2013 ACOC International in USA?

[Gus Meyjes]

http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2359

[Classicus]

If there were any big US Concours events going on at the same time suitable for 428s it would be great, also it might hopefully fill in nearly all the last remaining unknown 428 Register and Archive entries as well....

[Classicus]

How about it Jeff, Emmanuel and everyone including MA 200....? [8D]
   
   http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2359&whichpage=2
   
   

quote:I really like this idea...
   
   For what it's worth, if we make it a west coast run around the time of Monterey, you could then drive up north towards San Francisco and I would be happy to host all of you at the Concours that I am proud to be Chairman of - The Hillsborough Concours. The longest continually running Concours in the world...56 straight years. There are older, but none have run continuously. We run the weekend after Pebble Beach.
   
   I will be racing my ACECA - BE-603 again in the Historics/Reunion this year. Come see some sliding madness.
   
   Check us out at www.hillsboroughconcours.org
   
   Let's make this happen!
   
   Rob

[shep]

I posted on the General Forum, that I would like a very very rough idea of how many cars would join a North American International, and suggested anyone seriously interested make their intentions known. Some thing like: Mr and Mrs Shep, Cobra Mk IV plus Sons of Shep, Ace Bristol. Total 2 cars from UK.

[cliffordl]

Any ball park idea on the cost of transporting one's to and from the US?

[shep]

So far the worst case looks like being about £4000! This is using a race car service which includes taking the cars to Sebring race track in Florida. I am waiting for more information from shippers. Andy.

[J Jones]

I'd certainly welcome an event like this. California! Colorado! The West! (not Florida! Flat, bugs, uninteresting in my opinion - unless what you really want to do is go fishing and play Golf every day)
   
   California has some great roads, excellent weather most of the year. Places to see!
   We've got Mountains (Big, beautiful Mountains, and smaller rolling green hills in "The Gold Country")
   Deserts! Care to test your English cooling system in Death Valley? (It's actually quite beautiful in the Spring!
   The Pacific coastline is spectacular.
   Lakes! - Lake Tahoe! (gorgeous, AND there are Casinos)
   Palm trees, Redwoods, vineyards (Sonoma valley, Alexander valley, Napa),
   Excellent food, depending on where you go.
   The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Sedona. Gold Country. The "lost Coast Highway". And, yes, racetracks.
   Take your pick!
   Go fast? Tour? There's so much to choose from!
   I've done the Amici Americani delle Mille Miglia (the California Mille Miglia) several times (rest in Peace, Martin Swig). 1000 miles in 4 days - easy and fun. Something like that could be arranged. (Our Fruas are too new for the Mille - 1956 or older)
   But come on over for the Copperstate 1000. Requirement is for cars of 1973 or older. I don't think there's ever been a single 428 entered - and the 428 is PERFECT for this event. The rarity of 428's improves the chance of being accepted.
   
   http://www.mensartscouncil.com/cs/
   
   Or, make our own route and arrangements. (not an "easy" task, but certainly not impossible)
   There are quite a few Brits who ship their cars for these events. Not to be missed! (easy for me to say - I live here).

[jrlucke]

San Francisco to Sonoma via hiway 1 and the Russian River then to Tahoe then hiway 395 to Yosemite and the "Gold Country" then across the valley to Monterey sounds like a great week long drive!
   
   John

[J Jones]

Sounds good to me as an outline of a plan. The route you suggest, John, is less than 1,000 miles (actually 723 miles, according to Google), not accounting for refinement. Theres so much to choose from!
   Things to consider: lodging, great food, wine "tasting", scenery, variety, good roads less traveled, side trips of interest, a race track for Andy (maybe Infineon, for example http://www.racesonoma.com/raceway/rental/ ) and a hospitable and understanding local constabulary.
   On the California Mille, we usually had several stops at vineyards for lunch or dinner.  That was not an excuse to get tanked (a very bad thing in California), but to eat well in beautiful surroundings. (and then fill the boot with a couple of cases, if that's your pleasure) Making arrangements for a group is fairly easy, with enough notice.

[J Jones]

I might add here, that Shawn Thomas has (or had, I haven't been in contact with him for a while) his workshop at Infineon. Shawn is a Bristol specialist, and has two large trailers full of original Bristol parts. The Bristol factory used to buy parts from him!
   Years ago, someone set up a Bristol dealership network (I think Shawn said it was in Sweden), and laid in a full supply of parts. It folded, and eventually the parts supply was auctioned off for pennies. He bought the entire stock and shipped it to the USA.
   Anyone bringing an AC Bristol to California need not worry they'd be "stuck" if their engine  goes Ka-BOOM! Same thing would be true for Bristol Cars, near relations in many respects.

[Gus Meyjes]

Good news: The price is coming down. Multiple points of origin available. Drop off in LA. A west coast trip will be possible for roughly $4000 round trip (2500 UK pounds). That is a $1000 savings over the first quote. I asked for clarification, and as it stands that will include everything. Show up, drop your car off. Fly to LA, pick it up and drive off onto Pacific Coast Highway to Monterrey. They will handle all customs work and releasing the cars. And, they handle classic cars all the time.
   
   Check out their link on youtube.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9unBxyAl6TI
   
   I have done that drive twice, and I can tell you there is NOTHING like it.
   
   As the info comes in, I'll keep you posted.
   
   Gus

[J Jones]

Good work, Gus!
   Proceeding North to Vancouver (or vice-versa) is a good thought.
   
   Here's a link to "the Lost Coast Highway". I've done it, and it is spectacular! And pretty much deserted. The road can be very rough in sections, but passible. This is a tough drive, an adventure. And a real test of how well your car has been maintained. It's not for everyone, and it's not fast.
   
   http://www.takemytrip.com/07orcal/07_13a.htm
   
   Some of route 1 gets very twisty. Great scenery, though sections of it can start to wear on your nerves and your passengers stomach. It's really worth it, however.
   (the last time I did it, a landslide closed the road, and we had to take a long detour. That section of the road was closed for a year)
   
   Some of the best roads in California are in the Gold Country.
   here's an example of some excursions:
   http://www.localgetaways.com/2011/04/top-5-scenic-drives-in-northern-california/

[Gus Meyjes]

Guys,
   
   I really hope we can get a bunch of the Europeans to come over. This would be a fantastic trip and I hope I can ask you for help in planning the route, as I am not familiar enough with California. Keep the suggestions coming. I am very excited about this thing!
   
   Gus

[J Jones]

a suggestion for a worthwhile stop. In case the route includes Seattle, ending up in (or starting with) Vancouver/Seattle.
   
   http://www.salishlodge.com/

[Classicus]

Just a passing observation but from what I've read elsewhere about the considerable amount of planning that would have to be done, I would have thought that something this big needed a good couple of years at least to plan it all properly  first ? Particularly as someone in the UK mentioned it would be a once in a lifetime experience for them....