I talked to a bunch of people in BG about several things. Here are some suggestions I heard. Please add any others you may have so that as next years gets organized they will keep this in mind.
CRUISES Provide maps and directions of all cruises AND use a designated FRS radio channel for them. That way if groups get seperated, they can still find their way to the destination or the museum instead of getting lost in the country side, not knowing where they are. Add something "new" that people haven't already done at the past few years events.
AUTO-X and DRAG RACING Since these are supposed to be for the registered event participants, it should be limited to those who paid their registration fee. Under NO circumstances should NON-registered people be getting trophies for the event. Non-registered entries should not be allowed in the Quick-8 drag racing. No one seemed to have a problem with additional F-Bods coming to drag race though, since everyone got as many runs as the wanted pretty much.
The auto-x should be broken out into 3 classes; stock-street, modified-street and sticky. There were some in modified, that supposedly was only based on tires???, that were on street tires and others with excellent engine mods driving in stock.
CAR SHOW Add in a "People's Choice" part were participants and visitors can vote for their favorites.
It was also suggested that the above info be placed on the museum webpage.
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
I agree with your comments, Kevin.
Here's a few of my (selfish) suggestions that would have made the great event even better, for those people having to leave Sunday.
(Sunday morning) CAR SHOW Hold it on Saturday afternoon.
AWARDS PRESENTATION Present all the awards at the Saturday night Banquet.
GROUP PHOTO Do it no later than Saturday afternoon.
SOMETHING NEW After attending the past two years, we've seen enough Corvettes to last for a while. Maybe it's time for a different venue focusing solely on the F-body, e.g. SSOA Thursday was great.
Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
Great suggestions Kevin.
I'd like to add ...for scenic tours, the Museum should be able to have a "library" of them on file, ready to go. They could make those available for impromptu groups that want to go for a cruise with a known destination.
For the autocross classes, I suspect if we want something like that we would have to make up our own point system, classify the cars and let the Nashville Corvette Club know what we've set up. I'd also like to see a rookies class.
I'd be happy to work on this with someone ...I think I have a reasonably good idea of what mod's are most beneficial
I like yours too, John ...as another one that missed all of Sunday to get home.
As an alternate venue ...how about integrating Beech Bend into the event better?
[ 25. September 2003, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: poSSum ]
Posted by Kevin V 2002 SS (Member # 1025) on :
The rookie class would be good for all the first timers.
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
Kevin, Great ideas, ...as well as John and Art.
- "library" of road tours - Art's right, the Museum should/could easily provide a list of 'scenic' cruises. - Posting this stuff on their website is also a great idea. - Someone mentioned starting the whole event a day earlier. Not a bad idea either. Most are getting back on the road Sunday anyway.
- Consider a day, ...just to hang out. An expansion of SSOA Thursday, ..."SSOA BBQ" at some location...(Beech Bend?, local park?, Continental Parking lot? Museum grounds?) Kind of like a neighborhood BBQ with your friends...
Kevin
Posted by 35TH ED/ed (Member # 1709) on :
One comment that I heard a lot of was that if people had a problem with the drags or auto X they were to far from home if something happened to the car.
Some Tours seem to be so long with cars with only 1 guide it might be better split into more managable groups. Not all people have 2 ways.
The awards though I think should be on Sunday morning about 9am would be good to allow for more travel time. Not all can go to the banquet because of limited ticket sales.
Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
All good ideas! How about an auto cross run in reverse! Then you'd see some cones fly!
I hope the date of Sept. 23, 2004 gets changed.
I can't make it that weekend. Please! I want to come again!
Oh - and 2 ways should be mandatory to go on the cruises. I had 2 extras I could have loaned out - and if it's published with the registration then participants will have the chance to buy or borrow before they come.
Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on :
I only have one idea. Make sure that Dan gets his butt there!!
Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hawkeye: I hope the date of Sept. 23, 2004 gets changed.
I can't make it that weekend. Please! I want to come again!
You sure plan a long way in advance.
quote:Originally posted by Hawkeye: Oh - and 2 ways should be mandatory to go on the cruises. I had 2 extras I could have loaned out - and if it's published with the registration then participants will have the chance to buy or borrow before they come.
We had extras as well. Never did figure out what channel the lead car was on though.
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: I only have one idea. Make sure that Dan gets his butt there!!
Wasn't for lack of trying on our part
You have the date now ... regrets are in order for any invitations you receive after today.
[ 25. September 2003, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: poSSum ]
Posted by Doug Aldridge (Member # 646) on :
How about Indianapolis. We are due for another show here. We haven't produced a show since the INDY2K event in 2000.
Just a thought.
D1
Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
Well it will be my first time in 2004. So no suggestions from me. Hmmm...I've never ever autoX OR dragged my SS Maybe it will be a first, with lots of laughs to follow, lol.
Seems like the events are spead across the weekend nicely. You'll still want some things to do Sunday, instead of moving it all to Saturday for those peopel that stay that day as well! Just a thought. Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
quote:Originally posted by DanPazich: Hmmm...I've never ever autoX OR dragged my SS Maybe it will be a first, with lots of laughs to follow, lol.
Hey....I'll be right there, too....even if I practice for a whole year before then!! Posted by 99 HOSS (Member # 109) on :
I believe we (SSOA) can do it's own scenic cruise. With a published route map, radio channels, hat installation instructions , specific departure time and place, etc. Trying to get 200 cars to participate, orderly, on a countryside cruise would be difficult to maintain. The number of burnouts alone at the museum parking lot while departing was a pretty good indication of the final results.
Posted by DGOETZ (Member # 1846) on :
I think the basic structure of the weekend was good just needs a little tweeking. I have been all three times and will be there again next year. I believe I could come up with a road tour or two. Mammoth Cave is a nice cruise and we won't be stuck waiting for the tour guide to show us a picnic table. The Corvette Museum makes good money hosting these events, but they need to cater to the individual clubs not just rework a Corvette event to other car events.
[ 26. September 2003, 10:01 AM: Message edited by: DGOETZ ]
Posted by RichardZ SS (Member # 161) on :
Ive been twice, and this year was LEAPS AND BOUNDS above last year! Keep up the good work! One thing to add though, ADVERTISE IT BETTER! LS1.com has in excess of 13000 registered members and I saw a grand total of ONE POST about the event and that was after the fact! We will never get 1000 cars if we keep it all hush hush!
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
quote:Originally posted by RichardZ SS: ADVERTISE IT BETTER! LS1.com has in excess of 13000 registered members and I saw a grand total of ONE POST about the event and that was after the fact!
I posted twice in the Texas section and Fbodfather posted at least twice, if not more; we both got very little response....and the ones that did reply said they'd never even heard of the F-body Gathering at Bowling Green!
I even tried to get a "sticky" for the event and emailed the agenda and registration information to three of the mods on the Texas section:
absolutely NO response from any of them; not even a return email!
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
quote: hat installation instructions
, ...Hmmm, ...now who could that be for ....
...Advertising: We definitely need to spread the word across the boards...
Posted by el ess1 (Member # 1544) on :
Doubt if I'll be back for an event if it's held in BG at the museum again. It's not because it wasn't a good gathering as far as seeing old faces and meeting new ones, that part is always nice. It was the overall atmosphere from Friday-on. SSOA ThurSSday was fantastic. That was the best part of the whole weekend. Really enjoyed it. The rest of it sorta left me flat, though. Although at first I thought volunteering to work an hour or two at the event was a great idea, but for whatever reason, that got FUBAR'd and no one I know of got asked for any help. Which now I suppose is a good thing. DGOETZ mentioned the thing about the Museum making a good amount of money sponsoring this but sorta made it into a reworked Corvette event. So thinking about it, after they make you pay a registration fee, then they ask for free help from paying participants? WTF? That's like them asking to bus your own table at the restaurant. Then the auction, while cool, funds the Corvette Museum only, and doesn't benefit the SSOA or any other Camaro/Firebird group. I realized this during the banquet when they were talking about all the auction proceeds funding the Museum. So we left right as the auction started. It wasn't a horrible event, as it wasn't raining and having to slosh under a wet tent like last year, but those sort of things don't really bode well with me, so I guess the hidden-agenda thing has me a bit miffed. I can't believe I didn't see it coming earlier.
The final straw of the weekend was Sunday morning coming outside our room and dang near tripping over two chairs placed directly in front of the door. But then finding beer bottles, cigarette butts and used party cups out on the walk was a bit much. Made me a bit embarrassed hoping the motel staff didn't think WE were the ones leaving all that trash and stuff out front of our room. I hate to dampen the spirit of having fun, but just because you're attending a car event doesn't mean you can forget cleaning up after yourselves when you're done.
Posted by MaryandRalph (Member # 244) on :
I like all of these ideas, peoples choice for the car show would be a great idea and would not be hard to arange.
The auto cross needed some tweaking as far as how the winners were picked. Maybe more track time for each person too.
Posted by Kevin V 2002 SS (Member # 1025) on :
Andy Archer was the one asking for help, not the museum. He had so many volunteers, that most weren't needed at all.
I had MANY folks telling me and I felt the same way, that the museum looks at us as 2nd class, since we don't drive corvettes.
I do know that the museum was WAY behind on planning gatherings of late due to being SO far behind because of their 50th celebration. Roc, from the museum, has onlt been their a few weeks so he is just getting organized for putting on events.
Posted by Blu SS 98 (Member # 1812) on :
Any way you put it, we still had a blast. If you go to any other car show they don't have cruises and tours planned. This is the first show I have been to that wasn't just about the cars, and we loved it. It was a great joy meeting new friends, and seeing 1 old one. I really don't mind it being at the corvette museum, it's not about where it's at. Go to a super chevy show and see how "family" you feel. I have never had such a blast. If there was partying going on outside your room, just step out and ask if they would move down. Most of the people I saw were cleaning up after themselves. The museum was neat to go in and look around, my only problem with it was that there wasn't enough Camaro /Firebird merchandise for us to purchase. Let me ask you this, where else would you reccomend that it be held?
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
quote:Originally posted by Blu SS 98: Let me ask you this, where else would you reccomend that it be held?
Dallas!! Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
quote:Originally posted by Blu SS 98: Let me ask you this, where else would you reccomend that it be held?
Piggy-back on another central US Camaro show, e.g. Camaros at Carlisle?
Posted by Harry (Member # 1834) on :
quote:Originally posted by Blu SS 98: Let me ask you this, where else would you reccomend that it be held?
At the National F-Body Museum. Are there plans underway anywhere in North america for a museum dedicated to our favourite cars?
Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
I'd like to see Teri and Steve in on this discussion as I believe the SSOA and Andy Archer's club were "co-sponsors" of the event. I'm not sure what all is entailed in that, and if there is any benefit back to the clubs.
My initial thought is that we work to make this event better rather than looking to support or piggback onto another event as the overall venue IMO is magnificent.
If course if someone is aware of a combination of facilities and countryside that rivals NCM/Bowling Green I'd be all ears.
It's been said, but bears repeating, this was not a usual year for the NCM and with our input I'm sure the event can be stepped up another notch for next year.
I was hesitant about making the trip this year, I'm already committed for next ...the only decision left is "which car to bring". Posted by Kevin V 2002 SS (Member # 1025) on :
Steve and Teri did meet with Scott, Adam and Roc after the awards presentations on Sunday. It would be interesting to hear what came out of that meeting.
Posted by Robbie-97SS2902 (Member # 206) on :
We had a great time. The only suggestions I have have already been mentioned. Maps for the cruises and less activities on Sunday. I planned on staying for the Fbodfather talk at 10:30a on Sunday. I enjoyed last year's talk and was going to stay but I needed to get on the road. Other than that it is always the best show I go to. The SSOA Thursday helps by making a great start to the weekend. I plan on attending next year and staying at the Continental Inn once again. Posted by Bill Mason (Member # 1807) on :
This was a great event for Alice and I. We both look forward to it all year, and we will definitely be there next year. It is the ONE car event that is fixed on our calendar for the year.
We really like the NCM as the venue. The scenery and things to do in the area are really something. Also, the way the NCM is set up is great for the show and shine, disaplay cars....with the really rare ones prominently displayed in the museum, social get togethers, the amphitheatre, etc.
I especially liked the way the NCM gives us free run of the place during the event. I also noticed a fair bit of tolerance on their part when we felt the "need' to "rubberize" the front driveway. Where else would this have been tolerated to such an extent?
Suggestions: I would like to see a technical session or two on the F-Bodies. For example, problems areas...how to fix, or how to set up the suspensions for drag, solo or track, etc.
It would be neat if we could have a session by SLP/Ed Hamburger. I'm sure there is a story there.
Presentation of an annual award at the banquet recognizing those individuals or companies that have made significant contribution(s) to the F-Bodies over the years.
As far as an F-Body Museum...great idea. Who wants to take it on. FYI, the Corvette museum was started by a very small group of individuals who were/are avid Corvette enthusiasts who dedicated more than a few years of their lives to make it happen. The museum is funded through their efforts, donations, memberships and events at the museum. One of the reasons I, for one, enjoy helping to support the museum.
In my mind, having the event at the museum is one of the aspects that make this event so unique.
Bill M 98 TA
Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
quote:Originally posted by el ess1: ...I thought volunteering to work an hour or two at the event was a great idea, but for whatever reason, that got FUBAR'd and no one I know of got asked for any help. Which now I suppose is a good thing.
Here's the message sent by Andy regarding the volunteer work duty:
quote: Just needed to drop a line to those of you who signed up as volunteers for Bowling Green. I apologize on behalf of the museum for not contacting everyone with a "work schedule". For reasons that don't matter at this point, We were not given information that was needed to insure I could maintain my promise of only having the volunteers having to work the event for a minimal amount of time and I elected not to burden folks.
Bottom line, Thanks very much to each of you for stepping up and offering your assistance and again, I apologize for the confusion.
Mike, as far as those chairs and trash outside your door...I don't know who left it all there, but the guys who rented the room on Sunday night mentioned that they were glad to have the chairs there so they could sit outside of the room all week. I didn't see you or notice a light on in that room all weekend. Where were you hiding? I kept expecting you'd join us outside in the parking lot. If you were in there while everyone was outside, I apologize if it bothered you. It didn't even look like you were around, so I think it was assumed the room was empty.
Posted by HR Y2KSS (Member # 598) on :
No hurricane in VA. so I don't have to cancel at the last minute again!!!
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Maybe it will be a first, with lots of laughs to follow, lol.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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