WE DID IT! You guys are great!

Double Venom · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2003, 07:05 PM

Pat your selves on the back!

Richard G. was our first and official 200th Cobra to register for DVSF III.

Amazing, simply amazing!

DV..."We" do, do good!

turnpike boy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2003, 09:09 PM

DV, you know how to throw some party, boy!

200 all in the same town at the same time! Ohio will need years to recover! Lucky bast*rds!

Ken Greene · #3 (**permalink**) 05-14-2003, 03:55 AM

to bad they will only get 363 days to recover and we do it allll over again

CobraDan · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2003, 04:36 AM

At the first DVSFI I brought 4 large Key Lime Cheese Cakes mainly because Key Lime Pie doesn't hold up in Junes weather. They were cut into 64 pieces each which made for a total of 256 pieces of cheese cake. As I remember Ed you said you never got even one piece of that cheese cake. That means we had 256 at the very first event or someone took more than one piece.

I will be driving all day Thursday and getting in to party by Friday, 1,100 miles oneway. I have to leave early Sunday morning to make it back home so the wife can be back at work Monday evening. No Cobra, No Key Lime Cheese Cake, Just me and Jean hoping to see old friends.
Dan & Jean

Double Venom · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2003, 06:41 AM

I want everyone to know how proud and goose bumpy I get having the honor to put this "Picnic" together. It couldn't happen without each and every one of you! Dan, one of these days I'm going to get a piece of the Pie!

On a little side not I have copied a post from the FFR board to here with my response. Maybe I just took it wrong, but then I thought if 'Rocket' felt this way, then there must be others. Those that know me, know I absolutely refused all suggestions to put a fee on the DVSF. I felt and still do feel that you simply do not charge people to come to your picnic. But when the bill for this picnic starts running into the thousands and thousands of dollars it was either time to bid farewell or simply break down, succumb to reality and move on.

This is my response to Rocket's comments. Please feel free to speak freely, add your comments yay or nay. If the Fling is to live it will be solely of the wishes of our Cobra community!

As an incentive to get more people to bring their cars numbers 300, 400 and 500 should be free. Maybe even a free hotel room for number 500.

just a thought.

--------------------
Craig

My response:
Rocket...
I had a total and long response to your comment all typed up last night, then deleted it.
Bottom line is--NO ONE has to pay a dime to come to the DVSF III. The second point is, "we" are doing exactly what all the cobra forums asked us to do for this year. (If you were around for the first two Flings you will know that the only entry fee required was a bowl of Chocolate Chip Cookies )

The point to be made is this, our Cobra Family wanted to hold racing type events, this costs money. Our Cobra family wanted to have a picnic and this costs money. (Have you taken 600 people out to dinner before and picked up the bill?)

Our Cobra Family wanted Police security for the protection of there cars, this cost money. You think 4 or 5 Cobras draw crowds, well try 200 Cobras in one spot.

Our Cobra family wanted personal name tags so we could ID each other at the events, this cost a lot of money.

Our Cobra family wanted entertainment and that didn't mean me standing on a stage doing my 'uh-gee-whiz routine! They wanted a private, semi-secluded party house for their own use. Our Cobra Family wanted to 'let their hair down' and party with the best of them, but they didn't want to party and then drive their Cobras 18 miles back to the hotels. (For those that may not be aware of it, the Mrs. and I have hired two Greyhound type buses to transport everyone to and from the Hotels Friday night-NO drinking and driving please!) And, you can bet your total bippy that that aint cheap!

Our Cobra family wanted to take over a small town and that they have! With the blessing of the town no less!

For those that drive the big rigs and even the single car haulers, our Cobra Family demanded safe, secure and Police protected parking.

Our Cobra family wanted a Parade and a Parade they've gotten. Almost 48 miles down a 4-lane hi-way, under full Police escort, (Twice as many cruisers and motorcycle cops as before!)right through a major metropolitan city without stopping once for any traffic signals.

Rocket..I have just touched the surface on the direct costs associated with the DVSF III. If you want I will be happy to supply you with a total break down of the costs, right to the penny within ten days of the closing of the DVSF III.

I have said it many times and I will continue to say it, If ANYONE, for any reason cannot or simply does not want to pay the fee to come to the DVSF III, all you have to do is e-mail me. I don't ask "why", I simply register for you.

But, one last note, please remember what the DVSF is about! It's about getting the greatest group of people in the entire world together once a year. Enjoying the camaraderie, eating chocolate chip cookies, showing off these marvelous hand crafted cars...AND IT'S FOR JENNY!

DV--Da' Fling is a picnic like no other!

Tom Wells · #6 (**permalink**) 05-14-2003, 07:27 AM

Ed,

AMEN!

Tom

rdorman · #7 (**permalink**) 05-14-2003, 10:47 AM

Now at 201.

to Rocket, it will be the best $100 bucks you ever spent to attend an event! It is truly a win-win. Everyone has a great time and it helps a great cause. I look forward to going all year long. I live in Columbus where the event is held and I am still considering getting a hotel room with everyone else so as not to miss out on the after hours events at the hotels. There where a lot of great stories after last year!

If DVSF doesn't please you, then there is no pleasing you

Rick

Ken Greene · #8 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 04:34 AM

I register i paid.
And i DON"T have a cobra
Thats the amount of fun thats there.

larryar · #9 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 05:13 AM

I don't think anyone truly knows how much work Ed (DV) has put into these events. We only hear about the good things, not all the negotiating and pleading that must go on behind the scenes! If the $100 went right into Ed's pocket, which it doesn't, who could complain? The fling is the greatest cobra show on earth! The fact that Ed does this unselfeshly for Cystic Fibroses is icing on the cake. It allows us rich, spoiled cobra owners to feel good about owning these cars. I know, rich is a relative term, but you get the drift. Sorry about the rant, I don't usually go on so long, but anyone you went to fling 1 or 2 should be outraged that anyone should complain about the 100 bucks, or even worse think that there is any self-interest on Ed's part.
If you miss the Fling, you will be kicking yourself for a long time! I went to DVSF I with no cobra and still had a fabulous time. I will be there with cobra this year and look forward to meeting old friends and making new ones!
Larry

CobraDan · #10 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 05:34 AM

I know how much time and effort goes into putting on any event I just put one on at Silver Springs. Ed is thanked by the large turnout. I'll be back for my third time this year but without my Cobra. I love seeing 200 plus Cobras coming down the street driving into London but it's coming back each year to see friends from all over the country that really counts. See you in June.
Dan Wulff

rdorman · #11 (**permalink**) 05-15-2003, 07:23 AM

35 days until the Fling begins!

I have been very distressed in the past when people insinuate that DV uses the DVSF to line his pockets. It is just not true. Is it fabulious advertising for his business, you bet. But I truly beleive that was never the primary motivator. The CF tie came in because there was money left over and DV wanted to do some good with it. He could of kept it. But he didn't. If you question his integrity on this matter, you are no friend of mine.

I get to see fairly closely the effort that DV puts into this event. I don' t know when the man finds time to sleep (much less 'Lady Diane'). I can tell you this, there is no way I would go to all that effort. I doubt I would even be capable. Personally, if he was paid to put this event on, that would be just fine by me. Also remember that he does not do it alone, MANY people contribute. Some with money, some with time, some with both.

I can't imagine any other Cobra related event being more enjoyable than the DVSF. I hope it NEVER ends.

Rick

RACERAL · #12 (**permalink**) 05-16-2003, 06:34 PM

Ihave a great idea... Rocket....... you throw a party like DVSF for free and we will all be there....................next!

Cobra20646 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-17-2003, 11:46 AM

Before I comment, first let me say that anything that Ed Combs decides to do with the DVSF is A-OK with me. If he doubles the price, I'll still throw my support his way, and still attend for as long as he puts on this event.

That being said, unless what was posted by Rocket was edited, I don't really see anything wrong with what he said. Unless I'm missing something, he simply suggested that cars number 300 and 400 get a free pass. Car 500 gets a free pass and a free hotel. Now, the hotel may be pushing the envelope, but still worth consideration none the less. I didn't read anything that said he objected to the 100 buck gate fee.

I don't know how many of you have sat in on 'brain storming' meetings, but some people can come up with some really neat ideas, and some really dumb a$$ ones too. Some that everyone can agree on, some that no one can agree to, and so on and so on. But everyone in the meeting is encourged to come up with something, even if he himself thinks the idea stinks, because no one in the room is going to look down their nose at him and pass judgement on him for simply saying what's on his mind........

So... like I said, if I'm missing something here, than let the flames begin. Just my two cents here..... like Ed said he wanted.

Jamo · #14 (**permalink**) 05-17-2003, 12:54 PM

Ed

I was gonna suggest that if you get anymore "questions" or second-guessing on the party plans--that you tell them to "bite your a$$".

After I thought about it, I realized that wasn't much of a response. So, to make it more meaningful, and infinitly more involved--tell them to bite MY a$$.

We gonna have fun...

Turk · #15 (**permalink**) 05-17-2003, 01:14 PM

In that case, they should be able to cancel the dinner arrangements. There is plenty to eat. Look at all the money they'll save.

Thank you Jamo!

I wonder if you can claim that as a legitemate tax deduction. It was a donation. NO?

Rick Parker · #16 (**permalink**) 05-17-2003, 02:42 PM

Turk:
One could also surmise that based upon the pictures of the aformentioned entree previously posted on this forum that the meal would also be a "self- flossing" event ???????

Rick

Double Venom · #17 (**permalink**) 05-17-2003, 03:44 PM

Jim-- thank you and I think you are reading it correctly. This thread really went off on it's own!

I just got the impression that Rocket thought that as long as we had 200 signee's he thought any more registrants shouldn't have to pay. Like I mentioned earlier, I had a complete response written then deleted it. Read it again in the morning and still got that feeling. Like always- the written word and the spoken word
can be a universe apart. I was hoping he would respond to clarify his comments.

Jamo, I cant believe you have been so quiet for so long! What a way to make a grand entrance!

DV-I'll be baaaack!