Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Dominic has been spear-heading this event, and has picked September 19th as the day for the Mercury Marine BBQ and tours. So, here's hoping we can pick a rally point and cruise into Fond du Lac together on September 19th.

Can we have a show of hands so we can get an idea how many are going to be coming?? This should be a chance to showcase our cars in grand style. Hope to see as many as can make it show up!

And, stay tuned as the date gets closer for more info on details.

Paul.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

I will be in Cincinnati that week until the 18th and coaching on the 19th

Sorry

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

It is possible that I can make it from the Twin Cities. What time would everything start as it is about a 5-5 1/2 hour ride from here?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

4Cam,

We are looking at a 10am start time. Not sure how far Twin Cities are from Fond du Lac.

Right now, we have confirmation from

Paul Workman
myself
Warp Ten
Bob DeMarco
Fred Haraf
ghlkal
Lgaff

Waiting to hear from Pete, BobG, kcl, 4CamJon. Anyone else?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

My wife and I will be going :-D


Are you planning on being at Mercury at 10am?

Gary

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Gary,

Yes, 10am. And please spread the word to any other Badger ZRs up there.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

If I can make it I will have to come in the night before. I will know in the next week or so if I will be there.

Jon

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Looks like we can update our list of attendees. Also coming up
will be Pete and Marc H. That brings us to 9 ZRs. This is shaping up to be a neat event. Anyone else?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

As noted I am in. If we are to be at Mercury Marine in Fon Du Lac by 10 AM, that means we need to leave the Lake Bluff, IL area around 8 AM or earlier. It is about 2 hours to get there from Lake Bluff, 120 miles. Should we meet at the Lake Forest Oasis on I-94 northbound at about 7:30 AM and caravan up? (It is just north of the Route 60/Townline Road exit for Lake Forest)

Also, Dom do you know what building/address we will be going to and what the agenda for the day will be yet? -- Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

I just stopped and talked to Vern about going and he is a maybe also with us leaving on Thursday afternoon and meeting you at the factory on Friday.
I will update you in the next week if it is a go or not.
Vern has a dark red 91 and I have a bright red 91.

Jon

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Lake Forest might work. However, I would be slogging through the core of Chicago rush-hour traffic to make L. Forest by 7:30. So, y'all that live up in that neighborhood have any suggested routes to get there for those of us coming up from "South of I-80"?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Hi Paul--
To arrive at the Lake Forest Oasis by 7:30 AM you will likely miss most rush hour traffic by being too early. Best bet is to come all the way up I-294/94. If you are far enough west that I-55 is the best way to get to 294, do that. If you are coming up I-55 and hear there is bad northbound traffic on I-294 when you start out an alternative is to go up I-355/Rte 53 to Lake Cook Road (last exit) east to the I-294 tollway but that is a bigger risk of traffic IMHO and takes a bit longer. When I came down for the dearly departed 1/2 mile racing I went 294 S to 80 W to 57 S and back home the same way.-Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

I would suggest meeting up in Gurnee by Great America @ 8. That should put you thru O'hare at around 7. Once past the airport, your going against the grain.

Re: Revised Mercury Marine visit: Sept 19th
 

Not all have posted or participated in the POLL, but as of this morning it looks like:

1. Paul Workman
2. Dominic
3. Warp Ten
4. Bob DeMarco
5. Fred Haraf
6. ghlkal
7. Lgaff
8. Pete
9. Marc
10. Jon (pending)
11. Vern (pending)

This is shaping up to be a nice size gathering. And, an opportunity to mingle with some of our northern Brothers too!

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Paul,

We're waiting to hear from BobG and KCL. And Brett has previously expressed an interest in coming up for it also. I think we may get to see the Corvette boat also.

Jon,

If u and Vern can make it, that would be great to meet up.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Everyone,

Well I got a confirmation on this event , so WE ARE A GO! Sept 19. Here's the email I received and my response. Looks like we will be part of an employee car show. :proud::cheers:




From: Rick Mackie [mailto:Rick.Mackie@mercmarine.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 1:34 PM
To: dominic sorresso
Subject: Sept 19 Racing

Hello Dominic. As part of your visit we are planning the employee car show. We have a grass area off our parking lot that we've used in the past. it is moved as rather smooth - and level. But wanted to check with you to see if the guys have a concern regarding parking their cars on grass. Please advised. We're are very excited for your visit.

Rick

Rick Mackie
Mercury Racing
Senior Marketing Manager
920.924.2032
rmackie@mercmarine.com


Rick,

Absolutely that would work! We attend several events where the venues have grassy display areas. 10-13 members are coming from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan have committed to bringing their cars to visit with your group. Would you provide some directions and an agenda so that I can share that with the participants? We’ll need to set a time for a go/no go depending on what the weather looks like for that day. Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Dominic
Dominic J. Sorresso
630.240.5214 (C)
630.837.7956 (HO)
djsorresso@comcast.net
http://tinyurl.com/djsorresso

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Directions and Agenda


Directions:

Address is N7480 County Road UU - Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

From Milwaukee - travel North on HWY 45/41. Continue on 41 North. When approaching Fond du Lac - take Exit 195, the HWY 151 North exit. Turn right off the exit and travel North. WARNING! its a 55 mph zone and there is a sheriff who loves to write tickets on this stretch. Travel North on 151 until you come to a traffic light intersection which is Cty Road WH. Turn right at the light onto WH. WARNING! this road is a 35 mph zone and there is a day care on the left as you drive. That same Sheriff likes to sit in day care parking lot . He loves to write tickets here too. Stay to the right and veer to the right and up the hill. You will see a Mercury Racing sign at the top of the hill. Continue to veer right which is now County Road UU. The main entrance to the plant is up approximately 1/8 mile on the right.

I know the sheriff very well as he's nailed me in both spots referenced above - and I only drive a Honda mini van. He would probably have the big one if he saw 10 ZR1 Vettes passing by! (:

Sept 19 Tour Agenda

Arrive between 9 & 10 am to park cars.

Tour Racing Plant 10 -11 am. Take break - assemble out by cars for 11:30 BBQ/car show. Manufacturing workers are on break from 11:30 to 12:00. Administrative is 11:45 to 1:00 pm.

Leave Racing by 12:45 for Mercury Museum.

1 pm tour Mercury Museum.

2 pm Depart.

Rick

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

If we are expected to be there between 9 AM and 10 AM, we should plan to leave the Lake Forest Oasis no later than 7:30 AM. It is a bit over two hours to get there via the fastest of 3 possible routes. Especially with the County Sheriff near the end! --Bob

Re: Revised Mercury Marine visit: Sept 19th
 

Paul,

I got some additional people from Illinois saying they are coming. ZRFAST1 is coming from Palatine and he has a friend from Dekalb driving up. We may get to 15 ZRs before the 19th.

Jon and Vern,

Are you both now confirmed?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Spoke w Robert deMarco (cvette98pacecar) yesterday. Robert will be driving up Thursday night and staying in Gurnee. Once he has finalized his accomodations, we will meet up at his hotel BY 7:30AMon the 19th.
Need to be ready to roll by 8am heading up to FDL. Its 119mi. from Gurnee and the local constables will be on the prowl, no doubt.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

7:30 AM, Gurnee it is. Do we know which hotel (for my GPS)?

BTW, Google Maps indicates two construction areas on I-94 in WI, south of Milwaukee, FYI. But, to keep things simple, I suggest we meet in Gurnee and discuss options there.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Gurn...8!2d43.7730448

This shindig has LEGS!:dancing

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

As your map indicates, the fastest route is I-94 north to I-894/45 west and 45 north all the way up to rte 41 to Fon Du Lac. There is really no other reasonably efficient option and the construction is not that bad--at least the last time I was up there a few weeks ago. --Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Agreed. Just drove to Milwaukee last week and the construction is not an issue.
Waiting to hear from DeMarco. He was waiting for confirmation for hotel in Libertyville.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

If Bob is actually staying in Libertyville rather than Gurnee, I would suggest again that the best place to meet would be the Lake Forest Oasis on the northbound I-94 tollway just north of Route 60/Townline Road. If most people coming from the south will be coming up I-294 and/or I-94, then they don't have to get off the tollway to go find his hotel then get back on. Since I live up here it makes no difference to me where we meet; just thought this would be the most time efficient and easier for those unfamiliar with the area. --Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Bob,

I think we should keep Gurnee as the rallying point even if DeMarco won't be staying there. It's a large exit, just look for the roller coaster, and it will be nearly as easy on/easy off as the oasis. It's a bit further north and closer. No more tolls beyond RT 137 also.
I can scout out some places in Gurnee Mills Mall area. There's an Applebee's, for example, right at the entrance. Gas if necessary also. Again, we shouldn't be heading out any later than 7:45 so need to be in Gurnee by 7:30.

To recap known participants:

1. Myself
2. Pete
3. DeMarco
4. Lgaff
5. Marc Haibeck
6. WarpTen
7. 4camJon
8. Paul Workman
9. Fred Haraf
10. ZR1 Fast from Palatine
11. ghlkal
12. Crossfire
13. Scottskill


Pretty good group. Be nice to have an even 15. Since some will be coming from Minnesota and Wisconsin, maybe ghlkal can suggest a rendezvous point before we all pull into MM.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

How far/close to MM do you want to regroup? 40 miles from Fond Du Lac, there's truck stop with a McDonalds right off US 41 (exit 60 IIRC).

closer? farther away?

Gary

gathering place to regroup for Mercury Marine visit
 

Let’s “regroup” at the Pioneer Truck Plaza near Richfield, WI, exit 60 on US 41 (just after US 41 and US 45 “split”) There's a McDonalds there too. IIRC they have BP (top tier) gas at the plaza.
http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps1026ec89.jpg

This puts us about 45 miles from Mercury Marine in Fond Du Lac. (US 41 N to US 151 E to county WH to county UU)

http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u...psb96df789.jpg

For those of you coming from Gurnee, it’s about 70 miles to the Pioneer Truck Plaza. (I-94 into Wisconsin; near the airport take I-43S / I-894 bypass; continue on US 41 / US 45 North)

Guys coming from Minnesota and staying overnight Thursday … do you want to “catch” us on US 151? You could wait on the ramp from 23 (Johnson St), and someone could text you, or ??

This sounds like a great trip.

Gary

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Guys,

This looks like a great place to marshal our group. It would be very cool to have 13 ZRs pull into the MM facilities in one group. Any other input?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Gary,

Looks like a plan. Those of us coming up from Chicago should be ready to leave Gurnee no later than 7:30. That should put is at the Pioneer Truck Plaza in Richfield by 9. Then leaving plaza by 9:15 w arrival at MM by 10am. Those coming from another direction, will you meet us at truck plaza. Be great if we could arrive at MM in a group.

:thumbs::cheers:

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Do we know where in Gurnee yet?

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Thought you guys would get a kick out of seeing how Mercury Marine is positioning our visit to their facilities. This should be loads of fun.


http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...psmudtbzmq.jpg

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Ok. Here's our schedule for heading up to Fond du Lac.

1. Meetup for Chicago contingent by 7:30 am in Gurnee Mills Mall grounds

Here's a map of where we can meet. There is a McDonald's off Rt.132
Easy ON/Easy OFF. Grab coffee and/or McMuffin. There are also gas stations on 132 if that's needed. We will need to LEAVE Gurnee Mills by 7:45am and move onto Richfield meetup area at Pioneer Truck Stop as recommended by ghlkal(Gary).

Attached Map for Gurnee Mills meetup:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...psdd0e93e3.jpg



Again, I would appreciate getting your confirmation that you'll be there.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

I still plan to come although there is some risk I may end up with a conflict as my daughter in Chicago is due to give birth to her first (our second grandchild) the same day. Due dates are rarely precise and anyway I told her I will only be three hours away... got to set priorities!!--Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

So far looks like:

Myself
Paul Workman
Marc Haibeck
ZRFast1
scottskill
ghlkal
WarpTen
Pete
DeMarco
Fred Haraf

Waiting to hear confirm on 4Cam, Vern, and Lgaff

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Fred Haraf has confirmed. Looks like a min of 10ZRs. I'm thinking the Mercury people are going to be excited seeing a minimum of 10 LT-5s all in one spot. Cool.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Actually I am little surprised that we have only got 10, although a Friday is a workday for most people. But 10 is definitely good.--Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Bob,

Possibly a couple more but they are iffy. Sometimes life gets in the way as u know. Still, the sighting of a single ZR-1 is almost as rare as that of a unicorn, let alone 10 in a bunch.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

Ten will be great! Dom, you might want to post a summary in the General Discussions area of the website in case someone who doesn't read our local news may want to join at the last minute.--Bob

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

I got dibs on the poster.

Re: Revised dates POLL: Mercury Marine visit
 

OK, so here's our 10 participants. Unfortunately, Pete and Lgaff had to beg out.
Hopefully, Lee will get his clutch hydraulics issue worked out in time for the Corvette Challenge at end of month.


Myself
Paul Workman
Marc Haibeck
ZRFast1
scottskill
ghlkal
WarpTen
4CamJon
DeMarco
Fred Haraf

That's 10 ZRs heading back to the Creator. ;}