The planning committee has asked me to post an informational/reminder post.
See, meets of this size (or any size really, but especially big ones) offer challenges.
1) With this many cars, we may have some BIG groups.
2) Traffic conditions are such that we may be "staging" for our runs in parking lots away from the hotel.
THE POINT HERE IS: this will turn into total confusion if YOU as an attendee are not prepared. Communication will be important.
Fortunately, we are experienced at this. We use two-way radios to stay in touch. If you are going to attend, you MUST HAVE A RADIO.
We use what are described as FRS or GMRS radios.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU BUY? YOU HAVE A FEW CHOICES:
1) Motorola T100 - best one out there. Simple to use and program. Unfortunately, discontinued. If you can fine one or even more than one, buy all you can get!
2) Motorola T200 - Not as simple as the T100 but pretty good.
3) Any "FRS Radio" you find at Walmart, Home Depot, etc. These will at least have the right channels in them.
Some can be very hard to program, learn to program it before you leave home!
KNOW HOW TO USE THEM
1) You must sit with the manual and learn how to set the channel. We use channels 1 thru 14, usually we stick to channels 1 thru 7, but each run will be on a different channel so you will be changing channels each morning- most of the time.
2) We do not use "subcodes", subcodes of 01 to as high as 72 are included in the radios, practice how to make sure yours is on subcode 00 as that means "subcode = none".
3) If you need help programing your radio, please DO NOT wait until the morning of the first run to ask for help - there is no time for this at the last minute.
Bring it up the evening before and ask around for help.
EVEN MORE REASONS:
Radios make the event fun as well as easier. Simply driving around not being able to communicate with the others can be frustrating.
If you have an emergency, (be it a "restroom emergency", car trouble, etc.) you will need a way to tell the group what is happening.
Sometimes, you will want to break away and head back to the room early, or go your own way -- we DO NOT leave people behind, with the radio, you can simply announce, "we will be turning up here and parting company with you all". If you simply disappear, we will go looking for you!
And not to repeat myself, but getting organized for the daily runs can be quite the circus. We get complaints all the time that "we didn't know where everyone was going" or "we didn't know plans were changed" - if you have no radio, you will simply not know what is going on. If you want to be part of the group - bring a radio.
NO ONE was sorry they had a radio, but many have mentioned they wish they'd brought one. It's your vacation, frustration and stress has no place here - you need a radio.
BRING EXTRA BATTERIES if your batteries are not rechargeable
