Author Topic: Pagodafest 2025? (Read 5579 times)

jeblack123 · « **on:** September 03, 2024, 16:02:19 »

Good morning!

Any plans for a gathering in the US in 2025 or 2026 and if so, are there any details on dates, location, etc. Thanks!

James (Eddie) Black

mmizesko · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2024, 17:58:22 »

Eddie,

The Board started discussion about it but couldn't come to a consensus yet. We know it will be in the east somewhere.

Mike

MikeSimon · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2024, 19:56:55 »

Pick Cleveland, Ohio

. There is a lot to do! Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Crawford and Packard Auto Museums, Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and if you pick a date with an event at Mid Ohio, it would make for a great excursion 2 hrs drive. Ton of great restaurants also. And maybe one of the local MB dealerships would sponsor the event. Mercedes Benz North Olmsted, Mercedes Benz Bedford......Just thinking

Paul99 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2024, 15:24:06 »

How about a UK one. ? Possible at Brooklands or Mercedes world next door. They might be happy to host as well? Anyone in the UK with contacts there?

mdsalemi · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2024, 20:02:28 »

Quote from: Paul99 on September 10, 2024, 15:24:06

How about a UK one. ? Possible at Brooklands or Mercedes world next door. They might be happy to host as well? Anyone in the UK with contacts there?

We certainly have enough members in the UK that would warrant having some kind of gathering… But as we have learned with any of these, We need a local champion so to speak and some boots on the ground to take charge of the planning. Whoever chooses to do this, of course, will be aided by many other members to make it a team effort.

So who is willing to step up?

mdsalemi · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2024, 20:04:21 »

Quote from: MikeSimon on September 09, 2024, 19:56:55

Pick Cleveland, Ohio . There is a lot to do! Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Crawford and Packard Auto Museums, Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and if you pick a date with an event at Mid Ohio, it would make for a great excursion 2 hrs drive. Ton of great restaurants also. And maybe one of the local MB dealerships would sponsor the event. Mercedes Benz North Olmsted, Mercedes Benz Bedford......Just thinking

There were certainly plenty to do in the Cleveland area. But the question becomes once again who’s willing to step up and take charge of the planning? We need to have somebody local who would then be supported by other members as a team effort. Who in the Cleveland or Northern Ohio area is willing to do this?

Peter van Es · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2024, 19:27:37 »

European Event 2024 is being organised by James from the UK, and myself from the Netherlands.
We will skip 2025 in Europe... and we need some new people to step up to the plate of event organisation..

Peter

mdsalemi · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2024, 14:34:05 »

Due to the devastation in the Appalachian mountains in and around western NC and eastern TN, thoughts of an event in the Asheville area for 2025 are no longer in consideration.

Some thoughts on something out of harms way, maybe around autumn 2025 in western Michigan.

Would also LOVE to see a few of our many UK members step up to try and organize something on the fair isles. Scotland, Wales and England are pretty small and we have plenty of members concentrated in England that could put something together. Yes, the locations of the European events have been beautiful in the past, but the UK has PLENTY to offer in the way of charm out in the countryside. Not suggesting a tour of the M1 or M25 but there is a LOT of beautiful drives throughout the UK.

Club continuity mandates that new folks step up.

JamesL · « **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2024, 18:44:26 »

Michael, various conversations were had in Luxembourg.
The weather is not as predictable as (say) southern France but it’s not impossible- though not going to be in 2026

There was also some chat about a more technical get together, which could be anywhere.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #9 on:** October 09, 2024, 20:21:12 »

Quote from: JamesL on October 09, 2024, 18:44:26

Michael, various conversations were had in Luxembourg.
The weather is not as predictable as (say) southern France but it’s not impossible- though not going to be in 2026

There was also some chat about a more technical get together, which could be anywhere.

Weather is never predictable, anywhere, for any kind of long term planning. Just weeks ago the thought of a hurricane affecting the Appalachian mountains--6 hours from the coast--was nearly unthinkable. (for those who don't know, the fuel for a hurricane is warm oceans) Oh sure, we've had hurricanes come inland prior, but they just are just bad storms. This one happened to coincide with the Gull Wing Group's annual meeting in the mountains of Asheville, NC. Total devastation there now. We were thinking of maybe holding an event there. Another place was maybe Charleston, SC, but that place too--though spared so far this season, has seen hurricanes nearly every year. Only the severity changes.

The weather in UK isn't bad enough to prevent ownership and driving of the Pagoda (or any other collectibles) so it should not be that bad to plan something in UK either. Just saying. Oh sure, the south of France is lovely this time of year, but not accessible for many members.

Jack the Knife · « **Reply #10 on:** October 09, 2024, 22:22:32 »

Charleston would be a nice place to host, though I'd err towards Savannah owing to way more hotels (of generally better quality, too, I think), though surely Charleston has way more people who'd probably be interested in Pagodas.

I'd advocate for Winter Park in FL, too, contiguous to Orlando. Or can I plug Vero Beach...? There are like 5 other pagoda owners here who aren't in the club, I think, but I do see these cars driving about (all in Indian River Shores). Vero has a neat history of SCCA rallies back in the late 40s through the 50s, usually being the turnaround point for road rallies leaving from Miami. I can upload some pics later. There was also the predecessor of the Sebring endurance race here, which was held at the airport. Ocean Drive would be a super place to park some cars, and there are plenty of fine quality hotels that are relatively inexpensive. Superb winter weather, too.

mmizesko · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2024, 18:44:56 »

How about Niagara Falls or St. Catherines. Stays in the Eastern US. Slight chance of Snow in October, LOL. May be able to benefit from the exchange rate?

Mike

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2024, 22:30:43 »

Lucy and I attend an M.G. event in Newark, Ohio in June. The Mid-West M.G. events always seem to be able to attract folks from both coasts, the south and Canada. The Cherry Valley Hotel had convention facilities with great food. The facility had ample parking, including an area that was ideal for car displays. A big plus was an overflow lot big enough for over 25 tow-vehicles and trailers, with enough extra space for daily unloading and loading of trailered cars. They also set up a car washing area off one of the side entrances.

dirkbalter · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2024, 00:41:48 »

How about Las Vegas? The weather is pretty predictable. Also, something to do for the passengers that may not be as excited as we are about our pagodas.

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2024, 02:02:06 »

Quote from: mmizesko on October 10, 2024, 18:44:56

How about Niagara Falls or St. Catherines. Stays in the Eastern US. Slight chance of Snow in October, LOL. May be able to benefit from the exchange rate?

Mike

September in Niagara is lovely. Almost all of the attractions are still open but the crowds are mostly gone. Weather is usually still warm through the day and everything is fairly close to see things. Exchange rate is close to 40% so not a bad deal.

mmizesko · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2024, 17:23:24 »

Dirk, when we changed the format of Joe Alexander's PUB to a more Social "PagodaFest" gathering, we decided that in order to get as many members involved, we should rotate it from East Coast, West Coast and Midwest. So we had Virginia, San Diego, and Chicago. It is the East coast's turn for the next one. As evidenced by the Southeast's weather prone September and October this year, we should probably keep it north of the Mason Dixon line.

Maybe Vegas in 2027?

Mike

dirkbalter · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2024, 20:14:19 »

Quote from: mmizesko on October 11, 2024, 17:23:24

Dirk, when we changed the format of Joe Alexander's PUB to a more Social "PagodaFest" gathering, we decided that in order to get as many members involved, we should rotate it from East Coast, West Coast and Midwest. So we had Virginia, San Diego, and Chicago. It is the East coast's turn for the next one. As evidenced by the Southeast's weather prone September and October this year, we should probably keep it north of the Mason Dixon line.

Maybe Vegas in 2027?

Mike

Mike, I wasn't aware of that but it makes sense.

Vander · « **Reply #17 on:** October 14, 2024, 13:59:15 »

I think Florida would be a great location, a lot of venues in Orlando and around there. There are a lot members in Florida, whether primary residences or winter homes. Also nothing has been done in the central part of the country. Such as Texas.

I agree England would be good, for a non-US location.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #18 on:** October 14, 2024, 15:11:45 »

The challenge with Florida is, it's brutal in the summer time for the most part. When it starts to cool down a bit, it's the unpredictable hurricane season (entire SE and Gulf Coast areas). Winter is the perfect time to do it, but by then most in the northern climates have their cars "put away" for the winter. So, a dilemma if the goal is attracting more than locals. Perhaps TX suffers from the same dilemma.

There are surely enough in UK to have a gathering...

JamesL · « **Reply #19 on:** October 14, 2024, 16:34:30 »

Pagodafest 2025 is a US event.

I’m sure someone this side of the pond will step up for next spring/summer.

rwmastel · « **Reply #20 on:** October 15, 2024, 03:19:03 »

I just counted 23 Full Members in New Jersey. Maybe they can organize something including the MBCA June Jamboree as part of a Pagoda Fest?

What other fun, large east coast car shows could we incorporate? Any Oktoberfest German car shows?

mmizesko · « **Reply #21 on:** October 15, 2024, 17:22:59 »

The heck with the MBCA. I wouldn't want anything to to do with those guys. PagodaFest is about W113's only, in my opinion.

Pretty soon, I won't get a vote though.

Mike

rwmastel · « **Reply #22 on:** October 15, 2024, 17:36:14 »

Mike,

I was reflecting back on the car show we participated in at the winery near Williamsburg VA in, I believe, 2013. That was great fun and a nice display of cars. Not being involved in east coast events, the June Jamboree was the only specific example I could think of. Sorry to trigger your severe MBCA bias.

rwmastel · « **Reply #23 on:** October 16, 2024, 15:57:07 »

How about Pittsburgh PA and the Pittsburgh Vintage Gran Prix show in the park?
https://pvgp.org/

Deutsche Classic
NW of Philly PA, near Reading.
https://www.deutscheclassic.com/

sandcrab59 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2024, 22:24:33 »

MIKE
Start looking at Conn. There is a good race trac there. At this time the name escapes me.
It is in the western half.
Tom M

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Author Topic: Pagodafest 2025? (Read 5579 times)