....And I didn’t put my scruffy GS in the show because I want approval or attention. I did it because it’s a real GS and has a majority of correct components and trim, which on stepchildren is not common (especially ‘in the wild’). Also I think it’s cool that it’s stock appearing and now runs low 13s without a lot of money thrown into it. But anyone who sees it is free to presume other motives or look down his nose at it. At least I brought it. Patrick
"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." You're totally misreading my intent. I DO appreciate the original cars (mine is almost all original presently)- cool to see something like it was in the day. No, not at all jealous (but the fact that you accused me of that pretty much validates my point about the pride aspect. Should I be jealous? lol.) Honestly, I do appreciate the effort that goes into a concourse restoration... just not my scene. Not only because I couldn't afford it (and I have no problem admitting that) and wouldn't put that kind of money out if I could, but because it doesn't interest me. All I can say is that, in my experience, the only people I've personally come across that look down their noses at other people's cars are the show car people. Just an observation, take it or leave it. In all fairness to the discussion, I really don't connect with the show car side of the hobby. I always thought it was bizarre when my neighbors took their challenger to shows and sat in the sun all day to get a plastic trophy (to go with the 200 others that they kept in a dedicated room- it's a nice car). What for? I would much rather see it go down the drag strip or cruising around and being enjoyed. To each his or her own though. I would never disrespect them and say anything... I was happy they were having a good time. They used to take a lot of flack for the torque-thrusts and chrome dress-up, but still won a lot of trophies. I'm sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way with what I said. It's just that the superior attitude gets old. It leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. That was the point- it's bad for the hobby all the way around, and if there was ever a segment lacking in fresh blood it's the Buick crowd. Not everybody can or wants to spend ridiculous money on their hobby, especially the younger guys. Sometimes we should put up with a little nonsense and gently encourage people rather than beating them bloody for not conforming to "Buick correctness". Maybe in time they will learn to appreciate the uniqueness of these cars. I have a hard time with non-Buick swaps and especially donked cars, but I realize it's just part of the car scene, and hopefully the tackier aspects of it will fade with time (like pro-street did). The reason i was asking about the motor was that I intend to pull the original drivetrain and replace it with a 3800 II / turbo, and was wondering if the car would still be welcome at the Buick events (racing, not show).
I think that's cool too. It's cooler to me than a $100K perfect restoration because it's truly original and you didn't just throw money at it.
I had my prostreet 73 at the at the Mill Hollow car show in Vermillion this summer. I ran into a buddy of mine while walking around and he said that there was a guy by my car that wanted to talk to me. I believe the man said that he was the head of the Northern Ohio BCA chapter, I don't remember his name and he didn't have any cards. He said that I should join the BCA so that I could attend the Strongsville meet. So apparently modified cars are welcome. Either that, or they just wanted my $50 to join the BCA, which I did. Strongsville is only 20 minutes from me so I will be attending. If I'm not welcome with my modified car, or am forced to park in a corner with the Buick powered Honda's I guess I'll just leave and won't renew my membership.
X2 and I'd add, "Bring your car and be part of the solution." to ANY Buick event even it is to just stand around. The OP did at least show up. Unfortunately the bad weather did not help anything especially as far as the show car count goes the last two years so you can't hold that against the event. The weather is the weather. What gets me is there are something like 19,000 members(last time it was listed) on this site and yet a couple hundred can't be pried out of their abode to make a drive to ANY Buick event. There have to be a few hundred members within a few hours driving time of BG or Columbus or Cecil County or just about any other noteworthy Buick Meet and they won't make the drive. And please stop with the "disappointment". I was there in 1981 at the first event after driving 12 hours with 4.10 gears(!) when there were about 27 cars total and no show or actual racing. I've been to every GS Nats since so I can tell you I've been "disappointed" many times but I keep coming back for more and plan on attending many more. The closest I've ever come to attending with a really stock car was in 2011 when I drove my '99 Riviera down and raced it after my '76 455 Century dropped a valve not long after starting the 700 mile trip and I limped it home 25 miles. Still had a good time. A few years later I started towing my cars down. Over the years they have compressed the show with less classes because of smaller attendance but while I was still concerned with showing my cars I had my '65 Gran Sport 455, '78 Regal 455, '81 Regal 350, and '87 Pontiac Trans Am w/BUICK 455 power entered so I'm pretty sure you can show up with just about anything Buick powered and they'll get you a class. The Regals and TA fit into the Non-GS/GN Buick Powered class. They probably need to open up the GS Street Machine class to any Buick powered vehicle or change the name of the class to accommodate more cars.
One of my favorite GS Nats had a Musclecar Showdown and John C with the brown car ran right @ the famous 13.38 E.T. I think the event is long past BOP. How about a musclecar nats 1961 to 1974? You might already guessed that I've never liked the hair dryers being there.
Yes, the BCA meets are more welcoming to modified cars now. But, as with any group, I’m sure there are some stodgy old stick-in-the-mud folks too.
I attended my second GS Nats this year (my last was 5 or so years ago). The main reason is to actual see, talk to, meet, and hang out with MOST of the people who post here on a regular basis. It's not about the cars, it's about the friendships that are made (and kept) in this hobby. I was able to catch up with people I haven't seen in years. Well over 30 people turned out for Topcat's WOT gathering, which provided shenanigans, laughs, and a great time (oh, and a free T-shirt!!!). In addition, we had lengthy educational discussions with some of the most knowledgeable Buick folks here. I can say most of Wednesday, Thursday, and the first half of Friday was just walking around, randomly saying "hi" to just about everyone, and when asked, I would say "George- gd2227 from the board". My last (first) Nats were the same, as well as the BPG GSX Reunion (now THAT was a fun event!!!). I encourage everyone on this forum to attend at least ONE GS Nats, say HI to anyone there and I bet you will have a great time!!!
Attending this event is definitely on my bucket list. As stated above to actually meet some of the awesome folk that contribute to this board, to bring a car would be a stretch but who knows. I'm not much of one for the show scene but for the people, the knowledge and the racing I'm keen to make the trek half way around this planet to attend. Long may it last & prosper.
George.....you have hit the nail on the head(get it...nailhead)....it is the PEOPLE plus the Buicks ! Enjoyed finally meeting you and hanging out in the parking lot with you.....look forward to seeing you next year my friend!! Peace WildBill
I think it would be helpful to keep in mind this isn’t a “Buick only” conundrum. Back in 1999 I brought my modified ’69 Mustang from Northern NJ to a Mustang Club of America National event near Disneyworld in Florida. To say I felt ostracized is putting it mildly, as back then it was all about 1964.5-1966 Mustangs, or it wasn’t important. I am sure pulling on the grass show field with side, turned down exhaust puffing up dust when each cylinder fired didn’t do me any favors, but oh well. They had a class I fit into, I went, took home a trophy for my hard work – and created life-long memories of the trip. The Porsche Club and Volvo Clubs aren’t fundamentally much different. It may be a cop-out to say “it is what it is,” but, it is. Some folks fit, some don’t and go anyway to the shows and events for their own reasons, and some would rather insulate the attic for a second time. And that’s OK. There isn’t a one-size fits all program. I’ve been to many events, even the 1999 GS Nats in Columbus when my Dad and I loaded up the car on a trailer and towed it 550 miles. No one would ever mistake us for extroverts, but we enjoyed the other cars, talking to the folks that asked about or commented on our ’73, watching the racing and talked about how we should have ran the car that weekend and how we would at the next one, on the way home. The move back to Bowling Green made it just too far. Now that I am in Atlanta with the car, BG isn’t too far at all.
Without the GN's this event would have died or been relegated to a one day event a long time ago. As far as having a "musclecar event"...it would turn into another Chevy event real quick.
What does a V8 guy have in common with a hair dryer guy? At least you can talk points or carbs with a Pontiac V8 or a Dodge V8 guy for that matter. V6 cars are another breed, and there's no sound worse at the strip (except maybe bikes) than those uncapped 4 and 6 cylinder cars. Say what you want, but to me a part of the event died when the sea of black showed up. It's a Chevy world, we're just living in it. Can't argue with that, but then again, I'd rather look over a nice LS-6 than a GN. If you're so sure just Buick V8 wouldn't survive, how is it this website can do so well and it is only V8?
I dont think this website is a good meter to compare to an event. Logging on here from the toilet versus packing up your car and going somewhere are 2 very different things. Not to mention, if you look at the number of users logged on here at any given time, it's tiny in comparison to many other automotive forums.
Brian "many" people here and in the GS club are dual owners GS and Turbo. Why alienate another rear wheel drive Buick performance car. I've been dealing with the sea of turbo Buicks since 86 and at first wasn't interested in it at the GS Nationals. Remember when there was a quick field of V6 and V8 cars and they ran against each other for King of the Hill. Now it's hard to get 16 real quick cars for S16. This Event can be supported or not but I prefer to be supportive and push forward through the Chevy World.
Well for me and my crew , rain , sunshine, winds, hail, whatever the case I have been to the GS Nats for 36 years in a row. I don't give a crap if there were 12 cars or 1200. Im there to talk to Buick minded people. Clickish?? Maybe. I wallk right up to people myself and say "hey hows it going?" If you find it uninviting you were in the wrong area. I have never found people that didn't want to talk buicks. I think 4.5 hours would be a cool ride to see any buicks gathered myself. But my 9.5 hours one way with a 2 car trailer ...but I degress. If your only there to chat about 1 model car you are going to be disappointed. I go for all the cars myself. I will most likely be at the next one with 2 cars in hand again. See you there.
Well everyone has a keyboard and you don't have to buy gas, a hotel or have time off from work to post on a forum. I would go to the event every year no matter what. Been going for 20 years and I don't have a GN. My point was simply about the economics of renting a facility for multiple days. Without the support from the GN guys it would be hard to pull off. Besides, the GN was the last bastion of performance from Buick and should be celebrated. I love those cars.
Wow! The truth comes out. Without the black car or the V6 for that matter oh.... I think the vehicle performance would be at a slow, slow, slow progress... That's of course you're talking purely performance. Without that Performance of V6 and the BACKING from Buick Motorsports in the Stage 2 realm, the Buick V8 performance crowd was becoming a minuscule crowd to get motivated to evolve. Unfortunately, many of V8 vendors have passed and one has stayed strong and committed. During this time in the mid-eighties, muscle cars in head-to-head racing we're at its best. With the advent of the black car, the Mustang, the Camaro; you have to admit this big boost from the big 3 help a lot to continue the frenzy and passion towards 60s and 70s muscle cars. I mean come on, bench racing was at its best! As evolution continues, Buick has no peace in the performance game and now you see the numbers dwindle and the die hards stay out. Heck, I don't even have a Buick and I attended a Nationals! I lost my three Buicks to a divorce and planning to build a retirement vehicle powered by Buick engine.. I'm sorry, I might have to disagree with some of these views. It doesn't matter the power plant as long as it's Buick. I don't care about the purist point of view of numbers matching incorrect all that jazz.... all I care about is all out performance and it's a Buick. I don't care if the bore spacing is different as long as it looks like a Buick... We have an opportunity that people to jump ship to try something different. That car craft big block build article when a pitted different makes against each other open a lot of people's eyes. firstly, I think we left a lot on the table why not giving a bore spacing option for those that really want to play. Sure it would be a small market but you know what? When a rare Bird shows up at a racing event everyone flocks to it and then go crazy for it. That's advertising for Buick. The Pontiacs for kicking our ass...
Celebrate away. As for me I prefer alienation. I remember the GS Nats before the GN, and they were better, even when a facility wasn't rented. Sorry, just my opinion, and I've had it for decades. I know for absolute certainty that I'm not alone. I've even had guys who own both lament the same sentiments. As Greg, an old and dear friend of mine used to yell out during later GN infested races between GN & GS at Bowling Green, "Go V8!" Admittedly, I do have a soft spot for some of the V6 transplants that have shown up over the years...
