North America gathering at Yellowstone, EPIC road trip 2013

[M3dragon]

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Epic drive and meet 2013

First item: I have gotten some flak from people on the different forms for putting this on as well as asking people to only post if they were going or at least seriously interested. I am not being paid to do this nor am I asking for money. I am doing this because I love to drive and seem to be one of the few people out in the community willing to take on such a headache. All I ask is if you are going to post on this thread, please be serious about attending. Just posting to say "say not for me" or "to far" makes the thread long and does not add value. Thank you.

Second item: There is no way I can please everyone for this event and nor am I trying to do so. I have done my best to make an event that balances the areas I felt were important.

1. Being able to see the sights you have not seen as well as take your ride on a drive you normally would never do.
2. Being able to drive the car in a fun manner at some points to “stretch its legs”.
3. Make a successful event that we can have move across North America to see the sights.

Dates of the event

June 24-28 – for meet and group activities. If you include driving to base camp it would be June 22nd – June 30th possibly depending on location you are starting from.

Base camp will be West Yellowstone. There is plenty of lodging, parking and activities for a hopefully big group. I will be working on group rates at the first of the year for everyone.

• June 24th, 2013 - Yellowstone park North loop
• June 25th, 2013 – Yellowstone park South Loop
• June 26th, 2013 – Beartooth Pass drive. (This will be the drive day and will make for some great roads. This will be a LONG day, as we will cover some miles)
• June 27th, 2013 – Leave West Yellowstone and travel to Jackson WY
  - Explore Grand Tetons during the day on the way to Jackson WY
• June 28th, 2013 – Explore Grand Tetons

In an effort to help facilitate getting people in touch with each other to arrange caravans, I have made a form that I will use to populate a Google document. I am the only one who will see this as a FYI.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...eW9RcFlhQUE6MQ

What will we be doing there?

We are in the oldest national park in the world so we will be seeing the sights and doing some walking around. In addition, a few others and I are trying to arrange some group photo shots at the parks attractions. I have included one day for just pure driving for those who are interested.

What will this cost me to go?

You will be responsible for fuel, lodging, food, park fees and anything else you might want to do. The only fee that is 100% for sure is the $25 for a 7 day pass which allows you to see both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

If I get enough people interested, I could have some removable decals made to be placed on the side of the car to be like we are on a rally event. If you want me to look into these costs, let me know on the form above.

This sounds LAME!

I know some of you have posted you hated Yellowstone and would just do the Grand Teton or you just want to hall ass around all day seeing what your car can do. Sorry this is not the place to do that. The best explanation I can say why this is not lame is because you are going on a ROAD TRIP, which to me has always been a reason to go to places. This also is a continental wide event that hopefully will be the first of many more to come. Therefore, if you still think this is a lame idea then I wish you a safe summer in your adventures.

Currently I have four cars from Sacramento area 100% going. In addition, I know of a few in Montana that will be attending. This means we have about eight cars ranging from BMW, Audi, Ferrari and Lotus already attending.

If you wish to email me directly my email is norcal.drivers@gmail.com. Please make sure to let me know you are asking about Yellowstone as I organize many drives for the NorCal enthusiasts.

Cheers

Adam

Here are some sample images of the visit my wife and I did in 2011 in our 2006 E90.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Sick, right in my neck of the woods. I'd be happy to host an event! I am having FarbinFest/the f_spectacle July 14/15th of this year, and would love to have the second annual event be a part of this!

I gotta say, it's such a beautiful area, and I'm so thankful I moved here from Southern California! Eastern Idaho/Western Wyoming will be happy to welcome everyone interested!


www.fspecauto.com
www.thefspec.com

[montaillou]

If you plan on staying in one of the park hotels, you pretty much have to book a year in advance.

[M3dragon]

We are staying out of the park. People are welcome to stay where they wish but I am suggesting West Yellowstone for lodging as it was a great town, several hotels plus if we do get booked there are plenty of hotels close to it. But again people are welcome to stay where they wish.

[M3dragon]

Just a update to all. I am working out the details for the event and welcome any suggestions or ideas. PM me with them and so i can review them all to finish building us a game plan.

[lithium726]

I actually did this last year, we drove from Dallas, TX. Helluva trip. I would recommend staying at the Tetons an extra day... we camped at Jenny Lake and it was fantastic.

[M3dragon]

Yeah that is kind of what the feedback I am getting is. 2 days yellowstone 2 days tetons.

[e30ncsu]

It's 37 hours of driving from Raleigh, NC. That might be a little more than the girlfriend would want to sign up for.

Maybe I can fly somewhere closer and rent a BMW and drive in. I wonder if Salt Lake City is big enough to rent a BMW, that's about 5 hours away.

[Milla]

It's 37 hours of driving from Raleigh, NC. That might be a little more than the girlfriend would want to sign up for.

You never know until you ask her!!! Fiance and I drove to Las Vegas from Orlando 2x already for a car gathering and we didn't kill each other!!

That sounds awesome, but way too close to MFEST (mid-April) which is our annual vacation. If we can do it, I'll definitely talk to some Florida people about going.

[M3dragon]

Looks like the event would be more mid June. we are trying to balance the crowd factor as well as weather. So date are not really up to me, more the venue really.

[M3dragon]

I wanted to bump the threads as well as get some update everyone on the feedback I have gotten.

1. Recommendation to drive through beartooth pass. This would a full day of driving there and back but looks like it is well worth it. http://www.beartoothhighway.com/roadMaps/index.html for more information about the drive.
2. Spend only 1 day in Yellowstone hitting the major sites. I am working on a photo-opp at Old Faithful but this is a long shot. If we are able to pull, it off there may be a cost in order to secure event insurance, which fingers crossed, will allow us to have the shoot. If not we will find another park venue.
3. Spend two days in the Grand Tetons as a group seeing the sights.

That is the current update on planning. Dates are still being figured out as we are trying to be in and out of all the areas before the crowds. Mid / Late June still looks to be the target date as this will avoid the major crowds.

I will post again once I have some more updates.

[CM90]

Would definitely be in for this! Have been looking for an excuse to head back over that way since moving I recommend driving the Canyon-Tower Junction road and through the Lamar Valley. Beautiful sights and a fun drive! Subscribed for updates!

[MattBMWM3]

Wow, if you get a lot of people this will be epic.

[M3dragon]

So far we might get about 30 plus cars out there.

[M3dragon]

Just wanted to bump the thread and let everyone know I should have the full details for this event in the next few weeks. I have been getting feedback from people as well as trying to find the right balance for people that have been to this area before and people who have not.

Stay tuned

[ModestW12]

I've never been to Yellowstone but I did drive to Florida and back once with an ex.

I'll put this in my long term calendar. Kaitlynn and I would be joining the Sacramento caravan of course. See you at EuroSunday in the mean time.

[blaam3]

It's been forever since I was in Yellowstone. A bit far from Cali, but I might be interested.

[M3dragon]

I will be making a effort to arrange caravans from all over the place to get there.

[M3dragon]

Dates of the event

June 24-28 – for meet and group activities. If you include driving to base camp it would be June 22nd – June 30th possibly depending on location you are starting from.

Base camp will be West Yellowstone. There is plenty of lodging, parking and activities for a hopefully big group. I will be working on group rates at the first of the year for everyone.

• June 24th, 2013 - Yellowstone park North loop
• June 25th, 2013 – Yellowstone park South Loop
• June 26th, 2013 – Beartooth Pass drive. (This will be the drive day and will make for some great roads. This will be a LONG day, as we will cover some miles)
• June 27th, 2013 – Leave West Yellowstone and travel to Jackson WY
  - Explore Grand Tetons during the day on the way to Jackson WY
• June 28th, 2013 – Explore Grand Tetons

In an effort to help facilitate getting people in touch with each other to arrange caravans, I have made a form that I will use to populate a Google document. I am the only one who will see this as a FYI.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...eW9RcFlhQUE6MQ

What will we be doing there?

We are in the oldest national park in the world so we will be seeing the sights and doing some walking around. In addition, a few others and I are trying to arrange some group photo shots at the parks attractions. I have included one day for just pure driving for those who are interested.

What will this cost me to go?

You will be responsible for fuel, lodging, food, park fees and anything else you might want to do. The only fee that is 100% for sure is the $25 for a 7 day pass which allows you to see both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

If I get enough people interested, I could have some removable decals made to be placed on the side of the car to be like we are on a rally event. If you want me to look into these costs, let me know on the form above.

This sounds LAME!

I know some of you have posted you hated Yellowstone and would just do the Grand Teton or you just want to hall ass around all day seeing what your car can do. Sorry this is not the place to do that. The best explanation I can say why this is not lame is because you are going on a ROAD TRIP, which to me has always been a reason to go to places. This also is a continental wide event that hopefully will be the first of many more to come. Therefore, if you still think this is a lame idea then I wish you a safe summer in your adventures.

Currently I have four cars from Sacramento area 100% going. In addition, I know of a few in Montana that will be attending. This means we have about eight cars ranging from BMW, Audi, Ferrari and Lotus already attending.

If you wish to email me directly my email is norcal.drivers@gmail.com. Please make sure to let me know you are asking about Yellowstone as I organize many drives for the NorCal enthusiasts.

Cheers

Adam

[M3dragon]

Just a bump to plant the seed on going to the event.

[douglabeula]

I'd be happy to host an event!

[M3dragon]

I'd be happy to host an event!

HUH? sorry not following

So I had a member on one of the forums about this event offer to make decals. Below is a sample of the decals that would be available for the drive.

Not sure if we will do pick your number or assign a number. So far most people seem to want a decal number.

If you plan on attending even please make sure to fill out the Google form so i can start getting a better idea of numbers when i call the hotels towards the beginning of the year.







Please feel free to email you regional Euro car clubs to see if more people would be interested. I plan on inviting the CA Euro car marks that I know of.

[ModestW12]

I updated the document.

I'm going to forward this thread to an IT buddy of mine who just bought a nice e39 sterling grey '02 530i sport. He'll probably want to join the drive (and this forum) as well.

[M3dragon]

Here is another possible idea for a decal.



These are to be the friction type decal so you can remove it once done. These are optional if people want to do them. Let me know which one you like.

Cheers

[M3dragon]

I wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

So far, if everyone who has filled out the form can attend we have 23 cars and 41 people. Not too bad for a completely underground organized event. Maybe we can get enough cars and people to take over the town HAHA.

Tell your friends about the event and if you can reach out to your local and regional Euro car clubs to see if they have any members interested.

Cheers

Adam