Event Coverage MSRA Back to the Fifties- Great Race- Who's going?

So I have to ask, if it's the best show, why are you done with it?

 

Done with dealing with the hassle of getting to it and back home..
Done with dealing with the crowd.
Rarely missed one from 1976 to now. That's dang near 50 years.
I am a grumpy old curmudgeon with no patience and a fervent dislike for 98% of the populace.
That being said,I'm a life member of MSRA and while I personally won't attend it's still a great event that all car lovers should attend at least once.
I'll attend the Henderson Roll In on Tuesday and the Minnetonka Drive In on Thursday and get my car fix. Both are easy to get to and I can be in and out in a less than a hour each. I'm not a lounge in a chair and socialize guy anymore. I look and I'm gone.
That a good enough explanation?

 

Interesting that several of my long-time car compadres have the same outlook, and it might be starting to rub off.
The traffic and crowds are a bigger deal now than they were twenty years ago.
I agree it's one event every car lover should get to at least once. I was there last year for the BTT50s 50th anniversary party, had a great time but I won't be going this year and won't really miss it. Instead, this year I'm going to concentrate on doing what I can to get my Chevy II back on the road.
I wanna drive that sucker again before I die!!

 

I sympathize with all the old curmudgeons…I too consider myself as one. I miss the days of the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Camping, cruising the entire fairgrounds at will, having a blast with old friends. Sad thing is many of those old friends have passed. Last year was my first in a few and I spent time with many friends, but the rain really put a damper on things. So since the weather is looking better this year I’m going to try one more time. Like said earlier…there just is no place quite the same. So I hope to go, reminisce about the good old days…if only in my own mind, in quiet remembrance. Great feelings for an old car guy.

 

To any Hambers that do go, if you see my 49 Blue chopped Buick and I'm around, please stop by and say hi. At my age, like has been said, lots of old friends have passed. So I could use some new ones, stop by and say hi. Brian

 

Been going there since 1998. Plan on being there again .It is a true 50-60’s car event .There is bull shit with every swap meet or bigger event anymore but I’ll take the negatives to enjoy this show.

 

Why?

 

I saw your car last year, but not you. The weather was not very cooperative. lol. I’ll try to hook up with you Friday/Sat. I usually head home Sunday morning. Not looking for anymore stuff so I don’t go to the swap. Always good to meet new friends my age. lol

 

Last year! Car spotted, driver not found.
But those whitewalls sure look good!

 

Every year I bitch about the crowds of people the vender count going down but I still go and have a good time. Last years weather kept the people away it was like the old days.

 

That's a problem hooking up with people. About the time you go for a walk, someone comes by your car to say hi and you're not there.

 

I have opted out of going this year, BUT.....I will be part of the volunteer crew at their first lunch stop in Waterloo, Iowa. The Waterloo rep visited our AACA club meeting last week and asked for our assistance. Had 15 of us stand to represent.

Roger

 

You guys have fun. I am not going to make it again this year. No good excuse except simply too much work to get done right now and I can't afford to take 5 days off.

 

We fly from down under , been several times now and always an awesome event. Last year was different we hooked up with 12 cars from our good buddies from Tx and enjoyed 5 days on the road in hot rods calling in to many shops on the way. From what I remember the rain last year was only late one afternoon at pack up time , heavy but just a nuisance late in the day. But that’s unpredictable thing about weather, never trust the weather guess folks. .

 

A bunch of my buddies and I plan to go check out the cars at the overnight stop on June 26th in Charleston, WV. We did the same when they had a lunch stopover in Huntington, WV a few years ago. Looking forward to it!

 

Drove by the fair grounds around 3pm today. Camp ground already had a dozen or more cars in it.

 

the Rambler will be there

 

I’ve got a couple friends that work the campgrounds so they get to go in and camp today. Tomorrow they’re working checking in the campers. I used to camp quite a few years, but my camping friends have passed away so now I motel it. Ok, but not near the fun. My wife tells me I’m too old to camp. lol

 

It's a great venue for a car show with tree lined streets, modern restrooms and a wide variety of food options. Back to the 50's should be on every car guy's bucket list.

If you come across this truck while wandering the grounds, stop and say hi...

 

I was watching the local morning news. Like they do every year, they sent a pretty female reporter out to the fairgrounds, she stands in front of some of the cars and mentions the basics (1964 and earlier cars, hours of the show, etc.) and exchanges a few yuks with the news anchors sitting back at the studio. It's almost embarrassing how little they know about old cars, it's almost like they have negative knowledge. The anchor in the studio will say, "I don't know anything about old cars - Thunderbird? Is that a car?" Or, the reporter in the field will say something like, "I'm here by this beautiful 1930s car..." Before she went on the air, you'd think she would at least ask the owner the make and year, or even just look at the entry sticker on the windshield. I don't expect people who aren't enthusiasts to be able to rattle off detailed information, but they could at least do a little preparation.

 

But she was pretty, right?

John

 

Keep ahead on the hydration. Forecast is very hot and humid tomorrow

 

I was there today, lots of cars and people. It was cloudy off and on most of the day with a good breeze. The quality of the cars keeps getting better every year. Except for the Rat Rods, they suck.

 

It was a great day for seeing the sites. I put on a ton of miles in the morning. Didn’t see your car. I plan to be 1 1/2 blocks west of Underwood on Randall most of the day.

 

We did a lot of wandering today, I got to reconnect with some old friends and saw countless cool cars. Tomorrow my grandkids are coming for a couple hours in the morning, it will be the first big car show for both of them. My hope is that the little guy gets hooked on old cars, at 2 1/2 he's already well on his way. Tomorrow he'll be behind the wheel of the "Tot Rod"...

 

It was already 80 degrees when I got up at 5:30am. It's cloudy now but if the sun comes out it will really be a scorcher.

 

Finally met up with @jakesbackyard. Had a good conversation and made a new friend, Also @Crocodile stopped by and said hi, saw him there last year also. Today was a scorcher, 90 degrees, but there was a nice breeze which made it tolerable. Tomorrow is the swap meet.

 

This is by far the best event of all the others I’ve attended over the last 30+ years. I’ve been to Americruises, Goodguys Indy, Goodguys KC, NHRA Bowling Green, Goodguys Des Moines, and various others over the years, many of those multiple times. Most of those don’t exist anymore. This year was closer to 9000 cars which is unfortunately less than usual but at least it’s 9000 cars I want to see. Most of the previous mentioned would be maybe half that with likely less than half of that being what I’m interested in. I’ve read other threads about LA Roadster show and others not being what it used to be. Change happens but if you stop going, how can it continue to be great? Please don’t let this one slowly die like others. My 17 year old daughter and I came up for this weekend and while a tad warm we had a great time. She has big plans for changing the color “her” 55 Thunderbird I’ve been working on and how we need a truck to work on too. Keep it going and pass it on. We’re talking about bringing 2 cars up next year!

 

I got interviewed one time on air at the show, a little nerve racking.

 

I was at the same hotel. If you saw a satin burgundy model a coupe that was mine. Didn't hang out in the parking lot, too hot.