This is EXACTLY why the event is just a shadow of the "good ol days" I quit the gsca years ago for these very reasons, I still go to BG cuz i enjoy seeing old friends but they'll never get any more than my 20 bux spectator money.
thanks for the positive comments.support.i agree that it is'nt our responsability to get sponsor dollars.if this economy is so bad why then does the turbo classes pay so well?i no of one class that had $15,000 for winner/runnerup.those classes pay really well.there race director must work his butt off.so why does'nt the gsca?? they have all year.wilcat performance maybe?? there was 20 cars in bi,5 cars in b2.maybe another 12-15 from b3,4,5,front wheel had 2.that's why they don't get sponsor cash.so why not parts or??save all the placks and throw it in a gambler race then.next year there will be less participation..:spank:
I'm not a racer and i'm sure its exspensive but no more than six figure show cars . I thought we did this for the love of the cars and seeing old friends and meeting new ones . I for one had a great time as always ,:beer :beer :beer Nothing wrong with haters going off and starting their own club but its tiring hearing them still to this day whine and poke jabs , grow up and get over it . We had several conversations over the week about the future of our Buicks once were gone. Energy should be focused more constructively getting more youths envolved . Only complaint i have Dallas needs to get that gas leak fixed ! Regards, DL
I've done the car show thing for many decades and have many National awards to show for it. I've also done the drag race thing for better than 20 years and have a few wins there too, (like Q16 last week). Believe me the two are NOT the same! Statements like that can only come from someone that does not race. Investing money in a show car and investing money in a drag race car are completely different situations and about the only thing in common is they both have four wheels. Drag racing is a "Sport" and competitors expect some compensation for winning, and rightfully so. Enough said on my part.:grin: Steve
when was the last time somebody hit a walll participating in a show or blew up their engine? there is great financial risk in racing but very little in a show when parked.
We had 77 cars officially registered and in the show field. There were 2 or 3 more who just drove into the show field and parked after registration ended.
I should have compared that to last year. Last year was 101 or 103 I forget the exact number but that's real close.
I understand the frustration of the low and/or lack of pay outs. There is no excuse for lack of initiative to get sponsors and give pay outs for every group. And that is not our job either. We all have a right to complain about that. o No: On the other hand, a huge reason that I go to the Nationals is to see the friends that I only get to see one time a year. And as much as several people want to pull everyone away from this event - you will not succeed! YOU WILL NOT ! ! ! :spank: There is too much history with this event and the gathering it has had over the years. I may have only 4 years attending under my belt, I have met some great people and look forward to seeing them every year for the event. :beer What can we do about it? Who knows what will work best. Maybe Richard needs to be cornered and given a WTF to why he is letting this event go so far down the drain. Just my $.02 American money (which is only a Canadian cent now). Mike
Mike I agree completely! This was my 28th year straight and the main reason I go is for the camaraderie! If it were just another show or race I would skip it! I am one of the old timers that witnessed first hand the changes that the club went through over the years. The last thing I would ever want is for the GSCA Nationals to go away!!! This doesn't change my feelings on race payouts however. No one ever said we need to make a ton of money by winning a race class, but enough to feel vindicated for all the work and dedication (and a little luck doesn't hurt either!) that it takes to win. Richard, or whoever owns the club now, needs to get it together and do some better promoting of the event. Like I said, the payouts don't need to be enormous, but "NOTHING" is all together unacceptable. I for one will do my best to never miss a GSCA Nationals, (with or without a car). It's been tough over the years to not miss any, but I do what I must to attend. Like you stated, "I go to see the friends that I only get to see one time a year". and I doubt that will ever change!! Steve
Nothing else really needs to be said other than the above. The nail has been hit on the proverbial head. Well said Steve.
why not just push the "reset" button and call it the FU-Bennett GSCA Nats ... carry on without him, and have some kind of accountablity as to where the gate money is actually going ?!?! Jim ... I honestly and wholeheartedly think you should think about taking it over. Im all about people having fun with their friends be it in BG or OH, but when the promoter sucks all the fun out its time to scratch your head and wonder o No: Lets face it ... without cars attending and being on the showfield or going down the racetrack, we may just as well hold a Buick friendship Cruise on the LoveBoat
Can't answer that ,but I can tell you it's a pain the ass and very stressful bringing 4 pricey cars to a show,fighting driving wind/rain ,and worrying about where to put them,cause youre worried about a tent collapsing on them.I was on my own with no assistance in finding cover for them.Scarey stuff.So carshow guys have crap to battle as well.It seems as if the powers that be really didn':3gears: t appreciate the efforts .Joe
now that i know the payouts were zero i am kinda glad my wildcat didn't make it this year...................... i will go next year but as of right now it will be without a car if that is unacceptable to some folks so be it........ for all the car show guys how would you like to drive cross country pay to enter your car and win first place and recieve nothing for it i know it would iritate you and then you would be complaining just my 2 cents worth scott
The GSCA Nationals used to be the Premier Buick event. Not anymore. Everything has its time and this events time is running out. 1-Money and greed are #1 at the GSCA. 2-Look at how they bang you out for unreasonable fees to attend the event. 3-GSCA participation in race payouts is non-existant....WTF. 4-Members are no longer regarded as a valuable asset to the club. 5-Politics played an important part in the downward spiral. 6-You can't get a straight answer from anyone with out a runaround. 7-Other Buick events have been born because of disgust with the GSCA. 8-You can go to other events where you feel welcome and wanted. 9-The feeling of the GSCA is they are out for themselves and not you. 10-The economy will kill anything that is in a weak position right now. The Good............... I remember when the racing was so packed with cars that we raced until 10:00pm every night. I remember when they had so many cars in the car show that every available piece of space had mega cars in each class. I remember when you got a nice payout in the race classes. I remember when the vendors used to be wall to wall with no space to spare. The Bad........... I remember when you had to beg for race payout for 3 months after the event was over. I remember when they gave out a lousy jacket to the Q-16 winner. I remember when they raised the fees for vendors to something unreasonable. I remember them charging the vendors for hay after a big rain. I remember post cards being mailed to members homes with derogitory comments. I remember the....'If you don't like it don't come' attitude of the people running the event. I'm not making any of this up.....this is why the GSCA event has gone WAY DOWN HILL. No faut but their own. *Please note that I have not mentioned any other event by name and I'm not here to promote them.
I have heard of others who don't attend the GS nats because of problems they didn't want to go into. George and Ellen Hall have raced buicks since the 60s yet they no longer attend. I have only attended once myself, ( second one IIRC in 1983) so I have no way to judge. I however understand the frustration racers have with all the hard work and $$$ spent and nothing in return. I do plan on really concidering weither or not attending again. Tim
ok I am probably going to get some crap over this. The GSCA and the BG event has been great in the past..I was a member and attended during the glory days of the 90's when the show car field was enormous. You had to wait 2 hours in the staging lanes just to make a pass. that was before the internet. I do have a problem when RRA's reach out to get $$$ for race classes of which I was contacted. I know how much it costs to rent a track buy tickets t-shirts etc. But when the club that hosts the event is not willing to put any $$$ into the Race or Show Classes you have to ask yourself why am I paying so much to attend and race. I know Jim Rodgers and I have butted heads before but I agree more need to be done to promote this event. There was virtually nothing done on the V8 or V6 Boards on behalf of the GSCA to promote this event. You look at Norwalk..Cecil..Southern Buick..Turbo Buick.com and BPG event it is all over the net. As an Event organizer it should not be IMHO to have the RRA's solicit payouts for both Race and Show. It should be the Event organizers. I have all the respect for the GSCA and what they have done in the past and wish them success, but think they can do better and help promote Buicks and fun
