You are going to read details of all the great events which took place at Conclave elsewhere in this edition, so I am going to concentrate on some of the “non-events” which made this Conclave special.
First, the numbers. Total registrations 155, people in attendance (not including sponsors) 308, total Healeys, 130. AHCA Clubs represented, 30. Furthest driven in a Healey, over 3000 miles. Pretty impressive numbers for a COVID year.
Conclave wasn’t all Car Show and Gymkhana. First, every night was theme night. California Cowboy, 50’s/60’s, Wearable Art, Beach Party. A remarkable number of people dressed up for these and prizes were awarded for best outRits. Also, every event came complete with coordinating decorations, most of which our guests could take home. Very popular. Thank you Lisa Mandell, Abbe Neumeyer and Lou Heiman (and helpers).
To give the hotel a more festive and Healey look we had banners and Rlags galore. Feather Rlags out front featuring the event logo, Austin Healey Spares and Moss Motors. A 3’ x 20’ Welcome banner, along with sponsor banners and even several Club banners hanging from balconies. But the big hit was the thirty 3’ x 4’ Black and White “Healey Heritage” posters hung from the walls throughout the hotel, compliments of Reid Trummel. We even had colored “mood” lighting in the ballroom.
Our Rinal night banquet was topped off with an outstanding video created by Steven Kingsbury. That twenty- minute event memoire was no small feat, requiring Steven to Rilm all day and edit all night, every night of Conclave. Thank you Steven! You can see the video via a link on our Club homepage, www.austin-healey.org.
And the Sponsors! Wow, did they go over the top. Hats and coolers from Austin Healey Spares, Velour Goodie bags from Moss Motors, Motoring Survival Kits from Hagerty and much more. Everyone left with an armload of freebies. The Driven Man had a booth with a complete Rive speed transmission kit and Moss Motors exhibited some brilliant steering wheels and stainless exhaust products. Robert Goldman, CEO of Moss Motors, delivered the Closing Night speech, a sort of autobiography of his life growing up around Al Moss and Moss Motors.....no, those Moss guys are NOT all bean counters.
I could go on and on. Free Commemorative photos, free “for the road” snack bags on Friday morning, free “for your room” welcome bags at check-in, a $1 per item Continental Breakfast bar each day, Paddlewheel Boat Cruises, and much more.
And most importantly.......lots of smiling faces on departure day.