Has there been any thought to an evening get together at Bowling Green? I remember the Turbo List guys had a list dinner one night for all their members. Basically, they arranged a banquet room and set meal ($10 for a meal per person) at one of the local eating places. I would sure love to have a similar thing with the BPG. It would give all of the BPG members a chance to get together and hang out.....I know lots of names from this board but no faces. We could even get someone to act as speaker/moderator and take questions from the crowd and see if anyone has any input on the topic. Sort of a collective help group. JW has my vote for this but Mike T or one of the many other fine knowledgeable Buick people are good choices too. Just thinking out loud. Ya'll know we Buick owners have to stick together and this is a good way to build rapport with each other. I bet we'd have a BLAST. I've got lots of ideas on how we could make it really fun. And it feels great being a member of the BPG alongside so many other great members. I would volunteer to arrange it, but I don't have the time. IS there any interest in this? Alan
Well.....I think we should start with a show of who's planning on attending BG this year I'm still on the fence o No:
I will definitely be going to BG... Most likely will be doing the swap meet again for the whole week! A group meeting would be swell :beer
I'm in. I already have vacation time saved for bowling green (and a couple of other events as they transpire:Brow: :Brow: ). Not shure that I'll be there the whole week. though. I'm thinking late in the week. Alotta people won't bee there and settled until thursday and friday.:beer
Personally, Bowling Green leaves a "bad taste in my mouth" from the "other" (GS) Club, and I don't plan on attending there again (I won't say "never", but for a while, anyway). Being from the Midwest, I like to attend different places, just for a CHANGE. I mean, if you go to the SAME place every year, you can almost expect the SAME thing every year. The same PEOPLE, the same CARS, the same FOOD, (not necessarily a "bad" thing, but it's nice to know that "new" people can make it, too). I don't know what's involved in planning the events, but I do know that a lot of "car guys" have to miss out, because it's CONVENIENT for SOME, and NOT for OTHERS to attend, just because of LOCATION. For example, I don't mind driving the distance of, let's say 3 hours (one way), but I'd rather not drive 9 or more hours, just because you can spend more time actually ENJOYING the EVENT, rather than just DRIVING TO and FROM the EVENT. In the example, I'm still using "EVERY YEAR", it would be about 9 hours for ME to drive to BG, which is why I don't. Figure a DAY to drive there, a DAY to have fun, and a DAY to drive home. Let's see, that's 2 DAYS, DRIVING, and 1 DAY, actually doing what you wanted to do, but in a HURRY to see everything, because you don't have enough TIME in a DAY, before you have to leave and get back to work/home. Is that a "fair" example? That's why I say, "How about Wisconsin, or Indiana, or Ohio (which I actually enjoyed, after meeting Rob Chilenski, and Mike from T/A, and a lot of the other "Big Names" associated with Buick performance.)? Yes, it would be convenient for ME, but also, being CENTRALLY located, it would be convenient for a lot of OTHERS, TOO. I'm not thinking selfishly, but the opposite, the more that attend, the more that we can "brag" about attendance "records". "The BIGGEST BUICK EVENT that we've EVER HAD....." would be WHERE (in the FUTURE)? With the BPG!!! Ideas? Suggestions? Just trying to help here, guys. I enjoy the shows, just to say "I was there!". :bglasses:
BG Scott, I actually take a different approach. I don't get tired of seeing the same people who I've become friends with over the years or their cars. Its always a pleasure to see Kurt Peterson and his super sweet GS wagon; Mike Garrison with his big flag and fast 70, Jim Weise with his hectic schedule and whirlwind arrivals despite unexpected problems along the way; my good Candian friend Rich (who looks like Rick Springfield) and his sister; Tom Baker and his constantly changing inventory of cars (and that nice GSX he has restored); Steve Kender and his passion for driving his GS; Larry Miller and his constantly growing inventory of cars; and many many others, some of whom are BPG members and some who are not. I try not to look at things between the BPG and the GSCA as an us versus them proposition. Rather, for me, its a mounds versus almond joy comparison. And this is not a disagreement about the need for a more centrally located event. I would love to meet and see more of the West Coasters, but I understand the difficulty in coming to the BG event. Hopefully, with enough support and membership, the BPG will one day have its own event that is in addition to the BG event and will have a more central location. Alan
The lasty time I set something up for friday at BG as a gathering with food I had a ton of left overs and only 3 people showed up!!! I will come to what ever is set up but Im not walking that sidewalk again for awhile:eek2:
Mike Garrison: Hope you are bringing the car to Norwalk for BPG day followed by 3 more days of fun and racing. JS
I had planned to be a part of that but thought the weather had caused a problem. (AND i got the time messed up, too!) How about a B.Y.O.W. cookout? (Bring Your Own Weiner) :beer
My brother and I will be attending our 8th straight nationals this year. A get together sounds great. We dont go to BG to support the other club, we go because we love our cars and the pride and joy they bring us.
Nationals I plan on attending because that is where the BUICKS are. I am anxious to see how John Chanberlin's approach to running the Nats diff from that guy with the little bicycle Sinc I bought my GS in 91 I have always wanted to take it to Bowling Green to go racing. I want one of those big poster size photos of my car launching from the starting line of Beech Bend. I finally have it painted and running strong, the interior might not be done but who needs that to go racing.:grin: Plus there is not any better people than Buick people.
location, location, location! Bowling Green is within 500 miles of 65% of the US population. I know, you don't give a **** about statistics, but it is a fact. That fact is why A LOT of clubs and large automotive events are held at Beach Bend. The park is more than just a drag strip. Are there better facilities? Yes! Nicer, more cosmopolitan towns? Yes! Better locations? Depends on where you live. Beach Bend may not fit everyone's liking however it is a VERY popular destination for car clubs and events. Just try to rent the facility as there are few if any open weekends. It is in everyone's best interest to consider this the "V-8 Buick Biggy" now because it really is the "V-8 Buick Only Event" as it stands right now on the year long car calender. A BPG sponsored event would be great however when and where will be an issue. You have to crawl before you can walk and heaven forbid someone in BPG may make some money off the event. That concept always seems to make someone mad. Someone has to do the work and they should be handsomely compensated. A large car event is a pain in ass to organize and operate. Just think, the promoter will have to put up with you as a participant! That's a scary thought! Oh, by the way, which of us will front the $25-$50K needed to secure the track, pay insurance, staff the event, print literature, pay security, promote the event and heaven forbid make a profit by doing this event. I like car events as much as anyone, however this is my hobby, not my vocation. Hobby = fun, relaxation and friends. Not work and a second job. Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Kansas, what track do you want? We all want to stay close to home. What about California? Lots of nice facilities out there. We pulled there for a vintage race last summer and back to the east coast the next weekend for another vintage race. Serious case of dumbass on our part, but man did we have a good time! Travel is a part of our hobby/sport. Participation is what its all about at car events. There are far too many car events now on the year long calender. Which one do I attend? When you get to segmenting the events by brand the list gets small fast for Buicks. The big well promoted shows are on the upswing. Can we say Goodguys? They are well done and have something for the FAMILY. This is the key! How many times can you get you wife to take vacation in BG? Your damn lucky if you do it once. Remember, Richard tried moving the event and everyone wanted to come back to BG. The goal should be an "additional" Buick event, not a "competing" Buick event. Buick only events are already far and few between!
I will not be able to make that event sorry. I have had to endure a $12K cut in pay this year so I have to plan to go to BG and thats all this year. Unless I make a couple small runs around like the Kearney/KC/ Scribner thing.
Im There Plan on bringing the 69 with the new motor that is finally coming along, unless Alan Wander wants to go Ragtop Floggin then its going ? Come on Alan who is going to get that 11 sec slip first.o No:
Thanks alot for that pic from last year:af: That just happens to be the same day I found my converter bolts ripped out of my flywheel and piston parts spitting at my spark plugs:ball: Then as I rolled around in the mud trying to put my car on the trailer, my brand new canopy decided to go south with the hurricane winds After I grabbed the canopy and smashed it into pieces, I went to strap down my car in a hurry, heard a snap and watched the antifreeze fill up my brand new trailer as I had snapped of the petcockou: Oh the sweet memories:af: But I will be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!:beer
Lets see I was on jackstands for 2 days pulling a transmission and reinstalling it, after the road trip to Nashville to get parts!! Then I had fought the timing issues on the first day. Then on the 3rd pass after installing the trans it was broke again :eek2: :eek2: I feel your pain trust me!!:spank:
I will be going to the Nats this year and bringing some friends with me. I have gone every year since 1988 and plan on vending, being on the board at the restoration clinic, and helping judge the Concours class. I go to see all my friends and to help fellow buick owners further the preservation of their vehicles. I also would look forward to a BPG get together. Tell me where and when and I will be there as long as it does not conflict with my already mentioned schedule. Last year I didn't know one was scheduled until after the Nats. I think it would be a success as long as it is advertised and scheduled far enough in advance. Duane
