It's hard for me to believe that someone would chose ANY NSRA event over the RoundUp. If they do they are into streetrods and muscle cars way more then traditional hot rods and customs. Which is fine but leads me to believe that no matter what the year cut off they are actually fine with whatever NSRA does. To me that's like the peeps on here choosing the Frog Follies over the HAMB Drags. Just doesn't make sense unless you're into streetrods more than traditional. Nothing wrong with it, it's certainly a choice, just doesn't make sense when you're on the HAMB. I do love Wings, I think he's a great guy BUT he does not play the type of music that the younger crowd is into. It is one of the internal aspects of the events that needs to be changed if they want the younger crowd to stick around.
Frog Follies is 450 miles closer to me and has a decent swap meet are the two biggest reasons I have done FF. The fact that all of the procedes go to charity ain't bad either. The folks put on a really cool event and don't keep a penny.
WRONG ... Why don't you park next to this POS ... And LISTEN to the crap coming out of the MEGA sound system ....
Ya know as stated do not compare gg and nats gg cost more ,but gives out more "picks" so so go for your own reasons I stoped gg way back when they started havin weddings on the drag strip at Indy and as a geezer I sure like the ac bldgs a lvile, .....is there any at indy hummm........so ya get less for more,
If your going to compare apples to apples then compare them. There are air conditioned buildings at Columbus in July which is closer in weather comparsion, along with being GG "Nats". On the flip side, there is not air conditioning in the Kzoo vendor buildings at the NSRA event in Sept, which weather wise compares to GG Indy in June. If you wanna talk about bang for your buck, how about being able to actually run your car around an autocourse while at a GG event? Or what about all the driving on the NASCAR tracks at a number of GG events. Bands are WAY better at the GG events (when they have them). Great fireworks display at the DesMoines event....oh yeah, HUGE airconditioned vendor buildings there as well. I've never seen fireworks at any NSRA event. If your going to compare, then compare them straight up. Bang for the buck? Folks have their own opinions on what is important at an event, and each person has to evaluate what's important to them and what's not and then they can justitfy whether they are getting their monies worth. Bottom line is NSRA says they want to bring in the younger crowd. Most of us have been trying to point out to them that they won't be able to do that by JUST changing the year cut off BUT that they need to change what is available at thier events for the young people to do. More of the younger crowd attends the GG events cuz their events have more things to do that appeal to them. I have been attending both for many, many years and it's quite evident that the GG organization has a monopoly on the younger peoples attendance.
I love GG shows, I went to 5 last year and had a blast at every one. The fireworks at Des Moines are fantastic and you get to hangout at the show all day Saturday. I have already begun my countdown to Nashville GG. This is not a comparison between the two (there isn't one). It's about what NSRA is doing wrong. Thanks, Denise, for clarifying the difference for Mr hotrod32.
Don't forget the drag racing at several of the Gooodguys' venues. And do we even need to compare the Gazette to Streetscene?
Highlights of past shows... Driving the track at GG Charlotte - what a damn hoot! Driving the autocross at GG Nashville - another damn hoot! Doing donuts at the Nats - got thrown the fuck out Rich
Yea ...............Passing passes through the fence to my wife and daughter got me escorted out. Now before I get thrown under the bus, it was my first time and my family was at Kentucky Kingdom (amusement park) and I just passed them the passes through the fence to get in. I was swarmed upon as if I had shot the President and treated as if I were a comunist. Totally innocent on my part. But they were so insistant that they were losing spectator income. After proving to them that they were my family and I had registered two vehicles and only actually showed up with ONE vehicle that they allowed us to re-enter. Also the @ssholes in the golf carts that threw me out on the west side would not transport me to the far east side were my paper work was to prove my case. 98 degree temps and my blood pressure elevated and I have to walk a mile to prove my case. Now those same SOB's want me to support their events. I get treated better by my business compitition.
Streetscene magazine, much like the NHRA, seems about a decade behind the times - it's dated and boring. Goodguys also just upgraded their mag, so in ADDITION to your hard copy in the mail you get access to full content online.
Not a hater. Was a member for a long time. About 8 years ago my last friend with a true connection to the "50's" passed on. Thats when those events held no value, as it wouldnt be the same walking every row, looking at every car, and talking to every owner over the course of the event. Looking at the swap meet and thinking of all sorts of things to do with the items for sale. Good deals and bad deals. My older brother past away a year a go, and he was someone that I had a connection to on this as well. I remember the first long run we went to Oklahoma City for the nationals, and Columbus one year, my first Nats. Times have changed, the NSRA has become more of a money machine first from my view, and allowing 80's vehicles does not interest me. Good guys allowed up to 72? This I can get. I can only uphold the "old days view" I have by going to local cruises, when visiting the Washington State doing the same. Going to forums like this to connect with real people who have a passion for this stuff. What makes America great are the people. I think its the same about the car disease. I still love to meet folks who like cars, and talk about what they did and how they did it.
I quit the NSRA years ago when I got to know the reps and the way they were treated by the senior staff, and how the organization worked. The NSRA has been a cash cow for years and nothing has changed except they are just a lot more obvious about it now in their quest to keep milking the cow for all its worth. Hell, I stayed with them an extra year or two just for the "For Sale" ads in the Street Scene. That's the only thing that changes in that magazine. I swear you could pickup last years copy and think it was the latest issue!
Jerry (and Denise)......see you on the SALT in August!! No politics, no cry baby dolls, no pastel colored street rods, no NSRA officials in their outdated jersey shirts....just good old fashion land speed racing and traditional hot rodding at its finest....CAN'T WAIT!!!
I just re-upped again, probably for the last time! After reading all of the pros & cons in this very long post, its easy to see why so many have a true gripe. Back when NSRA was formed, I became a charter member to enjoy the NEW old car experience of "street rodding" AKA known as hot rods DRIVEN on the street, thats when Tom Medley coined the phrase "Street is Neat", & trailered cars were definately frowned upon, case in point, in Memphis 1975 nats, after the guy won "Best Engineered" trophy, the guy that made the award found out that the winner trailered his car to Memphis, & phsically took it back from him!---I witnessed it. Each car that is painstakingly constructed whatever the body style, is the owners own idea of his much thought about street rod, as evident in all these years gone by. Its always been my personal idea to DRIVE your cars on the roads & interstates, taking in ALL the sights & sounds of each state as you travel thru,---smiling as the lines go flying by. This all started in 1972 when driving from L.A. to Detroit nats,---Remember those BAD city roads in Detroit? Then in 1973 it was Tulsa,Ok. when my son rode the rumble seat round trip! Memphis 1975----Back to Tulsa in 1976-----Louisville,Ky. in 1994---& thats enough,----300,000 miles----NO TRAILERS! Thats what my idea was from the beginning,----DRIVE EM'---If they break--FIX EM'. Over the years, we have met many great friends at the NSRA events besides the Nationals, & will always cherish that, even in these later years like now. Vintage hot rods had a good response----Mercdeuceman does not get it, about driving---Deuce Roadster has a good start on mugs & good time at LAR show----Topless buddy Denise really sums it up good!. Think I'll follow her procedure next year when NSRA sends me my final renewal slip----At 77 years old, it won't matter anyway,----But the "street" is the only way!!!!----------Don
I guess some of us just think its about the drive as much as the destination .............................. and we happen to agree with Don.
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