Yes... I agree the focus should be on Hybrid technology, and how to get the most from it. I went to a Hybrid event Hosted by Ford last October.

They had 30-60 minutes of "meet the engineers" behind the product...
Followed by a 30 minute power-point presentation about the Hybrid Escape...
Follwed by 30 minutes of Q&A...

Then, a Ford engineer took every Hybrid driver on a circular city course...similar to the EPA test... but only about 8 miles / 15 minutes. When we got back, they recorded everyone's data for their own internal records...

The point of the city drive, was to show everyone how to get EPA numbers... or in some cases ( myself ) better than EPA.

I consider myself a pretty darn near expert on the Ford Escape Hybrid.
It would be nice to have an event with an expert for each model.
It would be mostly for education... and to show with a little change in driving style, it is easy to get the EPA mileage. But a little friendly "competition" to see who can move the most mass with the least amount of gas I think is also in order!.
Pound for pound... I'll put my Ford against any Toyota or Honda!

If we can get many people, and many models of Hybrid to show, I think it would be a Press event.

I also have concerns about "driving for driving's sake".
But if we spend (use) a gallon or two to show people how to save a gallon per week... well... the benefits out weigh the cost.

To attract people from distance... maybe we could hold it someplace nice, like Estes Park or something similar... The beautiful surroundings and National Park could attract families from out-of-state that would just come to our get-together as one day of their vacation sort of thing.

I have high hopes of something larger then just 3 guys getting together one afternoon.

I think it would be nice to have bumper stickers ( wheather or not you actually put them on your beloved car is up to you... ) and even loaner ScanGauges on hand for people to perhaps see car data they have never seen before.

Whatcha think? I have at least 3 Ford owners interested. One from out of state!

-John