iconoclast6
Well-Known Member
For anyone who was planning on taking in the Watkins Glen Ofest, note the dates are 9/23 thru 9/27. See http://www.bmwccaofest.org and the latest Roundel.
Sadly, someone thought it best to have the Concours d'Elegance early-week on Wed, 9/25, rather than as a grand finale at the end of the week.
Over the past 20 years or so, many of the coupe and 2002 folks in the tri-state area typically take a couple days days off to add to a weekend in order to attend such finales. The new scheduling effectively knocks out a core of at least 20 that I know of from the concours event, and from possibly attending Watkins Glen at all.
While being described on the website as " The Oktoberfest Concourse is the jewel in the crown", it isn't being treated as such. Many of us view a Wednesday scheduling as a workday, and its impossible to arrange considering the logistics for those traveling from beyond an insignificant distance. Makes one wonder who is drinking the kool-aid and what's in it?
Seems that if the idea was to cut the attendance, mission has been accomplished.
For what its worth, this is the explantion of the change of what was a practical and sensible tradition...
"In the early days of the Club and our Oktoberfest celebrations, the Oktoberfest Concours was held early in the proceedings, but somehow the Friday tradition evolved; this meant that concours entrants spent most of their Oktoberfest week cleaning their cars, and then waxing them, and then waxing them again, then chasing those elusive wisps of lint with Q-tips and camel-hair brushes. This year we’re returning to the earlier tradition, holding the 2008 Oktoberfest Concours d’Elegance near the beginning of our event instead of at the end; we hope this will enable participants to relax during the rest of the week and enjoy the many other driving events. And for those who spend the weeks before Oktoberfest buffing their cars, this will give them the chance to put them on display before they get dirty again!"
For those that believe that ....well apparently the kool-aid is within easy reach. And now that my rant is complete, for those who can easily attend...have fun and post pics.
Sadly, someone thought it best to have the Concours d'Elegance early-week on Wed, 9/25, rather than as a grand finale at the end of the week.
Over the past 20 years or so, many of the coupe and 2002 folks in the tri-state area typically take a couple days days off to add to a weekend in order to attend such finales. The new scheduling effectively knocks out a core of at least 20 that I know of from the concours event, and from possibly attending Watkins Glen at all.
While being described on the website as " The Oktoberfest Concourse is the jewel in the crown", it isn't being treated as such. Many of us view a Wednesday scheduling as a workday, and its impossible to arrange considering the logistics for those traveling from beyond an insignificant distance. Makes one wonder who is drinking the kool-aid and what's in it?
Seems that if the idea was to cut the attendance, mission has been accomplished.
For what its worth, this is the explantion of the change of what was a practical and sensible tradition...
"In the early days of the Club and our Oktoberfest celebrations, the Oktoberfest Concours was held early in the proceedings, but somehow the Friday tradition evolved; this meant that concours entrants spent most of their Oktoberfest week cleaning their cars, and then waxing them, and then waxing them again, then chasing those elusive wisps of lint with Q-tips and camel-hair brushes. This year we’re returning to the earlier tradition, holding the 2008 Oktoberfest Concours d’Elegance near the beginning of our event instead of at the end; we hope this will enable participants to relax during the rest of the week and enjoy the many other driving events. And for those who spend the weeks before Oktoberfest buffing their cars, this will give them the chance to put them on display before they get dirty again!"
For those that believe that ....well apparently the kool-aid is within easy reach. And now that my rant is complete, for those who can easily attend...have fun and post pics.