CORSA 2012: CORSA Convention Planning Team - Notes for November 19, 2011 Meeting

[Vairtec Corporation]

A big thank-you to Al Lacki for providing this information and for 
providing it so quickly.

Clearly, it was a very productive meeting!

Some comments, in no particular order:

(1) The purchase of high-visibility safety vests is mentioned.  This 
is an excellent idea, but before we make the purchase please let me 
check some things.  When I acquired my present business (police 
equipment) the inventory included a number of such vests.  Some of 
them say POLICE on the back so obviously we can't use them, but 
whatever plain ones I have on old inventory I will donate to the 
cause because they are an obsolete design.  Also, since I still 
supply new vests let's compare prices before we buy.  When last I 
ordered plain safety vests my cost was substantially less than the 
$12 price quoted.

(2) For the tech sessions, this is not a tech session but it is a 
presentation that likely will fall under the supervision of whomever 
is in charge of tech sessions:  Pulitzer-winning automotive writer 
Paul Ingrassia's latest book, "Engines of Change," will be published 
by Simon & Schuster on May 1 of 2012.  The book is about the 15 cars 
that helped to define American life and thought, and the Corvair is 
one of the cars.  Paul interviewed me for the book and as I 
understand it the book quotes me and my opinion that the Corvair was 
the most socially influential car ever produced.

At any rate, Paul would like to do a book signing at the convention 
and I think that this is a great idea.  If you have ever been to a 
book signing, typically the author gives a brief talk, then does the 
signing, interacting which each person.  Typically books are made 
available for purchase on-site, for signing.  To make this happen I 
need to know when we would like this to take place (a 1-1/2 hour time 
slot is needed).   Frank -- Brian -- whomever -- please advise.

(3) In the discussion of the road rally, it is reported that Larry 
Claypool suggests that due to the expected number of participants we 
should look at skewing the starting time earlier, and that the 
participants meeting could be as early as 7 AM.  I understand fully 
that we do not want persons missing activities later in the day 
because they are still out on the rally, but I consider a 7 AM 
participants meeting to be onerous.  When does the hotel restaurant 
open for breakfast?  Do we want 75 rally teams seeking breakfast at 
6:30 AM?  Do we want people choosing not to enter the rally because 
of how early it is?  Part of why the econo-run was axed from the 
convention schedule was to give the rally a more generous time 
slot.  Let's not blow reveille before dawn -- it's supposed to be a vacation!

(4) Did anyone take any photos during the meeting or while in 
Sturbridge?  I am always seeking material for the convention blog!

Thanks, again, to Al for the timely report, and thanks to everyone 
for their efforts.

--Bob Marlow