Bloomington Gold

[Joe R.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

When Bloomington Gold was in Springfield it was always my best meet of the year. Great sales and even greater purchases! AND Springfield didn't even know we were there unlike other towns who gouge us for rooms and only care if their restaurants are full every night. The only town that has opened it's arms to us has been Kissimmee, FL. Again they don't even know we're there or were there!

JR

PS. And don't forget the great state of PA and their friendly tax collectors!!!!!!!! I haven't set foot in PA for the last two years and they still want me to pay the sales tax on vaporware!!!!!

[George W.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

I hope Guy gets it worked out for BG to stay in Champaign, I liked it except for the construction and there seems to be construction everywhere I/we go. Remember there was construction in St.Charles.

[Donald O.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Some miscellaneous disjointed ramblings....

I sure did enjoy the show at the McLean County Fairgrounds, even when it near 105F in 1988.
To me, Springfield was the beginning of the end, much smaller venue, better Corvette parking though. The return to Bloomington at a different site was also smaller and it had gotten smaller each year in St. Charles. The people (vendors) that would clean out the garage of parts just kept getting fewer and the repop vendors got larger.
The cause? maybe e-bay or Craigs list has done in the auto swap meets. Even Carlisle is getting a bit smaller every year. Are the C1, C2 and C3 owners and restorers getting older, grayer, fatter, less mobile....yes, is that the reason? Even the NCRS with its list of 60k members only has about 15k active still paying dues? Has the hobbyist for Corvettes become a member of the silk underwear crown like the Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches, etc?

Unfortunately I don't think that there is a cure for the downhill slides, we all see the symptoms and the direction the results are headed.

Just my $.02

DonO

[Michael F.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Alan I agree with you and others and being in the 60+ crowd I remember the "good ole days" but tit is my hope bloomington and carlisle will survive and prosper and entice younger members to pick up the old car love and hobby, only time will tell.

[Mark H.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

I hope the organizers are able to make it work and continue. My buddies and I have only missed two Bloomington Gold events since it started in what, 72 or 73? We are traditionalists and liked the show in Bloomington/Normal. Lots of great memories there.

[Joe R.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Lets face the facts! We have lived thru an era and it is coming to an end. As far as vendors it all started with the C5 crowd. Only thing they want is a Hat, a Mat and a T-shirt!! I ain't driving 2000 miles, get screwed on room rates, and then pay the sales tax for those people.
The era of the vendors like Mike Pillsbury and the jokesters like Pearman and Clement are gone!!!!!!!

And yes, there is a tear in my eye!!!!!

JR

PS. I'm not putting down C-5 owners (drivers) as I have owned one myself and drive a C-4 everyday.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

I agree with the sentiments posted here. Bloomington was the best in the day. The Corvettes & parts were a hobby & we were all young times were good. I will never forget the parked Corvettes as far as the eye could see , burn outs & partying outside the Holiday Inn. It was the highlight of my year.

[James W.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

I remember the original Bloomington for the first time when I was 11 years old back in 1974. I started going with my dad how was a Corvette "hobbyist", getting up before the sun, grab breakfast and then heading to the fairgrounds and sitting in the livestock barns with our parts for sale. That's part of what got and kept my interest in Corvettes. I was fortunate enough to attend the last real Bloomington in I think it was in 2001, the same but different even then. I attended the first event at Pheasant Run and it just wasn't the same. I walked the used parts area in less than a half day. I‘ve been to Corvettes at Carlisle twice within the last 10 years. I am now 51 and my son is going on 12 and would like to take him to Corvettes at Carlisle sometime so he can see kind of how it used to be.

I agree with the sentiments posted here. Bloomington was the best in the day. The Corvettes & parts were a hobby & we were all young times were good. I will never forget the parked Corvettes as far as the eye could see , burn outs & parting outside the Holiday Inn. It was the highlight of my year.

[Alan S.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Hi,
My best Bloomington memory has to be L-88 display in 1988.
I still remember that sound and even take a look at the t-shirt on occasion.
It's the only t-shirt I ever bought. I was pretty sure I'd seen something special.
It's hard to believe how many years ago that was. We thought we were pretty old and now realize we were pretty young!
Regards,
Alan

[Reba W.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Ah, yes, I remember that one well, Alan. Our white convertible was in the center of the L88 photo with a slimmer version of Dick standing beside it. Really hard to believe it has been over a quarter century ago. I believe that was also the year of the tremendous heat or one of them.

[Donald O.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Ah, yes, I remember that one well, Alan. Our white convertible was in the center of the L88 photo with a slimmer version of Dick standing beside it. Really hard to believe it has been over a quarter century ago. I believe that was also the year of the tremendous heat or one of them.

Reba, that was the year of the heat.....and the drought.
I think BG called itself "Earthquake 88" that year. Still have the t-shirt, although somehow over the years it shrunk and I can no longer wear it. Tell Dickie Happy Birthday for me.

DonO

[Steve B.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Lets all try to support Guy and keep the memories alive. I for one am not ready to give it up. I value both my NCRS and Bloomington Gold participation as I am sure all of you do.

I agree 100% I sincerely hope that there are still many more memories to be made at Bloomington Gold.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Reba, that was the year of the heat.....and the drought.
I think BG called itself "Earthquake 88" that year. Still have the t-shirt, although somehow over the years it shrunk and I can no longer wear it. Tell Dickie Happy Birthday for me.

DonO

It was HOT & dusty. I sold a 65 conv. & had to stick around to get my money. Kathy & I dam near died getting back to the Holiday Inn carrying all out stuff. You could have planted corn in all the dirt that came off in the shower. I have the shirt also. I think Bill Stephenson made a killing that year. Also remember the year before that one day we almost froze to death.

[Reba W.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

It was HOT & dusty. I sold a 65 conv. & had to stick around to get my money. Kathy & I dam near died getting back to the Holiday Inn carrying all out stuff. You could have planted corn in all the dirt that came off in the shower. I have the shirt also. I think Bill Stephenson made a killing that year. Also remember the year before that one day we almost froze to death.

I remember that temperature contrast also, Ken. One of our helpers had packed only shorts. I went to the mall across from the fairgrounds and bought a jacket. Stephenson brought very few sweatshirts that year but could have made a killing if he had had them.

[Gene M.]

Re: Bloomington Gold

Guys,
There are many issues that are contributing to the vintage Corvette hobby demise. One, the age of the people who love them is closer and closer to pushing up daisies. Two, our numbers year after year become fewer (because of #1). Three, the cost $ of the cars has sky rocketed (not to mention the whole does not equal the sum of the parts). Four, the cost $ of the meets car registration, trailer parking, travel, & hotels has become a major burden. Five, younger people have no interest since that was not their generation of cars. Six, Many do not agree with the judging criteria (allowing stampers, base/clear paint, repop China parts). Seven, been there done that.

Plus I'm sure there are other reasons the hobby is a depressed state of growth. We need to face times change and interests change with them. After all how many wood wagon clubs exist and draw new membership? Many if not all of our vintage Corvettes fall far short in performance compared to any new Mustang, or even some 4 door sedans. So interest from that side is also limited. Thus the resto mod creations have taken off which is converse of NCRS, and Bloomington backbone.