May Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!