[Mesa Mike]

I'd like to chime in here with some thoughts.

I came to AZ in 2006 from the Bay Area, excited to extend my driving time with the great weather here. Eagerly I joined in my first cruise from Idaho road/60 to Globe on a challenge run for the ice-cream between PHX and TUC gang. About 20 cars and a fun time. and lunch. As I recall this was organized by Tucson John and was kind of an annual thing where John gave me a $2 bill which I still have in my jewelry case. The next run was, I think was the Route 66 run. Again an annual run and always fun. Picnic at Rattlesnake, yuck, and Christmas party and a Picnic in Tuscon at one of the homes of the gang down there. Pretty good year.
Mix of east side/west side runs with a run up to Payson or Jakes Corner thrown in too.
I see Mikiec posted an old photo of a large number of Cobras recently. The only time I have seen that many cars together was when we went on a charity ride to a local medical center to give a dying wish ride to a husband/wife team. I counted 42 cars.

Now, since 2006 I have seen turnouts of 6-8 cars a large number. Local coffee and cars do draw up to 12 cars and are centrally located in Scottsdale. Not sure why the number of participants has fallen so low. Maybe Bob is right, we are getting older and cannot make as many runs as we would like. Or........now here i where I will take some heat, but that's OK, bring it on. I still participate in the Bay Area Cobra Club cruises. Why? Yes that's where we are from but if you want, log on to the BACC web site and take a look at the planned activities. The annual calendar comes out in Jan with monthly activities listed for the calendar year. All members are encouraged to make suggestions but the runs are planned months in advance. This year my wife and other AZ members will join in the 20th annual Snakes to the Lake in Sept. A trip from everywhere in the state of California to Lake Tahoe. Normally about 50-60 cars but there will be many more this year because of the 20th year.

DRAT: I liked your SD trip and spoke with you about this. I would have joined you except for some shoulder surgery. DON"T stop making recommendations you have some good ideas.

My point here is? For bigger turnouts I think we need to establish runs that are planned months in advance with some adhoc last min ideas thrown in. I only seems a few guys come up with ideas here while the quiet majority just don't attend. Here's why the BACC is and will always have more attendees that the AZ Club. If there's nothing for the girls to do and enjoy it doesn't happen in CA.

Now back to the RAT. Who doesn't like SD? Yes it's a long drive but weather and things to do there are limit less. Rat boy, put a trip together to the Marine Miramar annual Air Show. 1-2 nights stay with the air show, dinners, local cruise with the great SD guys. But......many will not attend because of the long drive. I guess AZ is a day trip only club without many of the wives. Maybe that's the best it will be. However, there is some reason the attendance has fallen to such a pitiful few of mostly the same guys.

I encourage "Rat Boy" and all others to throw out ideas out that might be for October/November. I think Bob mentioned the Grand Canyon. Beautiful run but needs a year out reservation plan if you want to stay on the rim.

While you guys are Cruising Route 66 I'll be in Huntington Beach for an annual Factory Five show. My 9th year of DJing the show. Planned each year the same weekend in April. Planning, planning, planning. Just my $.02