posted 12-23-2017 07:20 AM                  

I am planning an event at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, on August 15, 2018, and it will also be for a charitable cause.

My wife Sally was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis several years ago. It is an auto-immune and neurological disease that weakens her leg and respiratory muscles. She needs to wear a bipap mask to sleep and sometimes during the day, and usually needs a cane to get around. She has had flareups which have put her in the hospital many times. During the 20th anniversary event, she had to miss out on many of the activities due to being too tired or fatigued. Several people with extreme cases have died from this disease.

Sally is an RN who currently works as a nursing professor, since her condition prevents her from bedside nursing. She is an active member of both the Michigan and national chapters of the Myasthenia Gravis (MG) foundation. The Michigan group (MGMI) is based out of Grand Rapids, which is about an hour from the Gilmore Car Museum. My idea is to have an event for the MGMI members to join Prowler owners and other car buffs. I also plan to put flyers out at local car shows to advertise others to join and hopefully also make a contribution to MGMI. There is also an MG car club (as in the little British roadster) that have come to other MGMI walks and charity runs to show off their cars of the same name, so they may be attending this as well.

MGMI is a self-sustaining non-profit organization that depends on donations and fundraising activities to sustain Michigan patient services, awareness, education and research. It is my hope that those attending this event could also help contribute to this organization. More info can be found at http://www.mg-mi.org

I would also like to plan other activities for the POA members before and after 8/15 if I hear from enough people interested in attending. This is also the week before the Woodward Dream Cruise. With some help from Jerry Neumann (1hotcat) we are also planning some Woodward events. Details for that are still being worked out.

Those unfamiliar with Gilmore, the largest car museum in North America, can go to http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org . Some long time POA members have been to Gilmore on other POA events before I joined. I actually haven't been there yet myself, but will be going there with the head of the MGMI next month to get more details worked out. Gilmore doesn't have any other events on their calendar for the week I am planning this, other than a weekly cruise-in open to the public. Which means that if you are lucky enough to own other cool cars besides a Prowler, you could bring those instead. They have room on the museum grounds for lots of cars to be displayed.

Please reply to let me know your interest in this event (my name is Pat, by the way). Any lodging and food options will be figured out once I get a better idea of how many show any interest. I had a couple people PM me about my last post when I hinted I was planning an event. You can post here going forward so everyone knows who may be attending. Anyone who would like to help, please let me know.

posted 01-11-2018 06:47 PM                  

Gilmore event "after party"
I spoke with Matt Murphy (katmat) today and he has a large summer home about a half-hour east of Gilmore, with plenty of room for parking. He has invited anyone coming to the Gilmore event to stop by his place after that event on Wed, Aug 15. Thanks again to Matt for his generous offer!

Hotel for Woodward event
I have a block of 10 rooms reserved at the Hyatt Auburn Hills (the same hotel from the 20th Anniversary event). I was able to secure a group rate at $135 per night (plus tax). The rate this time is a bit higher than what CJ arranged in June, but it is Dream Cruise week, and I talked them down quite a bit from their original offer (they really wanted the Prowler folks to return). If I get more than 10 people responding as interested in attending this part of the event, I can increase the number of rooms in the block.

I blocked Thursday, Aug 16 through Sunday, Aug 19, so that's three nights. But you can do less that that if you prefer and still get the same daily rate, as long as you book before July 26. Just tell them you are with the Prowler group to get the group rate.

Here is the hotel site info, although I would suggest calling to ensure you get the group rate (248 475 9393).

https://detroitauburnhills.place.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Info from General Discussion forum repeated here:
Other activities being considered for Woodward portion of event:
Thursday 8/16: Back to the Bricks cruise in Flint. Jerry Neumann (1hotkat) knows someone there who may be able to provide parking; more to come on that...
Friday 8/17: Ford Piqutte Ave museum and Motown museum; both are near each other so may be able to do both in same day, then cruise up Woodward and join the parade that evening.
Saturday 8/18: Cruise day; Jerry also has parking options near his place in Berkeley.

posted 01-29-2018 03:17 PM                  

I visited the Gilmore museum for the first time this past Saturday. Plenty of cars to see, and they change them out each season, so if you have been to the museum before, it's probably changed since then.

posted 01-30-2018 04:15 PM                  

Purrfect - Both Gilmore and Woodward
Tom Mills - Gilmore
Padroo - Gilmore
Katmat - Gilmore
1hotcat - Woodward
CJ and Bob - Gilmore
Greatkat - Gilmore and Woodward

I am also coordinating this with the MGMI director and considering a dinner the night before the Gilmore event (Tuesday Aug 14), and see if we can get a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the MGMI. Some of the MGMI members and/or family may also be joining us. Stay tuned for updates. I have the rooms at the Holiday Inn held for 8/14 - 8/16 (two nights) to accommodate anyone coming in from a distance to also join us for dinner.

posted 02-28-2018 06:08 PM                  

I am having trouble getting the correct link to work here, so you can call 269-945-0000 to book directly with the hotel.

posted 03-01-2018 01:17 PM                  

Thanks again Dale for the heads up!

posted 03-09-2018 05:25 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by CJ:
Pat..

Bob and I will be attending the Gilmore event!!!!

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