[Andre]

I offer some additional thoughts that aren't really club specific, but more of an evolution. Maybe some will agree. Once upon a time, I enjoyed going to shows. Typically a show would start at 9:00am and maybe be done by 3:30-4:00pm. Usually it was a asphalt parking lot, but occassionally a nice park or better surrounding. In those days, a car show was a rare occurrence. In the early 90's we had a little hamburger stand run by a woman and her parents that started a Tuesday night cruise scene. Free to anyone, just show up when you want, leave when you want. That became quite popular. As time went on, there was a resurrgence in the hobby, and after a while there were multiple shows every weekend. It became a bit of a cottage industry for promoters, and many gave trophies to anyone who showed up. Restaurants would hire them to put on a show to increase revenue etc etc.

With this glut of shows, you could pick and choose, and as a result shows became smaller. In the mid to late 2000's, the evolution continued, and there was a decrease in shows. Cruise nights would pop up, last a little while then fail, and move to somewhere else.

Now in 2013, there seem to be a huge decrease in shows. I will attend from time to time, but the length of the time that I stay at a show is less and less. I just don't feel like sitting around for 6+ hours. Now I drive my cars more... though still not as much as I should.

[65WJ]

Originally Posted by Andre

I offer some additional thoughts that aren't really club specific, but more of an evolution. Maybe some will agree. Once upon a time, I enjoyed going to shows. Typically a show would start at 9:00am and maybe be done by 3:30-4:00pm. Usually it was a asphalt parking lot, but occassionally a nice park or better surrounding. In those days, a car show was a rare occurrence. In the early 90's we had a little hamburger stand run by a woman and her parents that started a Tuesday night cruise scene. Free to anyone, just show up when you want, leave when you want. That became quite popular. As time went on, there was a resurrgence in the hobby, and after a while there were multiple shows every weekend. It became a bit of a cottage industry for promoters, and many gave trophies to anyone who showed up. Restaurants would hire them to put on a show to increase revenue etc etc.

With this glut of shows, you could pick and choose, and as a result shows became smaller. In the mid to late 2000's, the evolution continued, and there was a decrease in shows. Cruise nights would pop up, last a little while then fail, and move to somewhere else.

Now in 2013, there seem to be a huge decrease in shows. I will attend from time to time, but the length of the time that I stay at a show is less and less. I just don't feel like sitting around for 6+ hours. Now I drive my cars more... though still not as much as I should.

Alot of Wisdom from Andre.
To add to his thought POCI starts on Wednesday and goes to Sunday. The 2 shows I attended most of the cars were gone by Saturday afternoon. Swamp meet was gone.
Tri-power Nationals draws close to 1000 cars. 400 race 600 show? Huge swap meet and it is Friday, Saturday awards 3pm Sunday. To me this is a great model to go by.
In 8 hours you can see all the cars cruise the swap meet and watch the fastest Pontiacs in the country race side by side. Well organized event and worth the 40 bucks.

patrick

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Andre

I offer some additional thoughts that aren't really club specific, but more of an evolution. Maybe some will agree. Once upon a time, I enjoyed going to shows. Typically a show would start at 9:00am and maybe be done by 3:30-4:00pm. Usually it was a asphalt parking lot, but occassionally a nice park or better surrounding. In those days, a car show was a rare occurrence. In the early 90's we had a little hamburger stand run by a woman and her parents that started a Tuesday night cruise scene. Free to anyone, just show up when you want, leave when you want. That became quite popular. As time went on, there was a resurrgence in the hobby, and after a while there were multiple shows every weekend. It became a bit of a cottage industry for promoters, and many gave trophies to anyone who showed up. Restaurants would hire them to put on a show to increase revenue etc etc.

With this glut of shows, you could pick and choose, and as a result shows became smaller. In the mid to late 2000's, the evolution continued, and there was a decrease in shows. Cruise nights would pop up, last a little while then fail, and move to somewhere else.

Now in 2013, there seem to be a huge decrease in shows. I will attend from time to time, but the length of the time that I stay at a show is less and less. I just don't feel like sitting around for 6+ hours. Now I drive my cars more... though still not as much as I should.

I'm right there with ya. I enjoy driving my cars and if it's a pretty enough day to have a show then I'd prefer to be going somewhere rather than sitting in a parking lot.

Plus: why should I have to pay $10 (or $15 or $20) to park my car(s) at a local small show when all the spectators get in for free? Seems kinda upside down to me.

Regarding POCI membership: I've been a member for about 10 years now. To be honest only reason I maintain the POCI membership is because it is a requirement for me to be in my local chapters: the Widetrackers and the Motor City Chapter.

One more point/question: anyone else having trouble adjusting to this "getting older" thing? I've always been a half generation/full generation behind the "big names" in the Pontiac hobby and therefore have always considered myself to be one of the young bucks. That doesn't seem to be an accurate perception anymore....



K

[Keith Seymore]

Matt, Deadhead -

This is all I have left to say:





K