Would you attend a 3 day NATIONAL Cougar show/ event?

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Community Discussion
1

Would you attend a 3 day National Level Cougar event in August of 2015?

  • YES!
  • Probably if I can work out the details.
  • I just don’t know.
  • Probably not, it would have to be really special.
  • NO!

0 voters

The two most recent Cougar events on the West Coast have demonstrated that there is a group of very devoted Cougar fans that will even cross oceans to attend a Cougar event.

The Stray Cats Western Regional CCOA event was actually sold out before the event, and the West Coast Classic Cougar event has outgrown the site.

While none of this is set in stone, call it thick mud. If Colorado is too far away, then a simple NO I won’t be attending will do the job. Please understand that this not being in your back yard is not a good reason to bash the concept. Instead, what would it take, in the way of event activities, to make it worth your time trouble and money. The hardest thing to do is to pick the ideal location. You need to be close to the geographic center of the US and also someplace where it isn’t too hot in August. That means the Rocky Mountains.

What if we did something like this:

Where: Breckenridge Colorado,
When: August 2015
What: Classic Cougar Community Homecoming
Includes CCOA National Event, WCCC Annual event, Legendary Cougar Magazine party.
Cost:$149, $99 for kids under 12, per person, includes lunch and dinner, plus evening receptions. Massive goody bag includes event Tee shirt.

Arrive Wednesday: Car wash facilities on site with sponsorship from Mothers or some other car care products company. Check into Hotel, evening reception sponsored by __________________ Cougar Club. (cash bar).

Thursday: Informal show and Shine. Come and go as you like. Vendor booths open in Hotel convention center. Pre orders delivered free , and special show pricing and discounts to attendees. Hamburger cook out prepared by hotel staff. meals are included. Trivia contest with prizes and raffle items on display. Dinner Cowboy cook out barbeque, live entertainment and western atmosphere. Evening reception sponsored by _______________ insurance Company. Optional pub crawl.

Friday: CCOA Nationals Judged show for those that wish to participate. Pizza Party lunch. Vendor booth s open. Beer Garden Sponsored by local micro brewery. Poker criuse from 4 to 5:30. Best hand wins $100 sponsored by _____________ Cougar Club.
Dinner and awards ceremony sponsored by Cougar Club of America.
Evening reception sponsored by Legendary Cougar Magazine. Drive in Movie night sponsored by WCCC (video clips from the

Saturday. Casual show and shine. Good bye luncheon. Close out special in the Vendor area.

2

Bill,

While I think it is a wonderful idea, I think you would need to come a little further east to get much of the east coast folks.

Approximate one way mileages from select cities to Breckenridge, CO;

San Diego = 1,019
San Francisco = 1,199 miles
Seattle = 1,311 miles
Washington, DC = 1,766 miles
Jacksonville = 1,832 miles
Newark, NJ = 1,847 miles
Portland, ME = 2,155 miles
Miami, FL = 2,318 miles

I would probably attend regardless of where it is, it just gets into the question of whether I bring a Cougar or not (my one way = 2,081 miles).

3

Dave is probably correct that it would have to be moved further east to be anything more than a western Cougar event. Although it is already 1300 miles for me to Breckenridge, I would probably go a little further if it was a once-every-five-years type of event.

By the way, about the warmest Cougar show I’ve ever been too was the 2007 Nationals in Denver. I can’t remember if it was in July or August but I think July. I also can’t remember the exact temperature but it was HOT and HUMID.

It’s tough to plan an event with zero local folks and no club to front the costs. CCOA only contributes a pittance so I would think this would have to be a pre-pay only thing. Someone would need lots of air miles to make repeated trips to the location in order to properly plan.

I think the poll should include something not just about who will come but who will come with a Cougar.

I support the idea but think that doing it in 2016 might be a more attainable goal. Some of us also like to rotate our vacations to keep our spouses happy. One year for a big car trip (which was this year to California) and the next to a gawd-awful shopping destination.

4

1057 miles from my town. Would probably rent a car trailer and drive my pickup the 15 hours straight through. I have always been jealous of those WCCC open houses that are just too far to seriously consider.
But would have to agree with Bill that the Cougar guys farther east would still find it difficult to attend.

5

Since we are projecting out as far as 2016 I thought I should mention that the Delmarva Cougar Club and the Cougar Club of NJ/PA are tentatively planning a big 50th anniversary show at the 2017 Carlisle Ford Show.

Personally, a show in Colorado is too far for me to bring a Cougar but I would do my best to fly out and attend.

  • Phillip
6

The Sponsorship amounts were increased not too long ago, and there is support on the Board for further increases, especially in view of the rapidly approaching 50 year anniversary…

At least one other group (maybe two) have taken preliminary steps. I’m expecting this to be a significant topic for the CCOA in the next year. Watch the newsletter for volunteer recruitment, committee formation, etc. CCOA has a healthy bank balance, and I can think of no better way to spend a bunch than on this important milestone.

Rob (CCOA Membership Services Director)

P.S. Sorry for going off topic, Bill… but events for 2015 and '16 can really improve what happens in 2017 - generating interest of participants and experience for organizers. Get Gavin in the loop for your event and he’ll keep it in front of the CCOA board.

7

It’s a shorter distance to Colorado then it is to Oregon for me.

8

The show you are describing is pretty much the way many CCOA National shows have been put on in the past. Although they generally ran from Thursday or Friday to Sunday changing the days is no big deal. I agree with Jeff that trying to pull all this together in one year may be a bit ambitious. It can be done but you would be much better off having more time to get everything put together. Especially if you do not have anyone in the local area doing the leg work.

A few of the things you have listed may be problems. We have had shows in the past were no vendors were allowed due to local zoning laws. State or local laws may also play a part in the serving of alcohol. These are just some of the questions that should be asked before committing to a location.

If no local club steps forward to host the show it is not out of the question for the CCOA to be the host. We have done a few shows like that in the past.

Randy Goodling
CCOA #95

9

The location is the hardest part. Breckenridge is quite a bit cooler than Denver. If any one can find a location where the average August high is 72 degrees, that is further east, speak up. It has never reached 90 in Breckenridge, the record high was 89 in 1939. It doesn’t have to be Breckenridge, but it has to be some place that you can be outside.

I have discussed this with Gavin. He would be instrumental in making this happen.

The planning and execution for an event like this is made much easier when you are working with a resort that is trying to fill rooms in the off season. (Breckenridge is a ski town, that used to be a mining camp.)

10

I should add that I attended a Falcon club event and a BMWCCA event there in the past. No problem with vendors in Breckenridge during those events. This is what the town is set up to handle. Note: Falcons with 144 cubic inch 6 cylinders and two speed automatics are pretty slow at altitude.

If we combine the budget that Don works with at WCCC for his event, with contributions from CCOA and the regoinal clubs pitching in to sponsor trophies, or receptions or other things, then the total starts to add up. I can assist with promotions here and in Legendary Cougar Magazine. If the Colorado club can help, that would be great, but “volunteering” them is not fair.

11

It would be really cool, but the distance is too far for us… Trying for northern Cali was the outer edge of car show travel for the family.

12

I like the 2016 idea, and Breckenridge sounds good to me for the cool weather.

Summer of 2016 into 2017 is all good for a 50th anniversary.

I wanna vote for 2016 :gaptooth:

13

That’s a week-long trip for me (40 miles west of Boston) if I bring the Cougar. Assume 2 long days out and 2 long days back, plus the three days of the show (it’s not worth all that driving to be there for only part of the event). It would be just me, since my wife would have to stay home to look after the business. Fuel costs would be in the range of $900.00 plus six or seven nights of hotel rooms. So, for me, the only “inexpensive” option is to leave the Cougar home.

14

I think the only way to make the run from Florida or Boston would be to make a road trip adventure out of it. Take time, stay on the the two lane and turn the drive into an adventure instead of a trying to make time. OR make a gumball rally out of it!

15

It would depend on how far I had to travel.

16

As much fun as an event like that would surely be, I would not attend. CO is simply too far.

17

Morning all,

The Colorado Cougar Club was founded in my basement Aug of 1992. I was the President & tech advisor. AS the years passed we decided to try a National show. The start was fine, until we had a few whom thought their ideas were better. This caused a lot of problems. The “new” people stopped the vendor idea cold. No swap meet, poor planning & lots of complaints. The 1st year (1992) we had over 130 members. After the Nat’s, the membership dropped by 100+.

Very bad taste left by the “group”. After years of recovery, we again tried to setup a nat’s here. This time it was again another group w/ personal agendas that were not in the interest of the CCC. This resulted in a event that was poorly planned, and had no local events, very hot temps and no tents or water for anyone. Just a drive to the highest road in Colorado. Not a great idea for all those “low land” Cats!

Fast forward a few years and all those people are long gone, and we again are rebuilding. This year we had 3 CougarFests, a joint show w/ another Ford club and we just finished a cruise to Colorado Springs. Member ship is now around 30.

So, to answer the question. Can the CCC put on another show? I believe we could, but w/ only 5-10 members being the active core we would needs LOTS of help.

The location is another issue. It takes lots of time to deal w/ things and require someone to be in “Breck” and coordinate everything. Travel time would be approx. 1.5 hours one way from Denver.

The timing could be a way to avoid the hotter times of the year. Steam Boat has held the Mustang “Roundup” for many years now and attendance has been 200+. Travel time is approx. 3 hours from Denver.


The CCC has discussed doing something for the 50Th, but nothing has been submitted to vote or decide on yet.

I personally would drive some distance. I have had a great time meeting people from all over the world- Leon’s friend, Bill Basore, Lin Thurston, and many others. Too bad the distances are the main issue.

“Cougar Bill” Founder of the Colorado Cougar Club and current president.

18

It’s roughly 2/3rd’s of the way across the US for the eastern people. In my book, it would need to be closer to 1/2 way to be a contender.

19

Breckinridge is beautiful. Just went out there for skiing this past March. Amazing. If I was going to do this I would have to bring a cougar which would mean renting a trailer to have the cougar sitting on. About 1800 miles away. This would be a week plus to do the right way. In trying to also take a family vacation(they would never go for this trip which is fine with me) that would mean taking two weeks off. As a small business owner this is going to be tough. So…not sure that this can feasibly happen on this end.

Side note…is this the same weekend that Woodward dream cruise is?

20

Wonder about shipping cars. Maybe a deal on a full truck going both ways?

The cost of fuel was a major concern at the last Nat’s here. Fuel had just jumped, and many of us were hurting due to the economy.

Maybe Bill B. can figure a way to do a virtual Cougar show… way of the future?

I don’t think so, but maybe a way to recognize all those who could not make it in person (in car)?

How about a class/category for them?