Don, Why not ask me directly instead of "If an older retired couple was cruising through the mountains, saw all the nice cars and stopped to check them out, would you really ask them to leave? Just asking."...

as if you are testing me or somthing?? Don't you have my cell number??

Well, Just as I started this thread to make sure those who reads it and think it without registering to understand the importance and why, I also wanted to makes sure those who might mis-interpret when I say, "Good Cause" to be clarified. Hope you now understand my meaning of "Good Cause"?

I can understand people being curious about what you get for the registration fee....

But at the same time I do not understand how anyone with any sense of community would even fathom skipping the fee and showing up to join in on the fun. Generally speaking, most every car event or meet I go to requires payment for a charity, payment for entry or SOMETHING. And as Phil said you usually get nothing in return. To me attending a multiple day event such as this and even thinking it should be free is just disturbing...

If anyone is so that in love with their $25 that they even have the balls to ask if they can be in NV at the event without paying - I'm sure they'll have a much better time sitting at home with 25 one dollar bills on the floor watching top gear episodes.

If anyone here has wasted $25 or more on something more frivilous then this - raise your hand! I certainly have.

EDIT: And despite my feelings about this issue and knowing Phil the small amount that I do - I'm kinda put back that someone who knows Phil would ask if he'd kick out their parents for stopping by. Guys not a nazi! He's just being fair - you want to bring your car to the event and take part like the rest of us? then pony up the $25! Its the smallest expense of the entire weekend!

Not only is it the smallest expense for the entire weekend, but you're getting a t-shirt, food and prizes. C'MON guys really.

On a different note, Phil, I think it would be interesting for you to keep track of the amount of time that you spend organizing this event. Realizing that not only is time = money, but time is really the only raw material that we are born with. Honestly, if someone else didn't want to step up and take the reins as you have, I would not complain, and would gladly pay an ADDITIONAL fee to cover you for the time that you spend organizing this event. People need to start being reasonable when it comes to this.

How many hours do you think you devote to the show each year?

I just got off the phone with Don/HDP.. I just want to clarify that both of us understand each other and no harm has been done. Don's a good guy and he meant no harm and I might of been bit stressed out and took things bit more personally... Don's a good friend and I think it just came out wrong and me understanding it differently. So, just wanted to state that..

Regarding time... Well, I usually take about a month off and after that I start thinking about next year.. Well, that's not quite true.. Usually I spend 4-5 hours back from the event thinking about what we could do to make it better or what we thought was good and bad (usually talk with SPOAutos about this). Than I take about a month than start the process.. Checking to see who will give us the best deals (lodging) for us so i make multiple phone calls and such..... Anyhow, by the time I decide on the date, I probably spent 40-80 hours.. I usually don't keep up with time.. but it all adds up (forums, emails, phone calls, etc).

Its hard to say but I probably spend on average 10-15 hours/week for about 9+ months... Thats just my guess.

So just to clarify and put this into perspective to all the people reading this thread and to clarify what my main point is. Lets call it 10hr/wk for 9 months. That equates to 360 hours roughly that you're DONATING to the community. Think about this for a minute guys. "Normal" work week is 40 hrs or ~2000 hrs per year. This SAINT, is donating 18% of what some people work in a YEAR for, yes, a great cause.

So let me be hopefully among a VERY large percentage to personally thank you Phil, for all your time and hard work to make this event happen and add that if you need any help leading up to or during the event, I will gladly help in anyway that I can. It is without a doubt the highlight of my rotary world.

Phil, I understand your position on it man... like I said, I realised after my first visit to DGRR i was missing out on A LOT of stuff because I didn't register nor did I stay the whole weekend out there...

All we can do it hopefully get the word out to people to REGISTER!!! its more than just driving the road...

Thanks for understanding guys... But I am in no way a saint.. And maybe I might spend less than 10 hours/wk.. Who knows.. I try not to keep track of time as I do enjoy doing this most of the time and your appreciation definitely makes it worth awhile.... just those moments we have that I sometimes want to say, "F*%K ALL THIS!!!". But I think that's how things go sometimes..

Phil you do a great job and I'm sure everyone here has wondered would happen if you quit. I'm sure they've wondered if they could come close to doing as good of a job as you with this event... but the drive just isn't there for most people. HDP comments came off as passive aggressive and given just those statements you had every reason to get mad. Hell, I even got a little tweaked when I read it because people just don't get it sometimes. I'm glad you were able to talk to him and clear things up.

If you guys don't mind.. I'm just going to close this thread.. PM me, if you think otherwise..