Huntington Beach Cruise In - 2012

[Sally Bean]

Good Morning Everyone -

Even though you're probably all tired of hearing how great the HB event was, I'm still going to add my two cents worth of praise. This was a super example of Team Work times a million. We could never have pulled off this show without the help and hard work of many of you ..... and you all know who you are!

Having experience in this sort of thing, I know how difficult it is to plan an event all the way across the country and and then add to that the objective of getting back into the good graces of the City of Huntington Beach, well let's just say everything had to go perfectly and it did! So once again, my sincere thanks.

Now, let's fast forward to the 5th Annual Huntington Beach Cruise-In. I spoke with several of you about this and you all had great ideas that could be incorporated very easily. I'm all for making this a Friday evening through Sunday afternoon event and welcome your input.

Looking at the availability of the Pier Plaza for 2012, the best date for us is May 7, 2012. Send your ideas for a Friday night casual gathering, Cruise-In after the Saturday show and then ideas for Sunday (race track, etc.).

Sally

[David Hodgkins]

Sally,

I'm all in favor of expanding the Cruise-In to a full weekend event next year. In fact, I'd like to see it evolve into a Power-Tour type of event, with several days of cruising leading up to the event. But I'm getting ahead of myself a bit so I'll try to keep my comments to the 2012 event.

Here are some changes I'd like to see next year:



Expanded Friday cruise
Expanded Friday night social event
Expanding the field to include all makes of C-Cars
Additional non FFR-Specific awards
Expanded webcast
Live entertainment
Raffle
Sunday autocross event



This year we had a Friday Cruise / Meet-N-Greet that was a ton of fun. We had 7 cars cruise from Newport Beach to Dana Point on PCH that was right along the coast the whole way, and it was like we were on parade, with people whipping out cell phones and cameras to take picures and video as we passed by. Tons of thumbs-up's and positive comments too. We followed it up with a Friday night party that gave folks arriving from out of town a place to gather and exchange hello's. Great fun!

This year we made a last-ditch call out to invite non-FFR's to the event. We had 5-6 BDR, SPF's and others show up on short notice. In the spirit of community, I'd like to expand that effort next year and see what we can do about filling the second tier of the lot with cars and the great folks who drive them! In addition, we could expand the trophy categories to give non-FFR's a shot at winning something. Make no mistake, I'm not talking about making this a non-FFR event, but allowing anyone with a C-Car or C-Coupe to join the event regardless of make and giving them something they can polish their cars for is a win-win in my mind.

This year we dipped our collective toe in providing a webcast of the event. Again, this was kind of last minute as far as prep goes, and the majority of the webcast was shot and broadcast from a 4G phone. Next year I'd like to expand this to using a REAL camera and someone with a Mic, and have better upload capabilities so folks all over the USA and overseas can join in the fun.

There is an Amphitheater right next door to out event, down towards the sand. Why not take advantage of that and have some local bands play thruout the day? Outside of the cost to use the facilities, this would have virtually no cost, depending on who we get to play. (I have a vision of a jam-session in my mind too ;) )

We had several Sponsors this year. Why not leverage that to get some goodies to give away? This is pretty easy to set up, if we decide to do it....

Finally, I'd like to set up an Autocross event for Sunday. I'm thinking about Anaheim Stadium, or Fontana, or ???? This would be great fun, and would allow us to use our cars for what they are really made for!! We of course would hold this as a separate event, with separate registration and costs. Logistically this is new territory, but by starting the ball rolling now I think we could pull it off.

So those are my ideas for expanding the event next year. Hopefully we can start the process now, gather input and make make the 2012 Cruise-In EVEN BETTER than this year's!!

:)

[289FIA_Cobra]

David: I like your idea; I think a "Power Tour" of sorts would be rather cool but Hot Rods version goes into several states! :D
I was involved with the Gold Rush Rally last year (some videos on YouTube on this) and for next year, I'd like to see a caravan from NorCal stopping off at specific points to pickup more FFR's along the way down and ending up at your house... j/k

Seriously, something "like" that only at a hotel(s) might be kind of fun:

Sacramento riders would start off, maybe stop off in Napa/Sonoma to get some riders.
Next, head into S.F. and get more people.
Then head down to Monterey, pick up some more
Then head down to San Luis Obispo, pick up a few more; lunch?
Then head into Santa Barbara for a few more
Finally end up in HB

Of course those coming from the East (AZ, NV, etc.) would have to make up their own route.

Like the ideas you got. Will keep thinking about this throughout the year.

[DougR]

Sounds like this may be heading toward something like the Western States Cobra Bash that used to be held in Reno/Sparks. For those not familiar with it, it was a weekend where original and replica owners gathered at the Nugget in Sparks for a long weekend on the weekend after mother's day and went something like this:

Thursday: Initial gathering, registration and meet & greet that afternoon & evening.
Friday: Track day at the Reno/Fernly Raceway.
Friday Evening: Banquet with special speakers such as Dick Smith & Peter Brock & others.
Saturday: Group run to Lake Tahoe area w/ lunch at Squaw Valley then back to the Nugget.
Saturday evening: Car show on Victorian Ave.
Sunday: Good byes and head home.
Registration was limited to 200 cars and was always sold out. Track day was optional.
It was lots of fun but I'm sure it was a lot of planning which is probably why it isn't done anymore. But with the backing of Factory Five something like this might succeed.

[Dave Smith]

As we are putting big plans together on this year's open house, I wanted to revisit this thread. The goal is to have several regional FFR shows around the country.

Right now we have: Huntington Beach Cruise-in on the west coast, Factory Five Open House on the east coat, LCS in the mid-west. Nothing in the south west, texas or colorado regions. Any ideas should be sent to Sally here at Factory Five as she is planning next year's HB event and will be trying to put together a schedule where each region gets a fun FFR event. Co-events like Goodguys and NSRA are also a good idea.

[Ray]

How about bringing some "scratch-n-dent" merchandise out for us West-Coasters that can't/don't make the pilgrimage to the sacred land of Wareham MA.

Ray

[David Hodgkins]

I made a call to California Speedway 3 weeks ago and we're a little ahead of the curve right now for timing but it would be cool to run some sort of event out there on Sunday following the Cruise-in. I will be calling them later this year to follow up on that possibility...

:)

[289_FIA]

David,The event last year with some of us starting at your place on Friday was absolutly great and both Pete and I welcome more.What we really need to do is to get the date set so i can give notice at work as to when i will be off.The vacation callender is already here.

Mike

[Big Blocker]

Sally,

Like 289_FIA, I need to submit vacation dates in January for the whole year. It really sucks to have to do that but . . .
Mike and I make this trip every year and need to schedule in our "home-away-from-home" in advance. I'm open to any dates in April, May should still be cool enough to travel from Vegas . . . the closer we get to June, the hotter it gets for us guys coming from the desert (NV, CO, AZ).:cool:

[David Hodgkins]

The date for the HB cruise in this year is Saturday 4/28/2012.

I'm still working on a track day for Sunday at California Speedway but no luck so far. We'll definitely do something Friday!

More info to come as i get it...

:)

[Arm7419]

David

Any trailer parking near the event?

chuck

[David Hodgkins]

Chuck, yes, there will be trailer parking...

:)

[Mesa Mike]

Sedona Chuck....do you know Prescott Chuck?

[Arm7419]

No I don't

[Mesa Mike]

David....count me in for the DJ gig. What plans do your have for friday night, if any?

[David Hodgkins]

Friday night, my place! Cruise beforehand. I think we'll start earlier this year...

Lots of time to work that out, but we'll put the invite out there earlier so we improve the turnout.

:)

[LuckyWinner]

Thought I would be out in the California area for the HB event, but still in Louisiana. Trying to get the time and money up to go to the event. We really need something down here for the gulf states! Or even Dallas or Houston!! Lets get moving on that Dave! lol

[KGB911]

I made a call to California Speedway 3 weeks ago and we're a little ahead of the curve right now for timing but it would be cool to run some sort of event out there on Sunday following the Cruise-in. I will be calling them later this year to follow up on that possibility...

:)

Dave: I grew up in SoCal and did a fair share of autocross there and actually did one in the State beach parking lot in Huntington Beach many years ago. That being said! Why don't you look into Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, it is just minutes away and has a huge landing strip that has been used many times over the years for autocross.
Dr. Ruth

[Mad Dog]

Registration is open for the 5th Annual Huntington Beach Cruise-In Event! Spend a day at the beach with over 100 Factory Fives, music, car show awards, and good times. Register Now! Online registration closes at 5 P.M. EST on April 27th. You may register at the event, but space is not guaranteed. Here's the link to more details - http://bit.ly/xnlAvZ.

The event costs $40 and your entry fee gets you a t-shirt, entry into the car show, eligibility for trophies, and plenty of sponsor swag.

Moment of Thunder
Event highlights include car show judging from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We will again have a Moment of Thunder where all present will be asked to start and rev their engines at once in tribute to friends who are no longer with us. This year, the tribute recognizes Roger Stine, Dick Smith, Robert Feddersen, Paul Mastroanni, and Andy Salvaggio. We will do this at 12:00 p.m.

Mad Dog

[shinn497]

Do you have to own a FFR to come?

[68GT500MAN]

NO, everyone is welcome.
Doug