Event Coverage Nats south 2012 .....

I said I was not going to go, but I did. I drove my daily driver, paid the 12 dollars gate fee and looked around. It was about like I figured but NOT as BAD ...

I would say about 30 to 40 per cent late model stuff ( non HAMB friendly ) . I saw a LOT of **** ugly stuff but there were a few nice pre WWII era vehicles. A friend registered Friday around noon and he was in the #1700 range The car count was way down and the professional vendors were down also. A few years ago the car count was 3,000 or more and you could not find a place to park. This year, there was plenty of open parking areas.

I wager a guess and say that a few factors hurt them.

1 ) looked like rain most of the morning.
2 ) the economy is still hurting.
3 ) NSRA members getting older. At 64 ... I was a long ways from being the old guy there.
4 ) Lots of handicapp scooters running around.
5 ) A good many of the older guys will not take their rod to a show with all the LATE MODELS .

Overall, I had a decent time. Saw some old friends and looked at a few cars. But it will be " spectator only " for me ... from now on. It was worse than the last time I took the 32 ... and I only see it getting worse.

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

 

We don't even go anymore.... It's really a shame what the NSRA Nationals in Knoxville has become. It's always been our favorite show because of the swap meet. The last time I went it was mostly OT stuff.

I give it a couple more years and sadly it will be gone.

 

Pics?

 

Why? It's just a bunch of Camaro's anymore..... Just sayin'

 

yeah id like to see pics also

or

did you post this just to start a ***** session about the show letting in too many late models

 

I don't know man, it's all in the at***ude. I just got home and I had a good time. Rain, a little. Sun, a lot, I got a good red burn. The people is what makes it, not the year of cars or quality.

 

i thought it was an ok show, not that many camaro's.

It was good seeing you Randy..

The guys in our car club just don't want to spend $75. to go. I paid, i don't mind seeing the diff cars, i walk on past alot of stuff that i don't like but then again people walk right past my car to look at a later model car.

 

Good seeing you. Saw your roadster cruising later in the afternoon
LOOKING GOOD !!

NO ....
If you read my original post ... I said I had a decent time and would go again as a " spectator "

I see YOU HAVE A later model, so you would like the changes ...
I could see everything that interested me in the 4 or 5 hours of looking. For me to drive my car, spend the weekend and register costs about 5 to 6 hundred dollars. I did not see 5 or 6 hundred dollars of entertainment. I did see 12 dollars spectator fee and a 600 mile round trip worth of entertainment.

The event was not as BAD ... as I figured it woud be.
and I may go again to spectate.

 

I went and as others have said it wasn't a "BAD" event. Seeing friends that I left behind from by move from the Dayton OHIO area after my move to the south was worth the cost of admission! As with all events you have the good and bad points. All and all I had a good time!!!

 

went as a spectator, smaller than previous shows BUT still a good show, not that many late models,has not turned into a camaro show!!! nice place for venue , no point in being negative other than the cost. I KNOW THIS IS THE HAMB and i dont like the NSRA date change but also those cars are now atleast 30 yrs old.On a side note we should keep this show going.....

 

I'm still here and I'm still having a good time I saw and talked to a lot of old Hamb friends and met a few new ones,,there are a lot a Hambers and saw a lot of interesting post 48 cars.

I was one of the people that screamed the loudest about the opening up this event but I decided I wanted to see my old friends that I only see once a year so I ate some crow and came,,I also drove the '54 Wagon.

I learned that you can walk right past stuff you don't like,,as far as attendance,yeah it's down but there is still a lot of Hamb friendly cars,,even the Hamb excepts up to 64.

I'll be back next year. HRP

 

I call BS!

I don't know what show you're talking about, 'cause what I saw on Saturday was very different. The only open parking I saw was the area that was fenced off!

I was thinking about going in our '47 Mercury but some of the negative comments on here leading up to the weekend made me change my mind. We went as spectators on Saturday and as soon as I went through the gate I regretted not bringing the car.

The last time we went was back in 2007 and this year's event was much bigger! More cars, more people. Some of you guys are just full of ****.

Were there some "late models" there? Sure. "Oh whaaaaa I saw a car I don't like, oh whaaaaa!" Get over it and move on!

There may be some really bright, intelligent guys on the HAMB who get it, but there's a certain few of you who are idiots. And you know who you are.

Go ahead, flame away, but you Negative Nannies are off my Christmas card list!

 

it was down from last year. i have not missed a show in 12 years. in 2007 the count was low, thats why they changed the cut off year. ya can't call BS if you have not been in 5 years. lol just saying... the best part for me was seeing old friends and making new ones.

mrs hotrodprimers wagon was awesome! loved seeing it, love the history on it...

 

Went over Friday, and really didn't see a lot of late models (72+). Got to see some friends and scored a few goodies at the swap meet. Finally snagged an old school manual tire changer.

Yeah, the car and vendor count seemed down from those old days of 3000+, but there were cars on the far side, via the tunnel.

Good day for a 65 mile drive and $12 walk-in. I'd go every week for that deal.

 

Lots of open areas ... the area on the other side of the road was only half full ... if that much. I started going when NATS SOUTH was in Winston Salem NC in the late 70's, then Columbia SC and then Knoxville ( since 1984 or so ) . Open spaces on the hill behind the big building and openings by the boxing area were also available. The count was 1800 or less. They used to have 3,000 plus. That's over 1,000 less vehicles. At 35 dollars or so each ... that's 35 grand less $$$ from registration and only GOD knows how much the gate was down ( $$$ ).

BUT like I said ... I may go to and pay the specator fee and just LOOK for a few hours next year.

NSRA Lifetime member

 

Guys with old cars don't go because of a lack of old cars? Is that what you call a self fulfilling prophecy? Or is it the fear of cooties?

 

Well, my point was that it was certainly bigger than it was in '07, so these guys who are saying it keeps dropping and will be gone in a few more years must be just making this **** up. It's as if they're trying to be intentionally negative. What's the point of that?

 

Is that the official count, or just something you heard? Where does that number come from?

 

Randy, I do not understand. If it is good enough to go as a spectator, why not take the roadster or coupe and have a enjoying drive and a day at the show. Its all the hard core (pre -49) NSRA guys that are allowing the show to be a high ratio of late model. If all the streetrods that used to go, still went, then the percentage of late models would be really low.

I guess I still just do not understand. Opening up the dates allow outstanding rides like Danny's wagon to attend but with it comes a few 70's models (and i bet the total quan***y of 70's rides was less than 5%, maybe less than 2%)

 

I completely agree with you Boones. The "late model" cars I saw there yesterday were things like '56 and '57 Fords and shoebox Fords and other nice stuff that wouldn't have been there before the year change. I don't see anything wrong with having cars like that in the show.

 

there's always going to be some cars over there. my club's been parking over there as a group for as long as i can remember.

I can't speak to the attendance becasue I'm not there. the rest of the fam, and a good poriton of the club went. sounds like they had a good time. glad for them. FWIW, even if i'd wanted to go it woudn't have happened. the delivery's down for a ****** transplant

 

it's not the pre 72 stuff that irritates most of us that still have a thorn in our saddle. it's the fairmont's, mustang II's (and next year fox bodies) etc etc.

that's why I've kept my money--registration and spectator at home since they opened the show. It's unfortunate because it was one of two big shows I attended each year and I enjoyed it, but I'm standing by my principles. The show's not going to go away until it loosed financial viability for NSRA, and I dont' know where that is, but there's a point. unfortuatly the date change was like opening pandoras box. I don't think they'll ever be willing to eat enough crow to roll it back even if they wanted too.

 

well like it or not its called evolution things WILL change or they die as more and more of the die-hard pre 48 guys take a dirt nap someone has to fill the spots left by them

and as more of the current guys with hot rods , streetrods, or trad customs think its some kind of sin or crime to park next to a "newer" car leave thier car in the garage instead of bringing it out to a show its just going to open the spot for that young kids pride and joy tuner or mini truck or whatever

it boils down to this either your part of the solution or your part of the problem ,and YOU HAVE TO BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD dont want to see a latemodel at a show drive your hotrod to it enter it and make the late model park in the spectater area where they belong now, quit yer *****in and post some pics please

 

i was 1812 and the line behind us was long when we registered. i didn't see any fairmonts or mustang II. everyone I know that said the show **** either didn't take there car or didn't go at all. it makes no sence to me why ppl ***** about a show. hell, i got 2 tickets and that won't stop me from going next year lol gotta love Tenn State Patrol road blocks lol it my own fault lol

sorry, no picts... i hate taking them

 

Just got back from Nats South.I had a really good time with beautiful weather.We ended up with 4 cars going down,32 roadster,34 Chrysler airflow,40 Merc conv and a 51 Anglia.We saw lots of friends and some really nice cars.I saw one 82 S10 and one 82 Toyota pu.Mostly pre 48 and the rest fifties cars.Walked right by the later cars unless they were really nice.vert1940 was with us [40Merc] and won the Host club pick so that was really great.I will have to ask him on final car count when he gets home.Got to see hotrodprimer and his wife.Her car is really nice and looks better in person.I have been going to Nats South since they moved to Knoxville.I hate what NSRA did but refuse to let them keep me from seeing good friends and some great cars.When it turns into the street machine nationals i will quit going but until then i will keep going.Keep *****ing at NSRA if you want things to change.I will be back next year.

 

I was going to NATS SOUTH back in 1977/78 and have been every year except the last few.
IF ...you never went to a ALL pre 49 event with over 3,000 cars ...

You will NEVER understand.
Also ... most of the folks who are for the late models being at NSRA events ... are biased and have vehicles that cannot get in the show without the rule change.

Even the HAMB has a cut-off date of 1964 ... so why discriminate against all the other 65 up vehicles here. .... It is called tradition.

Every one of the big shows that allow late models in now have become smaller in attendance. FROG FOLLIES has kept the pre 49 rule and is PACKED and growing every year.

The late models cost NSRA at least 50 to 60 thousand dollars this year in lack of revenue over the past years money when it was pre 49. LA Roadsters in pre 37 and they GROW every year

The PURE reason I paid spectator fee and not registered my Deuce ... is $$$. 12 dollar ticket plus the gas to get to Knoxvilee verus registration, 3 nights MOTEL and eats. I do not even have to pay membership renewal ... as I am a LIFETIME NSRA member. I became one when it was PRE 49.

 

Anyone see a little black morris minor...?

 

We have two cars that could get in before ('28 & '47) and I don't mind the "late models" (up to about '72 anyway) So your blanket statement about bias is wrong.

And the LA Roadster's pre-'37 cut-off is for that premier roadster parking only. Everybody else can still attend and have their own parking area, and that show is usually packed.

And trust me, though I'm not a lifetime NSRA member, I'm a lifetime hot rodder and just a general all around car lover and I DO UNDERSTAND!

 

Brandon, did see Morris. Really nice ride and cute as a ****on.

Also saw a '40 nosed Morris (wrong).

 

Just got back. Stayed for the awards where Jerry Kennedy announced a little over 2200 cars. I really don't know about that...didn't seem to be that many. This year was the fastest I ever.....registered.....got into the grounds.......parked.......went through the swap meet.........and left the last day in the 20+ years I have attended. Still had fun as it was the Poncho's real maiden voyage since getting back on the rosd.

48 poncho