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I made the Quick 16......let's talk about that instead! C'mon, I'm more interesting than this ego pissing contest any day of the week Gary...you scared the sun and made it rain when Mother Nature found out you were attending ---------- Post added at 02:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:05 PM ---------- Finish Line Furious Four Final: [video=youtube_share;H9eSUj3tQ48]http://youtu.be/H9eSUj3tQ48[/video]
... now THIS is real racing, 3 wide !! Moon wins the 60' dash against Laurel Mist .. while Sport'nWood takes out the hard charging DynaFlow MoJo machine that old man in his '58 Buick gave me some sort of hand signal as I passed him. I think he was telling me I am #1 ? [video=youtube;gclFjxnuwzc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gclFjxnuwzc[/video]
Would this track have charged "full boat" to have a car show in the parking lot and not occupy the track ? What a shame to have to cancel the event. Regards, DL
There is typically a large influx of cars that come in on Saturday just for the show, and then leave in the afternoon. Most of them being fairly local. DL, we just couldn't chance it this year with not knowing the attendance if we actually decided to hold just a car show in the afternoon. Even if the track charged us half of what they normally would, it would have still put us well into the red. This is why we are now looking at alternative venues for the show, so we don't have to rely on track space to hold the show. We are considering holding it in conjunction with the evening cruise times. Also considering other parking lots close to the hotel. None of this is set in stone, yet...so we are looking in all avenues to try to avoid the issue in the future.
I think/ feel Saturday would have been quite a LARGE show!!! I did see quite a few more cars and trailers Friday night/Saturday day.. Guys- does it REALLY MATTER on which club is better, or sucks or....? Herb, Ajesh, and MANY others made GREAT blanket statements- "WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE CLUBS (and events)-AS ONCE THEY ARE GONE, THEY'RE GONE". I heard that and ripped up my ticket for Saturday- as I want to see BPG continue to grow and move forward... These events are (in most part) to COLLECTIVELY GATHER WITH FELLOW BUICK ENTHUSIASTS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. In my eyes, it doesn't matter where or what 'club'- it just matters that we can talk, hang out, drink and wrench with other Buick whackers. BPG, GSCA, BCA.....it doesn't matter.. :TU:
George, I agree that Saturday would have been a great turnout if the rain hadn't come through. Really bummed out about the whole thing. The block party was a huge hit, though! Lots of faces I haven't seen in years, and many many new faces!
I would have been EXTREMELY upset to trailer a car 2200 miles and have the rug pulled out from under me. Perhaps they can do a BOP show ? to get enough attendance to not have to cancel on the fly ? Would the evening cruise time allow enough time for concours class judging ? I'm guessing storms in August are a isolated event ? Thanks, DL
Sorry for the late reply but I have been busy answering e-mails and VM's all day...Bottom Line is majority agreed with decision including our Sponsors...Was I pissed off yes...I had to call Jim Dotson's Wife who flew up from KY to see her deceased husbands car on display and was going to be at tower to say something. We also refunded sponsor monies... It was not a decision that was made easily...I got to the Track at 7am on Saturday and even though it was only drizzling in Newark and Heath it was raining at the track...it would stop...drizlle a little and stop...at one point they sent the tractor down the track when it did stop for a few mins to check the "known" weeping spots...and it was a steady weep...The Track manager then went down to inspect himself and saw the problem first hand...then it poured like crazy for about 10 mins...We sat at his computer and looked at various Radars and weather forecasts and consensus was Rain would stop around 11am. It would take them about 3hours to clean the track if it only continued to drizzle but there was still a 50% chance of Rain of T-storms right up until about 3pm. If we decided to proceed with the program and hope it would stop raining the BPG would have to pay for that days track rental even if it continued to Rain. I did consult with other Directors and Members and consensus was to call event early rather than later. It was also arranged with the Host Hotel that they would refund the guests for their Saturday night stay. BPG also refunded any spectator and race tickets to those that asked...most said they would hold on to them for next year. We even signed up new members that day. A meeting was held with the BOD's and we are coming up with a new plan of action for 2014. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience. Trust me I did think about all that had traveled a great distance and spent money to attend... I am already in contact with a new track and Hotel that can provide more room and a better track for the 25th GS Anniversary BPG Event. Bill Holder of Muscle Car Review will again cover the Event and Denny Manner has also agreed to present again.
I hope nobody took my comment as a slam to the BPG. My point is that I feel it was a good judgement call. It makes no sense to spend eight thousand dollars to rent the track for the day just to have a car show, especially in the rain. I had a great time and once again thanks to all the made it possible :thumbup:
This decision to close down on Saturday makes sense , I had thought the track was already rented for all 3 days.
This has always been a topic as it is always seen as a BPG vs GSCA debacle when in fact, this was NOT the case. Weather soaked the track, and facility has had water issues (they said they will be working hard to get dry for Mopar Nats for this weekend). I for one will not risk what i own nor the BOD for someone to crash their car and then sue the club, us, track etc. Safety is job #1. Has always been a source of contention for people who say NTR is too strict and BG lets it all slide. That is fine by me. I get in this argument with certain turbo friends of mine. And then i tell them i dont want to tell their spouse or g/f or loved one that my ignorance and negligence caused their significant other to die or seriously injured, nor do i want that on my conscience. That usually squelches all complaints/issues. With that being said, i have been a BPG member since its inception and started what became the first of 4 years of test and tune sessions at Norwalk promoting the club at Norwalk along with John Schmidt. My step father has been a GSCA member since 85 and myself since i was 8 or 9. Point being, I am not bragging. But this isnt 1990. No events in Buicks draw 1k cars at their events anymore. Not event half that figure. In fact we have more events then ever and people pick which ones they want to attend. People need to leave the battles and bruised egos about issues that happened "back in the day" and support the club. I have people emailing me saying the hotel party was something that rivaled BG back in its heyday. Sure a lot of people have come and gone in Buicks, both in buying and selling and/or getting out of the hobby. We have lost two very well known GS guys as well. Look at the events, majority of people in late 40s-60s. Im 31, a few other guys, Jacob, Ronnie K, Herb and others along with myself are trying to carry the torch and keep the hobby going. Ill be the first to admit young kids (say 16-20 somethings) they would rather have a 1k smart phone and car pool to work. Dont believe me? Look up the billion dollar project study Ford did and got those results. But there are still kids who will get hit by the car bug. The new GN of 2015, while not a 3.8 and not a Buick drive train and most likely not a 2 door it could be an injection of new blood to save the Buick community. Its crazy that Saturday morning i went out to eat breakfast with Tim Perkins (Turbotimmer screen name on this board). Tim is everything Buick and a hoarder as well. But we realized we have been good friends since i met him at autozone parking lot in the late 90s at BG. Car friendships and mine particularly with Buick people has been wonderful. I have met many great people from this board and turbo buick boards and also just in general the events. Same thing for Rod and Danie both great people and a lot of fun to hang around with as well. You just have to be willing to go out of your shell and meet people and branch out. Nobody is perfect but these events are fun. I hope the bantering between people ends because ego jealousy and running off people's mouths are destroying the hobby. Ask the guys in Eastern Europe how they are trying to essentially ban older cars off the road by making the registration fees 2500-3500 a car. Dont think for one moment they wouldnt try in this country, with this administration and the things they have done already in 2 terms (think cash for clunkers). This is not meant to be a political rant but a wake up call that the hobby is not what it was back in the 1980s or 90s. Have fun seeing the people and the cars and enjoy the moment. Because being negative will ruin not only your experience but others as well. And the most essential point is, is that, your friends and relationships at our events wont last forever. Why have a grudge against someone because their T-3 headlamps looked better than yours did at an event in 1991? Who cares. Nobody will remember that at all. But one day you will look back in the videos and pictures and memories you make now , it will remind you of what made you love the hobby: the owners and enthusiasts. I for one dont like living with regrets at all and im hoping people wake up before the hobby hits rock bottom and then there are no more events, no more meeting new people and creating new friendships, no more racing/shows/block parties and no more fun and enjoyment.
I know whole groups of people who have driven their race cars / show cars thousands of miles to BG only to have it rain for days ... Yeah it sux bigtime, so If you have a way of controlling the weather please inform us all. Everyone can benefit from this lost knowledge
Interesting comments from all sides here. So, I will add mine.:laugh: It is not my wish to see bickering between various factions over piddling details. Was it right to shut down early Saturday? YES ABSOLUTELY!!! This gave people the opportunity to either stay and party, or depart for home. I DROVE my 65 Gran Sport a total of 2675 miles, spent $835.00 for gas and $715.85 for hotels, plus other expenses over 7+ days and had a great time. I got 13 mpg for the entire trip, plus lots of :TU::TU::TU: and positive comments. In fact, I spent more time on the road than at the event. Did I mention that I had a GREAT TIME!!! I will be back next year. It seems that each year, we lose a few stalwarts, and this year was no different. :ball: Each year, we also get new participants to renew and freshen the mix.:beers2::TU: Negativity is not needed if we and other clubs, are to survive and grow the brand. :bglasses: On the way home, I met a guy who was towing a 65 Malibu. He was all over my car, and said it best "We A body guys (and gals) need to stick together." Note: I'm not ignoring the other body styles.:grin: Thumbs up from a Chevelle guy, who wooda thunk it.
