Do I hear somebody stepping up to the planning plate??
Jump in the water is fine. Just watch out for Sharks.

This was my first year, and it was great! It was great to meet everyone and hang out.

Yes, May is hot but worth it!

I agree on being on the strip. It just makes Vegas - hmmm... Vegas! Pool party would be fun. The lounge was great! They were awesome!

Thanks to everyone that help out and made it a great experience!

Bubbles
(Natalie)

I didnt stay at the orleans, i stayed across the street. I loved staying off the strip, being i grew up in vegas ive had enough of it for the next billion years. (doesnt meen i didnt go partying on it this year) but im down wherever next year. only thing i didnt entirely enjoy is how far away everything was from the main hotel. (15 miles to bonanza), (21 miles to drag strip), (50 miles to hoover dam). my car is too uncomfortable to drive so many times. I didnt have ac and acctually didnt mind the heat so much. the weather was PERFECT this year! my oil temp didnt even go above 220 degree too much. need to have the parking lot completly clear for the sols to park. (i got stuck parking behind a truck at the bonanza and had to move half way through the event just so i could be with the other solers.)

This was my 3rd VI and I thought the events were by far the best organized...props to all of the planners

I only stayed at the Orleans because it was the hotel that was chosen by TS for events. I really don't like the place. I'd rather find a hotel that 1) would be more receptive to our group. 2) have much better customer service. When dealing with the Orleans staff, I felt as if they came across like they were doing me a favor by letting me spend my money there...these are the same criticisms I had last year.

Let's not stay on the strip; traffic would be a nightmare on the weekends. Maybe some of the smaller hotels might be more grateful to have the potential to make money on a annual basis from TeamSol.

One good thing I found out.
My gear ratio isn't much different than other sols. lol....
It was my tires drinking up gas causing bit higher rpm to keep up the same speed. Hopely next year, I get the tow package and drag the sol to vegas. No way I'm gonna drive my sol that far. First of all, it's not comfortable driving long distance in sol. 2ndly, my hear started to hurt after an hour and half driving with the loud muffler. (Time to change to quiet one, maybe RSR?) Lastly, I HATE BUGS! Those bugs left so much markings on my clear bra!

I think we should fire the planning staff. What a bunch of yahoo's. Those guys couldn't plan their way out of a paper bag! I mean really! The meet and greet was some beer, pizza, and a hotel room?!?! GHETTO!!!

I have stayed all over Vegas from Mandalay Bay to that awful Travel Lodge / whatever it is this month at the spaghetti bowl. The most enjoyable stay I have ever had at a hotel in Vegas was at the California for Champ Car in 2004 downtown. Small enough that it was less than 5 minute walk to the garage but big enough to have all the conveniences.

The MOST comfortable hotel bed ever with cool decor and the service was the bomb. Also a block away from Fremont street and close to freeway. If memory serves they also have pretty tight security in that parking garage, we had to have a parking pass.

That area is a lot closer to the track if the drags are going on and also a great starting point for what may be a possible Saturday meet location on the table for next year.



Just my .02

sorry, Hoot refused to provide any entertainment

Do we really need to comment on the meet and greet!!!! Seeing it was the most time I spent in that room, I guess it worked out.

Oh ya... Everyone seemed to Love my Captain Morgan tattoo! It was a blast. didnt know about the pizza tell we got back from dinner and where all like... awe... lol. I still cant believe i was out at 12am that night lol. That was EARLY! a little to early!

Next year someone should get a Suite or a Club room... and block it off the right way... Cuz before, I once had 4 rooms from the suite that was family and never got a single call and we partied tell 5am. Might of worked out a little if we rooms altogether

Sadly I didn't make it to the event this uear (I was in Vegas the week before).

I do travel to Vegas a lot on biz and can recommend the Hampton Inn off Tropicanna at 4975 South Dean Martin Way (formerly Industrial Blvd). It's located between the Orleans and the strip (closer to the strip). Rooms are clean and neat with super nice decor (recently remodeled), they have a pool/jacuzzi, FREE BREAKFAST(woo-hoo!), tiny health club, and walking distance to In and Out Burger and the strip. They are also not a casino, so no problem with the underage group renting rooms.

Marriot also opened 3 side-by-side locations (Residence Inn, regular and another from the franchise) further down the road, but I haven't stayed there yet. I can try next time I go on biz to check it out.

I've stayed at teh Orleans and except for the cheap Prime Rib dinner on-site, didn't care for it. And the rate they charged was rack rate without a discount.

Yep I know the one you are talking about. Some guys I worked with stayed there for 2 months during a construction job and said it was pretty nice for being so close to everything. I remember them mentioning the free breakfast too which is a nice perk. I am also assuming the rooms may come with coffee makers or fridges which the casinos never come with. Maybe even wifi?

well i stayed accross the street from the orleans at the emerald suites. no parking lot security, but my room overlooked lot of parking spots. had a full furnished kitchen, 2 bedrooms with locking doors, tv connections in each of the bedrooms, (sadly no tv's in them, just the main living room t.v.) full closets, balcony, and i paid $252.85 for 3 nights, (friday, saturday, sunday) took me 1:45 seconds to get to the orleans casino walking. and only have to be 18 to stay there. (il be old enough next year anyway, but part of the solers are too young to stay at a casino). also had free dsl, but its wired, not wifi.