If that's the case then maybe the $10 change fee should be waived/removed so that others may not be so hesitant to register and not be able to make changes.
I know that without the event planner I have run into at least one schedule conflict/event that I would have considered if not for the change fee.

 

273/134

 

277/136

(I was #275 and Pamalalala was #276)

 

279/137 This feels kind of like watching a turtle.

 

Walking backwards!

 

OK I'm going to go out on a limb here and entice some MINI owners to sign up.
For every 100th MINI signed up for this years MOTD I will personally give the driver a special prize to be awarded at the Dragon.

I will reveal this prize right here on this thread once we hit 300 MINI's.

You must be present at the Dragon to collect your ultra-special prize.

 

Hooray! Mielnicki finally registered!

 

Got the money I was expecting, not quite the powerball.... but enough for MOTD registration!

 

280/137

 

282/139

 

you guys...relax

there will be a lot of MINIs and people there...I have watched this event grow exponentially from '03.
It's never gotten smaller, believe me...

now..go grab your car keys for a lil driving therapy..

 

This is my 4th MOTD and yes I have seen it grow as well. But even this thread which I have started the last three years, normally has people fighting each other to post updates.....

There seems to be a lack of enthusiasm. I don't know, something is missing, just doesn't feel right.

 

286/139 (13/5 last 24h)

 

hmmm.. ya got me.. I don't know why it's slow either, but perhaps it'll pick up soon...regardless, I still think it'll be at least as big as last year..

 

remember is not the quantity of people that show, it the quality of those that show that matters



289/141


.

 

I won't disagree with that.

But... (there's always a BUT!) The MINI community has proven to be full of quality people, so the quantity is indicative of something... just not sure what!

I wasn't able to make it to the first few MOTDs, but I've watched it grow from the first one and this will mark my 3rd to attend. I tend to agree with mielnicki that it just doesn't feel right. Which is odd, because I think that - while it has experienced growing pains over the preceeding years that may have frustrated some people - this year will be the BEST MOTD YET!

 

I agree.................I was just trying to be a optimist

 

this will be my first year in attendance, and I can't wait!!! but watching this thread is making time go SLOWER for me not faster

 

This far into registration last year we had ~440

 

If we are so far behind in registration, why is there no availability of rooms/cabins at Deals Gap????

 

good question...I wonder how many are attending without registering?

 

I noticed that, absent from the MOTD forums this year, are all the supporters against registering. There is always a small vocal group bashing registration and the "commercialization" of MOTD, and dream of the "grassroots" days.

Conspiracy....??????

 

Darned registration and commercialization, I'm getting some hemp mats for my Mini, and towing it down with my 12-window VW microbus while wearing sox-and-sandals, using a plaid rug as a kilt, boiling water for herbal tea, and waving my all-leather PETA flag . I'll camp on the side of the road outside Fontana waving my confederate flag singing Yankee Doodle Dandy while voting for Nader, vocally supporting the Area 51 Conspiracy Organization, and waving my "Nuke the Whales" t-shirt. Maybe I'll even drive the Dragon in an old VW ( HERESY!!)...

Hey - realistically, there's a cost to putting on MOTD. That cost is greater than the income from vendors, and so needs support from the community. Is the cost "fair"? Well, almost 300 people think so, so far, and there may be a few who don't. This number is lower than last year about the same time. Is it the price/value relationship? The overall economy? The age of the Minis? Let's face it, our Community is changing, with a higher %age of "regular folks" (as opposed to "enthusiasts") buying Minis, and a larger number of used Minis hitting the market, bringing in another different demographic. What's the effect of this? Maybe a smaller attendance at enthusiast events, but maybe MORE! (witness "waterfest" in the VW world, and how that's changed and expanded over the years - in some ways positively, in some ways, well, not-so-much). Either way, it'll be different folks.

 

I am thinking we may have to revoke your vice-presidency position in the club!

 

Before we jump of the deep end here, there are some rather mundane reasons that may reduce attendance this year:

Gas prices approaching $4.00 a gallon
Increasing cost of life's little necessities like food and shelter
The overall economy is in the toilet
Economic outlook for the next year or two is very pessimisstic
All of the horror stories about the Tennessee highway patrol
The fact that when times get tough, folks usually cut back on their travel budget first

That being said, we'll be there again this year and expect to have more fun than ever.