*Springtime GTG, Missoula April 14th!

[Mikewire]

April 14th is the new date, and folks from Spokane have committed to coming to Missoula.

As far as I am concerned, that is nte new date and I will email Spokane to confirm with them. I will let you know ASAP.

Joe, there is a autoX race the weekend of the 14th correct? So, Aeron sounds like most of the crew can't make it to Missoula because they will be racing in Bozeman?

Joe, here's the reply to your PM:

All - See the options below and feel free to comment on the pros/cons for the Spring GTG

I've been keeping my eye on that thread and was hoping that we could all decide on a date, but yeah, it looks like it's falling through. I was also hoping to get up to Missoula so we could all meet those guys as well, maybe a dyno day etc...even though it's a bit of a drive...

So here's some options:

Weekend of April 22nd: Your idea in Big Timber.
or
Weekend of April 28th: Missoula and we invade Aeron's shop - if he's willing (or not )
or
We go into May and pick a weekend to do whatever, wherever.

Pros/cons respectively (rearrange them if you want):
Big Timber - cool place, short drive, small GTG | small GTG, not much to do/see

Missoula - cool place, more to do, better drives/scenery, larger GTG, maybe a dyno day/shop, meet Missoula crew, wagon train style drive | long drive (for most), more $$, weekend stay

May plans - ??? open book...maybe just postpone the Missoula option.

Maybe we should post this up and copy the pros/cons so we can all add/remove/change them and we may come to a conclusion. LMK what you think...

[ValveFloat]

I really don't know how many of the Bozeman crew will opt for autocrossing in Helena vs. heading over to Missoula.
I am commited to the autocross, but can't speak for the others.

My opinion is make the April 14th Zula GTG official. I think the turn0out will be good.

April 22 we can do our regular meet in Bozeman, and if people are up for it we could drive over to Big Timber, or someplace and meet Mike, or just go for a drive.

[Rennwagen1]

I recieved a confimation from Spokane for the 14th. I will be hosting a GTG in Missoula on that Saturday. I think a lot of people are thinking that this is going to be the only one going on this summer. I think it should just be the first. We should do a bunch of them. Maybe Missoula, One in Bozeman, one in Billings. Maybe make an autocross in helena one, maybe Top Gun or the Divsional event. As for April 14th, we will be meeting at my shop for some b.s./car talk for a while, head out for some food (I am thinking Pizza hut, or something else cheap and easy), and we will head up HWY 12 for a cruise/pictures, etc. If anyone is interested, I will check on the dyno facility for availability, and if they are going to run it on weekends. I will mapquest directions from I-90 to my shop soon, although it is really easy to find(if you know missoula, of course )

Mike, the GTG doesn't need to be a weekend stay, although it just depends on how much driving you want to do I ran to Bozeman a couple of weeks ago for like 2 hours!

Questions, comments, concerns?

[Mikewire]

Mike, the GTG doesn't need to be a weekend stay, although it just depends on how much driving you want to do I ran to Bozeman a couple of weeks ago for like 2 hours!

Questions, comments, concerns?

True dat...

I was more or less looking at the drive from my perspective (me, a selfish bastard). I used to drive to/from Missoula with my eyes closed when I was in school, but haven't been back since 2002. I used to take me around 5-6 hours one way - it would be a weekend for me, not necessarily for others.

Anyway - Plan on me being there that weekend. And if you guys want to do the mini GTG on the 21st then thats cool too, I'll try to make it there for that one as well.

[Rennwagen1]

Sounds good, thanks for the sticky!

280

[Rennwagen1]

I would like to get a head count for those who think they are going to show up. I spoke with Mike today, and he is pretty sure that he is going make it, and a couple of guys from Spokane are coming down, so here goes.

Rennwagen1(missoula)
MikeWire(billings)
VWBob(darby)
Klokwerk(spokane)
Uberhare(spokane)
Roadhog(Corvallis)
Ramrod(Bozeman)
littlewhitebeast(helena)

Anyone else? post up and I will modify the list.....the more the merrier! I will get some maps posted up(with the help of Mike)soon, and plan out the cruise route for those that want to see it!.....

[Rennwagen1]

I just made a run up the Hwy 12 cruise route and it was perfect. Roads are clear and dry and they have even swept the gravel up off the road!! From Missoula to the top of the pass and back is 76 miles round trip. I know that may seem like a lot but it goes by quickly. I was going to take some pics for incentive, but my camera decided that it was going to not work at the top of the pass. There is a rest area there, big parking lots, plenty of space for group shots and the like. Ran into a guy on a Ducati that was full of questions about the jetta and it turns out his son has an .:R32 in Phoenix. There is still like 4 feet of snow built up up there, but the parking lots are bare and dry, might make for a cool background it if it is still there in a month. I will try to get a route up soon.....

[Rennwagen1]

Directions from I-90 to my shop.
East or Westbound. Take the Reserve street exit and head south.

Follow Reserve street until you come to Mullan Road. You will see a Super Wal-Mart on the southwest corner(it is sunk lower than the road) and Mullan Station(Conoco gas station) on the northwest corner
Make a right turn onto Mullan Road westbound

You will follow Mullan road for 3.5 miles (it will see like a long time, but if you set a trip odometer, it is almost exactly 3.5 miles)
My shop will be on the left hand side of the road across the street from the golf course. It is a big blue and white shop inside a chainlink fence and we have a bunch of blue and white storage units.

After a while we will take one of my favorite back roads into town, and I figure that we will hit up a Pizza hut on the south side of town, as it is right on the highway we will be heading down on the cruise.

Head south out of Missoula towards Lolo, and head up Hwy 12 for the cruise. Up at the top of the pass, there is a big Rest Area with plenty of parking and pic opportunities, etc. Once we are done there, we will head back into Missoula, and after that is sortof up in the air. I assume some folks will want to hit the road and head on home. For those that are staying, if we want we can find something to do later of course, provided you haven't made other plans for the night.

Once again, if you think you are going to make it, post up, so we can get a head count. The restaurant is pretty big(they have soccer and little leauge teams in there all the time) but I just softof would like to know, just in case.

See you in April!

[Mikewire]

Im in. I'm planning on staying the weekend, dont' know where yet, but I know of a couple of seedy places. I am bringing my bike so I can also relive my UM days.

[Rennwagen1]

I am bringing my bike so I can also relive my UM days.

Ahh, hence the bike rack squeek saga...,....