2nd Annual Camaro5Fest C5F II ???

[kga10734]

I am changing my vote.

Heartland Park in Topeka Kansas looks like the best place to have it. They are pretty much right in the center of the states and have the different tracks all in one spot. I also vote to have it in mid June so the kids would be out of school and more people could attend.

You know Heartland Park is big enough to hold a C5Fest with room to grow. It would also be cool since they have a real road course.

[Abygale]

I like the Hartland idea too but anywhere in the midwest would be good. I just think we need to be considerate of those out west and those to the north this time.

[Pamaro]

Originally Posted by mlee

Not sure about all the hot weather talk... It's spring time with absolute perfect DA for racing...

Tru dat...Texas in April is one of the reasons I stay here!

Originally Posted by Blackend SS

But Seriously I would love to help out as staff. Im sure the more people out there to help the more everyone including the mods will be able to enjoy themselves!

I would be honored to be part of the staff as well. It was great to be able to take it all in for year one, now I'd be happy to pay it forward by helping in any way I can.

[Blade]

Originally Posted by mrray13

Gateway in St. Louis has everything people are looking for. Huge facility, with 1/4 mile, autocrossing and oval tracks. Centrally located, and can easily hold huge crowds. There's also a gas station right across the street, lol.


That or Topeka, KS would be the most centrally located, and most likely to bring the largest crowds. End of May, early June, would be the best time as well, IMHO.

In any case, I just need enough heads up so I can go. This year I had too much going on career wise, ie, State Board testing, to go to the 'Fest. I want to go to 'Fest II !!

St. Louis! Maybe I can check out a Cards game too if the Fest is in Spring again

[Blade]

I am from Philly and live in Charlotte. Valdosta was the furthest south I have ever driven.

My point I don't care where the fest is next time, I will make it. This car, the site and the fest gives me an excellent excuse to visit parts of the US I have never been to.

[iluvmy67camaro]

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

(Disclaimer: Apex Motorsports plans to sponsor and attend 2011 C5Fest regardless of venue. We are eager to see the ball start rolling!)

I agree that you will never please everyone, but the only thing Kansas would accomplish is it would be inconvenient for everyone. Population density in the middle of the country is super low and causes practically everyone to have to travel a very long way. I don't see many west coasters crossing the Rockies or many east coasters traveling much past the Mississippi River. Not to mention, how many locations in that part of the country have the infrastructure to suddenly support a few thousand extra people.

If your looking for maximum participation at one location then the eastern US seems like the obvious choice. The majority of the hard work would already be taken care of if C5Fest just returned to the same location, or you could choose a more central location in the eastern US like Kentucky or Tennessee. Anywhere in the Nashville, Louisville, Cinncinnatti region places you within about 600 miles of 60% of the US population. Other than that, there isn't very much that makes sense when you take personal preference out of the equation.

~ Agree with all accept Cinncinnatti.

Originally Posted by Mr. Brownstone

I'm for having it in Valdosta, Ga again. The track was AWESOME, the Hotel was VERY,VERY NICE and VERY receptive to activities going on in the parking lot into the wee hours. The locals and restaurants were really receptive and Law Enforcement was very cool as well.

However, I'm not opposed to Atlanta, Bowling Green, Indianapolis areas if that were more centrally localized for everyone. I think attendance would really drop if it were on the West coast.

~ Good possibilities, however I am in complete agreement about bringing it back to Valdosta and SGMSP.

Originally Posted by speedster

Just keep a few things in mind as you ponder the possibilities:

1. Big tracks cost big money. It's about the people not the track. SGMP was an excellent track and bent over backwards. The event would not have gone as well without their support. Tracks that host NASCAR and/or NHRA aren't going to be as accommodating.

2. You will end up with one event a year. Two is too much and each event will be substandard based on how well C5Fest 1 went. Sponsors can only be spread so thin. People need plenty of time to plan for this event. Think of the Super Bowl twice a year - it would lose some of its luster.

3. If you go to a big city do not expect the level of hospitality we had in Valdosta. The police were beyond hospitable. At a place like Las Vegas we are a small fish in a big pond.

4. The event should be based on the Camaro and the people. Other venues just dilute the focus of the event.

5. To be fair, a western event sounds like a decent plan. Albeit will probably require local west coast mods/staff to pull it off efficiently.

Just my <.02

~ Yup

Originally Posted by Whisper Jet

Have the wedding at the C5F with over 1,000 guest in attendance.

~ Great Idea!!!

What ever the decision is, I am sure it will be the right one for Camaro5Fest. All I know is that this was the best event I have ever attended and want to do it again next year! Count me in as a volunteer as well if you have it in Georgia (or Alabama).

[Ject]

I would love to be part of the C5Staff or planning or anything really.

I like a lot of the ideas so far except for one in Florida, just extra miles everyone has to drive then where this years was.

Would love to have it midly centralized so we can get east/west/north/south to all able to come. would love to see 1,500+ camaros!

[Dr Jkel]

My .02 worth is it doesn't really matter, C5F-1 was a great event, met alot of nice people that I had only talked to on here. I think SGMP was a great place, but would not be opposed to having it at a different location more centrally located. With that being said, people came from all over which made it even better, so ya'll hook it up and we will be there.

[Abygale]

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

(Disclaimer: Apex Motorsports plans to sponsor and attend 2011 C5Fest regardless of venue. We are eager to see the ball start rolling!)

I agree that you will never please everyone, but the only thing Kansas would accomplish is it would be inconvenient for everyone. Population density in the middle of the country is super low and causes practically everyone to have to travel a very long way. I don't see many west coasters crossing the Rockies or many east coasters traveling much past the Mississippi River. Not to mention, how many locations in that part of the country have the infrastructure to suddenly support a few thousand extra people.

If your looking for maximum participation at one location then the eastern US seems like the obvious choice. The majority of the hard work would already be taken care of if C5Fest just returned to the same location, or you could choose a more central location in the eastern US like Kentucky or Tennessee. Anywhere in the Nashville, Louisville, Cinncinnatti region places you within about 600 miles of 60% of the US population. Other than that, there isn't very much that makes sense when you take personal preference out of the equation.

I'm going to preface my response by saying again, I don't really care where the next C5Fest gathering is, except that I hope we are considerate to those in the north and the west this time.

I want to respond to what I feel are some very inaccurate statements in your post. Did you even look at the link for the Heartland Park in Topeka?

You state that having the gathering in this spot would make it inconvenient for everyone. I don't think the people traveling from Canada or the northern states or those to the west would agree with you.

As far as infrastructure goes, you are wrong. Topeka Kansas has a population of approximately 171,000 versus the population of Valdosta Georgia which is about 50,000. Valdosta did just fine accommodating us, and Topeka would too. In fact, there are seven hotels in the area nearby the track, and an International airport (Kansas City International Airport) within 60 miles.

Please take a look at Heartland's website before so quickly jumping to conclusions. It's a state of the art facility, they host national NHRA events and they can easily host C5Fest.

http://www.hpt.com/

Hotels around the park:

http://www.hpt.com/uploads/sponsor%20hotel%20map.pdf

Again, I don't care where the next fest is located, I will travel to it regardless. Just didn't want a bunch of inaccurate statements being made about the location is all.

[Apex Motorsports]

I'm not saying the facility isn't great, I was responding to a statement that just mentioned Kansas or Nebraska because it was central. It's definitely smack in the middle of the US, but the US population isn't. It's on the coasts and mostly the east coast. I don't think it will pull in these huge crowds from both coasts some are claiming, I think it will just make it too far for people on both coasts instead of one or the other and end up only drawing attendees from the middle. I could be wrong though.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Abygale

I'm going to preface my response by saying again, I don't really care where the next C5Fest gathering is, except that I hope we are considerate to those in the north and the west this time.

I can't explain how happy I am to hear expressions of such enthusiasm and dedication!!!

I wanted to comment on that last bit, though...only because it was brought up while we were in Valdosta...April/May seems a good time to hold the event because there aren't tons of vacations being taken, yet...however...in April/May it's a tad cold up north. I got off the plane, actually, in Buffalo and was blasted with high-50s wind.

I did look at the Topeka facility site...it's promising! We'll keep it in mind.

[Abygale]

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

I'm not saying the facility isn't great, I was responding to a statement that just mentioned Kansas or Nebraska because it was central. It's definitely smack in the middle of the US, but the US population isn't. It's on the coasts and mostly the east coast. I don't think it will pull in these huge crowds from both coasts some are claiming, I think it will just make it too far for people on both coasts instead of one or the other and end up only drawing attendees from the middle. I could be wrong though.

Apex, you could also be right as well. We won't know until it's time to plan it I guess. I don't think most of us thought people would travel all the way from Canada to Valdosta but they did. For most of us the location isn't the most important thing, as long as the travel distance isn't prohibitive (also we learned that is a relative term ) but the fellowship with others that love this car!

I trust the moderators and event organizers will pick a great location.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

I'm not saying the facility isn't great, I was responding to a statement that just mentioned Kansas or Nebraska because it was central. It's definitely smack in the middle of the US, but the US population isn't. It's on the coasts and mostly the east coast. I don't think it will pull in these huge crowds from both coasts some are claiming, I think it will just make it too far for people on both coasts instead of one or the other and end up only drawing attendees from the middle. I could be wrong though.

It doesn't really matter that the U.S. population isn't in the middle; this isn't a popularity contest for population; it's for Camaro5 members who are spread out all over the country.

If we want EVERYBODY to be able to attend next year's fest, then Topeka makes a pretty good central spot that is reachable within a day for most everyone, and maybe 2 days at the worst for the rest. That's reasonable. Having it in the southeast again pretty much eliminates everyone in the west including most of Canada. It would have been 6 days of driving for me to go to the fest which is why I couldn't go... 6 DAYS. That also adds a lot of expense for gas and lodging.

I completely agree with Aby; Topeka looks to be about ideal if you look at the map and see where the interstates meet coming from the northwest, southwest, up from Texas, down from Canada, and everybody from the east. I and hundreds of California C5 members would be able to go if it's in Topeka or even Texas. Texas makes it a very long run for those in Canada though.

[AZCamaroFan]

Where is the next Camaro5Fest?
I vote Phoenix