Calling all Turkey Run participants........

We've loosely kicked around some ideas for a way for us to get to meet each other at Turkey Run. Now that we are down to about 3 weeks, we need to make some solid decisions if it is going to happen.

I know groups like the HAMB are going to have areas set aside where they park, etc., but we found out last year that the daytime thing doesn't work out as we are all spread out over the entire infield and forget to meet up. That is why I think a nighttime meeting makes more sense.

Here are my thoughts: Pretty much everyone is in town by Saturday night, so to me that night makes the most sense. Plus, almost everyone congregates on A1A around Belaire Plaza (I think that is the name, why can't I ever remember it?:o :confused: ) We have two possiblilities. One is to simply take our cars to that plaza and try to park in some common area, and the second is to set up some little getogether at a simple restaurant or similar place. I know it is tough to find parking places at the Plaza, but it could be done, especially if we park a little away from the main crowd.

What do you guys want to do? Let's keep it simple, or it will never happen, and that would be a shame. We've all made so many friends on here that we need to get to finally meet one another. I'm open to anything and willing to do whatever to make it happen this year.

Don

Haven't been for a couple of years, but if it is the same and you're going to Belaire Plaza (across from the LaPlaya hotel), get there early as it gets full quick. Plus you have to deal with your everyday plaza shoppers. For a while there it was so bad that the police wouldn't let you in there, they had it blocked off and traffic was diverted. Merchants use to complain that all the rodders were parking, not spending any money, and scaring off their regular customers.

That was the reason why the Daytona Beach Street Rods, relocated the host hotel and also started having after hour events at the Speedway. They tried to get people away from Belaire Plaza. Didn't really work out the way they wanted it, though.

Hopefully it has changed and won't be too bad. Hope you all have a great time, I will surely be thinking about the fact that I will be missing it.:CRY:

Last year was just as bad!But that dont mean we cant try it still, lets see who is going , and we can pin this down better.

I was just at Biketoberfest over the weekend of the 20th:D :D and I got a good look at Bel Aire Plaza. It's a nice place, but if it's a popular "hangin' place" and fills up early we could have trouble finding parking spaces.:HMMM: We can't park on Main Street. Beach Street (which is not on the beach; it's on the other side of the river) might be a possibility, but I don't know. I've always just gone to the Turkey Run for the day and gone home (45 miles away). I've never stayed around for the evening activities, so I don't know what happens where at night...:rolleyes:

IMO the night stuff is the best. Tons of cars cruising up and down A1A, and Belaire Plaza is the hot spot for parking.

Good idea John, let's see who all is coming and then get some suggestions/

Don

For us locals that drive to the race track Friday morning it would be nice to meet somewhere at the track.

We have tryed this for 5 yrs & the plan did not work. Everyone gets gets caught up in the moment & is a no show....including me.

Don Meyer

The Volusia Mall is right across the road and just east of the Speedway. It's BIG. There should be plenty of space to park there just about any time of day or night... Just a thought.;)

Gastrick has thrown out this idea......what do you guys think??


'll throw this out there too. Friday and Saturday nights, cars gather outside of the speedway on the NE corner of the property. It's where they conduct the drawing for the giveaway car. My small group is always there on Sat. nights. Everybody would be able to park their hot rod at that location. But there's no restaurants, just food stands. The flame thrower contest and slow drags are held there too. Just a thought.
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I'm open to anything, but agree the daytime thing just never works. All of us get too caught up in the swap meet and spread out over a big area, so we don't make it.

I'm trying to visualize exactly where this area is. It would still allow time to go up onto A1A and cruise later on if some want to do that.

Don

Ok guys, some pieces of this puzzle might be falling into place. Gastrick had previously suggested that we meet at the part of the Speedway where they do the Giveaway car thing, either Friday or Saturday night. Seems like some of the members of the other forum we belong to are agreeable to this, as am I. What do you think about that?

There are food vendors, flamethrower contests, slow drags, etc to keep us entertained, plus we all want a chance to meet one another where we can park our cars, and it features good parking too, he says.

Here is a map of that area. He encircled the portion, it is at the lower left side.

Don

Im in, looks like i might make it on friday now.

J Robinson mentioned the Volusia Mall. Just so you know, that's right across the street from the area that I circled on the photo. It's right where the little red dot is below the red circle. This location that I suggested isn't as exciting as the Bel Aire, but it's not a madhouse either. There's some cars there, and parking. I figured that it would be fairly easy to find each other and a good spot to hang around and shoot the breeze. I think it's a good spot, but I'm kind of laid back.

The event video guy shoots there also. That's where he filmed my car last year.

so just when is this event?

That is a good idea gastrick, belair is just so damn crazy! Plus i could walk over if i had too.

Fhl, its thanksgiving weekend at daytona speedway.

Gastrick,
Is that area (in the red circle) open to everybody or just registered entrants?:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by J. Robinson

Gastrick,
Is that area (in the red circle) open to everybody or just registered entrants?:confused:

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It's open to everybody.

Ok guys, we are down to about two weeks before TR, and need to make a decison of if , where, and when we can all get to meet each other.

In light of the new Bel Aire plaza information it looks like Gastricks suggestion about the NE corner of the track is even better. I think the host club saw the handwriting on the wall and that is the reason they have been trying to create this new spot for nightime activities.

For the sake of getting the ball rolling and some decision made, here is my vote. I think Saturday night about 8 pm at the spot Gastrick circled on the map would be perfect. Probably most people will be in town then, and by Saturday would have done most of the other stuff, leaving that time free.

That's my vote, what do the rest of you say??????????? (BTW, I am agreeable to any time and place)

Don

Well since I threw the suggestion out there in the first place, I say yes. I think Hotroddaddy said he is in too. His hotel is close.

If all goes well, then im in!I think i still have your cell # don, if not ill pm you and gastrick and swap #s so we can find each other.

Alright, we are up to 3 people so far !! :D :D :D Anybody else??


Don

I'm planning on it, so that makes four...:D

I just heard the updated local forecast and it's not good. All is well for Turkey Day (no rain expected:) ) and Friday (20% rain chance:o ), but there's a front coming and it's supposed to stall out over this area. Saturdays rain chance is 40% and Sunday is 50%!:mad: Don, you & the boys need to bring your rain gear. The good news is, you'll probably run out of it on the way home...

When are you guys leaving for Daytona? If you'll PM me, I'll give you my cell number.

Ill be there on saturday, ill stay around after for all of us too meet up.

I PM'd you my number hrd.

I hope the weather doesn't get too ugly. I live south so that front will probably follow me all the way home on Sun.

Oh great! :( It couldn't hold off another week. Well, the weathermen have been wrong before, hope they are this time. Wet doesn't bother me so much as trying to run with slicks in the rain. :eek: If worst comes to worst we can leave Saturday or maybe stay over until Monday. Don works, but Dan is on vacation and I am on permanent vacation, so we will have to see what is best.

In the meantime, we will just think positive and hope for good weather.

Don

They keep revising the forecast... Just now they said 30% chance of rain Thursday, Friday, Saturday as the front sags through; 40% Sunday as it starts back north as a warm front. Don, I wish you had rain tires...:HMMM:

All we can do is check www.weather.com and plan/ dress accordingly.:o

Ha ha. The weather report has changed twice since that last report. I'm not even worried about it at this point. It is what it is. I'm leaving early in the morning. I'll see you fellas there.