The idea of a
Fest started over on the Cleanfax board while it was in its infancy. Many of us had conversed online but few had met one another. A guy, who's name escapes me at the moment but used to own one of the first Powerclean units (I think he was from Oregon) spearheaded the idea. Jackson Lloyd, Ron Curtis, Lee Stockwell, Bob Savage, and a few others got the ball rolling.
I'd have to look up the dates, but the first Summerfest was held in October 1999 (I think) in Columbus, OH @ John Downey's home. Around 60 of us attended and set up a roundtable to discuss where and when future Summerfests would be held. We also voted that it would be called Summerfest, although for the first many it was held in the fall. As memory serves John Downey was adamant that Summerfest remain grassroots and relatively unorganized so an entity could not take over. I dissented, stating that I believed that's exactly the reason it needed to be organized. So far I have been wrong but I maintain to this day that if SF ever "takes off", some entity is going to attempt to hijack it.
It was voted that SF #2 be held in Atlanta in 2000. Bruce DeLoatch was the host. I had 2 fond memories at that SF: 1) meeting Marty 2) meeting Bruce's dad who is an accomplished musician and serenaded SF'ers during lunch.
SF #3 was held right after 9/11/01 in San Diego @ Greg Trigiero's shop. Many didn't make it as they were afraid to fly so soon after 9/11. This is the SF where Jeff Bishop did make a brief appearance, despite what some say.
SF4 was held in St. Louis, MO in Oct 02 and there was quite a controversy over one of the machines there. I don't know if Lee Stockwell wants to rehash the controversy but he and Ron Curtis still don't see eye-to-eye because of the machine tests @ that SF. Nick Nellos also attended this SF.
The first "Winterfest" was held in January 2003 in Pensacola, FL. I believe this was Marty's 2nd industry event but I was not there to ask him.
SF5 was held in 2003 @ Baltimore, MD. I missed this one so don't know many of the details.
The 2nd Winterfest was held in Fresno in Jan 2004 @ Yaser's place. I understand some of his equipment grew legs there, walked away, and haven't been seen since.
SF6 was held in Sept 2004 in Knoxville, TN. David Gargan was the host. Fon Johnson's young son, Christian, tested dad's swimming skills by falling in the hotel swimming pool after dinner. Fon, donned in a nice shirt and tie, dress slacks and shoes, jumped in when his son fell in and rescued him in short order. Poor kid was terrified.
Mikey commandeered Winterfest away from his competition and founded the first
Mikeysfest in Feb 2005
SF7 was held in Portland, Oregon in Sept 2005.
The 2nd
Mikeysfest was held in Feb 2006
SF8 was held in Myrtle Beach in Sep 2006.
Mikeysfest III was held in Feb 2007
SF9 was held at Bolden's training facility just north of Indianapolis in August 2007. If you are into water restoration, or want to be, you owe it to yourself to get to Bolden's - or "WD Mecca" as I call it. This SF was memorable as a comedy of pranks unfolded between Lindquist and Al Sims.
Mikeysfest 4 will be held in Feb 2008
The last I heard, SF 10 will be held in Muskegon, MI I believe in August.
Whew, that was a chore trying to rack my brain. There have been a smattering of Minifests thrown in between "official" fests, including one I held in (I think) 2004.
Scott
