Bloomington Gold 2025

[Richard S.]

Perhaps it was the on and off rain, but the vibe at todays Bloomington Gold was just a shadow of what it has been over the past many decades. Just a handful of vendors and gone are the days you brought your red wagon to cart home your discoveries.

[Donald O.]

My two cents

I’ve been going since the early 80s but this was THE worst and my last time to attend.

maybe 8 Vettes driven and parked.
car corral, 7 cars.
food court, two BBQ trucks.
less than a half dozen vendors (non corporate).
maybe 10 corporate vendors.
there were more Vettes going on the track than anything else.
No display from GM Chevrolet.

took me about 45 minutes to see the whole show, and I was walking very slow
Every year it’s smaller and smaller
this years entire show could have been held at a small high school’s basketball gym.
This show is no longer on life support, it’s over

[Thomas N.]

How many cars would you estimate were being judged?

[Michael J.]

I decided a couple of years ago to never attend a Bloomington event after the debacle in Dallas. This one looked pretty cheesy and for the extreme prices they charge, like $1575 for a "Benchmark", I am surprised people continue to attend.

[Joe R.]

Bloomington at Bloomington was always my best buying and selling experience, Can always remember buying a 63 NOS Glove Box Door in the original box. Zoro and Larry signed it for me! It was on my 63 Duntov Coupe. After leaving Bloomington it rapidly lost ground to what it is now! RIP

[Donald O.]

How many cars would you estimate were being judged?

Maybe 40 to 50 cars for judging, I didn’t count them because I don’t have enough fingers. Most were very exceptional in appearance and correctness, there were also a few survivor candidates
BG is no longer a swap meet, Vettes for buying or selling, or seeing the latest in repop parts. It is strictly a where to go get an award to hep boost the price of the car you want to sell

[Joe L.]

Too bad. Although I had not attended in may years, I had high hopes for the event when it moved back to Bloomington a few years ago. When I read about the location being moved again to where it was held this year, I had a strong suspicion it was going to be a flop. And, apparently, it so came to pass.

[Kenneth B.]

Internet has all but killed swap meets. Repo parts and old age have taken its toll. In the 80'S Bloomington was the most fun Buying/selling Corvettes & parts. Staying at the Holladay Inn across from the fair grounds.

[Wes S.]

Went in the late 70's. Stayed on the college campus dorms.
Parts were incredible. Just as wish I had bought a bunch of mid-year fuel units
for $200
Wes

[James W.]

I'm 61 years old. I got to go with my dad in the early years (mid 1970's) then on and off again until around 1988. He bought a lot of NOS parts there, and bought a least a dozen or more sets of knock-off, some still in the GM boxes, and a few sets of bolt-on wheels. I remember walking through all the livestock barns looking at endless tables of Corvette parts. If you couldn't find what you were looking for there, you weren't looking very hard. I/we also attended it when it was held at Pheasant Run in the western suburbs of Chicago and then when it moved back to Bloomington. All I can say is I'm glad dad took me with him when I was a kid to the original Bloomington and one of the first NCRS meets in 1974 or '75 which was held in St. Louis. This cemented the idea of getting into the Corvette hobby when I grew up. Lots of great times. It's sad to hear Bloomington is not doing well.

[Mike M.]

I was there in the mid 80's. fantastic for vet parts. it put carlisle( AT THE TIME) to shame. then about 5 years ago, I attended one at the indy 500 site. might have been 8 to 10 vendors peddling junk. RIP BLOOMINGTON. MIKE

[Steven B.]

I have not been in a long time, only once after it moved to Springfield. In Bloomington stayed in the dorms the first year, had Death by Chocolate, saw great cars on display in the auditorium and on on the field, as in many years bought some good parts from John and Mary Jo and a few from J.T. Those days sadly are gone. Steve

[Mark S.]

I also miss the early years of Bloomington. In the early 80's our club rented a mobile home to endure the trip to Bloomington. Within the first 100 miles the carb conked out and needed rebuilding. Then as we got closer to Bloomington, the transmission went out. We spent over a day at a transmission shop getting it rebuilt. Once we got to the fairgrounds, we endured a humid hot climate that made it a bit tough to sleep in the mobile home. We slept outside in lawn chairs. It also rained to make trudging around the fairgrounds in mud a challenge. There were a lot of good parts purchased, and on the way home, I was wondering why people were giving us the finger when they passed us. When we stopped a wayside rest to empty our toilet tank, we found that it was missing. I guess that is what upset some of the motorists. This was a wonderful time at Bloomington, and I would not miss it for anything!

[Kenneth B.]

I have not been in a long time, only once after it moved to Springfield. In Bloomington stayed in the dorms the first year, had Death by Chocolate, saw great cars on display in the auditorium and on on the field, as in many years bought some good parts from John and Mary Jo and a few from J.T. Those days sadly are gone. Steve

Bought a low mile 73 from Mary Jo. Quite a gal.

[Sean S.]