DR

Hi 928 Family,

I hope everyone is doing great and staying healthy and safe in this strange new world! Jeannie and I think, and worry, about you guys and gals daily.

It is with a very sad, and very heavy heart, that I have to say Sharks in the Mountains 2020 is cancelled. :-( Even before this global pandemic started I was already missing you all terribly, due to a lot of different things, and it seemed to me like it has been way more than a year since Jeannie and I were able to hang out with all of you. I was so looking forward to seeing everyone this year at SITM,... then the sky fell and rained this crap on the world! 22 years in a row and the only thing that has stopped us in all those years is a Global Pandemic!

We have been waiting and hoping for some sort of miracle to happen that would allow us to put on Sharks in the Mountains for you this year, but time has ran out. We have been in constant contact with the Hotel, Restaurants, and local governments and the answer from all of them is that there is no way we can do it.
Plus to be honest, there is no way in good conscience we could do it with everything as it stands now. The thought of just one of you getting sick (or worse) with Covid-19 going back and forth to, and during, our event is unbearable for us. The 928 Community has already for sure lost one 928er to Covid-19 and I hope everyday there are no more. We have a lot of 928ers that are of a "certain age" that puts us in a high risk category, myself and Jeannie included. I am also in the even higher risk group due to multiple health issues and I am sure I am far from alone in this.

On a brighter note, we have already locked in the dates and locations for next year, so Sharks in the Mountains 2021 is certainly a GO,..even if we all have to wear full hazmat suits, LOL.
The dates are June 4th, 5th, 6th, 2021. I will do my best to make it extra special to make up for missing this year. Depending on how things go we may try to do something later on this year, maybe in the fall, depending upon your interest.

FYI, a few people have told us they will go there and do the event without us, not sure if they were joking or serious, but PLEASE don't do that. Doing so would have negative effects with the locals that we have spent 20 years developing relationships with there. If you are hell bent on chancing something like that during this time, PLEASE do it somewhere else, the North Georgia Mountains would be a nice place since Georgia is not locked down like North Carolina is. North Carolina is still under lock down and even with some of the limited openings happening in the coming weeks there still isn't anyplace that can accommodate us. For example, there is no nearby restaurant that is large enough at 25% capacity to handle all of us at one time, even IF they are open. The Hotels can only have groups of 10 or less, and if we tried the ole "multiple groups of 10" scam, trust me the authorities there aren't stupid. Neighboring Boone and the rest of Watuga County for example, are going to stay completely on lock down for sure to sometime in June, so nothing there either. While I appreciate and celebrate the enthusiasm, just please don't do this on our weekend and location, and certainly not in our Event name.

Jeannie and I love you guys and gals and we are so very sorry to cancel Sharks in the Mountains this year. Please stay safe and healthy so we can for sure see you next year, that is always much more important than any event.

All the best,
Dave

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hacker-pschorr

Thank you for the note Dave, I'll post this up top.

Wish things could be different, really miss you guys.

Be safe, penciling in the date for 2021. Maybe I'll finally arrive in a 928 of my own

jej3

Sad to hear this Dave and I actually miss Banner Elk terribly right now but we will DEFINITELY look forward to SITM 2021!

Since SITM has always been about the people, I'm glad you've both tried hard but ultimately made a decision which considers the well-being of all of us.

I hope you and Jeannie stay healthy and safe!

drscottsmith

Thanks for the update Dave - you all stay safe and looking forward already to 2021!

-scott

Harvey928

Thanks for the update Dave. I wish you and Jeannie all the best and hope yall stay safe. Your friend

Harvey

worf928

This seems like both, the correct, and an inevitable decision.

Even if NC had opened up last week - or even just set a firm date - all of the states intervening between Banner Elk and any particular attendee haven’t or won’t.

Even if we tried, I don’t think we - the group - could avoid contact entirely. I would really hate to attend only to hear about someone or someone’s father/mother etc., two weeks later getting ‘it.’

Besides, I don’t think I could make it down to NC in a car with MA plates, *this time*, without some bullet holes.

RI troopers are hassling everyone with out-of-state plates with special attention to NY and NJ plates.

I can just imagine the conversation I’d have with a WV trooper:
Trooper: So boah. Yo’shuar a long way from home ain’tcha?
Me: <turn back on Texas accent>.... <still can’t think of anything> ... ummm.

checkmate1996

We will miss you guys! Stay Healthy!

Petza914

Thanks for the confirmation of what we all thought would happen, but hoped wouldn't. Was looking forward to getting the convertible back to Banner Elk after the work last year and having to slum my way there in the 997, but no such luck thanks to COVID19. We'll make the 2021 gathering bigger and better than ever and after all this shut-in time, everyone's 928s should look FANTASTIC !

Maybe Frenzy is far enough away where the 928s can get together there and might be my excuse for finally attending that one.

Stay safe everyone.

Bulvot

My father and I were planning to attend prior to the pandemic. We'll both be disappointed that it's not happening, but I fully support your decision and I think that it's the best one that can be made under the circumstances.

skpyle

D*mmit.

It is what it is, and I understand why.

Will see all of you next year.

RSMartin

Sorry to hear the news. Everyone stay safe. See you next time.

Brent

Just when I thought it was safe for me to go back into the water. Next year it is. Thanks guys.
Regards,

drooman

I see it as being the right call DR, the cancel culture is upon us for a while like it or not.

The New York auto show has been rescheduled to late August. I see a possible "postponed" "rescheduled" then "cancelled" senario lilkely here. https://www.autoshowny.com/
For Monterey it seems like most events canceled, and some not. https://whatsupmonterey.com/article/...-week-overview.

Consider what goes into developing an event over the years, then consider what goes into cancelling. Developing and preserving your event brand is the long game... rolling the dice this year is the short game.

vetter59

Bummer, I will have to break the news to Maple, but it's understandable, hope to be there in 2021!

Adamant1971

Hi Dave, thank you for the update. I can imagine that it was a tough decision, but given the circumstances, it was the right choice. Stay safe my friend and see you in 2021.