Syracuse Nats 2010-feedback

OK, so I have read thru most all of the posts here and I was NOT going to interject, but now find that I can not help myself….

I have been to The Nats every year BUT the first and 2004 (I passed up Syracuse to go to the Rockabilly Rumble). I have seen it grow and I genuinely enjoy the weekend. This past year I was less than pleased. So, here is the like/dis-like list:

Like:
- The People!
- Everything is on the fair grounds and once I am there, I usually do not have to leave for anything.
- Camping (don’t have to shell out the cabbage for the Hotel GOUGING)
- Old Skool Rod area (Being a HAMB’er, I don’t want to walk thru a sea of Red ’69 Camaro’s to see one badass Kustom)
- The effort that Right Coast make this a show a success
- Nightly Fireworks
-


Dis-like:
- Vendors taking up prime real estate for Show car parking
- Vendors spread all over the grounds.
- Having to drive past the fairgrounds to the host hotel to pick up registration
- Three wheeled motorcycles at a car event (I could care less about them, but IF right coast wants them there, move them to another area, not where they were in 2009)
- Camper/Motorhome display. I have to say that MOST of the larger Motorhomes are parked along the road near the show-car entrance/exit. Why not move the Vendor closer to that area?
- Shutting down Cruzin the fairgrounds (I understand, but does not mean I have to like it)


Some suggestions to help you guys (Since this is what Right Coast asked for to make it BETTER and NOT to be bashed… Like this thread has been turned into):

People show up at 3:00am to get a prime parking spot, and by PRIME, I mean around the pond, along the main drag, under some shade tree, along the Indian Village grass… NOT in the middle of the Main parking lot melting into the black top or next to the exhaust fan from the greasy grill of a hamburger stand to have their ride covered in grease. By reading into SOME of the replies, “Show-Car” parking seems to be a common concern and here is just one more suggestion of placing the vendors/swap meet/car corral out in the main parking lot. I am not talking about the vendor spaces that are over in the isles near the Center of Progress buildings, but more or less talking about the areas that were previously car parking and now have become Motorhome, Three wheeled motorcycles, Snap On Tools display.

I like the fact that Right Coast is trying to accommodate the Traditional Rods and Kustoms. The Old Skool event is taking off and I really like that they tried to continue this thing all weekend by moving it to anther area of the fair grounds. I think you guys can see that there needs to be more room for this and have done a good job, so far… Might take a little more work, but you are getting there.

Music: I was not too impressed this past year. I have a diverse taste in music, with Rockabilly being my favorite, BUT like someone earlier mentioned, I can only take so much of the same regurgitated songs and some fat bald guys TRYING to harmonize like only the Beach Boys can. I was, however, impressed by the one band (not sure of the name, but they are on the event video) that sounded a lot like a Dave Matthews band. Very talented and should be asked back again this year. Being from Rochester and knowing the guys from Krypton88, I would push for you guys to get them back again this year for the Old Skool area. They were there a few years ago, and in my opinion, were so much better than the band that was there on Friday (2009).


Change is good, and I applaud you guys for putting yourselves out there on this board. As soon as I saw this thread, I knew that you guys were in for a bashing (some good and some not so good).

 

Very well said: I have to agree with all your points!

I have to agree, and as mentioned eariler, the reason I go is to have a good time with my friends and look at some kool cars.

Hope to see you all there.

Eric

 

I thought this thread died of slow death last year...

Hopefully some improvements have been made, as the show can only become better. However; is there the will to make improvements ?

 

As much as I hate to admit it, Kustomolds is spot on (Whoose your pal Ronnie? Moonpie is!)
Chopshop is not. The RV vendor is not a sponsor for the camping. Camping is all NYS, Rightcoast has nothing to do with it.

Suggestions that Kustomolds didn't cover?
My grandkids want the truck & tractor pulls back in the grandstand.

 

I think the give away car should be HAMB friendly

 

'nuther suggestion for music.
Instead of an oldies station with a limited play list, How 'bout the DJ that used to do the Rumble and Lake George, The Rock and Roll K man?
He plays something for everyone, with lots of Rockabilly.

 

Why, Thank Ya, MoonPie!!!

We'll be there, but the Olds is SOLD! We'll hook up and I'll fill ya in on the last couple of years...

looking forward to seein Ya!

 

I complained about my issues with E.C.S.R.A. through the HAMB format. They listened and were concerned enough to try and make changes. I am satisfied with their answers. I will return to the show next week.

I agree whining to other HAMB members will get nothing done, E.C.S.R.A. too want to make it a good show and need feedback from the participants.

 

I think the give away car should be HAMB friendly

I agree. But get the felling that "Give away cars" will be a revamped Muscle Car. Getting way too difficult to Title/Reg a brand new olde ride.

 

this was the FIRST year that it was a muscle car in 11 years- at my suggestion to do something different. Its almost always been a 32 ford or along that lines... Feel free to offer ideas up for a car for future years- they are looking at 2012's build now .. I think a traditional car would be a GREAT idea. Maybe a Model A pickup...

Hope to see you at the show if you decide to attend- Ive been told they think it may hit over 8000 cars this year as registartion has been way up.

 

Okay, here's a crazy idea.... I really have no idea how this whole giveaway thing works but I know a lot of work goes into it and I've talked with a few guys who have been involved with the builds and they all seem to think it isn't really quite worth all the work they have to do on a ground up build. So if you have 8,000 entrants and they are the ones who have the chance to win the car why not take $5.00 from each entrant so you've got approx. $40,000 to work with, have each entrant say whether or not he would sell his car and list a price below the $40k ( just a figure to work with ) put a sticker in the window of the cars available and let the crowd make the pick for which car would be purchased and be given away the following year, and if the car is just a $25,000 car sponsors could do their own little improvements to make the car safe and reliable for the following years giveaway, as far as that goes there's probably plenty of $40k cars that could use a little upgrade here and there. This way the sponsors get to contribute without any one sponsor feeling he put too much into it and didn't get much out. Of course with traditional hot rods being a minority in this area it's not likely that one to our liking would be chosen but hey it's an idea.

 

Well I can say its one of the best marketing choces Ive ever had. Where else can you get 100,000 people PLUS 8000 car owners to see what you can do in 3 days AND see their reactions and answer their questions on the spot? I have had 3 FULL builds from the truck giveaway in my shop and also ended up seeing it in Street Rodder- not to shabby in my eyes.


Im still getting calls about having work done from the truck we did with them in 2006. How many other guys can say they still get work from a job from 4 years ago- on a steady basis?

Winning the car is a pretty easy process.
Easy 1.2.3:

1.
resister and particpate in any of the Right Coast events or events that they offer a chance to be apart of the giveaway for the year.
2. Have fun at the event- look at the cars around you- talk a walk- have a beer or soda and enjoy the weekend
3. take the slips they giev you at regustration and make sure to fill one out every day and put it up at the right coast trailer by the main entrance of each show- in Syracuse -its right by the main gate with a HUGE logo on the side- pretty hard to miss.

On Sunday they will pull tickets- you need to be at the stage area when they call your name and then go up on stage and get a chance to win a cool car .

Ive seen so many times that someones name has been pulled and they left- one of my own friends was chosen a few years back to be a gievaway finalist- he had left to go home less than 5 minutes before. Boy was HE ever mad ....


As for the organization itself- its like dealing with the good side of your family-willing to listen to ANYONE who offers up ideas or advice- I dont know any other car organization or business where just if you ASK to talk with the President/owner/director- they will put you through- just because you asked! That is how the muscle car came about- I thought it would be a cool idea to do a different car isntead of the street rod based vehicles in years passed.

I hope you all decide to stop by my booth and say hello- Id like that- Although what Ill have there may not be 100% HAMB frienldy (68 GTO/69 camaro/57 vette feulle convertible and a cougar) I AM and welcome your vitis to see what my staff works so hard on every day to keep this hobby alive.

Later!

 

Don't know if anyone from Rightcoast is still following this.
Along with the bitching, there were some good suggestions.
I guess they've fallen on deaf ears.
Not only are camping trailers and garden tractors for sale parked along the fence where Tony and the Packrats used to park, Now there is a Spectra tractor trailer right across from there in the parking lot.
Between that and construction projects, there are even fewer places for cars to park.
I'll nail O'Conner tonight and ask him WTF is going on.