Excursion Diversion / Ford Truck Rally July 17-19 2009
Well the wait is over…this is the announcement that Excursion Diversion / Ford-Truck Rally 2009 has been set.
For those not familiar with what I am talking about…2008 was the inaugural truck rally held in Gatlinburg. We held an on-line vote to determine where we would hold our rally…and Gatlinburg won that voting. We held our rally and had over 60 people attend the rally. Here’s a photo of some of the trucks that showed up and there is another in my signature.
The chosen campground again this year is Twin Creek RV Resort. Here is their website:Twin Creek RV Resort and their phone number is 1-800-252-8077. The campground owners are Mary and Duffy and they treated us incredible last year and the majority of those in attendance voted to return to Gatlinburg and Twin Creek for 2009.
I have once again arranged a group name to reserve under when you call tell them you are with the FORD-TRUCKS group and they will give you a site near the group.
Please note that while everyone will be placed ‘near the group’…you cannot request specific sites. Those staying longer will be placed right next to each other and those staying a shorter time will be next and so forth…the theory is that as folks leave…those remaining are still next to each other. So the longer you stay the closer you will be. But be aware that this is not a huge campground…so you won’t be too far regardless.
The 'official' weekend will be Friday July 17 to Sunday July 19 BUT many are coming long distances like myself and will be booking longer stays. Personally my family has booked for Thursday July 16 thru Saturday July 25.
As you book and make your reservations. I would ask that you send me a PM with the dates and a personal contact email for you so I can keep a list of who has booked and we can communicate thru email with personal information rather than in open forum. This worked very nicely last year.
Some important information:
Being a Good Sam's park we get a 10% discount for Good Sam's members (I have coupons in my possession that I can send you that you can join Good Sam's for $12 for 1 year membership or $33 for 3 years...BUT with the 3 year you get a $25 coupon for camping...so it costs you only $8 for a 3 year membership!!! PM me if you need a coupon to join or have questions on the coupons).
Rates for the campground were $44 per night (last year as I do not know 2009 rates yet but you can ask Mary). The rate includes 2 people as this appears to be 'customary' in this area. Kids/people over 6 are $4 extra per day.
Cabins do NOT ALLOW PETS or smoking . The cabins also have a 6 night minimum and I am not sure of the rates for the cabins. But please be aware of the 6 night minimum.
Also anyone entering the park staying somewhere else would be charged $4/person but that entitles them to use of the pool and facilities...To be honest Mary didn’t impose that on us as the rally folks not staying in the campground didn’t use any of the facilities except for coming in to join the rally at our rally site.
Your deposit is based on length of stay 3-4 nights is $100, 5-7 nights $150. If cancellation is necessary as long as more than 10 days prior to arrival you would get all but $10 back. Within 10 days you would forfeit full deposit. Do not trust my information on this…please check for yourself when you book as to the cancellation policy.
Some of the bigger restrictions folks need to know about
No 'dangerous' dogs are allowed and that seems to be kind of universal today...Rottweilers, Dobermans, Pit Bulls are NOT allowed.
Only 2 dogs per site are allowed.
Also not sure if anyone has a popup or Hybrid but if you do NO PETS are allowed in canvas skinned trailers which does make sense to me I guess.
No tents are allowed.
There is a trolley stop right outside the park and for $0.25 per person you can ride into town and not have to fight the traffic. However some long waits were experienced by our folks last year as the trolley’s were pretty full. Personally I found it easier to drive to the beginning of the strip and park at a public lot for $5 for the day and then walk from there.
A word on parking…Some parking lots view our ‘LARGE’ vehicles and charge DOUBLE the rate. The lot I used did not charge any extra. I can elaborate more on that if needed.
Like last year we will publish the Official Rally Agenda. Last year we had a meet and greet, pot luck dinner, egg boil breakfast and the infamous grudge match between V10’s and PSD’s at the Go-Kart racetrack…and this year will be very similar as everyone seemed to have a wonderful time.
If you are interested and wondering what happened last year see post #126 in this thread http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/71...p-today-9.html That post is the closest I can give you to the ‘official’ rally report.
Just like last year we will be designing Rally T-Shirts. However this year we will be going with only ONE design to allow us to go with a silk screen shirt for higher quality.
This year at the rally we will also be passing the hat to cover rally expenses. Items like name tags, paper products, kids crafts, customized wine bottles for meet and greet, etc can add up so this year we will simply ask for a small donation (maybe $10) from each family to cover those community consumable items. It is not mandatory however it helps to share the costs for these items. Keep in mind though that this rally makes NO PROFITS...those in attendance foot all the bills. It is a big deal to plan one of these and it does cost a little $$$ to make it fun for all.
Also just like last year we will try and secure goodies from various sponsors. We received a lot of items (shirts, hats, pens, calendars, etc) from local dealerships and businesses and I hope we can repeat that but we need everyone’s assistance on this front.
Lastly I would like to ask those that are ‘thinking’ about joining and have any questions just let me know…those that were at the rally last year can certainly tell you what it was like if the rally report listed above doesn’t help let you know what it was about.
Thanks again and start booking!
Joe.
__________________ 2005 Ex V10 4.30's
Hensley Arrow / Rear Hellwig / Prodigy Brake Controller / RAS / Bilsteins / K&N drop in / SCT X3 Tuner with 5-Star Tunes / Aeroforce Tech OBDII Digital Gauge / Hawk LTS Pads 2007 JayFlight 31BHDS (2 slides 3 women just right! ) 3rd Annual Excursion Diversion / Ford Rally 2010 here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/88...ml#post7941270
I really hope I can make it this coming year, Joe!
Hey, based on this map of the facilities...
Where was the "main" group parked?
Creekside? Mountain side? Preferred? Next to the cabins/pool area? The rectangular RV parking area? The small creekside area at the very top?
Stewart
__________________ The Brotherhood of FTE <~click the link 1999 F150 Lightning: WMS built block, 6lb lower, Monsterbox, Truetrac, CF driveshaft 2002 PSD F250 SC 4x2: 38R, AC codes, MBRP 4", AFE, JWVB, Riffraff HPX, CCV, and boots, ITP OBA, Live Tuned by Jody 2000 PSD Excursion 4x4: John Wood 4R100, F5, MBRP 4", AFE, BDP 1.0, ITP OBA and Pre-Pump mod, V & B code springs, Hellwig rear sway
On that map...we were located in the Creekside area corner (basically the left elbow in that picture) and the area in tan just above it (labeled RV sites).
The only folks that weren't in that immediate left elbow area were two families. One learned of the Rally very late and was placed in the Mountain side area. Another was someone with an Ex that just happened to be there and we invited him to join the rally.
She put our group in a perfect area as we were somewhat isolated a little bit from others so our late night campfires didn't disturb anyone.
The campground isn't that large...so it is easy to walk to the pool or office...
I do hope you can swing the long haul to join the rally...I would love to finally meet you and your family!
Hope my info helps...if not just let me know.
Joe.
__________________ 2005 Ex V10 4.30's
Hensley Arrow / Rear Hellwig / Prodigy Brake Controller / RAS / Bilsteins / K&N drop in / SCT X3 Tuner with 5-Star Tunes / Aeroforce Tech OBDII Digital Gauge / Hawk LTS Pads 2007 JayFlight 31BHDS (2 slides 3 women just right! ) 3rd Annual Excursion Diversion / Ford Rally 2010 here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/88...ml#post7941270
Wooooo Hooooo!!! I can't wait. We had such a great time last year, this year should be even better! I already called and made my reservations - staying for the week this time.
We should really get professional pictures done this year.
Show up and you are hired
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoosierbaby64
great lookig at the one pic I would have to give ex a bath and now with other pic I will hafta have headlights! is there no end?
I am praying i will get to be there. It sounds like more fun than I have had for looooooooooooooong time.
This is definitely a come as you are...so no worries...just hope you can make it work...
Quote:
Originally Posted by william_04_x
I may make the trip too..I have family in that area and if Stewart end's up coming down this way to pickup I-40 we'll convoy...
You're on this early Joe...The last one must've been alot of fun..
William...I wanted to make sure I gave everyone AMPLE time to plan for it and block out their calendars. As far as the fun last year...those that were there certainly know and I bet if you talk to any of them you won't get a bad report...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsta
Hmmmm...a second opportunity to ship my truck over for my yearly Mainland vacation...
Monsta...yeah we missed you last year...hopefully it can work out this year!
__________________ 2005 Ex V10 4.30's
Hensley Arrow / Rear Hellwig / Prodigy Brake Controller / RAS / Bilsteins / K&N drop in / SCT X3 Tuner with 5-Star Tunes / Aeroforce Tech OBDII Digital Gauge / Hawk LTS Pads 2007 JayFlight 31BHDS (2 slides 3 women just right! ) 3rd Annual Excursion Diversion / Ford Rally 2010 here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/88...ml#post7941270
hey all, i wanted to go last year but with the wife being pregnant, it wasnt happening. this year, we both want to come. i do have a question for anyone. i dont have a travel trailer and we were thinkin of renting one. the question is, what size do you think i should get? i have seen up to 40 ft bumper pulls. most are 30 ft and are about $750 wk. my X is an 01, 4x4, v10, 3.73 ls, 325/50/22 E rated toyo tires, hellwig, bilsteins. when we usually travel, its by airplane and then in a hotel room. this would be a first for the both of us. what do you think the largest size TT that we could get and still safely pull with the X? i am not worried about different weight class TT's because i have a class A drivers license. we would definately want something that we can spread out in because we want it to almost be like home. thanks for those who reply. oh, i know about the search button but sometimes this is just easier.
__________________
01 EXCURSION LIMITED, 4X4, V10, 325/50/22 TOYO'S ON CUSTOM POWDERCOATED WHEELS, 07 SUPER DUTY FRONT END, LOTS OF CHROME, 6 TV'S, CUSTOM STEREO, DUAL 175 AMP ALTERNATORS AND DUAL BATTERIES, CERVINI 3" COWL INDUCTION HOOD, CUSTOM MADE HID PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS, TO MUCH OTHER STUFF TO LIST
I can't wait again. I will be there supporting the OBS's again. YeeHaaawwwww.
I can't wait. Hey I already said that. Anyway I can't wait I will make reservations this week and let you know Joe.
For those that want to go and don't have a camper I stayed last year down the street at a cheap motel. I think it was Yogi Bear or something like that. I will look it up. It was very close but not a Hilton at all. Clean and not busy though. PM me if you want. There are plenty of fine motels in gatlinburg also.
Beth can you say goose bumps again? LOL
Joe, As you know I am close to there and I will be glad to help if I need to go visit them or anything. Anything I can do please let me know.
I can't wait again. I will be there supporting the OBS's again. YeeHaaawwwww.
I can't wait. Hey I already said that. Anyway I can't wait I will make reservations this week and let you know Joe.
For those that want to go and don't have a camper I stayed last year down the street at a cheap motel. I think it was Yogi Bear or something like that. I will look it up. It was very close but not a Hilton at all. Clean and not busy though. PM me if you want. There are plenty of fine motels in gatlinburg also.
Beth can you say goose bumps again? LOL
Yes and burp too!! LOL
I can't wait to see all the mods on your truck! I still want that compressor set up !!
We should start thinking about a nice place to do a drive through the mountains and find a place to do a cookout/ picnic.....
Any ideas??
__________________ Beth
2000 7.3 with lots of stuff!!
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