The best time to think about changes in an event is right after it happens. Everything is still fresh in our minds. I need some honest feedback. Do not hold back. I can take some criticism. Should we do a cruise next year? Should I do it, or would it be better to have someone new that might do it differently? How can the cruise be changed to make it work better for you? Thanks to everyone who tagged along. I think we have covered all of 66 that is within cruising range from the host hotel. Next year will need to be a partial repeat or something other than route 66.
My only problem was the length of the stops. With so many cars, the last ones were just getting stopped when the first ones were taking off again. We should set up a movie showing at the drive in next year. I still had a ball.
Don't forget that there is a show and shine in Joplin on the weekends in the evening on 7th and Rangeling during the summers. I am not exactly sure what weekend of the month it is, but that might be something cool to work into the HAMB Drag Races (this place is only 1/2 an hour away from the race track). I know some of the cars were built more for cruising, more for racing, or more for showing. Personally, my car is best used for cruising; however, I know Joplin actually has a law against cruising up and down Main Street (that doesn't mean that there couldn't be a HAMB car show in the city though).
We were discussing this exact same thing at JimC place on Sunday morning. I think it's a great idea but not sure if folks would give up the host hotel parking lot action for Drive-In movie action. Not real sure if I would. The parking lot is now part of the whole experience.
The owner of the 66 Drive In mentioned showing a special movie that would be appropriate. If the event turns into a 3 day one then it might be something to think about but personally I do not think a lot of the cars would go. I might help him promote it though to include local cars so that it would be worthwhile for him.
I think the host hotel should be moved to Pittsburg, KS. Closer to MO-KAN and better roads to the strip. Plus, I live in Pittsburg! Could cruise out to Big Brutus http://www.bigbrutus.org/ or ???
Really enjoyed the cruise this year...seemed to be the perfect length to me. Had time to get back to the motel and let the kids swim, time for lunch and then on to the track... and other than me leading half the group astray near the lake, seemed to go off without a hitch.. the place where we ended up was fun too...and they had really good cobbler and ice cream! Thanks for taking the time to put it together for us... Brian
We enjoyed the cruise also. This was our first Drags, so seeing different things was fun. I do think the some of the stops could have been a little longer, esspecially the one at the lake. We were among the last to arrive, and had just gotten out of the truck when it was time to leave. The little "town" at the end was cool. Length was about right. Lets go someplace different next year, Rt 66 is not a must for me, it was cool, but now we've been there, done that. Move on to something else. You did a great job. We had fun. Looking forward to next years cruise, where ever it may take us. Gene
I will definately be on the one next year! With either the whole fam or a Wagon full of room for passangers.
John, since I'm a fan of "seeing the country" everywhere I go in this huge free country...anything of interest around the area if fine with me...I especially enjoyed seeing the opera house in Miami last year...and since I like to drive, any direction is fine with me. I do agree the stops were a bit too fast and when we got to RED OAK II at about 11:00 I was a little disappointed the "cruise" wasn't longer... a four hour trip is about the right length, adding half hour/45 minutes to get back to the motel to relax a bit before the race. And while we're discussing things, I just want to say THANX to Ryan for once again having "nite drags"...I think nite drags are much better and "cooler" than baking in the "Misery" hot sun all afternoon! The cars seem to run better. Thanx for organizing the cruise again, I know it's not an easy thing to do and I for one appreciate your effort! R-
John, nice to have met both you, and your wife. Thanks for letting us tag along with you from Neosho. Had a great time both on the cruise, and at the drags. Thought you did a great job with the cruise, longer next year? If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask, thanks again. Dan C.
If there is a cruise to Pittsburg, there is plenty of parking at the Kansas Technology Center, or the football stadium, if there isn't a game that weekend. Pittsburg is hard to navigate on gameday. I had to choose between the home opener (we lost) and the drags. I chose the drags.
You did a great job !!!! What ever you choose to do next year wll also be good !!! So just go for it !!! Thanks again, Danny
I guess I need to explain the stop at the lake that everyone thought was to short. I had made a note in the instructions but it probably got passed over to the readers with all the other stuff in the notes. I choose the stop at the lake as a place for us to regroup as I knew we would get split up as we passed through Carthage. I think that next year the route should be simpler with less turns. This years cruise route, that 66 east took, is split up into sections and we had to zig zag a lot to cover as much of it as possible. This made for lots of instructions and lots of turns which is hard to handle with a large group. I did hurry along more than I had originally planned as I thought that some of the cars on the cruise were wanting more time to go to the Starbird Museum in the afternoon. I know, I know, you can not please everyone. Thanks for all the feedback. I will save this information for next year.
I think it was GREAT........and like you said......you cannot please everyone... With as many people going on the cruise as was there.....60 or more folks.....someone will have a different opinion. I liked the whole thing....BUT THEN I had the directions.... Cool deal..and thanks A LOT !! for putting it together.....
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