Hello folks,

I'm probably the newest member here, but am also probably the most enthused since I just became a proud E owner, two weeks ago. I've never owned a vehicle before that had it's own "Club" so needless to say I'm happy to have stumbled upon this site and the New England Element Owners Club in particular.

I'm looking forward to attending/participating in a few Element meets or activities this summer but am curious as to what you have done before or would like to do this summer. Please list a few suggestions of fun things to do and possible dates to schedule them. Also if there are any Western Mass E owners who want to meet to shoot the breeze, or have a beer, etc, please drop in on this thread and make a suggestion.

Looking forward to your suggestions! :)

P.S.---I'll be selfish for a moment and say that my days off are Sunday and Monday, so I hope there is a possibility of at least one meet on a Sunday this summer! :-D

I'm up for getting together with internet pals with a common interest, though I am normally a social hermit. I am not terribly embarrased to admit that I have driven 6+ hours (roundtrip) on a dozen occasions to meet fellow italian greyhound owners. You get a bunch of small dogs together, watch them run around - how could it not be a good time? :)

I guess I am wondering what happens at an E meet...Do you face your cars in a circle so you can all wave at each other? Form cliques and make fun of the cheap LX owners like myself? Fondle and swoon over each other's fabulous accessories and mods? :roll: Inquiring minds want to know! :-D

Hello Weedoggies,

Thanks for being the first, and only one thus far, to respond to this thread.

I guess I am wondering what happens at an E meet?...
Since I am also a newbie, I can't answer that but am hopeful a few of the veterans here might chime in. I am also hoping that the name of this forum section: New England Element Owners Club is actually a real "Club" and not just words on a computor screen.

1) Does a "New England" Element Owners Club actually exist?

2) Who are the organizers of past events, leaders or active members in this "Club"?

3) What types of New England events have taken place in the past?

4) Is anyone interested in participating in a "New England" activity, meet, picnic, road trip etc. this summer?

I see the New York Element Owners Club already has an event planned for April. How about us getting something up on the New England calendar? :-D Spring and summer will come and go quickly so it would be nice to get a jump start on having some fun! Damn, I worked too Wayyyy too much last summer!! How About You?!

Weedoggies Wrote:
Do you face your cars in a circle so you can all wave at each other?
Form cliques and make fun of the cheap LX owners like myself? Fondle and swoon over each other's fabulous accessories and mods? Inquiring minds want to know!
I'd like to know too. Is there a secret handshake? :lol: .....I'm also interested in hearing people's impressions of past events, as well as any ideas for something fun to do this summer. I think it would be a hoot to see a bunch of Elements together and meet the characters who drive, camp, live, and party in them, as well as checking out the various modifications, oogling over each others accessories, and comparing notes on the E!

I challenge everyone who reads this thread (yes even you shy lurkers), to post a response even if it's just a quick hello! If you have an idea let's hear it, or drop me a pm. If you are just "thread surfing" take a second to say "hey man I'm just thread surfing" and I'll be back if I come up with any ideas." I hate seeing a large number of "views" with a weenie size number of responses.

Looking forward to hearing from y'all! :)

Since I am also a newbie, I can't answer that but am hopeful a few of the veterans here might chime in. I am also hoping that the name of this forum section: New England Element Owners Club is actually a real "Club" and not just words on a computor screen.

1) Does a "New England" Element Owners Club actually exist?
Okay, I'll volunteer. It's a pretty loosely knit organization as far as EOC goes. New England Chapter of Honda SUV.com though not as active on-line has a core group of socially active members who get together about 3-4 times a year...spring picnic (FDR State Park, off Taconic State Pkwy in NY), summer Olympics (weekend gathering in NH); fall foliage tour (NW Connecticut); winter pre-Christmas shopping spree (SW Massachusetts). There are occasional informal meetings of 2-3 members to plan events. There is some crossover with EOC and I try to encourage EOC members to join in. The EOC meet in Gettysburg last May had a lot of participants from the East Coast and as far away as Minneapolis and Canada.
2) Who are the organizers of past events, leaders or active members in this "Club"?
Usually all it takes is one or two inspired individuals to take the initiative. From there it depends on the weather, locale, and the work/family schedules of other members. Turn out for an initial event may be small, but as relationships develop and people recognize that it's a lot of fun, attendance begins to slowly build for subsequent events. Eventually one or two leaders evolve who keep things going. We've met some very nice people over the past year.
3) What types of New England events have taken place in the past?The Honda SUV picnic was...well...a picnic! Meet and greet old and new members, some car talk, food, chatter, kids running around, photo shoot, and future event planning. The Olympics were held at Franconia Notch State Park and included the picnic activities, touring park landmarks, plus some fun, low key driving events in an open field in an out of the way corner of the park (blindfolded driver directed by navigator through a marked course, backwards autocross through a similar course). That night there was a barbecue and the next day a caravan up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Fall foliage tour was an afternoon caravan through the Connecticut countryside on some obscure back roads and trails with stops at covered bridges and a picnic finale at Kent Falls. Shopping excursion was at Lee Outlet Mall and Great Barrington. EOC Gettsyburg meet had a lot of the Honda SUV picnic activities (a lot more photo action), toured the battlefields, caravanned to the Boyd's Bears barn, allowed everybody time for individual activities (sightseeing, antiquing, etc.) and then gathered for dinner at a local restaurant.
4) Is anyone interested in participating in a "New England" activity, meet, picnic, road trip etc. this summer?
How about a day meet, central Massachusetts somewhere(?) after the weather warms up, but before the EOC national meet in July...just to get the ball rolling? I'll also post info on the next Honda SUV gathering which could work as a preliminary New England EOC introduction. As I mentioned earlier. there's a fair amout of crossover between the two groups, but they often gather at Southern New England locations. The gal who spearheads a lot of the meets is in the Danbury area, and many of the regular participants are from NYC/Westchester County.

I'm up for getting together with internet pals with a common interest, though I am normally a social hermit. I am not terribly embarrased to admit that I have driven 6+ hours (roundtrip) on a dozen occasions to meet fellow italian greyhound owners. You get a bunch of small dogs together, watch them run around - how could it not be a good time?

I guess I am wondering what happens at an E meet... (A) Do you face your cars in a circle so you can all wave at each other? (B) Form cliques and make fun of the cheap LX owners like myself? (C) Fondle and swoon over each other's fabulous accessories and mods? Inquiring minds want to know!
(A) Usually line them up for a photo shoot.
(B) Never
(C) Always

Another cool thing is discovering other common interests people share besides their fanatical obsession with the vehicle they drive. For instance, the couple who hosted the Honda SUV Olympics are from the Boston area and are involved in rescuing greyhounds. You may know them. http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8806
See anybody you recognize in the Cannon Mountain Tram photo? Fall foliage tour photos on p. 10 at http://www.hondasuv.com/stg/viewtopic.php?t=5388. Intermittent Gettysburg photo posts start at #198 (about p. 20) at http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6653&page=20&pp=10&highlight=Gettysburg or a quick synopsis at http://hometown.aol.com/mh2ke/EOC.html

Cool - thanks for the link! :) I love the picture with all the lil' Hondas all in a line in the side mirror. It does indeed look like a fun time!

Someone in the pics looks vaguely familiar, but really I've only met a few of the big grey people at lure coursing events (mine are minature sized greyhounds, but they call them "italian" to make sound fancy). I could be completely full of beans, though - I am really bad with faces AND names. :roll:

Hello Bald Eagle,

Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed reply! :)

I'm starting to get the picture now and understand that the Element "meets" include more participants from other sites and organizations. I think networking is great and it sounds like a fun bunch of folks who enjoy getting together a few times a year. Truth be told, I probably don't have time to do much more than that, but would like to check out a "Honda event" with my wife.

I'm up for doing something before the national meet, although I don't have any ideas at the moment as to a good location. We are very flexible as far as location and driving time, but it's always the calendar date that I worry about (work schedule), but hey so does everyone else. If you or one of your friends have any ideas by all means post them here! :grin:

Thanks again!

It will be about a month before I get to join in any E-deer games but here's a few ideas.
1. I like the course events, sounds pretty cool, a keeper of an idea.
2. Besides people being fanatical about thier vehicles you could organize a meet around common pets, for example an E-dog meet/E-grey meet.
3. Considering the E can hold so much we can meet and collect items for charity say blanket and jackets for the homeless, toys for kids, etc...The E-Charity Brigade!!
Personally I like the third because it presents a lot of possibilities with a chance to still get together and have some fun.

Thanks for the reply Frogpond!

We'll it appears this thread is off to somewhat of a slow start, but thanks to you three gentlemen, for keeping it going. :)

Am I the only one who is "antsy" to take a "fun-ride" in my E and meet up with some other owners? Do I have a case of "E-newbie-itus"? I've only had my Element for about 20 days, but am rare-in to go!! :lol:

Let's here from a few more of you New E-nglanders. Any interest in scheduling a casual meet, picnic, road trip? Any ideas on a location, town or site to do this?

I'm expecting my second son to be arriving in the next 30-odd days so I'm out of most any plans for a little while. Rest assured that I will be involved in any way I can if you guys do plan something.

The J

You and your wife must be thrilled!

Congratulations to the proud parents to be. :)

Thanks for "stopping in" and let us know the good news when you get it!