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DUTCH
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
otiswesty - 12/10/2008 8:50 PM
DUTCH - 12/9/2008 4:58 PM
otiswesty - 12/9/2008 4:54 PM
I'll be over there with the family at that time. I wonder if I can tour the factory with my boys ages 11, 14, 17 yrs? Or even drive the Shockl? If anyone in Europe wants to lend out or rent a 5 seater Gwagen for a couple weeks let me know. Trades possible 
Eric
Tours of the factory are for groups only by reservation. There is a charge to do that; and it's in the several hundred Euro range, as I remember. Best time it so you can go with the 30th anniversary group.
Yes, the plan would be to do it with the 30th anniv group. I can't seem to discern whether it would be possible to bring 1-3 of my boys on the tour or if it is for adults only.
Knowing the German Gwagen Club, I'm sure that, for the right price, anything is possible. |
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heinz
Veteran
Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
Hi Dutch and Eric,
I just spoke with Heinrich Wangler, the President of the German G-Club. He said the minimum age for factory visitors in Graz is 12 years old. Eric, that should work for your 3 boys.
They are also planning to drive the Schoeckl with the own G-Classes, but that is not yet 100% sure.
There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person for the factory tour with shuttle bus, the Schoeckl drive, a Gala Dinner on Saturday evening with program, a roadbook for the fun rallye around Graz, a G-parade thru downtown Graz, free participation for all events, free entrance for the Schwarzl Leasure Center, free parking and for the whole organization. There will be soon an own homepage for this event, also in English.
Regarding renting a G-Class that will not be easy and probably quite expensive. But I will check the possibilities next week in Stuttgart, Germany. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
heinz - 12/13/2008 10:59 AM
There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person
Sadly, that fee will probably leave many of us - who would have to buy an expensive plane ticket to get there - unable to participate. It was a very nice idea. |
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79percent
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Remscheid / Germany
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Posts: 537
| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
DUTCH - 12/14/2008 12:40 AM heinz - 12/13/2008 10:59 AM There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person Sadly, that fee will probably leave many of us - who would have to buy an expensive plane ticket to get there - unable to participate. It was a very nice idea. at least it's a nice excuse. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
79percent - 12/14/2008 4:53 AM
DUTCH - 12/14/2008 12:40 AM heinz - 12/13/2008 10:59 AM There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person Sadly, that fee will probably leave many of us - who would have to buy an expensive plane ticket to get there - unable to participate. It was a very nice idea. at least it's a nice excuse.
Perhaps; but in this household it's also a real reason not to be able to participate. Even though the Euro has dropped some in value, it's still too expensive for my pocketbook. Post lots of pictures, so we can at least participate in spirit. |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
DUTCH - 12/13/2008 3:40 PM
heinz - 12/13/2008 10:59 AM
There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person
Sadly, that fee will probably leave many of us unable to participate.
I think the wife and kids will have to find something to do while I am on the factory tour and driving the Schokl
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
otiswesty - 12/15/2008 11:45 AM
DUTCH - 12/13/2008 3:40 PM
heinz - 12/13/2008 10:59 AM
There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person
Sadly, that fee will probably leave many of us unable to participate.
I think the wife and kids will have to find something to do while I am on the factory tour and driving the Schokl
:cheers:
"nice excuse"! |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
heinz - 12/13/2008 10:59 AM
There will be an all inclusiv fee of approx. € 275 per person for the factory tour with shuttle bus, the Schoeckl drive, a Gala Dinner on Saturday evening with program, a roadbook for the fun rallye around Graz, a G-parade thru downtown Graz, free participation for all events, free entrance for the Schwarzl Leasure Center, free parking and for the whole organization. There will be soon an own homepage for this event, also in English.
I was advised last night that they are trying to lower the amount of that fee. More later. |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
otiswesty - 12/9/2008 1:54 PM
If anyone in Europe wants to lend out or rent a 5 seater Gwagen for a couple weeks let me know. Trades possible
Eric
My meaning was that I'd like to trade the use of a Gwagen for the same, plus house priviledges for a European interested in coming to the PNW. Lots of good tree hugging here.
E |
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dalexa001
Veteran
Date registered: Feb 2008
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
I checked flights and couldn't find anything less than $1700 per person!!! Ouch!! Can't wait to see the pics! |
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mortinson
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Madrid, España
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
I have been giving it some thought about the € 275 per person and I find it hard to swallow. IMO it is hardly justified in terms of costs and it is therefore a fact that the German G Club sees the 30th anniversary events as a business venture and not as a means to gather G-Wagen enthusiasts from all over the world.
This would in itself not be a problem if they were alternatives, i.e., if anyone could opt out of some of the organized events -such as the so called "gala dinner"- and still parttake in the factory visit or the Schöckl trip, but there clearly aren't since the organization works as a monopoly. I believe that it's not only me, that many people are unhappy about this, including, it appears many members from the organising German G-Club: http://www.viermalvier.de/ubb_portal/ubbthreads.php/topics/305251/1
I believe that we should voice our discontent by writing to Mercedes-Benz Graz. Maybe that way we get the organizers to reduce the price to a more sensible level. In the end, it is MB who gets Magna-Steyr to allow the visit to the factory and they don't charge for it. I don't see why do we need to line the German club's pocket for something that is for free.
Anyone for it?
Edited by mortinson 12/27/2008 5:18 AM
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
mortinson - 12/27/2008 5:13 AM
I have been giving it some thought about the € 275 per person and I find it hard to swallow. IMO it is hardly justified in terms of costs and it is therefore a fact that the German G Club sees the 30th anniversary events as a business venture and not as a means to gather G-Wagen enthusiasts from all over the world.
This would in itself not be a problem if they were alternatives, i.e., if anyone could opt out of some of the organized events -such as the so called "gala dinner"- and still parttake in the factory visit or the Schöckl trip, but there clearly aren't since the organization works as a monopoly. I believe that it's not only me, that many people are unhappy about this, including, it appears many members from the organising German G-Club: http://www.viermalvier.de/ubb_portal/ubbthreads.php/topics/305251/1
I believe that we should voice our discontent by writing to Mercedes-Benz Graz. Maybe that way we get the organizers to reduce the price to a more sensible level. In the end, it is MB who gets Magna-Steyr to allow the visit to the factory and they don't charge for it. I don't see why do we need to line the German club's pocket for something that is for free.
Anyone for it?
I've seen the long list of costs involved with the Gala, but have been asked to not discuss the fee until the amount is finalized. MB is providing no subsidy for this event. MagnaSteyr does charge quite a large fee to tour the factory; and since the Schöckl is privately owned, there is a large fee to use it also.
They are trying to do all that they can to lower the price. More will be revealed. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
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| Projected Expenses Involved for the Gala
Here are some of the costs which must be covered by the fee" that will be charged to participate in the 30 Yr Anniversary Gala Celebration:
- Gala-Dinner on Saturday evening
- Road book for the fun-rally around Graz
- Factory tour incl. shuttle bus and some program during possible time of waiting
- Possibility to drive the Schöckl with own G-Class (the whole Schöckl is privately owned)
- Road closure by police downtown Graz on Sunday morning for the planned G-Parade
- Entrance for the Schwarzl Leisure Center
- Renting the Steyrer hall in the Leisure Center for the Gala on Saturday evening incl. renting for seating and assembly and disassembly of the seating, renting of dishes and flatware, labor costs etc.
- Renting of a room for the organization and registration
- Entertainment program on Saturday evening
- Renting of exclusive parking space
- Concourse D' Elegance
- Permit fees etc.
If you haven't been to the factory before, you need to understand that you can't just drive up to, park and walk on the tour of the assembly area. You need to take a shuttle bus into the plant.
Also, the Schöckl Test Track is nowhere near the plant. It is about a 30-45 minute drive away; and there is no parking of any kind available for private vehicles.
All expenses have to be paid by the non-profit German and Swiss G-Clubs. Since this event is open to both members and non-members of the clubs, the clubs cannot pay these expenses from the paid members' dues. Hopefully, they'll be able to reduce the estimated amount of the fee. |
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mortinson
Expert
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
DUTCH - 12/27/2008 12:40 PM
I've seen the long list of costs involved with the Gala, but have been asked to not discuss the fee until the amount is finalized. MB is providing no subsidy for this event. MagnaSteyr does charge quite a large fee to tour the factory; and since the Schöckl is privately owned, there is a large fee to use it also.
They are trying to do all that they can to lower the price. More will be revealed.
Dutch, I don't know where you got from that MagnaSteyr does charge for the your of the factory. When the GWOA was there last March I don't think that we were charged at all. As for the Schöckl, we were told then that due to environmentalist pressure it was impossible to visit it: as it stands today, there is no commitment by the organisers for this to become true.
I accept that the organisation of the gala dinner and the shuttle to visit the factory cost money but the current quotation of € 275 is way off the mark and it beggars belief the claim that the organisation is on a non-profit basis.
But while things get clarified I can concede that we should give the organisers the benefit of the doubt. Let's see if they can bring the price to a more realistic level before we take any action, though I doubt it.
Rgds,
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DUTCH
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
mortinson - 12/27/2008 1:03 PM
Dutch, I don't know where you got from that MagnaSteyr does charge for the your of the factory. When the GWOA was there last March I don't think that we were charged at all.
I don't know thius first hand; but I can tell you that a very well placed source told me that there is normally a pretty steep charge to tour the factory and do the Schöckl run. I was also told by that same very well placed source that those charges were paid by MB Marketing for our visit in 2005.
I've also heard the same "high cost fee" to tour the factory from at least one other independent source.
As said, this is second hand "hearsay" knowledge; and I could be completely wrong.
No matter. I will not be able to attend myself anyway. With the world wide economic downturn, my retirement portfolio has taken too big of a hit; so I can't afford to do it. Wish I could, but I can't. |
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mortinson
Expert
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
I don't know whether I can attend the event either. My position is very clear: whatever costs are incurred they are to be covered by whoever attends. But I hate to think that somebody is out there to take advantage of fellow enthusiasts: I have no problem in anyone making a living out of this, but not under the name of a "Club".
Rgds |
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DUTCH
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
mortinson - 12/27/2008 2:38 PM
I don't know whether I can attend the event either. My position is very clear: whatever costs are incurred they are to be covered by whoever attends. But I hate to think that somebody is out there to take advantage of fellow enthusiasts: I have no problem in anyone making a living out of this, but not under the name of a "Club".
Rgds
I've been told that's one of the reasons that Tufa GmbH, aka "Mercedes-Benz Offroad", fka "Geländewagen und Freizeit" and the German G-Club Verein parted ways. |
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mortinson
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
DUTCH - 12/28/2008 12:52 AM
mortinson - 12/27/2008 2:38 PM
I don't know whether I can attend the event either. My position is very clear: whatever costs are incurred they are to be covered by whoever attends. But I hate to think that somebody is out there to take advantage of fellow enthusiasts: I have no problem in anyone making a living out of this, but not under the name of a "Club".
Rgds
I've been told that's one of the reasons that Tufa GmbH, aka "Mercedes-Benz Offroad", fka "Geländewagen und Freizeit" and the German G-Club Verein parted ways.
You are indeed correct: that was also my understanding.
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Otiswesty
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| Re: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
heinz - 12/13/2008 7:59 AM
They are also planning to drive the Schoeckl with the own G-Classes, but that is not yet 100% sure.
I hope we get the opportunity to drive the Schockl. With the potentially large number of attendees, I can see how it may be logistically difficult.
Cost aside, it sounds like a nice trip. I was sorry to miss the 25 year event with some of the other forum members here. The presence of a number of European enthusiasts will add to the event and make it more interesting also.
Eric |
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heinz
Veteran
Date registered: Dec 2006
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| RE: Gwagen 30th Anniversary Visit to Graz - May 2009
The official website of the 30th anniversarymeeting of the G-Class is now open. Here you will get all information about this event and can also register.
http://www.30-years-g-class.com/en_30YearsHome.GClub?ActiveID=1801 |
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