Advice for a MCACN rookie

[goernie28]

I'm planning to make my first pilgrimage to the Nationals this year. I already have a hotel booked. What else do I need to know? Secret handshake? Is a day enough to see everything? What about practicalities like food at the site?

[bashton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: goernie28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm planning to make my first pilgrimage to the Nationals this year. I already have a hotel booked. What else do I need to know? Secret handshake? Is a day enough to see everything? What about practicalities like food at the site? </div></div>

Great to hear you will be joining us! First and foremost, NO...one day is <span style="font-style: italic">not enough!</span> <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

Seriously, wear comfortable shoes, allow plenty of time, talk to the owners and caretakers and have fun.

And start early, as we kick off into our Official Unveilings at 9:30 am Saturday morning and we have a bunch of them this year running every 15 minutes for several hours.

OK MCACN veterans....let's hear the suggestions!

Bashton

[Canuck]

This will be your first of many future trips to MCACN. I have been going regularly since 2010
Got your Airfare and Hotel, shuttles from O'Hare to Rosemont Hotels run regularly.
L line to downtown just a few blocks away. Chicago has Uber which helps getting around.
Hotels like, Doubletree, Embassy and the Hyatt are just across the street and all have good restaurants.
Gibsons at the Doubletree is MCACN hangout central, careful here though most people will be talking cars!
Starbucks are on site at the convention center and it also has a cafeteria, not gourmet but fuel to keep you going if you don't want to leave the site.
There is entertainment on Saturday night at the show as well as some off site activities by invite if you make the connections.
Bring a camera and don't be shy.
Members from this site have worn name badges in the past with their SYC handle for easy identification.
Paul

[tabooo]

Thanks Paul you said it very well, I know they will enjoy the MCACN gathering along with the Chicagoland entertainment &quot;IT's The Greatest Car Show On Earth&quot;.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Welcome.

2 days is not near enough time:-)

Comfy shoes!!!!

I am an uber shy guy (I am pretty chatty on sYc) but I force myself to walk up to people and talk about their cars........... sounds ridiculous but I get very nervous talking to new people. My recommendation is to shake hands with the owners of the cars you love the most. Making connections with other like minded people is more fun that the cars themselves.

Ryan

[Postsedan]

Come by the &quot;Day2 Showcase&quot; and say hello.....I will be happy to shake your hand <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif

Dan

[goernie28]

I agree. I'm the same way. I'll be glad to meet you.

[A12pilot]

Oh man....what kind of loaded question is that??? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif OK, I may have to comment, so you might want to pull up a chair. Where to start. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif First off, I'm a MCACN regular (only been three times) so I know a thing or two about this show! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif But in all seriousness, welcome to your new annual November pilgrimage!!!! You'll be hooked. OK, so what to bring.... Shoes? Two pair. The first one will be worn out in say, oh, about three hours. Camera? Yep, and maybe mount a Go-Pro on your head too. What about resolution settings? I chose somehwere between Hugongous and Ginormic to capture things on the cellular level. Memory cards of at LEAST 9 Bagigbytes, of which I carry seventeen. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

But seriously, this is such a cool show!!! Behind all the hotels are some restaurants like the Hofbrau House, an Irish Pub, and a few others. Gibson's Steak House as alrewady mentioned, is right there in walking distance too. There is a shuttle that runs in a loop and will take you to the outlet mall for free from the convention center. Giordano's delivers to the hotels for the best pizza around!

Welcome to the show and see you next year...and the year after that...and after that.... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

Cheers <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[bashton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: A12pilot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Oh man....what kind of loaded question is that??? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif OK, I may have to comment, so you might want to pull up a chair. Where to start. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif First off, I'm a MCACN regular (only been three times) so I know a thing or two about this show! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif But in all seriousness, welcome to your new annual November pilgrimage!!!! You'll be hooked. OK, so what to bring.... Shoes? Two pair. The first one will be worn out in say, oh, about three hours. Camera? Yep, and maybe mount a Go-Pro on your head too. What about resolution settings? I chose somehwere between Hugongous and Ginormic to capture things on the cellular level. Memory cards of at LEAST 9 Bagigbytes, of which I carry seventeen. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

But seriously, this is such a cool show!!! Behind all the hotels are some restaurants like the Hofbrau House, an Irish Pub, and a few others. Gibson's Steak House as alrewady mentioned, is right there in walking distance too. There is a shuttle that runs in a loop and will take you to the outlet mall for free from the convention center. Giordano's delivers to the hotels for the best pizza around!

Welcome to the show and see you next year...and the year after that...and after that.... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

Cheers <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif </div></div>

And if you are nice to Mr. A12 Pilot, you may be able to get a pic with your favorite car and a certain lovely lady... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

Bashton

[69hurstSC]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: goernie28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm planning to make my first pilgrimage to the Nationals this year. I already have a hotel booked. What else do I need to know? Secret handshake? Is a day enough to see everything? What about practicalities like food at the site? </div></div>

Maybe the only drawback you'll have is eating convention center food. However, there are a myriad of restaurants in walking distance.

Is the Yenko.net name tag system still in play?

[mockingbird812]

I guess it's an O.K. show...... if you define &quot;O.K.&quot; as the <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 26pt">BEST </span></span></span></span>Muscle Car show on earth!!!! Stand by to be saturated and overwhelmed by the best examples of all things muscle cars (I guess Corvettes too <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif ). Pace yourself, keep well hydrated, have fun!!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[goernie28]

I hope so. I'd like to meet some of you at the show.

[mockingbird812]

FWIW, an &quot;okay' three-wire in Navy parlance is the top score for an aviator trapping his aircraft on the flight deck of a aircraft carrier! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

[bashton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: goernie28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm planning to make my first pilgrimage to the Nationals this year. I already have a hotel booked. What else do I need to know? Secret handshake? Is a day enough to see everything? What about practicalities like food at the site? </div></div>

Maybe the only drawback you'll have is eating convention center food. However, there are a myriad of restaurants in walking distance.

Is the Yenko.net name tag system still in play? </div></div>

I dunno..the Expoteria which is attached to the &quot;big&quot; room at the very back, (behind the South Oak Chrysler/Dodge trailer) has excellent food and they change their specials daily. Actual home style meals and the prices aren't too bad, especially considering it is a major city convention center. They also have breakfast specials.

Bashton

[Charley Lillard]

They also have plenty of seating back there if you want to take a break.

[seventieshow]

If you can stay late on Sunday while the cars are moving out. It is something to see and hear. It is a great show. All day both days is best. I have a room but I am still working toward getting time off work but I hope to be there. You won't be disappointed.

[goernie28]

Thanks everyone. I'm really getting excited. The way the schedule and the budget are working out, I'll only have Saturday at the show, but I should be there all day. It sounds like it's going to be a great time.

[bashton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: goernie28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks everyone. I'm really getting excited. The way the schedule and the budget are working out, I'll only have Saturday at the show, but I should be there all day. It sounds like it's going to be a great time. </div></div>

Do your best to be there when the show opens to catch the Official Unveilings. The lineup this year is pretty incredibly amazingly awesome to say the least, regardless of what brand you lean toward.

Bashton

[goernie28]

I had a great time. I caught a couple of the unveilings, namely the black Cougar Eliminator Boss 302. My wife and I spent the day there, and had a few conversations with some very cool people. The cars were fantastic, and there were several I'd never seen before. Biggest lesson from the inaugural trip: NEVER take I-94 through Chicago on Friday afternoon. Otherwise, it was a fantastic show and I hope to return next year.

[Pat_Dilling]

It was an amazing show, as great as my expectations were, it exceeded them. Not only were the cars, features, displays and vendors amazing, one of the best parts for me, was meeting people in person that I only knew on-line before; and I met a bunch of them through SYC, 2DoorPost, SS427 and Studebaker Drivers Club. It was not an insignificant journey from the West Coast, but well worth it. I will be back, if not next year, surely in 2018 for the Class of '68

Well done Bob Ashton and crew.

Pat

[Mr70]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: goernie28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...Biggest lesson from the inaugural trip: NEVER take I-94 through Chicago on Friday afternoon. Otherwise, it was a fantastic show and I hope to return next year. </div></div>

That's Illinois 101. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smirk.gif