GSCA and GS Nationals coming to an end???!!!

Discussion in 'GSCA events' started by No Lift, Dec 16, 2014.

  1. No Lift

    No Lift Platinum Level Contributor

    I'm posting Richard Lasseter's message to the club membership about the future of the club that was in the September/October issue of the GSXtra. I believe anybody that is even remotely interested in keeping the performance Buick spirit alive but not a member should be able to read it. I'm sure he won't mind especially if it brings somebody to his attention who wants to take the helm. Interesting to read and if it does come to pass it means that if somebody thought about going to the GS Nationals and didn't make it yet they better get off their backsides and get there in the next two years or they will miss out on the performance Buick event.

    I keep going back year after year and I always thought I'd stop going to the Nationals before the club or event gave out. However it looks like it may stop before my excitement about driving down to Bowling Green gives out. After all these years it will be a sad day indeed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't happen.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. cole

    cole Platinum Level Contributor

    I had received this latest news letter the other day and read that, then came on the board to find out Dave Benisek had passed away and man does that bring a Buick guy down:( Time is marching on for sure!!
     
  3. tufbuick

    tufbuick RIP

    .........................................wow !!!
     
  4. 71gs3504sp

    71gs3504sp Well-Known Member

    If it happens, its going to be much missed. Richard is one special guy who started GSCA with a few Buick guys in the early 80s to what it is today. He has invited anyone to take the reigns of GSCA and continue it to the future but I believe there was no taker as of yet. I truly dont know how he did it all these years but we need to remember his name because of his many years and 100% dedication for GSCA!

    George
     
  5. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    anyone know approximately how many current members the GSCA has?
     
  6. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    3467 according to the article.
     
  7. lostGS

    lostGS Well-Known Member

    Strange that Richard is forgetting the 73-75 Gran Sport. Then some of us who where members when they only had a lowly Skylark, the base for the GS. I do believe that the GSCA will keep going once Richard decides to retire. Maybe a group will take it over and carry on the dedicated work that he poured so many years into.

    Tim
     
  8. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Interesting..

    I certainly hope that someone steps up to take it over.

    Mr Lassiter is correct, that person needs to be both immersed in the T/R and GS hobby, must have outside income sources, or be set financially, and be willing to work hard for little to nothing.

    I also believe that one person has to be able to handle all the day to day workings, create and see that the newsletter is printed and mailed, and be available all the time for member interaction via phone and email.

    It's a huge job, not to be undertaken lightly.

    The Nationals is a whole 'nuther can of worms.. Events can be the catalyst for growth, or the angel of death for a car club this size. Once again, the "independently wealthy" situation factors in greatly here. You have to be able to sustain a loss some years. Weather and the economy, two factors totally out of your control, will be your biggest enemy.

    If that person is out there, and ends up taking over the club, and is reading this now.. Give me a call, I would be glad to offer up a tech article now and then for the GSXtra..

    JW
     
  9. Ken Mild

    Ken Mild King of 18 Year Resto's

    I have absolutely nothing but great things to say about Richard. Nada. He is a class act from beginning to end. What a job he's done with the GSCA.
     
  10. cjp69

    cjp69 Gold Level Contributor

    Thanks Mike, I missed that!

    So gross income from members is about $156k @ approx. $45 each. Seems like one of the GSCA chapters could take it over and make it work? That is a pretty healthy revenue stream. Offer an option for electronic newsletter delivery and you could probably save a bundle, as that usually seems to be one of the highest costs.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2014
  11. bobbybuick

    bobbybuick Well-Known Member

    You know, for most businesses only a nickle falls to the bottom a dime if your damn lucky.that don't leave much meat on the bone.That said I am looking to retire from my career in a couple years at age 59 i think ill call him just to get some details.I was very impressed with the atmosphere at the nationals in 14
     
  12. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Hopefully everyone can make it in 2015 and make it the biggest yet. I plan on making the trip.
     
  13. Joe65SkylarkGS

    Joe65SkylarkGS 462 ina 65 Lark / GN

    Ya know I missed my payment in Oct then sent in a 2 year payment and still havent received my issues. Very sad to read this.

    I hope someone steps up.

    I been a member since mid 80's and my buddy Eric has been a member since the beginning. Hes the one Who turned me onto the club!!!
     
  14. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    Is Bennett retiring also?
    I was always told the GSCA had nothing to do with the nationals they belonged to Bennett.
     
  15. ss4825

    ss4825 Well-Known Member


    x2
     
  16. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    You know what they always say Dave, everything is for sale! :grin:
     
  17. tufbuick

    tufbuick RIP

    [​IMG]





    As stated by Richard, both the "GSCA and the GS Nationals are available to a qualified person for free". Nothing in the newsletter indicated the package was up for sale.

    Has Bennett agreed to let the event go or did a long standing OWNERSHIP QUESTION about the "GS Nationals" just get answered?
     
  18. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    It will be sad if the GSCA goes down that dead end road that all good things seem to eventually travel down. The one who needs to retire is Bennett. The worse thing to happen to the GS Nats was him buying the event out. He's running it into the ground with his collect as much $$$ and contribute nothing into the event philosophy. Not to mention his negative/crappy attitude that's starting to rub off on the staff. If the Nationals go by by it will be because of him IMO and I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks that.
     
  19. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Mike, I have a lot of words I could add to your statement........ but I think I'll let discretion set in and people can just read between the lines. A cheerful attitude, kind words and some flexibility would have gone "miles" in the past decade or two.

    Steve
     
  20. Jim Rodgers

    Jim Rodgers Well-Known Member

    I wonder who, out of all of the past and present naysayers, is going to step up and put their money where their mouth is? Not being mean or anything, but so many people have slammed Richard and Bennett over the years about how poorly they ran things, yet to my knowledge not one has stepped up to prove that they can do better. Now, I do realize that there are many folks that dont know what Im talking about, and still more that dont care, but I have been on this board and the others since the very beginning, so I know who all of the nay sayers are, so I must say that I find this very amusing. If the club has been a cash cow as some have stated so many times, why havent any of them stepped up to take it over and take all this cash to the bank?????? One would think there would be a line forming at Richards front door!

    Me? I think Richard and Bennett have done what was needed to keep the thing going for all of these years. Did we all like every one of the decisions that were made? Maybe not. Did we all feel that we could have been treated better or more fairly or that we should have gotten a discount or free ride for some reason? Perhaps. But keep in mind, some of the events that tried to make "everyone" happy have now gone the way of the doe doe bird. While the GS Nats and GSCA are still around. So they must have been doing something right.

    Not to mention, there are many here that do not want to see it go! So it couldnt have been that bad!
     

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