2009 MVPA Convoy News

May Update

2009-05-12T11:05:00.003-04:00

Please see the following attached documents that represent the latest group comms package. Please read them carefully.

The main comms document: DOWNLOAD

a) Stopping point list: DOWNLOAD

b) The COMPLETE list of daily plans and lodging options: DOWNLOAD

c) A “subset” of the above file, showing only the NEW information for version “V07”: DOWNLOAD

d) Convoy “SAFE OPERATIONS and VEHICLE SAFETY” SOP: DOWNLOAD

e) Convoy “HMV MAINTENANCE” SOP: DOWNLOAD

f) Spare parts note and recommended spare parts list:

Spare parts’ requirements for selected MVs: DOWNLOAD
Convoy MV Spare Parts List_V01 (PDF): DOWNLOAD
Convoy MV Spar Parts List _V01 (Word): DOWNLOAD

g) File listing the several Transport companies that we have identified that will carry our MVs back home or to your launch point of the Convoy: DOWNLOAD

Print these documents and read them carefully – there is a lot of new information.

Thanks,

Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

April Update

2009-04-15T10:47:00.009-04:00

Please see the following files. Please read carefully, as there is a lot of info.

This is the main group comms document. All files shown below are referred to within this document. DOWNLOAD

The complete summary list of our lunch-time and overnight stopping points. DOWNLOAD

The list of hotels for each stopping point (except DC & Stockton, CA). This is version “V06” of this document. DOWNLOAD

The list of registered & paid participants, sorted by our last names. DOWNLOAD

The same list as above – but sorted by our point of entry into the Convoy. DOWNLOAD

The same list as above – but grouped by “style” of our MV#1. DOWNLOAD

A note dealing with attire recommendations during the Convoy. DOWNLOAD

Instructions for attaching your TMC’09 logo patch to the uniform shirt that we recommend you purchase. DOWNLOAD

A note regarding our spare parts’ recommendations. DOWNLOAD

MV Spare parts list – using 2 formats – for those that wish to fill out the file electronically or manually and send it back to Dennis Boots.

Parts List PDF

Parts List Word Document

Thanks so much for your patience as we wrap up the final elements of this major project.

We will issue the next comms package quickly.

See you all soon.

Terry A. Shelswell, MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

March Update

2009-03-11T13:19:00.003-04:00

Please see the attached files, representing the latest group comms package.

Main package:

- March Communications

-Stopping point summary

-Full package of Stopping point plans

-List of registered MVs and their owners – sorted by the MV

-Spare parts chart, prepared by Dennis Boots

- Spare Parts Requirements

Thanks,

Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project
email: terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

February Update 2

2009-02-20T14:29:00.003-05:00

4 months from now, we’re in PA!

I hope this note finds all of you doing well. We have 3 main subjects to discuss in this comms package.

a) Current level of registration.

b) The next group of hotels that you can book.

c) New subjects.

d) Reminders from previous subjects presented.

a) Current level of registration.

As I write this note to you, we have a total of 165 or so HMVs pre-registered.

So far, we have 84 of those registered and paid. That leaves 80 folks to register. Please register or let me know if you do not plan to join. This will make it a LOT easier to predict how many rooms and campsites and registration kits to prepare. No news is not good news here!

Of the 84 registered participants we have 34 that are going from DC to SF!

We need to get your registration monies received.

The registration cost for this great Convoy is calculated two ways.

a) $100 per HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $100 per HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a very good registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your full registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 or more days.

OR

b) $30 per day for each HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $30 per day for each HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a basic registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your basic registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 days or less.

Please make your check out to MVPA Historical Archives. Please mail your check to me at the address shown below. Once I receive your payment, I will mark you as registered.

CLICK HERE for the current list of stopping points. Please use this list to calculate the number of days you plan to join the Convoy.

b) CLICK HERE for the document below includes the hotels and camping info for 2 stops, covering 3 days.

• Saturday, 13 June’09 – our official launch, then driving

• Thursday, 18 June’09 – driving, then a rest day when we will join the LHA for their main activities of the 2009 Conference.

Remember; please see the file below for the previous info on accommodations for:

• Saturday, 20 June’09 – our overnight stop in Rochelle, IL

• Sunday & Monday, 28 & 29 June’09 – our overnight and rest day stop in Rawlins, WY

• Wednesday, 1 July’09 – our overnight stop in Murray, UT

• Thursday, 2 July’09 – our overnight stop in Ely, NV

• Friday – Sunday, 3 – 5 July’09 – our overnight and “double” rest day stop in Fallon, NV. NOTICE – new contact info here!

If a stopping point isn’t identified yet – it’s because our Volunteers and local Points of Contact are still working on them! Stay tuned.

c) New Subjects:

• Our PR Volunteer, Wendy Rowsam, has placed a section on the Convoy forum (inside the MVPA Bulletin Board) to allow participants who wish to share hotel rooms to reduce costs to plot and plan this as they wish.

• Our Spare Parts & Repairs Volunteer, Dennis Boots, has prepared a guideline for you to catalog the spare parts that you plan to bring on the Convoy – and – your recommendation of how many spare parts we should have for selected MVs. Dennis has done a good job here and talked with the recognized MV experts of each MV group. Help out by replying to his note, CLICK HERE.

d) Reminders from previous subjects presented:

• A vehicle drop-off point near DC.Some of you have asked me where you can temporarily store your MV in the DC area until the Convoy starts. Well, fellow MVPA member and TMC’09 participant, Mr. Tim Clark, has offered his farm for just that activity. So, here is the contact information for Tim.Tim Clark, MVPA # 200114330 Butler Rd, Glyndon, Maryland, USA 21071ph: 410-833-4442 (cell)email: glengar@verizon.net

• Plan to bring a 2nd jerry for fuel to be used on our trip through DPG. Shouldn’t need it any other days as we’ll have adequate fuel stops.

• Paolo Batisti of the “Long Olive Drab Line” would like to ride “shotgun” with one of us. Please see another point from Paolo below. If someone needs some help – please contact him directly and get things arranged. Paolo is coming from Italy (a strong MVPA group there!) – so please get things planned early enough to allow him to get a flight at a good price.

• Also, Paolo Batisti of the “Long Olive Drab Line” is making the following offer to those Convoy participants who plan to paint their MV before bringing it on the Convoy. Paolo has offered to provide the OD paint required to completely paint ONE large HMV Truck and ONE HMV jeep. These vehicles can be from different owners. The obvious stipulations are that the HMV owners take the vehicles on the Convoy (no surprise!) and be prepared to display a tastefully prepared sign or banner advertising the “Long Olive Drab Line” company. Paolo is also offering the Convoy team several spray cans of their paint for us to make any touch-ups while on the Convoy. So, please send an email to Paolo (info@thelongolivedrabline.com), letting him know that you are willing to discuss this project with him. Paolo – from the TMC’09 project team … thanks!

• It’s time to provide photos of the MV fleet that you have – and of course, the MV that you plan to take on the Convoy! I want to prepare a booklet of sorts to have on display where we stop – as another way to show the Public our hobby and the cool toys we have. So, please send me these photos electronically or by mail – BUT SEND THEM.

• TMC’09 Participant Clyde Andrews (contact him at 509-488-2538 or bcandrews@nctv.com) would like to have some help from other participants interested in sharing the driving of their chase rig and/or M38A1 in the convoy. Again – if interested and you don’t have a chance to put your own MV in the Convoy but would like to join it – here’s the ideal scenario! I know 2 or 3 folks that have asked me about this (Lamar – how about Brother?)

• TMC’09 Participant & Volunteer Lanny Moore is organizing trucking for the return trip from SF. Please contact him (703-860-1527 or ermllm@verizon.net) or me to let us know if you need some help here. We are approaching trucking companies to help offset the cost – but I am sure it’ll still cost money. The good thing is that we should be able to load 2-3-4 MVs on the trailer to reduce the cost per person. So – if you need some help here – contact Lanny!

Finally, please check out our website, inside of the MVPA’s website. Go to http://www.mvpa.org/, and then click on the Convoy tab. You can even look at and download the Convoy route map for each State. Check it out!

Take care to all,

Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project
email: terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

February Update

2009-02-03T14:56:00.010-05:00

5 months from now, we are in NE!

I hope this note finds all of you doing well. We have 3 main subjects to discuss in this comms package.

a) Current level of registration.
b) The next group of hotels that you can book.
c) Other subjects.

a) Current level of registration.

As I write this note to you, we have a total of 160 or so HMVs pre-registered. Why the reduction? I have removed entries where folks had said that they had friends that were bringing their MVs but no names. You still may be bringing multiple MVs but unless I have your friends registered, I am just looking at your entry information. So please tell your friends to contact me and get themselves registered.

So far, we have 60 of those registered and paid.

We need to get your registration monies received.

The registration cost for this great Convoy is calculated two ways.

a) $100 per HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $100 per HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a very good registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your full registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 or more days.

OR

b) $30 per day for each HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $30 per day for each HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a basic registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your basic registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 days or less.

Please make your check out to MVPA Historical Archives. Please mail your check to me at the address shown below. Once I receive your payment, I will mark you as registered.

Below is a link to the current list of stopping points. Please use this list to calculate the number of days you plan to join the Convoy.

New item!! We will have an overnight stop in Stockton, CA on Tuesday, 7 July09. We will drive from our overnight stop in Placerville, CA. We will stop for lunch in Sacramento, CA. The next day, our last day on the road, we will drive to SF for the ceremonial conclusion of the Convoy and then back to Alameda for our banquet. THIS DOES NOT ADD ANY DAYS. Click here to see the revised file.

b) Click on the link below and you will find the next group of hotels and camping you can book. Notice! There are 2 new stops to deal with and they cover 5 days! (Also included in this document is the hotel/camping info for the other stops we have planned…this is all the information that is available right now). Click here for hotel/camping info.

Some other items:

• A vehicle drop-off point near DC.Some of you have asked me where you can temporarily store your MV in the DC area until the Convoy starts. Well, fellow MVPA member and TMC09 participant, Mr. Tim Clark, has offered his farm for just that activity. So, here is the contact information for Tim.Tim Clark, MVPA # 200114330 Butler Rd, Glyndon, Maryland, USA 21071ph: 410-833-4442 (cell)email: glengar@verizon.net

• Provide your estimated list of spares to Dennis Boots (contact him at 940-387-1920 or dennis@dentonboots.com), our Spares and Repairs Volunteer. Your list does not have to be to the last bolt…just for Dennis to have a good understanding of what you are planning so that if we have a problem with an MV like yours, Dennis will know who he can contact for some help. Please be diligent here and get Dennis your info.

• Plan to bring a second jerry for fuel to be used on our trip through DPG. Should not need it any other days as we will have adequate fuel stops.

• Paolo Batisti of the Long Olive Drab Line would like to ride shotgun with one of us. Please see another point from Paolo below. If someone needs some help please contact him directly and get things arranged. Paolo is coming from Italy (a strong MVPA group there!) so please get things planned early enough to allow him to get a flight at a good price.

• Also, Paolo Batisti of the Long Olive Drab Line is making the following offer to those Convoy participants who plan to paint their MV before bringing it on the Convoy. Paolo has offered to provide the OD paint required to completely paint ONE large HMV Truck and ONE HMV jeep. These vehicles can be from different owners. The obvious stipulations are that the HMV owners take the vehicles on the Convoy (no surprise!) and be prepared to display a tastefully prepared sign or banner advertising the Long Olive Drab Line company. Paolo is also offering the Convoy team several spray cans of their paint for us to make any touch-ups while on the Convoy. So, please send an email to Paolo (info@thelongolivedrabline.com), letting him know that you are willing to discuss this project with him. Paolo, from the TMC09 project team…thanks!

• It is time to provide photos of the MV fleet that you have and of course, the MV that you plan to take on the Convoy! I want to prepare a booklet of sorts to have on display where we stop as another way to show the public our hobby and the cool toys we have. So, please send me these photos electronically or by mail BUT SEND THEM.

• TMC09 Participant Clyde Andrews (contact him at 509-488-2538 or bcandrews@nctv.com) would like to have some help from other participants interested in sharing the driving of their chase rig and/or M38A1 in the convoy. Again, if interested and you do not have a chance to put your own MV in the Convoy but would like to join it here is the ideal scenario! I know 2 or 3 folks that have asked me about this (Lamar, how about Brother?).

• TMC09 Participant & Volunteer Lanny Moore is organizing trucking for the return trip from SF. Please contact him (703-860-1527 or ermllm@verizon.net) or me to let us know if you need some help here. We are approaching trucking companies to help offset the cost – but I am sure it wil still cost money. The good thing is that we should be able to load 2-3-4 MVs on the trailer to reduce the cost per person. So, if you need some help here, contact Lanny!

• Stu Entz will take over planning our refueling activities. Thanks so much to Jerry Bubolz for your help! • A separate note is coming out this week regarding the uniform shirt we’ll use. We will get it from Cabela’s and I am finalizing what discount they will give us. Get your sewing kit out…you will need it!

Take care to all,
Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009
terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

December Update

2008-12-30T14:41:00.003-05:00

I hope this note finds all of you doing well. We have 3 main subjects to discuss in this comms package.

a) Current level of registration.

b) The next group of hotels that you can book.

c) Other subjects.

a) Current level of registration.

As I write this note to you, we have a total of 178 HMVs pre-registered. So far, after a mere 3 plus months, we have 55 of those 178 HMVs registered and paid.

We need to get your registration monies received.

As a reminder, the registration cost for the Convoy is calculated two ways.

a) $100 per HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $100 per HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a very good registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your full registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 or more days.

OR

b) $30 per day for each HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $30 per day for each HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a basic registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your basic registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 days or less.

Please make your check out to MVPA Historical Archives. Please mail your check to me at the address shown below. Once I receive your payment, I will mark you as registered.

b) Following is new information for 2 of our stops.
Click here for a summary of the days we have planned to-date. This summary provides more information on lodging and camping. This information can also be found on our Convoy Bulletin Board.

Wednesday, 1 July 2009: Driving
Departure: Green River, WY
Breakfast: tbd
Morning activities: tbd
Lunch: Evanston, WY, at the Machine Shop courtesy of the WY LHA
Lunch stop refueling: Flying J service center in Evanston
Afternoon activities: tbd
Dinner: Murray, UT. Dinner hosted by City of Murray
Dinner stop refueling: local gas stations
After dinner activities: tbd
Lodging: special Convoy rates.
Camping: special Convoy arrangements.

Thursday, 2 July 2009: Driving
Departure: Murray, UT
Breakfast: light breakfast, courtesy of the Murray team.
Morning activities: refuel at Tooele and then enter DPG. NO guns or cameras. Our non-USA participants will need special documents.
Lunch: box lunch (courtesy of the Murray, UT team) inside of DPG, possibly with the Base Commander.
Lunch stop refueling: inside DPG
Afternoon activities: drive through DPG. DPG will take all the photos we want.
Dinner: Ely, Nevada. Dinner at the Ely Elks Lodge, courtesy of the Eastern NV LHA.
Dinner stop refueling: local gas stations
After dinner activities: special address by the Mayor and a static show for the public.
Lodging: Special Convoy rates.
Camping: Special Convoy arrangements.

c) Some other items:

-A vehicle drop-off point near DC. Some of you have asked me where you can temporarily store your MV in the DC area until the Convoy starts. Well, our fellow MVPA member and TMC09 participant, Mr. Tim Clark, has offered his farm for just that activity (secure outside storage). So, here is the contact information for Tim.

Tim Clark, MVPA #20011
4330 Butler Rd, Glyndon, Maryland, USA 21071
ph: 410-833-4442 (cell)
email: glengar@verizon.net. Please contact Tim directly to set up a time to deliver your HMV. Thanks Tim.

-Our Convoy Medical team. Fellow MVPA member and TMC09 participant, Dr. James Laws, has asked that all TMC09 participants who have first aid or medical training to please contact him at plaws@gtownonline.com or 1-937-855-4300 or 1-937-222-5205 in order to start a dialogue with you. As you can well imagine, this information will be very important for us. Hopefully we will have first aid-trained folks in each march unit.

-Paolo Batisti of the Long Olive Drab Line(http://www.thelongolivedrabline.com/) is making the following offer to those Convoy participants who plan to paint their MV before bringing it on the Convoy. Paolo has offered to provide the OD paint required to completely paint ONE large HMV Truck and ONE HMV jeep. These vehicles can be from different owners. The obvious stipulations are that the HMV owners take the vehicles on the Convoy (no surprise!) and be prepared to display a tastefully prepared sign or banner advertising the Long Olive Drab Line company. Paolo is also offering the Convoy team several spray cans of their paint for us to make any touch-ups while on the Convoy. So, please send an email to Paolo (info@thelongolivedrabline.com), letting him know that you are willing to discuss this project with him. Paolo, from the TMC09 project team, thanks!

Finally, please check out our website, inside of the MVPAs website. Go to http://www.mvpa.org/, then click on the Convoy tab. You can even look at and download the Convoy route map for each State. Check it out!

November Update

2008-11-24T11:03:00.002-05:00

We have 3 subjects to discuss in this comms package.

a) Current level of registration.

b) Convoy details for 20 June, 2009 Indiana to Illinois

c) Introducing our march unit approach.

a) Current level of registration.

As I write this note to you, we have a total of 172 HMVs pre-registered. These 172 MVs are bringing along almost 250 people. Over 50 of these 172 HMVs and their owners are planning to go make the entire DC to SF trip. On any given day, our data shows that we will have around 65 to 70 HMVs and a little over 100 people and 10 to 12 chase vehicles.

So far, after a mere 2 months, we have 46 of those 172 HMVs registered and paid. That is roughly 26% of the HMVs registered and paid.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support of this great MVPA project!

Now, we need the other 126 folks that are pre-registered to register and pay their money! So, for those of you that are planning to join and have not yet registered, please send in your registration money.

The registration cost for this great Convoy is calculated two ways.

a) $100 per HMV. If you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $100 per HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100 percent NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a very good registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your full registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 or more days.

OR

b) $30 per day for each HMV. If you plan to bring more than one HMV, it is $30 per day for each HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100 percent NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a basic registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you cannot make the Convoy your basic registration package will be sent to you after the Convoy. This is a good buy if you plan to join for 3 days or less.

Please make your check out to MVPA Historical Archives. Please mail your check to me at the address shown below. Once I receive your payment, I will mark you as registered.

b) Convoy details for 20, June 2009 Indiana to Illinois

Day/Date and the days theme: Saturday, 20 June 2009 driving

Departure location: St. Joseph County Fairgrounds, South Bend, IN
Breakfast plans: at the fairgrounds, hosted by the Indiana LHA team
Special morning activities planned: stop at the Indiana/Illinois State line to be escorted by the IL State Police to the First Division Museum

Lunch stop location and plans: First Division Museum at Cantigny, IL. Special TMC09 lunch offer and a brief tour of the museum. Meet several re-enactors.
Lunch stop refueling plans: local gas stations as needed

Special afternoon activities planned: driving with a pass in review in Rochelle, Illinois

Dinner stop location and plans: Rochelle, Illinois. Special TMC09 meal plans.
Dinner stop refueling plans: local gas stations
Special after dinner activities planned: tbd

Overnight lodging plans Hotel/Motel: Special TMC09 rates.
Overnight lodging plans Camping: Special TMC09 arrangements are confirmed.

c) Introducing our march unit approach.

The military march unit approach will be used during our daily drives. This will allow us to space these march units, say 2 minutes apart, to allow civilian traffic to move between us. The exact spacing will be communicated later. Each march unit is planned to have 7 to 10 MVs of a similar size in it. That means we can expect to have march units of motorcycles, jeeps, half tons etc. Based upon the roster of MVs, we will likely have more than one march unit per vehicle size.

As I sit here today, I plan to assign you to a march unit upon your entry to the Convoy and hopefully keep you in that march unit while you are on the Convoy. We will see.

I will be asking for volunteers to act as march unit leaders and march unit tail gunners. At a minimum, these MVs will sport signs Convoy Follows and Convoy Ahead. Each march unit leader will likely carry a guest pilot and need to give the rest of the march unit the daily briefing and their daily maps. More info here as we progress. We already have four TMC09 Participants who have volunteered to lead a march unit. We will need another 5 or more march unit leaders for jeeps because we have about 30 to35 jeeps each day! Also, by having a few extra folks helping, it gives each march unit leader a rest some days. We also have two TMC09 participants who have volunteered to help us on a daily basis to prepare the team for the next day. Thanks to all Volunteers and if anyone wishes to help, I will welcome the help!

Hint: Get prepared to arrive no later than 1100 hrs on 12 June 2009. We will run a short Convoy, just to say we have done it before Saturday! More info later.

Finally, please check out our website, inside of the MVPAs website. Go to mvpa.org , then click on the Convoy tab. You can even look at and download the Convoy route map for each State. Check it out!

October Update 2

2008-10-17T10:08:00.005-04:00

Detailed Convoy route maps are now available. Click the appropriate state link below.

Maryland (Map 1)
Pennsylvania (Map 2)
Ohio (Map 3)
Indiana (Map 4)
Illinois (Map 5)
Iowa (Map 6)
Nebraska (Map 7)
Wyoming (Map 8)
Utah (Map 9)
Nevada (Map 10)
California (Map 11)

October Update

2008-10-02T14:36:00.006-04:00

In the following update I am dealing with 2 items that have surfaced:

a) Registration costs for those folks that will join the Convoy for short periods, and,
b) Insurance needs.

a) Registration costs

In a recent comms note to you I stated that the registration cost is $100.00 per HMV. This includes the HMV, its Driver and Co-driver and any chase vehicle and its passengers. So, if you have 2 HMVs that you plan to bring – it’s $200.00. This registration fee is meant to cover a registration package for the HMV, the Driver and Co-driver (some mandatory items and some goodies) and some other items.

Some folks are asking if we might consider a reduced amount for those who are joining for a day or 2.

Well, we’d rather have you joining the Convoy than not – and here is a way to cover our basic costs for the mandatory items.

For those folks that plan to register now for 1 or 2 or 3 days and for those folks that “drop in” for a day or so, you can either pay the $100 and get a full registration package or pay

$30.00 per day per HMV and you get a basic “registration” kit for you and your MV.

Each of us will see that after 3 days, it makes sense to pay the $100 – and you get the full registration package. This is also how we will address any short-term "drop-in" participants. We will NOT accept to have someone joining for the day or even part of a day without being a current MVPA member and not officially joining this Convoy. There’s too much at stake to have one person, unknown to the Convoy team, inadvertently cause a problem for the rest of the Convoy.

Several folks have already sent me their $100 checks and thanks for this. If you have sent the $100 and you plan to join for 3 days or less, I will contact you to confirm your intentions.

The checks are still to be made payable to MVPA Historical Archives, and sent to me at the address shown at the end of this note.

Click here to download a current list of stopping points. Please use this list to calculate the number of days you plan to join the Convoy.

I hope this will help. Please don’t hesitate – get registered! As we work more and more with each town that we’ll stop for lunch and dinner at, the obvious question comes out – how many trucks and people are confirmed? I need YOUR information to answer that question properly!

b) Insurance needs

We've had some members asking the question: "What insurance do I need on my HMV?" and "What does the MVPA Chapter Insurance do for me while I am on the Convoy"? Well, I'll answer these questions here.

For your HMV and your chase vehicle (if applicable), please check with your Insurance Agent to make sure that you have enough insurance to cover your assets (yes, I know – assets – which is quite relevant here. J) This needs to be your discussion with your insurance company. The needs vary State by State – so I will not recommend an amount of liability insurance. I further recommend that you talk with your Insurance Agent about a “personal umbrella” insurance policy that covers your assets. If you already have such an "umbrella policy", you may want to increase its value for the period of time you plan to join the Convoy. Again – TALK TO YOUR INSURANCE AGENT!

As a part of your final registration at the time you and your vehicles join the Convoy we will require you to show us PROOF of insurance (not the amount – that’s your business) for your vehicles – the same as you would if a Police Officer asks you for this info.

For our Convoy participants joining us from outside the US, please talk with your insurance agent in your home Country to determine what personal and liability insurance you need for yourself and your HMV.

The MVPA and the Affiliate Insurance covers us once we stop our HMV. The entire TMC’09 Convoy is an MVPA "event" – but while we are driving, our auto insurance covers us.

I hope that this addresses your insurance concerns.

Final comments for now:

We will stop in Rochelle, IL, instead of DeKalb, IL on Saturday, 20 June’09. This city is gearing up to make us very welcome!
We have about 30 registered & paid MVs and their keepers! Thanks to all. If you haven’t already, please get me your registration payments.
We have some stopping points offering reduced-cost lodging and free meals and camping for us. We are starting to have some no-cost and reduced cost fuel being offered. Our team of Volunteers and the extended team of City contacts are working hard to minimize our "out of pocket" costs of fuel, food and lodging. I will soon begin to present the list of towns and agencies and sponsors that are contributing here!
YOU will need to begin securing your hotels / campsites before the end of this year. We’ll help you with a list of hotels & campsites – and their prices.
We have contacted several of you that offered to act as Contacts for us at our Stopping Points. Thanks for your help here.
I personally need some help from some of you in the following areas:
· Someone with radio experience to help manage the radios each day (distributing
them, getting them charged, minor repairs). 3 to 4 folks will make the work easy.
· Someone with radio / HAM experience to help manage our contacts with the ARRL
(HAM radio guys – this is your organization).
· Someone to help me with preparing the March Units for the next day. That will
include preparing and giving a brief "drivers meeting" talk and assign our MVs to
their March Unit for the next day. 2 or 3 people helping here will make this job go
quite easy.
· … if you can help in some way (even if you’re not sure how!) – Please let me know!

Keep getting your MVs ready to roll and take care for now!

Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project
terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

September Update

2008-09-05T10:53:00.007-04:00

We have less than 300 days before our starting date of 13 June’09.

The executive summary is as follows: we need some of your money and help. And we have some info for you. Please read on for details.

REGISTER FOR THE CONVOY NOW

We are ready to take your registration money! The registration cost for this great Convoy is $100 per HMV. So, if you plan to bring more than one HMV, it’s $100 per HMV. This registration cost covers the HMV, its Driver and Co-Driver. There is no charge for any chase or tow vehicles or other personnel in your party. It is 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. The primary use of these funds will be to create a very good registration package for you and your co-driver and your HMV. If, for some reason, you can’t make the Convoy your welcome package will be sent to you after the Convoy. Please make your check out to MVPA Historical Archives. Please mail your check to me at this address:

Terry A. ShelswellDirector - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project
INERGY AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
2710 Bellingham, Suite 400 Troy, MI 48083

Once I receive your payment, I will mark you as registered and send you an email or note to say we’ve received your payment. I will announce the first 10 (excluding me because that wouldn’t be fair!) paid-up registrants in our next group comms package!

HELP NEEDED

Our team of Volunteers needs your help. THIS MEANS THAT WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS.

We need 3-4 volunteers to work with our city contacts in each town we stop in. You will not have to work with all the contacts, just a group of them. This group of volunteers will contact these folks in each town to organize our meals and any special events that they wish to set up for us. Please email me if you can help.

We need 3-4 volunteers that can help our radio comms Volunteer, David Wilhelm (glrwirth@embarqmail.com) manage our radios every day. Yes, we will have pretty good comms – thanks to MVPA member and TMC’09 participant, Tim Clark. Please email David and me if you can help. This work will include the following duties:

Assign and distribute the radios to folks each morning.
Retrieve all radios at the end of each day’s drive and place them on charge.
Help the comms leader to make any minor repairs that are needed.

We need 3-4 volunteers to lead the daily preparation of the march units. This will include the following duties:

Prepare and give a short information communications about the next day’s schedule to all “march unit leaders” each evening before a Convoy trip leg. I will help you – but I may have other duties at this time so you need to be able to cover this on your own.
Maintain or create a list of march units for the next day’s Convoy trip leg. This will mean that you need to have an accurate roster of MVs, by a simple classification (¼ ton, ½ - 1 ton, 2 ½ ton+ …). We have this info already – but it will change each day as MVs and their keepers join and leave. Every MV will have a Convoy number already assigned.
Help organize the launch of the Convoy after each major stop – working with the march unit leaders.
I will look forward to one of the volunteers here taking the additional role of Convoy Operations Leader – to help prepare this activity before the Convoy.

MORE CONVOY INFO

As of today, we have 168 MVs pre-registered that are bringing 224 people with them! Within these numbers, 48 MVs are pre-registered to go the entire DC-SF Convoy distance. Please find attached here the following documents:

a) Please make sure I have all your vehicle information. I also need to know your LODGING plans! Please send me an email telling me that you plan to
1. CAMP most nights.
2. HOTEL/MOTEL it most nights.
3. Make a rough 50/50 split of camping / hotel

b) Click on this link to see a chart showing the number of MVs and chase vehicles and people per day of the Convoy. This is key info for our Volunteer team!

c) Click on this link to our daily planning worksheet. We have changed our stop in Dekalb, IL to Rochelle, IL. More info here soon.

Using the graph above we can see that there is likely to be an average of 70 MVs on the Convoy each day, with a peak of 84. What a great turnout of our membership! Remember - these are pre-registered numbers – and we need everyone’s money to turn these numbers into registered participants! From here on, we’ll only speak about registered (paid) Convoy participants.

We presented the TMC’09 Project at our Convention in Portland a couple of weeks ago. We had an advertising kit set up (thanks to Randy Parent for transporting it) and many thanks to all who showed up to say hi and special thanks to those 17 members that joined during the Convention. Special thanks to our Volunteers that helped us during the Convention.

One very important piece of equipment is being provided by our MV hobby Vendors. It is a reproduction WW II ¼ ton trailer – one of our spare parts trailers. The following MV Vendors have graciously offered parts:

D&L Bensinger, Ron Fitzpatrick & MD Juan: body tub, frame, axle, lunette eye, landing leg, drawbar casting, safety chains & combat wheels (all items already provided)

AJP & Lamar Rowland: wiring harness

Brian Asbury: hub caps and spring shackles

Rapco: paint

The Long Olive Drab Line: light brackets (already provided)

Veterans Memorial Museum: tires

Beachwood Canvas: the canvas and a complete trailer cover

Peter Debella Jeep Parts: U-bolts, spring plates, shocks, anchor pins & shackles, paint, bearings and hub caps

Rick Larsen Stencils: stencils (we’ll come up with a theme)

First Division Museum: trailer assembly, painting and transport to DC

At the time of writing this article, we are still missing (at least) the following components: All lights, wheel hubs, tubes & flaps, a service manual … and what-ever else a WW II trailer expert will see that we’ve missed! Please contact MVPA member and TMC’09 Volunteer Mike Fernandez (MFernan@murray.utah.gov) to identify any components that you are interested to donate to this trailer. Please assume that you will need to ship these donated parts to Wheaton, IL – to the First Division Museum. This offer is open to all MVPA members and Vendors. Thanks so much to our MV hobby Vendors that have offered to help here.

Finally, please make every effort to get your HMV in tip top shape for the Convoy. Our Volunteer in charge of Spares and Repairs, Dennis Boots (dennis@dentonboots.com), will be sending us a reminder note on what main points to check (we should all know what to check on our HMVs) to prepare the trucks. Also, we’ll provide some reminders of what spare parts to bring. I encourage MV owners of similar MVs to speak together to share spare parts. Dennis will also be working with our MV hobby Vendors to arrange for some additional spare parts to ride along with us. Several of you have volunteered to help Dennis – and thanks for that. If you have an interest to help out Dennis, please email him and me.

More comms info coming soon. Keep checking the Bulletin Board.

Take care to all of you … keep 'em rolling!

Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA # 13957
Director - MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy Project
Work: 1-248-743-5703
Fax: 1-248-526-1466
Cell: 1-586-212-9523
email: terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com

August Update

2008-08-08T09:27:00.003-04:00

Good news! 41 vehicles have committed to the coast-to-coast route - 131 vehicles total.

Fuel – Flying J Gas Stations

No Flying J gas stations on the route until we get to Gary, Indiana. Flying J stations in Omaha, North Platte, Cheyenne, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Evanston,
Salt Lake City, Lodi - 10 Flying J fuel stops. Hope to secure fuel discount from Flying J.

Lodging

Need to know how many campsites are needed. KOA will not sponsor or support the Convoy. Best Westerns in lots of the towns.

Sponsors

Will add Convoy sponsors to the Web site – we encourage sponsors to use their Convoy sponsorship to their benefit.

Museums

We have a new Volunteer, Ken Swanson, to help here.

Spares & Repairs

Working on calling advertisers in Supply Line – gathering info to ask for sponsorships. 50% of the people called aren’t aware of the Convoy.

PR & Communication

Media contact list being developed - want media coverage along the route
Working with the Lincoln Highway Association to supply them with information for a brochure.

Donations

Once in a lifetime opportunity to participate - if you can’t go on the Convoy please consider making a donation to help the team. Donation packages sent to Flying J, veterans groups, American Truck Historical Society, Alameda Naval Museum, USS Hornet Museum and KOA.

LHA & MVPA Contacts

LHA – 13 organizations have agreed to be contacts.
MVPA – 4 clubs have responded – would like to secure more support from MVPA chapters along the route.

June Update

2008-06-10T13:53:00.002-04:00

- 13 June 2009 - Convoy rolls out of Washington, DC
- 8 July 2009 - Convoy rolls into San Francisco, CA – 26 days later

- Daily mileage requirements have been reduced and we added 3 days.

- 125 HMVs and their keepers have expressed interest in joining the Convoy. Thanks to all of you! We’re hoping that after talking to folks on-line and at HMV events MANY MORE MVPA members who will “drop in” along the route. So – please – get the word out to your fellow members in your local MVPA affiliate clubs to identify themselves to our Convoy Commander, Terry Shelswell. It is REALLY important to have a good list of participants for our volunteers to do their very best to plan food, lodging, fuel, etc.

- A rest day is planned after 4 driving days.

- The longest mileage day is from Ely, NV to Fallon, NV @ 263 miles. That’s the good news. The REALLY good news is that we have DoD approval to go through the Dugway Proving Grounds (DPG) – which is rare.

- Towns are beginning to contact us to ask if we can stop for lunch or dinner.

- We have started to contact potential sponsors. The monies we receive on a national basis will be used by the registered Convoy participants who are on the Convoy. Any monies YOU get from your own local sponsorship efforts are YOURS. Go to the Convoy Support page for more information.

- We are in process of making a “pre-run” of the route. Several MVPA members are doing this across specific states. This will help our volunteers confirm assumptions and plans.

- REMEMBER – we expect to drive these trucks – with the obvious exceptions of WWI HMVs, WWII HMVs that are not going to be able to maintain the 35 mph Convoy average speed and track-laying vehicles. We will drive, not trailer, our HMVs on this Convoy, except as noted above.

- If you are interested in helping as a volunteer or signing up for the Convoy, please contact Terry Shelswell by going to the MVPA Convoy Form at http://forum.freeboards.net/index.php?mforum=mvpaConvoyforum

January Update

2008-01-10T13:48:00.001-05:00

- We have over 60 interested participants to date - and many are interested to make the entire route.

- Additionally, almost 20 folks have offered to help us in this project. Thanks to every one of you! As we get a little further in the basic planning of this project we will be contacting you.

- To add your name to the list, contact me! How? Follow the link (below) to the mvpa Convoy Forum, select the section "Sign up for Convoy" and send "tshelswell" a note with your name and MVPA #. I will get back to you!

- We have a map set of the 1919 route and we are currently reviewing this route in detail - with input from several MVPA & LHA members who live in specific areas along the route.

- These activities are helping us to define the level of detail that we will provide to the Convoy members - showing every town along the route, day by day.

- Well, here are the beginnings of the CONVOY SCHEDULE! We will update this as details firm up.

- 10 - 12 June'09: Meet us in Washington and let's get ready to roll!
- Saturday, 13 June'09: Official departure from Washington, D.C.
- Sunday, 14 June - Wednesday, 17 June'09: Daily stops not settled at this time.
- Thursday, 18 June'09: Arrive in South Bend, IN.
- Friday, 19 June'09: Join the LHA in a parade in South Bend - as a part of their 2009 annual Conference.
- Saturday, 20 June - Friday, 3 July'09: Daily stops not settled at this time.
- Saturday, 4 July'09: Join San Francisco for a 4th of July parade!
- Sunday, 5 July'09: Prepare to return home.

- We will meet with a person, in late January, who has organized a recent car Convoy across the route to capitalize on his experiences.

- We have a draft merchandising plan developed that includes a new logo for this Convoy project and a draft list of what items we will offer for sale during HMV shows, etc.

- We have an advertising plan that covers specific 2008 & 2009 HMV shows, as well as a list of groups / companies that we will call upon for sponsorship.

- We have received an endorsement from the Lincoln Highway Association! With this endorsement, we will submit our request to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission for their endorsement.

November Update

2007-11-10T13:38:00.001-05:00

From the Convoy Project Management Office, led by Terry Shelswell...

- We have issued a 1st communications package to all interested participants.

- Currently receiving comments regarding timing for the Convoy. Main focus is June or September’09.

- Waiting for replies from Lincoln Highway Association to help understand other activities that are planned along the Lincoln Highway during the summer of 2009.

- The 2009 “Fleet Week” event in SF is planned to be held during 9 – 12 Oct’09. The 1919 Convoy arrive 5 days after the 1919 “Fleet Week” event started, although it was planned that the Convoy would arrive in SF before the ships arrived in SF Harbour.

From the Convoy Logistics Team, led by Terry, for now...

- We have a map of the 1919 route.

- Art Pope has listed many of the towns along the route.

From the Convoy Personnel and Safety Team, led by Terry, for now...

- To date, we have 45 interested MVPA members. Add your name to the list! Contact me!

From the Convoy Public Relations Team, led by Terry, for now...

- We have a strong support from the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA).
- Beginning to define a merchandizing plan.
- We have an advertising plan that covers specific 2008 & 2009 HMV shows.
- We are preparing an application for an endorsement by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.