Bluerauder
06-19-2011, 06:43 AM
Ten (10) Reasons Why I Can’t Come to Marauderville IX (MV9)
1. I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY
Just show up and find out how welcoming and receptive the MM.Net crew is. Within five minutes, you will know several of the members and you’ll get to know more over the course of the 4 day event. No one ever is made to feel out of place at these MM events. Even if you have some difficulty in meeting new people, the Marauder gang will make you feel at ease and help you fit in. Once you can match screennames with real people, it will make a world of difference in your MM.Net experience.
2. IT IS TOO FAR FOR ME
The definition of “too far” varies from person to person. For some, this may be 250 or 500 miles. For others, 1,000 or 1,500 is a limit. It is not unusual for some of our members to spend 3 days on the road to be at an event that they consider worth attending. Last year “DonR” drove in from West Fargo, ND unannounced to be with the gang. “Jamesstang79” routinely puts more than 1,250 miles each way to be at an MV. “Teamrope” drove nearly 2,400 miles from the Pacific Northwest to Detroit. “NAVCHAP” did the same from San Diego, CA. They all consider this to be quality time in the driver’s seat of their favorite vehicle. “Pat” drives in from Louisiana every year.
If your trip is longer than you would like, consider some options. There’s an airport just 15 minutes away from the MV9 host hotel. Fly in and rent a car …. Maybe a nice Mustang convertible or a Grand Marquis. If you are in Florida, make a trip on the AutoTrain a part of your vacation trip either one or both ways to cut mileage. You can arrive in Lorton, VA and then drive the 150 miles to Hershey, PA. Amtrak's Auto Train >>>>> http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/AM_Route_C/1241245666320/1237405732511
If you are waiting for Marauderville to be held in your local area, then get with some other members in your local area and put together a proposal for 2012 or 2013. Good luck on your submission. We’ll be there.
3. CAN’T TAKE OFF WORK THAT WEEK
Understand that work and sometimes family obligations come first. If you can’t make it for all 4 days, consider coming in on Friday (everybody takes Friday off occasionally). If you are close enough, maybe you could just drop in for 1 or 2 days.
4. JUST NOT IN THE BUDGET
Yes, the hotel, gas, events, food and other items do add up. The Marauderville planning staff has worked hard to get reduced rates at the hotel and have negotiated reduced costs for events and venues wherever possible. In addition, MM.Net kicks in some supplementary money to help keep the costs down because they recognize that this may be a consideration for some members. If possible, trim a day or two off your attendance to minimize hotel and food costs. You can even consider doubling-up on a hotel room by sharing costs with a member also looking to minimize some expenses. If this still breaks the bank, we understand that some things come first.
5. KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL
Timing of Maraudervilles has changed over time to try to accommodate a larger contingent of attendees and to deconflict with other major events in the Summertime. If you can’t drop the kids on the parents or in-laws for a couple days, it is not unusual to pull kids out of school on a Friday for a long weekend. We wouldn’t want your kids schoolwork to suffer in the least; but 1 day may be doable. Kids can recover pretty quickly from a 1-day absence. You’ll have to assess the impact on your kids. If that’s not a good option, then maybe just the weekend can be worked into their schedule. Bring the kids along. They’ll love it. Hershey's Chocolate World, Strassburg Train, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, National Civil War Museum, and ACAA Antique Auto Museum …. Sweet, educational and fun. Can’t beat it.
6. MY MARAUDER ISN’T UP TO SHOW QUALITY
Not all members choose to show their MMs. Some do and some don’t. But they are all there to have fun and do a Looky-See on every car ….. they are all different in their own way.
Whether your MM is a daily driver or a garage queen, you can always pick up tips on how to make your car Show & Shine from other members at the events. Last year, Croftgate Detailing Products was on-site giving free demonstrations of their products. Even dirty, filthy cars were treated to amazing results …. And the owner didn’t even have to lift a finger. Many members were so impressed that they left MV8 with a bagful of Croftgate products. Bottomline is that an MM can be put in tip-top shape quickly.
7. THE WIFE, SPOUSE, OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT THIS
Some members choose to come alone. However, past experience shows that the wives, spouses, and others enjoy the events too. Maraudervilles are generally configured with a wide diversity of events and venues to appeal to a wide segment of members. This has seemed to work well in the past. This year will be no different. Bring along the wife or the girlfriend.... or husband or boyfriend. Please don’t bring both at the same time.
8. I DON’T WANT TO SPEND FOUR (4) DAYS JUST LOOKING AT CARS
While emphasis on cars, open hoods, engine detailing, superchargers and exhaust work does play a large part of the gathering ---- there are lots of other things to do at a Marauderville. Check out the itinerary for MV9 for its wide diversity of events. There is something for everyone. Also see #7 above. Or look here for hotel and MV9 Itinerary Info >>>>>> http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=119
9. I SOLD/WRECKED MY MARAUDER AND AM NOW DRIVING A …….
If you are a member of MM.Net, then you appreciate the car that we have all come to love and appreciate. Marauderville is not just about the car but about the people and their sharing of a common passion. Things change and life goes on. Cars are bought and sold. Whatever your current ride is …. Bring it along. Pick up a rental at the airport. No matter. There is even a Non-Marauder category in the car show.
10. THERE ARE STILL ACTIVE WARRANTS OUT FOR ME IN PENNSYLVANIA
Can’t help you out there. There’s a good chance that Marauderville will be in a different state in 2012. Good luck with your legal problems. But that doesn’t explain why you missed Charlotte, NC; Indianapolis, IN; St. Louis, MO, etc., etc., etc.
1. I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY
Just show up and find out how welcoming and receptive the MM.Net crew is. Within five minutes, you will know several of the members and you’ll get to know more over the course of the 4 day event. No one ever is made to feel out of place at these MM events. Even if you have some difficulty in meeting new people, the Marauder gang will make you feel at ease and help you fit in. Once you can match screennames with real people, it will make a world of difference in your MM.Net experience.
2. IT IS TOO FAR FOR ME
The definition of “too far” varies from person to person. For some, this may be 250 or 500 miles. For others, 1,000 or 1,500 is a limit. It is not unusual for some of our members to spend 3 days on the road to be at an event that they consider worth attending. Last year “DonR” drove in from West Fargo, ND unannounced to be with the gang. “Jamesstang79” routinely puts more than 1,250 miles each way to be at an MV. “Teamrope” drove nearly 2,400 miles from the Pacific Northwest to Detroit. “NAVCHAP” did the same from San Diego, CA. They all consider this to be quality time in the driver’s seat of their favorite vehicle. “Pat” drives in from Louisiana every year.
If your trip is longer than you would like, consider some options. There’s an airport just 15 minutes away from the MV9 host hotel. Fly in and rent a car …. Maybe a nice Mustang convertible or a Grand Marquis. If you are in Florida, make a trip on the AutoTrain a part of your vacation trip either one or both ways to cut mileage. You can arrive in Lorton, VA and then drive the 150 miles to Hershey, PA. Amtrak's Auto Train >>>>> http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/AM_Route_C/1241245666320/1237405732511
If you are waiting for Marauderville to be held in your local area, then get with some other members in your local area and put together a proposal for 2012 or 2013. Good luck on your submission. We’ll be there.
3. CAN’T TAKE OFF WORK THAT WEEK
Understand that work and sometimes family obligations come first. If you can’t make it for all 4 days, consider coming in on Friday (everybody takes Friday off occasionally). If you are close enough, maybe you could just drop in for 1 or 2 days.
4. JUST NOT IN THE BUDGET
Yes, the hotel, gas, events, food and other items do add up. The Marauderville planning staff has worked hard to get reduced rates at the hotel and have negotiated reduced costs for events and venues wherever possible. In addition, MM.Net kicks in some supplementary money to help keep the costs down because they recognize that this may be a consideration for some members. If possible, trim a day or two off your attendance to minimize hotel and food costs. You can even consider doubling-up on a hotel room by sharing costs with a member also looking to minimize some expenses. If this still breaks the bank, we understand that some things come first.
5. KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL
Timing of Maraudervilles has changed over time to try to accommodate a larger contingent of attendees and to deconflict with other major events in the Summertime. If you can’t drop the kids on the parents or in-laws for a couple days, it is not unusual to pull kids out of school on a Friday for a long weekend. We wouldn’t want your kids schoolwork to suffer in the least; but 1 day may be doable. Kids can recover pretty quickly from a 1-day absence. You’ll have to assess the impact on your kids. If that’s not a good option, then maybe just the weekend can be worked into their schedule. Bring the kids along. They’ll love it. Hershey's Chocolate World, Strassburg Train, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, National Civil War Museum, and ACAA Antique Auto Museum …. Sweet, educational and fun. Can’t beat it.
6. MY MARAUDER ISN’T UP TO SHOW QUALITY
Not all members choose to show their MMs. Some do and some don’t. But they are all there to have fun and do a Looky-See on every car ….. they are all different in their own way.
Whether your MM is a daily driver or a garage queen, you can always pick up tips on how to make your car Show & Shine from other members at the events. Last year, Croftgate Detailing Products was on-site giving free demonstrations of their products. Even dirty, filthy cars were treated to amazing results …. And the owner didn’t even have to lift a finger. Many members were so impressed that they left MV8 with a bagful of Croftgate products. Bottomline is that an MM can be put in tip-top shape quickly.
7. THE WIFE, SPOUSE, OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT THIS
Some members choose to come alone. However, past experience shows that the wives, spouses, and others enjoy the events too. Maraudervilles are generally configured with a wide diversity of events and venues to appeal to a wide segment of members. This has seemed to work well in the past. This year will be no different. Bring along the wife or the girlfriend.... or husband or boyfriend. Please don’t bring both at the same time.
8. I DON’T WANT TO SPEND FOUR (4) DAYS JUST LOOKING AT CARS
While emphasis on cars, open hoods, engine detailing, superchargers and exhaust work does play a large part of the gathering ---- there are lots of other things to do at a Marauderville. Check out the itinerary for MV9 for its wide diversity of events. There is something for everyone. Also see #7 above. Or look here for hotel and MV9 Itinerary Info >>>>>> http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=119
9. I SOLD/WRECKED MY MARAUDER AND AM NOW DRIVING A …….
If you are a member of MM.Net, then you appreciate the car that we have all come to love and appreciate. Marauderville is not just about the car but about the people and their sharing of a common passion. Things change and life goes on. Cars are bought and sold. Whatever your current ride is …. Bring it along. Pick up a rental at the airport. No matter. There is even a Non-Marauder category in the car show.
10. THERE ARE STILL ACTIVE WARRANTS OUT FOR ME IN PENNSYLVANIA
Can’t help you out there. There’s a good chance that Marauderville will be in a different state in 2012. Good luck with your legal problems. But that doesn’t explain why you missed Charlotte, NC; Indianapolis, IN; St. Louis, MO, etc., etc., etc.