General Category => Microcar Events => Topic started by: Chris Thomas on April 18, 2009, 05:51:16 PM
Title: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 18, 2009, 05:51:16 PM
Dear Friends
After my marathon trip through France, I fancy visiting The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison Georgia, which is about 56 miles east of Atlanta Georgia. I do not know if anybody has done the pilgrimage from the UK before, but is anybody interested?
I have looked up flights and they are about £320 Each return from Gatwick or Heathrow, the hotel would be about £120 each, and car hire would be about £120 shared. I was planning a four day trip 1 day out, one day at the museum, one day to visit an other place (such as a bubblegum factory) and one day back. Depending upon how many were interested we could do it for about £500 each.
When? I fancy May 2009 but could be persuaded.
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 18, 2009, 06:16:22 PM
Dear friends
I should explain that there is an event on in May as follows: -
MICROS IN MADISON 2009 Memorial Day Weekend May 22-23-24 2009 Registration info available now! go to www.Microcar.org/2009/
Featured Marque is SMART!
Vintage Trophies for Vintage Microcars!
Trophies for Smarts as well!
You MUST Register to be part of this.
Being the Memorial day weekend could add a little to the hotel cost.
Can you tell us more Jim
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Jim Janecek on April 18, 2009, 09:16:22 PM
well, during that event would be a great time to go. The Museum Collection is open to Registered participants all day on Friday and Saturday, plus there will be bunches of cars to go riding around in. It is not a "park and shine" event. It is a real nice social event for Microcar Enthusiasts.
I don't know of any "bubblegum factory" you could go visit whilst there, but there is the Coca Cola Museum and also 5 hrs north is the Lane Motor Museum: http://lanemotormuseum.org
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 18, 2009, 10:01:14 PM
Dear Jim
Thanks for that advice. I would love to visit the Lanes Museum at Nashville but it may add an extra day, which is not out of the question but a round trip of 500 miles will need some time to undertake. The bubble gum thing was because I heard that Bruce was in the bussiness, or is that just myth?
I am open to suggestions.
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Bob Purton on April 19, 2009, 01:18:58 PM
Dear Chris. Bruce is most certainly in the business! Most visitors I know confess to leaving the museum with a complimentary bucket of Gum under there arm! I would have loved to have accompanied you Chris but the finances will not stretch to it at the moment, I do plan to go some time. I'm always amazed at the differences between the microcar movement of the two nations, who for instance in the UK when organising an event would choose the Smart as the featured vehicle, these being a common everyday car on our city roads. They are obviously still a novelty over there. Aside from that we dont even view them as a microcar. I remember a group of guys driving to Story Germany in smart cars and they were scorned and dubbed as being counterfeit enthusiasts! I like them well enough but prefer period micro's. Have a great time Chris and we will be expecting a full report on your return. Its only a matter of time before you yield and buy a microcar!
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Jim Janecek on April 19, 2009, 01:31:00 PM
The bubble gum thing was because I heard that Bruce was in the bussiness, or is that just myth?
Bruce did indeed own Concord Confections, which in turn owned Dubble Bubble, but that Factory was in Toronto Canada.
He sold the business to Tootsie Roll about 5 years ago. For a few years after that, he regularly had pallets of Dubble Bubble that he would pass out. The buckets of gum are now all gone, unfortunately.
The idea of featuring SMART as a marque was hopefully to get some American small car enthusiasts introduced to Vintage Microcars. The car culture in the US is indeed very different than in Europe. Most of the media and the general public think the SMART is a microcar and are genuinely surprised to find that something else smaller actually exists.
The response from SMART owners so far has been a bit less than expected, but oh well.
2 years ago we featured the King Midget, which is an American Microcar. We did this because the King Midget people usually seem to stick together as a marque and it turned out to be quite successful getting them to mix it up with other vintage microcars. Many of them are coming back this year.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Bob Purton on April 19, 2009, 02:18:58 PM
Thanks for the update Jim, I didnt know the business was sold five years ago, that could explain why he has been selling cars of late, to keep bead and butter on the table! :D :D (as if!) Maybe my Bruce Wiener produced microcar sweets (thats candy for the colonials) will rise in value now as collectors pieces, I had better stop eating them! Now we understand the choice of featured car, a cunning plan! Can the electric Smart be purchased In the US?
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: marcus on April 19, 2009, 07:28:53 PM
Tootsie Roll. When I was a child we lived in Washington DC for nearly 5 years as my Dad was posted there. Tootsie Roll was, along with Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, my favourite American sweet. It is the same shape and size as a Twix, but it's soft toffee with a slightly chocolatey flavour, a bit like Choc eclair sweets. I forgot all about it for 30 years until I started going to America for my drum business, and saw some in a sweet shop in a shopping mall in LA. It is very sweet and a bit sickly but I still love it! The sweet shop was about the same size as a big Tesco here. Big enough that you almost need a Smart car to get around it. When we lived there (1964-1968) VW Beetles had become very popular because they could be parked in the gaps between American cars. My Mum drove a Morris minor around town, and people were as astonished by that as people are nowadays in England when they see a bubble car
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Bob Purton on April 19, 2009, 11:00:34 PM
Never seen Tootsie roll when state side but recognise the name from a Paul Simon lyric, cant remember the song title. I tried a herschie bar (not sure of spelling) and it was foul! Like eating lard!
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: marcus on April 20, 2009, 08:18:57 AM
You got it wrong, it's like 50% lard, 50% mud! Each time I visit my business partner and his family in Dallas I have to take some proper chocolate for them! Thanks to good p.r. Hersheys is getting into shops over here, but people tend to buy it once. Tootsie Roll also comes in a bag of minis, their packages are brown white and red.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Bob Purton on April 20, 2009, 10:21:57 AM
We take the mic out of there Hershey bars but you cannot knock there cookies, Chip ahoy double choc chip is my favourite! In the dark brown pack.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 20, 2009, 07:37:35 PM
Dear Friends
I have been doing some more research and it is possible to leave on the Thursday and arrive at Nashville via Cincinnati in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Nashville. Friday visit Lanes Museum in Nashville, Leave after lunch for a 5hr drive south through Chattanooga to Atlanta and Madison, meal with the Micro club, Hotel. Sarturday visit the Microcar museum and mix with the Micro owners. Meal with the Micro club, Hotel, Sunday morning join in a short run, Lunch and head for Atlanta and fly home arriving early Monday morning. All for about £670 including hotels. Adding an extra day would only add about £60 to the total cost.
Provided you have one of the new style electronic passports and you have registered and paid $50 for the weekend which includes the meals and museum entry there are no other special documentation requirements.
Any takers
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Jim Janecek on April 21, 2009, 04:13:02 PM
before you go scheduling that trip, let me check with the Lane Museum, sometimes they organize a special trip on Sunday for out of town folks with a behind the scenes tour.
The Madison meet ends on Sunday at 3 pm but there are no "events" scheduled for that day, it is mostly a wrap up day and another day to tour the Museum Collection if you missed it during the previous 2 days (oddly enough there are a lot of people who never get a chance to tour the Museum properly as they are too busy socializing and driving and what-not.)
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: marcus on April 21, 2009, 04:48:14 PM
Sorry Chris, my Summer season is in full swing, so there's no way I can join in, but hope all goes well, it's a great idea and nice of you to make the effort.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 21, 2009, 05:10:27 PM
Dear Jim
Thank you for the additional info. I could not see anything on the Lanes Museum site about anything special. On the Sunday we would only have the morning as with check in and the flight time we would need to be away from Madison around 13.00hrs. I have been told that the programme for the event will be on the web site by the end of this week, so arrangements are a little flexible just now.
Being Memorial weekend will the roads be busy in and out of the city?
I presume you will be at the event ?
I have been told to dig out my cowboy boots, and my ten gallon hat and polish up my buckle. Will that really be required?
Which is the cheapest and best hotel to stay in in Madison, or are they all much the same?
Many thanks
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on April 21, 2009, 11:04:02 PM
Any other time I'd have signed up for this trip to Georgia & the Weiner collection on the spot, as that is one of the places on my "hit list" of places to see in this lifetime (the other being Automuseum Story) but as the Invalid Carriage Register is currently booked to invade the World Micro Meet in Chicago in August 2010, I'm having to save the Weiner trip until then.
Anyone else doing the World Micro Meet or is myself & the ICR going to be the sole representative for the entire UK?!
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 22, 2009, 08:46:19 AM
Dear Stuart
This is the first I have heard of the WORLD MICRO MEET, in Chicago, so thank you for the info and I will investigate further. Certainly Chicago is a fine city but not renown for Microcars. Unless they have changed things I do not remember seeing any in the city museum of science and industry and there may be one out at the Volo auto museum. Provided at least one of us gets to each of the events then we will at least be represented.
You should always plan ahead then plan ahat.
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: mharrell on April 22, 2009, 05:19:57 PM
Anyone else doing the World Micro Meet or is myself & the ICR going to be the sole representative for the entire UK?!
I can't represent the UK but I do intend to haul at least one vehicle bearing a RUMCars sticker to Chicago next year. If it's any consolation, I'll tow it with a British car. The trip is only about 2000 miles each way from my place:
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Bob Purton on April 22, 2009, 05:54:33 PM
I thought we had discussed the World Micromeet on the forum, on reflection I think it was on a private email with Jim. Ken had been peddling the idea for some time to a mainly indifferent micro audience. I'm sure it will be a great American event but as far as being a world rally, when did Ken last bring one of his cars over to Europe for a rally? Why does he expect us to ship ours to the states for this one? I wish it every success but its just a Rally and not a WORLD rally. If a real WORLD rally was to be staged wouldn't it have to be in Europe where the vast majority of microcars were produced and still are? I guess Story Germany was the closest thing we will see to one. Just my opinion, I'm sure others will disagree.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: marcus on April 22, 2009, 08:53:59 PM
I must admit I tend to agree with you Bob. Yes it's a World Rally in the sense that people and cars from around the world are welcome, but then again I know of know of NO micro car rally anywhere in the world which is closed to other nationalities! But I also was a-thinking about how the majority of micros originated in Europe and Asia, and until relatively recently they were largely shunned and ignored in America, where now they are avidly collected, like curios or antiques. Soon there may be more micros than there in Europe, and their rallies will be bigger than anything in Europe or Asia, but I still do not think that American rallies in the future will be any more "World" than anyone else's, however big their rallies may become. Our National Micro Car Rally sometimes refers to itself as International because it has many non-British attendees, achievable because continental Europe is so close. To my ears World Rally implies that it is the ONLY major rally in the world, but very few from beyond North America will be able to attend, therefore the name is a bit of an exaggeration. Kind of like The World Series, which only has North American teams! Still, the main thing is that people are interested and that any shows anywhere are enjoyable and successful
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 23, 2009, 01:46:16 PM
Dear Jim
I have arranged with Vicky for a behind the scenes visit to the Lanes Motor museum in Nashville before driving down to Madison and the Microcar event at Bruce's Microcar Museum. Are there any other car museums or places of interest worth visiting that are on route?
The flights are booked and the car awaiting me so I will be there in Madison, but will you be there? Or is that a silly question?
As you have seen I have not been able to encourage anybody to come with me. I think my socks must smell or something. Sorry about that.
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Jim Janecek on April 23, 2009, 02:20:12 PM
yes I will be there, I am organizing it.
don't forget to register if you have not already: http://microcar.org/2009
I think you will find your day rather full if you plan to get to Madison by dinner time as you will be driving through Atlanta during a very busy time. Dinner will be at 6-7pm onsite. So I don't think you will have time for much of anything else on Friday, not that I have any suggestions anyways.
The Museum building should be open until maybe 8 or 9pm Friday, I have to check and see.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on April 23, 2009, 04:50:12 PM
Dear Jim
Thank you for that additional information. You have been keeping a low profile regarding organising the event. However I could not conceive of you not being heavily involved.
See you there
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on May 26, 2009, 07:12:15 PM
Hi Guys
Just to let you know that you missed one hell of a good event in Madison Georgia over the weekend, 94 Microcars + 26 Smarts plus over 200 cars in Bruce's Museum on display, 2 road runs of about 25 miles, 380 great people who attended the rally. Plenty of food and drink, plenty of space. It all started Friday morning and finished Sunday afternoon. What more could you want? Less rain!
My thanks to Bruce Weiner who makes it all happen, and to our Jim for the management of the event. Together they make a great team. But without the enthusiasts there would be no event, so thank you to them also. Hopefully some will make it over to our Rumcar Celebration Weekend event.
Chris Thomas
PS. I traveled home with the CEO of the Mercedes Benz plant in Alabama, who gave me the good news that Button had won in Monaco (USA is a Formula one black hole). He had previously run the MB racing engine factory so had a keen interest in the result.
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: Chris Thomas on June 27, 2009, 10:51:31 AM
Hi Guys
If you are interested there is a short video walk about of most of the cars at the rally on this web site http://www.microcar.org/2009/
Chris Thomas
Title: Re: Madison Georgia
Post by: marcus on June 27, 2009, 01:27:07 PM