-28-2006, 07:05 PM

That's part of the difficulty of getting this whole thing in. I'm not really sure about UNY but down on the island July and August get VERY HUMID.

So, you having another swing band?

Are you folks headed for Perry? What are you bringing?

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munimula · 01-11-2007, 06:54 AM

Leo,

Any update on the planning of this Rally? Has it been pushed to the Fall?

--Dave