Euro Auto Festival Update:
EURO Auto Festival 2013
Hello!
I know that you are excited about the opening of the EURO Auto Festival 2013. After months of waiting, it is finally here!!
This will be a long email. I will break it into section to make it easier to read.
Registration:
I will begin pass out registration packets on Friday morning in the lobby of the Embassy Suites. Hours will be from 8:15 AM to 11 AM and then again from 1 PM until 8 PM. I will be staying in the hotel, so if you need a later pick up time, let me know. If you are in town, please stop by the hotel and pick up your packet. It will make parking on Saturday easier for you.
I also will be passing out packets on Saturday at the gate starting around 7AM.
Parking at the show:
Parking will begin at 7:30. All cars need to be on the field by 10 AM. When you turn into BMW, you will see a sign stating there will be NO DAY OF SHOW REGISTRATION. Non-registered cars will be directed to the parking lot. Those with trailers will be directed into the trailer parking area. You cannot bring your trailer on to the show field. The line will then split up between those who have already picked up their packets and those who have not. Those with packets just need to show the packet and enter the field. AT this point you will be directed where to go. There will be a photographer who will be taking a photo of every car. I will discuss the photograph later in this email. Once you have had your photo taken, you will be directed into your parking space. Every car has an assigned space. This information is on the outside of your packet – be sure to keep your packet handy. There will be a volunteer to help you get into the correct space.
Registration packet:
You will have the following in your packet: a copy of the your schedule of activities you signed up for, car dash board which you will be under your wipers after you have parked your car, tickets for the banquet, your name tags as well as your guest tag, your voting ballots and a letter explaining how voting works, and a metal dash plaque. You should wear your name tag at all times. If you have purchased a banquet ticket, banquet appears on your name tag and it is your “ticket” to get into the banquet room and the Hospitality room at the hotel. The back of your name tag has a schedule of the events.
Photographs:
DoubleVisions.US will be photographing all automobiles entered in the EURO Auto Festival 2013. These shots will be taken at the entrance to the BMW Zentrium driveway, in the display fields and at the awards presentations. Commemorate prints of these photos will be available for purchase on-line at DoubleVisions.US. Each driver will receive a flyer that explains how to obtain these prints and other commemorative items including coffee mugs from DoubleVisions. Digital copies of the purchased images will be included at no additional charge for orders that exceed $50. A 10% early bird discount is also being offered for orders that exceed $50 and are placed prior to Nov. 10, 2013.
To keep the line moving and minimize the bottlenecking, please refrain from asking the photographer questions at this time. The photographers will be at the show all day and will be glad to talk to you.
Preservationist Award
Over 90 cars requested to be considered for this award. It has been decided to be eligible for this award the car needs to be at least 30 years old. This left 50 cars on the list. These individuals will be sent another email from me asking if the car fits the definition. Next year we will make the qualifications clearer on the registration form.
CLUBS
There will be tents, tables and chairs set up for clubs to use at the show. 64 different car clubs will have members showing their cars at this year’s show. Over 70 registrants do not belong to a car club. Club members should be sure that they bring along new membership sign up sheets! A person club membership will be displayed on the name tag as well as on the car dash board. 21 clubs have their logo on our webpage http://euroautofestival.com/clubs/ .
Performance Center Drives
For those of you who purchased the X-Drive or the Ride Along, your name willon a list to provided to the Performance center. On your schedule in your packet will be the drives and times you purchased. There will be a shuttle that leaves by the front gate of the show field that will take you to the Performance Center.
That is all from me. I am sure you will have a wonderful weekend in the Upstate. See you soon.
There is also a message from our chairman.
IT'S SHOWTIME...
As I write this entry, we are one week away from the 2013 show, and what a show it should be. We reached our goal of 400 entries by October 1st, presenting 413 cars. We have sold 179 banquet seats and the wine tours and workshops have great numbers signed up. We have doubled the number of sponsors from last year and the merchant tent is full. I am not sure if it is the friendliness of the event, the great setting provided by BMW Manufacturing at the Zentrum, the drawing power of Ferrari, our featured marque, or all of above that made this happen, but we are thankful, nonetheless.
Due to the show being filled by the October 1 date, we were able to fully plan out the parking layout in advance. This has allowed us to group the classes within a given marque together in year of manufacture order. We hope this makes for an attractive layout for participants and spectators alike. This was not possible at past events due to the inability to plan around day of show registrations. This year, every entry has a preassigned parking slot which should make the staging and awards presentation portions of the show go more smoothly. We will also have large diagrams located in strategic areas across the venue to allow people to see where every vehicle, sponsor and merchant is located. We hope you like this new arrangement.
I want to thank all of the Board members for their hard work in putting this show together. You would be amazed at all the details it takes to plan an event of this size. I would also like to thank the many volunteers from the American Red Cross, Foothills British Car Club (FBCC), Broad River European Motor Club (BREMC) and the many individuals who lent a hand to plan the show and who will be there staffing the Friday and Saturday events.
Finally, and most importantly, we want to thank all of the owners who have entered their vehicles in the show. Without you passion and enthusiasm for the hobby, there would be no show. Your willingness to share your love of European automobiles is what brings the 10,000 to 12,000 spectators out to enjoy the various offerings from all across Europe.
Here's to a great event. Enjoy...
John Budinich, EURO Chairman