Mesa Arizona

[EZ Nova]

Any of the members know if there is any cruise nights or cars shows during March? Heading down to visit mom for the week from March 14th to the 21st.

2 yr old son LOVES cars and is car crazy so he would get a kick out of a cruise night too.

Thanks, John

[Xplantdad]

Yes there are. I will get with my friend Bill Waters as he goes to a bunch~!

[EZ Nova]

GREAT, Thank you

[Burd]

How is Steve’s Pontiac Heaven doing since they moved the event and the time of year, I’d like to come out this year and check it out?

[X66 714]

March 14th is the VCCA swap meet @ Glendale college. March 20th is the start of Goodguys show @ Westworld of Scottsdale. Every Saturday is a car show at the pavilions....Joe

[x33rs]

Yep there is car stuff year round here in Arizona, every weekend somewhere.

I like that Pavs that was mentioned, and isn't too far from Mesa. That's every Saturday night and probably the biggest cruise in the state, and touted as biggest in the country, also the longest running (25 years??)

There are other weekly cruises all over town but Phoenix is a big town and things are spread out.

March 15th is the BOP car show at the Pavilions, which is a Sunday, and as already mentioned March 19-21st is the Goodguys Spring meet in Scottsdale at Westworld, which my father and I have already registered for. That particular Saturday night would be a good night for the Pavilions cruise because a lot of the Goodguys participants end up over there late in the evening. We usually cruise over there after Goodguys for a bite to eat before heading back up the mountain.

[x33rs]

How is Steve’s Pontiac Heaven doing since they moved the event and the time of year, I’d like to come out this year and check it out?

It's....I would say.....okay for the locals but on the lack luster side for someone that wants to travel to the event, you might be disappointed.

Pretty much ever since Speedworld closed and it had to be moved to WildHorse Pass, the attendance has suffered. Speedworld was more accommodating being more of a mom and pop track so Steve could hold the event early in the year. Wild Horse on the other hand is a big NHRA track shared with Bondurant driving school and road course so weekends are limited. Pontiac Heaven got moved to November.

It's been this way however for quite a few years now so I had hoped time would eventually bring people back but attendance has never returned.

The last 2 events in a row we didn't have enough participants to run the money class so a refund was given to me and everyone put in the trophy class. We usually end up with about 12-15 cars racing, and maybe 30-ish cars over in the car show display. That's about it.

On the bright side I kind of enjoy the light turnout because the track is open all day, as many test passes as I like before eliminations, so I really get a chance to dial the car in and have some fun, with no line and no waiting in the staging lanes. I ended up winning the whole event last November. Drove my Firebird down 120 miles, raced all day and drove home. Dad was having some fun trying to dial his car in, still working out gremlins for him but he did somehow make it to semi finals.

Here's some video I shot, and as you can see it's not like it's crowded.... I still go every year regardless, simply because I like racing more than sitting somewhere with the car, and it's more like a test session for me with all the passes I care to make. If you're into all makes and models, like I am, Saturday is the "Muscle Car" day and a better turn out. I usually take a Chevrolet down to race on Saturday but don't get nearly the passes in that I do on Sunday when it's "Pontiac" only.

https://youtu.be/YK_20knn8kw

https://youtu.be/ieSA1G-h63c

https://youtu.be/XqEydRRRwqE

https://youtu.be/er1z7PpqsnY

[RPOLS3]

To hijack this thread slightly - how about Tucson the weekend of 3/28?


Thanks

[X66 714]

I have nothing for that date...Joe

[EZ Nova]

Ok will have to see what's around closer to the Mesa area. Landing Saturday the 14th about 4:30pm so can't do anything that Saturday. Flying out at 10:45 Saturday the 21st, so that Saturdays out. Maybe be able to hit Goodguys Friday the 20th.

Also thru the week evening cruise stuff around? My Mother and Father in-law are also coming down to check out the area to see if they want to start going. My parents bought their first place in Mesa back in 2000. Nice 3 bedroom house that backs onto a golf course. Sold that place a yr later and moved into a trailer park. Always thought the trailer parks were a little "hick-ish"??? Well the one guy has an "just slightly larger then average" farm in Alberta, just over 25 sq miles!!!! Has 2 2016 Corvettes that he keeps there. His convert and wife hard-top. And they fly down on there private jet. Not to shabby for a trailer!!!!!

[Charley Lillard]

https://www.mecum.com/auctions/glendale-2020/lots/featured/

[x33rs]

Might want to browse through these links. Websites for Arizona car shows and cruise inns.

http://www.arizonacarshows.com/carshows.htm

https://cruisinarizona.com/carshows.html

http://arizonaautoscene.com/events

Nearly any night of the week there is a little cruise some where.

[Xplantdad]

Hi John, Here's what my friend Bill says-as he winters in Mesa (he's from Canada as well, eh!)


Friday starting 2 pm the Denny's parking lot on Apache Trail / Main st at Signal Butte



Sat 3 pm on Power and Hampton in Target lot



Sunday- Raging Bull Restaurant on Power Just south of Main. Not Mesa, but. Close


Sunday am Fountain Hills at Phil's diner 11am



I will PM you his number....he said you could call him with any questions

[EZ Nova]

Thanks, got it. Talked to the wife and looks like we might be hitting the Goodguys show on the Friday morning.

[Burd]

One year during the Auto Show, Good Guys had a huge show at West World, the BJ site, it was a nice show. ( thanksgiving)
Noticed it driving out to Cave Creek to get Cigars.
One year, we all went junk yarding out there, talk about some good junk yards, Mr Pischke was giving me the scoop which ones to go to,
Used to bump into Him at Grapevines at happy hour. He had a good restaurant in old town.

[markinnaples]

Wow, the number of car-related activities and options is awesome.
Wish it was like that where I live, dang.

[x33rs]

Burd, Goodguys now has 2 events a year in Arizona, both at Westworld (same location of BJ) They always had the November event you mentioned, which seems to be one of the bigger Goodguy events since it's the end of the year and everyone scrambling for points I suppose.

I guess it got so big they added a second Goodguys about 10 years ago in the Spring (weekend of March 20th this year)

Even the Spring event has steadily been growing. I pre-registered about 2 months ago and I was #600-something. Dad registered 3 weeks ago and his number was considerably higher. I read they are expecting over 2,000 cars again this spring.

[x33rs]

Thanks, got it. Talked to the wife and looks like we might be hitting the Goodguys show on the Friday morning.

Put on your walking shoes, it's a large facility :biggthumpup: Friday is the best day to scope out the swap meet and find the deals before they are gone.

Weather is warming up too. 80's this weekend in Phoenix.

[EZ Nova]

YES been to Westworld for Bj a few times. Moms been there since October but came home end of January for 2 weeks for my son's 2nd birthday. Glad it's starting to warm up, but really, we can't complain about this winter in SW Ontario really.

[Burd]

One year out there we got lost in Tempe, I saw this huge GM whse. I stopped in with my parts list I carry, lol
The guy filled a me up abox of old nos stuff. I walked out to My car and my wife at the time says, you spent how much. Man, I miss her.

[x33rs]

Just thought I'd pass this along.

I just got notices, the Goodguys spring event in Scottsdale has been cancelled due to the beer virus.

Also McDonalds has postponed all future Saturday night cruises until further notice.

I guess that kills their on going record for the longest continual cruise.

[EZ Nova]

I'm NOT heading down to Mesa today. We cancelled the trip as we have been informed NOT MATTER WHAT that IF we left the country to go ANYWHERE outside of Canada, our daycare will NOT take the child back in for 14 BUSINESS days to be safe. Wife is not off for 3 weeks March breach as he is a high school machine shop/welding teacher (actually RED seal, inter-provincial Mold Maker by trade).

So for piece of mind, we cancelled our flights with Southwest. Issue is, now they will keep our $$$$ and we have a credit that expires SEPT 2020????? We only get 6 months to us the $$$$ or it's lost.

[NorCam]

At least you have a credit that you can use. Maybe this all blows over in 3/4 months and you can rebook before Sept. Or use it to fly somewhere else. Win win?

[Burd]

Just cancelled trip to Florida this Tuesday because of the Bud Light Virus. Everything is closed we were going to see. So lost 900$ in flights. Oh well.
My cars and. Offer still will be on in may.

[x33rs]

Well at least the drag strip is still open. I'm heading down there tonight for some test and tune practice.