Is the n.s.r.a. doomed or do they just need to retrench and rethink some things?

It's easy. I just give honest answers. I am absolutely in a position to help implement any intelligent suggestions. The problem is most people just want to say "you ****", with no explanation or negative personal experience. It just seems to be human nature to say that whoever the big en***y is ****s, just to say it.

I always invite everyone to contact me with concerns or suggestions so that I can do something about them. I guess hiding behind a keyboard and saying that things **** is easier though.

 

I agree with pretty much all yer sayin' Kirk....except this.
The hotrod aftermarket was created by guys in their own garages, with one desire.....more speed. When it provided that, other guys wanted that same equipment.....then the business of said equipment was born....
Was the SCTA, in the beginning, strictly a business? Or was it a bunch of hoodlums just wanting to go fast? I don't know....

And car shows didn't "create" MY desire for old cars.....I was BORN with 'em in my BLOOD. I really can't explain it.....ya know????

 

Edelbrock started in a garage. Did he "sell out" when his business grew and he started to sell his wares?

Goodguys was started by one guy in his garage as a hobby and then grew. Gary was a deodorant and razor salesman and did Goodguys on the side because he didn't like the way the "big" guys were doing things.

Explain the difference?


You were born with it and are the only one in your family to love it? I'll bet someone in your history read Hot Rod magazine. Also, the chances that the cars you like would not even be around if the old magazines hadn't fueled people's desires to have one. Without that desire, old cars are worth more as s****.

Again, the old magazines are FILLED with car show coverage.

 

There really isn't a difference, no "selling out" in my eye's......Was I bashing GG's somewhere? Or big business????

I think Fonzie needs a hug......

 

Kirk, Goodguys should be proud to have you as an employee as well as the HAMB is lucky to have you as a liaison between it's members and an organization that has such an impact in the industry. I do believe GG's listens to it's members when it comes to constructive critism and suggestions on how to improve their shows.

Gary Medows has always been easy to approach and appears to be listening when a people talk to him. I can honestly say I have seen an improvement over the years in the GG events I attend....and of course the mag.

 

thats Meadors
Founded by lifelong hot rodder Gary Meadors

 

He does like hugs!

 

Kirk
Great comments.

I can't believe what I'm reading from some of these guys. It's downright scary. There is a certain percentage of people who don't have a clue how business and private enterprise works...and the heights of the hobby they now enjoy from some guy making a profit.

I can't believe Henry Ford has not been brought up yet. Henry made $115 million in one year in the 1920's when the average worker was making $200 per year. So far I have not read any disparinging remarks about that darn old Henry making A's and T's and profiting from it...

 

They sure are.....but there were hotrods WAY before the first magazine...

I drew my 1st hotrod at age 3.....wasn't into magazine's till much, much later....now my family always had cool cars, but they really can't be considered old, because they weren't at the time.....by the time I was born, it was all station wagons for the family...haha....

Some people are taught....others are born with it. It can be anything, art, mechanical ability, etc...
I wasn't "taught by print" to like old cars.....I just do.

Sooooo.....the cars I like...pre-war....wouldn't be around if it wasn't for magazines? Really? Which came first...the hotrod or the magazine? Magazine's just reported on what was going on and and helped spread what was already going on....but they didn't START ****. Man's desire for speed did....
Does a falling tree make a sound if no one's around to hear it???

 

As every event gets bigger and more popular, the atmosphere changes. It happens to every event. There will always be people that think it should have stayed small but if it is a good event, it can't possibly be kept a secret.

 

Kirk. now that you've asked for suggestions, how about alleviating the traffic jams and overheating issues such as at Indianapolis by using more then one entrance gate, there must be 8 or 10 gates at the facility. Is it necessary to punch or remove tabs from each and every participants entry badge? Why not wave participants through like the NSRA does, or is it the possibility of losing $5 a concern? Waving participants through would make a huge difference. The solution at indy is so simple yet every year it's the same problem. Please advise.

 

I think we've beaten this horse to death, Ryan. I didn't really intend to open the can of worms that I apparently did. Feel free to close this thread. Thanks for all you do....Don.

 

Not what I'm saying. Magazines in no way created hot rodding. But they sure as hell made it popular.

Back then they were all over the place, like Honda Civics today. Plentiful and cheap. I'm saying they wouldn't be around today if it wasn't for previous hot rod businesses.

 

Aha! A suggestion! I can make sure that gets discussed. There may be a reason for the way it is now, but I don't know what that reason is.

Actually, at a lot of events Goodguys does just wave cars through when it gets too backed up. As soon as it gets reasonable they start stubbing again.

 

I'm glad I just wasted the last hour reading all this ****. How else would I know I was all ****ed up. You see I go to Plesanton, Del Mar and Costa Mesa GG each year along with other good sized events like The Great Labor Day Cruise and Costa Mesa Cruzin For A Cure. I also did the NSRA Nat's this year as a Vendor and you want to talk costs for that, try shipping your booth from California, flying people etc.
And here's the real catch - I like em all! Do I care for every Easter Egg Pastel 80's "Street Rod" no, not particularly. Do I get upset that there are cars outside of my favorite style? Hell No - I like and appreciate many different styles. I don't want to see Imports or Mini Trucks or Motorcycles at these events, but good old Detroit V8 Iron does it for me. If I don't like your General Lee or Starsky & Hutch mobile, or for that matter a Disco era Nova, I'll just walk by looking for something else cool.
I also go to a bunch of small local type stuff, I actually find many of those here in SoCal to be more boring than the big shows. There's a Friday night weekly near me that has the same people parking in the same place and sitting in front of what will be the awards and give away **** hours before that starts. All while staring at an Elvis Statue. But if that's what floats their boat, what do I care?
I usually don't spend much time by my own car either. I've seen it! I go to look at other peoples stuff and BS a bit. I go back to the car to rest the feet and grab a cold one. I even enjoy looking at some of stuff out there and thinking What the Hell? kind of cracks me up actually.
The vendors keep it interesting and if there is a driving event, way cool. I think at the next Costa Mesa GG I will leave the 32 at home and take the Global West equipped Falcon convert and spank the Air Ride group at the parking lot race. LOL
All this for what $40-60.00 or whatever, Hell I spend more than that on a night out with the guys for a burger and a few beers. I don't really care that much about the give a ways either, I'm there for the cars and to chat with car people that get it.
Sorry, but it just seems to me that the complainers are looking for a validation as to why they don't want to participate. If you don't want to go, don't. But don't bad mouth those that do or those that put on the events. Put on your own if you want one of a different kind. And I've done that too, and it ain't easy my friend.
I really like the comments by the ones that say they ands their buddies don't take their cars in and just go as a spectator, and then complain that there aren't enough of their type of car.

One last thing, I remember an editorial in an early Street Rodder mag (maybe 1973) about where are all the new rodders going to come from and is it a dying Hobby .......

OK, I'm done -- for now

 

Well said!

 

Does that mean I can get my car in the gazette

 

I don't think this thread should be closed at all.

When I think of shows, somehow I usually put a "value" on the event.

-Did I get a "fair" return on my investment of time and money?
-Did my family & friends enjoy it? Were we talking about it, in a good way, for weeks afterwards?
-Did everyone have a good time?
-Did I leave the event feeling that is was effort, time, and money well spent?



The one and only NSRA event (Richmond for 3 years) that I've been to always seemed to be a let down.

-Too hot for a huge parking lot in August.
-Nothing for the kids to do.
-No bands or other forms of entertainment for adults who don't want to spend 10
hours looking at, and talking about, cars.


Things I think Richmond, and all events need:
- Make it fun for my family. If the wife is having fun, so will I. For those with young kids, have activities geared towards them. If they have fun, so will I.
- Give me a place to sit my tired *** once in a while. Bleachers, benches... it doesn't matter. My feet need to rest every once in a while.
- If I have to pay 12.00 per person for lunch and a drink, can you make sure that
drink is cold? A smidge more planning for the weather conditions might help. Me, the
wife, and the two neigborhood kids that we volunteered to take, don't mind waiting
in line for 20 minutes for a cold drink. A warm drink isn't worth the wait.
- Some basic layout or grouping of vehicle types or clubs when parking might save
me from walking by the 10 Camaros to look at the one car I want to see.



I went to the LSR for the first time this year.

I really felt like I got a good "value" from this show. Lot's to do.
-Short food lines.
-Places to sit.
-Bands to listen to.
-A nice "cool" swap meet area.
-Shaded vendor area.
-Cacklefest
-Good food
-Short beer lines (cold beer too)
- Gary Howard cars


I'll try to put it into a different context.

We now live in Houston. There is an excellent restaurant the the wife and I enjoy. It's easily 120.00 every time we go. I could go to McDonalds and fill my belly for a whole lot less but wouldn't feel as though I received the same "value" as the more expensive restaurant. Money isn't everything, value is.

Value to me is everything.

Did the show give value, equal to or greater, than what it cost in terms of time and money? That is the question, IMO





The cost of the show isn't really a factor.

 

LMAO!!!:d:d

 

Ten years ago there wasn't half as many shows as there is now. There seems to be many more rods, pre 48, on the road now and more being built than ever before. The buggest ***** in the club I,m in is getting enough members to show up at the same run when there are at least three or four within driving distance every weekend. The NSRA sliding year thing is all off. They need to appeal to the younger rod builder with the early iron. The strength of the hobby can be seen in the popularity of the counter culture magazines, most of which were not even around five years ago. These guys want something to do that does'nt involve a lawn chair. GG track time is a start. If NSRA and GG with they're considerable resources went after the younger rodders, which are really the torch bearers of the HAMB style hot rod, they couldn't hold the crowds at these events. Instead of lame cover bands or headliners with one member left perhaps new bands that keep the flame alive, (Belmont *******s, etc.). I belong to both org. and have no idea on how to even voice a suggestion other than talking to an official at an event who is probably so busy he forgets what you said anyhow. Hot rodding is alive and well as can be seen at things like Viva, Paso, the Rumblers, etc. It just looks more like what everybody wishes it used to be, and wasn't.

 

The fact is ... instead of moaning and whinning ...

If you had FUN ... go again ...
If NOT ... stay home
Pretty simple really

That's what I do. Some I like and some I don't ...

I really do not care if NSRA or GoodGuys survives ... if they go under
someone else will step up and fill the space they leave.

 

I agree with High Speed and Duece Roadster. My favorite show of the year is fall Wildwood N.J. Why? Because my wife has something else to do other than tag along mumbling about if I,ve seen enough cars yet. The boardwalk and town keeps the non car people happy. Another event, (Wildwood), that if they ever got they,re **** together could be dangerous, and I mean all this in a constructive way. This week at Macungie was excellent, 2,000+ cars and a decent time too. All this from a local club! I know it's trendy to ***** but things really are pretty good. Twenty years ago we would have begged to have this much stuff to do at a reasonable price too.

 

I like the nsra and goodguys events,,,I've attended both for a number of years,,,bang for your buck,,it's what you make of it,,,

I was lucky enough to win a super prize at the nats south a couple of years ago,,,first thing in 28 years,,,750.00 buck walker radiator.

Abour 10 years ago I won a us radiator at goodguys and a brookville radiator shell last year,,,,

I enjoy going to the shows,,and as long as I am healty enough to attend them I'll keep supporting both organizations.

And as an added bonus,,,Kirk took a photo of my truck,,,and fonzie wasn't in the picture! HRP

 

He must not have seen the interior


xoxoxo

 

Denise,,that's cold!

Just what do you have against fruit salad? HRP

 

Kirk ;most of us do not hate nsra or good guys , the question here was what areas need attention to keep this activity growing. It seems you have ***umed a defensive position . My list was meant as food for thought.

 

That pretty much nails it for me. I've had a couple conversations lately on pretty much this subject, and the "fun per dollar ratio" is what it all comes down to.

I used to enjoy NSRA events (especially Knoxville), but despite their "Under 21" section, it's like they got to where they were doing all they could to alienate the 22-40 crowd. I haven't seen this at***ude from GG.

We can blame the NSRA for being elitist and alienating people, but some of the same at***udes will always show up in any organization. I've even seen some comments here on the HAMB along the lines of, "You can't be my friend because you have overhead valves!"