GS Nationals Dying

Re: GS Nationals dieing

It's worth the money especially if youve never been, and so is the bpg event. Cicel is only 6 hours away so there's no excuses for that one.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

I truly enjoyed the GS Nats this year. It was my 21st one in a row. I have enjoyed every one of them:TU: I broke my car this year and was parked right near one that was stolen, but I still had a great time and can't wait for next year. I feel the GSCA is the best $40 I spend each year.:beers2:

A huge Thank You to all involved in putting on this event.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

This event has been on my things to do for over 28 years now. I just feel that the NATIONALS has been taking from us with little to no return anymore.

The GSCA and the Xtra have always been something I look forward to see when it gets to my box.

With that said I also enjoy the BPG newsletter too. I have yet to pull the trigger on going to the BPG Nats but this year I again will see what I can do about that. I actually was going this year until we had a hail storm here and I instantly had $100K in work to deal with.

With all that said Im done trying too defend (mostly on GSboard) about how I feel about things. I feel like 28 years should be worth something.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

IMHO - The reality is the heyday for the Buick GS Nationals has come and gone. All politics aside the fact that the cars are getting older the general interest will fall off to the level that there are only hard core owners left is closing in on the clubs. I think that is where we are now in the life cycle of the cars. Buick has not made something high performance since 1987. If Buick would have made a CTS-V counterpart you may have seen an infusion of new life in the nationals and the club. Add the current economic situation in the country to the mix and I think you will continue to see the attendance you currently see at the GS Nationals. The days of seeing GS's and GN's in every hotel parking lot and driving the streets every night are gone.

Mark

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Wait Ron,

Either you are done with this thread, as you posted yesterday at 9:48 am, or you are not. Dont worry, I picked up on it before you edited your post. I guess you couldnt contain yourself? o No:

As for cutting and pasting your negative comments. No need to do that Ron, everyone here has already read them, everyone already knows how you feel, which is why nobody believes you are here for the good of the cause. Nice try.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Your feelings are shared by many as can be plainly seen in this very thread. Dont let the perpetual naysayers with hidden agendas spoil your fun. :3gears:

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

If anyone has a gripe with something at the Nationals or BPG events, call the person in charge of said event,and give them your ideas. Tell them if they agree with your ideas you will volunteer to help implement them for one year to see if "you" can make it bettero No: .
If your idea works you will become a hero if not you will get to see how good it is to be appreciated:spank:
Yes I have done this several years and again will be trying something new this coming year trying to make things better and more attractive to the Buick masses:beer

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

This was my 28th year straight, (same as Mike Garrison) and I don't plan on missing any in the future, God forbid any major crisis! I Love Bowling Green as I consider it my "home away from home". I Love the Beech Bend Racetrack & the facility. Sure it has its problems at times, but what doesnt? Should they get their S^#T together especially in the tower? .... YES! But that should not hamper the fun factor; at least it didn't for me. Life is what you make it and if that sort of thing makes your life miserable then I guess racing isn't for you!

The lack of Port-a-Johns is a small issue. It would be nice if there were more, but if things need to be "cut" in these tough economic times, I would say that this is a good choice for trimming expenses.

As far as the Race payouts go, this is where they really need to focus their attention! "No money" for winning brackets is not good for morale in our club and is just not acceptable. We can get this changed if we work together with Richard (or whomever is in charge) and sponsors. If Richard doesn't want to get sponsorship money for all classes then maybe we all need to find sponsors and have them payout directly to the winners.

I will start by offering some sponsorship cash for next years Nat's. I haven't sponsored in several years because I can't handle the extra work load that is generated by the attention and advertising. But if it helps the club retain its program I'll do it! I'm NOT doing this for the GCSA or the GSCA Nationals as a business, but for the racers and attendees. We also don't need to stack all the cash into just the fastest cars either. I think we should spread it around some to help promote interest in racing our Buicks, even at the grass roots level.

What say you? Any other business owners out there want to join in and start a "Payout Pool"? We can have direct payout and the money will never need to touch the hands of the GSCA or GSCA Nationals. We can organize it through the V8Buick board if Jim thinks it's OK?

Steve

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Thanks Jim, I surely have let past issues go and i hope Richard is the same.
I love the nats and will continue to go. It is a business but IMO the good far out ways any bad, I dont care about payouts i would rather have a plaque.I think EVERYBODY should put feelings aside and go have alot of fun in 2012:beer

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

i have been going to the nationals for 25 yrs, and had been a gsca member for that long. i pre-paid $180.00 for the 2010 nats, when it flooded and was recheduled for oct, i could not attend due to the nature of my business. i called bennet, explained the situation. and asked for a refund. i was told there are no refunds, plain and simple. thats great customer service for someone who has attended the nats for 25yrs. i have not renewed my membership. jeff donohue #3210.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Jeff I have to agree with you when it comes to Bennet. If he would be replaced I can't think of anyone that would miss him. All a person needs in that position is a little personality, an ounce or two of compassion and a little common sense, (and motivation of course!). Seems right now we are missing all of those attributes! I know it's very-very difficult to find someone to volunteer for this type of position (like they do at the BPG), but I feel if someone with the above qualities would take it over, it would be a huge step in the right direction!

Steve

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Umm Bennett OWNS the GS Nationals

Steve, I admire your offer to put up your own monies to pay the racers ... but as Bennett is the owner of the event and put up ZERO $$$ for the brackets, dont you want to know why the owner/organizer chose to do that ? dont you think he should fix that?

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

To be fair, I pre-registered to bring and race my car this year but back home near Chicago, we had 50 mph wind gusts and heavy rains and I have an open trailer so I just went to BG as a spectator. When I mentioned this at the packet pick-up tent, they gave me a voucher good towards next years GS Nationals. I'll probably never bring one of my cars down there again so I can use the voucher for spectator fees next year. I was pleased that they issued that voucher.

 

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Curious as to why you say that. o No: Seems many attendees are showing up without a car. Besides the event itself, the lack of cars sure makes a difference in the night life around town.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

My cars are street cars although I enjoy racing and showing them, but we also enjoy cruising in them and just hanging out with friends at Buick events. We've done this for 23 years. It gets dark and cold pretty early in late October so there is nothing to do with the car in the evening, so to us, it's not worth the worry and hassle of dealing with possible bad weather scenarios coming back to home with the car on our open trailer. We are fanatical about keeping the car clean but don't enjoy washing it in 30 weather so we'll be spectators at the GS Nationals from here on.

We'll bring one of our our cars to race and show them at the BPG event and Norwalk, but in BG we'll be race fans and enjoy the great racing as spectators.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Maybe someone mentioned this before...maybe they didn't, but do the bracket classes have RRa's? If they don't, why not? TSO, the other turbo heads up class, Q16 class all have someone in charge of their payouts. Perhaps that's what the bracket classes need. Someone to go out and get some sponsorship money so there's a guaranteed payout. The money never has to hit the hands of Bennett or the GSCA. Just need someone willing to spend a little time and effort to get a purse together!.

Of course this doesn't answer the question about where all the gate money is going...but if all the classes are paid out and paid out well...who really cares?!

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

i like going in the spring better i my only complaint

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

I like the spring GS Nationals

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

regarding posts# 103&106, a few years ago i pre registered and spent 140.00 bucks. two days before my wife and i were gonna leave i blew the trans on my truck. when i asked for a refund i was told club policy was to issue a voucher for the next year. i said fine, no problem. well, next year rolls around and this A-HOLE BENNET JONES accuses me of being "delusional" and of trying to rip the gsca off. only after i went on the gsca board to tell the members my story did the gsca agree to give me the tickets. in the years ive attended the nats i've spent thousands on gas, food, lodging & entertainment, and now i'm accused of trying to rip them off? to say the least, it was very frustrating. as far as i'm concerned, the way i was treated, the gsca can stick their tickets where the sun don't shine.

 

Re: GS Nationals dieing

Alan,

I've heard this before, but never quite understood it.

If Richard owns the GSCA, how does Bennett own the GS Nationals?

If that is true, then why would Richard be the one that club members call with ideas or complaints about the Nats?

Thanks.