2017 Midwest Meet: August 18-21, StL

Plans for the 2017 edition of Epic MidWest Nator Meet have been made!
2017EMWNM:
Dates: August 18 - August 21, 2017
Location: Grafton, IL (just outside of St Louis, MO)
Lodging: Aerie's Resort and Winery

Price: PLEASE SEND $10 TO paypal.me/JFoege BEFORE FRIDAY 8/18, TO COVER FOOD (breakfasts and snacks) FOR EVERYONE.
Extra money will go towards dinner on Friday and/or communal beverages, depending on costs. If you have special food requests, include them in your paypal message (no guarantees I will fulfill them though).

Schedule: Friday, Aug 18:

>4pm-6pm: check-in for Aeries at the bottom of the hill- 14 West Main Street, Grafton, IL
>Drinking/shenanigans all evening at The Lodge- where all our group activities are happening. It's at the very top of the hill, just before all the little cottages.
​

Saturday, Aug 19:

>8:30am: Breakfast making/eating/etc at The Lodge (all are welcome)
>11:30am: Head out for a scenic/twisty cruise around Grafton led by @burn813
>1pm: Leave for Karts, stopping for lunch at Fast Eddie's Bon Air: East 4th Street, Alton, IL
>3-5pm: Go Karts at Gateway Kartplex: 700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, IL 62060
>7:00pm: Group dinner reservation at Aeries Winery (order and pay for yourselves).
​

Sunday, Aug 20:

>7:00am: Morning Autocross participants depart (AT THE LATEST) for Gateway Motorsports Park- 700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, IL 62060. Turn left at the gate.
>11:00am: Afternoon Autocross participants depart for Gateway Motorsports Park- 700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, IL 62060. Turn left at the gate.
>7:00pm: Return from Autocross. No formal dinner plans (but Aerie's Winery closes at 7pm).
>>For anyone who do not wish to autocross or spectate, Grafton has a lot to offer! Aerie's Zipline, and a water park, to name a few.
​

Monday, Aug 21:

>7am: Breakfast making/eating at The Lodge
>11am: Check-out time for Aerie's
>>1-1:30pm: the TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, if you stick around for it (but you'll need to head a little ways south/west)​

Details:

Location: We have chosen Grafton, IL because it has all the amenities of St Louis nearby, but is located along the Mississippi River and is engulfed by a scenic forested area. Of course, what this really means, is that it's full of fun roads to drive, and we plan on doing just that!!

Go Karts: Assuming good weather, we will participate in an outdoor karting event at Gateway Motorsports Park's Kartplex. If the weather is crappy, we can go to indoor high speed karts at Pole Position. Further details on price, location, format, etc will be released in a separate thread at a later date.

Autocross: We will be (unofficially and informally) joining the NASA Gateway AutoX Association for their event at Gateway Motorsports Park on August 20th. You can get more information about how they run things on their website, but to sum it up: you can choose to run & work in a morning session, or an afternoon session ($35), or both ($50). If you're serious about getting into the sport, they also offer a novice school during the event for those with less than 1 year of experience ($125). I highly recommend registering as soon as you know your plans- I'm not sure if there's an event cap (and also, you aren't charged unless you show up to the event). If you have questions about classing your car, we can start a new thread about it (but if you use NASA classes, they have a points system, and it's actually quite simple)!

Dinner: More details to come at a later date!

Lodging: I have a 4-room Lodge reserved for our group. It has a large shared area and patio, where I assume we will be gathering for socializing, drinking, etc. The 4 rooms in the lodge are now booked (by us), but there are many other options at the resort (I believe they are $149/night, including hotel rooms, private rooms in shared villas (without common areas), and private cottages. I'm not sure which are closer to the Lodge, but I'm sure you can request this information when you call. I believe some members have space beds left in their rooms (and maybe even common area couches) if you want to split costs. Post up if you're looking! We don't want cost to be the reason you can't attend!!

If you're looking for a cheaper option, there is also camping available 10 minutes down the road at Pere Marquette State Park. Aeries offers a free shuttle service between their winery and downtown Grafton, but they do not go to the campground, unfortunately. This means if you book a room at a different resort/hotel/B+B, you'll have a shuttle as long as it's near a winery!

​

SPREAD THE GOOD WORD!!!​

 

This make me so happy!!!

 

Orly. Venue allow dogs im guessing?

 

Super unfortunately, it does not

 

No Puppers? I am disappoint. Actually it looks like this will be yet another year that I make the meet that is 650 miles from my house, but can't make the one that's almost in my backyard due to work obligations

 

This sounds fantastic but I'm super not sure if I would be able to make it or not. Subbing to keep up with developments!

 

This will be added to my calendar. Furthest Ive had to go for a mid west meet, but I guess I cant have it in my home town every time. haha

 

hmmmmmmmm

 

100% in bitches. I'll bring the BMW.

 

Post needs comma LOL. Non-comma interpretations totally worth it. Also no need to boast, Geoff, and I'm not talking about the Bimmer.

 

He meant what he said. All up in those bitches.

 

Registered specifically to say, "fuck your dogs. and thank you to whomever chose a spot that doesn't allow dogs."

 

Hi @phillyb™ I missed you.

 

Soooo we're getting hammered at a winery???

 

Yeah, maybe Geoff shouldn't boast about that in public

 

Maybe. I work Friday, but don't need to be back until Monday night.

 

I might have some vacation time to burn in August


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I'll be there. Probably have the 6 out and in full race trim since this is right before nationals.

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Can't make it. Dragon*con is near then too. Can only take off for one thing.