NSRA was making money, they just want MORE..... Look around NSRA, these are hard times for many people... The spirit of the NSRA was pre '49 no matter how you cut it.... If they were not making enough money, well they should have considered allowing nostalgic drag cars, vintage / nostalgic circle track cars into their events... Could they do that, NO NOT ALL ALL, why - because they have no exhaust systems..... I have not supported the NSRA for many years now and have found excellent events ever since I have left... NSRA, hope you enjoyed your millions and you have better saved for a rainy day as it is coming sooner than you think.... Streetscene, sure don't miss that rag.... It hasn't changed in years.... By the way, your art work sucks as well, no wonder you do not allow other kool t-shirt vendors....
I have always loved the nationals. I grew up here in Louisville and have always looked forward to the show and hanging out with my father. Ive always wanted to own a car I could show there but never got around to building one. I have a 1970 Cadillac right now but I will not show it there. It doesnt belong there. In my opinion, they should have moved the year up to 59 at the most.
were going to knoxville 14 years in a row. probally going to louisville or another nsra event in the summer. we support the change and had for many years pushed nsra management to make the change!! from a vendors and manufacturer 's point of view we have had customers past 48 for a long time and had many folks asking for stuff even newer than 1957 (the newest we go) for a long time at nsra events look at the threads on the hamb about aaca and the hershey swap meet event in oct and how the aaca keeps out all types of hot rods and street machines and all the bitching hambers do on this topic "how dare they keep out hambers and there cars etc, etc) so when nsra lets in CAR GUYS AND THERE RIDES that you do not like, you bitch so let me see if i understand 1- hambers bitch when they are kept out of a car show cause the promoter does not like hamber cars 2 hambers bitch when a promoter lets in cars hambers do not like
Now here's a positive sales promotion tool: Alienate your customer base by condescindingly insulting him. That attitude really ought to increase sales. YOU don't get it......it's not about the money (as it apparently is in your case), IT'S ABOUT THE IRON! (props to Hop Up Morty) and N.S.R.GAY not listening to its membership!!
I live 78 miles away,my membership expired in November (did not renew). I have attended every year since owning my street rod. It was the ultimate Rod event. I won't fight for parking against a Camaro/Mustang/firebird etc. I have nothing against any of these cars or the people who own them, but.... It is not the Street Rod Nationals anymore and I will be waiting on Evansville instead..
Well then EMS....if that's the way you feel about your "pre-49" customer base....maybe you ought to jump on a 1978 Chevy Caprice Forum and promote your services....those are some big ass cars, and I'm sure you could sell some door skins or something. In the meantime, I now know where I WILL NOT be buying my pre-49 metal from. Thanks for making my shopping experience easier!
thanks for your support, the big issue is if you study the rise and fall of trends , social groups and certain fad products, you can make the theory that when a group becomes so "hip" or "chic" or exclusive that it greatly hinders or limits the abilty for new member or participants to join the group or be a active participants. then the orginal group or activity will fail do to lack of intrest and a shrinking of the membership. it is a fine balance between serving your original customers and yet still offer a product that appeals to new folks that will bring new blood and keep membership dynamic. it obvious that nsra took to long to adjust and then over compensated, but at least they found the problem.
If I don't go to Sturgis (motorcycle rally) then I'll probably take my 77' F150 'Shop-Truck' just to 'drive around' inside the fairgrounds,..maybe I can find an ISCA. 'points champion' to park next to;..or better yet,..I'll leave it parked in the 'Pro's-Pick area' with lots of emply beer-cans on the dashboard,..(yep, I too believe NSRA. "shot-themselves-in-the-foot" in an attempt to "increase-capital" in a greety- business 1st.attitude;..they forgot about the 'back-bone' of NSRA. wanting to go to Louisville for pre-48" rides (like the Frog Follies) not "Old-Car-Lot" stuff;..yet they 'say' it's a "Family-event" and the "grandkids" can park by "grandpa",...(yea, right)... we all know its a 'feable attempt' to 'create more revenue' (since the recession took a large bite out of the NSRA. bottom line)...( yep, I have calmed down a bit since last year,..but it doesn't change my opinions)...
Pause...........while I put on my flame retardent suit.. I got a feeling its gonna get hot around here.
Wow, hope this thread dies soon. and Wow you sure know how to push my buttons. lol What was all for one and one for all for the good of the sport is now all for one and to heck with what the all thinks,cause we can!!!! But then I guess thats why car dealers are considered the pillars of the community. The main thing here is that because of this change, many people are going to look to other venues. Another business model you might contemplate is Wrigley Field sells out every game while Kominski or whater its called now, cant sell enough tickets to fill Wrigley Field. Moral: Kominskey might be nicer but Wrigley has tradition. I dont like the change, but its not my decision. Maybe they will create an NSRA light and have an event just for the pre 48 crowd. I know my daughter is a freshman in a Tennesee College and gets out the same weekend as Knoxville, so I will be attending that for the first time ever. I think I will decide on Louisville after that. But I tell you one thing, Whether it was a good decison or a bad one, not going to stop me from having fun with cars. And in true entrepenural spirit if there becomes a void for a need, it will be filled.
I owned several businesses throughout the years. I know customer service is an ingredient to success of any business. I know bottom lines and budgets, payroll, taxes, inventory, licenses, insurances, workmans comp etc. I also know this.....HONESTY. If your customer does not feel they have been treated honestly then they will not be back (unless you are the only one who offers the service) and I feel NSRA has been less than honest in this ordeal. Had they come out and said due to financial reasons such as (exert examples here) we have found it necessary to....., I feel they would have not met with such critisism and discontent from so many. But they tried every reason before they tried the truth and honestly I have not seen anywhere so far where they have come out and said it was due to the financial reasons mainly. They had the venues ( Stretscene Magazine, NSRA website) to take a poll had they elected to, to see if members would rather support some changes or even pay extra. We are customers and we are not fools. I do not deal with people who operate businesses like that. Fortunately NSRA is not a business that has a Monopoly on a service. There are other places to go, other organizations to be members of and that is exactly what I intend to do. I am not rushing into VSRA or ASRA until I get some more info on those organizations. For now I will let my NSRA membership run until expiration in December. I will be in Knoxville. I still feel its a mistake to let anything newer than 72 in (I prefer 64 and earlier). Time will tell. 48 Poncho
How many if you complaining about NSRA are driving Toyotas and buying made over the pond Period Piece Parts that HURT the US bottom line I know change is tough but it still ony costs 30 bucks try to get into one of the " other events or a winter carshow with parkin an gate for that and ya dont even get a mug" just my 2 cents
First, yes we will be at Louisville this year, as my wife enjoys the "Tea Party " for the ladies, and she also likes the "Womans World" and we get to see friends from other states that we don't see other then there. That is the only time I can wonder around the swap without her, as she does not realy care for the swap part. That being said. I had my owen business in the mid '80s and yes it is about the bottom line no question about it, my only thing is that I think they let the bottom line out-vote there main objective, that being the "Members". I think they should have had a cutoff date of 1963 or 1972 not the 30 tear thing. Just my $.02
In my discussions with nsra, they were extremly concerned about not offending traditional customers and they knew they were going to piss off some folks and make others happy. I would have voted for 1964 or 1972 and did express my opinion to them over the years. A piont of intrest, for the last 3-4 years parts 50% + of the guys who came by our booth at nsra had 49 and newer cars. That means they supported the show also and were customers of nsra. So now they can bring there cars too. And the customer service of nsra is another topic were my opinion would change. But i was always treated in a fair manner, i may have not liked there decision but i understood there rules and problems with a large show. Another fyi: Remember goodguys had 62 or 72 limit for years and did not have a over whelming of newer cars unitl they became popular with the regular folks, but i can remember in the mid 90's 49 chevs and 49 fords were for the guys who did not have a lot of money for a street rod and all the trendy stuff but you could drive your car to a goodguys show. And then look at your local cruise night all kind of cars i personally have 37 ford (under construction for alot of years) and a 60 buick (doing a full resto) and am driving a 53 chev and 72 dodge dart. My little girls 7 yo and 5 yo think they are all old cars, and it is the future where we need to look at.
To Hnstray & EMS Customer Service, You don't charge membership to everyone to buy your parts, the NSRA does. I've bought EMS parts for some of my cars over the years, you sell a good product. But Try charging membership to buy your parts and you have a whole different ballgame. Do you listen to your customers when they ask you if you are ever going to build a certain part for a certain car. Yes, because you know that if 12 people ask for that part over the course of a year, that more will also buy it. Now put that in the NSRA way of thinking. I have over 20,00 members do I ask them what they want or do I just decide for them. Let's see I'll build 1980 Chevette floor pans because that is a sure winner. How long do you think you would stay in business?
From a dollars and cents standpoint NSRA hasn't gotten rich off of me. My wife bought me a lifetime membership in 1975 for 175.00. So, in fast math in my head because I am too lazy to go find a calculator, so far thats about a 5.00 per year cost to me. I don't go to any of the other NSRA events because there limitations has not fed my car addiction. They have mailed to me every month since a monthly magazine and once a year a fellow pages every year it has been in existance. Most every year I go I say that I won't be back the next year. But, as the year wears on, I cool off and keep going back. I wouldn't miss 2010 for anything. I want to go if for no other reason the entertainment value. Will I take a pre-49 car? Maybe not. Will I take a rusted out 80 Chevy pickup with a snow plow? No. For the past ten years, 80% of the cars that do show up do not appeal to me. So with the rule change I don't see that changing much. I go primarily for the swap meet and vendors.
I joined the NSRA several years ago, the "National Street Rod Assoc" pre 49 .I did not join the NVA or what ever "National Vendors Ass.". If I join the NRA I don't expect it would change to include the NPBA the "National Paint Ball Assoc." There are many venues for you to sell your goods.. There are very few venus to showcase Pre 49 rods only. The main issue with most of us is 1 event, the former Street Rod Nationals as we knew it. With 13000 cars in attendence , I don't see where they are hurting for participants.
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