On behalf of Advantage Trailer ( where I work ) we will again be making some sort of donation to the GSR class, like last year. I personally will start with donating 50.00 bucks to the GSR class, weather I race my car, or watch my friends race.
Jim, Why the attack, John made a note of the staring dates and nothing else. He didn't reference you, or say anything about your posts. Sounds like you have a little Bennett mentality in you as well.
That's what I say!!! Do we want the Buicks & the Nationals to keep going or what???? Come on Guys put the CRAP in the trash..........
Tell them thanks for that donation. Won the tires this year,figured I didn't need them so I sold them to John Csordas and as Murphy would have it for me on the way home from the Nats: had one blow out,picked up a bolt in another,and noticed they are 6yrs old. So guess what I'm buying in the spring:laugh:
Apologies if my post was offensive, I didn't think John deserved to get called out for stating the starting dates of the NE group and the GSCA. I didn't see any reference to Jim or any of his posts in the post John made, but it seemed Jim thought it was directed at him. I've only been to three GSCA Nationals and one BPG National event so I'm a small fry in the big pond. Enjoyed all of them and would like to attend a few more in the future, hopefully things get sorted out in a positive way.
Interesting post. I have assisted both BPG in a few of their events and this past year Derek Graham myself and Dave Mongeon helped resurrect the Super 16 Reunion along with its tenured leader Doug Hecker. I will say the task at hand for running the club is not an easy task. Thankless is the most common theme. If I could bill the hours of discussion between Derek and myself and long distance phone calls from Calgary Canada to Cleveland Ohio it would rival that of an attorney bill on retainer. Non stop emails and phone calls between us and constantly checking with enthusiasts and racers to see the progress of their cars and if they would make the event. I had at least a dozen big block cars and several turbo cars that were not done in time for the reunion plus a few last minute cancellations. It could have been a full 32 car field. I have not seen the electricity for a GS Nats like that since the 25th anniversary event. TSO had its fastest field ever, double for TSM I believe. GSR was awesome and the amount of big block cars brought back memories of GSE and GSP of years past. To Jim Rodgers who has been in the trenches and though I have never met the man personally I give him a lot of credit for year in and year out doing his very best to put on a class and the racers rave about it so obviously he is doing a great job. For the Reunion I promoted heavily on Facebook and various Buick websites ad nausea and was relentless in keeping people excited to bring their cars to the event. Derek and I were there for the reunion line up on the track for Friday, the Friday night photo and video footage at the Hampton and I helped run the racing ladder and lining up cars so Doug could enjoy racing and relax this year since he does a phenomenal job year in and year out along with NE Mafia chief John Csordas. The club I believe can continue but will take a fanatical leader or multiple persons. After talking with a well known Buick event chief he agreed with me that the event has to be run in a way as a dictatorship. Sure you can take advice and new things to include but nobody will ever be happy. Some will always complain and be negative as some people can never be happy about anything. Just the nature of the beast. First Richard writes a lot of the articles and probably has to because even though he asks for articles to be sent in for him to print very few people pen them and assist him. So to write an issue is not an easy task. The event is thankless. Derek and I ran around all event and same for helping out in the prior year. You don't get to enjoy the event as much and I felt bad because I couldn't talk to everyone as long as I would wish because we are busy running around at 400mph to make sure everything is running smoothly and that people are having fun. I have not seen the crowd that excited and that large in quite some time in BG and haven't been to a Buick event that fun probably since the 25th anniversary event. Ron hit the nail on the head the average age is getting up there. Regardless which events you go to the age is getting older many don't take their cars as too costly to fix or repair and too expensive and value has scared many of them into becoming garage queens. Couple that with health issues as last few years has shown that many of the original gurus and diehards are dying off. Plus put the fact that nothing off Buick's showroom with a real performance twist since 1987, sure you can count FWD GS of early 2000s and the new Regal Ts and Veranos but they are nothing to compete with muscle cars of today. Therefore no new injection of performance blood into our events or hobby or aftermarket or performance companies as well. At 32 I am probably considered a younger guy but I have been attending GS Nationals and been a GSCA member since 1990 when I was 8. I got involved because I wanted to help and give thanks back to those like Derek, Dave and Doug who have been doing this for decades. Some things are in the works for 2015 I may assist once again depending if my partner in crime will assist as well as we can handle most anything that can be thrown at us as demonstrated with the coordination and success of the Super 16 Reunion. But for example the ROA, Riviera club moves every year, great success and makes their event a social and parking lot show atmosphere and very successful. GSCA is a different animal with racing being the name of the game and car show as well. Shame the car show has gotten smaller but age, value cost to restore and expenses to attend are not cheap at all . But we do it for the fun and love of the cars and primarily for the new friends and continued friendships we have with one another. The bond is very tight in Buick world. But filling Richards shoes will be big. Many conversations I have had with him and people can say what they want to about him but he has been great to me. Nobody is perfect in this world I am far from it. But like he said in the letter very few people have stepped up to assist in the event and also with the newsletter. Whether free or not there is some more information that people are not on the level about , whether with taking over the club or the event. Pretty much boils down to making sure that person or group does not run the event or club into the ground and has them put some skin aka finances on the line to pretty much make sure they put an effort into keeping it a great event. In addition you have to have technical knowledge to write articles about Buicks and their history and show non bias towards both Turbo Regals and GS and also covering other Buicks as well. Plus being on time or close to as possible with publishing the GSXTRA and all associate costs via membership. I have no problem with anyone making money as I am in the car sales business and believe in capitalism. Some people feel that there should be a limit on someones wealth. Well talk to my 87 year old grandmother who fled Austria when the Nazis torched their familys business and came to this country with no money but the shirts on their back. I am seeing if I can further assist in the club as well and we shall see if others will step up to the plate to assist and not just be critical and condescending on the internet but when asked in person shutter away and just complain behind keyboards. True colors always show!
ken, thanks, but don't worry about me. there are only a few who know the original background history and dates. I still have my note from back then. someday we will have to put it to print. john
I agree w/you John. I don't have the where for all or health to do what is done but I have nothing but praise for Richard & "all" who keep things going. I feel privileged & honored to be part of a club that has withstood time as this one has. Just try stepping into someone else's shoe's, you will get a whole new prospective on thing's. Thank's Tony for your comment's & hard work. :TU:
Chapters are suffering the same fate....ours, the INGSCA still has some life in it but the Penn-Ohio and others have folded.... Peace WildBill
X3 ! Your efforts are appreciated more then you know . Just ignore the schmucks hiding behind their keyboards that critize but never assist , Looking forward to celebrating the 50 years of Gran Sports in October with everyone! Merry Christmas! DL
X4, very well said. I have appreciation for all the efforts that are put forward at the Nationals. I have been going now for only some 7 years, but have had such a blast and made some incredible friends. The only other event I have attended was the shootout in Reynolds, GA as time off work and travel distances get in the way. Not being at the helm of an event like the Nats or the BPG does keep me from understanding the time and efforts that are required to do. As Tony mentioned, I am sure there were several others that spent countless hours preparing for these functions. I also, appreciate all of those efforts. Even for the events I am not able to attend, as it keeps the passion for Buicks alive and well. I do hope to see as many of you as possible in BG this year, and safe journeys to all between now and then ! Mike
