[360Dragon]

Hello all,

I posted a thread the 1 series and M3 forums to gauge peoples interest on actually driving their car on a road trip. As expected a mix bag of replies but I figured what the heck, start a thread and begin planning.

If you have never been to Yellowstone, this is one of those bucket list items. Therefore, no hemming and hawing about going just do it, as you will have a blast. You bought the car to drive it, so drive it. (sorry had to throw in a soap box moment as there will be post here saying that is too far for me to drive. Just watch ;-)

I would like to ask the forum admins to leave this here if possible to see if we can actually pull a group together.

To make life easy I would say use Bimmerforums as the “central” post spot for groups to arrange caravans. I will be posting this to all the major BMW forums and a few none BMW ones. Please feel free to copy this over to threads as I only hit what I linked below.

[b]Here is an idea of the dates and game plan for everyone:[/b[

June 9th, 2013 – Drive to West Yellowstone for base camp (drive solo or in group)
June 10th – 12th, 2013 – See Yellowstone park (if you have a time crunch 2 days is the MINUM need to see most of the highlights in the park.)
June 13th, 2013 – Check out and travel to see the Grand Tetons.
June 13th, 2013 – Check into Jackson Wyoming
June 14th, 2013 – Travel home

This is a year out so some there is time to flesh out some things. I already have the places to stay in mind but 1 year out for booking is a bit much. I would will work on group rates on lodging as we get closer to the event.

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











Forums this is posted on. Info is the same across all of them:
North America gathering at Yellowstone, EPIC road trip 2013

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...45#post3205545

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/b...ml#post3562767

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...5#post12113565

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ml#post3526626

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...6#post12113576

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...1#post12113551

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...ml#post2335756

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...0#post12113030

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...6#post24480486

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthr...66#post1311366

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...6#post12113016

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...52#post6882052

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...6#post14466676

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...post1065566872

[bill ward]

Hey-that's my backyard! Well less than 100 miles away. I'll be there and if I can be of any help in planning,drop me a line. It truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Bill

[360Dragon]

Originally Posted by bill ward

Hey-that's my backyard! Well less than 100 miles away. I'll be there and if I can be of any help in planning,drop me a line. It truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Bill

Some help would be great. Can you PM me your email? We can chat off line. Cheers

[360Dragon]

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

[360 Modena]

That looks like an awesome trip.

is there a local BMW dealer where I could take a BMW for an extended 3-day test drive?

[bill ward]

Nearest BMW dealer I am aware of is Salt lake city. Bill

[360Dragon]

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. Welcome to the Beartooth Highway in Montana & Wyoming 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.

[360Dragon]

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

[360Dragon]

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

[sunskr]

If anyone that is in this part of the country and not driven highway 212 is missing one of the best trips
Its over 10,000 ft at summit and the curves on the MT side will challenge any car both in sharpness and
steepness... NO trips over the side, its a long drop...

[360Dragon]

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

[360Dragon]

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.

[360Dragon]

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

[360Dragon]

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

[360Dragon]

A question came up if you need to attend the whole event.

Answers is NO. If you can only make half the event or only want to do half the event you can still attend. I am not holding anyone to the fire so you are welcome to come and go as you please. I will have some scheduled actives (group shots, drive areas, other being planned) that I would hope you attend but if you do not, I am not going to hunt you down ;-)

[360Dragon]

I am still getting people singing up =) great to see all the eclectic mix of Euro cars that will hopefully be in attendance.

I am working with the West Yellowstone chamber of commerce on some special events activities while we are there. I also have a call into the National Park Service to see about arranging a special photo shoot inside the park. Navigating the red tape at the moment but hopeful i can pull it off.

Remember to email friends and contact your local Euro car clubs to let them know about this event. For a forum / underground created event, it is growing rather nicely. =)

[360Dragon]

Looks like the world did not end on the 21st as predicted.

The event is still on and a email with hotel information and additional details has been sent to all those who filled out the Google doc. If you want the info and are planning on attending, please fill out the google doc and I will send you the info.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...eW9RcFlhQUE6MQ

Have a safe new years.

[360Dragon]

I wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year. Look forward to seeing some of you in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Hopefully we will have a great event.

or those who have filled out the Google doc, you should have gotten an email with the hotels rates. Additionally there is a link to a website to order the stack decals for your car. If you did not get this email please let me know.

A few people have already ordered the decals so there are a few numbers less to pick from. I realized I never said you get to pick your car number if you order the decals.

[360Dragon]

Just a FYI, For those who signed up on the Google form, I sent a email a while back with a webpage on how to order decals. I have updated the page with a desired car number field. No Promises yo will get that number so please have a few choices. You can do all numbers ( 00-99 ) or letter and number ( A0 )

Please email VS PM as I am not on some of these forums very often. norcal.drivers@gmail.com

[360Dragon]

A reminder to those who have received the hotel info to call in sooner than later. We have currently 77 cars signed up. Not to shabby.