Stopped by the site of the newest Sonic Drive-in on the way home tonight. This will be the second Sonic in the Puget Sound area, with the exception of the one in Ferndale, at the Canadian border area. I learned that the store will tentatively open the last of August, first of September. I am going to make a run down to the store in Puyallup on Wednesday to try to talk to Jake, who I was advised is the owners "right hand man". Both franchises are owned by the same person. I am going to approach him about the PNW G8 Owners Club being one of the opening "car groups" for the new store in Bonney Lake. Anyone have any comments or thoughts get them to me by 10am Wednesday, 1 July!

I would LOVE to do this -- but I'll be in Alaska during the weekends before and of Labor Day.

I would LOVE to do this -- but I'll be in Alaska during the weekends before and of Labor Day.

That's OK, won't know for sure when it will be until I talk with them tomorrow. So you might have to show up anyway! HAH!:wink2::pir_flag:

BOP at Bermerton Raceway is September 19, 2009 - FYI - just so no conflicts are set up.

BOP at Bermerton Raceway is September 19, 2009 - FYI - just so no conflicts are set up.

Was that something we had scheduled/announced as a GTG? Hadn't seen anything about it yet?:dunno:

Nope. It is the 12th annual Buick, Olds, Pontiac drag races at Bremerton and car show. Great event. I have gone every year since 2005, made it semi-finals in ladders in 2007 (finished in "third" place) and have made ladders every year I was there. It is the one drag race event I make a point to go to - only go a couple of times a year, feel it is rough on the car to go week in and week out.

I would suggest to the collective that we get a group going to BOP.

Nope. It is the 12th annual Buick, Olds, Pontiac drag races at Bremerton and car show. Great event. I have gone every year since 2005, made it semi-finals in ladders in 2007 (finished in "third" place) and have made ladders every year I was there. It is the one drag race event I make a point to go to - only go a couple of times a year, feel it is rough on the car to go week in and week out.

I would suggest to the collective that we get a group going to BOP.

Sounds interesting. Is it a Saturday or Sunday? Why don't you take the lead on this one and put something together?:wink2::pir_flag:

Sounds interesting. Is it a Saturday or Sunday? Why don't you take the lead on this one and put something together?:wink2::pir_flag:

I thought Bob handled setting up our GTG - it is on a Saturday by the way. I believe there is a test and tune the night before.

I thought Bob handled setting up our GTG - it is on a Saturday by the way. I believe there is a test and tune the night before.

If he's in the mood he might. Actually, I do most of the big type posts, and a lot of the research/coordinating. But he talks a good fight!:) Haven't seen him around here lately thou. Must be hanging at the "other" forum?:wink2::pir_flag:

So, I stopped by the Sonic in Puyallup today and talked with Matt Callies, the General Manager. He said that the Bonney Lake store was scheduled to open either 31 August or 1 September (Monday or Tuesday), if everything goes as planned. I told him we, the PNW G8 Owners Club would be interested in holding one of our GTGs there, at, or soon after the Grand Opening. I told him we were not looking for sponsorship, just a welcome place to meet and show off our cars. He was receptive to the idea, and said he'd "tell the boss" of our interest. I thanked him for his time and left him with one of our cards, and asked him to keep us informed! Mike Cummings and I will check out the progress tomorrow, and scout probable gathering spots. Its a big parking lot, so there are lots of areas to choose from. We just don't want to interfere with Sonic's operation during their Grand Opening. Seeing that our 1st Anniversary PNW G8 Owners GTG is Sunday 30 August, we might want to hold off a week or so before doing another one. The first weekend in September is Labor Day weekend, probably not a good time to hold a GTG. So the next weekend, say Saturday, 12 September? How does that date sound as a tentative one for the GTG at the Bonney Lake Sonic Drive-in?:wink2::pir_flag:

Cool. Don't see why we can't do it! Right in between Labor Day and the BOP Drags; September's going to kick ass.

Cool. Don't see why we can't do it! Right in between Labor Day and the BOP Drags; September's going to kick ass.

Yeah, and don't forget the GTG at the park in Renton for our 1st anni the Sunday before Labor Day! Gonna keep the G8ers busy! Jam as much in before the weather turns to crap!:wink2::pir_flag:

If it is 9/12 - I'm in, if it is Labor Day Weekend I'll be on a cruise ship.

If it is 9/12 - I'm in, if it is Labor Day Weekend I'll be on a cruise ship.

Can guarantee it wont be on Labor Day weekend! So see ya there! As long as they keep to their schedule and get it done!:wink2::pir_flag:

This is good news, going to be a fun week between Sonic and Bremerton. WOOT!

sorry guys...been on vacation so havent kept up with either forum...

im fine with really anyone scheduling an event as long as its discussed first for conflicts...then we can sticky a post about the event...my fear is that we will start scheduling events in tandem and get stuff confused

john has usually been the guy for the final scheduling of events :)

I think everyone is pretty synced up on the Renton event, followed by Sonic followed by Bremerton BOP. Going to be a GR8 month of events - completely understand about not wanting to stack up events on top of each other.

As the Chevy Avalanche club got huge (an issue we won't have sadly, their are more members of CAFCNA then there are total G8s built :( ) this started happening. Egos got bruised, people got pissed. A few years ago there were three different "national" meets on the same week (talk about egos). Only one was sanctioned by GM and of course turn out at all of them was light because people basically treated them as regional meets.

This year has potential for them to have a great year. The two other main Avalanche sites basically died last year with $4.11 a gallon gasoline, leaving the main parent club. The national meet is centrally located in San Antonio, back to the club roots, where one of the early members/moderators is buried, and has CAFCNA on his gravestone! (kid you not). He died very young and unexpectedly with no insurance, the club members came forward and covered his funeral expenses.

Man, I went off on a tangent.

I get the importance of making sure we don't step on each others toes, that would suck. I know people have been open about making sure the Sonic event doesn't happen when BOP is going on, I know many of us want to go to both.

I'm just surprised there was an Avalanche club at all. Did you allow Escalade EXTs and Hummer H3Ts to party with you guys?

When we were in Mustangs it seemed like there were multiple things going on every weekend all over the place. However it was not always Mustang-specific. Maybe in the 2010 season we can start trying to attend car shows for various makes. G8s need more reputation (notoriety?) in the enthusiast community -- we've already made our mark at Bremerton Raceway, where no G8 runs in the 13s anymore... lol.

I'm just surprised there was an Avalanche club at all. Did you allow Escalade EXTs and Hummer H3Ts to party with you guys?

When we were in Mustangs it seemed like there were multiple things going on every weekend all over the place. However it was not always Mustang-specific. Maybe in the 2010 season we can start trying to attend car shows for various makes. G8s need more reputation (notoriety?) in the enthusiast community -- we've already made our mark at Bremerton Raceway, where no G8 runs in the 13s anymore... lol.

Back in 2004 JD Power did a survey on brand loyalty in the auto industry. The number one vehicle for brand loyalty was the Chevrolet Avalanche at 76%. Yes, higher than the Corvette. Amazingly, there were only 5 or 6 vehicles above 70%, and three of them were Chevrolet (Avalanche, Corvette, and Impala in that order).

About 8% to 10% of Avalanche owners are CAFCNA members, that is insane owner penetration. Yes the Cadillac EXT owners were invited to join and there are separate Cadillac areas on the site.

The site operates under a grand of permission from GM, that means it can't be monetized for profit, which is a major bummer, the enthusiast owners are as mod crazy as us and amazingly there are a TON of mods available.

The main CAFCNA site was actually contacted by GM for product research on GMT900 and to get ideas on what is really important to owners.

Update to the Bonney Lake Sonic Drive-in Grand Opening! Haven't heard anything back from the General Manager, so stopped by the construction site this morning and spoke with one of the onsite construction types. He was very informative! At this point it looks like the second Sonic in the Puget Sound area will not open until the first of October! So, the planned event for September 12th needs to be put off for a month or so. Probably making it our unofficial last GTG of the season. I'll work on the dates later today or tomorrow and get something posted up! Just wanted to let you all know where this event was, since we have always listed it as tentative on the flyers.:wink2::pir_flag:

Wow, I would have loved to have Sonic in Seattle when I lived there. I am addicted to their breakfast burritos and tots. 9 years in Dallas does strange things to a man. :)

Wow, I would have loved to have Sonic in Seattle when I lived there. I am addicted to their breakfast burritos and tots. 9 years in Dallas does strange things to a man. :)

You want to make a run up for the GTG there we'll probably schedule it for mid October! All G8's, even out-of-staters, WELCOME!:wink2::pir_flag: