Carlisle 2009 - Block of Rooms??

[hemigeno]

Hey everyone,

Last year when I was reserving rooms for this year's event, the staff at the Quality Inn ( linky ) in Carlisle told me that it was more than possible for us to get a large block of rooms reserved for DodgeCharger.com folks.  Several of us have been staying there for a few years, and it's a nice place right off of the main drag in Carlisle itself.  They have a large lot for trailer parking behind the hotel as well.

A few days ago when I was confirming my reservations for this year, I asked again about the block of rooms.  We can still get rooms for the 2009 Chryslers at Carlisle show (that's next year for anyone who is numerically-challenged), but the sooner we can make the arrangements the easier it will be to get them located together near the rear parking lot where we all tend to hang out.  Also, they promised me we would get a discount off of the normal car-show-inflated rates.  What that discount is depends on how many rooms we are booking, and I get the feeling it's somewhat negotiable.

I'd like to get an idea of the number of DC.com folks who are TENTATIVELY interested.  A vote in this poll is not a commitment to get a room.  Even after we place the block reservation, I'm confident no one would get stuck paying for a room if their plans did happen to change since the demand for rooms at those shows is so incredibly high.  They may retroactively adjust our collective discounted rate if only a small number of folks show up, so please don't vote "yes" unless you're seriously considering attending.

Again, I don't know what the rate would be.  For 2008, the rate during the show is something in the neighborhood of $140/nite for Friday & Saturday night IIRC.  I know that's not exactly a bargain for a hotel room in the middle of Pennsylvania, but by car show standards it's about normal and it's right in the heart of Carlisle.  We should be able to negotiate that down some depending on our block's size. 

This poll will end in 21 days, so I will get the ball rolling based on the feedback we have at that time.

Thanks!!

Gene

P.S.  If you need two rooms, want Thursday night also, or have any other special requests/needs just send me a PM.

[Old Moparz]

I thought about staying there this year, but the place I normally stay at is half that price. It's been worth the extra 10 or 12 minute ride since I'm there for a couple of nights.

[hemigeno]

That's true, Bob.  I figured there will be some folks who don't stay at the Quality Inn or any other Carlisle-located motel for that very reason.  Even the run-down Pike Motel jacks their prices way up for Carlisle events.

There are, however, several members (who will remain anonymous, of course!  ) that start getting a little    as the night wears on.  For them, not having a 15 minute drive in the wee hours of the morning is a good thing... 

Personally, I just prefer being a little closer to the event - but that's me.  A few guys are splitting the cost of a room, which knocks the price down to a more reasonable rate as well.  That won't work for everyone though, I know.

Either way, we're just trying to get a group of us staying together at a common location.  If the consensus opinion is that we need to select a different location, that can be discussed as well. 

[gtx6970]

I might be interested in this but it really depends on room rates and hotel conditions. If so I'll need 2 rooms non-smoking.
I switched to the Holiday Inn this year, and I hope it's as good as when I stayed there in years past. The Comfort Suites we stayed at the past 4 years wouldn't let us use the corpororate discount rate , thus why the move to HolidayInn. I have to watch overhead costs and $150 or more  a night for just someplace to sleep is a rip off

[Chris G.]

We are always a lock for 2 rooms. Next year I am booking 3 rooms, so if they can be added in with the others I am all for it. We make these reservations the morning we leave so let me know how you want to swing it.

Quality Inn is expensive, but the location is second to none, and the cars in the lot are always nice to check out. There's also a nice kart track 100ft behind the hotel for some grudge match racing.

[2much2learn]

well it really depends if my charger is "fit' enough to go on a road trip, but if it hauls half a donkeys ass then you can definitely count me in for a room

[firefighter3931]

That's a great idea Geno....i've tried for the last 2 years to get a reservation there with no luck.  Count me in for a room 



Ron

[Dodge Don]

We are always a lock for 2 rooms. Next year I am booking 3 rooms, so if they can be added in with the others I am all for it. We make these reservations the morning we leave so let me know how you want to swing it.

Quality Inn is expensive, but the location is second to none, and the cars in the lot are always nice to check out. There's also a nice kart track 100ft behind the hotel for some grudge match racing.

Am I room 3? Because I am absolutely gunning to debut my Charger there in 2009.

[69bronzeT5]

There's also a nice kart track 100ft behind the hotel for some grudge match racing.

Awesome. Count me in for that. I used to race 90+ km/h go-karts in a race series so watch out I want my Charger done for 2010 Carlisle.

[hemigeno]

 

I may end the poll a day or two early so there's still time to contact the motel before this year's show.  Things will book up fast, so it'll be MUCH better to set things up on Tuesday or Wednesday (I'm hitting the road on Thursday).

Sooo, it looks like 10 rooms for certain, 7 maybe's, and two or three other rooms needed that aren't on the poll.  Figuring that some of the maybe's will back out and a few more will jump in, I'm thinking a 20 room block is all we need.

Barring some last-minute avalanche of votes, that's the arrangements I'll try to make sometime early this week.

Chris (G.), I'll try to make sure that we don't foul up your current room location.  I know you guys like that spot on the 2nd floor, so I'll mention that to the group sales rep.  Oh, and this time, let us know when you're heading off to the go-cart track...     

[Chris G.]

I know you guys like that spot on the 2nd floor, so I'll mention that to the group sales rep. 

Believe me, nothing would make me happier than staying on the 1st floor. The non-smoker rooms are all on the second floor, which is why they always give them to us.

Can someone explain why they put smokers rooms on the 1st floor? Doesn't smoke rise?

Geno, when you reserve the block of rooms, can they vary from Thurs-Sun and Fri-Sun? I'm sure many aren't going on Thursday...but I am. 

[Old Moparz]

Can someone explain why they put smokers rooms on the 1st floor? Doesn't smoke rise?

Yes, but the non-smokers generally have healthier lungs & can make it up & down the stairs much easier. Imagine the lawsuit that would result if a smoker had collapsed on the way up to a room, blocked the stairwell during an emergency? I'm thinking Coconut Grove all over again.

[69_500]

Gene so your driving over on Thursday? What time do ya figure you'll be passing through Indy? I'll be heading off on Thursday afternoon as soon as I get home from work, and as fast as I can get a 40 year old car out of the garage, and a 4 year old strapped into it.

[AKcharger]

I change my vote...count me in for a room next year...will back up with CC # to hotel

[quapman]

I've stayed there before and it's quite nice, but NOT $169 a night nice, which is the asking price for 2009.

Will be looking elsewhere for next year very soon.

Steve

[hemigeno]

Will be looking elsewhere for next year very soon.

We were able to negotiate a better rate than that, but don't worry - you're not obligated to stay with the group.   

For some of us, there are reasons why it's worth the extra $$:

>>  The DodgeCharger.com nightly bench racing sessions in the back parking lot
>>  Reasonably close to the fairgrounds, and there is a back way for those who head out to the fairgrounds at the busiest times
>>  Tons of room for trailer parking in the back lot
>>  Go-Carts, Putt-Putt, Laser Tag & Batting Cages right next to the property (family-oriented, except for the DC.com grudge matches on the Go-Cart tracks )
>>  Clean, nice rooms (I have stayed at places that were almost as pricey and nowhere near as nice)
>>  Great breakfast spread
>>  Convenience store next door --  with ULS Diesel !!!
>>  Two 24hr restaurants, one right next door and the other is next-door to the first
>>  Traffic signal to get out of the parking lot onto Route 11 - this is really, really nice in heavy traffic times
>>  Easy access driveways for bigger vehicles/rigs



For now, I have 20 room registration forms in my folder.  I'll hopefully send them all in sometime this week, but no later than next week for sure.  The Group Sales guy has already assured me that we can get our rooms mostly together without any problems.

At the moment I am planning to request all 20 rooms to be 2 double beds, either smoking or non-smoking.  I will also ask them to give us as many rooms as possible on the backside of the building facing the small rear parking lot.  Yes, Chris & Chris G., I will try to make sure that you get the same room as always - and I'll make sure that Ron can get the fork truck right up to the sliding patio door for the Alexander Keith's deliveries.  Unless it's apparent that we need to do something different, I'm only going to get 10 of the rooms for Thursday-Friday-Saturday night.  The other 10 rooms will be for just Friday and Saturday nights.  FWIW, Thursday night's rate is considerably cheaper.

All of these rooms are going to be reserved in my name and through my credit card, but ultimately they can and should be put in the names of the people who want a room.  The question is, how to make sure that the reservation transfer is controlled the way we want it to go.  In order to do that, I am thinking of putting some sort of a unique random code on each sheet.  That way, as people want to lock in a reservation for one of these rooms, I can just "turn loose" of an individual room reservation from this block by giving you DC.com folks the code from one of the sheets.  You'd have to call the Quality Inn, and give them that particular sheet's code in order to switch the reservation out of my name into yours.  You'd have to give them a CC number to hold the reservation at that time as well, I'm sure.

If the ultimate interest level does not match what the results of this poll are, all I'd have to do is give them a call 24 hours ahead of next year's show and the unclaimed rooms can be turned back over to them.  They'll have NO problems renting them at the full rate.

Do you guys think this will work?  Any other comments/suggestions?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Geno, I think you have a great plan hashed out already.   Having the same room (258) will be cool as well.  After 3 years in a row its almost like a "tradition" now
Thanks for setting this up & hopefully we can all benefit from it.

[firefighter3931]

Fantastic Gene....count me in for a room on the lower level. 


Thanks, Ron

[dfsmopars]

My wife and I would like to go for the first time but since the trip is so far we are thinking about staying the entire week prior and take in the sights in and around the area.

[tommymac]

? is it to late to reserve a room.I'd like to go as I just toured that area last week on Vacation,just missing Maple Grove NHRA races. Its about 5.5 hrs from Albany NY wouldn't be to bad except for no AC and poor gas milage.

[hemigeno]

I sent all the paperwork off to QI-Carlisle a while back, but haven't heard back just yet.  There shouldn't be any issues with our block of rooms, but I'll call in a week or so just to make sure everything is on track.

Once they've confirmed that we're all set up, I'll start setting things up so that the rooms can be claimed by DC.com members.

[tommymac]

Count me in for one room,Thanks TMC

[alenglish]

Any thing new on this    I called back in July and  it wasn't set up yet...     Big  Al

[alenglish]

just called   got  my room    the Quality Inn   said   there is a block of rooms  waiting        717 243 6000   exit 52B
149.99       the block is all non-smoking      mine's a smoking room      Hope to see you there    Big  Al

[suntech]

Stupid question guys? When is the exact dates for Carlisle?? Looks like i will have June off from work, and will do some boat testing in Reading, and go to a boatrace in Bay City MI, so it might fit in perfect with a trip to US then. 

[hemigeno]

Stupid question guys? When is the exact dates for Carlisle?? Looks like i will have June off from work, and will do some boat testing in Reading, and go to a boatrace in Bay City MI, so it might fit in perfect with a trip to US then. 

Carlisle 2009 will be held Friday July 10 thru Sunday July 12th. 

We still have a few rooms available for DC.com members to reserve at $149.99 + tax.  A couple are for Thurs/Fri/Sat, and a few more are for just Friday and Saturday nights.

[StanmanJay]

Great idea Gene we go every year and it sounds like fun! Im in! Let me know..

Jay

[Tilar]

Are there still any rooms available in this or do I need to call the hotel? I think I'm going to try to go to this one.

[hemigeno]

Yes there are plenty of rooms still available Tilar - and I apologize for missing StanmanJay's reply earlier.

If you are definitely interested, send me a PM and I'll forward the information to you next week (all my notes are at the office).

Thanks!

Gene

[Belgium R/T -68]

I am really interested to join you and meet some of you in person, not to talk about seeing moore Mopars in a weekend then I did together
in my whole life. What about flightconnections coming from Europe, which is the biggest city flying in to? Anybody from
Europe with experience or even better, meeting up somewhere?

[ted]

staying at the Carlisle Travelodge, 89 bucks a night

[41husk]

What is the rate for2009?  I may be interested in 1 possibly 2 rooms my sisster lives in Philly, and just asked me if I knew that they had a big show with all kinds of my cars in carlisle (Duh!!!) and maybe I could go and we could meet kinda in the middle. (What 3 hours from Philly, 14 hours from St Louis.  Sounds like meeting half way for my sisster)  Anyway I might just go, I think I would need to trailor what ever car I decided to take.

[Troy]

Harrisburg has an "International Airport" but my guess is that Baltimore Maryland or Philadelphia Pennsylvania are the two closest cities to fly into from overseas.

Allen, Danny (69_500) drove his Charger 500 from Indianapolis last year with the 4.10s in it. I bet you get better mileage with the 68 than you would towing it with the Ram. How's the 73 on gas? Rooms are $149.99 + tax.

Troy

[4cruzin]

WOW $149.99 + taxes??       After taxes and all, it will probably end up costing $175.00 a night.  Too rich for my blood.      I haven't booked anything yet but probably will here soon. 

[Belgium R/T -68]

Harrisburg has an "International Airport" but my guess is that Baltimore Maryland or Philadelphia Pennsylvania are the two closest cities to fly into from overseas.

Allen, Danny (69_500) drove his Charger 500 from Indianapolis last year with the 4.10s in it. I bet you get better mileage with the 68 than you would towing it with the Ram. How's the 73 on gas? Rooms are $149.99 + tax.

Troy

I will check with the moparguys in The Netherlands and see if somebody has made that trip to know what's the best travelplan. I have told
myself for almost 30 years I have to visit The US and now seems a good moment, it's a pitty I can't bring my car.

[duo-stripe]

Ik kan je dit binnenkort wel berichten; wij plannen volgende week of de week daarop ook onze reis naar Carlisle vanuit NL.

[41husk]

Harrisburg has an "International Airport" but my guess is that Baltimore Maryland or Philadelphia Pennsylvania are the two closest cities to fly into from overseas.

Allen, Danny (69_500) drove his Charger 500 from Indianapolis last year with the 4.10s in it. I bet you get better mileage with the 68 than you would towing it with the Ram. How's the 73 on gas? Rooms are $149.99 + tax.

Troy

the 73 gets between 7-9 closer to 9 highway.  I would like to take the Challenger and I think the 340 will get better milage than the 68 or 73.
Geno I would like to reserve one of the rooms if there is still one available Fri and Sat night.

[Belgium R/T -68]

Ik kan je dit binnenkort wel berichten; wij plannen volgende week of de week daarop ook onze reis naar Carlisle vanuit NL.

Great Please let me know.

[hemigeno]

Geno I would like to reserve one of the rooms if there is still one available Fri and Sat night.

No problem Allen, I'll send you the info shortly.

$149.99 + taxes??   Too rich for my blood.

There are very few Car Shows that I would drive 14-15 hours one way to attend, and Carlisle is at the top of the list.  You can always find some place cheaper, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's better in everyone's view.  I've stayed at 3 other places, and this is the one I've liked best out of the 4 - plus they have tons of truck/trailer parking, it's next to the Go-Kart track, and has both a restaurant and gas station next door (with ULSF diesel).  I know the CudaChallenger.com guys and a few other folks stay a good distance outside of Carlisle, where the rates are not as high.  Personally, I would rather stay closer to where the bulk of the activities are happening - which includes the fairgrounds during the day and the back parking lot of the Carlisle Quality Inn after dinner.

Speaking of which...  Everyone's still welcome to hang out in the back parking lot in the evenings, no matter where you're staying.

[41husk]

Geno, I was calling today to make reservations, I may need another room if it is available, should I just tell them at the hotel when I call, or do I need another reservation #?  Thanks Allen

[hemigeno]

Allen,

I suppose they would want another one of the room assignment numbers in order to get the group rate and to have it in the same area as the rest of the reservations.

I'll send another PM in a second.

[suntech]

I will be at work in Korea when Carlisle is this year, but that means i will be off next year, if nothing special happens. For us Europeans, the easiest thing is to fly in to either Baltimore or Philly, (KLM/ NWA has turned out ar the best deal for me most of the times). Even Newark, NJ is not a bad  idea.
A bad idea, is to sit in an airport for 4 hours, waiting for a cityhopper to bring you 40 miles closer to where you want, to an airport with no rental cars left!!!

It is a lot easier and more pracical to jump in a car from a big airport, and go there by car

[Belgium R/T -68]

Ik kan je dit binnenkort wel berichten; wij plannen volgende week of de week daarop ook onze reis naar Carlisle vanuit NL.

Any plans ready yet?

[Old Moparz]

The usual place I stay at just outside of Carlisle raised their rates, so I looked around on line & found a place that has a pool right on the main drag in Carlisle for just $15 more. With a AAA discount, it's $93.49 per night on the weekend, & $46.74 for the Thursday prior. They still have several rooms left, so if anyone else needs a room here is the info.

Rodeway Inn
1239 Harrisburg Pike
Carlisle, PA, US, 17013

Phone: (717) 249-2800     
Fax: (717) 249-9444

I'm not leaving a light on for anyone, so don't be knocking on my door. 

[69_500]

The usual place I stay at just outside of Carlisle raised their rates, so I looked around on line & found a place that has a pool right on the main drag in Carlisle for just $15 more. With a AAA discount, it's $93.49 per night on the weekend, & $46.74 for the Thursday prior. They still have several rooms left, so if anyone else needs a room here is the info.

Rodeway Inn
1239 Harrisburg Pike
Carlisle, PA, US, 17013

Phone: (717) 249-2800     
Fax: (717) 249-9444

I'm not leaving a light on for anyone, so don't be knocking on my door. 

Ah no knocking on the door huh? You must not like sharing a room with a 4 year old like Troy did last year.

[Old Moparz]

Ah no knocking on the door huh? You must not like sharing a room with a 4 year old like Troy did last year.

Troy has this site, he's used to babysitting.

[Tilar]

plus they have tons of truck/trailer parking, it's next to the Go-Kart track, and has both a restaurant and gas station next door (with ULSF diesel).

That's good to know... I may bring my trailer since I'm liable to run across something that I just cant live without. Rear quarters and a trunk floor maybe. 

[THE COLONEL]

PM Sent Gene

[THE COLONEL]

Thanks Geno.  I just made my reservation.  see ya'll there!!

[dd44068]

So I just booked my room  I cant wait to get there.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Hey Geno, how many rooms left?

[hemigeno]

Hey Geno, how many rooms left?

As of 5/27/09, there are:

Three rooms for Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights, and

Five rooms for rooms Friday/Saturday nights

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Very cool! 

[BrianShaughnessy]

 What's the deal for just  Thur / Fri nights ?      I'll be doing Sunday in Saugerties again.

  Otherwise I can just stick at the Ramada again.   

[hemigeno]

Brian,

"Technically" the reservations I've made are either Thu/Fri/Sat or Fri/Sat nights.  That being said, I suspect they would make accomodations this early for a Thu/Fri reservation.  The Quality Inn folks will have NO problems selling that room off for Saturday night, guaranteed.

Thursday night's rate is much more reasonable (forget what it is at the moment), but the Friday night rate would be the $149 +/- they've quoted me earlier. 

Send me a PM if you want to snag one of the rooms and I'll set you up.

Geno

[BrianShaughnessy]

Ok.. Thanks anyway. I booked across the street - no drama.

[hemigeno]

 

[hemigeno]

Less than three weeks now until the show, and we have 8 rooms left, mostly for Friday and Saturday nights.

If there's not much interest with any members over the next week or so, I'm going to turn the remaining room reservations back in to the Q.I.  That way, I'll be 100% sure they won't be showing up on my Credit Card 

[hemigeno]

Just received a call from the Quality Inn folks.  They've asked that we have whatever rooms are going to be reserved through the group deal all wrapped up by Tuesday of next week.  That means anyone who wants to snag one of the seven room reservations we have left, I need to hear from you by Monday night, June 29th.  Q.I. Carlisle will be calling me sometime on Tuesday the 30th (don't know when), and we will confirm all the existing reservations before turning loose of those last rooms.

Fair warning has now been given!  They're already overbooked, and are licking their chops to have-at those extra rooms...

[hemigeno]

 

[Khyron]

Look slike I may be actually going this year. Not sure if i'll be getting a room, or even bringing the Charger. but I hope to see some of you guys around

Look for the 77 dodge American Clipper RV

[Old Moparz]

You should get the Budweiser Girls to dance on the roof of the RV to make it easier to spot. 

[hemigeno]

For the record, I've officially released the rest of the rooms back to Q.I. Carlisle.  We had 13 of 20 room reservations used, so seven people calling for a room just a week before the show are going to be really, really happy...