Lake Land Regional Meet

[Joe R.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Here's an idea!!!!!

All the people that don't like something at Lakeland can either volunteer to help fix the situation by volunteering their time or just stay at home and provide the perfect Regional in their area!!!!

Try that one on!

Anyone like to volunteer????????

JR

[Tom A.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Tyler,
You Florida chapter guys are fantastic! I'll follow you where ever you go. You always put on a great show.

[Larry E.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Number of cars WAY down!!!!!!! Only 32 registered judged cars when typically we see on north side of 50. This organization needs to get energized NOW.

FWIW: Until they start reducing(time wise) these events will keep going down in the number of cars to get registered. Hope Common Sense takes hold sooner then later. JMHO >Larry

[Harmon C.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

I understand their were 19 cars that were to be judged that were no shows. This alone cut down the turnout. Lakeland is great for the car owners being judged so my vote is for Lakeland.

[Kevin G.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

What do you boys think about this? Not intending on hurting any feelings.....

The NCRS membership is and always was a very small percentage of Corvette owners. The core group is growing older and getting smaller everyday. Witnesses by the consistent sticky posts relaying who has just passed, (might be a good time to bring the Memorandom page ttt?). There really aren't that many entry Corvette owners that could give two hoots about the passion most of us here have, as far as matching this or the correctness of that...Of course the old NCRS "snob stigma" has been an ongoing problem. Then we have the whole RestoMod arena to compete with....

This is all compounded by an economy that has everyone spending less on extra curricular activities. All the arts have shared the decline....Some paintings I purchased years ago are worth 15% of their previous value.

If you disagree your mind and or eyes are not completely open. The days of 90+ cars being judged at a regional, are now what I consider, the good old days. Sorry boys, I'll have a hard time being convinced they will ever return. Perhaps a "Ronald Regan" figure could spur a temporary surge?

It might be in the best interest to concentrate more toward quality of the meets, rather than quantity. As often learned, nothing lasts forever.

You can argue this or that, the membership numbers are higher than ever, blah ,blah. Truth is posted above, it's right in front of our faces. I once heard a prominent member here say, who cares about bringing in new younger members, it's been tried and tested. Not much help...

I say, CHEERS to the Good old Days! They were a blast, glad I was able to spend a few of them with you boys and girls.

[Steve G.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Speaking as someone who traveled significantly to get there the last 3 years, its easy to see the Old Town vs Lakeland arguments. There's legitimate advantages on both sides. If I were judging or being judged, wanting to have that hangar over my head would make the choice a no-brainer. In the past 3 years, really nice weather has been the minority, so its seems the cold and possible rain is something to expect.

But in flying down there and getting a hotel for the week, the Mecum Auction is as much a consideration for me as the NCRS event, when I'm done calculating expenses and time. 2 interesting automotive events instead of one. I tend to stay around the Old Town area, which causes me about a 10 mile, traffic congested drive each trip to the auction, and/or about a 35 mile jaunt to Lakeland. Given the scheduling logistics, I spend more time at Mecum than NCRS, so it makes more sense to stay closer to the auction. So, to me, if I HAVE to drive 35-45 minutes to the NCRS show, I will. The location certainly would not slow my interest. I do not see the distance as an issue after flying down there to see everything.

The people who put on the show do a fine job, regardless of the venue. Let them decide what works best.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

I have found that staying in the Lake Buena Vista area works best. The wife likes Disney so we usually stay at one of their moderately priced hotels. It is conveniently located between Lakeland and the fairgrounds. Getting to the fairgrounds from Lake Buena Vista via the Osceola Pkwy is much easier (and just as quick) as driving 192 from Old Town. When we're done with the daytime activities at the Regional and Mecum auction we have a ton of choices for entertainment and dining on the Disney property. It turns a 2fer into a 3fer.

[Tyler T.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Thanks for the support and thoughts expressed here. It has always been my goal to make our event an openshow that welcomes the public to our hobby and maybe attract some to the NCRS hobby.I have been helping the Regional for over 25 years from Cypress Gardens daysand each year presented its challenges. Whatever we do with the meet has as itsfirst priority providing the club members with a venue that best supports thejudging of the cars and facilities that can support training/informing ourmembers on the cars they are interested in/own.

The Oldtown facilities workedbut were expensive and the judging site was not much fun in the rain. I spent$9000 for event security because the area was so open and insecure. Over thelast few years the management of Oldtown had let essential maintenance lapseand in 2014 told us they were unsure they would be in business for the 2015event so we were forced to examine all options. Our first priority was as aboveand the Lakeland facilities have that in spades and the Sun N Fun support staffhas been outstanding. Every NCRS member who judged or had a car judged here havebeen very supportive of the move. That coupled with the efforts of those whocome out to help put on the event make moving the event back to Orlando veryunlikely. Facilities like this do cost money and the event has to be able tohave associated revenue to pay for it all. In the past that was the swap meetbut the handwriting is on the wall, the internet and a decrease in thoserestoring/judging these cars required us to look for a site that has othermeans to have a revenue stream.

This year we took the first step in designingthe future of the event. We invited the local street rod club to join us at thesite with the view that this location is perfect for car events that we can alltake advantage of. Our goal is to create an event that meets the NCRSrequirements above and provide the resources to invite special cars to theevent. We are also trying to expose other car people to the Corvette. Whatbetter way than to create a car event for everyone and get them onsite. Since we are doing this as a club event wehave no salary overhead and can keep attendee costs low. We hope to be able toonly have a $5 public parking fee cover the costs associated with the events.

Many people seem to believe beinga sideshow to Mecum would be a good thing and want us to become part of his dogand pony show. When Mecum moved to that location he invited us to move with himbut we felt it would not be good for the event to be co-located with him. Didthat hurt us? Probably but as long as we adhere to the ideas in the firstparagraph and have the revenue to put on the event then we are a success. AtOldtown many NCRS members came but their presence contributed nothing tohelping me pay the bills. In fact %90 of those who came to the show paidnothing and seemed to think we somehow owed them a free event! There was no wayto capture any revenue from those visitors but at the Sun N Fun location thereis. Those who register get free close parking by permit.

If some choose to not attendthen it is their loss. Will we make changes? Sure if they are in keeping with what is discussed above. We have had 2terrible years in terms of weather but have managed to survive and see that thebasic vision is sound and given the changes we plan to make in the future theevent will become a go to car event and maybe provide a template others can usein the future. I get a LOT of help at this event from non NCRS members, it’snot just NCRS people that make it happen and these people would not be able tohelp in any event in Orlando. Ask anyone who has tried to do an event like thisand they will say it’s having people who you can draw on to get things donethat make the meet happen. Staying here is essential to the survival of the event.

Tyler

[Richard M.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Tyler,

Excellent reply and explanation. Nicely done. I especially liked the part about the "90%"-ers who came for free and expected free everything. Of those 90%, many were likely Old Town Amusement Park free-riders and only made it more crowded and more difficult in some ways. Sure they may have gone by the swap meet and bought a bungie-cord or a T-Shirt, but never really added true value to our main objective. We also need some real buyers to help support the swap-meet vendors, and I feel as the event grows this will return.

The "Winter Regional" is just that. A large NCRS based Judged Corvette Event with room enough for some extra car fun. We're just having some "Moving Pains" and we've had some ups and downs to go with it. I truly feel our weather luck will eventually change and "They-Will-Come".

Many thanks to You and the FL Chapter gang for doing what you do.........So very, very well.

Rich

[Bruce B.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Tyler,
Excellent explanation of the Lake Land Regional.
Some comments:
First, I believe your decision to not combine with Mecum is absolutely correct IMHO.
Secondly, Old Town was fun for a number of years, but was getting sort of run down.
Third, NCRS judging is the primary reason for the show, good facilities to do that efficiently were not available at Old Town.
Last but not least, the swap meet is important to many people (including me) and I believe is still a big attraction.
We drove down from Ohio (950 miles X 2), and I met friends from CT, NY, MI and of course FL.
I found some good stuff in the swap meet and met some interesting people. Guy's selling who were from Colorado, NY and many others states.
As far as being "out in the middle of nowhere, we stayed in downtown Lakeland. A short drive from the show, tons of restaurants, shopping and things to do.
Constructive criticism:
Lay out the swap meet over a smaller area, there was way to much aisle space.
A better variety of reasonable priced food would be nice. If this is controlled by Sun & Fun, so be it.
Maybe it is time for the NCRS National Organization to subsidize events like this.

In conclusion, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
Bruce Bursten
#27670

[John K.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Kevin - You sure get profound as you start to get old like me.

John Kane

[John K.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

The problem with Lakeland is that there is nothing to do in the area around it like we had available at Kissimmee. Many wives attended at Kissimmee because there was much to do in the area but not so in Lakeland. Numbers of attendees would be greater if we could go back to Lakeland.

John Kane

[Terry M.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

In more than 35 years of attending NCRS events all over the country I have learned that each event allows me to learn something either about Corvettes or about managing events, and sometimes both. I would like to hope that others have the same experiences.

Lakeland helped me to knock off a bucket list item this year. For the morning of January 25th I had the southern most Corvette in the USA, and was quite happy to do so. With the help my my daughter Zoe I was able to enjoy some wonderful Cuban food while visiting Key West. The drive through the keys on the International Highway was worth the trip. My only regret is that one of the NCRS members with me on the trip, Larry Goins, passed away the evening after we returned home. He didn't get to enjoy the memories as long as I have.



My thanks to the Florida Chapter members for their hard work that gave me the excuse and means to fulfill a bucket list item.

[Richard M.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Terry, Great photo !!!

That trip down there must have been a blast. What a great fun time to have with your daughter too. My wife and I did that KW trip once but not in a Corvette. It's only about 6 hours ride for me where I live. That highway is amazing, water everywhere. It's hard to imagine that a railroad also existed back in the day too. Amazing sights seeing the old train bridges along the way. I have a book with the entire history of Flagler's dream railroad and what a eye opener.

You are right, make the best of it every day. As mentioned, life is certainly too short so we all have to make the very best of each and every day. Condolences to Larry's family & those close to him. Sad times after happy times.

A few years ago a few of us were trying to plan a Key West Corvette trip. My closest friend Chuck McSheehy, and our Corvette friends from California, and a few other friends(Bill Herron was even thinkin' about coming too), were going to do that in our "old" Corvettes. Sadly, it never came about as Chuck's health declined and he never recovered. It sure would have been fun if we did that trip.

Rich

[Joe R.]

Re: Lake Land Regional Meet

Terry,

As you know I have also attended many events since I joined many years ago and the Florida NCRS Regional has been the start of many great years with the NCRS.
You have brought the most important issue to this forum and that is the Florida NCRS Chapter led by Ed Augustine work all year planning for this event. Working along with other members they do this for our enjoyment. Let us not forget that fact. Tireless hours are spent planning this event and money from their pocket is what they spent this year as the turnout and weather crippled the event.
Again, let us as NCRS members pitch in next year and have some fun.

JR