Official Daytona 2008 Thread

[kathylove]

We got a lot of rain, and it was pretty breezy. But not enough to really damage anything, at least around Alva. When I went out to the post office a little while ago, I did see a couple of real estate signs twisted around, and a couple of tree branches laying around, but no trees down or building damage. Our driveway is pretty flooded, but we still drove through it ok - so far. It is still raining, but not really hard. Hopefully, we won't get too much rain over the next week, so it gets a chance to dry up a little. The conditions were wetter and windier just a little east and south of us, though.

 

[El Jefe]

Yeah, but having to lug all that stuff into the show for setup during a driving rain is not going to be much fun.........

Especially since there will be only one entrance open this year, due to the expansion of the facility. It was already crowded enough back when there were several entrances to load in from.

Not only am I going to no have to drive through all that stupid rain but you guys are putting the icing on the cake....thanks!

 

[Rich Z]

Well, it's not looking too good. Early setup on Thursday will be a REAL barrel full of monkeys, apparently. Looks like Fay is slowing down dramatically, and is expected to become a hurricane when it goes offshore into the Atlantic on Thursday. We WERE planning on getting there on Thursday to try to bypass the crunch of everyone trying to go in through that single entraceway for setup on Friday. Sheesh..........

 

[Nanci]

If I can be of help to anyone Friday, let me know. I can't check into my hotel till 4PM.

 

[El Jefe]

If I can be of help to anyone Friday, let me know.

With a comment like that you might be in trouble....

How does one find you on Friday to help carry heavy stuff?

 

[RobbiesCornField]

If I can be of help to anyone Friday, let me know. I can't check into my hotel till 4PM.

Would you wanna come over on Friday to help with my feeding issues? and then we'll both head over to the convention center and help out!

 

[Rich Z]

I'm wondering what sort of condition Daytona is going to be in after having a hurricane parked right over top of it for about 24 hours. It was pretty tattered after Charlie just blew quickly through it.....

It doesn't look like we have any way to get to Daytona from Tallahassee without driving directly into the path of the storm. Going to be REAL fun driving the van in high winds on the highway....

Oh, just in case some vendors here did not get the email from Wayne, this is going to make things a bit messy for setup.....

----- Original Message -----
From: Wayne Hill
To:
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 4:37 PM
Subject: New load in times for Expo

Expo Exhibitors:

I have just returned from a trip to Daytona Beach’s Ocean Center in final preparation for the Expo. The contractor who is expanding the Ocean Center excavated the area in front of the east roll up door, which was the loading zone for many vendors in the past. This leaves us with only the north loading zone. Out of my concern for efficiency and animal safety, I have done the following:

1. Prepared for Expo staff to set-up and number vendor tables on Wednesday, Aug. 20th;
2. Extended load-in times for all exhibitors to include Thursday, Aug. 21st from noon until 5:00 pm, as well as our usual load-in time on Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm;
3. Instructed staff to keep the north loading zone clear for vendor vehicles that are loading-in. Expo and Ocean Center staff will park their vehicles elsewhere;
4. Formulated a staging strategy for vendor load-in. The vendor staging area will be facing east on the south side of the road between the water park and the Ocean Center. Staff will be available to assist with staging. As vendors load-in and vacate the load-in zone, staff will direct the next car in from the staging area. Ten vehicles will be loading-in at a time.
5. Provided for the same security on Thursday night as you have been accustomed to having on Friday and Saturday nights during the Expo.

I urge all exhibitors who are able to load-in on Thursday between noon and 5:00 pm.

Everyone is invited to attend the Early Registration Party sponsored by The Gourmet Rodent and Timberline at the Hilton at 7:00 pm on Thursday where vendor badges will be available.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon in Daytona Beach and am wishing you a safe trip.

Wayne Hill

 

[RobbiesCornField]

DAYTONA STATUS REPORT:

Well, Daytona Beach is still doing fine and dandy. There are a few homes without power, and a few downed trees, but nothing to worry about. There has been quite a bit of rain, so there might be some flooding issues tomorrow.

Time for the maps! (Don't know if some of these will work or not. guess we'll see!)

 

[Walter Smith]

Does anyone know of any interstate closings? I usually take I75 to I10 east then to 95south.
Seems it would be the clearest (away from the rain) to take I75 to I4, then to Daytona on 4. I know this would add and additional 45 min. of driving time, but at least I wouldn't have to deal with wind, rain & a flooded highways.

Any thoughts from anyone in the area??

Walter,
:crazy02: BOUT' CORNS !!

 

[Nanci]

I don't think they can close the Interstate, because what if people were going to evacuate?

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Latest reports say all interstates are currently open. Too bad you didn't come over yesterday. There were no tolls.

 

[dwyn127]

Being from the great white north the only hurricane knowledge I have is from watching the Weather Channel. Any ideas what this should do, if anything to Saturday morning flights into Daytona??

 

[Nanci]

By 8AM Saturday Fay is supposed to be near the Georgia/Alabama border, well out of the way. By 8AM Friday she should be back on the gulf coast. I don't think you should have any problems at all.

 

[Rich Z]

I'm thinking we may have to drive down 27 to Ocala and then over to Daytona to try to skirt under the center of the storm. We normally take 10 to 95, but I think that will be catching the brunt of the wind and rain early on Thursday. That will add another hour or two to the drive time, but I think it will be less stressful.

At least one of the forecasts where it was supposed to raise to a cat 1 hurricane and stay parked right over top of Daytona seems to have been wrong. Still not going to be a picnic for setup, but all in all it could be a lot worse.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Being from the great white north the only hurricane knowledge I have is from watching the Weather Channel. Any ideas what this should do, if anything to Saturday morning flights into Daytona??

You should be fine - but keep an eye on the weather and give yourself some extra time checking in at the airport.

 

[Nanci]

I like that drive down to Ocala, then through the forest. It's relaxing. This will be my first trip NOT speeding, and I'm hoping for record MPG!

 

[Walter Smith]

I don't think they can close the Interstate, because what if people were going to evacuate?

What I meant was heading towards the storm. Alot of times they the state police won't let you drive, in this case east I10 or south I95 in case those lanes are needed for evacuation out and away from the storm.

Walter,
:crazy02: BOUT' CORNS !!

 

[Rich Z]

I heard from a guy in Melbourne that it's just really a heavy rain event. Little to no wind damage to speak of. I think it's just going to make early setup on Thursday a pain in the butt. I'm bringing an extra set of clothes in case I get drenched bringing stuff in.

 

[norm]

I'm just happy all you vendors are dead set on going. I'll be there no matter what, so it's good to see the show will be there when i get there.

 

[Nanci]

I was a lot more comfortable when it was passing to the north of me. Now it's going straight overhead, or worse, to the south. I'm not going to feed snakes tonight just in case. Just in case what, I don't know, power outage? Not like they're going to get cold. But they could get hot, and it's the babies who are due to be fed. Have to bail out of my house with 16 snakes, two birds, one lizard Friday at 2AM? I think there will be more accurate info about the track and intensity by this time tomorrow.

I'm happy you're all still going, too!!