I have a hard time keeping my opinion to myself so I sent an email letter to the Paso Robles city council. You can to, at council@prcity.com. Try to keep them as professional as possible. Even if the show doesn't move for some reason...I feel a little better. To whom it may concern, I have to say that I am astounded that you have decided to run the West Coast Kustoms Memorial Day weekend car show out of your town. I have been patronizing the businesses in your town for nearly 15 years while attending this event. I have personally spent many thousands of dollars in your community, all the while being treated like a bottomless-walleted rube. Gouged by your hotels, restaurants and other businesses, I still willingly, yet begrudgingly, attended. During all of those years of depositing my hard-earned dollars into the tills of your shop owners, I have had many discussions with them. All that I have spoken to have raved about how fantastic their monetary intake is during that weekend each year. I said "astounded", but I think it is more of a feeling of relief. Relief that I no longer have to attend an event, nor spend money in, your town which so obviously did not appreciate my business, nor that of thousands of others. So in reality, I guess this is a "thank you" letter. Thank you, goodbye and good luck in your re-elections. I would venture to guess that the current city leaders will not have much support from the business owners when they run for office again. If you are bored on Memorial Day weekend, come visit the thousands of us who will be in Santa Maria enjoying their hospitality and happily spending our money. Kirk Jones Goodguys Rod & Custom ***ociation Publisher/Creative Director P: 925.218.9134 F: 925.831.8564 E: kirkj@good-guys.com
I thought you were an old punker? That's the reason I'm still going to Paso next year--cuz they don't want me! Won't have to get up a 4am for a prime shaded spot to park, won't have to deal with any rock-a-kooks, and best of all, won't have to wait in a long *** line at Pepi's!
I'm sure they do. Just like most towns, the big corporates come in, get their people elected, get everything rezoned, and local businesses are wiped out, and the franchises move in. Every time I drive the major highways, all the towns look the same. They should all have a chicom flag above the stars and stripes.
Did something happen last year to prompt this? Did somebody get stabbed, killed or ****d? Whats there thinking?
Well put Kirk! I totally agree with everything you said. Everyone just has to remember it's not the town of Paso Robles that has become a tradition for so many people. It is the idea of "Paso", with everyone who has attended this show over the years for the love of Hot Rods, Custom Cars, and good people. That tradition will carry on in Santa Maria (still "Paso"), and there will still be the riff raff who really have no idea what "Paso" is all about. And those guys will come and go but they will never be able to stop the tradition of "Paso", even if it is 60 miles down the road. Just my 2 cents
isnt this where jessie james now rides into town, becomes mayor and saves the good citizens of Paso from their councillors????
Wait i must have just woke up from a long nap...I had been hearing rumors that the show was going to move for years and i guess i got use to ignoring them. Now that **** really did go down, I got left out when the word went out! What, When, Who, Why??? So where exactly is it going to take place at? and is it going to happen both Labor and Memorial weekends like it use to? They should just have it at sea side park like Primer and B2TB..Thats place is *****en!
It will be interesting to see what the CofC response to this turn of events. Business owners don't like to cash cows sent to somebody else's barn to be milked unless somebody killed the bull in the dairy office last show. As they say, "heads will roll because of this, the question is whose!".
Kirk, Well written. Nicely done. I'm still going to miss Paso though. I really think it had more to do with the ***holes causing trouble and it ****s that this had to end. I'm not sure the new venue is going to be any better as long as these *****s keep showing up.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the City of Paso Robles stage their own show next year (or the following). Look what happened to the Early Times gig in Temecula.
Thanks. Unfortunately you are right. It's the ****ty people who think they can act however they want that truly ruined Paso. I actually liked it much better years ago when the grey-hairs were the majority. The gouging hotels didn't help either, but I was resigned to their ******. I think the city elders could have handled the ****ty people better - act like an ***, have your car impounded...period.
perhaps someone should tell them. Chamber of Commerce? Better Business Bureau? open letter to the editor of the Paso newspaper (if there is one)? a letter to the radio stations in the area?