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Dude! I don't have to take you up on that to know that you're awesome. We are going to play things by ear and if we end up in different rigs it just means we get to know someone else a little better. Thank you, thank you!
I'm going to go practice my burnouts...
Just leave me enough tire to get home on, about 863 miles worth. That's all I ask
Display MoreI have not brought up the SOG group on the forum since it was originally put together and presented to me. The main reason I have been quiet is because I wanted to see if everyone was ok with what the new group was bringing to the forum and the Slingshot community. Another reason for me being quiet was because I didnt know for sure how their group would actually tie in to our forum. Here is what I was told...I was told that the forum would be the outlet for their news and events. I was told that SOG would put together events for smaller vendors that wanted to show off their products. And I was told that they would be using media outlets like Facebook and Instagram to help spread the news about their events and they would link back to the forum so it would bring in new members and traffic.
After looking back I can safely say that SOG has done exactly what they said. And they have bit off a big event for their first one... They have created a yearly homecoming event that was not easy to put together. I know it wasn't easy because I have personally sat in front of the plant managers and discussed this very thing. After hearing some of their requirements to put such an event together and have Polaris involved I can tell you that the forum is just not setup as a business that can work directly with Polaris on this type of thing. To have an extended group like SOG work beside the forum is the next best thing for all of us.
So if your on the fence about coming or if you ever had a reservation about the group I can tell you that I will be helping them with there endeavors as long as they continue on the path they are taking. They are bringing more members into the forum and that is what I want to see. And that is what all the vendors on the forum want to see.
WITH ALL THAT SAID.... If you can make it to event please do. Everyone needs to show Polaris that we do care about the company and that we want them to have success and keep the Slingshot line alive.
RABTECH
THE BIG PANDA!
Thanks for your support Panda - as always, it is appreciated
Now that all the info is on the table, I plan to put in for the floor tour. I'm not sure what the uproar is all about (my wife tells me TwitFace has it's panties in a bunch) except, I guess, the way this was introduced as Flybuddy pointed out above. Just think of it as a donation to a worthy cause with a bonus! Nothing else that has been presented to us by the Board has been changed and nothing has been taken away. They can't call all of the shots as it has been previously pointed out. Let's roll with it and make this a killer inaugural event for SOG! (Insert theme song here.)
Thank you sir
Dude! I don't have to take you up on that to know that you're awesome. We are going to play things by ear and if we end up in different rigs it just means we get to know someone else a little better. Thank you, thank you!
I'm going to go practice my burnouts...
We've got a ride ready and waiting for you and no one will be out of a spot
We've got a ride ready and waiting for you and no one will be out of a spot
LOL - you'll have the Bader Badger OR what I texted you about on 5/30 - choice will be yours .... I mean Sarah's
LOL - you'll have the Bader Badger OR what I texted you about on 5/30 - choice will be yours .... I mean Sarah's
OOOPs, hope I didn't intrude on something, just trying to help.
OOOPs, hope I didn't intrude on something, just trying to help.
No sir not at all - it looks like there are going to be some great roads for folks to ride so for folks that reached out to SOG for help with finding a ride we did what we could to get 3 wheels under 'em
Display MoreThank you Guardian_Angel . Your support is appreciated.
I am far from alone in the hours of daily work done to coordinate and promote the event for owners and vendors - the Board of Directors is where the thanks really should go.
I am a tad disappointed with all the negative comments on social media - it weighs heavy on me. SOG continues to work with what SOG was allowed to offer by Polaris. Hopefully there are more people excited about this event than disappointed.
I wish that Polaris could offer more floor tours, but they don't. Sounds like that in the past too many disrespectful people taking photos when they promised they wouldn't and sharing (and even mis-sharing) information they agreed not to disclose. We surely don't blame Polaris for taking these kinds of actions to protect their product and brand - we want the product to have increased success and to continue for years and years to come.
We have more than 300 registered for the event (registration continues to grow each day) with nearly a dozen vendors and a couple of local food trucks.
The SOG goal for this event is simple - bring owners together. We want owners to come first because their voice is so important. We want to make the experience for members to be as cost free as possible. We want to bring vendors into the event without having to charge them hundreds or even thousands of dollars. We want owners that come and don't want to purchase modifications from a vendor have memorable experiences.
We met with Polaris and discussed several ideas and made several suggestions. They allotted just over 100 of the video tours. With the understanding and responsibility of SOG to make sure that there is no photography from the catwalk. Floor tours were approved as well thanks to some very hard work by Slingrazor. Thanks to him we were able to get 6 dozen floor tours spread over Friday and Saturday. Proceeds of the tours will allow SOG to be able to give more to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Some are complaining on social media because they had a different idea of what is currently being offered by Polaris. I don't know what to say - we are working with what we were provided. Some are complaining about not allowing alcohol, tobacco, or firearms on the property. This event is being held at a place with flammable and explosive materials where the property owner has an obligation to protect employees as well as guests.
For those on social media, I'm not sure I can do anything more other than say, I'm sorry. I know that won't be enough for some of them, but we are doing to best that we can to provide an awesome experience for everyone that attends. Truth is, if we charged owners and vendors the current average rate to attend an event, we would have had more than $30,000 in revenue. Even though that would be a great donation for a charity, that was not the sole purpose of this event. We wanted the event to be affordable for everyone and more importantly, a place to gather where the Polaris Slingshot was born.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Huntsville.
Yes, the plant has the challenge of previously dealing with giving tours to people who harmlessly or intentionally leaked. Tours of 12 is more easily monitored. Polaris has been burned by such tours - Can Am affiliates and other competitors always itching to get inside during a tour... they have the leading edge on the competition - and will do what it takes to protect that. The shop floor has cameras, And with the groups going thru the floor or at the catwalk - those cameras will be watching, so if you pull your phone out of your pocket on the production floor - pretty sure your Polaris tour will be over.. best to keep any and all phones out of sight.
rabtech , I didnt mean to exclude the work you put in for last years get together plant tour event but this is a lot different, and Polaris is nervous of what the possible ramifications of this might entail with all the happenings on company property.
Last year the group was smaller, and it was also done on a Saturday when the Slingshot line was the ONLY line running inside the plant, and models being produced were previously released.
They now will have to change up the production schedule to ensure premature release of the 2020 products do not happen.
NOW.... Steve and I are going to checkout SIX MILE CREEK ROAD, INDIAN HILLS ROAD, AND WILHITES ROAD.... 😁
Send a text or post a message if you have a road you need checked out
Yes, the plant has the challenge of previously dealing with giving tours to people who harmlessly or intentionally leaked. Tours of 12 is more easily monitored. Polaris has been burned by such tours - Can Am affiliates and other competitors always itching to get inside during a tour... they have the leading edge on the competition - and will do what it takes to protect that. The shop floor has cameras, And with the groups going thru the floor or at the catwalk - those cameras will be watching, so if you pull your phone out of your pocket on the production floor - pretty sure your Polaris tour will be over.. best to keep any and all phones out of sight.
rabtech , I didnt mean to exclude the work you put in for last years get together plant tour event but this is a lot different, and Polaris is nervous of what the possible ramifications of this might entail with all the happenings on company property.
Last year the group was smaller, and it was also done on a Saturday when the Slingshot line was the ONLY line running inside the plant, and models being produced were previously released.
They now will have to change up the production schedule to ensure premature release of the 2020 products do not happen.
I think you are trying to give me credit for the small group that toured last year. I unfortunately cant even take credit for that. I cant actually remember who put that gathering together.
But I do know they are serious about their secrets. I mean they take this shit to a whole other level. And truthfully I'm sure if they carry the secretive process to 110% they can probably achieve 80% of that goal. Which is pretty good.
Hopefully they will let me go off into a distant corner of the parking lot and eat a tire or two off. Just thinking outloud.... You never know until you ask.. They may want to see some of their slingshots vaporize a few tires safely...
Riding.... stopped for drinks...
FunCycle , you gonna break my heart this early in our relationship or are you in it for the long haul?
Sincerely
With love,
You and the rest of the crew are doing a great thing here. Don't let the few negative nellies get you down. Those kind would bitch even if they were hung with a new rope.
NO! I go out of my way to do the right thing. You are making a judgement call about something that you know nothing about.
NO! I go out of my way to do the right thing. You are making a judgement call about something that you know nothing about.
Sorry. That wasn't aimed at you. I was talking about the FB folks. Some of them were very vocal.
Besides, you're one of the people I want to meet.
Just a comment as I’ve been too busy to read up on the Forum....
Polaris is not accustomed to working with groups so they have a tendency to hold back things until the last minute. Charging a fee for VIP tours was NOT our idea! It was the Plant manager who stuck his neck out to offer these tours to help raise money for the kids! And, even though it was mentioned earlier on, it was not approved until shortly before the announcement.
Free tours were limited in numbers by the factory.... not us. Also, I don’t believe the Free Tours consist of just watching a video but even if that is all I see, I will better understand what goes in this machine. Ross and Trent have done an amazing job in getting access to the factory at all. They were VERY HESITANT about allowing anyone inside due to new model changes and past problems with Assholes!
Realize that ANY COMPANY will or will not give tours. However, I know of NO company giving tours while model changes are occurring!
Why is it a great idea to go to the Huntsville Homecoming? Because you are surrounded by Owners with only Owner’s interests in mind and not people trying to make a buck. We support Owners and Vendors and Charities. You will be at the “Birthplace” of the Slingshot and what better place to have a “Homecoming”? You will mingle with employees, see what you’ve not seen, visit with friends and make new ones.
Will there be “hiccups”?.... I’m sure. It may be hot.... it may be cold.....you may wish you threw in a folding chair, tables may be lacking, the food may not meet your Lactose Intolerant needs, there may be insects and much more. BUT THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE!
We try to attend to everyone in making this a great experience. We don’t charge anything to come and we provide as much as we are able. Not a dime of profit is made by SOG. Unfortunately, there may be a very few who will not appreciate a gift of a brand new Slingshot because it’s not the color they had in mind! There may be a very few who feel entitled at others’ expense. For those... I cannot help you.
We are doing this for YOU! We didn’t have to but it was a passion for the community that led us to this point. If you needed something.... It was given. If you needed a hand....It was lent. If you had a problem..... It was fixed. These are the people putting this together for you!
Over the years I’ve learned about those who feel people are there to fulfill their every need at their every whim. They feel “entitled” and give very little in return. THAT IS NOT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SHOLD BE! “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” MUST be replaced with “No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed”!!!
Shame on the bashing! Shame on the insults! Shame on the “Users”!
If you ask anything of me, I will try my best. If you need something, I will try to get it. If you broke something, I will try to fix it. All I’ve EVER asked, is that you do the same to Pay It Forward. Don’t lose this folks. It’s what makes us unique and worthwhile!
Besides, you're one of the people I want to meet.
Me too. Please come. You never know if there will be another opportunity...
Bah humbug, if they are giving out prizes, don't show up, gives me more of a chance to win one! 
Obviously a joke, don't take that the wrong way... Looking forward to seeing everyone there
