You should've tried being on the AACA site and ROA with my Riv. The pitchforks didn't come out, but close....... Now a serious question: Is the GS Nationals only for GSs? I know there's other Buicks and such in the races, but is the show for only actual Buick GSs and GSXs?
Hate to say it, but this is the car show mentality and it doesn't have anything to do with brand. Personally, I think trailering a car to a show to see how many people are envious of you indicates you have some desperate need for approval or attention. I can appreciate maintaining an original car to enjoy and preserve a piece of history, but it isn't any more valid than the guy who swaps a motor and makes it his own. Each has an appeal and a purpose. I try to remember that when there is the inevitable LS thread. I don't like to see mostly-original muscle cars of any make get swapped like that, but each person has an idea of what is best, and at the end of the day it's not my car or money, so why take it personally. I've seen plenty of people run off by this and it leaves the clubs / boards lacking in new members and ideas. You certainly won't teach a younger generation to appreciate these cars that way.
Here are the classes. Interestingly the headline states "Only rule- must be Buick" but I dont see any class spelling out a pre-65 car except the racecar class that requires a time slip. That looks like you have a question for Sid Meyer or Alan Oldfield. 2019 Friday Car Show Classes. Only Rule - Must Be Buick! (1st and 2nd place awards) Class A: 1965 - 1969 GS Hardtop Class B: 1970 - 1975 GS Hardtop Class C: 1965 - 1972 GS Convertible Class D: 1965 - 1975 Buick Street Machine Any Mods. Class E: 1962 - 1987 Best Buick Racecar w/2019 GS Nationals Time Slip. Class F: Turbo Regal Stock (up to 3 visible but subtle mods). Class G: Turbo Regal Modified Class H: 1988 - Present Stock Regal GS or Riviera FWD up to 3 mods ** Class I: Survivor Class - Any Buick Model, Any year (Top 5 Gold, Top 5 Silver) Class J: 1965 - 1975 Concours/Restored GS/GSX (400 points). Gold & Silver. Class K: 1965 - 1975 Concours/Restored GS/GSX (400 points). Class L: 1982 - 1987 Concours/Restored GN/GNX/Turbo Regal (400 points). ** Min. 6 cars required for Class H.
Here's a question... Is the 3800 II considered a Buick motor at these events? We all know it's a Buick design, but technically a corporate motor.
no , maybe not but BCA 2020 ( attention OP ) may be a better place to see some restored 66 GS's ? yes we need younger blood , no "fast with class" will not draw them in . they are lookin for wild paint , big nasty motors , different combinations etc . radiused wheel wells , tires sticking out , jacked front ends , primer and tube axles can't be off limits . took my wife for awhile one year - looking bored she stated most of the cars were identical , black and quiet .
Maybe a little more advertising to the fact that it isn't just for GSs and all Buicks stock and modified are welcome would be helpful. I know it's probably "common knowledge" to the guys that have been there or are in touch with the guys that go, but to the average layman/idiot such as myself, it doesn't sound like a car such as my Riviera is a welcome participant just from the way it's advertised and put out there. I only reference this because it's what I know the most about, but no car show that welcomes all Fords is going to be called the "Shelby Nationals" or "Boss Nationals". You wouldn't call a show that and expect a bunch of Galaxies, Torinos, or Fairlanes to show up. Maybe a name change to "Buick and GS Nationals" or something else along those lines would help guys with Electras, Invictas, Specials, etc. to know that they're welcome to show up.... Just an outside guy looking in.
The 3.8/3800 in all its variants is considered a Buick engine, even if it’s in a Camaro, Grand Prix, Bonneville, or dropped into a Mazda. (And the ls is a chebby no matter what GM or the owner puts it in). Patrick
I have to agree alittle bit with this guy, the SHOW part is sad and the main reason I don't attend. Its more of a weekend for racers...……..There are no Classes for the Car Show that makes any sense, there better divisions at any local show sadly, only the 1970 and GN's get any love, its always been held too early and too late(May or Oct) so the weather ha been an issue at every one I have attended so whats wrong with June-September? Anyway I hope these things get fixed because I would love to make my 17 hr. trip many more times.
It has been held in June and was quite hot! As for the show we have put a bunch of pipe in the show with a Buick engine in it and have done fine. I hope it was ok to trailer it the 25 hrs to the Nationals. The 10 gallons to the mile would have made it awfully expensive to attend Let's try May again and see what happens. So many people think it is so easy to run this Event..... How many of those that are asking for all these changes have worked at or in the benefit of the Nationals? There is so much to it. If you want more, run a class, help or Sponsor a class. I'm sure the " help" would be a positive for the continued success of our group. Just my thoughts on a few things I have been watching
"I can relate to the OP stance. A few years ago there was a national Buick car show held in portland oregon. Great finnaly a lcoal event!! I was very excited. Well I arrived and went to enter my car in the car show, Not expecting anything but just to enter it. I was asked what class, And while I dont remember the class details I told them it's not stock, it has a buick 455, turbo 455 12 bolt, disk brakes and so on. Ohh and nope it's not a GS. They looked at me like I was trying to enter a 72 ford truck into the event. Because I had modified my car into what I wanted it to be I had destroyed it. I was snubbed by everyone I spoke to. I was told "I should listen to others input so I can fix my car for next years show...." WHAT??? It's my car, Im keeping it as Buick as I can, but Im bringing it up to modern technology with the older styling. My take is The Buick community isnt getting any bigger. And I would think they would welcome any classic Buick. (I was the only 65 there and usually always am wherever I go ) Well My car isnt good enough for that Buick crowd ok. I still enjoy the keck out of it. But I wont be giving any of my money to the organization." Your first mistake was taking a modified Buick to a BCA event. I did exactly the same thing when I took my car to the Columbus BCA event in I believe 1998 and below is what I brought. I made a Modified car and only changed factory parts as minimally as I had to, to create a vehicle that could have been built back in the day, and looked as if it was Factory built. They absolutely hated the car and would not even let me put the car into the show area as display only. The only person in their entire upper echelon that liked it was the head judge of the car show. I feel your pain and have been there. Graysky writes, "Personally, I think trailering a car to a show to see how many people are envious of you indicates you have some desperate need for approval or attention." That is one of the dumbest things I have seen on this board for a while. Sounds to me like someone is just plain jealous. The amount of people fielding restoration questions on this board alone makes your statement sound stupid. Some of us build show cars to let people see how the cars looked in the day, or to let people see how the parts you purchased from them look on the finished product, or to get the story out there regarding an obscure almost un-known car. Many of the guys with restored cars hardly ever take them out at all, let alone to a car show, and I am one of them. One of the reasons I like to see the restored cars at shows is because it gives owners trying to re-do their cars an example of what to strive for. I often get guys calling me wanting to know if I know of any examples they could go look at and take pictures of. If known examples are going to be at an upcoming show then I send them that way. If not I try to find a finished car they can go see. Yes, there are some instances where people want to feed their egos, but the majority of the guys/gals I know could care less about that, and are basically down to earth people that are proud of what they have built, and are willing to share their "treasures" with others. Duane
The GS Nats is a participatory event. If you want to see more cars in the show field, bring yours. More racing? Bring your race car—or race your show car. Want more organization? Step up and help. Be active, not passive! If you say ‘....that’s why I don’t bring my car...’ you’re part of the problem. Patrick
