I appreciate all the feedback, guys.
I'm going to go with MEK's suggestion (and a few others here,) and stick with our block at the Radisson.
I ask that you trust me this go-around. I think the pricing is fair (for a block - I'm sure folks can get better prices if they shop themselves for individual rooms.) But most importantly, the location is ideal. This place will allow us plenty of room to break out the lawn chairs and coolers, kick back with our favorite muscle-car backdrop, and just enjoy some CC.C comradery in the evenings. Last year this never really got to materialize in the crowded Mariott parking lot, and I felt like a lot of people missed out on an experience that I've coveted since 2007.
And I've also kinda gotta agree with Hey-zeus up there, (lol), that if you're only driving 3-4 miles from the fairgrounds to the hotel, what fun is that?! I remember in 2007 leading a LONG line of e-bodies to the club dinner on Saturday evening up I-81 - took the LONG route... I'll bet my wife remembers just how giddy I was - like a ditzy teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert!
So let's give this one a chance. If we end up not liking it so much, then I'll book the Ramada for 2013 in like, August of this year...
Deal?
And as far as breakfast goes, ViperGal and I are trying to figure out how to provide some cupcakes and coffee at the tent in the mornings to sorta help out.
ViperMan