Here is my long, long list of THANK YOU’s! There were a lot of people who helped make this a successful Fest.
To my brother John, the real key behind all of this. Without you talking Dan into the 1st GTG, this never would have went anywhere. Everybody that attends the GTG knows my name coming in, but by the end of the day I think most people figure out that John Chady is really the key to the GTG. You are the most helpful non-tdi’er I know. And those who attend the GTG’s really do appreciate all your hard work. Like the GTG’s, without all your help, I don’t know that the Fest would have been what it was. You got us: 1. Dealership sponsor 2. dyno 3. Slow Speed Skills Course 4. Road Rally 5. Lift to take group pictures 6. Van for free rides 7. Free ice cream, etc., etc., etc. And you do all this hard work just to help out. I hope the Club really realizes that you are the one that deserves the thank you’s at the end of the day. I hope you eventually get a TDI and join the club!
Dan & Topel’s staff. Dan you were instrumental in all of this, and always have been. Without your shop for the GTG’s and the Fest, I don’t know how strong the local TDI crowd would be. I know the local TDI community really appreciates what you do for us. I honestly don’t believe you realize how much people thank you for what you do for us. As for the Fest, your connections and time helping out were greatly appreciated. I don’t think we could have made this as big of an event without all your help. I hope you enjoyed the Fest, and I hope TDI’ers will continue to patronize you for what you do for the Club.
Jeff for all your hard work. I’m pretty sure out of the group of 4 of us, I did the LEAST amount of work, and I know I was working my butt off. You pulled together an awesome assortment of donations for the raffle, and lined up some great vendors for the Fest. I hope you enjoyed the Fest and working with all of us. I know it seemed very disorganized until the last minute, but we were on course the whole time. I think we setup a pretty neat Fest. I think the small town Fest was very well received. I think the shop time was huge. I know people enjoyed the dyno, slow speed skills contest, and the road rally(most of them anyways!). I think we were right on with incorporating the biodiesel into the Fest. Neither of us has ever been to a Fest, but I feel like we pulled of a good time with some fresh ideas. I hope future planners can look to this Fest to gain ideas to make it bigger and better next year.
Kathi & Jenice, for all the help registering members. You guys seemed to really have a good time with it all. At first, I was a little apprehensive about our wives working the Fest, but you gals did a great job. I heard nothing but compliments about how you guys handled everything. I know you were both in the hot seat all weekend long, but you both managed to handle all the weird questions, all the minor issues that came up, etc. like seasoned pro’s. I’m really glad you both seemed to have a good time with the Fest.
To Dave for everything. Not just here at the Fest, but all the way back to my first GTG. Dave, you were the one that gave me the most encouragement at that very first GTG. Without you helping make that first one so smooth, I don’t know that a 2nd, 3rd and 4th GTG would have followed. Not to mention the Fest. You are great to work with as always. I can always count on you to help out where ever needed without any complaints. You keep the mood upbeat and friendly. I’m sure you enjoyed the Fest as you seem to love meeting new people, but I really wish you were able to spend less time working the Fest, and more time participating. Thanks as always.
To Fred for picking our proposal, having faith in us (although I think he may have doubted us for awhile in the middle there), and for keeping the Club alive. It was great to finally meet the FRED behind it all.
To my sister-in-law Julia for helping out with all the last second requests and volunteering throughout the Fest.
My parents Candy & Rollie for running the pig roast dinner, dyno help, etc. Things went very smooth and I’m sure everyone appreciated eating in a timely manner Saturday night.
Mark, you seemed to be everywhere. My whole family said every time they needed a hand, you were right there to help out. Thanks for all the help you did. From sweeping Topel’s, to helping register, to setting up and tearing down. You were there for everything, and I appreciate all your hard work. If I ever did this again, I’d want you on the main Fest team. You are one of the go to guys that I know I can always count on. I hope you were able to enjoy the Fest activities.
To Tryg, who I was told organized the entire car show by himself. Thanks for getting everything lined up, and I’m sure it was no easy task moving all the vehicles around and into the right spots. I know you also helped out a ton in the Park and in the Town Hall. My family said you were great. Like Mark, if I ever did this again, I’d want you to have a bigger role in the Fest. I hope you had a chance to enjoy some part of the Fest with all the work you did!
Thanks to Chris and Paul with Fast Enough Performance. You guys did a great job running the dyno. I’ll make sure to recommend you to future Fest planners. Having the dyno at the Fest was a ton of fun.
To Paula for the park clean up. I was busy with the raffle and by the time it was done, the park was almost spotless. From what I was told, you were the big factor in getting everything cleaned up. We really appreciated it. It kept a long day from being even longer!
Thanks to Bruce, Jason, Matt, etc. who helped everyone out at the shop all day long with tech sessions, and general help. There were plenty of others who also lended a hand, tool, or knowledge throughout the weekend. So kudos to everyone in the shop for making sure everyone was taken care of.
To Pete and Bonnie, Steve and Heather, and all the other volunteers who helped out through out the day. I know I can’t remember everyone who helped out, but anytime we needed something a gracious member would step-up and help us out.
Vendors and Sponsors: Thanks to all the sponsors and vendors who donated items to the raffle. I hope each of you had a chance to enjoy some part of the Fest, but I know you were busy with customers all weekend long. I personally enjoyed actually meeting you and putting a face with the name. You guys are definitely the biggest key to the Fest. I know a lot of people came out just to meet the vendors.
I’d really like to say thanks to Frank Boucher for being our title sponsor, and to Sean Christopherson for making it all happen for us. The cut away engine was very cool, and the dyno was a ton of fun. I hope you were able to make some contacts, as we all know the demand for the TDI is rapidly increasing.
To TDI Racing, Rally VW, and Joe Hamilton for coming out with the Rally Car and giving a lucky winner a ride. As soon as you guys parked the car Saturday morning, not a car drove by without doing a head turn. Best of luck to you guys.
To the biodiesel group of Marc Franke, Jamie Derr, and the gang from FryAway, you guys did a great job. I hope everyone got a chance to learn a little more about biodiesel. I know Marc’s presentations were extremely packed, Jamie made a lot of contacts with people interested in setting up a biodiesel co-op in the area, and FryAway sold all 1500? gallons of biodiesel that they brought down.
Dany and the gang at Frostie Freeze for the great eats. They were obviously too good as you had to close early when we ate up all the ice cream!
Last I’d like to thank everyone who attended. The Club wouldn’t be what it is without great people like you guys. Thank you for coming out and I hope you enjoyed!
