SHO National Convention #16
Place: Kalamazoo, MI
Dates: July 16 thru 19, 2007

Sunday Evening:
Pre-Convention dinner.  A tradition now with more and more people coming in a day early to clean their cars, and watch more arrivals on Monday.  We have found a delightful Italian restaurant in Paw Paw, just a short drive from the hotel.  Afterwards we will caravan about an hour to what is arguably the best remaining drive-in theater, with TWO screens in Coldwater MI, with some fun back roads to drive on.  Plan on eating about 6pm and getting back to the hotel around midnight (or later if you stay for the second feature).

NOTE: bring lawn chairs and a portable FM radio if you would rather sit outside than in the car.  Bug repellent is also a good idea.

Monday: July 16th, 2007
Registration day at the host hotel (Holiday Inn West, see below) as cars arrive, and people meet up with old friends tour the city.  We will have driving tours and suggestions for you to visit in the Kalamazoo area.  There is plenty of shopping, fun places for kids and adults alike.  There will be a washing area if you want to clean up your car.

We have worked out a group rate for one of the best attractions in the country, the AIR ZOO with our tour including the original Museum, the brand new Total Flight Experience (including flight simulators that can take you UPSIDE down!) AND a tour of the restoration shop.  This Smithsonian affiliated museum is a must-see during your stay.

We previewed this museum and can't say enough about how neat an experience it is for all ages.

The Reception will be at the host hotel with a light snack, a meeting going over details of the coming events, meet old friends and make new ones. We may also have a few door prizes for those that attend. 

You can then join us at a great restaurant in the area for late dinner. 

GOLF with Ron Porter and friends! There may be two days of golf for those that partake, both Monday and Tuesday.  Watch for specific announcements later.

Tuesday: July 17th, 2007

The annual Car SHOw has been moved to the Gilmore Museum.  A delightful 40 minute drive from the hotel on fun country roads.  We will take a group picture at the museum also.  The SHOw runs from 9am to about Noon.  There will be great looking and super clean SHO's everywhere; even the "Road Warriors" Class for cars that are not in the show for judging contains cars with lots of history displayed with a description of what made them special cars. This is a event that counts towards the 2nd annual SHOw-N-Go award created by our very own Bill Strobel!  This is the best day to really see the cars at their best and relax before two intense days of using the cars to their fullest.

For those that desire, you can GOLF with Ron Porter and friends!

Our SHO friends in Michigan are working on a great and fun drive in beautiful Western Michigan for the afternoon.  We will visit some great attractions like the Gilmore Car Museum. 
 
 
A special club price of just $6 per person (age 6 and under are free) gets you into the complex of several buildings that are interesting in their own right.  Over 130 cars are on display, there is food available at the Blue Moon Diner.

If you want, you can take a shortcut to Paw Paw and visit a super Winery, the St. Julian Winery that has tours and wine tasting, and then it is just a short drive to Lawton for Big T's restaurant for our evening meal.

Tuesday evening is then concluded with the traditional impromptu gathering in the hotel parking lot for conversation!

Wednesday: July 18th, 2007

Track Day at Grattan Raceway is always a favorite.  Located a couple hours drive North near Grand Rapids, Grattan is a favorite testing track of pro racing teams and magazines.  There is a 3200 foot long straight, with some devious and fun corners, highlighted by the high degree banking in the "Bowl" at turn 8 on the map above.  Sometimes the corner numbering is a bit different.  There is a lot of elevation change, and some off camber turns.  Expect Grattan to be challenging and interesting.  Click HERE for more information on the track, pictures and descriptions of a lap around the track.

Now we come to some of the fun part, there is a POOL at Grattan that will be open to us during the event between 11am and 4pm.  Remember 105° in the shade at Memphis?  Well if it happens again this time, you can literally go jump in the pool! (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)  You can also camp at the track for free the night before if you wish.  Snell 95 and newer helmets are approved, and you must have legal seat belts or SCCA approved safety harness.  Must be 18 or older to drive at this event. There will be a concession stand open for breakfast and lunch.

This event adds 35 points to the SHOw-N-Go point tally for those involved in all events!

NOTE CHANGES COMING: On the drive home from our track day we will stop at a great local restaurant, to be named in the next few days.  We are looking at some options that you will like better than the one we first chose.  We will eat hearty and tell tall tales of driving skill!  Then on to the host hotel for more late night talk, car repair and more.

Thursday: July 19th, 2007

DRAG DAY.  US 131 Motorsports Park is a short drive in Martin MI.  Billed as the Fastest track in Michigan, this freshly remodeled 1/4 mile track offers everything you need to get great times and have a great time.  The drags adds points to the new SHOw-N-Go award that was a smash success in 2006.

The Banquet Thursday night is the conclusion to the convention at the host hotel which also helps to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  Door prizes, Charity Auction, trophy presentations, and surprise guests make this a night not to be missed.  We will auction off several unique items including a commemorative jacket from the Atlanta Assembly plant that closed late October 2006.  These jackets were given to all employees, and only a very few (maybe only four!) were sold to others, and SHO Club bought one in size XL and will auction it off for charity.  A chance to own a very rare part of SHO and Taurus history.

After the Banquet, the parking lot usually comes alive with talk and refreshments (!) as people unwind and get in more SHO stories before heading to homes all across the US and Canada.

The second SHOw-N-Go award will be awarded to the SHO that performs the best in the car SHOw and Drags, along with getting bonus points for participating in the non-timed Road Course event.

Friday: July 21st, 2006
This was not an official convention day, but many people have been known to stay an extra day or two to see more of the sites.  We will make several good suggestions for family and individual fun sites to visit.  Plus we will have fun drives in the country for those wishing to see more of the "Third Coast" area.

SPECIAL THANK YOU:

On a personal note, We would like to thank a group of people who continue to provide support, advice and insight along with invaluable assistance putting on the SHO Conventions: Christopher Smith, Kirk Doucette, Joseph Van Oss, Larry Eck, Jim Eurenius, George Fourchy, Tony Fullone, Kerby Haltom, Ryan Pasch, Bill Strobel and Paul Thomas. 

Thank you to all of these great guys!

THANKS TO THE VENDORS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE DOOR PRIZES OR CHARITY AUCTION.  Check them out and buy from them.  These are good people! 

Beyond 2007:

We can announce that 2008 is planned for Seattle, Washington.  The Seattle area is about as far from the bulk of SHO folk as you can get and be in the continental US, so we want you to be planning and saving up for a great drive out to a really special event. George Fourchy and the Bay SHO group that put on such a great event in 2004 will work with the NorthWest SHO Club (NWSHOC) and Kurt Gutzka to plan an event we don't want you to miss, so make plans now!

And as if that wasn't enough, we are working hard on 2009 with the North East SHO Group to give everyone Whiplash! for 2009 in the far NorthEast, exact location to be announced later.  We even have a special "Whiplash" prize for the person that makes both conventions and meets a set of criteria including SHOw-N-Go points, long distance, and attending both events.  Do you have what it takes to drive to the far ends of the country to SHOw off?

Thanks again from the Mallinson Clan, your SHO Club working group for 2007!

Christopher Smith for the W. Michigan group
Don & Jan Mallinson
Ken & Jodie (plus Ethan and Elizabeth) Mallinson
Don L. Mallinson and family
And the members of the SHO Convention Committee that provide guidance

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