Don't get me wrong, there were some beautiful cars. The arena was pretty impressive as usual, the rods & customs room was pretty nice. Suede's had a light turnout, but quality seemed better than last year. The room dedicated to the movie and TV cars was a joke IMHO. Overall population of cars seemed to be at least 25% less than last year. Does the Autorama hold more promise than the Cow Palace show? The experience left me wanting much more for the $18 ticket and $8 Foster's drafts. Anyone feel the same way? Is the Autorama any better?
I'm disappointed that they didn't honor their word and let Roger Steven's chopped Buick wagon have the spot they said he could on the Arena floor. I saw plenty of ****py painted cars in its place... and that the Limelighter was stashed up in the nosebleed area. That should have been on the floor. The bike room also seemed a bit light compared to last year... I did like the Starbird and Hines stuff, though
Since the same promoter does the GNRS and Autorama, will those shows be adversely effected as well? Considering going to the Autorama, but I don't want to drive and spend another steep ticket to see the same lack-luster show. For my money, the Pleasanton Gooodguys show holds much more appeal.
I really like seeing the 2 Hines Chevy's with their similar tail treatments. A true testament to his work considering how well those cars have held up. I heard a few people criticizing the aged look and crazy interior on the blue Impala until they realized it was a true surviving custom like the El Camino. The bike show was REALLY light compared to last year, though no one seemed to care that Simms didn't show up with his bikes and supercars this year...
the same promoter does not do Sacramento Autorama and GNRS. SF Rod and Custom = Rick Perry Autorama/GNRS = John Buck
18.00 was a little steep. we were in and out in @2.5-3 hours. i'll probably go again but i noticed a lot of cars from billitproof out in antioch from last summer and the price was better.
Parking was up two bucks from last year, too. $10.00 Kids 6-12 were $8, 5 and under were free.... cost me, the ol' lady, and the two kids $54 to get in the door. We did bring our own food in, though. Not complaining, but it did seem a little drastic once we got in. The TV Cars building was a joke. The Bat mobile had been painted by Stevie Wonder in the dark, and the rest was ****. The Dragula and Munsters cars weren't even close to the right cars...
I stayed home since I'm broker than **** this year....I think the best deal is to put a car in the show and get 2 p***es for all weekend...then bring a cooler full of beverages in your trunk and sell your extra p*** for each day to where the whole show is free! Actually I really can't see spending 8 bucks to cross the bridges,plus 15 bucks in gas,parking,entry food etc. I just don't enjoy indoor shows that much anymore.
I, personally, had a great time. The TV/Movie show reminded me of a bad roadside attraction, it was hilarious. I especially loved the "Mr. Fusion" on the Back to the Future car. Starbirds cars were amazing, I'd never seen the Predicta in person.
I also went.There were some nice cars.The 18.00 was not worth it.Goodguys has alot more to see and it is alot cheaper.I had never been to that one.I dont think I will go back.I just was not all that impressed with it.Seems real small of a show for the money.Was in and out in about 2 hours.I happened to see a guy there with a HAMB shirt but didnt get a chance to talk to him.
My car club has had cars in this show for 5 years and it has been getting worse every year. Roof leaking on cars when raining, cars being moved without telling us, are a small list of things there. I felt the show was weak .The car and motorcycle count was low compared to other years.
I think the whole show was pretty weak, the lower sections seemed to be of lower quality than other years. The drive in set up and the sock hop almost made me lose my lunch. The car club that set that up must know somebody who puts the show on.
i thought the show was weak also...movie car room was pityfull..the 2 side rooms i think had lower quality/quan***y than before...suede palace and main floor i where i spent most of my time.....$18 was too much for what i got...nice though seeing the 3 kings all under one roof though!!
I was there Friday 'n Saturday. From what I noticed attendance was down considerably. I was part of the pinstripers panel jam so I didnt get out much. The Sac show and GNRS are both great shows.........with the GNRS being the best of the 2.
how are they moving cars without telling you?are they pushing them or dollying them?that seems crazy that alone would keep me from ever going back.i did not get to go this year due to being on call for work,but it coulndnt have been that bad?could it?
The primer'd car section had too many RAT RODS and not enough TRADITIONAL HOT RODS... The bike section was weak... not that many bikes. 'Bout the only thing that knocked my socks off was the '32 in TRJ booth... ****ing WOW! That and the Iacono '29... Sam.
I was thoroughly unimpressed. The reigns on the guys helping with the suede area are killing it. It's not about ****ty unpainted cars, it's about traditional cars in any state. Alex and Rolf get it, but don't seem to be given the green light to run it as it should be run. They must be very frustrated. I would be. Actually I AM frustrated at the fact that people continue to not get the difference between rat rods and traditional cars. Sure seems simple to me. I gess I'm sum sorta rokit sienteest er sumpthin. The movie cars? That was insulting.
Although I had some free p***es, I don't feel quite as cheated if I would've had to pay. We walked out of there being very disappointed with ALL of it. BIGREDTODD, to answer your question is Autorama any better? Maybe, but it will be smaller (only 25-30 cars in the Suede Pavilion)
The whole package was pretty pathetic, but the Lambrose/Iacono 99jr car gave me wood. I'd actually torn the photo out of Kirk!'s Gazette a couple of days before. It was cool to see it up close. There were two nice Deuce roadsters in suede-ville, too: A white one and a black one (which coulda lost the the bop-top). Salt and Pepper. We usually save the bike room for last, for a good dose of wild & crazy before the long drive home -- it didn't happen.
Friends went Saturday night and said that they thought attendance was down and prices were up unfortunately! They spent over $60.00 to get into the show including parking and weren't impressed. Frankie also went on Saturday and felt that there wasn't as many people, cars or bikes as last year. He enjoyed seeing and talking to the Hall of Famer's though. Said the car from Australia was gorgeous...... No matter the case, you always want to see someone who is taking the chance to put a car show (inside or outside) succeed. It takes alot of money, time and effort.
I liked the Hines and Starbird cars as well as a couple other historic rides. I'd have to agree with Kirk that well done traditional cars are being shown alongside a slapped together car with plastic zipties holding the brake lines on! I left early to go check out Mavericks.
Does it have anything to do with the concept that some of the great new (fresh) cars are first shown at the GNRS and miss the shows that come earlier? West coast cars primarily as only a few head east after the Riddler award. Up here in the North West we see some great cars at Portland, Seattle and Boise although the last couple of times I was at Portland there was a lot of filler stuff. And look out for the Bozos in waiting in line for an autograph from the pro wrestler.
Paid way too much to get in just to look at all my friend's cars in the suede room. Main hall was sparce and uninteresting. And $10 for a drink was absolutely ridiculous.
I could of saved $18.00 and just spent 8 hours walking around my neighborhood and asked guys to open up their garages and barns and see what pieces of **** cars they've been storing since their teens. I actually felt bad for some folks 'cause their cars were such ****. I didn't even feel bad this year laughing right in front of the cars, as I was ready to tell any owner that saw me..exactly why I was laughing. P.S.-the rest ffo the lower show should take notes from the one building...turn out the lights, the cars look better that way. sorry to some of you who got stuck parking down there.
yup... the show was a disappointment to say the least. the Hines and Starbird cars were cool, but overall the main floor was weak. I like the suede room but there just wasn't enough new cars in there to please me. I have seen all those cars over the summer at all the shows. to me the bike room was better than ever, no stupid looking Simms bikes. lots of traditional iron. 18 bucks to get in.. 10 bucks to park .. 4 bucks for the bridge. not worth it.... but what can I do... we're down to one indoor show a year here in the Bay Area. I've been going to indoor shows since the 70's and can't stop now. and those ****ers put the GNRS on the same weekend as Turlock so I'll prolly never see that one. maybe I'll give Sacramento a try this year.. never been.
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