Just being the first to pull the grenade Pin.....

[Cammer]

To All,

I checked with the Lost Pines Resort this year.................I think that they have adequate parking areas for us.

The person/manager/event coordinator that I spoke with said that he would get back with me on a group room rate for our event..............he never called back.

Initially, I was quoted room rates starting at $ 300.00 per night...........that never changed..................they never called me back.

I don't know how the rest of you feel.........................but, there is NO WAY that I'm going to pay $ 1,000.00 for a long weekend when most of the time is spent away from the room!!!!!

In my opinion, they have a beautiful place but having the meet there is completely out of the question!!!!

Dee Walters/Cammer

[Madmiles442]

Yoda says,
One unreturned call does not a deal make....

[Madmiles442]

Originally Posted by Bwana Snake

Fredericksburg would work, Kerrville would work, Boerne would work that way we could cruise east and west. I’m telling you I’ve been there and done that and this cruising is second to none .......
Gary

I think one thing that's important is to be able to put us ALL up in the same place. Maybe that's the first line of the "Specification." If we have mutiple hotels, the groups in each hotel will end up with their own little parking lot party which doesn't unify the group like I think we want.
That place might be there in these towns, I just don't know a place in these towns with that capacity.

[tomh440]

I agree that we would need ALL in the same place. Big question is what is the number for ALL?

Is it possible for each group to come up with a number for how many rooms we may need for 2009?

Then there are Vendors, and other smaller groups. Corpus, Waco, ElPaso, Oklahoma........etc.

Any help on this is appreciated!

Thanks,
Tom

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

I know we have discussed this in the past few years and this year right after the event is usually when it starts. I would like everyone to take a break from trying to figure out a place in the first week after the event is over. No bashing of ideas, but lets us all sit down and let the wave of enjoyment simmer in our systems for awhile and enjoy life.
Then May 1st let the keys players from each group meet up with 3 Courses of Action. From there we can chose the path to follow.

I think the Number #1 criteria is keeping everybody in the same hotel/location. Once that is established and a location suitable for 100 cars and countless number of trailers, RV's with trailers, Semi Trailers and what every else we can cram into one spot, then all of our problems are solved. See the delima already. I know I wasn't there and I am sure people will say my opion doesn't count but I care about the people. Splitting up too me is not an option.

The search will go on and we will find the perfect spot I am sure of it

Gregg H
Baghdad or bust

[kountzecobra]

It really does my heart good to see everyone finally in agreement on this issue. Seems like most everyone wanted to tar and feather me when I suggested it earlier. Now, if we could move it a couple of weeks earlier ............

[427Aggie]

Dennis pulled the pin on the location David...don't think you want to start the timer on that bomb yet...especially when you skip out on us this year!

[kountzecobra]

Ya gotta keep a sense of humor!

[gsharapa]

I agree also and keeping everyone together is important. Hopefully we can get out in the hill country somewhere as that's where we all want to go drive anyway....Greg, hurry home and take charge of this!

[Francis]

I'm a new DCC member so I don't know all the details and history.

But, I too have traveled the country and found the same syndrome. The hospitality begins to wear off when they know they got you. I know Austin was selected due to central location. What about passing the baton between Austin, Dallas, and Houston with an annual rotation?

Personally, I would love to see DCC host the event at TMS - They have the facilities, hotels, eateries, plenty of city and country roads for cruising, and they are natural car guys. I think we might also have some connections at TMS in DCC.

Just a couple of ideas... I'm sure someone has come with the same before.
Francis

[Barnsnake]

As much as I would like it in my own "backyard", I wouldn't want to lose the Hill Country roads. It would also create a hardship for those folks in Corpus Christi and the Valley. They already drive a long way to get to Austin.

[emberglo66]

Well I have not been to the Austin meet ... well not exactly, last year a group of use from Houston ( three Superformances) trailer-ed our cars to Austin and planned on meeting up with the group but got sidetracked into the Texas Hill country. WOW what a cruse. I think we ended up putting 400 miles on our cars and never got close to Austin. started at Marble Falls for breakfast at the Bluebonnet Cafe and ... well I would be the worst to give directions. We also found this cool Hotel in Fredericksburg, The Hanger Hotel. http://www.hangarhotel.com/ we checked out the rooms for a future starting spot to cruse the hill country. And the BBQ in Llano ….Coopers… !!!! I found a great article in American Drives on the Texas Hill country and all the great crusing roads. (I will try to attach but think it is too big. If you would like a scanned copy send me an email with you address and I will send it off to you). There is so much to see and drive in the area around Austin with out ever getting on a highway... never understood why the group never cursed the Hill County. sorry just my 2 cents worth

[Texas-Saluki]

Originally Posted by Francis

Personally, I would love to see DCC host the event at TMS - They have the facilities, hotels, eateries, plenty of city and country roads for cruising, and they are natural car guys. I think we might also have some connections at TMS in DCC.

Francis, it would be safe to say... the Annual event is, and always will be in Austin (or area). The Houston group has a event in the fall (october ish) and maybe the Dallas group could pull something together . Cruises in Dallas are nothing like the Hill country and I would not want to give that up.

Originally Posted by emberglo66

We also found this cool Hotel in Fredericksburg, The Hanger Hotel. http://www.hangarhotel.com/ we checked out the rooms for a future starting spot to cruse the hill country.

Emberglo66 this looks like a nice place but way to small, we need a facility with at atleast 80-100 rooms as we have had about 60-90 stay at the hotel each year (growing each year)

finding a hotel large enough it going to be a challenge, this is one of the main reasons cammer found the Marriott originally and we have used it the past few years is it had the space (rooms) plus a parking lot that could accommodate us. The marriott is large enough but we have out grown their support ability and parking for an outdoor event our size.

[james-w]

Chris, agree with your comments. I would like to see the DCC host an event then we would have three large group events each year.

James

[Mrs 66 Snake]

We just lost our Economic Development Director to Granbury. In our last conversation, he mentioned a new convention center and a resort going in.

I think Motorsport Ranch is only about 15 mins away and the Texas Lakes Trail goes thru Granbury and could be a good cruise route.

And there's a drive-in that loves classic cars IIRC which might be a fun to-do one night.

[Roush #1]

Ya' know, I've never been to the drive inn without a back seat!

[Mrs 66 Snake]

Well, I've never been to a drive-in. Why would you need a backseat? *blinking innocently*

[Texas-Saluki]

you never went to the drive in's in Chicagoland... next you are going to tell me you don't like Gino's East

[Mrs 66 Snake]

Ah, you would be wrong about that! I liked Gino's East and was happy when they opened the one out by us so we didn't have to drive so far. My Co-Captain on cheerleading was the granddaughter of one of the founders so it wasn't uncommon to see Gren cheerleaders there. Although I prefered Lou Malnati's.

[jtcoppedge]

I want to thank everyone for filling out the survey as it is designed to help the hotel determine what they could have done differently to make the event more accomodating. I know that several attendees had issues valid issues with the hotel and believe me they are being addressed. There are a few things that I did want to point out that may help in determining next year's event.

First, the room block for the event started on Thursday night. Had the hotel know that a few people were planning on coming on Wednesday night the hotel would have reserved a few parking spots specifically for the early arrivals.

Second, check in time to the hotel is at 3 PM on the day that you are scheduled to arrive. There is no excuse for you to not be able to get into your room at 3PM and the hotel front desk should have apologized for that and offered you some type of compensation such as a free appatizer in the restaurant or a free drink while the hotel expedited your guest room.

Third, parking- The problem we had this year was that the hotel had an extremely large event on Wednesday and Thursday and that interrupted the flow of trailer parking. The hotel has offered to set up a designed parking diagram and email it out to everyone next year so that you will know exactly where to park as long as you are a registered guest.

Several people had commented on the extreme amount of space that the tractor trailers took up this year. The hotel has agreed to get with the members to determine a proper layout for next year in order to maximize the amount of space required to park all the guest trailers.

I did speak with the night manager of the hotel and he explained to me that the club had an open bar in the parking lot on Saturday night. If the TABC or Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commision had come by and seen this not only would the person serving the alcohol been arrested but the hotel would have lost their liquor license and been fined over $10,000.00. I am sure that no one wanted to see anyone go to jail or lose their liquor license.

The hotel may have acted a little abrasive but please keep in mind that there were a few things that were not commincated to them that caused a little tension.

Normally any type of food and beverage event on hotel premisis is run through the hotel to not only make sure it is a quality event but to maintain a safe and enjoyable event. No one likes to deal with an overserved individual ( we had a few on Friday night in the parking lot )

This year was by far the biggest we have seen over the last four years. In order to keep it fun we have to be able to communicate with one another to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible. Having a Hooter's truck in the parking lot is not something that every family attending wanted to see. It was not well received from the hotel guest perspective and certainly not from the hotel manager. Please keep in mind that the hotel manager likes hot wings just like anyone else but there is a time and a place for a Hooter's Truck and that was not the place nor the time.

Had the hotel hosted the event in the Ballroom of the hotel all of this would have been avoided. It is not about the money but the impression you leave on your attendees. The more organized you are the better your event. Why not let the hotel help you coordinate it.....It is what they do everyday....they live here...they know the best places to go.....they have all the contacts......it just makes sense.

I know several attendees that I spoke to said they would not be back next year for a few reasons....one of them was that they did not like the preception that the Cobra folks gave in the parking lot with the open bar and the Hooter's Truck......

Since I have known the Cobra Club they have always been first class.....they still are today as far as I am concerned. We just need to come together and make this a win win situation for both parties. If we have the banquet in the Ballroom you don't have to worry about a large event taking your parking.....If you have a reception in the ballroom you don't have to worry about anyone calling the police.....

Finally, The hotel is doing everything it can to address their mistakes. I just hope the Cobra Club will continue to host their annual event at the Austin Marriott North.

The hotel has agreed to offer the same rate for next year and is willing to waive any room rental for the ballroom next year based on a small food and beverage minimum. I know it's not as good as sitting next to your car with a cool one in your hand but it is supposed to be a social event right?

It's a great place to visit and they appreciate the entire Cobra Club. It is always a pleasure to see everyone year after year. That's my two cents......drive safe out there...

Jim Coppedge