BPG joins the BCA

:gp:

:beer:TU:

 

Yes ans Smartin is staying there too...I am only there Saturday night..our shore house rental starts that Saturday...Wife told me just to come down Sunday with all the crap...My Wife is the best...

There are rooms available when I checked last night

 

Clubs consolidating will likely be more common in the future as society changes as to the 'car world' and 'joining' in general. It's Ok-

 

I understand the reality of the club shrinking and needing some help to stay afloat. Many of us are guilty for not having our cars together so we can attend and race or just not attending because of other commitments but without racing there really isn't a reason to keep the club together imho. It can be promoted as a way for the Buick community to get together, hang out and enjoy our cars but without racing it's just another car show. Car shows happen every night of the week around here. I just don't see the draw for the performance minded Buick owner without racing.
I'm not trying to be critical and I understand the dicision to go this route. I just don't care for the move being both a enthusiast and a racer.
Hopefully it works out for the club in the long run.

 

I haven't paid dues for a few years so perhaps my opinion doesn't matter. I didn't realize the situation was so dire, otherwise I would have tried harder to keep BPG afloat as an independent racing Buick club by paying dues. I'm shocked to find out that there were only 67 paid members. I am ashamed of us. Going to events is more difficult for me since most of them are up north and I am not. I could have worked harder at that though too.

I just don't see how merging in a car show club will sustain the BPG. I don't enjoy sitting in a lawn chair by my car in a show. Done it, don't like it. The beauty of a BPG event was the action... Not just watching and doing the racing, but also the noise, the smells, the car fixing between runs, etc. Like being live in a reality show. A car show is more like being in a photograph. No movement, noise, smells, urgency, helping each other out.. Just sit by your car and get sunburned.

Hope it works out.

 

After spending about 30 minutes perusing this thread, I must ask this most important question.... If I'm not back in a Buick by then, will a trishield emblem surreptitiously hidden somewhere in my GT permit me to attend?? :laugh: :bla:

Back to the issue at hand, I am all in for this merger. I commend those who initiated this to keep our club alive. Anyone who attended last springs BPG meet could easily see writing on the wall and most of that was ominous.

I keep coming back for the people who keep this club rolling along and my friends who welcomed this crazy Canuck several years ago. Pretty sure they thought I was nuts for driving 1200 miles for a 3-4 day party. But that's just we roll up here.

Lastly, as someone who has first hand experience with merging two operations into one, there WILL be some abrasiveness. That can usually be surmounted with adroit behavior. Yes, walking away from someone who doesn't like this might be necessary, but eventually we can be accepted. Change doesn't always come easy to some people.

I hold no ill will to those who choose to depart. Life is too short to bitch and moan.

Going to check that hotel availability Sunday. :TU:

 

With my family and me being heavily involved in the inaugural BPG meet at Quaker State Raceway, as well as doing the club mailings, etc, I am well aware of the incredible amount of work and cost that goes into a club like this. I commend ALL of the volunteers, BOD's, etc for all of the work in keeping the BPG alive and making the events a wonderful thing to attend! My GS has been disassembled for a frame off and unfortunately in storage for many years now, as life changed, and I moved to various positions around the country with my job. Through those years I have continued to support the BPG with dues, and flying into several of the meets over the years to watch some racing, look at some beautiful cars, but mostly enjoy the camaraderie of friends, both old and new!

I applaud the effort and decision to join with the BCA in the spirit of keeping the Buick banner flying high! Every club has its quirks and nuances, but I am confident that these things will all work out in time. And for those that continue to have issues down the road, well, they will just have to get over their bad selves....the majority of us will enjoy ourselves immensely, I have no doubts!

I finally have settled down at a permanent location, have a nice size shop and have FINALLY begun the restoration of my GS, and look forward to bringing it to wherever the meets are across the country. I will be unable to attend the Allentown event, as my nephew is getting married that weekend, but I look forward to many future BCA/BPG events, and partying with my Buick brethren!

KUDOS to all for getting this done!:TU::beers2:

 

Have red the posts with internist as the Norwalk event is a favorite of mine. I haven't had a car to bring for quite a few years but still enjoy seeing the guys who remember me and the atmosphere that prevails at the event. I have never been much of a joiner so was not part of putting the show on but as a long time employee of a local dirt oval I understand how much work it is to put on an event like this and thank the club for all the good work.
this i going to sound like the beginning of an AA meting but here goes. My name is John and I was always a Pontiac fan. I worked for Chevy,Olds,Pontiac and buick dealerships as a line tech. I liked the Pontiac V-8 best. They were easier to work on than the other brands and I liked the cylinder head design. I was looking for a GTO or A firebird for my big restoration project. Then a high school buddy of mine who wanted to take his GSX to the nationals invited me to go along. I was astounded at how much fun I had there and how these "Buick guys" got along and worked together. the cars were great but it was the people who made me stop looking for a GTO and start looking for a GS. Six years later I was back at the GS nationals with my own Buick. I have never been to a GSCA Pen-Ohio or BPG event where I have not felt welcome. My experience with bugle members has not been as good. I hope this works out well and we can work together.

 

Tom B,
I was happy to be one of the people who welcomed you on your first event (and drink your beer:laugh. Yeah we did know you were crazy, but you were our kind of crazy so it was OK.

I, like others here, was also caught un-aware as to the blending of both clubs. After being involved with the beginnings of the BPG and helping do some of the behind the scenes work for the club for a few years, due to family considerations, etc. I had to make the decision to step out. I stayed away from any operational duties purposely, to let others do what needed done and not have some "old guy" looking over their shoulder.

I was very pleased to see the club continue, especially from having first hand experience with how difficult and time consuming it is, plus the fact that it is a very thank-less job. At times it often seemed that whatever we did was not going to make anyone happy, and it would get depressing.


I have also had a few battles of my own with the BCA and some of them are "Legendary". I will not go into them now, but many know the stories.

At this time the BCA is much different then it used to be, with allowing modified cars it it's midst (Try bringing a bright yellow GSX TRUCK to one of their shows back in the day), as well as now having rules to judge them. There are now a lot of GS owners that are BCA members, and I expect there will be a lot more coming in the future.

Clubs are run in a way that benefits the majority of it's members, that's just the way it has to be to survive. If we keep adding GS owners to the BCA ranks the club will alter accordingly. This has already been seen with some of the examples stated above. I know Roberta had some racing at least once, at a track local to one of the events. I don't think she bought out the track, so the Buicks had to share it with others, but if memory serves me right I believe everyone had a good time.

Now it's a fact, and is often stated; "That Duane and Cats don't like change!" however even I have to bend with the times and will admit that the BPG could not continue like it was going for much longer.

I will bend a little here and am willing to give the BCA another try. I will even go as far as be willing to help judge the cars again if asked.


I have one other thing to say and then I will get off my soapbox. I have nothing but admiration for the current board of directors of the BPG. The amount of work, thought, and especially caring they gave to the club and it's small membership is nothing short of monumental. When it would have been so easy to simply give up, and let it fade away, they stuck to their guns and gave the club another chance to live on.

It takes a special group of guys to do this, and I am very happy to call them my friends.
Duane

 

Welcome to the BCA !!

 

Maybe the best thing to do would be instead of the guys just sitting there with their show cars they should take them down the 1/4 mile not in a race fashion per say but just run it down the track to just be able to hear and see these old cars running down the road. Not really race or run them really hard but just a little snot job. I think this would make it a little more fun to watch. It would be cool to see a 59 or maybe a 53 Buick or a 40's or 60's car make a little run down the track just to hear how it sounds plus it would get more looks from everyone there whether you are a racer or just a guy that wants to show his or her ride.

I like all cars so I think this would be a good way to show them off with out hurting them. They don't have to be floored, just ran a little bit. I want to hear that 53 or 48 or 63 then a 71, build up to how we are today. Make the final run with GN then with a more modern todays ride, this will let everyone see where we have gone with Buick.

Then go back to your show car area and check them out. I think this will keep the boredom out.

I know some guys would not like to take their really old car down the track but it does not have to be raced just ran good. I am sure if something went wrong the whole gang will be out to help. I just like all cars. Old ones the most.

Two old 80 year old guys running their 1920's or 08's or 30's making a little run against each other go 1/8 mile that would be cool, and fun. go 300 or 600 feet maybe

 

Yeah,
What we were talking about, at the time, was the fact that their club (BCA) was going to have to deal with all these "loud obnoxious sounding" performance cars coming into their midst, and the fact that a lot of them had performance modifications.

My actual statement was "I see two different options available, you can either welcome us with open arms, or we will patiently wait until you all die and do what we want. There are a huge number of us (GS/GN owners), and we will be coming like the red tide, so the decision is up to you."
(For those that watch old Sci-fi movies, I took my final statement from the B/W movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still")

It was one of the BCA "upper echelon" that set up the meeting, or should I say "ambush" to discuss my allowing to put my car in the show as a "display-only" vehicle with no judging, or in any way affecting the show or awards. The judges would have simply walked past my car.
Our "meeting" was held in a meeting room with all the BCA people on one side of the table and me on the other. (I laughed at the set-up when I saw it.) The Head Judge of the BCA was the only guy that sat at the end of the table near me, and was the only guy that laughed about my statement. The dumb-a$$es even made me repeat it because they didn't believe what I said.

It appeared, at the time, the BCA still had a hard-on with Richard Lassiter and anyone perceived with being a part of that organization..........and as I had helped set up the GSCA judging rules obviously (according to them) I was part of Richard's team.



After the meeting the head judge came up to me and said he loved the X-Camino and told me where I could park the car, just outside the show field. He said to every now and then just go up and let it roll a little further down toward the car show field.

When finally "parked" it was at the top of the hill right next to all the brass cars. Anyone looking up the hill couldn't help but see my car, and a lot of people went up to look at it. I think it was his way of "snubbing his nose" at the "stick-in-the-muds"........................ and I was very grateful for his consideration.
Duane

PS. Brad, you saw that guy's expression when he came out of the meeting, you should have seen it during the "meeting".

 

That would be cool

 

All who dont want to be in the ranks of the BCA, and those that do, you are welcome to come to BG in September for the GS Nationals. Show Cars and Go Cars, and all of the motel parking lot after parties you could want. BG is a beautiful setting and the event is second to none. Even X Caminos are welcome.

 

I did want to say that you matt it down but since some of the really old cars may not have been matted down in 30-50 years they may not handle it that well. Run the cars down with their perspective years against each other. Some guys had glass packs in the 50's and 60's how cool would that sound!

some of the old cars may have never had their engines rebuilt and may not handle being matted to the floor and if they are afraid of something happening they could at least give it a half throttle run. At least we could hear and see it make some kind of run.

Heck, after they run it a little they go back down an really give it hell. They just might say "I haven't run her that hard in a long time that was fun"

Cars could be set up in the lot from the perspective years to stockers to race cars. I am sure there are some 50's and early 60's cars that did race and set them up accordingly. This could really be a great event

I would let the fans and drivers judge the cars from each set of types or years or race, stock then let the real judges judge the cars. I know you would get multiple winners out of this. I mean my car has a great handling package on it and has a great paint job does that make it a winner, not really but the handling package makes it a winner with its stance plus handles like a Camaro.

I am sure there will be the guy that thinks his car should be the winner every year. I heard this from some Corvette guys that they should be winning every year. All cars are winners to me it will be a win just to have it still on the road.

Just look at Smartin's car in his avitar, does that boat look cool or what, it is a winner just because... I mean just look at it.

Lets just put them all together and see what happens, after all they are all bad a** Buicks aren't they?

 

^^^^^^^^this!
Always a great time in BG.