Anyone have any info yet? I heard a rumor that it was cancelled again, which I hope is not true! -Dean
i heard the same, something like the property owner sold the land that they hold the show at every year and they (the Road Agents) have been unable to find a suitable replacement. ****s, because its usually a decent show.take the trip to LI for the second annual Road Rats show, i heard it was nice... right by the water, similar field setup to the Road Agents show.
Is it really that hard to find a place to move the show to? Granted, I liked where it was but it certainly isn't the only spot to hold a good show.
Oh man this ****s, I love that show. Seriously though how hard is it to find another place?? I mean couldn't any fair grounds do?? Parking was a bit tight there anyway... -Dean
it is very hard to find a place for a show, with insurance problems, and booze problems, most shows need a place for music and control of people paying you, so you do not lose your rear . try doing it, you will find out, we lost our place after three good years, is not easy.
Cancelled again??? I am confused. I went to the show last year...was it cancelled two years ago or something???
That really is a great show, but I can understand the problems in finding a new location. I hope something turns up and they can make a go of it in 2008.
I saw Luke yesterday and he didn't mention anything of it and I forgot to ask. I sure hope its not as well.
I'll try to keep it simple, I hope they find A new place. I love the old one but, the people that own that place ****!!
I heard it was done for good well before last years show...it was a reliable source but who knows? Hope not, neat show.
Can't be that hard... just takes some commitment of all parties considered. I mean, for two years I put on a show when I was in high school as a fundraiser. It wasn't little gathering either... we went from hosting it in our soccer field (and filling it) to the city's baseball stadium(and filling it). It's still run annually to this day. Granted, there's no beer at that one but it's not brain surgery but it's a big draw that's run primarily by students. As well, for every place that isn't willing to host there's a place that is. I know this to be true, I host/organize an annual family bicycle run. It's gone from two families to HUNDREDS of people, to the point where we needed support from the local gov't. Many of the same type of problems are presented and they get handled... sometimes it's annoying to deal with but that's what having responsible help is for. Seriously, we're talking about a car show, not putting a hot-rodder on the moon. Even that's possible if you're committed to the task. As an estimation I'd say there were less than 200 cars last year at the Road Agents' Show. To find a new spot in one of Connecticut's 169 towns/cities isn't an impossibility. Perhaps those in charge are tired of being the only people responsible? They may need a helping hand to get things going right again. If it's done, it's too bad... I always enjoyed going to that show.
New England politics ain't the same as Salt Lake City. There's no room back east, especially in the northeast corridor, and the lawyers won't let corporate executives ok the use of their facilities on the weeends. ....and, this isn't geared to the general public that expects to see door slammers, grocery getters, Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs, 300-ZX's, Corvettes, MAzdas, etc. This event is for hard core hot rod and custom enthusiasts and it, quite frankly, offends a core group of decision makers. Events that llet the crporate decision makers bring their Porche and Mecerdes "sports" cars will survive. This ain't one by a long shot. ...and, for what it's worth, I left EARLY and I was still able to shoot (and post the photos ) 240+ cars at the event and I know I missed a lot of them.
I grew up in CT and I've been to the Road Agent shows. I just recently (two months ago) moved to Salt Lake. My friend, you can't believe what you're typing. That show brought money to the community no different than a dog show. No room, are you serious? Where the show's been held annually is quite small compared to other show venues. If there's an open space, pavement or gr***, a show can be had. I can name Connecticut shows on Main Streets (I can name about a dozen off the top of my head), tops of parking garages, parking lots, fair grounds, baseball fields, and even private property hosted events. So really, no space? I've even been to shows in NYC which has less space than CT... so c'mon man, be serious here. One thing I always loved was seeing hotrods parked at the hotels along I84 between Manchester and Hartford. The people whom traveled to the show had to buy fuel, food, a place to stay, et-cetera and "frankly" that's not any different than people whom drive a little further south to the expo center to go to the antique or diabetes expo. I've worked with more politicians than I can count over the last 12 years and I don't think I've ever actually needed to speak with any of them to pull a permit whether it be for community events or building a home. There are people whom give out permits that just follow guidelines set. It is the host's task to meet those guidelines to receive the permits. Truthfully, the things your writing don't have anything to do with the Road Agent show's existence. Do you think that politicians have any say about the VW show in Terryville? As a fact, the community missed that show when it moved from Litchfield because it had grown too large. What about Super Sunday at Marcus Dairy? Politicians get involved with this because of the mall's complaints... but do they want to see the show gone? Are they motorcyclists? I'd bet the answer to both is "no". THOUSANDS of motorcycles go there... tattooed, leather wearing motorcyclists, Hells Angels even. All the types of people that get a bad rap (even though you couldn't tell many of them were during their work week) and the show still exists. So, I think you're writing out of a space of not knowing what you're talking about. The Road Agent's show is tame from what I've seen in my life. Here's something to consider... The group of hot rod owners and enthusiasts will be smaller than the modern car guys. How many pre 48 cars do you see on the streets daily? Why is that, because they are not popular or because there simply isn't many pre 48 hotrods in existence? It has less to do with politics than you think. I can say that without knowing the situation of the R-A show. If anything this show has become extinct not because a politician killed it (ridiculous) but more because it would be less headaches than recreating it somewhere else. In the long run, it is the people calling for a show that will bring one to be.
I don't understand why they just don't hire some people willing to put it on as they would and take a few bucks off the top. There has to be enough money in it to pay a promoter. Then they can just hang out and enjoy it with someone else doing the work. The show has a huge following, the name of the event it 's self is worth money.
I'm not one for arguing on the HAMB but MAN - Myke and CTBrent your comments are killing me. Sell the show to a promoter? Their name is worth something for a reason! It's THEIRS. Putting on a show requires committment? No kidding. Luke and the boys have put in their fair share of committment for 8 shows. They should be commended. It's time for them to let someone else take a turn and relax for a change. Shows like the Road Agents are slim pickin's on the East Coast when you compare to other regions like the midwest or texas. I didn't grow up around cars like most of you - no one in my family cared about them nor any of my friends at that time. My first car show EVER was the 2nd year of the Road Agents. They truly helped me develop my love for cars, and make it seem worthwhile to fly half way cross the country to a small shop in Sycamore for the first Pileup. (And two jack***es named Magnet and Hellfish). The feel and scope of the Road Agents always echoed to me in the Pileup over the years, even when it got bigger. Putting on a show takes an enormous amount of work, as many of us here on the HAMB are aware. One of our biggest regrets after the Pileup every year is that we didn't get to see any cars ourselves! Too busy running around. But that weekend is our turn, and then we get to go to the Roundup, the Rust Revival, the Road Rockets, HAMB Drags, Rock n Race, and many many more during the year. The Road Agents did their time - let them enjoy themselves now. Some of my fondest memories in addition to all of the cool cars and bands- the Road Rockets always driving out, Thom Ophoff flying a kite in the middle of the field and all those hot rods, the beautiful sunsets in the background, showing up with my liquor luggage and giving Nick Curran shots of Jack in the middle of his set, stopping at Rein's Deli on the way home, Wildfire Willie, getting to see everyone from NY, Tom and Naomi when they first met, the list goes on. So once again Kudos to the Road Agents - thanks for everything. From the website: After much thought and consideration, The Road Agents have decided to end the annual Hot Rod Rumble on a permanent basis. We know this news will be a disappointment to many. We will miss it just as much as you, however as some of you may or may not know, many of us in the club have other projects and/or businesses that are taking priority. The show was a huge responsibility and a lot of hard work to put on every year, but as much as we enjoyed doing it, our personal lives were suffering. This combined with the fact that the Elks Lodge has gone bankrupt and we will no longer be able to use the grounds for the show, has brought us to the decision to call it quits. (Finding a new location is not the big issue here.) I am sure you will all understand. We would like to whole-heartedly thank everyone who has supported us for the past nine years (8 shows) and made the show not only memorable, but also made the rest of the country stand up and take a second look at the East Coast and the cool rods and customs we drive. We couldnt have done it without you! Lastly, I would like to emphasize that the end of the Rumble does not mean the end of the Road Agents Car Club! We look forward to finally getting out there and hitting up and supporting other shows this summer. We also have a few things up our sleeves for the future that we will post on our web site, so keep an eye out for them! Again, a HUGE Thanks to everyone who has supported the show, especially those who have been with us since day one! Its been a blast!
Not to be misunderstood I was suggesting that they could hire someone to run it for them not sell it. I am sure it was alot of work making it what it is and maybe now they could enjoy the show and also reap some benifits of all the past years work. It was just a comment, it wasn't to start and argument. This was also the first show that I ever went too 3 years ago and sealed the deal for me to build a hot rod and be able to bring it there.
I was on the committee for the Ty-Rods Old Timer's Reunion for years and I know how difficult it is to deal with the escalating costs of mandated police detals, fire department emergency aid presence, parking, traffic tie-ups, complaining neighbors and a host of other "not in my back yard" issues. The Ty-Rods are not in Hudson anymore because they can't afford to pay the police detail costs and the neighbors convinced the police that they shouldn't allow participants to line up on the curb waiting to get in. I worked at the CSRA swap meet for years back when it got knocked around from Hartford to the Berlin Turnpike (Two-Guys) to Terryville and finally to Lake Compounce. All because nobody wanted it in their back yard. We even got sh*t from the locals when we ran the Street Rods Ltd shows out in Wilbraham at Spec Pond back in the seventies. It's universal. The only "car shows" that don't have to deal with the political b.s. are the ones put on by civic organizations (Rotary, CC, Jaycees, school boster clubs, etc) because they already have an "in" with the local politicians. ....and if you show up in a rat rod, you're not allowed in.
DW- I never said sell the show nor was I arguing. If anything, I'm an avid supporter of providing communities with diverse culture, something the show did for the cities surrounding the show. I like the show and attended it every year it ran. What I said wasn't much different than the club listed... it's not about the limitations rather than the members don' want to h***le... it's not an issue of can't. In my opinion "can't" means "won't". Desoto - I get your point, for sure. However, putting a show on and being independent isn't as much about having an "in" if other people are to benfit... all those groups you mention raise the money for a cause and it's hard to knock that.
yup rumble no more...i do my dam well best to provide the milltown show to have the vibe the rumble did...tough to do..that was the east coast show i tell ya...im havein the anual return to the milltown .open to prte 67 rodz kustoms stockers ol bikes....14 bands for 2 days...cheap food beer ect..free camping.(no fires)....go to myspace.com/milltownrodz. check this months issue of ol skool for 07s milltown..or call 413 283 6170...thear r motels in the area...thanx.
Man, every post I see on here is promoting the show. No quams from me on promoting a show if its good, but some spell check wouldnt kill ya. Its hard to read the posts!
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