GSCA Nats ideas- car show, judged, etc. BRING YOUR BUICK! Even the rotted out ones!!!

Got to do it. We are not getting younger and the way the economy is going and the world who knows what can happen. Time to see cars and or people that have not gotten to enjoy the event. Let's hope this brings some out so we get new cars, faces and stories.
John jr

 

2024 Buick GS Nationals " Family Picnic"
Bring any and all Buicks!
4 Day Car Show!

 

Since you're involved w/the show now (thank you!) & changes are being made, I'll add my 2 cents (you & others may not agree, which is fine):

1. Move the Concours cars into the circle track area. I understand/assume the idea was orig. to have them in a prominent place but it's an accident waiting to happen (I watched a kid on a mini-bike doing wheelies going by them) & my understanding is the cars get very dusty.
2. Other than staging from under the bridge, use the circle track area for the show. The pits are huge & part of that area is being used for vending, & those could moved into the vending area
3. Maybe (?) Move the vending into the circle track area. Not sure if maybe the asphalt is too hot for parts vendors?
4. Give out the show awards Friday afternoon & allow the show winners/concours awardees to make a timed pass if they desire.

 

Great Ideas! keep them coming

 

All of these have been huge things people are asking for.
So yes concourse is moved to the circle track. All show cars will be in the circle track. Safer and better for everyone.
Vending is going to stay in the same location for this year. That will be something we can address for next year but i need input from actual vendors that attend and not keyboard warriors.
Show awards will be friday afternoon as always. As far as going down the track we have an issue with that. The problem is the street tires really mess up the track and then takes another hour or so to get the track ready plus materials. So from a cost stand point and time issue its a no.
We are working on doing a parade lap through the entire pits, staging lanes and back around thru the circle track for all the winners.
Alot of us feel this will give some recognition and great photo opportunities as well.
All these are great ideas and take volunteers and work. I myself and a few others are really working hard to make the changes. The 4 day display will be a huge plus as well so cars are not lost in the pits. But that also takes volunteers to park and make sure people know all the things.
I will do a full update post with all the changes and additions soon. Just waiting on a few more sponsors and ideas to finalize and move forward. Should have the track contract shortly as well so i and we can determine pricing as well for all the days.
Thank you all for the ideas and keep them coming. This event is for you by you. I am just trying to do what the majority wants to make a great event.
john jr

 

I think a new thread should be started to voice any new ideas or opinions. Thanks John jr. for working to get us a great show this year.

 

Thanks for addressing these issues.

I certainly understand regarding not messing up the track but aren't there plenty of cars/classes that run street tires anyway?

 

I think the issue is FOD, just like airport runways, rocks and other foreign objects stuck to tires in the tread falling onto the track. Increasing the number of street tires on the track increases the amount of FOD. A solution would be a couple guys checking car’s tires before rolling onto the track is a pretty easy solution. Another problem is oil dripping onto the track because as we all know Buicks love to mark their territory!
But I agree, it would be cool to have a few hours for an old fashioned grudge night for all the non-racers.

 

We are not deferring from anyone making passes or grudge racing at all. Hopefully we can get both stage 2 cars side by side for some pics going down the track. We want everyone to race and have fun.
But as far as every show car just making a pass is tough. Not impossible but tough on time and cost for it to happen.
Im sure we can do something down the track close to the wall out of the groove but i actually think that is more dangerous than good for all of us. Obviously we dont want any issue or damage to a car if possible.
But if any show car wants to make a pass during the afternoon on friday we can make that happen during the open test and tune after qualifying. I will talk to Richard but i know we can do it.
Show me a paid show ticket and 1 pass down the track only. No need to buy a tech card but will need a helmet and safety gear if required. I got to follow track rules due to insurance reasons.
john jr

 

Title has been changed

 

It'd be nice if they were offered the opportunity. IMHO, no better way to show off the cars. I'm not sure that most would do it & we're not talking about a lot of cars anyway (i.e. not all show cars although maybe that's not a bad idea!). I was thinking just the show class winners/concours awarded or say top 5-10 if the format for reg. show is all one class of awards/top 25 or whatever.

I think everyone would agree that what makes the GS Nationals a rather unique event is the racing aspect! I remember back in the day when there was no racing on Friday & sitting on the grass behind many "show cars" (the show was in the campground area) was a pair of slicks.

As far as the vending, I was treading very lightly there (i.e. trying to not be a "keyboard warrior"). It is a lot of the same vendors every year & would be worth asking them. It doesn't matter that much. Just seems (to me anyway) it'd be better to have all the "action" concentrated but could also be that the noise &/or heat factors make it not amenable. I find myself running back and forth a lot between meeting up w/people, looking at show cars, and catching some racing action but hey, the exercise is good.

Thanks for considering and we really appreciate what you're doing!

 

All good. Thank you as i appreciate it alot. I am trying to do what you all want and i need suggestions and ideas. Lots of people are set in their ways so change is hard too. But slow progress is good if its for the good of the event. There is so much work involved behind the scenes but im doing the best i can and so are the others. I know after the holidays is when everyone really starts full force but im trying to spread it out and be ahead and do what i can when i can. Its definetly a part time volunteer job between calls, texts, and emails. Just want everyone to have a great time again. I love this event for the people. Dont know who volunteered me for this position but i got to do my best. Im not a car show guy but the few things i have noticed myself are the same things you all are complaining about for changes. I thnk the 4 day display will bring back the old school aspect of the event so i agree with you on showing off the cars more. In my personal opinion if i wasnt racing i would not haul my car that far for a 4 hr show. Granted we did with dads gsx for the reunion but otherwise would not have happened. 4 days makes the trip worth it. We all complain the week goes so fast already.
john jr

 

if anyone has any "fun magazines" for me, as per tradition from the two years ive been to the nats..
feel free

 

I was there from '85-98 & then not again until '17 and what struck me was how much the show had seemingly become more of an afterthought. I hung out that year ('17, & in October) until the awards were handed out. It was almost dark out & while the cars were allowed to make a pass, the timing equipment was already being dismantled for the evening.

Another aspect since you're race director as well. It'd be nice upon entering if there was a basic sheet handed out showing the event schedule, show classes, and especially the race classes.

Also, & probably not your area, but I understand (I was late getting there last year) there was a social event @ the track Thu. evening. Wild Bill (aka @Topcat) also had his WOT meeting, which in previous years had gotten quite large. Seems a combined/catered/cash bar Thu. night event would be nice. Either at the track or (preferably IMHO) a hotel/banquet facility (cooler & a chance to go back to the hotel in between). Bill's event is fun & he'd be perfect to run the MC'ing of it if he'd be willing. There's no sense having competing events IMHO. That dilution of events is partly what led to Nationals becoming a much smaller event in the 2000's.

Lastly, I'm so glad we're even having this dialog. In '17 the other striking thing was how small the event was compared to the '90s but the past 3 years have been fantastic! They had that '90s feel to them. It was expected in '21 w/the GSX reunion & everyone being cooped up but it's really continued! Life got in the way for a lot of us & it's good to be back! For many of us, BG is like our 2nd home town we've been there so many times. The 4-day show should help keep the car count up.

To that end, maybe a theme for the event ea. year would help keep it more interesting. Showcase a particular year, model, etc. The iron head Stage 2 cars if Brent & Frank (& others) this year would be a neat theme. Lots of things - Early race cars on display one year would be neat. Riviera GSs another year. Denny's experimental parts display is wonderful. Lots of possibilities to increase the draw.

A few years ago Tony Rose (not sure if he's on here) & I were talking about a display where everyone brought their pictures from the old Nationals & people could look through everyone's photo albums.

 

I wish I lived closer. Would love to bring my GS. Still have no headliner to this day. Oh, I have one, it's in a box in the basement with the jute padding. Right where it belongs right? lol

 

first off feel free to call me anytime. 9144698617 or message me on instant messenger or just text.
Last year we had a flyer for each day but we didnt make enough for everyone as we ran out by friday morning.
yes the thursday night get together at track does interfere with wild bills thing but its the only day it logistically works for us at the track and for george pollakis who is handling it. It gives us the most time so we are not rushed. Last year it went till almost 11pm by the time we locked the track up. This year will be added upon as well hopefully with some food and snacks.
i firmly agree that years past have been declining in the entire aspect of the event. We had some good fun years but not what the 90's brought besides the super 16 reunion year. Last year we had a great turnout and i think alot of people enjoyed it and it seemed to go very smoothly. At least the racing end. We seemed to have a great flow and no hurry up and wait like years past.
I hear all the concerns and trying my best to make them happen. Some stuff just doesnt work but most things we can make happen or pieces of it.
As far as a theme for this year the consensus has been the oddballs.
4 doors, drivers, wagons, projects, big boats. Basically the car that has not been to the nats because you brought a gs or stage 1.
For turbo cars we want the limiteds, the colors, the swaps. We have all seen the gn so if you got something different bring it.
otherwise just bring a car and show it off. We all have great stories.
A few of my old cars are out there and would love to see them show up and hear the stories now too.
john jr

 

Unfortunately it is a serious haul for the folks in the NE & out west. 700 mi. for me which is doable in a day. Much more than that probably isn't (exc. for @George D. who's a madman wrt driving crazy distances/times).

 

Thanks John.

I posted a link to a '70 Electra a few days ago and was saying in that thread that a bucket list adventure was to buy a nice big Buick/Riv. one year & drive it to BG.

I had my old '69 Sportwagon 400 there in '88 or '89 (towing a friend's '71 GS 455 & hit a deer in WV on the way). @jherb, myself, & @Matt Knutson drove Matt's old '68 SW 400 there (not towing) back in the early '90s. Fun times.

@bherbert drove his '69 Riviera down last year & I think it got a lot of attention. @BUQUICK's '72 4-door mady a brief appearance last year on Friday.