FOC Western Michigan Tour July 17th-18th

Dave,
I will help with informaion if you need any but while you are touring around Holland (3 miles from my house) I will be at the Historic races at Road America.

 

Yeah, I'll be at Road America as well -- one of the best events of the year if you are a Ferrari fan.

 

I live in Muskegon and would like to join you guys for the drive to Holland. I would recommend stopping in Grand Haven (you will drive right through it on your way to Holland). There is an awesome boardwalk on the channel between Spring Lake and Lake Michigan, awesome views, great restaurants right on the water (Snug Harbor and Kirby), HUNDREDS of beautiful women and lots of unique shops. FWIW I think you will enjoy it more than Holland, quite honestly. Any help that you need from my end, please let me know. Jerry.

 

Hey Dave,

Unfortunately i won't be in town that weekend, i will be out of town from the 16th until the 24th... I will be around on the weekend of the 31st though...

That price for the Hampton Inn in Holland seems high, last month when i went to the track day at Gingerman in Grand Haven, the Hampton Inn there was only about $89 per night.....

 

Sounds like fun, but....
will be at BRIC (Brian Redman Int. Challenge).

 

Hi Dave, it depends on whether a two month trial settles or not. We're scheduled to start on July 26th.

The trip you have planned sounds like so much fun. It would be an absolute blast.

BTW, if I don't settle this stupid thing then I may end up going to the BR event one day, at the most. I need to get into another line of work!

 

Dave -
July looks bad for me (except for BRIC)
August... going to Monterey (!!!) for the Concourse, etc 12th-17th.
Unfortunately, work seems to get in the way of soooo many other things!
I work usually 2 weekends each month... occupational hazard.

 

FWIW, I took the new ferry last Thursday. Boat was an hour and a half late due to engine trouble (one of the four 3000hp each Cat diesels went TU). Voyage took 3 hours, not 2 1/2 due to reduced speed of 30 mph instead of 40. YOU get to drive your car on board (vs some kid doing it on the SS Badger). Pay $20 and upgrade to business class. We did and avoided all the kids yelling and grinding their food into the carpet and seats (kids not allowed in BC). Steerage is to be avoided at ALL costs. Business class seats are larger, more comfortable, and are farther apart than in steerage.

The boat is relatively small, and being a catamaran hull design, pitches and rolls a bit in cross seas. I was reading the seaworthiness inspection certificate and it has to slow WAAAAAAAAYYYYYY down if the waves get over 3 feet.

Nevertheless, the experience was great fun. Boat is clean and airy, the arrival and departure buildings are new, the help is friendly, we shared the boat with 4 Grand Rapids couples who were driving a 911 Targa, a Miata, a hideous MGTD replicar, and a tupperware Porsche 356 speedster replica on their way to go touring in Wisconsin.

You will enjoy the trip if it's not too rough. Agree that Holland is a little duller than Grand Haven. Better yet, a suggestion. Go farther south to St. Joseph and stay there. Eat at Tosi's restaurant. Emil Tosi had a 250 California Spyder and a 275 GTB in the 60's. He's long dead, and the restaurant once having been owned by the Burghoff family is now owned by one of Emil's waitresses, and the food is still terrific. www.tosis.com

 

Another suggestion is to stay in St. Joseph and visit Tabor Hill winery near Berrien Springs on the way back to Chicago. They have decent wines (for Michigan wines) and a great restaurant. The road from St. Joseph to the winery is a twisty one as well.

I might be able to arrange for some secure parking in the St. Joseph area. I am originally from the area and have friends there. PM me if you would like some help.

 

Eat at Tosi's if you venture that far south, but I suggest you rest your head elsewhere. Remember the race riots last year in Benton Harbor when Jesse Jackson came there to plead for peace? St. Joe is right next door to it, separated only by a stream.

 

You're right, if I cross the street, I might get hit by a car, too.

Yes, Benton Harbor had a riot started by some unhappy black people last year. Your point is what, exactly? That St. Joseph is not safe? It's pretty safe, there were no riots in St. Joseph. That black people might start another riot? I guess they might, but St. Joseph's population is 90% white and there won't be a riot THERE unless some unhappy people start traveling and the Michigan National Guard, the Michigan State Police, and the various Sherrif's and Police departments won't let that happen, if you know what I mean.

Unhappy people get to burn down their own neighborhoods with little intervention but when they start to travel looking to burn other things the authorities come down pretty hard on them.

Personally, I wouldn't lose 5 seconds of sleep about race riot potential in SW Michigan.

 

Dave, sounds like a good trip if the dates work out, but I have a problem paying $200/night to stay at the Hampton Inn in Holland Michigan. Orbitz has 5-star weekend rooms on Michigan Avenue for just over $100!

Regarding St. Joes, my wife's from there and her folks still live there. Great town. The folks in Benton Harbor have a problem with the BH police. Fearing St. Joes would be akin to fearing Wrigley because of that kid that jumped on the field at Comiskey last year. FWIW, when my wife and I visited for Easter, we stayed right off the highway at the Baymont Inn--Easter weekend, mind you--for $80/night. Plus free breakfasts. Plus free passes to the nicer health club in town. Plus they allow dogs.

 

Yep, I told Dave, but he wouldn't listen!!!

 

The wife's actually interested in a pseudo-cruise mini-vacation thing like this, so count me in when you get a date set.

 

Take it easy there big guy, I was only pointing out that there is a VERY UNSAFE town right next door, so be vigilant. The town is a piece of sh**. If you want to leave your 330 there over night, be my guest. Let me know how it works out for you.

 

I never suggested that anyone leave his Ferrari in Benton Harbor. I suggested that St. Joseph would be a nice overnight stop because there is a good italian restaurant there with Ferrari connections.

You did indeed make the point that there is a bad city across the river from St. Joseph, a fact which is, essentially, pointless.

 

I meant leaving the Ferraris in St. Joe is unwise. One of my best friends lives there chief, and his 911 has gotten keyed twice, the passenger window smashed out, after which his stereo was stolen and a set of wheels stolen. All of this happened in your "safe" St. Joseph. So if you think it is pointless that there is a really bad neighborhood in close proximity to where very expensive cars would potentially be parked overnight, you are working with very limited intelligence.

 

Guys, if any of you can slip away in the next 10 days, we have a great festival right here in Muskegon. Concerts on Muskegon Lake every night, great food, carnival for the kids, etc. Tonight is Nickelback, tomorrow is Alan Parsons, also Live, ZZ Top, Melissa Ethridge, Crosby Stills & Nash, and many others. See www.summercelebration.com. This is the 5th largest "stand on it's own" festival in the US. I will personally arrange lodging and meet you at the dock if anyone is interested. Jerry.

 

Well, I guess it depends where you park and who you know. St. Joseph has its low rent areas as well and if your friend hangs out in those kinds of areas..........

 

Ya....you know how those orthopedic surgeons like to hank out on the wrong side of the tracks......smuck.

 

Not smuck, it's schmuck. It's a Yiddish word. If you're going to insult someone at least learn how to spell.

 

Yiddish, Jewish, Arabic, whatever......you're still a SCHMUCK.