DeLorean Expo 2017 Las Vegas - September 7th-10th

[martydmc12]

You're invited to join your friends at the DeLorean Owners Association DeLorean Expo 2017 Las Vegas (http://deloreanexpo.deloreanowners.org) at the Las Vegas El Cortez Hotel & Casino.

The schedule will include three nights of camaraderie with dinners and presentation from special guests who will speak on the history, current news, and development for the future of our car. We will provide a Concours, Products fair, Technical sessions and Car show as we are celebrated as part of the Fremont Street Experience.

Included will be excursions to many interesting locations in the area, including Red Rock and El Dorado Canyons, and tours of the Shelby American Factory/Museum, the Techatticup mine, the Neon Museum, La Concha Center and the Mob Museum.

The host hotel for this event will be the El Cortez, which has been the cornerstone of Downtown and an icon of Las Vegas for more than seventy years.

Visit http://deloreanexpo.deloreanowners.org for registration and details.

[DMCVegas]

DeLorean Expo 2017 is honored to announce that original "Back to the Future" DeLorean Time Machine Construction Coordinator Michael Scheffe will be one of the guest speakers at the event!


https://scontent.fhou1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19467974_1461434240544333_4772324167797203213_o.jp g?oh=5b89f4db3f4cecc7e09fbda84a5d36be&oe=59C7B473


Michael Scheffe, one of several great speakers, will be sharing his experiences as the Back to the Future DeLorean Time Machine Construction Coordinator.

Creativity and ingenuity make Michael Sheffe the ‘Go-To-Man’ for really cool & techy movie props.

Michael Sheffe is widely known for his work on Back to the Future (1985) and other hit movies like Spider-Man (2002) and Starship Troopers (1997).



Sign up now to join us in Las Vegas for the 2017 DeLorean Expo! (https://deloreanexpo.deloreanowners.org/) And don't forget to check back often for event updates!
Our second guest speaker has been confirmed, and will be announced soon!

[DaraSue]

A couple of questions -

What is the cancellation/refund policy? I'm interested in attending, but it might be down to the last minute to find out whether I can get the time off work.

What was the rationale behind planning it so close to another event (http://deloreanweekend.com/) in the same city? Sorry, not trying to stir drama by asking but as a dues-paying DOA member it's kind of a bummer that the timing is going to be difficult for anyone who isn't retired/independently wealthy/living within a couple hours drive of Vegas to attend both. I thought DOA was trying to do more outreach to the newer generation of owners and get away from the perception that it was mainly a CA-based/"old school" owners' group and unfortunately this choice isn't really helping with that, at least from my perspective... :(

[DMCVegas]

Fair questions in all.

Cancellation shouldn't be a problem. I believe it's up to 3 days prior to the event, but I will verify again during tonight's meeting. In any case, it shouldn't be a problem as we all understand that things come up.

The DeLorean Owners Association is not a California-exclusive club. That is why this Expo is not being held in California, nor even the next one being planned for that state. The DOA is an international club of course with events such as Eurofest held at the factory in Northern Ireland. I'm also not in California (Houston now, Vegas in about a month), and even our President lives in Canada. I could go on with examples to demonstrate that as well, but I know you (and probably others) are eager to get right down to the meat of the topic here.

As stated, the DOA is not a California-exclusive club. So not all events must happen in California. The DOA has a long history of events in Las Vegas going back to the 1980's, and in fact Las Vegas has typically been the most popular location for events. Las Vegas is also a great location for an event because it tends to be far more inclusive for attendees. It still represents a decent drive for Southern & Central California, sure. But also makes it far easier for Arizona & the Southwest, as well as Utah, and a significant portion of the Intermountain West regions. Given the distances between SLC & LV, it makes part of Northern California accessible to the show as well considering the equal balance of driving distances for all.

Now there are other locations as well, sure. But there are three large considerations with choosing a location. The first being attendance.

The location needs to be one that is centrally located within a region to be as accessible to as many people as possible, and as appealing as possible. Las Vegas of course is a global destination, and for many, MANY organizations, corporations, & industries the world over is somewhat of a neutral ground for events. Plus the city itself simply attracts people everywhere and encourages attendance unlike any other. Attendance is key, and you need a place to get people excited about.

The second consideration for a DOA event is going to be perception. Which in many respects, to be completely honest, is somewhat of a Catch-22 for the club. If an event was held in California, that would simply draw criticism that the DOA was once again just a "California" club with no regard for the actual show itself. Too far east, and suddenly then we'd be accused of encroaching upon DCS' "territory" (which I will address the "territory" thing in a moment).

The third item is timing. This is a very crucial one. As you notice, not allot of car shows happen in the dead of winter. Too many problems with road salt, it's not the most comfortable of weather, and of course because of the first two items, most vehicles are unavailable due to winter storage. Summer is also a big consideration as well. To be honest, a car show like this in the dead of summer, in Las Vegas especially, is just a bad idea. I don't know how many people would be ready for such an event. And even as far back as the 1980's, owners in the summertime when going to Vegas or Arizona would hear things like buzzing fuel pumps and have anxiety. Which is the last thing you want during what is supposed to be a pleasurable event.

Then we also have to consider holidays which can clash with attendance. Father's Day being a prime example. For many, such a holiday is meant to focus on spending time with a family member, and not being distracted by a days-long event. August is still hot, and we have to consider the distractions of back to school. Then with national holidays, especially in Vegas, there become considerations for traffic logistics. Not to mention exponentially higher costs for hotel & facilities prices, which further drive up the cost for attendees.

The problem then becomes that all of these things add up together, and you then have to choose the best available dates and locations for what is the most accessible and "non-offending" to local clubs. And not just the DOA, but what would happen if another club decided to hold a regional event that concurred with a specific time that another club had? What if the DOA had a northeast autumn event? Would we, or if it was another club, themselves, then be accused of encroaching upon the Fall Foliage Tour? Lots of local clubs have their own events, and there will most likely always be this kind of consideration/criticism. Especially with the DOA given sour relationships of the past. But how does any one club, or group claim a "territory"? And I ask this not simply as a possible conundrum for the DOA, but really, any other club or show, regardless of even marque.

The date of the Las Vegas show was determined many months ago. Although, it was not posted sooner until we had everything in place. So it was not a purposeful situation. Even if it had been months ago, there most likely would have been concern about having two shows in the same city within a single year. No nothing would really be that much different.

As always, this is your club too. If you have questions, I always encourage you to reach out to a board member. Granted this thread will be specifically about the Las Vegas Show, so if need be we can spin off another. But to be certain, the DOA is not a California-only club. It is a global one, and we absolutely encourage everyone to contribute to it. Ask questions, give suggestions. Even join the board to help guide the organization.

Most of all, come out to the show and participate! We've got our second speaker lined up, as well as events planned. It's a good opportunity to meet the board, and especially other owners to further connect and have a rewarding experience within the community.

[DaraSue]

Thanks for your reply, Robert. My vote is to announce the tentative dates sooner next time, so even if things aren't set in stone yet, the people who need a lot of advance notice to get time off work have more lead time to request it. It's easier to cancel vacation time than get it, at least at my job.

I'll know if I have the time off or not in about a month and a half. Hopefully I'll get to go and meet up with some of you!

[DMCVegas]

Not a problem at all. You're very welcome.

I cannot disagree with you. It's always best to get the dates out as early as possible. I will of course pass your feedback along to the rest of the board at our next meeting. I did also verify that the latest for cancelation will be 1 full week out from the show.

It would be really great to have you, and as many other people as possible attending. This is the first DOA show in a long time, but it's also important as it is a turning point to for the focus of the marque. The focus is shifting from less BTTF, to becoming more focused on the marque and car itself.

I think it's safe to say that we all like the Back to the Future movies. Yes, the DeLorean DMC-12 will always be synonymous with the franchise, but by the same token, it doesn't define the vehicle. Now Michael Scheffe has been announced as the first guest, and we have our second guest speaker already confirmed, who will be announced soon. Someone who has never spoken at an event before this. Both of these guest speakers and what they will be speaking about are going to represent this big shift in show focus; being about the car.

Now I'm not dismissive of BTTF, nor am I even anti-BTTF. Again, I like the movies. But I also don't want to go to a BTTF convention. I want to go to a car show about DeLoreans. That also is not only a sentiment shared by the board, but it's feedback that people have privately given us individually as well. Not to mention that interest in Back to the Future has significantly plummeted, which Google Trends reflects. I want to hear from other people and their experiences with their cars, I want to learn more about mine, and I want that for everyone as well. I believe this show will provide just such an opportunity, as well as a fresh start.

[martydmc12]

The DeLorean Owners Association is honored to announce another keynote speaker for the 2017 DeLorean Expo, Tom Calabrese!

As both the Sales Manager, and eventual General Manager of Las Vegas Dodge in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tom has decades of experience in the automotive world. In particular, Tom was present for the entire lifespan of LV Dodge as an official DeLorean dealership. From its inception with the initial buy-in, until the final days when the company folded. Because of this, Tom was able to witness first hand the experiences a dealership went through with DeLorean Motor Company. Many tales about DMC itself exist from it’s corporate & manufacturing operations, but never before has anyone ever been able to provide the unique perspective of a dealership that sold & warranted the DMC-12.

Tom brings a wealth of knowledge about the franchise experience with the company, as well as the perception of the brand & product they sold. Along with many, many tales and anecdotes about the one-of-a-kind sales & warranty experiences with customers and the DeLorean automobile.

Click here for more information on these activities and Expo registration details… https://deloreanexpo.deloreanowners.org.

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[DaraSue]

Is there a schedule for the El Dorado and Neon Museum tours? I'm trying to register today but I don't want to commit to paying extra for something that might start at 9 am...

[martydmc12]

Is there a schedule for the El Dorado and Neon Museum tours? I'm trying to register today but I don't want to commit to paying extra for something that might start at 9 am...

The El Dorado Mine is scheduled for Sunday, September 10th at 9:00 AM. However based on the long distance traveling to this location, and the heat of the Nevada desert which can take a toll on our cars, this event is optional. We've instead added another event in favor of a shorter distance on Friday, September 8th to the Bonnie Springs Ranch (https://bonniesprings.com), which is located in the Red Rock Canyon area.

The Neon Museum is also scheduled for Friday evening at 9:30 PM, after the evening dinner at Hennessey's Tavern.

I hope this information helps you out.

[DaraSue]

Thanks, that's useful info. Overall, are there going to be a lot of events that attendees are expected to show up for early in the morning?

[martydmc12]

Overall, are there going to be a lot of events that attendees are expected to show up for early in the morning?

The only other morning event is on Saturday, when the car show and vendor fair start at 9:00 AM and runs until approximately 1:00 PM.

I know having been to many other past DeLorean events, DCS and DOA Expos, mornings are usually when the bus tours and museum excursions start. Not everyone did the morning and afternoon stuff at those shows; so if you're only interested in attending the car show and evening dinners, that's perfectly acceptable also!

[DaraSue]

Thanks... can I park my car in the show area the night before and then mosey on down when I wake up? :sleeping:

[Lwanmtr]

Sleep in your car..problem solved

[DaraSue]

Sleep in your car..problem solved

I'll keep that option in mind :p

Anybody else going? I miraculously got that week off so I'm going. When I registered my name didn't show up on the website right away so if people are holding off because it looked like there were only three people registered, there might actually be a lot more attendees than it appeared. Hope I'll see some of you there!

[DaraSue]

Has the schedule been finalized yet? What time will the Red Rock drive start on Friday?

Also was there a cutoff to when we could still get the room block rate? I'm the only person eligible for overtime on Wednesday so I might drive down on Thursday instead of leaving Wed as I had originally planned. But if I do that I kind of want to cancel my room on Thurs just in case something happens and I have to stop for the night along the way (it's happened before)...

[Lwanmtr]

I was gonna go, but couldnt find a red rock that was in my price range..well at least that was running

[DMCVegas]

Has the schedule been finalized yet? What time will the Red Rock drive start on Friday?

Also was there a cutoff to when we could still get the room block rate? I'm the only person eligible for overtime on Wednesday so I might drive down on Thursday instead of leaving Wed as I had originally planned. But if I do that I kind of want to cancel my room on Thurs just in case something happens and I have to stop for the night along the way (it's happened before)...

The updated schedule should be up soon. Looking at our tentative one here behind the scenes, it looks like the the Red Rock canyon tour starts at 10:00am on Friday morning. Of course the group will be departing the hotel a bit earlier than that, but it won't take long to drive up Charleston Blvd.

Also, I don't believe there is a cut off date for room reservations with the hotel, but I'll check. If you need to adjust your accommodations, that shouldn't be a problem at all as far as I know. But again, I'll be verifying for you.

[DaraSue]

Thanks, I just called the hotel and they said the deadline to cancel was 48 hours. I had emailed Gordon and apparently they told him 24. Not sure the left hand knows what the right hand is doing at this place...

They also said the room block was almost gone so if anybody hasn't reserved their room yet, better get on it...

[DMCVegas]

Due to an unexpected family emergency, guest speaker Tom Calabrese is unable to attend this years DeLorean Expo.

Tom sends out his sincerest apologies to all attendees, and hopes to attend a future DeLorean Expo, in which we would be more than glad to have him.

The DeLorean Owners Association also deeply apologizes to our guests, and we’re certain you’ll still have a wonderful time a this years event.

[Lwanmtr]

Phew, I dodged that bullet of disappointment by being able to attend....

[DaraSue]

Once we get to the hotel, do we need to check in with the event committee or something? What floor of the garage is everyone parking on?

[DaraSue]

I'm here now. I happened to run into Gordon and Skip in the parking lot and a helpful security guard told us the parking is on the very top floor of the garage, there's a designated space under a cover. Skip has the attendee packets but the convention room will be on the 2nd floor. I think they're still working on getting everything set up.