WELCOME All Cosworth Vega Enthusiasts to the Big “D“, the Motor City, Motown, The Automotive Capital of the World! Yep, Detroit is still a BIG City, once down on its luck, but we’re coming back. And so are YOU! You’ll see that a lot has changed for the good in Detroit since our last Roundup here in 1995!

Holiday Inn Southgate-Banquet & Convention Center, Southgate, Mi. 48195

The Holiday Inn Southgate is is our host Hotel.  It is located at 17201 Northline Rd, just east of the Northline Exit just off I-75. This is in the “Downriver” area, about five miles south of the City of Detroit, and is my neighborhood. We have blocked 40 rooms for Friday & Saturday night, plus 20 rooms for Sunday night for those who wish to leave on Monday. The room rate is $93.99 + taxes. A selection of single king or two double beds is available. Rooms MUST be reserved by May 30, 2008 to get the CVOA rate. After that date, our allotted rooms will be released to the public. Call the hotel @ 734-283-4400 and ask for rooms assigned to the “Cosworth Vega Owners Association”.

We have a lovely, secured parking area surrounded by grassy islands with small trees. There is separate parking for our trailers & tow vehicles. Of course, there is a pool in the hotel, as well as a small water park next door at the YMCA!

The Holiday Inn has had car clubs here before, and will provide a washing area, and there’s a car wash & quick-lube across the street. The banquet will be held at this Hotel on Sunday evening. We’ve eaten at the restaurant in the hotel many times, and the food is Great!

We’ll have a room set up off the Hotel lobby on Friday at 11:00 a.m. for Check-In. The same room will host the Directors' Meeting on Friday night. Your registration provides a full buffet breakfast in a large dining room on Saturday & Sunday between 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

If anyone wishes to come into town before Friday, call me (John Cowall) at 313-388-1026 after 6:00 p.m., or at 313-841-8600 (ask for JC) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I’d love to see you & help arrange or advise regarding activities in the area. The hotel is very close to “The Henry Ford”, previously known as the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, along with their newest attraction, a tour of the Ford Rouge Assembly Plant.

For those coming early on Friday, we highly recommend the following:

GM Heritage Center, Sterling Heights, MI
Friday June 20, 2008 3:00 P.M. - 4:50 P.M.

According to autoblog:

In a nondescript looking building on a side street somewhere north of the General Motors Technical Center, there is a facility that few people outside of GM know exists, but most car nuts would love to visit if they could. Therein lies the rub, most people can't get in. The GM Heritage Center is not open to the public. It's an archive for the company's historic documents, artifacts and cars.

According to the GMHC website:

The GM Heritage Center is not just a museum but rather a cross between the ultimate automotive enthusiast’s garage and a living repository of automotive history. A constantly changing variety of about 175 examples of the 700 vehicle GM Heritage collection is displayed in the GMHC’s 81,000 square feet of flexible space. Historically significant concept and production vehicles from various eras showcase a wide range of GM design, technology and innovation.

The CVOA has arranged a visit to The GM Heritage Center for members who can arrive in the Detroit area by early afternoon on Friday.  The Heritage Center's hours restrict its use to weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., so if you can get away early enough to arrive in the Detroit area by 2:00 p.m., please make a point to join us for a memorable visit at the Heritage Center. As we understand, there will be a limited number of members and families who may attend, so admission will be first come-first served. 

We are requesting a $10 per guest ticket fee, which will be in addition to the Roundup registration fee. Don’t be concerned, it is well worth the time and cost. To learn more about the GM Heritage Center go to any web search engine and type in “About the GM Heritage Center” and you’ll be rewarded with a nice overview of the Center. If you don’t make it to this event, be sure you don't miss:

 Roamin’ Chariots Cruise In, Sears Parking Lot
Southfield & Dix, Lincoln Pk, Mi.
Friday June 20, 2008 - 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.   +  (BYO Dinner)

A few miles from the Hotel, one of our local clubs hosts this event every Friday evening with 80 to 150 cars in attendance. All are welcome, and you may come & go as you please.  I’ll try to get an area for the CVOA. They’ve seen my cars before. A dozen of ‘em will be impressive. Two dozen Cosworth Vegas will blow them away! There’s plenty of fast-food & other restaurants in the area--something for every taste.

 
GM Warehouse Tour, Sterling Heights, MI
Saturday June 21, 2008 – 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

General Motors maintains a significant fleet of show, custom, and historic vehicles. When not on the road or on display, these vehicle are maintained, serviced and warehoused in Detroit. Here is an opportunity to see, first hand, the inner workings of this rarely publicized global operation. Our tour will include an opportunity to view the layout and functions of the organization and its intriguing (and unusual) fleet of vehicles. Plan on standing in front of vehicles never seen in magazines or on TV. Examples you ask? Well, how about a 1989 V-12 Caprice 4-door, or a nearly factory appearing V-8 S-10 pickup? Bring your camera, and comfortable shoes for a few hours of walking. Please no heavy rings, wristwatches or belt buckles, as we don’t want to scratch any paint! Lunch will be served as part of the tour.

Road Rallye Tour Through Detroit--well, at least through Five Cities!
Saturday June 21, 2008 - 1:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

WWe’ll take you from the GM warehouse, in the northeast suburbs where GM’s Technical Center, some GM assembly, and a lot of Chrysler manufacturing are located. We’ll rallye through some of old Detroit to Downtown, where you’ll see the signs of Detroit’s renewal, including its hub--the Renaissance Center--which was built by Henry Ford II and is now the World Headquarters of General Motors! Then we’ll proceed south to see some of the Ford Rouge Facility, formerly the largest manufacturing area in the world. We will finish the rallye at:

 Annual Concours De Cosworth Vega, Holiday Inn Southgate Parking Lot
Saturday June 21, 2008 - 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. (or maybe after dinner!)

Not much to be said about the highlight of the event! While tomorrow it will be "run whatcha brung", this afternoon it will be "show what you brought!" "You park 'em, we’ll judge ‘em." will be our motto.  Bring stuff for Sell & Swap, too! Also, be sure to bring some “umbrella” or other type of folding chairs. It’ll be easier to relax here and tomorrow at the autocross.

 Dinner Hour, Saturday June 21, 2008o:p>

 OOur usual "on-your-own" dinner with the group will be at a location selected by consensus, committee, or free-for-all! There are so many choices…remember, this is a big city!

  Cosworth Vega Images from GM Archives, Holiday Inn
Saturday June 21, 2008 – Time TBD (Late Afternoon or Early Evening)

A one hour after-dinner presentation of a selection of the Cosworth Twin Cam Vega images from the GM Archives. Included will be a brief narrative of each image by Paul Wicker, one of the Roundup hosts and former CVOA historian. So take an hour, grab a drink, relax and sit back for a thirty year retrospective of images about the development of the Cosworth Twin Cam engine, our special car, and a few other odd images only a CVOA member could love (or even understand!)  Here's a small version of a GM Photostore image, used with permisison.

Pic-Nic & Autocross, Belle Isle Park, Detroit River, Detroit, Mi.
Sunday June 22, 2008 - 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.Mo:p>.

After breakfast we’ll travel a few miles north from the hotel to downtown Detroit and Belle Isle, in the middle of the Detroit River. On one side is Canada, on the other side is the U.S.A.! Just north of the bridge we’ll cross is the site of Gold Cup hydroplane races.

Our autocross lot is the site of Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix! Actually, we’ll race in the paved paddock area. The ChampCar/IRL race is actually on the island roads.

Ladies! & gentlemen, this is not your normal autocross site, a barren sea of asphalt in an industrial complex… No! Our sea of concrete is surrounded by grass & trees! And a RIVER! So we’ll have a Pic-Nic to go along with a little racing.

The autocross event is hosted by the Michigan Sports Car Club..  They will set it up and tear it down. They only ask for help in “chasing pylons”. So you’re here to have FUN & enjoy a day at the Park!

 Annual Banquet, Holiday Inn Southgate-Banquet & Convention Center
Sunday June 22, 2008 - 6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Cash bar is available from 6 to 6:30 or 7, when we’ll have a three-meat buffet dinner.span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  PPlease help with door prizes! We’ll have awards for the Rallye, Concours, & Autocross. Scheduled guests include members of the Cal Wade & Lou and Harriett Marr families. Our speaker(s) will regale us with stories of early Cosworth engineering & racing exploits.

After-the-Roundup Breakfast, Holiday Inn Southgate-Banquet & Convention Centerbr /> Monday, June 23, 2008 - 7:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.

IIt is traditional for those leaving on Monday morning to gather in the hotel restaurant for coffee or breakfast before hitting the road.  It is a time for reviewing and reliving the events of the Roundup, talking to folks you just couldn't find time to chat with on the weekend, and for saying goodbye to your many Cosworth Vega friends new and old until next year.

We look forward to seeing old faces and new in Detroit.

Your Roundup Hosts:/p>

John Cowall                  Dick Baumhauer                   Paul Wicker            John J Cowall