What makes an event a GREAT one?

Along with Scarry Larry snd Beaver Bob, we have put alot of thought into trying to make this years Jalopy Showdown Drags better than last years. I think we have come up a recipe that may achieve the goal of making something good, even better.

But because I work at Beaver Springs Dragway on the weekends, it doesn't allow me much time to get away to see other events and car shows. This prevents me from comparing our shows, events and programs with other events which makes it difficult to improve the established ones we put on. Its kinda like how you can't see your nose ibecause it s so close to you.

So, beyond good weather, what spcifically makes a show GREAT?
What things do folks find important about a show that distinguishes it from others that puts it on your "must attend events list?"
What kind of events at a show do like to participate in, beyond just showing your car?
What details of show do you find important, like clean bathrooms, easy parking access, etc?

I hope to gather some info that will validate what we already do so we dont take it for granted and stop doing it, as well as ideas where our shows / events can be expanded.

Flashback Bill

Ps. Last year, we heard from a number of folks that the Jalopy Showdown Drags was very interactive which allowed the attendees to find some nitch to participate in the event, beyond just looking at the show cars or watching the racing. This year we have kept that as the core of the philosophy of how the event was modified to improve it. We have kept the kids foot race segment for the kids involvement and have retained the ever popular hot dog race which anyone can participate in. We have a NEW team event to try out for entire car clubs o large groups of buddies to be involved with together as a team. And we have included a night life segment and will officially recognize the the Flashbike Drags as an integral event of this years, and future Showdown Drags.

 

Of course the event must be well-organized and run, but to me the most important ingredient is the participant. Their at***ude and actions make or break the event. It would be great if the ****heads had to wear some identifying mark. That way you could exclude them and keep the population to the people looking to have a good time without ****ing it up for others.

 

Rubber band fight hot laps!! most of all the people going through the gates make the event! whatever you guys decide im sure it will be grand. I have nothing to add! I will shut up now. Maybe Larry could bring his guitar

 

Cars, People,Venue.

If it is a "traditional" show, keep it as such. Cutoff years are there for a reason. Like minded people usually have a good time, and those that come to just such a show are there for a reason. If you have an option, a park, or an area with some sort of natural shade is cool.

I wish i could describe the Lonestar Roundup in less than about 1000 words, and make it understandable. Read some of the threads here about that show, i think you'll get an idea of what i'm trying to say.

 

i would have to agree with kirk on the participants having a good at***ude, but the show organizers and workers should also be a well fit group with good communication skills with participants and other workers. It's always a plus to have a few members that are motivated to do something if they see that it needs to be done without having to go through a chain of command so to say

 

Wow, Bill...to those of us that were there last year, I have to say: Your already on the money.
It was a number of things that many shows are not, and they become a chore because of it...

1. OVER-organized...Many folks go to car shows/races like these nostalgia events for one simple reason: Recreation...Too much structure=work.
Work is what most of ys want to get away from. It has a very free feel, I enjoyed that intimate, relaxed atmosphere more than words can express... obviously it cannot go on being intimate, and small forever, nor should it, but it has to retain its feeling of looseness, in order to remain a good time.

2. Too loose of criteria for vehicle entry:
I certainly have many deviations from truly "traditional" on my car, as do many race cars, and street cars alike, and its still gotta meet the NHRA criteria for participation, especially if its truly fast, but, I can tell you that what used to p*** as a nostalgia drag racing event around here, at our home track, Atco, has just about wound itself down into a typical bracket race, featuring a car show.
It ****s, and the year cutoff being progressivly moved up, to accomodate the regular bracket cars has FLAT OUT KILLED it. ( And, I forgot, until Cl*** Reunion mentioned it, the Electronics cl***...)
You can't disallow all but the most period perfect cars on the track, either, because you'll have what?, the same 10 cars, over and over, none p***ing tech, and almost none of them faster than 16.0's...not exciting.
Keep the year cutoff, and keep the cars looking, at least in the outward, and most important ways, of a nostalgic nature.
Please...be warned...The Philly Modifiers shows soul has positively been on life support every year for at least 5 years ( or more...) and it is terminal, unless it gets re-structured...it looks like a Super Pro/Super Gas contingent, without the dragsters, now, thats all.
Dead. Done.

3.Always do exactly what you just did: Poll folks. Ask for feedback. If you do, as you have done thus far, and keep your finger on the pulse of what the majority of attendee's wants, it will remain successful...too many people/promoters become wrapped up in their own agendas, and become unconscious of what the people they are selling said product to even want anymore. This was, hands down, the coolest thing I did last year, and I can't wait to come again this year...if it ain't broke...

 

Keep the cut off date you have and DON'T ADD AN ELECTRONICS CL*** !!!!Brogey roadsters with or without gadgets are not ****in nostalgia cars,or any other car with gadgets for that matter.

 

Haha...Exactly.

 

1.Gr***y shaded areas to sit and BBQ
2.Allow coolers, as long as people dont get outta hand
3.Strict cut off years
4.plenty of bathrooms
5.Decent entry price, id say not more than $20 for a car.
6.Some kind of "event", like a drag strip or maybe an inflatable drive-in screen, or petting zoo for the kids. haha

 

Perfect.. you could add?

7. Reasonably priced food / vendors
8. No trophies, no cl***es, no judgements.
9. Not too long - perhaps 4 hours max? (don't ya just hate those 8-11 AM registration, awards at 4 PM shows? I stopped going.)
10. Lakeside? Breezy? 75 degrees max! No rain! Hold it in Camelot.
Gary

 

#9 hell no...... Start at noonish friday and end up finding your way home sometime Sunday!!!

 

I think the whole thing was pretty excellent last year except for the fact we twisted the springs on the first run......anyway I really don't think there is much you can change to make it any better but the only thing that comes to mind is to have the easiest way for guys to get the most track time they can, I for one love watching all the cars and hopefully won't break one the first round this year, and maybe a time for grudge races only where guys can go head to head easily while coming up through the line, we have a couple guys talking smack back and forth already......blown Olds vs blown Y block there both mild motors but should be fun anyway. I can't wait to come out again and if we have weather like we did last year that would be the cat's *** as well.

 

-Reasonable priced food and drink. Also not just ****py luke warm Hot Dogs for $8, and bad beer for $6 each, (I know Budweiser wants to sponsor the deal, just say no).
Offer some good food, I would gladly pay for a local food merchant (the lone star round up, is a great example).
-Being selective about vendors, I feel, is important. Who needs the guy that sells air horns, the pin up calender guy, or the toy sales man? (CA guys know what I mean)
-Trophies are unnecessary
- Live bands, are usually, more of a nuisance than fun, and nobody seems to watch them anyways, they are background music/noise.
-Waiting in line at 6am is no fun, so get your "check in" team up to speed. Waiting to get in while some "security" guy is chit chatting with some local rockabilly dude, ****s.
-Although, trunk searches seem to be necessary, lately (booze smuggling). It was nice that, at the Primer Nats, security would give back the booze, after you left. Good deal.

 

Does this mean I have to return the AIR HORN I bought you for Christmas ? I agree with KIRK and DREADMAN.
60'

 

lots of cars for the fonz to drool over.

 

You had a great time at it...........

 

That is simply how we look at it too. If all three of these things are right, then you got yourself a great show.

 

I agree with most of these, but they are small potatoes. I've been to plenty of get togethers where the venue wasn't great, the food ****ed and there wasn't a bunch of shade. I still had a ball , as did my friends. Came away raving about the show.

The answer for me is YOU.....You make an event a great one!!!!!

 

They do have an on site food kitchen that is good food and very reasonable priced

 

Easy one. Keep it simple. Its not about trophies or cl***es or times, its about having FUN racing your car. Just like the Jalopy Showdown in May isn't about making fast laps around a muddy track. Too many cl***es and too structured of an itinerary means an event filled with stress and work, something we are trying to get away from.

****Less talking and more racing*** There...I said it. So have many, many others.

Grudge matches and time runs all day with a break for the East Coast G***ers and the hot dog race.. This isn't a points event so they should let 'em rip and not bracket race. Bracket racing is gay. There, I said it. Drag racing the way it used to be isn't bracket racing. Did I mention no bracket racing? Hey, if you want an event that's different, try not bracket racing.

Have fun, shoot some rubber bands, and race your bike...heads up...no cl***es or bracket racing.

Spike

 

I didn't know it was not a points meet for the G***ers...
****...they oughtta just flat-mat 'em too, then...hell yeah!

 

I agree with you. I've run or helped run four shows now. The first two that I did were full weekenders (Kruizin' the Heartland in Lawrence, KS) and everyone LOVED it. If you're a real hot rod guy, there's no such thing as being around cars and car people for too long. Unless maybe you're the type that squats in your lawn chair next to your pouting baby doll all day and gripes because no one is stopping to ask about your ever-so-unique red '32 roadster replica with camel colored interior and a small block Chevy. I've found that those are usually the ones that complain about an event lasting too long. (no offense intended to anyone...just an observation)

Music is very important for an event. Get music that matches the mood of the show and the people you're trying to attract. For example, you wouldn't try to run a traditional event and then have 2 punk bands, a rap showdown and a Polka accordionist play.

ADVERTISE IT!!! Too many shows have a lousy turnout due to lack of advertising.

Get a good illustrator to whip up a logo or shirt art (if you want such a thing) that reflects the kind of show you put on. Don't get your 9th grade nephew to do your show logo just because his mom puts his **** on the fridge with a magnet. A slick illustration will make people think it will be a slick show. (ahem.... I know a guy.... hint hint) .
****py 9th grade drawing = ****py 9th grade car show.

Awards and trophies are nice, but don't make it the central focus of the event. Do the trophies "tongue-in-cheek" and have fun with it. Most people do the trophies at the end because too many of the red fibergl*** '32 roadster crowd only go for the awards. As soon as they're gone, you lose about 2/3 of your crowd. We were going to do a trophy queen award at one of the shows. It goes to the guy that has the most trophies in front of his car. It was going to be the ugliest ****er you ever saw and stand about 7 feet tall. Heheheheh

Can't think of anything else right now but if I do, I'll let ya know.

 

I'm going to answer the question in your ***le.

While you have lots of great responses from folks on this thread lots of them refer to making YOUR event better which alot agree is great just the way it is. While I can't comment on the Jalopy Drags because I've never been, I can certainly let you know what makes a "car show" an EVENT for me.

People first like lots said.

Venue is a very close second. There is no way I'm going to spend the weekend sitting in a hot asphalt parking lot. There are just too many other cool events to choose from now days.

Third for me would probably be the other cars in attendance. Nothing turns me off more then a promotor stating the event is such and such type, then when you get there it's not quite what they are promoting.

The forth is a biggie for me and that is the "night life" and by this I am not talking about bars and getting drunk. I'm talking about a "host" hotel where everyone is staying and hanging out. People are hanging out there on Friday during arrival, Saturday morning before heading to the venue, Saturday night again partying in the parking lot and then Sunday morning you see everyone at breakfast and as you're packing up to head out.

A perfect example of this would be the Hunnert Car PileUp. The event itself is just one day YET folks from all over the country feel the NEED (rightly so) to arrive on Friday, even early afternoon and STAY till Sunday. There is so many cool people to talk with, hang out with, cruz with, etc that you can barely get it done in one weekend.

The Jalopy Showdown is another prime example. While the hang-out location isn't exactly a "hotel", it's the camping facilities, everyone feels welcome and encouraged to get there early on Friday and hang out the whole weekend even though once again the event is only one day.

Lonestar RoundUp is another example with the "host hang-out" location actually being Congress street.

While these are just a few of the perfect formula events in my opinion, I'll give you an example of where the ball has been dropped and it really bums me out as the show, and I'll call it only that cuz it's certainly not an event, is BilletProof Detroit. There is no host hotel, no central hang-out or cruzn location. The show is one day and one day only. Local folks roll into the fairgrounds in the morning and by mid-day or so are rolling home. The location ****s as there is nothing close to do nor has it been developed into a weekend distination event for out of town folks. They see no value in coming for the weekend.

Sure folks have come from out of town and I know exactly who they were. They've come once never to return. Large groups of HAMB guys that actually do go to other events but after they tried BP they never came back. Why? Because there is nothing fun and exciting in the evenings.

Not tring to bash BP BUT evening hangout is very,very important to take a "show" and turn it into an "event".

Remember the old saying, location, location, location??? You gotta have other fun stuff around OR the venue itself has to be able to substain cool evening activities/hanging out.

 

Just like The Showdown that is its predecessor, the Drags is a very nice, inter-mountain camp out!
I agree, I've had enough hot asphalt parking lots...
A communal vibe, and amplified sociability/activities, is the difference btwn. a "cruise in" and....and a real "Event".

 

Heads up racing all day.....and evening! Then some bike racing, and rubber band shooting! Can I take people for rides?

 

Thanks for to all who chimed in to voice what details they think make a show a great event. There are some really good points posted on this thead.
I think that the Jalopy Showdown shows have most of those details covered, though you can't do it all to be able to please everyone.

• As for the Showdown drags, the ability to camp out all weekend and see the Friday night street racing program is a great way to start the weekend and has the track being the "in" hang out place" as mentioned.
• The concession stand serves up good food and the hamburgers are made from local fresh beef. The prices are about as compe***ive as a fast food restraunt.
• The bathrooms are meticulously clean, with additional blue refidgerators around the fair grounds.
• The track is surrounded by a wooded tree line and flanked by two streams so folks can get out of the hot sun, or wet weather like this past weekend.
• The gate price for 2 guys to come in on Friday night to see the street racing, camp all weekend and see the Showdown is $40 for both of them. Its $10 a carload for the friday night street race show, $10 to camp the weekend, and $10 to watch the showdown show. Sunday is a regular test and tune session and that admission is free.
• We are cognescent of the strict cut off date mentioned over and over, as well as limiting the types of real race cars that show up, NO ELECTRONICS high brow bracket cars.
• And.... I really feel for those folks who have to wait in long check out lines to get in a place, especially those places which snoop in your coolers. At the Beaver, we don't allow bottles, but do require adults to conduct themselves responsibly....so thats how we handle that issue so we don't have those incidents to contend with. Bad behavoir is like a cancer, we just cut it out. Beaver Bob and Scarry Larry wont tolerate any bad behavoir which would let one ****, screw up this fragile "good thang" that they have going, so I really feel for those parts of the country that dont have those same liberties and can't conduct themselves accordingly.

This years format was changed slightly at the last minute with a few more minor details to be polished for next year, but I think we have the right recipe for the Showdown Drags.
I recommend this thread as a frame of reference for anyone trying to plan a show. You can try to reinvent the wheel, or just listen to the folks in the know who have posted previously.
If you haven't been to any of the Showdown shows, I highly recommend it. You would be hard pressed to not to have great time and eye opening experience of how cool a hot rod event can be whether your into showing and shining, going around in a ring flinging mud or making fast paced blast off p***es down a drag strip, the Showdown shows have it covered.

Hope to see you at the "Beaver" some time!

 

Lots of great points already brought up. My biggest thing is the constant lack of decent advertising for these events. I never understood those that advertise car stuff to car folks. WTF?

Put up flyers at places people other than car folks go to, like gyms, clothing stores, stuff where your wife may be. Those are the people that'll bring home the info and see if their guys interested. Now you get more traffic.

Reminds me of a Snap-On tool guy we had, really enterprising dude. Around the holidays, he'd stock stuff he knew we'd buy for our wives on his truck. Nice stuff too, not trinkets. Jewelry, nice shirts, stuff you'd buy at Kohls or something. Grabbing a bigger audience, ya know?

I don't know how many times a show sneaks in and out of Tucson that I would have gone to had I known about it. And you don't need TV or newspaper, just some cheap flyers and some effort.

The other thought is on DJs, our local group just brought in a small one, he set up in the corner, nice and not too loud. Went around and got everyone's feedback, made a good effort and impressed my wife and I with that. I'm not a big fan of loud in your face DJs - I go to shows for the camraderie and bull sessions more than anything, even more than the cars.

As far as the year cutoff thing, I like that best, but thats just me. That way I know what to expect when I get there, and not get disappointed. On the other hand, if I hear of a ricer show on the south side, or the casinos filled with lowriders and stuff, I'll go check it out, have a great time, and not be disappointed that there weren't any HAMBers. Fun with cars is always fun with cars!

 

I agree........

What makes great event..........

1. Great friends
2. Cool cars
3. Fine looking women
4. No **** heads
5. Etc.........

CRUISER

 

Bill, this was my first real HAMB type event. I missed the Showdown in MAy by a couple of hours so I was not going to miss this one. DO NOT CHANGE A THING ! I don't know about anyone else but it was just about perfect short the rain. The food was reasonable and good. the facilities were so cool and the drive in and out were just spectacular. The track was very old school and really nice. Being able to help dry the track by making a parade lap or 6 was just over the top and was one of the big hi-lites for me.
I think Kirk and other got it correct.....the people. I got to meet a bunch of HAMBers for the first time. I got to see a bunch of cars that I thought I would probably never see....littleman's truck, Moyer's roadster....both living legends...got to see the SO WHAT guys, most of all, I got to drive the **** out of my car in the rain going up ( not planned but reall not bad ), make a couple of p***es down the track, watch some very cool fast cars making p***es
DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING !!
just my 2 cents
hrm2k

 

You should make it east next fall, you just discribed the show Larry, Bob and Bill put on for us.