Would It Be Possible To Have A Buick Nationals In The Middle Of The Country? I Know A Lot Of West Coast People Who Have Can't Make The East Coast Shows Due To Gas Costs And Travel Times. Kansas Looks Centrally Located. I Think It Would Make For A Better Turnout.
An honest answer is you theoretically could but demograghics say it would not be well enough attended. JC did a ton of work on one for Indy in 2006 but not enough attended. So this year his event combined with the BPG, will be held at National Trails near Columbus Ohio. Buick muscle cars owners are predominately located in the northeast US, Penn. Ohio And Michigan. Relatively few are located in the cental US.
When the BPG was deciding where to host their show; On my own, I took the list of members and geographically located where every member lived. The membership "geographical" center point turned out to be right around Columbus. I believe I submitted a copy of the map to the BOD for consideration. Duane
It sure seems that way to me too. I wonder why that is? Simply population density? Probably not, because that would put lots of members in So. Cal., but that area isn't heavily represented on this board... I also wish I could make it to a big event, but Austin is a long drive from Ohio and environs. I could trailer the car and I have the time and ability to go, it's just too far of a drive... We have very few Buick people here in Texas; I think there is more interest in Turbo cars here than classics.
lets talk about fuel, $910.00 thats 2383 mi. from fall river ma. to bg and back, 295 gallons of gas at 8 mi to the gallon at over $3 dollars a gallon. but i say never change the gs nats, its by far the best place for the race the people are great (girls are hot) and its just a great place when the nats went to ohio it just wasent the same !!! im sure my ny and jersey buddys think the same way. just my 2 cents. later john
Yes, fuel... I spent a little over $800 each way this year towing my Skylark from CA to BG and back this year. Chris is right: 1500 mi. or 2100 mi... one's about as bad as the other for us CA types. Frankly, I think the BG environment is a big draw for this event. It's a pleasant town, cozy, down-home drag strip, and the BG folks are very friendly. Yes, there may be more convenient locations (for some folks, anyway), but the BG environment would be hard to beat.
I think regional events is the way to go. It takes me 18-19 hours to drive to BG. Money, extra time off all play a roll. Just could not pull it off this year. That said, I don't think there is a better town or venue.
There is no way to break even on a regional event. Many costs like track rental are fixed regardless of attendance. As I pointed out before JC did a great marketing job for the Indy event and spent a ton doing so. The attendance necessary to support it did not show. Jim Haas for several years put on the Bristol Tn BOP event but again the same issue did it in. Even the attendance for the BG event is not nearly what it once was. Texas and Cal might be an exception based on an unusual concentration of Buicks outside of the northeast.
Here's an idea :idea2: How about doin' somethin' down here in Nawlins? :grin: It sure could be nice visit. It's not exactly a boring destination:sleep: . There are boucoup places to hold the car meet(s). Discount can be had. SECURE PARKIN :laugh: . Do it in late Oct. or early March, when nothing is going on by y'all (snow :laugh: ), and the weather is nice here. p Stay an extra day even... Don't get me wrong, I like to meet you guys one at a time when you come here for one reason or another, but the whole group would be awesome. 2 Dragstrips an hour away too....:TU: Betcha can talk the wife into it as well :TU: , cause believe it or not N.O. is kid friendly. HMMMM.....
I also wish I could make it to a big event, but Austin is a long drive from Ohio and environs. I could trailer the car and I have the time and ability to go, it's just too far of a drive... We have very few Buick people here in Texas; I think there is more interest in Turbo cars here than classics.[/quote] Not as true as you would think..(I hope) There are alot of us in West Teaxs, and 4 of us from Midland made the trip. We all run the big cars GS-GSX and would hook up with anyone close- this was our first trip and we are now GSCA members but up to BG we only used the forum to find parts etc. Curtis (Dad) has a lake home in Kingsland outside of Marble Falls and has 2 of our cars there...the rest rotate between Midland and the lake. We find Buick guys almost daily...there is just no network in place down here... Our litter... The "Roys Boys"
We did it for our "Nationals" here in Texas May 5 th...(http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=127777) We had some sponsors, and we charged 30 $ I think to race... we even provided a free BBQ. AND we paid out hundreds of dollars in prize money!! AND we paid out hundreds of dollars in prize money! We did not lose money. We had the track all day, EMS, 2x VHT, and full track staff... it was a really good time. Maybe we could have some of y'all midwesterners come down for a little Texas hospitality... if you promise to go back! ray: :laugh: :eek2: :beers2:
remember us guys in the north west?? more like the whole west coast!!! british columbia also.we dont have squat out here:rant: hell i have to drive 400+ miles just to go to an all buick 1 day carshow.but im not missing the bca nats over here this summer:TU: its only 350 mi,i know itll never happen again in my lifetime.ou:
