FOC Mudslinging - not pretty

I attended the Geneva Concours and displayed my 1976 365 Boxer. I knew about the event because it was listed on the Ferrari Club of America's Central States Region website (although no details were given). The event has its own website so I went online and registered. I agree that the pre-event publicity is pretty scarce on it. I really enjoyed the Concours; downtown Geneva is a beautiful venue and there were some really great cars, although not too many Ferraris.

 

I hear ya, man! I definitely hear you.....

Yes, that really is a nice little show. I attended a few years ago with Bob and his '79 308 GTS, and me with my '81 308 GTSi The lot was pretty full....A really nice selection of all kinds of very cool cars there. Much more than the usual "Old Car & Muscle Car" fare at the Cruise Nights, and local neighborhood Car Shows. He and I were the only Ferrari's. But, I wasn't aware of the date for it this year either, or I would have posted something myself. And would have liked to attend, too.

I definitely agree with you, David. The Car club scene in this area is lame. Nobody seems to want to get together and drive, or do anything with their cars anymore. We have so little time to drive, between Weather, Family and Work priorities. So, personally, I like to take advantage of what time that we do have and go out and Enjoy my Sportscar with others that feel the same way. I don't know about anyone else. But THAT is why I got it. I do know that the Alfa guys have a great club. The Corvette guys are VERY active. And believe me, I had an idea to get something really special going with the FOC. But that turned out to all be in vain. It turned into a Autocratic, Monopolistic, Self Promoting (Not by me, BTW....) Heirarchy more than a Car "CLUB".....What a pitiful Waste of something that really Could have been something...

So, maybe we should get something going with all of the Sportscar owners here in the area that DO want to actually get together. Do some drives. Events, Etc.... Yes, and "more than half a dozen people in a Fudruckers Parking Lot!".... I could not agree with you more!

Anyone else interseted? Summers almost over....

 

I didn't hear about the Geneva Concourse either. Wish I would've..

 

I apologize....

I meant to write "Monarchy"....

 

I agree that their PR is HORRIBLE!!!! I called and e-mailed 5 or 6 times over a six month time frame to try to be a sponsor of the event and never heard back them. So we sponsored Pebble Beach instead. Then I tried to find out details and get a media/presskit to try to get a story about it in the magazine, and still never heard back from them. There were some nice cars though. However, talking to a few collectors, they were brushed off from bringing their cars (some of which have been to PB and/or Meadowbrook). It lead them to believe it is more of a "cliquey Kane Co. car show" instead of a serious concours. Too bad because it has a lot of potential to be right up there with PB, Meadowbrook, and NY concours.

 

I actually was a volunteer this year there. I was recruited by my cousin who is one of the main people who runs it.

I agree that there wasn't much advertising for it. Maybe taking out a page ad in one of the chicago papers would be good for the future.

It is a great event though. And definatly worth going to. My cousin's goal actually is to try to get the event on the level of a pebble beach for the midwest. And some of the cars at the event have won awards at pebble in the past.

Another reason it has a chance to get to a higher level of concours is the setting. Downtown Geneva is a great place to hold a car event like this. It has a lot of charm.

I have quite a few pictures if anyone is interested. All the pictures I have are listed in the spotted thread.

 

Not to trash this thread, but a previous poster already has as follows:

"And believe me, I had an idea to get something really special going with the FOC. But that turned out to all be in vain. It turned into a Autocratic, Monopolistic, Self Promoting (Not by me, BTW....) Heirarchy more than a Car "CLUB".....What a pitiful Waste of something that really Could have been something..."

Frank,
You had the opportunity to assume the lead role in FOC-Midwest and develop the club the way to deemed fit with a staff of your choosing. Did you accept the responsibility of that role or decline?
I think we know the answer to that question.

Just think Frank, another missed opportunity. You could have been the "King" of your own "Monarchy"....by throwing flowers in your own path out of your Ferrari chariot, then crowning yourself king.

To the others sorry I missed the Geneva show. I did attend FCA's Italian Village event on Sunday. This is a "must attend" for me since it does sponsor Childrens Memorial Hospital. To bad the dates clashed.

 

Sorry to go OT..but you guys sponsored Pebble? Did you guys have a booth or anything?

 

Thanks Dave and Andreas for coming out and supporting this event. Events can only be successful when they have participation of the members, and the two of you always "step up."

 

Here's my input.........

You sound like you are interested in doing a lot of events. Our region does a LOT as far as driving events are concerned. I threw out offers to all of you from the Chicago area to come to my June event. I got one person from the FCA/FOC from Chicago. With that being said, I got 14 people with other makes from Chicago that day. And ALL had a blast. It was sponsored and everyone went hom with a gift bag. And it was FREE. No entry fee. I did have a raffle to sponsor a charity and everyone won something.

So here's the deal. The event will go on again next year. I will let you know about it. Show up if you want something fun to do. If not, enjoy what you've got or do something about it.

Frank, if you want some great people to cruise with now and then, come up and meet up with the Wisconsin group. We have events in Lake Geneva also. And they are ALL well-attended.......

Pics from June.....
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By the way, we had 49 cars show up that day........

And, yes, that is THE Ford GT40 that started it all.......

And the Bentley?? 650HP at the wheels!!

I don't mess around when I throw a party. ;-)


Anyway, I know for a fact that "Minte" (Yellow Gallardo owner from this board) will be having his annual Fall drive sometime around October up by Wisconsin Dells and ending near Madison. I can guarantee Carrera GTs, other Porsches, Ferraris, etc.

Also, Wayne Obry (Motion Products) will be having his annual Fall Foliage Tour up in Door County. There are usually 20 or so Ferraris there among other cars. And Wayne keeps pretty good company as far as cars go. Wouldn't be surprised to hear that he will have his F40 out for it.

Those are two. There is one on the Mississippi River Saturday that will include a prime rib dinner cruise at night.

Also another FCA event in October that is AWESOME. Those of you there last year know what I am talking about. Unbelievable setting...... If you get the FCA bulletin, check it out.

 

No, not really Dave. I was NEVER even given that opportunity. Year after year. Never once did we hold an election. Never once did we hold an actual, real "CLUB" meeting. I expressed my displeasure as to how things were going on SEVERAL occasions. And FROM THE START! But, to no avail....No one would listen. You guys simply did not care enough about the "CLUB" to make any kind of an actual committment to it. You said that you were too busy to be real "Active Club Members" and have meetings, etc... You just wanted to have a few discussions via E-Mail. What kind of Club does that? And obviously, it wasn't that important to Andreas or you. Oh well, no big deal....Live and learn.

ROTFLMAO!!! Yeah, Dave, isn't that what you do with your car with the FCA now? LOL! Sorry, but that's not my style. But, obviously, it is somebody's style, now isn't it? I merely wanted to have a really nice Car "CLUB". (Note the key word there, Dave: "CLUB".) A "Club is a conglomeration, a "Group" of many people who ALL PARTICIPATE in what goes on, as, it is THEIR CLUB, Too! That never happened, despite my ongoing insistence. You and Andreas said that you did not want any Club meetings...That you were "too busy for that" Then, why did you agree to be on the Board? If you didn't want to put SOME ---ANY kind of committment into structuring a nice Club for the members? Why did you agree to do it? Yeah, a few so called "meetings" over E-Mail just doesn't cut it. Well, it's over and done with now. At least as far as I am concerned. Maybe if you kiss ass enough, and use some of that polish that you use on your car. Maybe the FCA will take you back on their board.... ( Which, don't forget. You said that you quit in the first place because you did not like the "Politics" going on there....Remember?) I guess that they've gotten better to your, um, "standards" now, huh?... LOL!!!

 

LOL! Well yeah, Drew. That's because they totally ignore the "Club" that they suposedly committed to. So, whatever little time they have left in their busy schedules they can devote to the FCA. (And, because Dave needs to kiss up to the FCA so that he can win trophies with his car!)

 

Wow, Frank, Dave, sounds like a bit of politics and dirty laundry. Can't we all just get along? Who needs politics in a car club? We're all just a bunch of gearheads that share a common interest, there just needs to be organization, but ranking as the king or whatever shouldn't matter.

Anyway, I wasn't able to attend Sunday (or Friday morning for the Fox News) because I have started a new film distribution label recently, in addition to the film restoration business, and have been working long hours, so the bit of free time has been either with the family or recording music, the few things I like more than Ferraris and car shows.

 

Thank you, Sir! I appreciate your invite, and will efinitely take you up on it!

 

Hi Sean. Hey, I never wanted to be "King" of anything. And I never said anything of the sort. Dave did. From the very beginning, I said that I did not want to be the President, or anything. But that I did have alot of really great ideas for this club. That's all. All I wanted was to make a nice car club for the Ferrari Owners and Enthusiats here in the Midwest. But, unfortunately, I was not given the chance to do anything. Andreas took it upon himself to do EVERYTHING. Make all of the plans and events-by himself. Submit practically every article in 'Pilota"--By himself. All of the decisions--by himself. All of everything--by himself. Dave? Where did he come from all of a sudden? He hasn't be active in the "Club', other than the Tech Day at Spike's, or on Fchat for about a year!

None of those guys even wanted to have any regular Club meetings of any kind whatsoever. Nothing! Personally, I would have liked for ALL of the Club members to participate in ALL of the Plans, Decisions, Submit their ideas, everything that had to do with the Club. After all, the "Club" belongs to ALL of the dues paying members...not just one guy. I mean, am I wrong there?

But you are certainly right. And, in the future, there won't be any kind of a Board. Everyone that belongs to the club, and is active in the club will make all of the decisons and plans. for "Their Club". As it should be.

Stay tuned....something really good is coming!...

 

Sorry again for the disruption in this thread. Apparently another poster originally hijacked it with an earlier statement within his post.

Frank,
It's really to bad you are so bitter that the rest of the crew didn't want to "playball" to the rules you dreamed up. You were the only one out of the group that demanded board meetings. You could have taken the lead role of the club, we would pass, and you find your own puppets, to deligate tasks too. You of course didn't accept.. Why?
Personally I think if others don't follow your "demands" in a club or any other group you jump off the deep end and start your typical trash talk as you started in this thread. Do you like drawing attention to yourself Frank? Or do you just like hearing yourself talk?

You as well as everyone else in the FOC-Midwest board had and has free rein to set up, and organize events or drives on their own (to their own level of complexity) without making it an act of congress with board meetings and an over complicated agenda for the rest of the players. Maybe since you were retired at the time where the others in the group have jobs you became bored and needed something to do at the others expense. Sorry, I didn't get involved with the FOC for your entertainment.

You seem to be the type of guy that "demands" respect from others within a group. Ego maybe? It seems when it comes for you to take the lead role within the club it's...No, they didn't do as I demanded, so I'll just be the club's critic.

 

I don't really get invovled with any club's affairs, but being a guy that occasionally likes to pop in from the peanut gallery, I think my wife would read this and be amused by grown men bickering over a car club and deciding who gets to decide when and where the grown men get together with their toys and play. Kinda funny, isn't it?

I'm not taking any sides on something that has nothing to do with me, but when did Andreas become a bad guy? Is he the (cue OMINOUS MUSIC) "Puppet Master"? haha :O)

 

Here's how we work up by us........

We have a Regional President.

We don't have meetings (although our President is from Dubuque and we are spread out pretty wide)

Our "meetings" are our meets.

We have about two "meets" planned about every 6 weeks. They are well-attended (10+ cars)

Whoever wants to organize and event can just do it. I had the June event. Ken (Rketex) had his Milwaukee Crystal Cove-like event. Minte has his Fall drive. Larry has his Lake Geneva event. The Bahrs have their October. Wayne has his Door County. Stan's FCA Italy trip, Roy Ferrari will have his Milwaukee Art Museum event. We each have our own. But also attend all of them. Paul (FCA Pres) will put it into the national bulletin and promote it. Then it is an FCA show sponsored by "XYZ" person.

Paul is our President and can always be counted on for rounding up the troops. Does his "job" well. He had asked me a few months ago if I wanted to branch out and have a Madison Chapter (within our Regional Chapter) of which I would be president. I turned it down because I just didn't think we needed to change things. There really aren't any debates about who will/should be President as Paul does his job well and well have a nice little system going. No need for change. Now, if things aren't going well, then maybe you guys DID need some changes. Was it the group feeling that way, or one person??

My point??......
If you can get a President who will actively promote the events and will see to it that people will show, then it will work out. But you also have to have a tight-knit group that RESPECTS each other enough to show up at each others events and not blow them off by saying "Oh they are too far away" or "Oh I hung out with them last time". Then everyone is happy and you get have one heckuva time experiencing different places, homes, venues, with some GREAT people over and over again.

Bill

 

What? Man., you are WAY OFF here.