Get Flat Nasty 2008 - Discussion

[trainrech]

I figured I'd get a jump on this to find out how everything went. Hopefully y'all had a good time.

Here's your chance to pipe up and let us know:

• what went well
• what didn't
• what could/should be changed
• what could/should be added
• what could/should stay the same

Thanks!

 

[MoJ]

Just made it home.

I thought the entire event went well.

The BBQ cooked by TAC was absolutely awesome. Way better than the catered stuff from last year. ribs, brisketm and pulled pork...mmmmmm
Mike C - I think you could make a living off the the pulled pork!

A few minor areas for improvement:

More delegation of duties. I noticed Rob and his folks were very busy and looked like they were tied to the campground. Thanks guys for all your work!

Offer a few organized trail runs for the first time folks and limit it to smaller groups. I saw a few first timers that rushed through the trail because they got lumped in with a large mixed group. In a couple cases the result was a nasty dent that shouldn't have happened.

I really hate to even mention this last one, especially as great as Ron and Sheila are at hosting the event but...there's a few new parks in the area. One of which is pretty darn nice. Again, hate to even mention it, but maybe plan a different location next year to help draw more interest from those who have visited FN several times. Absolutely nothing wrong with FN but "new" tends to draw a crowd.

Other than that, thanks again to Rob's family for working their tails off. I had a great time.

 

[REKCUT]

what went well

Food, check-in (loved the full service come to your camp site check in!!) fire, did I mention food, weather, camp sites (many trash cans), couple of great venders( Redline was fantastic)

what didn't

50 (seemed like) trucks going down 5 at one time.

what could/should be changed

More help. Couple of folks are going to need a vacation.

what could/should be added

Lights for the auction.

what could/should stay the same

Time of year. Could go a few weeks later just to add the fall color change.

I would also love to see a different format for the raffle. Set out different piles of items related to type of truck. Put a fj pile with a raffle box and let people drop tickets in that box. Set out a 40 pile and let folks put tickets in that box. Put in one ticket in each box or gamble and put all your tickets in one box. I would like to see folks win something they can use instead of selling it off to someone else.

GREAT job for something that almost didnt go.

 

[MoJ]

Food, check-in (loved the full service come to your camp site check in!!) fire, did I mention food, weather, camp sites (many trash cans), couple of great venders( Redline was fantastic)

50 (seemed like) trucks going down 5 at one time.

More help. Couple of folks are going to need a vacation.

Lights for the auction.

Time of year. Could go a few weeks later just to add the fall color change.

I would also love to see a different format for the raffle. Set out different piles of items related to type of truck. Put a fj pile with a raffle box and let people drop tickets in that box. Set out a 40 pile and let folks put tickets in that box. Put in one ticket in each box or gamble and put all your tickets in one box. I would like to see folks win something they can use instead of selling it off to someone else.

GREAT job for something that almost didnt go.

Oh, and they should raffle some bead locks for 15" rims.

 

[REKCUT]

60 locked: no go
80 with 37 : no good
55 that hammers : no way
4 runner that sat in camp: we will never know

60+80+55+4= 199 Toyota numbers that still cant get up one green trail. Priceless

 

[On the Farm]

We had a blast this weekend. The food was awsome and thank you Mike, Peggy and Rob for all your hard work and Ed and Mike, and Mike for the BBQ'd meat. Yummm!
There were many great raffle items and Lance loved the 40 rear light frame/step up thingies I came home with. Thanks everyone who gave us the extreme rides, our first time 4 wheelin friend, Kathy will be talking about this weekend for months. We had a nice warm fire every night to sit around and listen to funny stories.
Thank you Craig for your many dutch ovens full of cobbler with ice cream thanks to an ARB Freezer and Mike and Peggies generator. We might consider a cateror since we have plenty of $ in our account. Bobby and Jimmy Mathes (Bobby from Molle) have their own catering service "No Adult Supervision" and they love to wheel their Toyota's.
I think organized trails with a quantity of vehicles limit would work well with an leader and tail runner and experienced spotters especially for first timers and novice drivers. Sign up sheets at check in table and prioity to first who sent in registration? We don't want new people to be scared away and never come back to play, we want them to learn skills and have a good experience, join the TLCA and our club or their local club. This was my first time at Flat Nasty and I didn't know what to expect on the trails, I trusted my trail leaders that I would not come upon something I or my FJ couldn't handle.
Thanks to the Trail Team and our club members who spotted for those of us who drive on the intermediate trails. And the recovery demo that Garrett and Jimmy gave, I learned alot about proper winching and about equipment I should have on hand.
It was really great to see everyone who was there and I got to meet new people and got to visit with some of you that I have not had the opportunity in the past. We missed you all who could not make it.

I will send thank you letters to our raffle donors with a photo of whoever won the item donated. Thanks Jason for taking those photos.

 

[66fj40x2]

I have dropped the ball on this the last two years..... Would, or is, someone planning on writing an article for Toyota Trails? Remember, any photos posted here won't be published in Trails and we really need to include the vendors who stepped up on kind'a short notice too.

Special thanks to REKCUT and MoJ for "lighting the fires" that needed lit and not letting the rest of us give up on this event. Most of the folks responsible for making this happen the first two years just couldn't make it this year and y'all really stepped up to make this happen. THANK YOU!

Thank You to EVERYONE that got this event together and made it happen!

 

[REKCUT]

We sure missed having you there Mike. Weather and everything else was great. I know it easier to pay someone to make the food, but this was the best meal I have had at any of the event I have gone to.

 

[trainrech]

Ditto - What Mike said! I'm glad the weather cooperated and it sounds like (shy of a few dents) everyone thus far had a great time.

 

[Ranski]

I would like to take a stab at writing the article if nobody else wants to.

What a great weekend. I'm really glad we didn't pull the plug on this event. It was a good turnout and I saw alot of first timers with grins on their face as they took their vehicles on the trails.

as for the questions above.

what went well
WEATHER!
FOOD!
TOILETS - We had five this year and they seemed in pretty good shape Sunday morning
Seemed to have more people around the fire in evenings as compared to last year

what didn't
as with the challenge every year more volunteers are needed and not just for the event weekend.

what could/should be change
I have several thoughts on this but need more time to pull it together - but my initial thoughts are...
Consider moving back like Thad said. Those trails are gonna be lit up with color in the next couple of weeks.
Need to contact some vendors sooner in the year - I had several say they had already had burned through their donation supply/budget.

what could/should be added
a fun - driver competition
however adding stuff without adding volunteers is a bad idea.

 

[Two Old Crows]

We are sooo glad you all liked the food. I think we are willing to do it again next year. We learned alot!!! so it might be easier next time. I do have some things to discuss at our annual meeting that need to be changed as to fees, check in, etc. Will have it all together by then.. Thanks to those who helped us, particularly Randi and Debbie who washed up after us. We are tired, but we did have a good time, and got to do some wheeling too.

Mike and Peggy

 

[66fj40x2]

what could/should be change
........ Consider moving back like Thad said. Those trails are gonna be lit up with color in the next couple of weeks.
Need to contact some vendors sooner in the year - I had several say they had already had burned through their donation supply/budget.

what could/should be added
a fun - driver competition
however adding stuff without adding volunteers is a bad idea.

Dates: As far moving it back goes we just keep to keep in mind other event dates and try not to conflict with any that are close. Maybe teying to set out date early in the year and getting that date to Trails ASAP would help.

Raffle: I suggested this last year and will again this year; Raffle items need to be purchased all year long and everyone should be helping with this. If you find a cool item on close-out or clearance for a great price BUY IT and turn in the receipt or donate it yourself, whatever you feel lead to do. Case in point, the multi-tools we gave away last year I found at Home Depot on close-out for, IIRC, $3 or $5. We bought 6 or so. That said we just need to know what the raffle budet will be so as not exceed it.
Big ticket items: We probably need to get the request letters out around May to July with follow-up phone calls and/or emails 2 to 3 weeks later.

Just some thoughts for discussion.

 

[x factor]

This was Vicky and my first TLCA event and we were happy with the way everything was orginized. Good people, great food and lots of good trails. I would like to say THANK YOU to all of you that worked your tails off to make this happen.

 

[Taildragon]

60 locked: no go
80 with 37 : no good
55 that hammers : no way
4 runner that sat in camp: we will never know

60+80+55+4= 199 Toyota numbers that still cant get up one green trail. Priceless

195 is the correct # I never tried the green hill! Besides, I was awfully worn out after watching all you guys do your NASCAR tire pit change on the side of that hill.

Seriously, I had a great time. Thanks to all who put this event together, I had a wonderful time. Its just refreshing to hang out with such great people.

Justin Tubb

 

[Ranski]

Bill-

it was a blast watching you wheel your truck and see the excitement on your face. I loved it when you got through the rocky section at night and got out of the truck with that grin and looked to Vicky and said "Hey Honey WE'RE NIGHT WHEELIN"!

Glad you had such a great time...we will look for you next year.

 

[Degnol]

Damn glad the brisket didn't kill anyone..................yet Sorry I had to take a pass, but my cancer buddy was in and out of the hospital.......and he's still there, but doing better.
Great weather, huh?


Ed

 

[kc_chevota]

Randy you are here by elected to write the trails article

Everyone who took pics please hold back posting some of the good ones and send them to randy or me for the article.

Again thanks to everyone who helped

I will try to improve on the event for next year, so keep posting your kudos and complaints.

 

[Matt60]

195 is the correct # I never tried the green hill! Besides, I was awfully worn out after watching all you guys do your NASCAR tire pit change on the side of that hill.

Seriously, I had a great time. Thanks to all who put this event together, I had a wonderful time. Its just refreshing to hang out with such great people.

Justin Tubb

NASCAResk to some, A life time to others....

 

[packman73]

Huge Kudos to Rob, Mike, Peggy, Randy, Craig, Craig, Jason and many more folks from TAC that pitched in and made this thing happen! I had an absolute blast! Rob, you and I already talked about idears for next year. I know I'm going to buy a new chainsaw here in the next few days... =)

Anyway, here are a few pics and I'm working on uploading the video's to youtube now...

packman73/Flat Nasty 2008 - Page 1 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

YouTube - Get Flat Nasty with Tornado Alley Cruisers 2008
Me having a lil fun in the mud.

YouTube - Get Flat Nasty with Tornado Alley Cruisers 2008
Rob, Randy and Marty on Thursday evening.

It was great to see you all again and meet some new folks as well!

-Art

P.S. I really wish the Trail Teams would hand out more schwag!

 

[outinthewoods]

thanks

I just wanted to give a huge thanks to those involved in putting on such a great event, and thanks to those who came and hung out!

I had a blast wheeling my FJ with you guys.

and the food was great!