Guys, There are two other things to take into consideration regarding car show attendance at this time that I don't believe has been touched upon. Most of us are in approximately the same age group, I believe that was shown to be true on a bell curve from a post years ago..........anyway that means that at this time of our lives many of us are putting kids thru school, or taking care of our aged parents. I have no kids, but for the last few years have been taking care of my parents. I am not complaining, because I know they sure had a handful with me, but the fact is this sometimes takes a large chunk of time. Add to that, that they need to be checked on very often, and the result is many of us cannot take off for an entire weeks worth of time. You can maybe get a way with a few days at a time, but that's it. This fact alone puts a kabosh on my attending many shows. Add to this, with basically running 2 households, I wouldn't have the time to clean up the car to get to a show anyway. .............and I am sure I am not the only one out there with this situation. Duane
Good point, Duane. And, it's not just taking care of kids and parents as you pointed out. I think, as we get older, our priorities change and, much as we love our cars, there are other things that come before them. I've only missed a couple of GS Nats over the past 30 years but did pass up on the event several years ago in favor of an anniversary cruise with my wife.
I keep saying, when the kids are out of daycare Im going to paint my car. build the motor. Get a GN. Go to the nats...and the list goes on And if I hear you right, you're saying is there will always be something that has priority over a car show. With that said I do enjoy car shows. Even by myself. My wife, thought sportive, just is not interested in sitting by the car in the hot (and sometimes wet) weather, and the kids usually have soccer/basketball/dance on Saturdays. I hope as my son gets older he'll want to come with me. Maybe I'll have to let him drive uzzled: I like meeting new people no matter what they drive (Im usually the only Buick) and I also like when other local Buick owners can align our schedules to attend a show. The only shows that I usually get to attend are the 'annual' shows. The BOP show in October and the Dayton Turkey Run in November. The shows I hear about a week or month in advance are usually not possible due to family duties.
I think we are lucky here in Minnesota(not to say other places don't do this) in the fact that a few of the car shows have flea markets or swap meets so my family can do some "antiquing" while we show the car at the same time. We also have a huge number of suburbs that have annual summer festivals with car shows so we can eat, shop, go to the carnival...and at the same time have a great parking space because the car is in the show. As a single man, I can agree with just a show...but now that I have a family, the shows with swap meets and festivals are the way to go.
I think an E-Mail to any member of a club would be an incentive to re-join when their membership is about to expire. I would appreciate that as I never remember when my membership expires. That wouldn't be to difficult to do in the Inter/Web day and age. I couldnt agree more! I Actually sent an email about a month ago to find out if I owed for my dues but still have not heard back.
Im guilty of not being part of a club my csr was never in show quality..just daily driver status and BCA seemed boring to me...dont think the local chapter ever hoted an event/show to give me incentive to join. . BCA..my xar was never faster then a 14.5 so.. never considered GSCA as I aimply have a Skylark.. but im sure thats a poor asumption on my part. Buiks been off the road for some years now. . With that being said ill most likely be joining the BPG ..lifetime membership since itll pay for itsself as im just 31..and dont have to remember to pay dues every year.
Bruce, if you came to the events and contributed some time to help out instead of just coming to race and win as much as you could then maybe you would get a free beer.* *Ohhhhhhhhhhhh---Snappppp !!!!!!!! :rant::eek2:uzzled::shock::bla::laugh::laugh::laugh: Love, your boy :moonu: MOON" :moonu:
Yeah, that's right....I don't contribute anything by coming to race. Thanks for reminding me......:laugh:
Yes, the internet (V8Buick, all the facebook Buick / GS groups etc) have filled a certain place in our hearts that 20-30 years ago was fulfilled by belonging to a club, that being the need for information and a sense of camaraderie .. but one thing the internet and Buick boards like this one DOES NOT provide is a national BUICK ONLY car show and/or race. If you want those things to happen, you need 2 things to happen first 1) You have to pledge your membership to the club in the form of membership dues so the club will have the finances to put on such a production 2) You need to attend - because the membership dues will not cover the costs alone, and because without people bringing their cars out to show and/or race or coming out to spectate, we might as well book a Disney Cruise to meet up and have fun. Yes, it is difficult for the people in the corner states to attend .. but if you want these events to keep happening YOU need to make some effort. I drive 11+ hours each way .. some drive ALOT more. Some fly over from Europe, buy an old Buick and drive around for a few weeks attending the Event along the way. Ohio was Chosen by the BPG originally because it was the geographic center of the Buick Communities population. You also need to mail in your annual membership dues when requested at the end of each year and NOT wait until next years' event .. the event planners need to know long before that whats in the purse to plan an event.
50 minutes with a PEE stop for me. BUT! This is the first year for it and I'm lov'in it. Have never missed a BPG event.
Yea, I just got back from the GYM...a year and 125 pounds ago I didn't know what those 3 letters meant.... Put it this way, the shirt I first wore at the first BPG event 10 years ago (and it was too small for me then) is now a size too large for me. I'm down to a XL from a 4XL.:eek2:
