CARLISLE GM NATS NEEDS WORK!!!!

[Fast67VelleN2O]

I have been going to the GM nationals since the first year of the show, and EVERY year the show gets worse..... LESS and LESS vendors, less spectators, more expensive entrance fees and spaces, and the security patrol people SUCK. Ford and Mopar nats have it ALL OVER the GM show... if they want to save the nats they should lower prices and not give vendors a hard time for NOT having a sticker on their trailer, or the car on their trailer. Either way, that was my rant. I wouldn't mind hearing anyone elses opinions on the matter.

Matt

[Paul D]

Speaking from an attendee's point of view (not a vendor)I think it's a great show. I'm here at Carlisle right now and have had a great time. It cost me $35 to park my Motor Home right next to the show field and another $30 for a three day admission.

They announced this morning that there are over 300 more show cars registered than last year, and have seen some great surviver Camaros.

The new Camaro's here, as are several GM execs giving seminars.

So from a spectator point of view it's been fun, but I can't speak about the way the vendor's are treated....but I've found several things to buy!

[Supercar_Kid]

I hear what Matt's saying...I've also been at every GM Carlisle since it's inception (as both a spectator and a vendor) but there does seem to be fewer vendors here this year. The security folks did give us a hard time about parking our tow vehicles behind the orange fence that surrounds our spaces, but it wasn't anything that we couldn't talk ourselves out of. The folks at Carlisle always put on a great show and when you consider the fact that the swap area is ALL GM stuff it doesn't bother you so much that it's not as big as what you might have hoped, since all the Ford and Mopar stuff has already been filtered out for you. As a kid who's literally grown up at Carisle...I haven't missed a Spring or Fall show since 1986, when I was 7 years old...I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be this weekend. I think the diminishing vendors can be attributed to the simple fact that there aren't that many old parts around anymore to swap amoung one another. With each car that gets completed there's just that many fewer original parts to go around for the next guy...and remember this is PA where there hasn't been much left of original cars for years. Seeing the number of outstanding restos on the grounds ,it doesn't take long for it to start sinking in where all the good stuff has disappeared to. Less parts or not, hearing that Carlisle Productions has signed a 99 year lease deal on their current property is peace of mind enough for me to know that there will be shows/swaps of some incarniation at this location for MANY years to come. Win, lose, or draw...you gotta come to Carlisle.

[427king]

If you are looking to view nice cars, and buy new repro parts its a good place to go. If you are either a vendor or an enthusiast who wishes to go and buy used rare chevy parts, you are better off staying home.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Sorry i did not specify... The VENDOR area is what needs help. GM covers BOP, Cadillac, Chevy, etc and there was hardly any vendors there. Ford covers Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and that placed is PACKED!!! I brought GOOD stuff priced right. BU 68 Camaro rear, nice consoles, 10 bolt posis, factory tach dashes, carbs, intakes, bucket seats etc PRICED WAY UNDER. I am willing to give up ebay for one week in order to cater to the Carlsle crowd. GM is the most popular brand to restore out there... I do not see why there wouldnt be more people there. Maybe i am just living in the old days of Carlisle???? Every person that i spoke with this weekend while i was selling said that the entrance fee is too expensive, also WHY didnt they cut the grass for us vendors? Its the little things that keeps a vendor there.

[427king]

I imagine that if most people were complaining about the entrance fee,they werent there to spend much money.

[budnate]

Matt..I dont think it has anything to do with the event or your stuff...money is tight for joe average I think, lots of stuff for sale locally hear that normally would sell fast or within a week and no takers on most of it...I also have noticed some pretty nice cars at attractive prices from spring till now not moving very fast either on the net and local machines, just my observation over the last few months..kinda thought things would have picked up by now but seems like we are stuck in a holding pattern.

[agtw31]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been going to the GM nationals since the first year of the show, and EVERY year the show gets worse..... LESS and LESS vendors, less spectators, more expensive entrance fees and spaces, and the security patrol people SUCK. Ford and Mopar nats have it ALL OVER the GM show... if they want to save the nats they should lower prices and not give vendors a hard time for NOT having a sticker on their trailer, or the car on their trailer. Either way, that was my rant. I wouldn't mind hearing anyone elses opinions on the matter.

Matt

[/ QUOTE ]

i give carlisle another 5 years,and it will be toast.

the internet has killed the swap meet.

[MYSTERYCHEVELLE]

What about the Chevelle Show field? The GM nats seems to do a nice job treating the Camaro folks and some others but my fellow chevelle owners continue to repeat that the Chevelles get poor classing, poor at best judging... I took my 66 to the GM Nats once and was so very disappointed that felt it was not going to be worth it to bring it back again.. to put my car in with a 66/67 SS with multiple mods under the hood was just silly.. again, I think the show treats many others well.. and I realize the Camaros have their national Judges, etc there and Chevelles do not have a venue for this.., so that makes sense... but it would be nice to bring a top shelf Chevelle to the GM Nationals and feel like it was going to get Judged properly... as for vendor related issues, I can't comment.

Mike Crown

[JRSully]

Concerning Chevelles, I feel that the ACES group controls them quite a bit and has many regional shows that draw nicely. As far as parts/vendors, I tell everybody (Spring Carlisle) that if you are not there on opening day on Wed, everything is gone (parts that are rare and/or reasonably priced). People basically go through the sellers pick up as he pulls into the fairgrounds. Internet has definitely taken a huge chunk of the business, why incur the cost of dragging it to a swapmeet when you can put it on the internet, and get top dollar even if you don't know what it is or what it is worth. My 2 cents