Re: Important NATS '08 Information
Syclone#1992 said:
Well, with out getting everyone all riled up, I really think there has to be some thought put into this event.
- The main problem is location, from what I heard and who I talked to at Homecoming, we need to put serious thought into the location of this event. Everyones backyard is a good thought, but the people planning the event NEED to be somewhat close or have people in the area helping.
- On the thought of location, why not Bowling Green or somewhere in between Michigan and Florida. I think Jeff Scott rented Bowling Green out before, maybe he could give us some insight on the track and facilities! How nice would it be to have Homecoming in the Spring, NATS near the end of summer, and Shindig in November (where its warm)? Thats three centrally located events.
- We have to center this around where the trucks are, the trucks are getting older now, many don't run and many have high mileage. We have to find out where most of the trucks are located (East coast, Florida, and Midwest seems to be where most of the interested parties live. \
- Another fact is that we as a community need to get on the same page. PERIOD. We need to establish a committee that stays dedicated to these trucks and handles the money! Lots of this stuff has to do with funding! We need to fund raise, get sponsers, donations and get on the same page money wise, so registration and turn out is decent, and we can get people to come. Wouldn't it be nice to pre-pay a car hauler for the Florida or East coast guys to get the trucks in one place? Lets establish a fund, to make this stuff happen. We all need to step up to the plate or these trucks will be a dying cause.
- I am willing to help out, as I am sure many others are too. Since NATS isn't happening, I hope most people will seriously consider going to Homecoming 2008! Maybe there we can have a meeting of the minds, to throw some ideas and start to plan NATS 2009!
Any thoughts?
...It will be interesting to see how this thread proceeds, since discussions on this topic always invokes a lot of emotion.
In some ways the committee has to do "whats best" and avoid the temptation to please all the members subscribed,
past attendees, newbies, and self-interest groups.
Not saying it can't be done (as demonstrated by the Homecoming Event), but it will take
some creative-new-thinkers with "spirit".
Example:
-While racing at a track is always desired, very few fast trucks actually attend/participate.
Encouraging owners to bring-out their rides (in all various states) to view is really desired,
as variety is just as important as quality and quanity. Even it it means engines-on-stands.
-While SyTy racing has been desired, entertaining "other" camps (buicks, Lightnings, Dodges, S10s)
may draw larger attendance, magazines, revenue, interest, and non-SyTy
vendors who might "expand their offerings to include our trucks".
-While outside vendor interest dwindles (magazine, new vendors, resale vehicle value) the
right emphasis by the Nat's Commitee could turn this tide around.
But it may mean "piggybacking" on bigger events such as power tour, hot rod drag week,
car craft nationals, or such.
-Sometimes the "little" details become extremely important - such as communicating
the event, publishing the event details in advance, early registration, pre-registrating and
advertising a number of "draw vehicles", and such for vacation schedules/hotel booking.
-Nightime activities are important to this group, whether it means late time
parking lot mischief, cruising events, street drags, outdoor slide shows, or such.
-Traveling is a big part of attending, therefore caravans, regional coordinators,
routes, and communication (walkie talkies, radios, internet access/tracking, etc)
are great to encourage enthusiam to participating regional/local SyTy groups. Of course
GM participation, and truck transporation services help tremendously.
-Documenting the event is important, both daily (via internet), taking pictures
(of people and trucks), long-term (to preserve, and to display examples of),
and to foster a real involvement (individually, from all-range levels of expertise, and
from significant others). Video/dvds is always welcome as well as future calendar pics.
More could be done with the Truck-of-the-Month segment (often called "featured
vehicle" on sponsor websites).
-A certain amount of Policing is desired by the committee (to eliminate
over-zealous competition, potential harm to trucks/individuals, security/theft).
It also includes caravaning to/from hotel, tracks, restaurants, and dyno testing facilities.
But it may involve resolving disputes (such as unappropriate marketing,
raffle dispute resolution, disallowing non-SyTy owners from shine-n-show, etc).
-And lastly, this site has its "favorites" which encourages event participation
(whether its knowledgeable members, or individuals that are most widely known,
or trucks that have obtained a mythical status, or trucks/owners that bring a
unique approach or personal-professional touch). Attendance by these
people/trucks is important to "validate the feeling" of a once-in-a-lifetime experience
requiring attendance (and perhaps a individual sacrifice).
I actually think there is a "place" for inviting "old-timers" which have fadded on
this sight but still have a login id. But then again, Im a certified crazy person.
...sorry for long posting
-Larry Brown