Need advice on Shades of the Past

My wife and I are trying to make plans for going to Pigeon Forge in Sept. As I look for the dates, they have two listed, Shades of the Past and the Grand Rod Run. Which one is the biggest one?

 

Shades is the oldest and is always the first weekend after Labor Day. I've never been to the Grand Run but have gone to the oldest since it was held in Gatlinburg. We don't register our cars. We pay the $10.00 admission and go on Saturday, hit the swap meet and look at cars while the girls start their Christmas shopping. When the sun goes down (much cooler) we just find a good parking place and hit the Hotel parking lots looking at cars. Works best for us.

Have fun! 48 Poncho

 

Shades of The Past is the one to go to . The grand run has to many younger kids that show up in their new ****. Now thats what I have found. Shades is for more of the cars we have here on the HAMB but not limited to our cars there is alot of other cars their to. Shades of The Past would be my vote. But look out for the cops their all over the place......

 

i would agree with both of them shades is the one to go too, grand run is bigger but sitting in traffic for hours on end isn't my idea of a good time. And when i say traffic i mean 3 hrs to move 15 miles

 

If your only going for one my vote is for the shades, if you are taking a weeks vacation theres cars in town all week. Manny got you beat went to gatlinberg to eat during GRAND RUN took 4 hours to get back in town. they criise to last traffic light turn and go back, if your lucky maybe 1 or 2 cars might get thru from gatlinburg. i still think its a good week.

 

Another Shades of the Past vote,,It has grown and traffic is bad but a great getaway and the drive through the mountians is always enjoyable.

I too have been going since the old days when the original rod run was in Gatlingburg,Tenn.HRP

 

Shades of the Past!

 

If you can only make it to one do the Shades. That is unless you're into 4X4's, ricers, '70's Comaro's, 5.0 Mustangs etc... Don't get me wrong, there's always plenty to look at in town for the Grand but I think you'll be happier with the Shades. It is the true heir to the old Gatlinberg rod run, all the others are pretenders. DON'T go to Gatlinberg at any time during the weekend, you might as well get a room there if you do. Bring gas money, if you're into doing burn outs bring bail money, try to get into town as early in the day as possible to avoid the back up. That's about as much advice as I can think of right now, just have fun.

 

Another vote for the Shades of the Past over the Grand Run.
I have been to both, and the Grand Runs is way more Mustangs, Camaros and later model non HAMB stuff.

The Shades of the Past run does NOW let in up to 1972 ... but the vehicles entered are still mostly pre 49 stuff. The later model guys still crowd into town, hog up the Motel parking lots ( never leaving and going to the event ) and making a mess ... but at least there is enough of the GOOD STUFF to warrant a trip to Pigeon Forge. Like HRP said, the trip thru the mountains from Cherokee NC is always a great one ... and Pigeon Forge has a wide variety of eating places. From the everyday " fast food places " ( for those watching the budget ) to nicer, more upscale places. We ALWAYS go out one night with a few friends to more upscale place and enjoy ourselves.

Shades also has ( on Saturday ) a special area set aside for the 1932 Fords to park. It usually has over 100 Deuces in that area. I always park there on Saturday and some of the other Hamber with Deuces do also.

Good times ...

 

Shades of The Past..

 

shades, map out some back roads and try and stay off the strip. i can get from one end to the other end in about 20 min on the back roads. the strip will take forever and watch out for all the cops. DON'T go to Gatlinberg

 

Never been to the Grand but I have been to the last 7-8 Shades.

Always have to deal with the traffic. The event is nice and is pretty laid back. Not much trees for shade but nothing a ez-up can't fix.

Also a car give away and the 50-50 is always huge.

Number two on my fun-laid back type of events right behind Frog Follies.

 

Another vote for the Shades run. Been going for years. Traffic is pretty bad, just have a good radiator. Some guys never move their cars all weekend. Wear some good walking shoes and have fun.

 

Shades is the biggest with maybe 2000 cars, whereas the Grand can only put maybe two hundred on it's site.
But the Forge itself is FULL of cars both weekends.....and most of 'em are the same cars both weekends....and most of 'em are for sale
And, by rights, the Grand is technically the heir to the Gatlinburg outlaw run---it came first....but luckily, the Shades club started their own gig, and the rest is history.

Best case scenario---arrive Thursday night for the Shades and stay all week and catch the Grand the next weekend If ya can't do that, then Shades is the one. There's also Dixie Gas that weekend too, 'bout ten miles away(automobilia/gas pump/sign/etc swap meet)

 

I hate to disagree with a friend ... B U T the Shades of the Past came before the Grand. The Shades of the Past run was first held at the Grand Hotel. It was for about 3 or 4 years. I went to the first one and every one since. Some low-life folks got together with the Grand Motel and tried to take the event away from the Shades Did not work. They moved their event a few times before ending up where they are now.

The low lifes who tried to steal the Shades event ... ended up with the Grand run @ the Grand Hotel ... because the Hotel was in on the attemped stealing.

 

Deuce Roadster is correct on this one. Shades was first. From what I understand the Grand Hotel made them guarentee a certain # of rooms to be rented that first time. When they saw how well it went over they eventually tried to take the show over. Word got out and I think there was a story printed on it in one of the mags and the car people supported Shades.
I had the opportunity to speak with a lady who said she was the President of the COC in Pigeon Forge about 2 years ago and she told me other than Thanksgiving weekend no weekend was bigger than Shades.
I still have my Dash Plaque from Gatlinburg the year I first attended.....1974.

48 Poncho

 

Shades is the one to go to.I have gone every year for the past 11 or so.Traffic is a pain as stated,but worth it.Find a spot at your motel and hang out and watch the cars cruise by or walk thru all the parking lots and check them out.Several cars never move all weekend.Also there is a cool gas and oil show at a big farm in the country that we go to every year,we usually go to the gas and oil show first on Friday and then the Shades.

 

Ya got me beat. My first was from 77

I stand corrected All that aside, I think we answered the OP's question

 

been down there at least four times ,not for the show but because my wife had to go there and work a weekend, no one is kidding about the traffic,thats the best way in to gattlinburg,i've seen some nice cars sitting on the side of the road,get the biggest radiator you can get and get another you'll need um..

 

Ya'll are both topwaters. I first went in '73. It used to be The Grand Run by the Shades of the Past, but we are picking nits.

 

Bobby, do you have nits AGAIN?!?!?!

JH

 

The first run by Shades of the Past was called the Grand Run ...
Because it was held @ the Grand Hotel.
So we both can be right ...

It was 1000 vehicles. They ran out of everything and just quit registering vehicles @ 1000.

My first trip to the Gatlinburg run was 1969. It was about 500/600 vehicles. They had a TOP TEN awards area. This 32 Roadster was in the TOP TEN and it was the first time I ever saw it. I swore I would own it ... one day ... and as you know ... I DO ...

 

Shades of the past, where I once saw a street legal funny car go down airport road in Gatlinburg!!!

 

shades is the way to go

Ratster i have a car that looks just like your avatir i my front yard...lol

 

i'll be over to pick it on tues. thanks for keeping it for us, i think i'm fin ready to look and work on Josh's car. it'll be good therapy for me

 

The Shades is the best if you want to see the street rod years. There will be about 5000 cars in town both weeks and more than half change. If you are looking to purchase a car the Grand Run has the biggest For Sale number of anywhere. The traffic can be tough, but you can quickly learn the back roads. You will see hundreds of lawn chairs lining the Parkway and they will be there for 3 or 4 days and no one bothers them. Walking a couple of miles is the best way to see them all.

 

Sounds like Shades is street rods and the Grand is muscle cars? Kindda wanted to see a mixture and only got one weekend.

 

Come for Shades. You'll see a great mix - guaranteed.

JH

 

There used to be a guy who'd back a funny car off a trailer about 2 am on Sunday morning behind the old Burger King. He'd do a m***ive burn out in the BK parking lot and and put it back on the trailer all before the cops could get there. I was in high school so that makes it about mid 80's. Man, rod run meant a whole other thing back then.