The Shades of the PASt was pretty good !!

A lot of rodders do not like CHANGE ... but I thought that the Shades of the Past event was a improved event.

Yeah ... the rain today sucked ... but just think how BAD the cow pasture would have been with that much rain. It would have been a muddy, sloppy mess with cars getting stuck ... With all the pavement, there was no dust. There were dedicated permenent restrooms ... with water to wash your hands and your face. It was WAY easier to get into the event (with 2600 + registered vehicles ) ... and easier to get out when it was over ( more exits than the cow pasture ). They had a new DJ ... that was actually pretty decent.

They did have a few " new location " gliches that need to be worked out ... but no more than any other organization in a new location. By Saturday ... most were worked out and it went pretty smooth.

The rain started around 9 AM and quit around 2 o'clock Saturday ( today ) . It cleared off and it was NICE with a good breeze blowing on the mountain. I saw and talked with a lot of old friends... met a good many HAMBERS that I never met before ... and overall had a good time.

ALL in ALL ... I liked it and think it was a improvement over the past 5 or 6 years. Of course, I liked them better when it was pre 49 ... but that time will never return.

..........................

 

Anybody we know win the roadster?

 

YES ... they gave it away and 10 grand to some lucky rodders ...
The half and half drawing winners take was $19,010.00

At least 3 real HAPPY rodders in Pigeon Forge today.

 

I agree with Deuce, the new location was better with the blacktop and easy in and out. Yeah the rain kinda sucked on saturday but the rest of the week was great. Good to see some old friends and lots of cars....... I did have a friend that had 4 wheels for sale in town behind his truck near the sidewalk. Pigeon forge cops gave him a ticket for $70 for solictation. He was not a happy camper!!!!!!!!!!

 

D-R, I used to like your old avatar. Your new one is much better. Thank you.

I really don't have anything to say about the Shades of the Past run as I have never been. Just thought your avatar needed some props...

 

We just got home and I have been in Hamb withdrawal,,I saw a lot of old friends and met a few more Hambers ,,all great guys.

I'm going to have to agree with Randy,,all in all the location is a better and with the monsoon that came Saturday morning and early afternoon you can bet your sweet rear end the absence of mud wasn't missed.

There were a few hiccups and I went in this year with a burr under my saddle about all the changes,but as time went on I began to appreciate the new location and I believe it will improve.

Cruising the main drag went on until the wee hours of the morning,from Wednesday night until Saturday night for miles and miles,3 lanes going one way and the road divided by a medium and 3 more lanes in the opposite direction,,about 8:00 PM a nasty storm with a lot of lightning slowed the cruising down a bunch.

I gotta admit,,I don't like change but it wasn't near the traumatizing event I had conjured up in my mind. HRP

 

I thought it was alright,better than I had thought it would be.It was pretty killer walking up and down that hill,but We all can use a little more exercise according to the Federal Government.Haha.I did not make it back over on Saturday after the rain,We went house hunting.There was lots of good cruising though.

 

Never made it to the show...but did our share of cruisin/walkin/biking up and down the strip.

Had a blast.

Took a handful of pics...gotta sort through em still.

 

I was all set to go Saturday morining then the wife pointed out that she'd have to move all the stuff out of the basement by herself (so the carpenters could get in there to finish the remodel). Being the considerate person that I am I thought better of a trip to PF, even after I had registered in advance.

Glad to hear the positive reports. Next year for me for sure. I try not to keep telling myself that this would have been the year that I won the roadster if I had been there. Oh well. Somebody post pictures!

 

seadog the give away car was ugly, good thing you did not go and win it.

 

Come on Barry,,It could have been fixed! HRP

 

found a couple of pics here

http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/Altered/vehicles/64256

 

I didn't get to go this year, but got a call from my best friend on Friday. Seems his 32 roadster with a Caddy engine scored in the TOP 25 and won another award too. Man was he stoked!

 

I went & had a ball.

Cons:

New & old parts vendors mixed in the "swap meet/vendors" area
The hill that the event was hosted on made for a hike for many. Glad I'm young.
Space for the awards presentation was cramped

Pros:

My friends/family went
Paved parking - no dust/mud
Tents WERE allowed around the perimeter of the lot
Traffic flow in & out was MUCH better than before - actually easy & good
Free admission to Splash Country for the kids next year - only for Shades participants
Less space meant tighter parking - the show wasn't spread out over 100 acres
Reorganized awards ceremony next year to allow more room for spectators
Designated parking for the Southeast Deuces for BOTH days
Paved & close parking for trailers - yes, I said it, get over it
A constant & timely shuttle for spectators

I thought it was a far better event this year & the plans for next year sound like they have already considered the few problems I saw. Dolly & the city have caught hell for "not wanting" car shows in town but the city officials that were in attendance and the efforts of Dollywood sure do contradict that argument.

It rained like crazy on Saturday & water ran off that place like they had Rain-X'd the whole damn mountain. I can't imagine the total mess it would have made at that farm they used previously. They honestly would have had to bring in TRACTORS to pull cars out of that place.

As an aside, a '55 Nomad that Kennedy's Hot Rod Shop built was selected as one of the Top 25. David is my uncle, Kirby is my cousin. None of us care about a trophy but to have their work recoginzed like that was really nice. I was really proud for them & the owner of the car.

I'm looking forward to next year already. Maybe I'll be there in my roadster.... maybe.

JH

 

Would have to Agree this years event went off real well.Bobby an the guys at Shades did a awesome job.And as for the changes next year,with Dollywood opening the park to Shades particpants an their families an also allowing the use of a stage an seating for awards,I think thats awesome an will take the show on to the next level.Also with the city folks there being on board an welcoming to the rodders they seem to appricate the revenue this brings to there cities.All in all good show great cars an also got to meet a few new HAMBERS,nice meeting you DueceRoadster!!

 

I believe with today's economy, the city of Pigeon Forge and the Dollywood management have come to appreciate the $$$ that the rodders bring to the table.

After all ... it is all about the money.

It was nice meeting you too ... RAZIN CAIN

 

I thought it sucked.

Just another car show in a big parking lot.

Rich

 

We drove through PF Friday morning on our way from Western NY to Franklin, NC. Me being real sharp on details thought the show was next weekend. Surprise Surprise. Got to see a ton of cars lined up along the main drag through town. Since folks were expecting us in Franklin we kept going. Sounds like the changes worked out well.

Lee

 

Lee,the Grand Run is next weekend so you should still get to see a few cars and a lot of traffic. HRP

 

Danny, we're already home in Florida. Next month will be a full one. There's something going on every weekend including Tampa NSRA, Billetproof Drags, and Charlotte GoodGuys. Hope to make at least two of them. Plus I just got a contracting job offer that's too good to turn down. Busy Busy.

Lee

 

I thought the new digs worked out great! Talked to Bobby Alloway and he said this is a learning curve at this show. Whoever said this show sucked is a dick and probably bitches about everything. Probably on of the guys on here that is just a wanabe anyway.

 

You obviously know Rich well....

JH

 

Glad to hear it worked out. However a $70.00 ticket for "solicitation", W.T.F., that is pure "power-mongre" or maybe just plain "chicken shit". Jerk cops like that make it tough for the good cops, sad. ~Sololobo~

 

I'd like to see things from your point of view but I can't seem to get my head that far up my ass.

Rich

 

I had a great time seeing a lot of hotrods that I would not normally see ,Also talking with Danny and Randy, after all the show is as much about the people as it is the Hotrods...

 

I didn't make it up this year..... In the past few years there have been ALOT of car lots parking there late model junk up and down the strip. I can remember when all you saw was pre-49 cars park up and down the strip, now it resembles a car lot. How was it this year, last couple of years they were set up when I got there on the Monday before the show?

 

I drove down on Wednesday and finished up on Thursday morning. I thought the new venue was a major improvement over the Smokey River Ranch. Just can't imagine the mess that it would have been given the heavy rain they had on Wednesday and the downpour overnight Friday into Saturday.....shit, they'd still be diggin' stuff out. We had a ball at the show and cruzin the parkway. The only bitch part was that the waterpump in the Olds took a shit Friday. Couldn't find one anywhere, so I had a buddy at home yank one off of a spare motor I had back at home. He beat feet to the Fedex joint and I had it Saturday........got it fixed, but missed the Top 25 and the show on Saturday!!

Can't wait to go back to the new location!!!!!!

 

good show,better than expected the hill did take a little more effort..spaces were a little tight all in all a good time

GREAZY HUBCAPZ CC

 

Good time Major improvement my favorite was the light green 56 chevy forgot my camera anyone got any pic to post of it.Cruzed the strip late every nite in the 55 and my friends 53 olds .Almost traded the 55 for a 51 shoebox but decided against it.Bad thing someone got hit by a car crossing the strip heard they were in serious condition prayers out to them.

 

I had a great time ,and the location was alot better to get in and out of,we drove the wheels off the corvair all weekend!