Event Coverage NSRA Nats South - It was OK

If the numbers that the tourism office gave for last year are to be believed, there were "well over 3000 cars registered" at the 2009 event. So attendance was down by approximately 30%!

 

i believe it was $35500 he wanted.The show was down and did have a different feeling about it.Was still nice talking to many Rodders and seeing the old cars.I noticed Painless and Parr also were not there.We talked to Bubba Bugg and Louie Mayall.They were very nice and defended thier decision although still said that things could change.

 

Parr was cutting back on shows last year

 

Everybody that has been to knoxville over the years knows that you need a umbrella one day at least and need sunscreen too. With that being said I don't think the weather had had a lot to do with the lack of cars as much as the new pre 1980 rules. NSRA made their decision and it looks like the vendors and the rodders have too! Yeah I missed the show and seeing old friends. We will see what happens in louisville in august. I'm saying a big drop in cars

 

I guess I will beat the dead horse.........................

Read my past posts and you will see my position. In the end I think the NSRA will improve their numbers overall. In a business the bottom line is important to most number crunchers.

As I said before, I love 60's and 70's vehicles. I go to many more GoodGuys events than NSRA events. I have for the last ten years reserved two weekends exclusivly for the NSRA so I can check out streetrods. In the future I will look at my options on those weekends. I may still attend or I may not. The Frog Follies will be a definate show date.

Now in the end I feel my absence will be covered by the new later year attendees. That is all the NSRA people care about anyway. Numbers just numbers and revenue.

 

Just got in this PM (Monday)from Knoxville. Had to drive approx. 100 miles out of our way to get home. Left at 6:30 this AM and got home about 4:00 PM. I 40 between Nashville around 196 and the 126 was closed due to flood water over the Interstate. No Hotel rooms available so we stayed an extra day. Traffic at times was at a crawl. Guys Nashville is a disaster. Came home and my garage is flooded but had gone down. 22 1/2 inches where I live.

As for the show. All I can say was it was different. Nice cars and all but the "air" was different. Swap meet was definitely down, the livestock barn is usually packed and at least half was still available. New stuff vendors were definitely down too. They even had some house window company or something in the outside vendor area ( now is that s****ing for vendor bux or what) and that area was down as well.

The awards for newer cars on Sunday were dominated by tri-5 chevys with most being 55's. Not so many muscle cars, a lot of newer cars I saw would be something I would expect to see at an AACA show. Even though down by past year numbers, pre-49 rides still dominated the show.

Don't know what the deal was but even some of the vendors (not all but some) had an at***ude this year, maybe because that rush of new customers didn't flow in like expected? I was possibly going to buy some spark plug wires from one of the event sponsors. He told me his brand (Cagle). Since I had never bought this brand I asked to see them. OMG the theatrics on his face were unreal. He huffed and went to the door of his trailor pulled out a box, opened them up and huffed again, stuck them in my face. I asked the price and after telling me I said I would probably be back, he slammed the box shut turned his back and threw them back in the trailor and never said another word to me. I went to Southern Rods and bought a set of Taylor's for 15 bux less. Maybe it was just me.

Anyway I had some fun but not as much fun as before. Maybe the flooding at home was on my mind as well as when and how I would get there. Won't say I won't go back but can't say I will either. Think I will wait and read the propoganda and decide later.

Sorry for the semi-rant, just a little tired.

48 Poncho

 

Well, whatever with the drama... I had projects around the house Saturday and Sunday. Looks like a GREAT weekend to me!