[Shotimes] Convention 2007 Update

[D. Mallinson]

We are giving Seattle every chance, that is why we announced it so far 
in advance, give people a chance to plan.  The drive to SF was a big 
part of the joy for Jan and I and a lot of people.  We saw things we 
would not have seen (or done) thanks to that convention.  The West Coast 
people made it possible by stepping up and attending, filling out a good 
attendance from the rest of the country. 

I hear from people all the time "you don't come to my area"  but when 
they take the time to put some pins in a US map, they know we are 
trying.  WE can't be everywhere, and you have to admit that most clubs 
spend a LOT more time East of the Miss. River than West of it.

Not many small clubs would have taken on the risk we did for SF, but 
George and company did a great job of putting things together.  The same 
basic group with some more dedicated people are working on 08 in 
Seattle.  I am looking forward to that event.

Yea Joseph, there is a chance Seattle won't happen.  And old cars break 
down, but even the people that had problems on the way to SF say it was 
still a great trip/convention.  I prefer to try to be positive and will 
do what I can to make things happen every year.  As long as there is 
support, we will be there.

On that subject, we HAVE to have earlier registrations than this year.  
So get your registrations in early, if paying that early is a problem, 
call me, we can handle delayed payments too.

Don Mallinson

Christina Casselton wrote:

> VO  Oh I totally understand about the "differences" in distances west 
> of the Ol Miss.  My point was that this will be the 16th convention I 
> do believe (officially anyway), but only ONE of them was ever truly 
> out west.  I just think we are not only ignored by being on the west 
> coast by Ford but also by the whole SHO community in general.  We had 
> a blast at San Francisco and a great turn out.  I hope Seattle will 
> draw those from the west coast who view the east coast as too far for 
> the very same reasons you state that the west is too far for the 
> easterner's!    Hopefully with advance planning and notice, Seattle 
> will be a go!
>  
> Christina
>
>  
> On 9/7/06, van Oss <vanOss@centurytel.net 
> <mailto:vanOss@centurytel.net>> wrote:
>
>     Christina,
>
>     I beg you to consider that distances west of Ol' Miss are
>     different.  New
>     York City to the Gateway Arch is 950 miles, while San Francisco to
>     the
>     Gateway Arch is 2000 miles.  It's just a matter of where SHO
>     owners live and
>     how far they'd have to drive to get to a western convention.  It's
>     not about
>     folks out west not being appreciated.
>
>     Plus:  Out west there are vast, lonely expanses of Interstate
>     where no
>     mechanic has ever heard of an engine made for Ford by Yamaha.  If
>     an aging
>     SHO breaks down en route to or from a convention, parts delivery
>     (measured
>     in days) becomes a concern.
>
>     Personally I give the alleged '08 Seattle convention about a
>     1-in-5 chance.
>     I don't really believe it will be viable.  Sorry, but based on
>     distances and
>     gas prices, that's my feeling.
>
>     VO
>
>
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     Sorry, but the last west coast convention (and only truly fully
>     "west"
>     convention ever), was in 2004.  2005 was in Indianapolis and this
>     year was
>     in Memphis.  I know the west is already scheduled to have one in
>     Seattle in
>     2008, but I really think the easterner's get more options closer
>     to home
>     than we "lost souls" out west ever have.
>
>     C