Event Coverage Four observations on the NSRA Nats

Spent three days in the swap meet area, did get some time during heat of day to walk around.

Four things I noticed have changed --

1) a ton of "geezer carts" (electric rides so you don't have to walk)

2) several "Muscle Car" that were certainly worth a look (wish I had $25K to spare!)

3) No "ricers" in sight

4) some very nice ladies to watch

Hopefully some of those "Muscle car" folks will get converted to the older styles but getting some younger folks involved is good.

 

I especially like the no ricers part! Unfortunately, we can't make it this year.... maybe next year!

 

Any pinstrippers doing their thing?

With the costs for ventors going through the roof and then praying for sunshine to make their money back it's kind of hard to do these day's

I know a few who used to set up in the motel parking lots or where ever they could outside of the show to work their magic.

Jimbo

Jimbo

 

Got back about 2 hours ago and yea, there were a couple of pinstripers there. We always check in with Mr. OZ to see what he's up too. Also noticed not too many R@! Rods either.
All in all good show.

 

You may just be getting older. I find that as I get older the ladies are starting to look better. Not as much culling as in my younger years.

 

the one thing i noticed (which i dont know if it should worry me or not) but it looks as if murals are making a comeback i saw several there today i took pics of them for proof

and you know how you can tell we're in rough times? when venders start dropping thier prices BEFORE you say anything i had 2 do that to me today

 

Looked like the swap meet was way down on vendors.

 

With a price of $125 for a 9' x 20' space, no wonder they were down on vendors.

 

Thanks for starting the post as I did not make it this year. Always interested to hear how the swap meet area was and look forward to pictures.

 

Did any one see that Ratty Ass 33-34 in the swap for $10k?

 

so, no pics?

 

I saw it and it left me wondering what the .......

 

Ladies?

 

Yeah, there were ladies. Saw a few that looked like Prime Hogs wrestling under a blanket. Glad to see my Longroof made the event magazine. All in all we had a blast.

 

NSRA and other "participant oriented" organizations seem to not realize that you CAN price yourself right out of bussiness gouging their members and vendors......
as member #5302 -I left NSRA about 20 years back and have not lost anything as a result.....

 

I don't think a NSRA $30 event entrance fee and $30 a year membership fee is gouging. Other events charge double that.

 

NSRA and other "participant oriented" organizations seem to not realize that you CAN price yourself right out of bussiness gouging their members and vendors......
as member #5302 -I left NSRA about 20 years back and have not lost anything as a result.....
__________________

I agree with you!!!!! Back about 10 years ago they wanted almost $2,000 dollars for a pinstriper to apply his trade at their shows and then pray for 4 nice sunny day's in which to try and make their money back plus a profit.

Many vendors set up shop and have hundreds of products to sell but when your laying down lines is a very different story.

Not easy at those rates to keep prices reasonable to folks looking for a few nice lines on their hot rod.

I have seen people who wanted work done and when they were told $500.00 to $700.00 bucks and they walked away instead.

I don't blame the pinstrippers because they have a large nut to pay just to get in the door.

You can kill the golden goose if you try hard enough!!!!!!!!

Jimbo

 

You know that remark about 'hog's' is as bad as those wheels you run on that wagon.

 

I agree. Try a GG membership and event cost. NSRA is still the best national group for the $$.
On the electric carts : I hate to think we are all getting older and my buddy and I have sworn to shoot each other rather than go to an event and have to use a cart,but...... we're all headed down that road. AND some of us will make it !!!!

Heck, NSRA might even have to add a special parking area for us.

 

Try their vendor fees that is where the gouge is felt.....
I'm glad you like the Nats.

 

hrp

 

I think the geezer carts are on the rise at most big events now,they were all over at the Turkey run last year and they were even renting them. I will have to admit I thought about getting one to cruise the swapmeet area so I would not wear myself out since it looked like alot of able bodied people were using them.

 

1) a ton of "geezer carts" (electric rides so you don't have to walk)

As others have said above a lot of us who have been at this for a while are getting older and that may be the only way they can manage to get around the show and not crap out on us. My best friend just had back surgery and already has a pacemaker so if he wants to ride a geezer cart so be it.

2) several "Muscle Car" that were certainly worth a look (wish I had $25K to spare!)

When I went to my first NSRA street rod nationals in Tulsa in 1973 a 32 Ford was 41 years old. The 66 SS Chevelles that were at this years Nationals were 46 years old and a 71 Road Runner if there was one there was 41 years old. I'm not a fan of letting the later stuff in either but it's all a lot older than my 48 Chevy pickup was in 1973 when I caught flack at the back gate from a gate Natzi who said it was too new to be in the show. I pulled out my Texas Registration to show him that it was indeed a 48 and not the 53 he thought it was.


3) No "ricers" in sight
That works.

4) some very nice ladies to watch
There have always been some fine looking ladies at the nationals. You just have to look long enough. It may be that some of the gals we all took photos of in 1973 that looked hot then have the grandma look going now and their grand daughters are the hotties.


Hopefully some of those "Muscle car" folks will get converted to the older styles but getting some younger folks involved is good. I doubt that as most of the muscle car guys I know are hard core and a a lot closer to my age than my son's age. At the Vintiques NW nationals in Yakima this weekend it looked like a Northwest 66 SS Chevelle meet rather than a rod run.

 

HRP-----I'll go with Dale's #4---& dream!!

 

As a NSRA state rep, I don't want to sound biased, but you can't beat NSRA's prices. Go to a Goodguys event, and compare prices. You just can't beat the bang for the buck at NSRA events

 

I went to a great ATCA truck show / meet in Hudson Mass. today -- drove the rod, parked outside the field (it's not a truck!)... I'm not a member, just paid $5 to enter the show and see those great trucks.

Had a great time !!

 

Yup! Went to my first Good Guys in Nashville - $90.00 for the week end. The NSRA has hacked me off with the 30 year thing, should have been fixed year, 1963, would eliminate all the "muscle" cars that we see enough of during cruise ins and local shows! The other thing they do is give the Safety 21 big press and little real teath. I firmly believe if we don't police our selves some one else will do it for us and we will most likely not be happy with the results.

Bill, NSRA #815

 

as far as the "geaser" carts go i saw a kid who couldnt have been 14 years old riding one he was standing up on it like i guess mommy and daddy deep pockets thought it was a good idea .........this was one of the rent me carts

and im a member of both goodguys and nsra and for me speaking for myself i get FAR MORE out of goodguys

just one little comparo goodguys gives you a 5 dollar off coupon for a spectator entry in every gazzette i got 2 dollars off of my spectator entry yesterday