Pagodafest 2025?

[Mike Hughes]

Those are the old logos. We updated them last year. Not too much different, but different.

Didn't know that. How are they different?

[mdsalemi]

Didn't know that. How are they different?

In the original "new" logo, the image of the Pagoda was kind of ragged and wasn't done properly, in graphic arts terms. This was because it was done as they say, "quick and dirty" and at minimal cost. In addition, the color morphed from the designer's original specification.

Last year, our designer (Elvacomm; the one who does PagodaWorld Magazine) re-did the logo, cleaning up the ragged image, and adjusting the color back to the original and also creating legitimate B&W versions (for when color isn't available). He also wrote the design spec such that use of the logo now follows generally accepted logo usage.

It may take a keen eye to note the differences but they are there.

[rwmastel]

Looking at the memberlist, there are a lot of members, many of whom have never participated in the forum or maybe come on here just to read a few things in the TM but don't look for posts about anything, never minding events.

My personal preference is to set the forum to force user login to read the forums.  That way, we know everyone using the forums.  The membership list would really be accurate.  But, I really need to make a post in the Full Members forum to discuss it and not hijack this thread.

[Tomnistuff]

This event is beginning to sound like fun.

It's true that Florida is a bit far for us in the extreme Northeast (Quebec City for me) to drive for a weekend car event.  However, I have to admit that the best vintage car trip of my life so far was what I, and others along the way (Ferrari Chat members) called The Cavalino Classic Snowball Run to Palm Beach , Florida in January 2010, which started in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada during a snow storm.  I started it alone with a 1969 Ferrari that I had restored, on an open U-Haul trailer and towed it to Maryland, left the tow-truck and trailer there, no more snow, and drove my Ferrari, along with my friends and their two old Ferraris the rest of the way to the Breakers in Palm Beach.  My round trip took 8 days to drive.  We spent 10 days at the Breakers, including about five for the Cavallino Classic (my wife flew there and back to meet me) and the whole trip was a "once in a lifetime experience".

I was almost 65 years old then.  I am almost 80 now, but I can probably find a retired nephew to go with me to share the driving.  I am not concerned about my 230SL's reliability.  It has never been better.

Easier and more realistic for me at my current age would be something organized in Williamsburg or points North. (less driving, commensurate with a long weekend car event).  I imagine it would probably be my last event, hopefully not in a snowstorm this time.

I will closely monitor the discussions as the 2025 event develops.

Tom Kizer

[Raymond]

I love Florida.  I live in Jacksonville where we've had direct hits from only two hurricanes in 150 years.  However, the state is mostly flat.  There aren't a lot of cool driving roads and I believe that is a must for a successful PUB or Pagodafest.  If we choose the low country like Savannah to Charleston, we'd need a track day at Roebling Road to find an interesting curve.  By next year, the mountains north of Atlanta will be recovered from the big storm and there are many places to find a pleasant mountain road.   How about Nashville?  There is plenty to do in town, and beautiful country around it.  Any local heroes we can support to get us started?  Reach out for a no obligation conversation.

[JamesL]

Biscuits at Loveless Cafe followed by a bimble down the Natchez Trace…

[H. Keith Henry]

Hi. Are we planning a Pagodafest 2025?

[zoegrlh]

Keith, sure hope someone steps up and decides to host one. I’ll be glad to help. Do you think we should do another Williamsburg gathering?

[Tomnistuff]

There are three pages of posts under EVENTS, with the same "subject", but it appears to have gone "dormant" since November due to a search for an appropriate venue and a number of members to organize it.  I want to go to one, so I am patiently waiting for one to be organized.  I'm too far away to help, and getting too old to do anything but attend.  Williamsburg is a bit far for me but I think it would be a great venue and worth driving my 66 230Sl there.  These posts should probably be moved to EVENTS. (moderator?)
Tom Kizer

[mdsalemi]

Hello!

I am going to ask one of the moderators who normally do these things, to move this topic to EVENTS and out of GENERAL DISCUSSION.

As your new President, I'm all about events and supporting them in ways that make sense. There's no better learning experience than going to an event, even if you cannot bring your car due to mechanical or distance reasons--or maybe you don't even have one yet.

Our last major event, under the PagodaFest banner, was in Chicago in September of 2023. This was an event long in coming due to the worldwide pandemic. Prior to that were the Charlottesville event and the San Diego event, east and west coasts. One thing that both of these events shared, as well as events prior such as Williamsburgh and the PUB events, has been a champion and a group of members who together formed the planning committee and made it happen. Without these critical member volunteers, an event cannot happen. In fact, nothing in our group can happen without champions and volunteers.

There is and has been a bit of a demand, if not clamoring, for another event in 2025 in the USA. Unless someone steps up quickly and organizes something, nothing will happen. The board of directors, a group of members just like you, cannot force things to happen.

Aside from our own event, just the Pagoda SL Group, two possibilities have been floated, and that is to work with and tag along to two MBCA (Mercedes-Benz Club of America) events that are on the calendar for this year. One of them is in Alabama, which includes a location near to the MB plant, and another in Indianapolis. Just because these events exist, and you can attend them if you join the MBCA, doesn't make it an effortless operation for us to tag along as a group. We still need a champion to take on the coordination and communications, and probably a small group of members to assist.

So, any takers? Anyone with MBCA connections willing to take on the task? Or, does anyone have a solid idea for our own event and willing to become its champion?

[JamesL]

I highly recommend the vanEs approach: get some likely organisers drunk at one event and tell them they are on the hook for organising the next one. Don't ask me how I know

[H. Keith Henry]

Thanks guys. I had not noticed the "Events" tab. But at least this thread restarted the conversation.

[pj]

A few of you have mentioned the Gilmore Museum. Would it make sense to piggyback on to this event?
https://mbca.glueup.com/event/deutschemarques-131816/
It would save us most of the effort, wouldn't it?

[Jordan]

A few of you have mentioned the Gilmore Museum. Would it make sense to piggyback on to this event?
https://mbca.glueup.com/event/deutschemarques-131816/
It would save us most of the effort, wouldn't it?

Hey Peter, it's the middle of July but then it's Michigan so who knows what the weather will be.  Not our usual September but do we have anyone living in the area to assist with this?  Makes sense but I think we need someone local to bring us together.  Do you need to be a member of mbca to attend?  I'm not.

[pj]

Hey Peter, it's the middle of July but then it's Michigan so who knows what the weather will be.

At least it won't be snowing.

I know PagodaFest is intended to be a pretty large event, so I don't think we have enough volunteer power in southwestern Ontario or Niagara/Buffalo to do that. But I would stand up to help, if it happened here. We sure miss Dieter!

[Jonny B]

As an FYI, the Alabama event is called Star Summit. It will be at the MB factory. There will be tours of the facility, which is not open for public tours, a car show, performance events, and drives. While this is a Mercedes Benz Club of America sponsorship, you do not have to be a member to attend. They have several hotels available.

The contact is Jim Roberts from MBCA.

Jim indicated that it would be likely there could be enough space for our group (depending on numbers of course).

I can help with contacts. Someone or two (or three) would need to be in touch with Jim  to begin the leg work.

FYI - I have already volunteered to handle the concours.

[doitwright]

If I am not mistaken, I heard somewhere that the Indianapolis event in September was going to have the Pagoda as the main featured MB.