Event Coverage Street Rod Nationals

Been going for the last several years. The cars were awesome but the city has really messed things up outside the gate. Phillips Lane the road right outside the main gate is closed from 8pm-6am. They have basically shut down any cruising. During the show some streets are closed and cops directing traffic. It was backed up for miles. Needed to make a pick up at the swap meet on Saturday. No way I could get in. Went the first thing on Sunday morning and drove right in. Might not be going next year.

 

I am a little confused about what you said. Yes, there is only one entrance on Phillips Lane and they are trying to funnel thousands of cars into the "participant" parking area. Yes there will be expected traffic backups no matter where they hold a show of that magnitude....no different than attending any other type of major event.

The spectator parking comes in Gate 4 off Crittenden Drive and is somewhat better.

If you were a participant, this year they "did not" block entrance/egress from the participant to the swap meet other than with a movable gate with no one preventing opening and closing it. Right next to that was the horse barn area and entrance to it was open. You could go through there and into the swap meet as well.

The access road between the building and swap meet would also allow someone to pull up immediately next to the walk in entrance and pick up any reasonably sized part.

As for spectator parking, I do not know of any good way to access inside the swap meet.

As for the city of Louisville...........it ain't what it used to be. Sorry you had trouble getting your parts easily but if you have a problem next year or think you may need a little help getting something from the swap meet to your vehicle, message me before you go and I'll help you.

 

I wished they would move around, like they used to. So, guys like me who have never been since they moved, could ever get a hotel. Guys book them a year in advance and basically it's full immediately.

 

Hotels are available up to the show. I looked on Tuesday before the show, rooms on Crittenden. They've added a lot of rooms in the last so many years, finding a room isn't hard. Financing it is a little tough. I didn't even hit any 2 night minimums.

 

Yes and No.........There are always advantages and disadvantages. Its pretty centrally located and right next to an interstate. Thats a pretty big plus. The thing about using the same site is that once someone attends, they have a much easier time in subsequent years in deciding on what the most convenient places are and what prices they expect to pay. There are a lot of things that a person can learn that helps them in the future. If you move it around, getting a good place to stay becomes a **** shoot for many people. Also, they learn the "lay of the land" and can get from place to place with less h***le.

Then on the other hand if someone wants to visit other attractions besides the rod show, different venues provide new attractions to see.

Like someone said, the Locals like having it here. I'm guilty of that. Sleeping in my own bed and not paying for a room, driving 10 miles to get inside the gates, and knowing where and how to get there easily....yep, I'd like to see it stay in Louisville.

For those of you who may be interested in coming next year, may I suggest that you look at Brooks Ky for a place to stay. Its right up I-65 about 10 miles. Get up and there are some fast food places right there along with a Cracker Barrel. From the Hotels to I-65 is about 2 minutes and then a 10 minute drive to the State Fairgrounds directly from the xway. Also the Hotel/Motels are all recent builds and very clean I believe. Personally I don't reccomend staying in downtown Louisville. High prices and traffic,crime and traffic, useless bike lanes and morning traffic, parking fees and traffic. I would suggest looking into taking your wife on the Belle of Louisville for a short steamboat ride up the river......a lot of people have never been on an old paddlewheel steamboat. But ya gotta go downtown to do it..........

 

What is this about the local`s (and others) renting tents, so they have the same spot all weekend end long. What does this cost.

 

^^^^^Well, the cat’s outta the bag now. SSSHHHH.
I’ve stayed at Brooks for many years, ever since the hotels on Phillips got exorbitant with their prices. Although their location is what justifies it, I guess, I just couldn’t afford it.

There are several new places with a variety of pricing at Brooks, and the old standby Quality has new owners and many improvements. The Cracker Barrel is the anchor restaurant. Just fast food and a cowboy steak joint.

The only issue with the drive in is there may be a backup at the front gate coming off the ramp.
Just don’t wait until the morning traffic starts. It can get crowded quickly.
And then ther are the ever present POS I-65 pot holes and rough pavement, especially the right lane.
I swear, some have been there for years! Hard to believe that it was once worse!!

As I’m done with Louisville, someone can have my spot.
A truck wreck at Shepardsville this year caused a m***ive cluster f**k Southbound on Saturday.
Guy took out a hundred yards of guardrail and drove off the overp*** to the road and creek below!
There was no “merge/lanes closed” notice until you got right to the site. WTF, DOT and KSP?
So you had hundreds of trucks bottlenecked down to one lane.
Took 2 hours to go 4-1/2 miles !!
Have fun.

 

Back in the 80’s the Nat’s were held in Columbus Ohio for a few years that I attended. I think one year they claimed over 15,000 cars or more, probably had the numbers in a Street Rodder issue.
Long lines to get in from the interstate coming from the north each morning were the norm then also.
The last 6 or 7 years we’ve stayed across the river in Clarksville Indiana,only about a 12-15 minute drive and we leave the hotel at 6:30am arrive before the long lines develop.
I think anywhere NSRA hopes to have this event it needs a large facility and plenty of hotel rooms as a basis to even consider along with somewhat centrally located.

 

Hotels in Louisville are not a problem.
Drive 10 minutes east or west on the freeway and you can find rooms. If you book early the rates are fair.
If this is your only problem, we should see you next year.

 

So what made it so bad for you?

 

The best part of the nationals to me was always the night life. It was my vacation, so I planned on paying up for my hotel to be right there outside the gate where the party was. I just switched to the hot rod reunion, because I enjoy the nostalgia drag racing thrown in with the show and shine.

 

The Minnesota state fairgrounds is a waaaaay better venue with lots of shade and usually milder temps. They can easily accommodate that many cars as proven by Back to the 50’s.

I know it’ll probably never happen but I can dream.

 

I remember the Nationals being held in Minnesota once.
I’m almost positive it was for the 20th annual back in 1991,would have to dig my photos out to be 100% sure,and yes for those that never attended an event there the fairgrounds deserve a 5 star rating.

 

I’ve been to the Nationals in St. Paul, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Columbus, and Louisville (last attended in ‘92). Along with the cutoff year rising, the lack of moving it around has kept me from returning. I could probably (finally) get over the year thing, since I do go to a GoodGuys event, but holding it continually in Louisville will not bring me back.

 

I was totally wrong on 1991 in Minnesota, 1989 was the year I went. It was also held there in the 70’s a few times and again in 1985.
1991 in Oklahoma City.

 

Someone said that there were 9200 cars at the Nationals. Add to that there is a large spectator parking area with between 5000/10,000 cars, vendor parking, swap meet vendors arriving,and a motorhome parking area.
I don't think it would matter where the show is held, there are going to be some traffic problems when that many cars converge on one central location.

As for the tent thing, its not just locals that rent them. A company comes in beforehand and sets up large tents that are available for rent. You would have to contact the SRN reps to find out whats available and how you get a specific tent. They are nice for staying out of the sun and keeping cars out of the rain. They are large tents, not small single family ones. Many people bring their own pop up shelters and erect them.

As for the heat.........well are there any car shows small or large that aren't hot when they are in a parking lot?
There is a gr*** field on the east side thats cooler and has some trees. Its usually pretty full of cars just like the paved lot.

The air conditioned exhibition building provides welcome relief from the heat and there is also a WOMENS WORLD area to keep the wives happy. Ehrlers ice cream is available along with other food and drink.

Like all of these events, the food vendors and water vendors want rip off prices. Bring your cooler and ***orted sandwiches and beverages. I would also recommend buying a second hand scooter and putting a new battery in it rather than renting one for several days. You can come in on Wednesday and often pick your area. Many people leave cars there overnight along with chairs and stuff. If you have a friend with a truck/trailer they can help you get things inside early. There are wall plugs in the building where you can recharge a scooter. If there is some problem you need a little ***istance with, contact me and I'll try to help you with resolving it. (UH OH.......)

 

I personally like the venue and the event. Love the vendor section, it's the biggest I get to see every year. I have found a place to stay in St. Matthews that is a 15 minute drive away. I also love Momma's Mustard, Pickles and BBQ and Gustavo's restaurants. I'm still looking to add to that list but I visit those two every year that I attend. This year, we found a place for our pop up on Wednesday and had great seats to watch the cars roll in in the mornings. Like we said before, there is something for everyboday.

Also, I am in love with the Ehrler's Ice Cream, especially the Bourbon Pecan Fudge! They have the best ice cream of any event I attend.

 

The Pharoahs have a Safety Inspection program.

 

Thanks for all the info given.

 

Those big tents are not cheap to rent. One guy I know pays $150 for his spot, one of probably 16-20 spaces under the big tent. The tents are kind of a love hate thing. Good for having an essentially reserved parking if you drive in and out each day. Hanging out in some shade with your friends. Car out of rain, it always seems to have some rain in Louisville. Bad because of the costs and they do block some parking spaces with the support poles on the edges. Overall if you have a tent it's probably favorable to you. If you don't, it's probably viewed negatively by you.

The nationals have so many cars you can't see all of them, even byp***ing ones you don't like to see. But still a considerable amount to make attending worthwhile. The swap meet is reasonably good, anymore that's about the way to build low budget. Junkyard scrounging for old hot rod parts and pieces is essentially gone, replaced by swap meet scrounging. With exception of a few specialized traditional shows, all car shows have a mix of old and new. The nationals is no different, at least the nationals hss a 25 years old cutoff.

 

My standard lunch has been a Kentucky Pork sandwich and a cup of Ehrler's for years, with the Bourbon Pecan Fudge the last two years!

 

I heard that this year was the last year for the “give away car” and next year there will be four 5000 dollar checks and taxes will have to be paid??
9200, that’s a considerable drop from the 13,500 when I won the RPU in 2004.

 

The official registration count ended at 9111, which is down from previous years. Also true that no giveaway car next year and will be four $5000 cash. Don't know about the taxes, but I ***ume you will get a 1099 for $5000 of misc income to pay taxes on.

 

The info in this thread as well as things I've heard over the years do not motivate me in the slightest to clear my calendar for the Nats next year. I'm not trying to pile on, I'm just saying they really need to do something different to shake things up and draw a new crowd. By the way, I am also a Lifetime NSRA member.

For you demographic buffs, I'm 46 with 5 kids under the age of 12. I like pre-64 stuff that's why I'm here. I don't see the NSRA, and GG for that matter doing much that interests us. Even at a 3000 car regional GG or NSRA event there's no way I can see all the cars, plus half of them I don't want to see anyway with the 25 year cutoff.

 

All the complaints about the year cutoff without any mention of the promoters being called the National STREET ROD ***ociation and the event the STREET ROD Nationals. Post a pre-'49 STREET ROD on here with whatever styling is popular today and it'd get roasted, so who cares what the cut-off year is for the event? Hilarious.

As far as a location... how about somewhere with trees and gr*** that isn't primarily just a parking lot? Surely some place like the Minnesota and Iowa state fairgrounds exist in other locations that aren't on the coasts.

 

I view the auto world as another expression of art. Not all artists have talent, but those who do can create phenomenally. Not all artists are alike. There are cubists, realists, impressionists, etc. In our milieu we have restorers, hotrodders, street rodders, customizers, etc. -- lots of branches on the tree. We like some things more than others. I'm not fond of cubism, most 50's style customs or most chopped roofs. But when I see the Hirohata Merc or some of the best chopped coupes, I appreciate the iconic. Broadened car shows expose us to automotive art that we might be missing if only staying in our silos. Cars aren't made for silos. It's hard to turn around.

 

I enjoy seeing all forms of automobiles and build styles. But it kinda took the umpth out when they changed the year cut-off date. Now it`s like all the other shows out there. But I still wanna go sometime.

 

Again,For all those that hate the cut off dates of the NSRA there are two events that I attend yearly which are pre 49. The Frog Follies in Evansville Indiana coming up next weekend and the
Early Tin Dusters 47th annual Color Run in Quincy Illinois in October(13&14 this year.)

 

Out Atlanta based crew has been going for years. Yes there used to 15000 cars, now down to 9000 (remember many of those just get a registration without a car as it is the cheapest way to see the show vs. at the gate). Hot as Hades has subsided the last two years, and been dry, mostly. Hit Frank's Deli outside the back gate each day for lunch, best sandwiches in the state! The shutting down of cruising has removed a major fun point for staying in a hotel along the strip. Two years ago it was a literal **** show of drunken locals, burn outs and guns were pulled and cops shut it down. Last year a new Charger doing donuts flung a girl out who was filming from the window ledge, harder crack down this year. No hotel p***, you do get to go down the road, period. All over town they were pulling cars over, blue lights everywhere. We walk the swap several times over the weekend and I always find something. All that said our old guys need scooters now, $75/day rental, and we are tired of the same cars every year and inside vendors with nothing but stickers and catalogs or cheap Chinese tool/sandpaper ****. Three nights in a hotel for the old guys that needed beds was $880! Four of us had two pop-up campers with air units that cost us $240 for the spot with electricity for the same three nights. We decided time to try something new. Looking at a new inaugural event in Mobile, MS in June. There is lot to do on the coast.