Las Vegas Buyagift trip - Thanks!

[Wardy]

Well, having just about recovered on sleep and everything else I thought it was time to do a public thank you to Buyagift, well especially Graham & Dan for organising such an absolutely amazing trip to Las Vegas for the Buyagift incentive!
Having been so lucky to go on last years trip I thougth it would be impossible to actually top last year, but amazingly they somehow managed it!

I know for a fact I can speak for everyone on the trip (all 8 affiliates plus Graham & Dan) and say that it will be a weekend that will live with all of us forever!
I will do a brief recap on what we did over the weekend...

An addition to the itineray was added for the dinnertime of the Saturday was a trip to a gun range. We got to shoot shotguns, AK47, Hand gun and some other automatic gun. I came out of there with a surreal feeling and totally with a huge repect for guns, it was a very odd feeling. The fact is, stood in that room with 8 guns being fired all at once and with anyone able to turn around if they wish kind of puts allot of things into perspective. You do not relax in there untill you are out of the range!
A piece of advise, DO NOT go near Steve Clarke at any point if he is in possesion of a gun, his later confession about him & especially his wifes desire of what they would like to do with a gun would make you run...FAST (by the way, I'm not talking about perverted desires here)!

After the guns we got to get strapped into some Indy cars and take to the Las Vegas Speedway for some driving (Neil being the one with the fastest lap time of everyone).
It was mega hot and sat in those racing suits was hard going, it was a long day but extremely fun! Amazingly the fact we were driving cars that were capable of doing 200mph+ the thrill of this was still surpassed the follwoing morning).

The following morning we split into 2 groups (early & late) and went to the airport to do our figther plane experience and some dog-fighting.
My flight against Rob was a bit of a United vs Chewlseee match off which we both wanted to win. I'm happy to say I came out on top with a 4-1 to United
This has got to be one of the most exhilerating experiences I have ever had, it is impossible to put into words just how amazing it was. Luckily all of our flights were recorded so we will most likely be getting these online soon so everyone can have a look if they want.
We got to pull some G's, 4.6G is what Bogey (my instructor) said we had acheived, we also managed a couple of Barrel rolls on our way back to base too, totally thrilling and such a buzz it kind of puts a new high on the gift experiences I have done in the past with Buyagift!

The last night was a VIP trip round some of the clubs that was a late one and had a couple of legendary tales about the evening but these might be locked away for the 10 that were there (although I'm sure these tales would be worth a few grand to anyone wanting to hear)
Pretty much an all nighter for everyone in the hope it would mean sleeping on the plane on the way back, unfortunately for me that did not work and I did not manage to sleep on the plane which was not the best set me up for me to have to fly out to Moscow extremely early the next day.

Sorry for maybe waffling, but I'm still buzzing from the trip, what I have said could not do it justice. The trip was superb and the group of people there made it even more enjoyable, even with the playboy in the group flying in girls!

Cheers
Wardy

[ian-d]

Jammy git

[QualityNonsense]

Great description, Wardy. Likewise, I'd like to say a huge thank you to Dan and Graham at Buyagift for another unforgettable weekend in Vegas.

I get my cockpit video from Air Combat USA back in PAL format Tuesday afternoon...

[Markup]

Originally Posted by Wardy ...stood in that room with 8 guns being fired all at once and with anyone able to turn around if they wish kind of puts allot of things into perspective. Cheers Wardy

ROFLMAO Could 've been a case of, Wardy "This WAS the one".

Great write up mate - well done on the trip.

And hey - buyagift guys - What an incentive, nice one!!

[3wdl]

Sounds amazing mate!

[hero]

and then you guys wonder why there aren't more women affiliates...

[AffManagement]

Simply unforgettable!

Huge thanks to Dan and Graham (Buyagift) for this once in a lifetime experience/incentive.

Its hard to describe the exhilaration of everything we did looking back, you really had (have) to be there! I,m sure my friends are fed up of me talking about it already!

Shooting Guns - Stroll in, choose your guns, pick your targets and head through, AK47, Shotgun, Machine Gun and a Hand Gun, was a great buzz, and very true you don't relax until you are out of the range!! *tip, avoid doing this wearing flip flops, the shells are very hot and in a confined space with so many people/guns you may find yourself having to dance a little

Indy Cars - Were we really going to have total control of a 200mph car? another great day in Vegas we arrived at the track and strolled through with the impressive grandstand in the background, after a safety briefing we suited up and waited anxiously for our names to be called, personally my apprehension built as I was near last, squeezing into the confined space in the cockpit you waited for roll start and green light and slammed the accelerator. I was amazed to get the fastest mph, perhaps it was a bonus after my eyes were closed in the official photos lol.

Jet Fighter Dogfight - control of a plane without training or licence, never! Well the time had come, we had all watched the videos in the build up to the trip, we knew about potential G's we would be hitting, no surprise we all had an early night before. Being in the late group we listened to the excitement and experiences of the earlier groups, they could talk and walk, so nothing to worry about before heading into the briefing so it was Torres (me) versus (Fonzy) Richard. We took off and after a few minutes the words "neil you have control of the plane" came across the headset! gulp! well after a few practice rolls/turns and stomach control it was time for the dogfight, Fonzy won 3-2...... but I won on points ..we all walked away with a video of our individual flights which I,m sure we will all treasure.

All the gaps were filled with great company, great weather, gambling, drinking, limousines, VIP Nightclubs, couldn't ask for more, the casino's were even generous with their payouts perfect

Cheers, Neil...

[Graham@Buyagift]

Guys it was an absolute pleasure. I think Neil and Wardy summed it up pretty well, all the things that could be posted on the forum have been

Body English at the Hard Rock and was the last club on the tour, and lo and behold Grandmaster Flash was on the decks. Not really my scene but by the end of the night we were dancing like gangstas!

A truly memorable experience - last year I said we couldn't beat the trip, this year I mean it.

True once in a lifetime experiences, and fantastic company thanks to all those that came on the trip - oh and a belated happy 40th to Steve Clark, I'm sure champagne on the flight home was the last thing you wanted (and I noticed most people politely declined!)

I'd like to thank Dan for ebracing affiliate marketing within the business, and giving me the budget to run these amazing incentives. I look forward to discussing this years incentive with Dan in the coming weeks...

Cheers
Graham

[Romain]

Well, it’s (almost) all been said.

Dan, Graham… this was a treat. I can honestly say “unbelievable” and “unforgettable” in the same sentence now… simply legendary!

Last year was fantastic, especially for a petrol head like me, but this one just blew us all away.
The organised bits were just awesome, and the random bits just icing on the cake:

- Graham: “Guys, Indy cars are not running until later in the afternoon, what would you fancy?”
- Rob: “Let’s shoot some guns!”
- Graham: “ok”
(…)
- Cop: “Guys, we heard about a gun fight in the area on the police radio, could you please all check that your mobiles are off?”

Only in Vegas…

Another example: last year we rented a Stretched Hummer for our VIP Clubbing Tour and this year I didn’t think they would top that up… Well they did, by a mile.
When your limo has colour-changing neon lights… on its mudguards, then you know you’ve hit a benchmark!

Driving that 650 BHP Indy Car was also mad… you had to forget everything you know about handling and just trust that if you followed the pace and the line it would just turn. No drama, no tire squeal, just sheer handling and lateral G’s.

If that wasn’t enough the next day you get strapped into a training combat aircraft that can theoretically pull 10 positive and 6 negative G’s… which is way beyond passing out for anyone. The controls are so sensitive that even with fingertip corrections on the stick you can end-up upside down… madness.
I was so confused by the end of it I wouldn’t remember left from right.

Dan properly thrashed me at dog fighting: 5-0 (although I virtually crashed a couple of times), which is annoying really considering that both my father and grand father were combat pilots.
I guess it doesn’t run in the family!

There is sooo much to say, and so much that cannot be said, but either way, I will take those memories with me to my grave for sure!

Dan, Graham: thank you ever so much for a life changing adventure!

[claaarky]

What a great weekend! Cheers for the shampers on the way home, nice touch to start my 40th b'day celebrations (as if a weekend of pure indulgence wasn't enough!).

Arriving back from a trip like this and having a party in the evening wasn't the best plan but turned out to be good preparation for a dozen hyeractive nephews and nieces challenging me on the Wii (I made mincemeat of my 7 year old niece on the boxing....still undefeated, nice).

To clarify Wardy's comment about gun fixations in the Clark family, it's the missus who would love to mercilessly mow down a crowd with a machine gun......I just didn't get it until I got my hands on an AK47, now I do....kind of.

I've just read Moose's brilliant and incredibly informative blog of the weekend (Buyagift Affiliate Incentive in Las Vegas : Top Gun Part Deux » Affiliate Marketing Blog). It's packed with facts and figures that I was blissfully unaware of during the weekend (is the light on the top of the Luxor really the brightest in the world?!).

Looking forward to seeing everyone's pics. Trembling at the thought of next years incentive!

Cheers,
Steve