kirban 2 cents worth
Most of you that have been upset about the date reside in NC. I don't see a problem unless Halloween is a 2 day holiday. The event is 100% free. It is not based on needing huge crowds to be successful.
I am not going to go into details as to why this date works the best. One reason it has been put off this long is because it almost was decided not to happen at all.
Please understand that Halloween is a problem for people that have children. I am one of those people and I don't want to buy into the image that our Buicks are Grandpa cars and think that I am in the minority on that issue. It may have been a while since you have had to deal with trick-or-treating but it is an early evening event in the Carolinas. Most townships have curfews on Halloween so the idea presented earlier about attending then going trick-or-treating means that one would not be able to attend a whole day at the event.
As far as it only being the residents of North Carolina that are unhappy with the date I think it is more likely that we are the ones that are most vocal about it. But just because we live in NC doesn't mean that we are local to Richard's place. Yes some of us are lucky enough to be able to casually visit Mr. Clark but I am not one of them.
I do have a secret that I must confess. I'm poor. As a member of the less than affluent class of citizens, I cannot afford to attend the national meets. I've never been to BG or Reynolds. I can't afford to waste the money for a motel or even to take the time off of work to go to an out-of-state, multi-day event. That is why I am excited about getting to go to RC's. It is close enough that I can drive, spend the day, and come home. Now I'm having to decide if a four hour round trip for just a half day is worth it. The ones planning on coming from far away probably were not going to do Halloween anyway so why would they complain. The distant ones that are doing Halloween are probably like, "Oh well, I can't go" and they have two other events right there to choose from as well.
Maybe we are spoiled. After all it did start as a GM Turbo-6 group meet. Granted it has taken on a life of it's own and became much larger than our little internet group, but it still has it's roots here so it strikes a pang when we perceive that it's heritage is being ignored. Sort of like Nascar in Tokyo, something just doesn't seem right. After all, even Clint has backed away.
Yes, it's great that Big Daddy Don is going to be there and I would love to meet him but he is not the reason I want to attend. I want to attend because I love these cars and I love my little internet family. I would much rather have a full day of these cars and my friends than a half day of BDD. (Speaking of BDD. What does he have to do with turbo Buicks? I know he is a legend among drag racers but there's not even going to be any track time at this event.
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That being said and all things all. We really do appreciate the work that it takes to put on an event like this and we thank you but please don't belittle us because we voice our opinions and don't act like because it's a free event, attendance doesn't matter either. The larger the crowd the more money vendors make. The more they make the more they want to be there next time.
Bottom line is, if I make it I make it, if I don't then, oh well. Maybe next time, if there is a next time. If not I will just have to be satisfied with our little monthly GM Turbo-6 meets.
