Just blowing off some steam... The GoodGuys event was in town over the weekend. Saturday morning weather was less than ideal so I went out about 1pm with the skies still looking rather dreary. The dude at the ticket window wanted $17 for admission. I think the rod turnout was lower than usual because of the threatening rain and it obviously hurt turnout in general but I did not understand why the tickets were so much. The AutoFair event in Sept is about half that and is huge. Couln't afford the 6 tix for the family so we had to turn around and leave...disappointed.

 

That sucks, I don't understand why the ticket prices was so high. Don't they charge the vendor to sell their stuff?

 

That is not as high as some shows. They are for-profit events, and there are plenty of costs. They have to eat the costs if the weather is bad and turnout is low.

Check out the cost of an NHRA National event with Top Fuelers... bleacher seats for a single day are $50+...plus parking... (But it's worth it!!)

 

$17 per head????

Holy cow! I'm with you, I would've turned around also. I guess I'm just a cheapskate at heart. We have a couple of pay events here in Albuquerque that are getting pricey (about $12). I've gotten to where I won't go to them either (unless I can find a way to sneak in or fanangle some tickets...lol)

Vent on my good man
Bobby

 

I'm kind of torn when thinking about these problems. A couple weeks ago GGs were in Bowling Green Ky. and our tickets were $20 for adults and $6 for childrens, luckily 2 of my 3 kids were free because they were younger than 7. It is high but not if you think about the day we had, got there when it opened and left when it closed. Took a fold out table and 5 folding chairs set up for lunch on the side and watched the drag races while eating lunch as a family. Met a couple FTE members in person, got to see my father again saw some maverick buddies. All in all it was way worth the $46 addmission.

I also know what you mean about the money, having 3 kids I almost have to take out a second mortgage to go to the movies, so we don't go. You just never know if these guys(Good Guys) are like this government scandal and skimming these ticket prices for their own profit or if it costs that much to put one on? I hope the later. If we don't go to these events they will go away, if they go away our hobby dies a little and these events and sponsors are a big part of looking out for our hobby. Now it may be they are doing it for their own gain but it still keeps an eye out for us and our hobby(SEMA). I think in a short time government is going to make it very difficult for us to continue in these hobbies, but I hope I'm wrong.

 

I think that was part of my frustration. You hear alot about the "Take a Kid to a Car Show" stuff and you show up with a few and need a mortgage just to buy the tickets. The young are the future of the hobby and whether its the next generation or even the younger generation, I don't see $17 as a reasonable ticket. That strikes me as almost elitist.

 

Gosh, there are tons of free car shows to take a kid to, or go to ourselves. There is no question that Gary Meadors has done well financially with his events, but that is why he is in business. If he charges too much then attendance will drop and then he will have to adjust. If he charges too little he will lose money and cease to be. Googuys and NSRA are major reasons why our hobby with old stuff has gained the respect it has. In my humble opinion, we should be gratefull they are in business. On the other hand, I and a couple others changed our plan to attend a Goodguys event and instead went to a small town event. Had a great drive, enjoyed a neat little town, ate in some super places and enjoyed a completely different type of event. Lots of families without vehicles at the event enjoyed a free car show and we had a good time. Next time it may the Goodguys that we visit and we will have a great time there also. Joe

 

I think $17 for spectator admission to any car show is outrageous and kids should be free!.

Even NSRA only charges $12 for spectators. I'd steer clear of the Greedy Guys Car Shows and find less expensive entertainment. They won't be having spectators much longer at those prices.

 

This is obviously my own opinion but here goes! I have been to several GG events several times. The overal impression is always the same. Money! It's not just the price of admission, but what these folks have into their rides is scary! It truly is the elite group that is showcased here. I am not against nice finished projects but after walking around these rows of trailer queens, they all start to look alike! After a couple of hours I have to go out to the car corral to see some real stuff or stop by the parts for sale and touch some thing with a little rust on it in effort to regain my balance!

However, these events are great places to take females. They always like to see the pretty fancy stuff vs. the real stuff!

I hope I can still post on this site after this!!

Again, my own opinion. Take my advice, I'm not using it!

 

Ok, now I can't help myself. Since I have attended many Goodguys event's in both my 53 F100 and my 46 Business Coupe, neither of which have ever been on a trailer since finished. My 46 probably has 50 60,000 miles on it and my the F100 has at least 12,000. I know many others that enter their cars/trucks that have more that that, and NOT ON TRAILERS. Get down on your hands and knees and look at the under carraige of some of those you might call trailer queens. Now there certainly is a contingent of show only cars/trucks that are trailered from show to show, but they are not the majority. When I attend a Goodguys event I have to drive 5 hours in any direction to get there, and I am usually following some very nice vehicles. So you can complain about the gate price being too high if you want, but I know from first hand experience that you do not walk thru "rows and rows" of trailer queens. Don't belitte those that have either spen a lot of money or a lot of time on their vehicles just because they are nicer than your taste requires. Just my two cents. Joe

 

I was in Dallas last month and was able to go to the Goodguys event at Texas Motor Speedway. While I was a little dissapointed in the number of vehicles, I still enjoyed myself and would probably go again (maybe to one of their other sites, just for fun). I would also bet the site is fairly expensive.

 

Hey OKY, that's cool you use your stuff. I am in upstate NY and it would be tough to get that many miles on them up here if you cared about them at all. I have looked under the rides at the big shows and they don't look like they have many miles on them up here in this neck of the woods.
The county highway dept. spread salt today for the first time since we had 2-3 inches of snow on the ground when we got up this morning. I would hate to see any old metal out in that. You really can't compare the sun belt to the rust belt!!
It sure is healthy to have an exchange of veiwpoints! That is what this country needs more of. More confrontation and less conformity! Okay, I'll get down from my soap box now!

 

One more comment and I am done. Few years back my wife and I along with two others in street rods took a 6000 mile trip up thru Michigan for Kalamazoo Nats, then into Canada and back down to Burlington Vt Nats. Saw the quality of street driven cars there are as good as those here. By the way, that was our first trip into your part of the country and it was SPECTACULAR. Late september, and wonderfull back roads, we were all delighted with the scenery. Hope to come back someday. Just glad to not be there now.LOL. Joe

 

$17 For a ticket might sound bad but how much is it to show your car.I was looking at the Cherokee rod run information today and the are getting $40 to enter.This is what really frosts me.I spend 2 years building and $20,000 to get a nice {not great driver } and i take it to a show so others can look at it,and provided the show something to justifie the $17 ticket price and they want me to pay over twice the addmission price.I will go to the show and the panel will be out in the public lot.I went to the Alanta dragway for the hayes meet over labor day and there was as good a show of old cars in the parking lot as there was in the show lot.I will support the smaller shows where $ has not taken over from the joy of having an old car.

 

the last nsra show i went to cost 35.00 to put a car/truck in. my 56 was to new and the 39 is not done yet. still i went. rode with a friend of mine in his 47. since i paid entrance fee i registered got the goodie bag and all the little extras you don't get with general admission. spent 3 days there, sat with my friend met a lot of nice people. just being there and talking to people was worth it. $17.00 is worth it. it takes a lot to put on a show. stay the day and relax and enjoy, meet people, and make more friends. i guess it all depends on how you look at it.