5th Annual Detroit Auto Show GTG - NAIAS 2012!

[bhtooefr]

Alright, it's time for this thread.

Home base
Home base will be the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest.

Address for the hotel is 1275 S Huron Street, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197.

Call 734-487-2000 or visit the hotel's website to make a reservation.

Because the auto show weekend is also a big sports weekend for the universities, the hotel is booking rooms very quickly. So... make sure you book by the end of this month! You can either make a reservation by phone at 734-487-2000 or online at the hotel's website.

Rate: $119/night

Up to 4 people per room without any increase in rate, so if cost is an issue, consider splitting rooms.

Please sign up for events here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...mkey=dDNDaGdSN1JRM0p6TTYxcWxQTlp2OGc6MQ#gid=0
This will help VeeDubTDI get a head count so he can make reservations for our various activities.

Itinerary for the weekend
Times are approximate and may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Friday, January 13th:

• 6:00pm - 7:30pm: Meet & Greet @ hotel
• 8:00pm - 10:00pm: Dinner @ Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor
• 10:30pm - midnight: Hang out at hotel, socialize, sleep, etc.

Saturday, January 14th:

• 7:30am - 8:30am: Breakfast @ The Bomber
• 9:15am - 3:00pm: Meet @ Cobo Center lobby & auto show
• 3:30pm - 7:00pm: Go Karting @ Kart2Kart
• 7:30pm - 9:30pm: Dinner @ Buddy's Pizza in Warren
• 10:30pm - midnight: Hang out at hotel.

Sunday, January 15th:

• Brunch @ TBD
• Drive home

Auto show GTG driving route: http://g.co/maps/j2ubr
Plan on about 120 miles of driving on Saturday if you're staying at the Marriott in Ypsi.

Auto show GTG map: http://g.co/maps/64xnb

 

[compu_85]

Lawson and I have spoken about it. We're still trying to find a "home base" :s

-J

 

[RedDragon]

What is this?

 

[r90sKirk]

NAIAS = North American International Auto Show = (Detroit Auto Show)

 

[RedDragon]

Ahhh ok

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I'm in for sure, show, GTG, whatever. I thought we did this the first public day, however.

 

[r90sKirk]

Peter,

You are correct - it has been the first weekend typically. Not trying to push it either way, but the second one might be better, as the crowds are typically larger the first weekend.

Kirk

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I was kind of lobbying for the first weekend because I may try to get to DanG's GTG in SC on the 28th. Being away two weekends in a row can be tough. But that's not a reason to move it around. See what others think. I kind of like the crowds on the first day.

 

[r90sKirk]

I went to Dan's last year, and both my buddy and I agree, we'd probably drive down there again just for the pig, yum!

Best I've ever had, bar none.

Kirk

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I'm interested in doing it again this year. Perhaps we can make the Ypsi Marriott the "home base" for the GTG. It's the hotel that we're proposing for the 2012 Fest and a number of you have stayed there already.

It would be the weekend of the 14th of January. We'll attend the show on Saturday, Jan 14th, which is the first day that it's open to the public. We can do dinner on Friday night and maybe do breakfast on Sunday morning before people head back home.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Maybe I can manage to book myself into the correct Marriott this time.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dtwys-ann-arbor-marriott-ypsilanti-at-eagle-crest/

I'm going to call my contact at the hotel tomorrow and see if there's a way to get a group rate. Online is showing $129+/night. I'll post my findings tomorrow... hoping for something around $99/night.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Who the heck rated this thread one star?

 

[Sprocket]

We're in again! If you're looking for a closer location to stay, try Madison Heights or Troy, MI. That would put you 15 mins north of the D and also much closer to Buddy's pizza & Kart to Kart

 

[BKmetz]

Lets get some firm confirmations going if this is going to happen. I need to put in vacation to get that weekend off.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Staying closer to Detroit would be nice, but I really want to check out the Fest hotel for a couple of days. It'll give us a good opportunity to finalize our plans and make sure the venue understands what we need.

Plus, Ypsi is awesome and The Bomber has the best breakfast EVER.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Lets get some firm confirmations going if this is going to happen. I need to put in vacation to get that weekend off.

Brian, I'll call the hotel and see about room rates tomorrow.

Plan on this GTG happening for sure -- I don't have anything major going on at work that week.

 

[oilhammer]

Mmmmmm....Bomber Breakfast.....

I may drive up in the Vanagon, just for fun.

 

[BKmetz]

Mmmmmm....Bomber Breakfast.....

I may drive up in the Vanagon, just for fun.

Not just the great breakfast at the Bomber, but great lunch or dinner at Dalat's Vietnamese Restaurant.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

Gotta do this!

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Hell yeah! Another cross-country road trip for Matt! You're a maniac.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

Hell yeah! Another cross-country road trip for Matt! You're a maniac.

Aw hell, I think I'll be flying for this one... Unless I can line up some work. And maybe buy some snow tires.

 

[Growler]

Fly into columbus and drive in with me & Tooef! I live like 10 minutes from the columbus airport.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

That's a fine idea! Or fly to DC and spend a few days here... although it's pretty ridiculous to fly all the way here just to make an 8 hour drive up to Michigan.

 

[david_594]

I'm going to try and get the weekend off. Been ages since I've seen everyone.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

It will be great to see you, Dave. We may be gathering an IDParts contingent: Corey is talking about coming out, Mike may bring his B4, and I'm working on others. I guess someone has to stay here and answer phones, but it won't be me.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Awesome, Peter! I'm drawing up the itinerary and making a Google map as we speak.

I'm waiting for a call back from the hotel about discounted room rates. How many hotel rooms do we think we'll need total? (If you need a hotel room, please post so I can get a room count).

Jason and I will likely be renting a large suite to serve as "Home Base" for the weekend.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Weekend Itinerary

Itinerary for the weekend... times are approximate and may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Friday, January 13th:

• 6:00pm - 7:30pm: Meet & Greet @ hotel
• 8:00pm - 10:00pm: Dinner @ Grizzly Peak in Ann Arbor
• 10:30pm - midnight: Hang out at hotel, socialize, sleep, etc.

Saturday, January 14th:

• 7:30am - 8:30am: Breakfast @ The Bomber
• 9:15am - 3:00pm: Meet @ Cobo Center lobby & auto show
• 3:30pm - 5:00pm: Dinner @ Buddy's Pizza in Warren
• 5:30pm - 8:00pm: Go Karting @ Kart2Kart
• 9:00pm - midnight: Hang out at hotel.

Sunday, January 15th:

• Brunch @ TBD
• Drive home

Auto show GTG driving route: http://g.co/maps/bz6xd
Plan on about 120 miles of driving on Saturday if you're staying at the Marriott in Ypsi.

Auto show GTG map: http://g.co/maps/64xnb

 

[BKmetz]

I'm going to try and get the weekend off. Been ages since I've seen everyone.

Cool! I haven't seen you since the 2006 TDI-Fest.

I'm waiting for a call back from the hotel about discounted room rates. How many hotel rooms do we think we'll need total? (If you need a hotel room, please post so I can get a room count).

Jason and I will likely be renting a large suite to serve as "Home Base" for the weekend.

Oh yeah, with a well stocked open bar! Put me down for two nights.

 

[bhtooefr]

Put me down for 2 nights as well.