Everyone's invited to big BSA camporee

Alan Schup · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2002, 06:32 PM

Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America, has a very large outdoor "camporee" every four years. The next council camporee is the weekend of Saturday, November 2, 2002 at the Texas Motor Speedway. There are static displays, contests, and other things for the Scouts and visitors to do. I am a Scoutmaster, and while doing by SM duties at the Scout Office in Fort Worth, I was asked if I could display my Cobra at this event, and see if anyone else in the Cobra Club would be interested as well. They will reserve a display space to park all the Cobras that show up for this event. I do not know if any other car clubs are being contacted. The Speedway probably will have a few of their cars out on display for the kids and dads to see.

If anyone is interested in cruising out with me to Texas Motor Speedway that November 2 and socialize, let me know so that I can pass along the number count of those planning to show up. Come watch the Boy Scouts in action.

Alan Schup · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2002, 05:08 AM

It seems nobody so far is interested in getting together at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov 2, if nothing else to socialize with each other and with the croud attending. Ok, I told the Boy Scouts that I would pass along the invitation for the Cobra Club to show off their cars to the thousands of Scouts and their parents, and I did. I'll let the organizers know this is a no-show from the club and my car will be the only one there.

Thanks anyway.
-Alan

66 snake · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2002, 04:06 PM

Alan,
I wouldn't take it personally. Most folks don't know if they are doing the dessert runs on Wednesdays until Wed. I don't think we have any thing that day, so I'll mention it to my Alan and have him email you.

Anyone else up for this?

Colleen (Mrs. 66 Snake)

jrussell · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2002, 04:26 AM

Alan,
It's good to hear about another "Scouter" in the club. John jr. & I will be working at an O.A. Ordeal that weekend at Camp Cherokee in Athens for Circle 10.
I think we would both rather be at Lowes with the Cobra, but this is part of our cheerful service.
Good Luck,
John Russell
Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 325
Circle 10 Council

James Baldwin · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2002, 07:30 AM

Is this an all-day affair or will it just last a few hours? Sounds like it might be fun if it doesn't take up the weekend.

Collen is correct about the time. we are not great "planners" to think a month out.

Alan Schup · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2002, 09:19 AM

Glad to see your responses. If I get commentments then I will contact the organizers at the Boy Scout Office. I would think this is come and go as you please as long as you did not interrupt the opening ceremony or the evening show --- I'll let them know that a few of you may not be able to stay the full day. (My Cobra will have to stay for the full weekend since I will be "living" there with my Troop). I asked, and those arriving in the morning and staying for the afternoon will be fed lunch for free as a guest of Longhorn Council.

Here is the schedule for that Saturday:
08:15 Opening Ceremony
08:56 Events start
11:45 Lunch
13:00 Events start again
17:00 Dinner
19:30 Show
21:30 Troop open time
22:30 Taps

Captain Speed · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2002, 10:21 AM

Alan, with my job I don't know if I'll be in town or across the globe from on day to the next. I might be able to come ,however, it is always a last min. decision.

Alan Schup · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2002, 11:13 AM

Ok Guys and Gals,

Just let me know as soon as you can. Thanks again.

-Alan

jwinkler · #9 (**permalink**) 10-11-2002, 04:30 PM

Alan - I'll have to double check with my wife, but I'm definitely interested in participating. I did scouts with my Dad, and even up until he passed away, he was involved with Scouting in Houston (the St. Paul's UMC troop).

Given the way I've seen the scouts operate these days (I went with my Dad on a camping trip with his troop to Enchanted Rock), I imagine logistically, all the bases are covered. However, if there's anything someone from Austin can do to help, please let me know.

John Winkler
jwinkler@texas.net

SilverCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 10-11-2002, 09:04 PM

Alan - as a former Scout and Scoutmaster, I am interested in bringing my car to the Camporee...sounds like a great place for an outing and much more creative than Circle 10 - eleven years ago. My troop went to Fort Richardson or to Camp Cherokee. I should be able to devote a few hours to the event altough I am scheduled to head down to Corpus the next weekend.

Thanks for the invitation.

Alan Schup · #11 (**permalink**) 10-21-2002, 07:20 AM

Just a reminder... 2 weekends away. Come by and visit anytime on Saturday. It would be nice to see a showing of Cobras beside the military vehicles and TMS racecars on display.

There is a lot of things happening for the scouts to do (http://www.longhorncouncil.org/event...e_programs.htm). Since there was no early committment by anyone, the Cobra Club did not make the list, but we are still invited to make a showing. Hope to see you there...

Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can get you a map of where to park (probably beside the police cruisers and military vehicles).

Thanks in advance,
Alan

Alan Schup · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2002, 07:13 AM

Just adding a reply to put this thread on the front page... If you are in the area of the Texas Motor Speedway, just drop in and show off your Cobra for a few hours. Since I will be doing my Scouting duty as Scoutmaster, I plan on putting on my optional hardtop just in case of weather and showing my car all day.

How about all you guys already out for the Club meeting come by afterwards? I see there are many Dallas scouters also in the club --- come out and enjoy both scouting and cars...

-Alan Schup

Gary Morris · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2002, 07:47 AM

NO......THANK YOU!

Ed Csoltko · #14 (**permalink**) 10-31-2002, 09:25 AM

"Boy Scouts of America", I thought it was "Bad Shelby's of America"!

jrussell · #15 (**permalink**) 11-01-2002, 10:10 AM

Alan,
AS most of us that are active in the club know, rain "usually" cancells everything that involves driving the cars. Scouts "should" not mind, but rain historically drops attendance also.
I wonder if you ever considered the liability issue prior to coming up with this idea? As you know from Yellow Rose, people sometimes just step across stanchions and ropes/chains to ogle our cars, get a picture or even sit in them if you are not standing there. Cobras draw crowds, especially upon entrance, and a croud of small scouts in shorts combined with HOT exhaust pipes can make for some NASTY burns.
Also, what happens of some over eager young Scout rubs up on Toms car, yielding a nice long scratch in a $7,000 paint job- or on your car for that matter?
Is Long Horn Council responsible, is your Troop, or are you?
What happens if one of the owners of a car wanted to leave, and accidentally bumps a child that runs in front his car?? Who handles this, or gets sued?
I have had my Scouts out to a SCAT event, and I found out that there is a LOT more to this than meets the eye.
Good luck tomorrow, and if you have already covered all these possibilities you are ahead of the game, but if not you just might have dodged a VERY BIG AND EXPENSIVE BULLET!!
John Russell

Alan Schup · #16 (**permalink**) 11-01-2002, 10:36 AM

I did not discuss the BSA covering for damages --- I've done two Yellow Rose shows and nearly 50 community and club-sponsored car shows open to the public at large and not witnessed nor had any trouble with anybody doing anything close to what you mention.

Even though everyone's invite is officially from the BSA (I am just the messenger), it is a request and not manditory thus just like any outdoor neighborhood or club-sponsored show, I would not hold them liable for damages to the car. I am making the choice to attend or not attend.

Would you hold the resturant where the club meets liable for damages to your car parked in their lot? I think not. You would hopefully catch the person who did any damage to your car to have them take care of restoration. The same is true here... if anyone, kid or adult, scratches your car or damages it in any way while in the exhibit, you would take names and addresses and get insurance info from the adult or the parent/scout leader if a youth. I do not see this as any riskier than driving the car to any other public exhibit, except that from 35+ years of experience in the BSA, I know that the Scouting community is a higher class of people than the general population who may not even carry auto or homeowners insurance. (Every time you drive you risk getting your car damaged by a non-citizen who does not speak English, much less have any insurance, especially in Texas where that problem alone has almost doubled the auto insurance rates...)

Speaking of insurance, does anyone know of 3-day insurance to cover showing one's car at an event?

jrussell · #17 (**permalink**) 11-01-2002, 01:34 PM

Alan,
It is obvious you have everything under control so I am sorry to have covered subjects already considered.
I have only been associated with Scouting since 1957, so I defer to your greater experience in that area also.
Again, good luck tomorrow, but this is something I would not choose to attend with my car - for either your council or mine.
Respectfully yours in Scouting,
John Russell

Alan Schup · #18 (**permalink**) 11-01-2002, 02:13 PM

Oh... I dunno John. I just think BSA is a great organization and I thought this would be a fun outing for everyone... the outdoors, free food and drink, free tickets to watch the trials at TMS, see the BSA in action... I guess I got slightly defensive (not offended) when club members make excuses yet then plan or go to other events with their car. One could simply say like many others did, "Decisions, decisions,... with all going on that weekend I think I would rather go to xyz than the camporee. If it rains I will not go to any." If one is paranoid about damage to their car from others, then one would never drive it or take it out to shows.

As time approaches, I get excited and anxious, and what I perceive as negative comments and opinions came across to me wrongly. I typed up a response quickly, and maybe should have waited to phrased things differently because sometimes what I write in haste comes across to a few people differently than what I intended/meant. Wordsmithing is hard for me.

No, you didn't offend, and I hope nobody took offense to my reply. Sorry if I did offend. Thanks to all those who said they will decide that morning whether or not to visit (most people understand about rainy days). I really hope to not be the only Cobra out there should the weather in North Fort Worth actually be good. Two weeks ago, heavy thunderstorms and flooding was predicted the night before, yet I did not see so much as sprinkle. Nobody can 100% predict Texas weather <grin>.

Everyone Take Care,
Alan

Gary Morris · #19 (**permalink**) 11-01-2002, 03:09 PM

Alan....just something to think about and please don't be offended. The Texas Cobra Club has been in existance for almost 4 years now. We have had 3 annual meetings, over 40 monthly meetings, probably 12 club parties, more Gumballs than I can think of and I like to think we are a very close knit family and try our best to accomodate everyone's ideas on things to do as a group. With all of the above in mind how many activities would you say you have participated in? And you wonder why we didn't all just jump up and say WOW this sounds great.??? Alan....we hardly know who you are. I know you from Yellow Rose but that's about it. If you want more people to react you've got to make an effort to participate in everything else that we do. TCC is a great bunch of people and I consider everyone in the Dallas area as my brothers and sisters and if you participated you would know that also. I just think you came off sorta like a long lost stepchild that jumped and wanted the family to come to an event you were interested in and when no one responded you took offense. We are not a bunch of horrible people that hate the BSA. I think it's just that we don't know you well enough to just jump in. Maybe next time....BUT please come be a part of the TCC. This is the most active bunch in the state and our arms are always open for more people that share our love for Cobras and friendship. I invite you to come share this experience with your fellow enthusiasts.

Charter Member / Texas Cobra Club
Gary

427Aggie · #20 (**permalink**) 11-01-2002, 03:59 PM

You know I have to throw my 2 cents in here.

The reason people haven't responded is probably two fold.

Spending the day at the Jamboree may be fun if you have kids there or are into Scouting...not the way I want to spend an entire day.

I can spend 3 hours with the Cobra guys at Lunch...and then do other things.

The other thing to consider is that this group likes to do things related to the cars...car shows, club meetings and the ocasional party...your suggestion was more of a hey there is something neat going on and I want to show the cars.

Don't take offense...you can look back the suggestion that Jim Woodard had a couple of months ago to attend a race and keep the cars in a secured area and I don't think anyone took him up on it either.......

Not my cup of tea and you need to take Russell's comments to heart. you may not have seen it but some of us have...we don't leave our cars alone at shows unless its Yellow Rose and I personally won't leave my car till the pipes cool down for fear of the legs getting burned. If you had come to one of our lunches you would see how we watch over the cars and someone stands out by them when people are around.

Matt