[Jeff Kennedy]

Folks,

FerrariLife has very graciously agreed to let this thread start about the Ferrari Club America's Annual Meet that will be held at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This will be the final event of the year long 50th Anniversary celebration for the FCA's founding. As such it is planned to have even more features than normal for an Annual Meet.

As this thread grows there will be updates with specifics on the events and other details.

FerrariLife has specifically agreed to let us discuss event sponsorship opportunities and the vendor display opportunities. [Mercato is the term for the vendor/market area].

Dates: Wednesday July 31 – Sunday August 4, 2013 [this may increase to 6 days instead of the normal 5 day schedule]

Location: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin www.elkhartlake.com

Headquarters Hotel: The Osthoff Resort. www.osthoff.com For those that wish, Siebkens Hotel is across the street and there are other places in Elkhart within easy walking distance.

Track: Road America. www.roadamerica.com This could easily be one of the most beautiful tracks in the US. Opened in 1955 it is a real road course that with elevation changes, green grass, trees and a long history of amateur and professional racing to today. The track is no more than 10 minutes from The Osthoff even observing speed limits and full stops at the Stop signs.

For any that are interested in helping on the planning and organizing on the event the next meeting will be in Chicago in March 2012.

Jeff Kennedy

[Jeff Kennedy]

Here are some photos of The Osthoff from the 2009 Annual Meet. It is a large wonderful place that is on the water. The concours is on grounds between the buildings and the pathway near the water.

All photos are credit: Jeff Allison, editor of Prancing Horse

Jeff

[Jeff Kennedy]

Here is how the concours transforms the grounds between the hotel buildings and the water.

Photos are credited to Jeff Allison.

Jeff

[Jeff Kennedy]

Here was the schedule from the 2009 Annual Meet at Elkhart Lake. Generally this is the format that will likely be followed. That year the drive was to the Harley Davidson Museum. Would be reasonable to expect that the destination will be different.

We are also working on having a good Spouse Program this time. Elkhart Lake has an assortment of small specialty shops and then Kohler is only about 20 minutes away. Kohler, Wisconsin is the headquarters of Kohler (as in water faucets). There is a design center there that shows a wide range of Kohler products and then in a shopping center across the street are some more showrooms for other Kohler owned design companies: Ann Sacks, Baker Knapp & Tubbs.

Wednesday at The Osthoff Resort
2:00 pm – 7:00 pm Registration
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm Tech Inspection for track participating cars
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Briefing on Concours judging
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Welcome Reception & Mercato
(Mercato = vendor display marketplace)
NOTE: Wednesday is the clean and prep time for cars that will in the the Concours. I will be posting photos of cars in the parking lot getting ready.

Thursday at The Osthoff Resort
7:00 am – 9:00 am Placement of cars for the Concours
7:30 am – 10:30 am Registration
9:00 am Concours class judging commences
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Mercato
11:30 am – 1:30 pm Lunch buffet
2:00 pm Concours class award presentations commences
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Review of all class winning cars
4:00 pm Coppa Bella Macchina judging commences
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Registration

Friday at Road America
7:30 am Drivers meeting and Drivers School
8:00 am – 9:30 Breakfast at Track
8:30 am Start of track run groups
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch break
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Track run groups
4:30 pm End of Drivers School
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Dinner at Track

Friday – non-track
8:00 am – 9:30 Breakfast at Track
Until Noon Rally/Drive to Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee
12:00 – 2:00 pm Luncheon at Harley Davidson Museum & Museum Tour
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Dinner at Track

Saturday
7:30 am Drivers meeting at Track
8:30 am Start of track run groups
10:30 am – 4:00 pm Mercato at Track
11:30 am – 1:30 pm Lunch at Track
12:00 – 1:00 pm Guided tour driving of Track
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Coppa GT evaluation
1:30 pm – 5:30 pm Track run groups
6:30 pm – 11:00 pm Awards Banquet at The Osthoff Resort

Sunday
7:30 am Drivers meeting at Track
8:30 am Start of track run groups
9:00 am – 2:00 pm Mercato at Track
12:00 – 1:00 pm Guided tour driving of Track
1:30 pm – 5:30 pm Track run groups

[Jeff Kennedy]

Folks,

Anyone out there have photos of the transporters lined up at the hotel either loading or unloading cars they can share for our promotional pieces?

Any photos from the Rally showing the cars grouped together going down the road?

Jeff

[Jeff Kennedy]

Anyone here have good connections for any of the following companies so that we can try getting them on board as event sponsors or participants in the Mercato (vendor sales area)?

Car Care - product manufacturers and retail suppliers

Garage Lifts

Radar Detectors - thinking that either Escort's or Passport's owner is/has been a Ferrari owner

Coker Tire

Patron Tequila - as a sponsor of a 458 in ALMS thinking that should make them want this sort of connection

Please chime in with thoughts for other candidate companies and categories that we should target.

Feel free to PM me with information that you may think is appropriate for public display.

Jeff Kennedy

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kennedy

Anyone here have good connections for any of the following companies so that we can try getting them on board as event sponsors or participants in the Mercato (vendor sales area)?

Car Care - product manufacturers and retail suppliers

Garage Lifts

Radar Detectors - thinking that either Escort's or Passport's owner is/has been a Ferrari owner

Coker Tire

Patron Tequila - as a sponsor of a 458 in ALMS thinking that should make them want this sort of connection

Please chime in with thoughts for other candidate companies and categories that we should target.

Feel free to PM me with information that you may think is appropriate for public display.

Jeff Kennedy

David McNiel from Weather Tech is in Chicago area and a very involved Ferrari owner. Good guy, lots of Ferraris etc. I would be surprised if he was not already on your list.


President of Escort was there before. I met and talked to him.


Tell the guys from Patron I will buy a bottle if they sponsor. It will be a real hardship.

[Jeff Kennedy]

Brian,

David McNeil is already on the list for Mike Epifonio.

I do not know the Escort person but am hoping that someone within the FCA (or here) does.

Since Patron is a major sponsor on the 458 team of Sharp Racing and a sponsor for ALMS it would seem to me that we would be a natural tie in. Another case of a good tie-in story but we need someone to sell the idea to.

I already have one of the major insurance companies showing interest.

George from Leatherique has indicated his interest.

One sponsor here on Ferrari Life is interested in a formal proposal while another has declined.

Jeff

[Brian]

Save A Battery - About Us


Check with this guy.

He's a local but a real car guy. Into Ferrari among others. May like the exposure.

[Jeff Kennedy]

We are looking at the possibility of getting cable TV coverage for the event. Not only will that be fun but it should significantly increase the value for sponsors.

We are getting much closer to being finished with a nice formal package for sponsors to review.

If anyone is interested in considering ecoming a sponsor or participating in the marketplace (Mercato) please let me know.

Jeff

[krasnavian]

Shaping up to be an excellent experience!

[Jeff Kennedy]

Looks like there should be more specifics next week.

Jeff

[Jeff Kennedy]

The 2012 Annual Meet will be in Palm Springs. For the West Coast people that are not inclined to make the trek to the mid West this might be a good choice.

FCA 2012 International Meet in Palm Springs, CA - October 10-14, 2012

[Jeff Kennedy]

The 2013 Annual Meet will officially be 6 days instead of the standard 5. Start will be Tuesday and end on Sunday.

Jeff

[Dan Harrison]

Ladies and Gentlemen

FCA Central States is having our spring track event at Gingerman in southwest lower Michigan in latter May, 2012. See our website.
We are hosting FCA 2013 National in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (about an hour north of Milwaukee). Date is to be Juiy 30- August 4, 2013. Headquarters to be at Osthoff; Siebkins, Victorian Village, etc are literally neighboring the Osthoff, easy walking distance even in dress attire.
Track activities at Road America, five minutes from Elkhart Lake. If you have never been to that track, check out in-car videos such as I posted prior to the 2009 National or the very fast lapping video by a participant at the event.
We were able to get several BBLM's and two other 333SP's in 2009. Hoping to do even better in 2013. This is to be an unmuffled event- we love high rpm noise. I will have the usual novice, intermediate, and advanced run groups. We expect and want drivers to range from rookies in street Ferrari's to experienced people in full-bore racing machinery.
We anticipate having tech support, ie trained-experienced factory dealership mechanics, at the track.
Newbies, check out the 2011 Prancing Horse Magazine stuff about tracking your Ferrari. Do not be shy about getting your Ferrari on the track; we all had to start sometime.
Watch the FCA Newsletter and Prancing Horse. Also, you can visit the FCA Central States website. I'm listed for track events guy.

Dan Harrison

[Jeff Kennedy]

Dan,

Thanks for chiming in. Welcome!

Jeff

[Jeff Kennedy]

Wanted to update with some developments.

Preliminary schedule
Tuesday 7/30/13
Registration at Osthoff 3pm to 9pm
Tech inspection at Osthoff 2pm to 5pm
Mercato welcome reception at Osthoff 6pm to 9pm

Wednesday 7/31/13
Registration at Osthoff 7:30 to 9:30
Rally starts from Road America 9am
Rally lunch Noon to 2pm
Concours and Coppa Seminars 4pm to 6pm
Drive-in movie night at Road America 8pm start

Thursday 8/1/13
Registration at Osthoff 7am to 9am
Placement of cars at Road America 7am to 9am
Judging of cars starts 9am
Mercato opens 9am
Lunch at concours 11:3oam to 1:30pm
Concours class awards 2:30pm
Scrutiny of platinum cars 3pm to 4pm
Coppa Bella Machina 4pm to finish
Sponsors party 6pm to 8pm
Party at Osthoff (60”s theme) 7pm to 10pm

Friday 8/2/13
Registration at Road America 8am to 10am
Tech inspection at Road America 7am to 10am
Mandatory drivers meeting 8am to 8:30
Drivers school at Road America 8:30am start
Mercato opens at Road America 9am
Morning run groups 8:30am to noon
Lunch & Touring Noon to 1pm
Run groups continue 1pm to 5pm
Dinner at Road America 7pm to 10pm

Saturday 8/3/13
Tech inspection at Road America by appointment
Mandatory Drivers meeting 8am to 8:30am
Mercato opens 9am
Morning run groups 8:30am to noon
Lunch & Touring Noon to 1pm
Coppa GT evaluation 1pm to 1:30pm
Run groups continue 1:30pm to 5pm
Awards cocktail party &dinner 6:30pm to 10pm

Sunday 8/4/13
Mandatory drivers meeting 8am to 8:30am
Morning run groups 8:30 to noon
Lunch & Touring Noon to 1pm
Run groups continue 1pm to 5pm

In addition to this Andy Sisulak is working on a full schedule for spouse events.

The sponsorship presentation package is ready for anyone that might be interested. We have full sponsorships available starting at $5,000. We also have Mercato only at $500 for a 10'x10' space and $750 for a 20'x10'.

For anyone that is interested beyond this there is a One Lap of North America combined with the 2013 Elkhart Lake package. This will give great exposure at each of the 50 stops in the tour plus Platinum Level sponsorship at Elkhart Lake.

Jeff

[champagne612]

Jeff

Great work!

[Jeff Kennedy]

Originally Posted by champagne612

Jeff

Great work!

Thank you. The schedule was worked out by Mike Epifonio. Mike is the Event Co-chairman along with Joe Adams the other Event Co-chairman. Mike is the ex-Central States Regional Director.

Doug you will want to meet Mike. Near the start of this year he bought one of last season's 430s from Extreme Speed Motorsports; ALMS team with Patron sponsorship.

The major co-author on the Sponsorship document is Andy Sisulak. He assembled the entire document.

I already have one commitment as a sponsor - will announce as soon as we have a signed agreement.

FCA National has a sponsor that will be announced shortly.

Mike has a commitment but not sure when it will be official and announceable.

Jeff

[Dan Harrison]

Ferraristi

Already salivating over having a herd of Prancing Horses at Road America for FCA 2013.
Be advised this is a fast track with three long straights; think about bringing extra brake pads (Ferrari mechanics will attend), especially you guys with Testarossa, Maranello, 512BB beasts. Great place to exercise those 12cylinder motors. The lighter 8cylinder models, however, may also go thru a set of pads so be sure to discuss this with your mechanic if wanting to really your Ferrari.
Have reached out again to as many 333SP people as possible. Hope also to get the BBLM folks back as in 2009.
Best to all.

Dan