Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

My wife and I are planning on attending the 2014 National Meet in French Lick. We prefer camping over hotels and are wondering how it was set up in the 2011 Meet. Is the camping close to the main activities? Will we be missing out by not being in the hotels? Or, are the campers the fun ones?

Paul

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Id like to know also

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Paul, I guess my thoughts are that you need to decide what your priorities are first. I know there were a few that actually "camped" in self-contained motorhomes in the trailer parking lot but that probably was against the rules. A quick Google search showed the closest campground about 6 miles away. That would be too far away from the activities for me personally as there are always spontaneous assemblies in hallways, parking lots, swap meets, etc. where you encounter friends that you want to chat with or things to look at. My perspective is for me, the priority would be to attend the Model-A meet first and do all the things that are planned for the meet, ...and go Model-A camping some other week and focus on all the ancillary camping things at that time. If you do that I think you will find the hotel room is just a place to go rest for a short while until you can go to another Model-A meet activity.

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Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Thanks Brent, Part of my choice involves cost. I have one son in college and another is a Senior in high school. Camping would make it affordable.

Paul

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

I agree with Paul. We've been able to attend many dozens of tours and meets over the years only because we camped. Otherwise we couldn't afford to attend. We usually have to forego the expensive banquets, also. Hopefully organizers will consider folks such as us. Yes, we've worked on tours also.

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

I totally understand your position as I have two college-aged kids too. Their "habits" do make one's wallet much thinner!! ;) I guess my thoughts are if the hotel costs are a deal breaker, then either save costs by attending less days or make concessions such as this.

One other comment that might be worth "dreaming about" is starting a Camping Special Interest group within MARC or MAFCA. Why I say this is I am on the Board of one of the national Model-T clubs and a few months ago we had a request from a group of members who wanted to start a 'Camping Chapter'. Their intent in 2015 is to spend a month driving their Model-Ts from National Park to National Park while primitive camping along the way. I think their plans are to take 30 days during the summer to do this. We voted unanimously to accept their request and I am excited for them, --albeit not excited enough that I want to join in on that trip with them ( :D ) but I think they will have a ball. Maybe you could start a special interest group too sharing your passion with everyone on a Facebook Page or in a newsletter, ....and y'all could meet at F/L and camp together.

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Brent mentioned a T camping group. I do tour with one every year somewhere in various states in the northeast and have for years. We rent a section of campground with pavilion for cooking. Breakfast and supper are cooked by our own members and is communal. Lunch is on the road. Our limit is about 50 people. If we advertised, we would have too many people wanting to attend. It's great!

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

there was an excellent seminar at the Lexington meet about building a Model A-appropriate camper and going on the road with it.
about 8 of them were displayed in front of the host hotel, showing many ingenious features.
I think a "Model A camper" special interest group would be great, we just might have to build one.....

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Anybody have pictures or links to these campers?

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Attachment 139788

http://ckmarc.com/alaskatrip

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Anyone out there planning on camping at this meet?

Steve

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Time is coming close. Who is camping and where?

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Get a copy of "Visit French Lick/ West Baden" visitors guide. Hit up a rest stop along the toll road, they should have a copy. Got my guide at visitors center in Hammond, Kennedy ave exit on I-94. See ya in French Lick.

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

Wow! Great idea. As a co-chair of the 2016 MARC National Tour in New York's Hudson Valley, we'd love to see campers attend our meet. I'll make it a point to bring this up at our monthly meetings and post camp sites on our Website (www.HudsonValleyMARC.org).

Re: Camping 2014 National Meet in French Lick
 

I would call French Lick hotel first before anything else. Mr and Mrs. Cook who at the time owned both hotel's [if they are still around ] are a pair of wonderful people. When you called for directions on how to get there and if it sounded like a 80 year old lady then very good chance ,,that was Mrs. Cook at the phone.Mr. Cook drove around the meet in a 6 wheel Gator. Now back to the question ...call and ask. if its a self contained camper i can not see no problem. There is plenty of room. I did sleep in my pickup for 2 days and that's because i was very early and drove straight thru.[15 hours for me] I did take a shower each day in the hotel that a member let me do that..[ i knew them] p.s. i also watched what i ate for those 2 days even tho the casino was open most of the nite and bathroom were there. There is a ton of room between the Hotels too. Ask to pay the price of a day of camping at a camp site??? The worst is the answer is no.... And someone here can post the answer tomorrow.