AOAI 2006 International Meet

April 23-29, 2006 at the Ramada Palm Spring Resort

Birth of a Legend + 45

What better place for a benchmark design automobile like the Avanti to be created than Palm Springs. Western playground of the wealthy and site of one of Raymond Loewy's several homes it provided the perfect place for a one-project studio. A new unsold house in a tract of spec houses was the perfect place. A couple of miles from Loewy's home it gave the staff the privacy they needed and the principal the access he needed to carry this fabulous project to completion.

Now come celebrate with us the 45th anniversary of the design and introduction of the Avanti automobile.

April 2006 (Updated 3/25/2006)

Sunday 23
4 p.m. Registration opens, Pick up meet material and visitor information. Vendors begin setting up. Meet with friends on your own, no formal events planned.

Monday 24
6 a.m. Swap meet
8 a.m. Registration
9 a.m. Seminar: Memorabilia: Preserving records of the past: Don Lindner
10 a.m. Presentation: Racing Avantis: Dave "The Avanti Kid" Bloomberg
1 p.m. Seminar: Cleaning and detailing your valuable automobile: Roland Vardon
2:30 p.m. Superchargers; maintenance and rebuilding: John Erb
4 p.m. to evening. Open house reception at Don Hedgepeth's home.

Tuesday 25
6 a.m. Swap meet
8 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Raymond Loewy home tour (Limit 50 attendees)
11 a.m. Presentation: State of the Association; Welcome members: President Michael Baker
1 p.m. Ponderose: Robert Pond's private classic car collection tour

2:30 p.m. Presentation: Paul McKeehan: Developing the Avanti: The Studebaker design group perspective
5 p.m. Lecture: Loewy & Industrial design: C. Orval Selders, former Loewy design associate

Wednesday 26

6 a.m. Swap meet
7 a.m. Judges' breakfast. Display area open for parking
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Registration
10 a.m. Judging begins. Public invited to view the display.
11:30 a.m. Lunch for judges
12:15 p.m. Judging resumes if necessary
6:30 p.m. Outdoor barbecue; Time to relax. Judging's over

Thursday 27
6 a.m. Swap meet
10 a.m. Avanti Association Board meeting. (Open to members)

1 p.m. Vanwenzel Classic Car Collection: Private collection of Frank Wenzel
3 p.m. Parade of Avantis (through town)
6:30 p.m. Awards banquet. Guest speaker, Laurence Loewy: The Raymond Loewy Museum of Industrial Design

Friday 28
7:30 a.m. Chapter leaders breakfast. Host: President Baker
10 a.m. Palm Springs Air Museum tour
1:30 p.m. Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
5 p.m. Lecture: Yesterday's Future: Lost opportunities at Studebaker: Robert Marcks, former Loewy Design associate

Saturday 29
8 a.m. Avantis on tour: Guided 50 to 100 mile scenic drive, Dennis Deeds Tour Master

Stephen A. Montgomery, Event Coordinator
Birth of a Legend + 45
A celebration of the design and development of the Avanti automobile
2115 1st Street
Bakersfield CA 93304-2707
Land/fax 661-324-3522 Mobile 661-496-6585
stephen@aoai.org
http://www.aoai.org

Download Registration Form

Printable Schedule

Update on Meet Preparations

About The Ramada Palm Springs Resort

Imagine yourself at the Ramada Palm Springs Resort with the crystal clear oasis of our Olympic pool, or the soothing tranquility in one of our two luxurious Jacuzzi therapy pools. How about a revitalizing deep tissue massage, in our massage therapy center? Or a quick workout in the state of the art fitness center, we have it all. Whether it's for romance, business, or just an escape, at the Ramada Palm Springs Resort we want to pamper you!

After Hours

The nightlife in Palm Springs is tremendous. Start your evening off over cocktails and gourmet cuisine at Leon 's Bar & Grill, voted the #1 local restaurant in Palm Springs conveniently located at our resort. Step out and enjoy the Las Vegas style casinos located just minutes away. Don't drive six hours to get what you can in just two.

Palm Springs Resort Amenities

Our 255 spacious guestrooms feature refrigerator, in-room coffee, hair dryers, ironing board and iron, as well as 73 cable channels and for your computer, wireless high speed Internet.

Located only five minutes from downtown Palm Springs, the Airport, and the Convention Center we are a perfect location for your desert fun.

Palm Springs Home of Raymond Loewy

The Raymond Loewy home is today a private residence and located on a cul-de-sac with little parking. By special invitation we are arranging for a tour of this landmark property. Transportation will pick you up at the hotel and docents will show you where Raymond Loewy lived while the Avanti was being designed.

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies is a stage show with performers who are all over 60 years old. Every one who has seen this show says it is not to be missed. This event is available at a cost far less than the normal price.

Palm Springs Destinations

Palm Springs is a vacation destination with among the most interesting and fun attractions you can find anywhere. In addition to special unique events for our group like a tour of Raymond Loewy's home here are some things you won't want to miss,

The Aerial Tramway, http://www.pstramway.com/index.htm
Palm Springs Air Museum http://www.palmspringsairmuseum.org/
The Palm Springs Follies http://palmspringsfollies.com/
The Palm Springs Museum, http://www.psmuseum.org/
The Indian Canyons, http://www.indian-canyons.com/
The Moorten Botanical Garden (native plants and items for sale)
Palm Springs Modern Tours (tours featuring Palm Springs rich Mid Century Modern heritage.)
Celebrity Tours
Desert Adventures Jeep Tours
And near by Joshua Tree National Park http://www.nps.gov/jotr/

More to come

There is much more. Go to the Web for these and see what else is there waiting for you. For more information go to http://www.gayot.com/travel/citytrips/palmsprings_4.html