There is always Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Farmer's Museum there and the Fennimore Museum I believe. Then there is the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo. From Saratoga, go north into the Adirondacks (Lake Placid is a nice place to go), and then there is a short jaunt over to Hemmings Motors in Bennington, Vermont. There is the Corning Museum of Glass our in Corning, NY too. Lake George is up the road and at the north end of the lake there is Fort Ticonderoga.
We'll be there with the 58 SOTR and hopefully our Buick.
It'll be a good time - we hope!
__________________
Rob, Zoe', Stanton, Bryce and Braedon Baker
WDCU 1st VP
Do you Listen to the www.theVAP.com
Plymouth, NY 13832 WBCCI #2820
Courtesy parking W/E Wifi
(607) 334 4960
58 30' Sovereign of the Road: http://sweetsovereign.blogspot.com
65 17' Caravel
54 22' Safari
1959 Buick Electra
Saratoga is on the eastern edge of the Adirondack Park. If you are coming from the west, go north at Utica and wind your way through the Adirondacks to Saratoga. There are plenty of state campgrounds that you can stay at (book early), and if you bring your fishing pole you can catch your dinner at any one of hundeds of lakes, stream, and ponds. The west branch of the Ausable River near Lake Placid is one of the best trout streams in the nation.
If you've been looking for an excuse to experience the Adirondacks, the Jam may be it.
I may be able to have courtesy parking at our place in Long Lake for one or two trailers, as well. PM me if you're interested.
Hi all,
I'm one of the organizers of the Vintage Trailer Jam 2008. Let me try to answer some of the questions that have been asked here.
The fee for the event includes all the stuff quoted above (camping, pumpouts, a catered meal) plus a lot more. Everyone who signs up gets $100 off future work at GSM Vehicles, a free year of Airstream Life magazine, a free year's membership to the Saratoga Auto Museum (which includes unlimited admission), and if you sign up before May 31st, $100 worth of coupons at Vintage Trailer Supply. For a $165 investment, that's a nice deal!
The reason we call it a "jam" is because we wanted to be clear that it's not a rally. It's a private event, not sponsored by Airstream or the WBCCI, and not a forum rally. It's not for profit, but as 2air rightly pointed out, we sure don't want to lose money on it either!
The focus is going to be on learning about vintage trailers and vintage motorhomes. So there will be seminars about trailer & RV history, hands-on repair/restoration workshops, and lifestyle presentations. I'll present at least one or two myself. Colin Hyde of GSM Vehicles will also give some seminars, and a lot of free on-site advice, and if you've ever met Colin in person or heard him on The VAP you know he's a wealth of information.
Steve Hingtgen of Vintage Trailer Supply is another co-sponsor, and he'll also be presenting a seminar or two. Brett Greiveldinger will also present, and I think he'll be doing something on motorhomes. We're still working out the schedule and will have it online ASAP. In my opinion, the workshops & seminars are a huge part of the value of this event, and really the primary reason why we are putting it together.
By the way, I heard today that there will be an exhibit of GTOs at the Auto Museum while we are there. The Saratoga Automobile Museum is in itself a great place to visit, and as I mentioned, the admission is free to people attending the Jam.
Since the seminars I mentioned are being presented without any compensation to the speakers, we can keep the walk-in fee rather cheap. But to camp on the grounds of the Saratoga Automobile Museum is technically very tricky. There are no facilities for camping on site, so we have to bring in water, electric, pump-out trucks, food, trash cans -- everything.
If the $160 fee is too much, you can always camp off-site and walk in for $45. That covers the seminars, the dinner, and the entertainment (sword swallowing, anyone?). A full-hookup campground would probably cost about $90 so you'd save $25 and be able to run your air conditioning. I encourage people to do this if it works better for them.
Carol asked what else there is to do in the area. Saratoga Springs is in a great area with lots of things to see and do. See this link for details.
Mandolindave asked about jamming. We'd love to have some music! Bring your instruments. I'll have my ukuleles there. (I hope I don't dissuade anyone from coming with that statement!)
Soldiermedic joked about being "jammed in there". Seriously, there's acres of space on the grass for us to park, but since we have to bring in the utilities, we have decided to limit the total number of trailers to 100. Only 20 non-vintage units will be accepted, and those spaces are first-come, first-served. After we hit the limit, you can still show up but only as a walk-in.
It should be a lot of fun for the people who come. If the event is a success, we might even do it again next year ...
That sounds better.
Not that the promoters have to explain the business end of this event, but I was more concerned with my latest pet pieve of paying for and then not being able to eat the food offered at such events. Last time (and there have been way too many times) i told myself THIS IS IT! no more rally food. There should be a way to opt out of the dinner charge. I did want to address this when purchasing passes on VTS, but there was not a way to ask this question before clicking buy now.
Other then THAT, I really do not have a problem with the total cost of the event. Just trying to make a point about how fees change and add up.
If you are really going to have that many seminars or classes, three days is a pinch.
One more thing...does "the Company" or the Club" have rights to the word Rally or Meet? somehow Jam and Vintage do not really jell together for me. Jam being used by the young and hip and Vintage is, well, vintage. I think it makes me feel older....hey....like my trailer!
somehow Jam and Vintage do not really jell together for me. Jam being used by the young and hip and Vintage is, well, vintage. I think it makes me feel older....hey....like my trailer!
To me, the vintage Airstream community is the young and hip scene! Something about having little money but lots of energy to fix things up has lots to do with it. The new, young, vintage attitude is what got me back into Airstreams.
somehow Jam and Vintage do not really jell together for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoverOwner
To me, the vintage Airstream community is the young and hip scene!
Safari62,
I agree with John, Vintage is the new Hip. As far as the using the word Jam. Tony Hawk (the skateboarder) is famous for his annual event called the "Boom Boom Huck Jam" and is considered hip by many of the "young." Though he is turning 40 this year I doubt he will be changing the event name to "rally"
To me, the vintage Airstream community is the young and hip scene! Something about having little money but lots of energy to fix things up has lots to do with it. The new, young, vintage attitude is what got me back into Airstreams.
Dig it! Then I must be an aging hipster. After the restoration of the trailer I certainly can relate to the little money part. I am afraid if the energy returns I might buy another one and try it again. So I have a self imposed fix and finish one at a time rule.
Which brings me back to the way this is being advertised with the attempt to possibility attract a younger group that has not taken to the existing "rally" formula. Hench the "Jam" catch word and as Rich mentioned "it is not wbccl, Forum, vac, or others mentioned.
Interesting.....is it possible to remove all to things we do not like about Rallies now and try something new? I have a small list but I would start with food. Did i mention bad food. bad, cold, dished out in small portions by the same people collecting the fees? Yes, that's right, I am not going to let this food topic go until someone tells me it's optional.
So good for the Vintage lifestyle dreamweavers that also offer parts and installation to help us on the road to our "AirstreamDreams" (thanks Steve) and Rich and Colin for trying something new.
I'll pay extra if Fred Coldwell makes an appearance. He does not have to give a seminar, just have him cruise the grounds in a chuaffered golf cart or better yet, one of the GTO's, with bull horn in hand making comments on each vintage unit his driver stops at. PRICELESS!
Interesting.....is it possible to remove all to things we do not like about Rallies now and try something new? I have a small list but I would start with food. Did i mention bad food.
-it is POSSIBLE, but you would have to make sure the food preparation was entrusted only to 'streamers from South Louisiana..
Fred Coldwell, YES! my new hero... that dude knows his vintage!
I agree with John, Vintage is the new Hip. As far as the using the word Jam. Tony Hawk (the skateboarder) is famous for his annual event called the "Boom Boom Huck Jam" and is considered hip by many of the "young." Though he is turning 40 this year I doubt he will be changing the event name to "rally"
But if the marketing men proclaim vintage hip, is that not the death nell of the cool factor? Just by using a youth catch word, it is the antitesis of vintage essence. Just look at the Harley crowd. Take a product, add the lifestyle element and delute with mass marketing. not cool.
And nothing makes my dentures rattle more then a bunch of baggy panted dudes banging their boards against the sidewalk. Get a job, hoodlum!
But really, if Mr. Hawk was really cool would he care what it is called? I suppose it depends on the target market. Now I cannot get the picture of Jammed toes out of my head.
I was never hip, but owned a Hobie skateboard back in the mid 60's. Ordered it in the mail, waited two weeks...was that exciting opening that box! Wish I still owned it.
How about a sub section forum for skateboarding Airstreamers? just kidding Mods!
I'd be prone to think that since Rich is a connoisseur of barbecue and Eleanor a gourmet chef the food offering won't be in the paltry category.
And for speakers, besides Fred as mentioned, Pee Wee would be a wonderful addition to the line-up.
The jam sounds more akin to the great Homecoming celebrations at Jackson Center and a huge block party with penty to do! Not being limited to Airstreams it would also be more along the lines of the Tin Can Tourists events and concourse with many wonderful and varied vintage trailers.
__________________ -Carol
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Coincidentally, the past two days I have been talking to Fred Coldwell about coming to the VTJ '08. Like you, I would very much would like to have him come and present one of his very interesting historical talks. He has tentatively consented, schedule permitting. I'll update the VTJ 08 home page when this is confirmed.
We're also working on other presenters, which is one reason why the schedule isn't nailed down yet. Stay tuned!
Coincidentally, the past two days I have been talking to Fred Coldwell about coming to the VTJ '08. Like you, I would very much would like to have him come and present one of his very interesting historical talks. He has tentatively consented, schedule permitting. I'll update the VTJ 08 home page when this is confirmed.
We're also working on other presenters, which is one reason why the schedule isn't nailed down yet. Stay tuned!
I volunteer to drive the GTO while Fred shares his knowledge on Vintage row.
Now contact Dr. Daze for a lecture on Vintage restoration blunders!
Colin can give a talk on how it really is possible to spend over 100K on a show trailer.
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together for me. Jam being used by the young and hip and Vintage is, well, vintage. I think it makes me feel older....hey....like my trailer!
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