My thoughts on the 50th.
The 50th Mustang celebration at Charlotte has seemed to develop into a huge money grab by the organisers. It seems they are taking advantage of this special day for Mustang enthusiasts by charging an ridiculously exorbitant fee to attend. Two previous anniversary events were about half that cost.
The group that I usually travel with to National Mustang shows are seriously considering on not attending because of the $150.00 cost of admission for the event for one car and two people.
On the registration form there is a $50.00 dollar charge for a "goody bag" which it does not seem to be able to be opted out from. At the 40th and 45th this goodie bag was included in the admission. It consisted of a box cotaining a bunch of Mustang catalogs ,advertising and a comemorative piece of plastic. That my friends is not worth 50 bucks. Money grab.
On a side note the goody bag can be purchased by any one even if they don't enter a car or attend the event, not much of an incentive if any Tom Dick and Harry buys one. Money grab.
Since there will not be a Grand National in 2014 the MCA in will be giving a "special" award to those of us that earned a gold during the two previous years, a piece of plastic that still not justify the price of amission.
At this time I have not seen any worthwhile published itinerary for the event and it seems other than a $75.00 per person Saturday diner with a few dignitaries speaking and a Friday night car cruise to some town is what you get for being at the Charlotte venue. I can go to a very upscale restaurant with my wife for $150.00. Money grab again.
An interesting note on one of those cruises that we attended at the 45th. There were about 100 cars lined up to drive about 15 miles to the venue town. The drive there was a fiasco even though it was escrted by the local constabulary. No one seemed to know the best route to the town, cops included. Excessive speed and a route that was far longer than needed be, got the caravan to the town later than it was supposed to arrive. We were quite surprised that most of the spots on the main drag were already taken by the early bird vehicles that consisted of mostly organisers and their friends vehicles. The caravan Mustangs were directed to side streets and back alley ways to park. About 50% of the caravan left and returned to the host hotel. So much for the cruise ins.
I am going to think long and hard before I pay that kind of money for a piss poor itinerary just to sit by my car for three days.
The 50th Mustang celebration at Charlotte has seemed to develop into a huge money grab by the organisers. It seems they are taking advantage of this special day for Mustang enthusiasts by charging an ridiculously exorbitant fee to attend. Two previous anniversary events were about half that cost.
The group that I usually travel with to National Mustang shows are seriously considering on not attending because of the $150.00 cost of admission for the event for one car and two people.
On the registration form there is a $50.00 dollar charge for a "goody bag" which it does not seem to be able to be opted out from. At the 40th and 45th this goodie bag was included in the admission. It consisted of a box cotaining a bunch of Mustang catalogs ,advertising and a comemorative piece of plastic. That my friends is not worth 50 bucks. Money grab.
On a side note the goody bag can be purchased by any one even if they don't enter a car or attend the event, not much of an incentive if any Tom Dick and Harry buys one. Money grab.
Since there will not be a Grand National in 2014 the MCA in will be giving a "special" award to those of us that earned a gold during the two previous years, a piece of plastic that still not justify the price of amission.
At this time I have not seen any worthwhile published itinerary for the event and it seems other than a $75.00 per person Saturday diner with a few dignitaries speaking and a Friday night car cruise to some town is what you get for being at the Charlotte venue. I can go to a very upscale restaurant with my wife for $150.00. Money grab again.
An interesting note on one of those cruises that we attended at the 45th. There were about 100 cars lined up to drive about 15 miles to the venue town. The drive there was a fiasco even though it was escrted by the local constabulary. No one seemed to know the best route to the town, cops included. Excessive speed and a route that was far longer than needed be, got the caravan to the town later than it was supposed to arrive. We were quite surprised that most of the spots on the main drag were already taken by the early bird vehicles that consisted of mostly organisers and their friends vehicles. The caravan Mustangs were directed to side streets and back alley ways to park. About 50% of the caravan left and returned to the host hotel. So much for the cruise ins.
I am going to think long and hard before I pay that kind of money for a piss poor itinerary just to sit by my car for three days.