Lead East '04: 10 Reasons Why...

[ponchobilly]

Without debating politics, preferences or prices, Lead East is a custom cars show. Yes... there are gook wagons, low-riders, late models and stockers there. But mostly there are the customs and those who love them. I dig traditional customs. These are just 10 reasons why I go.
Bil

Reason 1A

[ponchobilly]

Reason 1B

[ponchobilly]

Reason 2

[ponchobilly]

Reason 3

[ponchobilly]

Reason 4

[ponchobilly]

Reason 5

[slammed]

So far, so good!

[ponchobilly]

Reason 6

[ponchobilly]

Other shots of this station wagon are already posted elsewhere. I love this thing

Reason 7

[seymour]

yo poncho,

you got a profile shot of that shoebox w/ the 54 olds trim? (#5)

[ponchobilly]

seymour- no I don't, sorry.

Reason 8

[ponchobilly]

Reason 9

[ponchobilly]

Finally, reason 10

[Rocky]

Reason 9 was good enough for me, Billy. Thanks! By the bye...did you happen to see this car and the 2 social rejects there?

[ponchobilly]

Yeah, that thing rolled in under its own power again but, only half the crew pictured there were in attendance. I believe it was the good looking one who was not there http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif!

Saw Kustom7777, chopmerc & crew, flatdog's car but not him. Heard JimA being paged on the PA often but didn't see him either. Skip (Desoto) was there too. Great weather and a fantastic day.
Bil

[Boones]

reason #2 is from here in Charleston (just outside of town). Nice guy, Spent some time early on in the build explaining how the airbags should be set up.. He has a matching hardtop.

[CTFuzz]

ALL good reasons................

[Skate Fink]

[ QUOTE ]
Without debating politics, preferences or prices, Lead East is a custom cars show. I dig traditional customs. These are just 10 reasons why I go.
Bil

[/ QUOTE ]

.......no further discussion..........Bil is right! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The old argument, "Is is half Kustom or half Bullshit?"

[NITROFC]

Let me tell ya ..Sat line was out the door to pay over 1/8 mile long (20 bucks a head & 6 bucks to park ! ) all day long and the same on Sunday.. Looks like Terry Cook cound not shovel the Cash in quick enought to the bank ... CHA CHING !!!!!

[Skate Fink]

[ QUOTE ]
.. Looks like Terry Cook cound not shovel the Cash in quick enought to the bank ... CHA CHING !!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

......but he donates a lot of it to "charities." Just ask "Unkl Ian"........ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Spike!]

The ten reasons I DON"T go are all named Terry Crook. Fuck him and his "Vericose veins Show"

Spike

[Fifty5C-Gas]

thats pretty sad that there are autually people who dont go to the best show on the east coast because of the guy who runs it...so what if he likes money, i think we all do, dont be mad because hes smart enough to make a hell of alot of it...its a great show, and i dont know anyone there that didnt have a great time...to those who dont go because of him, well thats your problem.

[CHOPMERC]

Hotrod29, my thoughts exactly, lead east has the best collection of kustoms on the east coast....118 friggin 49-51 mercs!!!, you just don't get that anywhere else...i'll never stop going....bob

[Spike!]

If you think thats the best show on the east coast, you deserve to be taken. The Crook hopes you have lots of friends and reproduce often.

Spike

[ponchobilly]

Spike- you obviously don't get it and probably never will. Bitch and moan all you want, it still is not going to make you right. As I said in the first post, Lead East is about the customs. Leave your deep rooted hatred for Terry at home with your wallet. You haven't been there for years and you'll never go back. That's understood.

Imagine an event that appeals to all age levels. Imagine an event that costs less than an NHRA, NASCAR and Broadway play. Now imagine that event goes on all day and night instead of just a few hours AND is loaded with the best customs on the east coast. Naahhh... stay home. You still wouldn't have any fun at all or you'd be a drag to be around.

Sorry Spike. I'll still go back to Lead East and I'll still love you. Just relax and look at the pretty pictures! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Bil

[CHOPMERC]

Spike, i met you at the Brooklyn Rumblers show, and you seem to be a great guy, BUT for you to say i'm incorrect about Lead East being the biggest collection of kustoms on the east coast is very far from right...whats better??, Gettysburg, PLEASE, not even in the same league...the Road Agents show in Ct rules, but for the sheer number of kustoms, it can't compare...i'll admit, Lead East has it fair share of stockers, gook wagons, and more recently some later models (late 60's to early 70's)...but it is now and has always been about the KUSTOMS BABY!!! and not to repeat myself, but being a Merc guy, i got to see the most impressive display of kustom 49-51 mercs that has probably appeared at one place at one time ever!! (118 of them!!)....bob

[Slag Kustom]

i love the show even though i had bad run in's with terry cook all weekend but i will always go back. what other show can you party every night till 3 am and see all the diffrent cars

[Spike!]

If I were to not attend the show because of "The Crook" that would be stupid. It goes beyond that. Using Gettysburg as a comparisson isn't fair either. Not even apples and oranges there. Nor is The Road Agents Show. That show plain kicks ass. My gripe goes to the fact that its over-priced and cheesey. Happy Days cheesey fifties crap. The bands suck. No bikes? Worlds biggest geriatric singles dance party!! Please. But hey, its just my opinion, right? My only hope is that "The Crook" shows up at the Hoe Down and is charged 95 bucks. For everyone else Its 10. But after last weekend he can afford to go wherever he wants....

Spike

[squigy]

hey,i thought they were gonna have a "Rat Rod" section?any pics of that?they got special entrance fees and caviar http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gifand a few Rockabilly bands..any pics?i guess i cant blame them gotta make the cash $$$$ to pay for his own shit..what charities did they give some of the money too? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[terrydactile]

I'm not going to the hoedown because I go to Tyrods in Mass that weekend, one of the best old car shows on the planet that I always go to. As for Spike (and others) pissing and moaning, what does he do for a living? Does he get paid to do it? And did he take the risk to start his own business from scratch and ride it through the through years when it was losing money? I do lead east for a living and I get paid for a year of hard work and considerable financial investment, with risk involved. I don't piss and moan about people who have businees who make more money than me, that's the American way, and God bless them for their successful businesses. Goodguys makes a thousand times as much money than me and I don't envy Gary, I congratulate him for providing great events for zillions of people to enjoy.Goodguys events provide great clean well organized family entertainment for rods and for later vintage cars, a great unboring mix as opposed to NSRA's pre '49 position.

For all those people who think i'm just in it for the money then why in 1984 and 1985 when the show lost $80,000 each year did I pay all my bills and continue doing the show? Answer, bwcause I love customs. Do you have any idea how many customs have been built because of Lead East? At least hundreds. I was fed up with KKOA not having a custom even on the east coast so I started Lead East, just to promote the custom movement. I never dreamed it would turn into the giant thing it is, or one that makes money.

We tried Rat Rods this year (a term incidentally that I may have coined back in the mid 90's when covering Paso Robles as a journalist) and out of approx 700 cars pre-regged for Lead East only 2 rat rods bothered to pre-register. One of them was Frankie C's '38 ford which isn't a true rat rod but a nice street rod in primer.Consequently we didn't give much effort to enforce and establish the rat rod parking area. Not many rat rods showed up (perhaps 15) and many of those who did thought they were too cool to park in the lined parking spaces like the other 1400 cars, but insisted in parking in the fire zones, in the aisles, and in front of Frank and Carol's Chrome It booth. They have no idea how much the fire marshalls break our chops about this infraction and despite numerous times we asked the rat rodders and the guy with the red '53 Caddy (really a neat car, by the way) to not park there they insisted in parking where they were not supposed to park because they felt they were cooler and better than everyone else, which of course is immature ego bullshit. We break out ass to put on a good show and keep the aisles open in case emergency vehicles need to get through and keep the fire marshalls happy.And there are 6 fire marshalls all over the event all the time.

The Rat Rod experiment at Lead East 2004 didn't fly and we will not bend over backwards to make special consideratons for rat rods again. Other than the Razorbacks I don't know if we will hire rockabilly bands for 2005 as we did this year (Blue Suede Bombers and Gamma Rays, both good bands by the way). If I do hire one it will probably be the Blind Pharoes as they sort of got shuffled out of the mix this year and I at least owe then another shot.

Anybody with a Rat Rod that wants to come, pay the normal high entry fee and park in the lined spaces and obey the rules all the other cvars do will be welcome. The high entry fee cover the high expenses of 36 bands, Elvis impersonators, etc. etc. and is simple economics. A new Rolls Royce costs more than a new Saturn. What's so hard to understand. Your typical $2 car show has $2 entry fees and no entertainment. Lead East costs more money to get in because it costs a lot of money top put on and takes 2 full time employees working year round to put it together.

I love Rat Rods, always have, always will, even if a few rat owners have ignorant, immature, envious attitudes like Spike, and he ain't alone. My Zebra skin '62 T-bird is a cross between a rat rod and a pimpmobile, and I came close to building a true rat but I have too many pother car projects on my plate.

I for one am thrilled to see the Rat movement take off. I've been an advocate of trat rods from the start. I almost started a rat rod event to get the rat movement rolling in Atascadero, CA 8 yeara ago on Sunday-Monday of Paso Robles weekend (sort of when Paso was winding down for the weekend) but Penny Pichette of West Coat Kustoms asked me not to and I honored ansd respected her request. I attended Viva Las Vegas and Road Agents shows this year and loved them and the fresh, raw, ragged jagged cars because they are such an invigorating, ORIGINAL change of pace from all the boring lookalike American Express billet rods which show me absolutely NO imagination.I didnt bother to go to Macungie Wheels of Time event though it is only a hour from my house because it's all boring billet. I also atended the Kahunaville event several months back with my Zebra bird and was disappointed there were so many billet rods in the parking lot when the venue and bands and few rat rods that were there were definately kool.I hope the rat movement continues to expand and get more good shows like Road Agents and Viva. I'm REALLY happy to see young rodders get into rats as opposed to Hondas, even if they are morons like Spike. (License plate frame on Twister's '50 Chevy at Viva said "HONDAS ARE LIKE TAMPONS, EVERY PUSSY HAS ONE) And God bless Spike for having the balls to say what he feels even if it differs from what I feel.

LEAD EAST is clearly not an event atttuned to Rat rods. It is customs and 50's and like that, and as hackneyed as the poodle skirts and fat old people listinging to white bread 50's music appears to some rat rodders, it makes THOUSANDS of people happy. And I mean very happy. And what's wrong with that?

Many people don't like me because I'm a loud, sometimes very straightforward say what I feel, often obnoxium extrovert. If you think I'm bad now, you should have seen me 2.5 years ago before I gave up alcohol! But you've got to have big balls and really believe in what your vision is to create Lead East and follow it through for 22 years to make it what it has become today.

Literally hundreds of strangers walked up to me, shook my hand and thanked me for putting on Lead East saying they had the best time of their lives. More than a hundred people throughout thwe weekend. I tell them it is a team effort of more than 120 people who work together to put it on. If you don't like Lead East and don't want to come that's OK. But if you think you can do it better then put your money where your mouth is and get to work creating your event with motorcycles and dozens of rockabilly bands and low entry fees.Let me know when you get it rolling and draw more than 500 cars, I'll come and enjoy it.
God bless you all, even Spike, and God Bless America, There ain't no other country where we could make this stuff happen like we do.

Enjoy every day
Terry Cook

[zman]

[ QUOTE ]

We tried Rat Rods this year (a term incidentally that I may have coined back in the mid 90's when covering Paso Robles as a journalist) and out of approx 700 cars pre-regged for Lead East only 2 rat rods bothered to pre-register.
Terry Cook

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you related to Robert Williams?

[Fifty5C-Gas]

AMEN Terry...i love the show, and always will...cant wait for next year...like i said before, its the best show on the east coast...(please, just do something about the damn muscle cars, they dont belong there)....thanks,mike

[colorado51]

Great pics!

You guys that have those big shows like Lead East or Billet-Proof are really lucky. Here in Colorado (Denver area) there are really no shows that cater to Customs or Traditional Rods. The closest thing is probably the Streamline open house/show.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a couple of big shows that we have here, but usually there are just a handful of Customs or Trad stuff that are on hand.

[hatch]

Terry...fuck the whiners...I met you in St Ignace early one morning when I was talking with Dave Bell....you walked up and became an instant friend....Unfortunately, this hobby is FILLED with whiners, egomaniacs, and clowns, but hopefully they will just stay away from the events they don't like...they aren't needed or wanted anyway.

[ponchobilly]

Terry- thanx for voicing your opinions. I may not agree how the beloved term "rat" is used to descibe anything in primer, but I share a love for customs.

I can't do all this reading without looking at a few more pictures of what we are talking about. CUSTOMS!
Bil

p.s. lose the Elvie (plural for Elvis) and bring back the pinstripers

[ponchobilly]

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[ponchobilly]

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[ponchobilly]

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[ponchobilly]

__(.)(.)__

[terrydactile]

HotRod29 talks about keeping the muscle cars out of Lead East. I saw a '67 Camaro at my event last weekend and it rattled my bones because I felt the car didn't belong there, and muscle cars in general didn't belong. But the sad fact is many of my regular customers are dying since they are in their 60's, and I'm afraid I have to admit newer cars next year 1972 and earlier as opposed to '69 & earlier. It looks like muscle cars will start being admitted to Lead East for the simple reason my audience is dying and we feel we need to appeal to and admit a slightly younger (i.e. 50 year olds) group. You never would have known it on Sat as Lead East was bursting at the seams. This will not be the first time we've upped the years as Lead started in '83 for '59 or '60 and earlier (when it seemed everyone else would not let 50's cars into their events), then upped it to '63 & earlier, then '67 & earlier and presently '69 & earlier. I'm afraid it's gonna be '72 and earlier in 2005 but that Camaro REALLY looked out of place to me at my event.

Terry Cook

[Slag Kustom]

terry the bone stock late 60's cars where not as bad as the tubbed pro street muscle cars. i left my 64 corvette home because it does not fit in. It is a sad day in NJ when you see a 79 LTD with QQ plates pulling into a car show http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[terrydactile]

Ponchobilly

Primer does not a rat rod make

how about no floorboards? Now we're talking rat rod

After the pinstripers 3 years ago (not the original group of pinheads, the Wizards Legends of Pinstriping group) came in and even though I donated $3,000 or whatever and hotel rooms to them they apparently did not donate a nickle to charity as they said they would, I don't want pinstripers back in the lobby at Lead. Don't confuse these guys with the original Alan Johnson group who did, who were for the most part a great group of guys.

Yes Elvis is hackneyed, but the poeple sure seemed to love it 100 times as much as they did the stripers. You saw the crowds.

Terry

[terrydactile]

To Spike of hotrodphotos

Are you the same puppy rodder from Philly who when on and on ranking me and my show a few years back but never had the balls to sign your name or let anyone know who you were? You whined about me stopping the rockabilly shows I tried at Lead East called WE WANNA BOOGIE, but failed to mention that the first one I did lost $5,000 and the second one lost $8,000 because there were not enough rockabilly fans who came to support WE WANNA BOOGIE to cover the cost of the bands, even though they were tremendious rockabilly shows? I remember you, probably tha same PRO WHINER who was afraid to sign your name to your salty comments.

Terry Cook

[Unkl Ian]

Ponchobilly wrote: [ QUOTE ]
...and bring back the pinstripers

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately,that is not going to happen in our life time.


The Pinheads,led by Alan Johnson,were at Lead East for the last time in,I believe,2000.
We covered all our own expenses,for travel,lodging,and materials.
And with the help of our good friends and generous supporters raised over $30,000 in cash that year,
for Ronald McDonald House,and other local charities.
Lead East is perhaps the only place where this was possible.

ALL the monies raised went to the charities,not net proceedes after creative accounting and skimming.
None of it went in our pockets,or went to cover our expences.

Unfortunately,circumstances bacame such that this group will not return.

It was a unique period in time which is not likely to be repeated,anywhere.


Wizzard and his "Legends of Pinstriping" is a different group,with a different agenda.
They made quite a lasting impression,by all accounts.
Too bad it wasn't a positive impression.

[Spike!]

Crook,
First off I have the balls to sign my name to anything I have to say. The person you are referring to wasn't me. Maybe my comments are a bit off. Truth is, I haven't been to your show since '97. Has anything changed? However, I refuse to pay big money for the chance to prove myself wrong.

When I go to a show, I expect to have something fun to do. Why not hold your show at an old dirt track and let the people make laps? Oh wait..thats the Jalopy Showdown. Not even in the same league. How about a museum filled with old car stuff? Oh wait... Showdown again. How about Nostalgia only cars on the infield...? Oh, thats the Road Agents show.

I guess the only show that compares to yours is "Senior Citizen Day" at the old folks home. Just not the same for me. And youre right. All of your customers are dying off. You better cater to the younger set gramps. OR...heres an idea... make ALL the spots handicapped spots and charge DOUBLE! Have grab rails at every spot and "Depends" dispensers every five feet! The mark up on those is probably pretty high. Buy in bulk. Have WALKER races and LEAD EAST colastamy bags with AM/FM radios. Call them "Sony Shit-Mans"(TM) and sell 'em for BIG BUCK$$ !!!

Pretty soon you can call it DEAD EAST because all the old fuckers in Jersey will have died and nobody will come see dead people. I could be wrong..I mean people come now to see other people sit in chairs. Same thing.

Wow. That was fun. Haven't been on a rant in a long time. Thanks Terry Crook!

Spike

[Fifty5C-Gas]

1. PLEASE Terry, DO NOT LET 1972 and older in, keep it 69, PLEASE!!!....i am 27 years old, and own a 29 ford, and just about everyone i know my age owns 62 and older cars, i know your original customers may be dying, but us younger guys will not let the hot rod and kustom era die....PLEASE KEEP IT TRADITIONAL!!!!...........2. Spike if it wanst for the "vericose veins" crowd, hot rods and kustoms wouldnt exist...what your telling me is that when your 60 you will give up car shows??????...its a real shame you feel this way, you should fuckin thank these guys for what they did for the hobby, not make fun of them, and make them feel un-wanted.....i'll tell ya its people like you who shouldnt be in the hobby.

[Skate Fink]

..........now, now.............everyone has had the opportunity to state their opinion. Some good points were made by all. Ryan isn't here but he expects us to conduct ourselves with the dignity he has come to expect from this group of assholes. No need to make things personal.
I'M OLD! Well, not really "old," more like a survivor. There are a lot of cool old people. No need to slam them all.
We had fun making fun of Terry and his high dollar show. He defended himself. Bil posted photos of some kick-ass cars and made several good points.
Out of respect for car lovers of all ages, let's let this bullshit drop. (before Ryan gets back and pulls the fuckin' plug!) Peace Out........... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Spike!]

Dear Old Folks In Jersey,

Thank you so much for everything you've done for Kustom Kars. The world would be lost without you. I love you old Jersey people.

Hows that?

Spike

[Spike!]

Skate Fink- Youre not old. Not by Terry's standards anyway. He likes em way older. You know I wouldn't mock you. I'll see ya Saturday ya big lug. Hugs and kisses.

Spike http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[cleatus]

Terry,

First upon reading your lengthy reply, I'm thinking "good for him" defending yourself and the show "because you love customs" and "it's not about the money".

Then you go on to say you are changing it to '72 and older because "your customers are dying". But as I see it, the show is about the customs, and cars don't die. Maybe their owners do, but unless they are burried in their customs (which I've considered), the cars will go on to new owners who presumably also love customs and will attend your show in the future.

By slowly changing over to newer and newer cars, in an effort to keep chasing the dollar before it dies, you seem to be shooting yourself (and a great show) in the foot.

Paso seems to have no trouble attracting more and more younger dudes without having to change the year cut off. Why? dunno. Maybe because it's just so damn cool (hint - no need for Elvi).

Maybe if you do cut down on the FOCUS towards pleasing the old poodle skirt crowd (who by your own words will be dead soon anyway) and just try to please people who love customs your show will prosper with all generations?

[Fifty5C-Gas]

as much as i defended you (terry) against spike, i do have to agree with cleatus, i really dont think that letting up to 1972 cars into a 50's show is a great idea...try it the way you have it for a few more years, and if it dont work out for you then change it, but please leave it the way it is for now.

[2tall2beahotrodder]

Mr Cook-

My names Steve, and i happen to be the " Younger Crowd". I Refused to go to your show this Year because its a BIG SELL OUT.
Like you, i happen to be a Loud mouth and Tell whats on my mind, rather than keeping it in and letting it slide.

- Please be a professional and reframe from Online Bull shit. At your age, you should reconize that people have opinions.
Some might Love your show, and others wont.

- Most people i have talked to, Have broughtn up the subject of The Elvis's. A few were Great but most Completely sucked. Personaly i think, pinstripers or bands would have given a better enviroment.
How about cutting down the Elvis, and throwing in a few Pinstripers? Pleaseing the whole crowd.

- What happened to the Burn Out contest and the Flame throwers??
Wait i guess it doesnt please the older Crowd..


but even then, i still have respect for ya. You started a anually show by your self. and stayed in there when it was hard times.

One more thing before i sign off.. Dont be Bashing The "RAT RODDERS" because they dont want to be accosiated with Newer style CAMAROS. I guess we should start our own show in the parking lot out side.
We might just want to hang out with people we know. Hang out with each other rather than, being parked next to a 66 Riv. Lowrider or some other Non TRADITIONAL ride.

Thanks for listening
steve-

[scarylarry]

Terry, its YOUR show. You dont "have" to let anything in. Remember "because I love customs"? Every local weekend car"show" is loaded with pro street shit.Dont diminish what some people come to your show for...unless you just want to keep the numbers up. Ahhhh, do what you want, what the hell do I know?

[Skate Fink]

[ QUOTE ]
"....... what the hell do I know?"

[/ QUOTE ]

.........you know ME and that simple fact makes you a wise man! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Good Night..........

[safariknut]

I guess I'll just have to throw my hat in the ring too.
I first went to Lead East in 91 as a spectator and saw some great cars,some old friends,and met some new ones.
I didn't get to go back(due to moving,a divorce,etc.)'til 99 when I went as a striper to work the charity panel jam.Met a whole bunch of great people,saw some old friends,and even got to see a few cars between brush strokes.
Went again in 2000 and had a good time but a lot of things had changed.Long story and don't want to get into it here.
Some observations:
Lead East has probably the best turnout of customs anywhere on the East Coast and probably a goodly part of the rest of the country.There is a carnival atomsphere that other shows just can't capture.It can get expensive but hey it's the East Coast and everything is expensive,right?
Do I like Terry personally?Not particularly.Does he put on a good show? Yes. Would I ever attend Lead East again? Probably;if only to see friends and cars.
My point? You don't have to like a person to attend one of their shows.Most of the show promoters I've met and known are by and large idiots personality wise and if they weren't,they're probably not very good at what they do.You cannot be successful in any business if you can't divorce friendship and business.
Just my opinion folks and I'm not trying to fan the flames believe me.
Ray Smith

[Rocky]

Well, any guy that will push my tire-spinning 33 ford pickup up my snowy driveway [in Omaha] BY HAND, getting soaked in the process is ok by me.
By the way, Terry....how much does it actually cost to attend your show?

[Skate Fink]

[ QUOTE ]

By the way, Terry....how much does it actually cost to attend your show?

[/ QUOTE ]

".............if you have to ask, you can't afford it!" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[terrydactile]

To Hotrod29

re: '72 & earlier cars in a 50's show, understand first that HAMB is a network for traditional rodders, and your thinking represents the old school, which is TOTALLY cool. I think HAMB is a fabulous forum and I've used it to find the parts I need at far better prices than other sources.

But my overall audience is not traditional rodders. Granted there is a hard core of Lead Easters who don't want to see the newer cars come in, but this is a business, it is my livelihood, and I've got to keep it alive and going. We sadly lost a number of regulars this year due to death and old age. Two died on one day in two different states! One way to replenish that customer base is open it up slightly to the younger audience (ie. early musclecar owners are a tad younger than the pot bellied bald guys who have customs, and that includes me as I'm 62 and pot bellied and have several customs).

Many of my hard core custom and early vintage car guys are resigned to the fact that the older guys are dying off.
They want to see Lead East continue to exist.

Terry

[terrydactile]

To Rat Rodder:

Be specific re online bullshit and I'll be happy to answer.

re: the elvises, yes I know thay are hackneyed, and yes I know some of them were not great entertainers. Understand each year I keep trying different things. I stand back and watch the crowd reaction to decide if I want to have that particular attraction back. The elvises were a smash even if they were not all that good. I was disappointed both years because the Elvis organizer promised me 15 elvises and delivered 13 the first year and only 7 this year. I don't think i will use him again, but I may hire a few better quality elvises and put them in one of the concerts.
I've already answered the business about the pinstripers.

I was all psyched and set to do the burnout contest and it would have NOT been just another boring burnout contest, it would have had Lead East show biz colored light show and music behind the smoke, with an announcer, and all done on the helicopter pad so the audience would be across the pond by the gazebo and see the whole thing reflected in the pond when it happened. Sounds killer right, except the insurance company said no. That's the reality of throwing a big show that actually has insurance (most car shows dont). Insurance (3 million) is required by the property owners in order for me to do the show on their property. When the insurance company says no burnout contest, then no is the answer. You obvioulsy diidnt read your Handbook.
As for the flamethowers, where have you been? We brought them to the East Coast years ago ('84) and they propogated and evolved hot rod style to the point where guys with compressed nitrogen where shooting fire 90 feet. Unfortunatley when they started spraying the spectators with raw kerosene and chasing it with fire, and when one asshole laid fire in the car show lot and set a little girl's dress on fire (she was not hurt) we decided to cancel flamethrowers in the interest of the safety of our audience. The participants all agreed at the Monday meeting we used to hold for customer feedback. It's called being responsible and caring about the safety of your customers.

Finally, who the hell said I was bashing rat rods? I love 'em. I dont love em parking in in ther aisles and fire lanes because that is irresponsible, stupid, highly egotistical behavior, but I have always been a proponent of rat rods.

And I'm sorry you don't like '66 Rivera lowriders, but that's your personal taste. Me, I think that chopped purple '66 Riv at the show was absolutly killer. Wsh I woned it. Lead East is the success it is because it combined stock restored 50's and 60's cars with customs and street rods and rat rods and lowriders. They all peacefully co-exist.

If you just dig rats, go to Road Agents or that Hoedown show in Philly. But don't go to other shows and be upset when you find a mix of other types of cars. Hopefully the rat rod thing will continue to grow back east so there will be enough of them to support a series of their own shows. That would be cool, and is coming, but it will take time.

Terry Cook

[terrydactile]

To Rocky:

I'll never forget that night pushing your pickup up the driveway into your garage in the snow. Neat rat. The Sharknose clip is sitting in my garage waiting for a fastback Zephyr glass body. Not #1 on my cars I wanna build list, but it is on the list.

How much is Lead East to enter?

Plan A (4 days Thurs AM to Sun night for car and 2 people and their kids under 18 in the old car) is $90 + 6% state tax, 95.40. That's something like $12.75 per day per adult for a non stop lineup of 36 bands, triple feature drive in movies, etc. And people whine about it costing too much. That's 50 cents an hour.

Plan B (3 days) which starts Friday morning is $62.54 if you pre reg early, and either $70 or $73 at the gate. Here again that's about $12 per day per adult, and they still whine.

One Day Sat or Sun at Lead East is a little more expensive, like $40. But does Goodguys or NSRA offer a one day Sat? No way. You pay for the entire weekend even if you only enter your car one day. Goodguys does offer a lesser one day entry fee, but that's only Sunday, not Saturday. And NO event has the lineup of bands and entertainment that Lead East offers...plus 118 1949-'51 Mercs entered...and those arer REAL numbers, not KKOA type numbers. Wait till you see the video of 50 of those Mercs in procession! If you love Mercs you will lay down and die, writhing in extacy.

Terry

[terrydactile]

Skate Fink

OK I just read your post and I'll let the bullshit stop

keep on hambin'

Terry

[Fifty5C-Gas]

one more thing before i go...Terry, i saw maybe out of 1200+ cars 10 muscle cars, now if you have to open the show up to 72 and older, to get maybe 50 more cars, i just dont think its worth it to ruin the atmospher like that, and beleive me, when your listening to wolfman jerry, and people walkin around in poodle skirts, then seeing a muscle car drive past, it ruins the atmospher...please, listen to your customers, remeber the old saying, the customer knows best.

[2tall2beahotrodder]

Terry-

When im refurring to Online Bull shit, im talking about you bashing spike.. If you have ever met him in real life, hes a cool guy with his own opinion. Once again, he has an opinion like me. We might like not like the $$ and certain cars. Deal with it.

To me, when i read your Reply it seemed like you said the "rat rodders" that parked where they wanted were( fire zone) where Basicly "assholes"
You might of covered it up, by disguiseing it with other words, but you have no idea that 4 of those guys are on this board.

Yes it was a Fire hazard, and people wernt allowed to park there.. Ill give ya that one.. but when a few of my friends where told by your staff to move, cause they were parked next to there buddies its messed up... And it wasnt reserved parking..

Thats one of the reasons they parked near and on the fire zone area...

[Skate Fink]

[ QUOTE ]
Skate Fink

OK I just read your post and I'll let the bullshit stop

keep on hambin'

Terry

[/ QUOTE ]

............at the risk of being called a "Tree Hugging, Flip Flopping, Kerry Loving, Commie Loving Liberal," I have this to offer and then I'll say no more (until I have something to say.)
I got caught up in all of this. When we had our Stude, I was a loyal KKOA man. I was in my mid-30's but had been a Kustom lover just as long as those "old guys." I kept a skateboard in the trunk and listened to punk/new wave music. I liked some of the old "crusin' music," but was NOT into hanging with all those "old" people and watching the fat old ladies get gussied up in their way too tight sweaters and poodle skirts and the old guys greasing up their hair and doing a comb over to cover the bald spots, get drunk. It wasn't MY thing. I was there for the Kustoms.
"Mr. Crook" (sorry......old habits you know?) bills his event as "The Worlds Biggest 50's Party." NOT the World's Biggest 50's car show. (I just came to this realization, enlightenment, whatever) What would "The World's Biggest 50's Party" BE without old women in poodle skirts and 7, 13, 15.......Elvi??
I guess my point is, for atmosphere, I'll be at the Showdown next year. For fun and a great time, I'll be at the Hoedown this weekend. I guess if I want to see a shitload of chopped Mercs driven by old coots on life support, I'll have to consider Lead East and get the fuck out of town before those nightcrawlers get drunk and start dropping.......... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif