CAMFESTS►►► 

►Camfest Deposit

DEPOSIT NOTE:  DEPOSITS WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL IF WE DON'T GET ENOUGH CARS SCHEDULED FOR A CAMFEST AND THE CAMFEST IS CANCELED OR POSTPONED.  YOUR DEPOSIT SECURES YOUR CAMFEST APPOINTMENT, AND PROVIDES THE MOST ACCURATE MEANS TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF CAMFEST ATTENDEES.  OTHERWISE, DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE!

Your camfest deposit can be made via PayPal by clicking the button below.  (You do NOT have to be a PayPal member to make your deposit via PayPal.  Just click on the "If you do not currently have a PayPal account [Click Here]" button in the middle of the payment page and it will allow you to direct pay with a credit/debit card.)  

In the "Camfest Deposit Notes" section, please advise us of your first and second appointment preferences (days and times), the year of your SHO, and contact telephone numbers.

►What is a camfest?

Kirk Doucette of Northeast SHO is the ONLY person who regularly takes his cam welding service "on the road."  This allows people in parts of the country who don't have local convenient access to an experienced cam welder to have their cars serviced close to home by the most experienced cam welder in the business.  The exact same cam welding service performed at our shop is performed at the camfest.  Other additional services, such as serpentine belt replacement are also available, please contact us with your needs and for pricing.

We are now also offering Intake Cleaning services for those who have already had their cams welded.  Please see our Services page for more information on this service.

►How often do they occur?

We have a number of locations around the country which host camfests on a regular basis.  Many locations hold these events twice a year; one in the late winter/early spring, and one in the late summer/early fall.

►What happens at a camfest?

Kirk and his associate bring all of their tools and supplies to the camfest location, and within a couple of hours are set up to begin working on cars.  Usually, two cars are scheduled for each day of the camfest, the first starting at 9:00AM and finishing around 1:00PM, the second starting at 2:00PM and finishing around 6:00PM.

By all accounts, camfests can be very enjoyable for all involved!  It is not uncommon to experience a lot of laughter from the beginning to the end of the camfest, as well as enjoyable nights out after each days work!  That's where the "fest" in camfest comes from!  In nearly 20 camfests, the police and an ambulance were only required ONCE!

►Where do the camfests take place?

We have a number of regular locations where camfests are held.  Some of those locations are listed below along with the name of the host:

• Tulsa, OK -- Hosted by SHOklahoma, Holly (Bailey) Zellers, and her brother-in-law Larry Erbe

• Nashville, TN -- Hosted by Rick Glass

• Houston, TX -- Hosted by Larry Taylor

• Grand Island, NE -- Hosted by Al Fitz of Midwest Repairables

• Hazleton, PA -- Hosted by Jenn Swire

• Warrenton, VA -- Hosted by Heather Rice

• Peterborough, Ontario, Canada -- Hosted by John Hamilton

In addition, we are currently trying to coordinate future camfests in new locations.  Please keep an eye on our News page for updates on plans for future camfests!

►How much does cam welding at a camfest cost?

Pricing varies depending on the total number of cars to be welded, as well as the travel distance and expenses.

Usually, camfest pricing ranges from $800 to $1200.  The average price in 2005 was $1000.  We will work hard to try to maintain this price in 2006, but with fewer cars attending each camfest and high fuel costs, the price may increase slightly.

When scheduling, an estimated price will be provided based on the number of cars expected, and the final price will usually be set the day after deposits are due.  Lately, camfest turnout has been lower than expected, so prices have regrettably been at the higher end of the range.  We've been recommending to camfest customers to prepare for the maximum $1200 price, with the possibility that they may be pleasantly surprised at the time of their service that the price is lower.

►How do I pay for the services at the camfest?

All camfest balances are payable in CASH ONLY (USD), and payment is due at the time services are rendered.  No non-Massachusetts checks, no traveler's checks, no food stamps, no pennies!!!  If you are uncomfortable paying cash, we will accept U.S. Postal Money Orders as long as you notify us IN ADVANCE that you will be paying in this manner.

A deposit in the amount of $200.00 (USD) is due NO LATER than the due date and time posted on the home page of our website.  Usually, this is 5 to 7 days before the first scheduled day of the camfest.  Deposits are payable via PayPal or money order.  If paying your deposit by money order, please be certain to mail it so that it arrives at least 7 days before the beginning of the camfest and make it payable to "Kirk J. Doucette".  Under no circumstances are we able to accept personal checks.  Last-minute deposits can be accepted via Western Union, at the customers expense.  Deposits are non-refundable unless WE cancel the camfest, or the camfest is ended early due to circumstances beyond our control.  Deposits allow us to base pricing on the number of cars confirmed by a deposit.  It would be unfair to other customers to raise our price due to a cancellation by another customer.  Once you've made a deposit, if you cannot attend the camfest or we refuse to perform the camfest service on your vehicle for any reason, your deposit will be applied in full to a future camfest, although camfest pricing may be different for that future camfest.  This has become necessary due to the fact that we purchase over $300 in parts for each car, and that expense is incurred whether your car is serviced or not.

To make a camfest deposit, please click the "PayPal Payments" button at the top of this page.  You do not need to be a PayPal customer in order to make your deposit via PayPal.

►Would you like to host a Camfest?

We are always interested in traveling to new locations to hold camfests.  We are mainly interested in locations that are not too close to any of our regular camfest locations.

Camfest hosts are responsible for generating interest and leads for customers to attend the camfest, and for providing the facilities where the camfest will occur.  This ids usually accomplished vial local SHO clubs, posting messages to the V8SHO mailing list, the SHOForum community, and even people you meet on the street who drive a V8 SHO.  Don't limit potential customers to your immediate area!  Many customers are willing to travel several hours to the camfest location.  You should plan on being the primary contact for the camfest until actual scheduling begins.  Once the preliminary interest has been established, and a number of interested customers have been identified, we can begin the process of formalizing the camfest, including publishing the camfest on our and other affiliated websites.  For locations where we have already established interest and are simply seeking a camfest host, there isn't as much of a need for someone to generate interest, but as always the more cars for a camfest the better!

►What must I provide to host a camfest at my location?

To host a camfest, the host should have, or have access to, the following:

• An enclosed garage or at least a covered carport, with approximately 24'x14' concrete floor space.  We cannot work in a carport if the forecast or normal average temperatures for the planned time of year are going to be below 50°F.  For enclosed garages, if the outside forecast or normal average temperatures will be below 40°F during the camfest, the host will need to provide heating.

• 120V A/C electrical outlet rated to at least 30 Amps.  If an extension cord is required, it must not exceed 12' length due to the current required by the welding equipment.

• An air compressor capable of providing a minimum 100 PSI air supply rated at 5 SCFM.

• A workbench or table(s) at least 8'x3'.

• A minimum 30 gallon trash can.

• 4-5 chairs.

In addition, the host will be responsible for the disposal of trash and waste oil.  We provide trash bags, and we pour all waste oil and non-CFC cleaners into covered 5 gallon pails.  We strive to leave all camfest locations as clean, if not cleaner, than we found them, so we also request that a push broom and dust pan be available.

Also, the host should be able to provide a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers for a couple hotels/motels that are within a 10-15 minute drive of the camfest location, detailed directions to the camfest location from the hotels, as well as from the typical north, south, east, west locations.  It is not uncommon for customers to drive two or three hundred miles to a camfest.

Lastly, the host should assemble a list of some local stores which we will frequent during the camfest, such as Wal-MArt, Target, Sears, and AutoZone, as well as some local restaurants that deliver, such as Papa John's (preferred!), Dominos, and a good deli/sub shop.

►How many cars are required for a camfest to occur?

Generally, the more cars the better!  For guidance, the following list details the minimum number of cars which much be confirmed and for which a deposit has been paid to schedule a camfest:

• Under 500 miles - 4 car minimum.

• 500-1000 miles - 6 car minimum.

• 1000-1500 miles - 8 car minimum.

• 1500 miles and more - 10 car minimum (add 2 cars for each additional 500 miles.)

All miles are actual driving distances from our shop in Spencer, MA to the camfest location via major interstate highways.  Ultimate routing and distance calculations are solely at the discretion of Northeast SHO.

►What do I get for hosting a camfest?

Camfest hosts have the two options to select from as compensation for hosting the camfest:

1. For hosts who are planning on having their own car welded during the camfest, you can receive a discount on the cam weld service, or even a FREE cam weld service depending on the number of cars being serviced.  (Please note that car counts do not incluce the cam fest host's car.  The host's car must be the final car scheduled for the camfest.  Also, for customers only scheduling an intake cleaning, their car only counts as one-half of a car, so we recommend trying to get two intake cleaning customers scheduled to account for a full car.)

2. For hosts whose car has already been welded, or who do not own a V8 SHO, you can choose to receive a cash payment per car.

►I want to host a camfest!

Congratulations!  Presuming you've already read all of the information on this page, then you should feel that you are prepared for the work and reward of hosting a camfest and are able to provide everything needed.  The next step is to get in touch with us!

We are working on establishing a web page specifically for people interested in hosting a camfest.  In the meanwhile, the best thing to do is to email us and provide us with the following information:

• Your name and location

• A brief introduction if we don't know you

• A description of the physical location where you will be hosting the camfest

• An indication that you've read this page and are readily prepared to meet all the requirements of a host that have been described

• Approximate dates when you would like the camfest to occur (note that it usually takes 2-3 months of planning to make a camfest at a new location happen!)

• A contact telephone number with the best times to reach you

• Any other additional information you feel will help make for a successful camfest