As mentioned in the “Save the Date” post last month, our Spring Meet will be held on Saturday, April 20 at EG Simmons Regional Conservation Park, 2401 19th Avenue NW, Ruskin, Florida 33570. The meet will be held in Shelter House #12 (aka Sandy Beach Pavilion) and will begin at 11:00
(SEE BELOW FOR DETAILED DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS).
Park on the north end of the large parking lot near Sandy Beach Pavilion. We hope to get a roped off area for our Volvos, but it is not certain. All Volvo enthusiasts are welcome – no club membership required.
Sandy Beach Pavilion is located right on Tampa Bay, next to the park’s white sand beach, and offers views of St. Petersburg and Tampa downtown skylines as well as expansive views of Tampa Bay.
We’ll eat around noon, so bring your own lunch and beverages (no alcohol please). We will have a charcoal grill going (with limited barbeque equipment) if you want to cook something. We will have a 50-50 drawing to help pay for the shelter and other expenses and then talk Volvo for a while.
Around 2:00 PM, we will begin a Poker Run. The Poker Run is short, around 15 miles, and will only take about 45 minutes to complete. The route is in the Tampa suburbs, usually not too congested, will consist of both highways and residential streets, and will end at a local ice cream shop. For safety, each car must have both a driver to drive and a navigator to read the instructions. Each car will pay a $5 fee to enter the Poker Run. You will receive a total of 5 playing cards and the best poker hand (jokers are wild) wins a free 1-year membership to our host, Volvo Sports America and (possibly) part of the entry fee pot (depending on whether event costs are covered from the 50-50.). You can also pay $5 to purchase 1 additional card at the ice cream shop.
If you would enjoy some ice cream, but don’t want to participate in the Poker Run, you can go directly to Kimi’s Ice Cream and Sweets, 143 Harbor Village Lane, Apollo Beach, FL 33572.
In order to prepare the proper number of packages for the Poker Run, please RSVP to FLVCOA.org by April 13 to let me know that you intend to participate in the Poker Run. We are trying something a little different so that we can enjoy our cars during the meet and also show them off around town.
We’re looking forward to a great time.
DETAILED DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS – PLEASE NOTE
NOTE: Depending on your navigation program, 2401 19th Avenue NW, Ruskin, FL may put you at the incorrect location in the Park. Also, Apple Maps consistently changes the NW to NE and places you miles away from the Park. The most reliable method of navigating to EG Simmons Regional Conservation Park is to put that name in your navigation system to drive from your home to the Park. When you reach the intersection of 19th Avenue NW and EG Simmons Parkway, follow the directions below to access the Sandy Beach Pavilion,
DIRECTIONS TO SANDY BEACH PAVILION FROM 19TH AVENUE NW / EG SIMMONS PARKWAY
- Head northwest on E G Simmons Pkwy for 0.3 mi
- Stop at pay station ($2 per vehicle)
- Go around the pay station and traffic circle, then continue north on EG Simmons Parkway
- Continue on E G Simmons Pkwy for 0.7 mi
- Turn right on roadway, go past boat ramp and drive 0.2 mi
- Turn left into parking lot and look for the Volvos.
- Walk 300 feet north to Sandy Beach Pavilion (Shelter House #12) – it is located just north of the parking lot adjacent to the beach.
Hope to see you there.
