Event Coverage Northern Nats 2023

Pretty low turnout with the cars and swap meet this year but still got to see some great cars and get some help from the vendors.
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Looks like an Edsel grille and a radical front end reworking...that'll get people talking. Thanks for the pics. Looks like a nice turnout quality wise.

 

REALLY low attendance. This show used to get 3,000+ cars. I registered yesterday at around 1 PM, 993. A buddy registered today around noon, 1030. I'd be surprised if there were 800 cars on the grounds at any one time. NSRA is rapidly becoming irrelevant. If you took away the Squarebody pickups and late Camaro, there might be 300 cars of any interest. Thanks for taking a picture of my car though!

 

Does it have something to do with the Frankenmuth show being on the same day?
This kind of sucks for a guy like me who can't always afford to wander to far from home.

 

The swap meet is a lot smaller than it used to be also. It seemed like there were more cars there this year than last year or they were not spread out as much. LOTS of people I know go to Frankenmuth now instead of going to this show.

 

They were saying that next year's show will be on the weekend of the 20th I believe

 

Yeah, all my friends went to Frankenmuth. My wife and I went to Kazoo today. We used to do the entire weekend. Today I did the swap, indoor vendors (there were no outdoor vendors) and walked the show. Probably spent 3 hours. I saw no reason to do the entire weekend. I don’t know why, but there just isn’t a buzz at this event anymore. Alas, I think a lot of the people that used to attend (both participants and vendors) have either passed or are no longer involved. I hope they figure something out.

 

I went for 21 years straight, the last year being 2009. We were in town in 2019 and stopped in on a Sunday but even then it wasn’t the same as it used to be. Many of the people I parked with have passed also. I quit going when they went to the 30 year rule, it wasn’t so much the rule change but the NSRA’s attitude about it to the members.

 

For sure, and the Triple Crown show in Nashville. The heavy hitters were there, Frankenmuth was packed by accounts from my friends who went.

 

I understand the rationale for that, they wanted to attract younger guys with Muscle Cars. What has happened is that we old guys are now driving comfortable cars, Chevelles Camaro, Impala and Bonnevilles, and leaving the roadsters at home. The crowd is definitely older on average than I am (by unscientific observation), and I'm 68.

 

My feeling exactly.

 

What is the triple crown. I know someone who brought their car there. Not sure how it works

 

A show that was in Nashville TN this weekend. My buddy Dave Gray took his '32 down.

 

The Triple Crown show in Nashville has now replaced the Shades Of The Past show which was help in Pigeon Forge TN for the last 39 years.

 

I went on Friday, was really surprised at the smaller size compared to just last year. I just thought that Friday wasn't as big a turn out as Saturday. But sounds like it was a smaller crowd all weekend. I think I will skip it next year.

 

I was vendor at Kalamazoo from the mid 90's until about 2011/12. It was an excellent show and and for me profitable. I always had breakfast with Dick Spadaro and he repeatedly commented that for NSRA shows the Kzoo swap meet was second only to the Nats in Louisville. NSRA has fallen behind Good Guys because they haven't kept up with the times.

 

Gary, my dad and I always stopped and chatted with you at your booth there.

 

I remember the Cornhusker booth at the Nat's North many times.

 

Too bad Chitcago is between Kalamazoo and where I live. Much better drive going to Goodguys DesMoines show, especially in a Hot Rod!

 

The vibe in Kalamazoo, especially this year, is OLD. And tired. I am old and tired myself, so I don't think I'm being ageist, but you are correct in the show not keeping up with the times. I don't know if that's NSRA overall, since I haven't been to the Nat's in Louisville for maybe 15 years, so I have nothing to compare it to. The majority of the cars look old. The VAST majority of the participants are old, my impression was the average age must be mid to late 70's. There weren't fresh builds being debuted there, nobody "power-parking" to show off a new car. I don't have answer, and I realize that by complaining about it (and probably not going next year) I am part of the problem. Things run their course, this show seems to have run out of steam.

 

I have a similar problem. I want to attend events in Wisconsin and routing around Chicago can double my travel time, making one day events two day and extra costs. Just the facts!

 

They need to have it a different weekend than Frankenmuth if they want more Michigan cars.
Last year they were on different dates and I believe Nats North a lot more than this year's 993 cars.

 

It used to be a week later.

 

I had a great time at the NATS North this year bought some stuff in the swap meet. Met some HAMB members & others.Went to the Gilmore Museum Thursday & the IND Dunes Sunday it was around an 800 mile trip. I had not been for 2 years was surprised how much smaller it was . the wheather was nice a litle drizzle FRI. NSRA took a big swing & missed with there 30 year cut off. this year Cameros were an invited guest you could drive any year in up to a new one they had there own parking area Saturday sadly I think the reginal events will be gone in a few years

 

I bitched about it, but I look like I was having fun after all...(that's me in the crash helmet)

 

and me in the passenger side.
My trip home did not end well

 

I haven't missed Kalamazoo for many years. Seeing the loss of vendors (I enjoy picking up items of interest and feeling them with my own hands even if I don't buy the item). Also always go through the swap meet. Honestly I don't like car shows where you spend your time polishing your car. Sure I get the bugs off but that's all. This year I decided to try something different. Spent Friday at Kalamazoo and got a couple of things I wanted from Vendors and swap meet. Then took off headed for Frankenmuth. I took as much 2 lane blacktop as possible and visited with family scattered across the southern part of our great state. Frankenmuth isn't my style of show. Difficult to access by Hot Rod and equally as difficult to navigate as a spectator. I'd compare it to St Ignace as that's the only show I know might be similar. I haven't attended St Ignace in forever as it's not my style either. I go to St Ignace for Friday only. I won't be going back to Frankenmuth.

I agree with others here there are too many bigger shows on the same weekend. I believe NSRA is trying to keep Kalamazoo on a warmer weekend and I like that.