SOUTHWEST FESTIVA-FEST: OFFICIAL ROLL CALL

[Uncle Fester]

Put a hitch on the festiva drive in forth>< still looks like 3 of us. 4 if you want to swing by drummer. I'm still super excited. I'm dropping the car off tomorrow for the alignment.

What do you say fester I'll meet you for drinks at 3am. What hotel do you want to stay at.

YESSS! A hitch for the boat! This is where Drumnerd33 suggested as a hotel: "Ok we are discussing driving the festiva out. My original suggestion was gold Coast because it's only a few blocks off strip and is way cheaper to stay."
Note that first part. (!!!)I think that owning a boat is a bad financial move, Drumnerd33: much better to have a FRIEND with a boat! But, whatever floats your boat... it would be super-cool if you took your Festy, but as long as you are coming, that is great. You will get much better MPG in your Festy; just a reminder. Also, you will help to make our photo shoots look that much better. With 3 or 4 cars going, your presence would make a 20-to-25% improvement for posterity! Remember, we are the West Coast Pioneers! WE are building a movement! My vote is still: keep the boat parked, take the Festiva. 'Nuff said.

Chobobulous, we were thinking of sleeping at a hotel on the way to Vegas, because last time we went to Sin City, we drove the whole way, got in at around 3:00, slept in the van for awhile, and spent the rest of our stay sick as hell. No sleep, no breakfast, no good. So, our latest plan ( which keeps changing every day!) is to sleep fast, wake early, and meet up with you guys on Saturday. If I can get my GF to drive some, maybe the 3:00 A.M. thing could work. Sounds a lot better, actually. Then we could check in at the Gold Coast for Saturday night. WE have to head back Sunday, unfortunately, and probably kind of early.

Another possible buzz-kill for ya: I am a lousy drinking buddy, because ... I don't. However, I am an excellent Designated Driver! I am liking this 3 A.M. idea more and more as I type this. I like your pioneer spirit: you are going, no matter how small the turnout. That is keeping me pumped as I do last-minute tweaks on my Nowhere-near-show-car Festy. I have dents & dings, lousy interior. My ES bushings are squeaking like Minnie Mouse in a porno. I need to grease them and grind 'em down a bit more tomorrow. Getting my new tires today ( Monday) or Tuesday. I won't be pretty, but I WILL be rolling!

Also, Drumnerd 33 suggested Fremont Street as a place for debauchery, gambling and cheap drinks. I don't know where anything is in Vegas, but if we are going to meet in the wee hours, that might be a good spot. I would rather cruise the strip and watch the Friday Night Freak Show, myself! But as long as we have our Festy Brotherhood, any activity aught to be okay.

I really hope that everybody comes along, and that we get some last-minute add-ons. Hey! Whatever happened to TheresGabe? Did he get trapped under a Festiva, or something? Should I pm him? I've never met him before ( or any of you), but he was the one who started this whole freight train rolling.

I'm going to pm you guys my # so we can up the level of coordination on this mini-mini meet. Thanks for keeping the flame burning!

[drumnerd33]

The strip is fun to walk and see the shows and stuff and check out hotels but one day and night of that you will pretty much see the majority of it.... fremont street is a must if you have never been, its a great time, ceiling light shows every hour, shows in the street all night long and hot chicks and cheap beer.... also can go to pawn stars pawn shop if you want to, could go to mnt charleston if you wanna see the mountains and see vegas below, and there is a car museum in the wynn

[Uncle Fester]

That all sounds fun! Fremont Street sounds like a winner. Got my 13"s on today, with Nexen 185/60r13s. No more 12"s! Now all I have to do is get rid of some of the squeaks, and I will be ready to roll to Vegas! Wish I had a radio in this car...

[drumnerd33]

No radio! On a road trip... Damn that sucks

Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk 2

[Chobobulous]

I'll trade you my radio for your wheels lol.

[Team Lightning]

You need to talk to advancedynamics about driving without a radio. Charlie drove from Arizona to Raleigh without a Radio.

[Chobobulous]

You need to talk to advancedynamics about driving without a radio. Charlie drove from Arizona to Raleigh without a Radio.

From san Diego IIRC

[Chobobulous]

Only a couple more days, just saying.

[Uncle Fester]

XFSE71 isn't going to make it: he is having some car troubles. My 13"s are causing a few problems as well: some rubbing, and pulling to the right. Since I am doing more suspension work, I'm holding off on an alignment: I will swap back to the 12"s for the drive to Vegas. It looks like it may be just you&me, Chob! Drumnerd33 is coming, but without his Festiva. It will be a short trip for us (GFand me): most likely we will be coming in Saturday morning rather than Friday night. If that's the case, you had better hook up with DRumnerd33 for some Friday night party plans. We may drive a straight shot, but that would make us Weekend Zombies.

Also, we still haven't booked a hotel. Drumnerd talked about the Gold Coast Hotel. He will be staying with relatives. I am going to research Gold Coast and check their weekend rates. Have you found a place yet, Chob?

[Uncle Fester]

More grim news:

https://www.bconnectedonline.com/resnetf.php?GCEHOTEL;041313;01;02;;010;

Available rooms at Gold Coast run $139 on Saturdays.That is about 4 times what we can afford. Unless I can find something much cheaper, I can't go. I will keep looking, but prospects look poor. WE may have to wait, plan, and do another Meet later in the year.

[Uncle Fester]

Okay Chob, here's the deal: I just committed to a hotel, walking distance to the Strip. Details below:

Check In: Saturday, Apr 13, 2013
Check Out: Sunday, Apr 14, 2013
Total: $63.47 (USD) includes tax recovery charges and service fees
Property Details: Howard Johnson on East Tropicana Las Vegas
165 East Tropicana Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
United States

1 Room
Two Double Beds, Non-Smoking - Stay and Save 20 Percent On Your Stay

I booked this room through www.hotelplanner.com. If you want to go cheap and hang close, book yourself a room here. It is close to lots of cool stuff on the strip (see map), and there are no hidden fees and charges. Since you drive a Festiva, you are probably a skinflint such as myself. If this works for you, we can still travel by foot, Festiva or shuttle, to a bunch of cool destinations on the Strip. I don't know if you were planning to stay somewhere in Vegas on Friday night, but it sounded like you would be coming in at around 1:00-to 2:00 A.M. I also don't know if you are planning to stay later: but if you are, I think that this HOJo has more discounts.

Now, HoJO is most likely a glorified Motel, may even be kind of scuzzy. I personally don't care, as long as it has a lice-free bed and pillows on which to rest our weary heads. I plan to be out and about most of the time. Want to take a drive out to Hoover Dam on Saturday? Great location for pics! WE can post them on this site, and call it an official Meet! Also, there are some hills above Vegas that are rather epic: I have never personally been to the top of them, but Drumnerd33 knows the area, and we can cram him in one of our Festys to make the Meet more "official".
Let me know what you decide: you may have already booked a room at the Bellagio, for all I know. If so, we will come and crash into your room and destroy all of the furniture, Kieth Moon-style.

Now it is official for Mara and Myself: we are going, no matter what. I have your # and will call you later today ( Thursday) to formally introduce myself and get some planning together. I don't know if you are already in communication with Drumnerd33: he will be our Ambassador.

Looking forward to meeting you. If anyone else shows up, that's a bonus. Love your enthusiasm. Drive safe!

[TheresGabe]

Wow... I am REALLY sad to know that I'm going to be missing out on the meet that I came up with. The festy hasn't been running amazing. I'll be replacing the Valve cover gasket this weekend. I had 3 flat tires in the last week. (2 flats AND my spare was flat). Nobody in my area can get me tires for 10 days. (ridiculous) Anyone driving through Salt Lake to get to Vegas, or on their way back is welcome at my house. I'd love to meet up and say hey! Feel free to call/text me! 801-347-5753. I'm still going to try and plan another Vegas meet in September/October. Hope you guys have an AWESOME time!

[Uncle Fester]

TheresGabe, We're sorry too. I am due for a valve cover gasket soon, as well. Right now Drumnerd is in Vegas ( actually he is going to Cali today to get his boat, but will be coming back to Vegas), and Chobolouous is heading out after work today, hitting the road at 4:00. Mara and I will be hitting the road by 4:30-5:00. The Meet will consist of two red Festivas. But, it will still be a Meet! Maybe we are setting a record for the smallest Meet ever. It's too bad that you couldn't make it, hopefully the Meet in Sept/Oct will come together. Drumnerd33 and I are willing to help coordinate. I'll give you a call sometime during the weekend, and we can text you some pics.
Jay

[Uncle Fester]

"could go to mnt charleston if you wanna see the mountains and see vegas below, and there is a car museum in the wynn"-Drumnerd33. Yes, let's do this. Talk to you later today. Let's plan on a drive to Mnt Charleston for Saturday late morning-afternoon. DRumnerd, you will have a choice of 2 red Festys to drive/ride in. The car museum sounds like a must, as well!

[TheresGabe]

It's all about the Auto Collection at the Quad (Formerly Imperial Palace) Get online and you can get free passes. Some of the most amazing cars you will EVER see!