To all 'F-ee enthusiests, I am interested in your thoughts/feelings/and desires as to the future of F-100 shows. We have been attending the F-100 Supernationals for 21 yrs, and have seen many changes. In my opinion, moving to Knoxville has not helped. Many vendors are concerned about the future. Sadley, Pigeon Forge really doesnt have a large enough venue for 1000 trucks, and Vendors and Swap space. P.F. was great, leave your truckthere if you want, walk to dinner, plenty to do for the family...... Without vendors and swappers, show growth is limited, and to get the big vendors, you need lots of trucks and people.

How far would you go for a three day show?

Any favorite locations?

How do you feel about a 'Classic Truck Show' with other brands?

I am interested and welcome all comments, sad to think, but the growth of our hobby may be on shakey ground.Let me know.

 

Hi Droptop. The love of old Ford trucks is growing in Orange county California. Pickups Limited Orange County.com is our club site, please visit it and your faith will be restored. We recently had our largest show ever; Ford trucks from all over the country. We call it the Western Nationals. Come see us next year, but visit our site ASAP, you will enjoy.

 

...UUUhhhh....

...Maybe it should come "home"... to the Dearborn MI. area???

...I dunno...just a thought......

 

I've visited many of the SuperNats since the early 90s and I agree, the Knoxville move was regrettable. I just came back from the Smokey Mountain F100 run and though small, it was a lot like I remembered the Supernats years ago. I'm not sure constant growth is a prerequisite for success and that this should be entirely focused on the vendors' needs. A bunch of like-minded truck owners getting together, cruising up and down the main drag and hanging out is really what it's all about. Shopping is fun too, but I'd rather see trucks and no vendors than vendors and no trucks.

Having a fun place to go is important too and the PF area offers the family something--we go camping with the kids in the National Park every year--"coincidentally" the same weekend as the truck show. I think there is still potential there...Dollywood looks to have large, unused parking space, the Outlet mall behind the strip is nearly deserted and there are some municipal parking lots that appeared totally empty when I was there. If some of the hotels would be willing to combine forces, a lot of space could be made available along the strip. Easier to criticize than organize, I know, but I hope it comes back there.

Ryan

 

Move it to the Fair grounds in St. Paul Minnesota. They can handle it, in fact I just attended the "Back to the 50's" event where we had over 12,000 cars.

 

A show that size here on the West Coast would be impractical due to the large number of local vendors and shops. IMO SoCal folks would not spend more than a day at a show because they don't need to spend a lot of time looking at vendors stalls, etc...that merchandise is readily available at a number of these local sources. I have spoken with some other F100 enthusiasts across the country and many lament the fact that they do not have any local sources for parts and service for their trucks...these are the folks who would really make the best use of a large multi-day show. Between the GoodGuys shows, the Grand National Roadster Show, and the LA Roadster show we are fairly inundated with large multi-day shows. As Jake08 stated, the Pickups Limited OC F100 Western Nationals is growing and yet it is only drawing a little over 200 trucks. Shows take a lot of time and effort to organize, finding someone or some group willing to take that on is difficult at best. I think that the best course of action is to support the current venues and to improve where possible. Many are willing to gripe but much fewer are willing to roll up their shirtsleeves and pitch in.

 

Wow, thats a lot of cars. We have a show at the O.C. fair grounds that has 3800 cars, and i thought that was big.

 

With the economy and the toll it has taken on the street rod market, I am sure many part vendors are hurting. It has driven the younger generation like me (30-39) to have to swap, sell, and settle for junkyard parts as to the fancy IFS / IRS and billet crap that sells to all the riddler types of hot rodders. Also I have been involved in F100s since I was 12 and that was 23 years ago and I am still just about the youngest guy at these shows that do not have tuners. If younger people do not get involved it will die. I know the younger kids around here though do not have the gump to get out and whack on some rusted metal and try to make something. They want it now but do not want to work for it. I did not mean to offend any utes here but if you read this I am pretty sure that you have some friends that can care less about building something on your own or even owning something old.

Hey droptop46 lower some prices on your stuff and your business may pick up LoL. I love the wide ride very nice piece of equipment and artwork.

 

I'm 22 and I'm interested in everything old. Old firearms, Old trucks, history, Old tools, etc. I'd rather build something with my own two hands because there is no other way to get that sense of accomplishment and pride. Its like a warm bath

Most of my friends however are not like that I will say. Your probably right about the fact that they don't want to wait and work on a vehicle to make it theirs they would rather pay a dealer to give them one that just goes. Maybe that's part of the reason standard transmissions are fading...

I do know that even if they don't think they have "the time" to put into an older truck they still wet their pants when one drives by and say to themselves "I WANT THAT!" then they jump in their corolla...

 

Thank you all for the input. I agree with most, but respect all the input. So.Cal is out, to spoiled. I have been to shows all over the country, and those that fit the family are the best. Back to the Fifties, and the Woodward dream criuse, are a hit because they don't stop at 5:00 pm. I am gathering input from Truckers as well as vendors while working with a promoter. Most are very interested in rebuilding a nice truck show.
Branson has been talked about. While I am, and understand the homebuilt 'grass roots trucks, Our industry needs the big buck truck-of-the year trucks to keep everything moving forward. I remember when the Havasu F-100 nats would get 300 trucks, but that was about 20 yrs ago. We go to a lot of club shows, and their fun, but do to the amout of work, and prep, they are somewhat limited in size. Edlebrock, Ford, And other large vendors just arent going to go to a one day show, or a show with only a few hundred trucks, and that in turn cuts down the smaller vendors. A lack of vendors stops a lot of people from going, especially those who's trucks arent done. Most parts of the country are not as fortunate as we are in So. Cal. We can see all the new stuff any time. In many parts, you only get one chance, so why not make it a good one.
I hope this discussion continues. Thanks for the comments on our parts, and we do try to keep the price down, but we don't make the steel. I think our WideRide is pretty fairly priced, if you factor in P/S, sway bar and boxing plates are included. Our new chassis are out, and soon the WideRide3, the next generation of IFS will be here, good times ahead.

Oh, if there was a seporate 'truck' class for the GoodGuys autocross events, would you try it? How about more 'driving' events?

 

For me, the decision rests upon how close the show is to my home. Branson, MO is definitely too far as is Minnesota and Michigan. Pigeon Forge is a little less than 4 hours, so it is relatively convenient and quite doable for me.

 

I did not mean to sway off topic about a new F100 show. IMO, a single huge show would have to be centrally located for everyone to attend, which involves a bunch of travel for everyone. Two shows, one east and west would cut down on the travel but again would seperate us all. I would like to hit both but a family and job would limit that and would probably just hit the closest and if that meant somewhere in the Midwest in the middle, I could work that in. The single once a year show centrally located would be the best. IMO

I would like to see some of the big shows change some things though.

1) I understand a frame or a bed is a big prize to give away and a very nice giveaway with about 170 vehicles, chances are good to win, chances suck when its over 1500 vehicles. None of the big shows give away any door prizes really worth a crap during the show. Even most of your cash prizes are less than 50 dollars and it is promoted as thousands.

I really hate when I win a gift certificate (GG) for 150 bucks off a 32 Ford grille insert but have to buy a 800 dollar verison instead of the 200 dollar one. I want something big in my hand right then and decide if I want to keep it and or sell it. All this for the 70 bucks a year that I send these people. It is worth it though for gazette and the show in Bowling Green in October. I like the car show with the vintage drag racing and BG is a easy town to get around and lots of things to do and not a violent, violent city and isn't set up like a theme park.

Things not to give away, matchbox cars, plants, home furniture, and lady products.

Things that work- tools, good parts, tools, 100 dollar bills, tools, wheels / tires, tools, engines and tools.

I understand promoters have to make a profit and keep the overhead down but understand this is just money in thier pocket and not the truckers. In my lifes lessons not many people really volunteer thier time and money just for the love of a Ford truck, somebody is getting some jing somewhere. Thats the facts of life though. Most of the smaller shows and local ones are just for charity and those are the ones I focus on but that gets away from the all Ford truck show. I guess all I can do is B^*ch about and not really provide any solutions. So chime in guys.

 

im 16 and pretty much the only kid my age with a project car over 10 years old i hate tuners theres no challenge or history behind em. and everyone whose played need for speed or watched fast and the furious thinkss they can do it, it also anoys me bein in a town ruled by chevy people and have no parts sources around here either luked out n found some while in wash but other than that no luck

also can f250s come to the f100 shows?

 

I agree that if one were to organize a show it must be centrally located within the country.
Goodguys heartland nationals is held here in des moines at the state fair grounds. If you havent been before, the state fairgrounds in Des moines has the only fully paved miniture street and town architecture built for walking and cruising and shopping within the grounds. This year they held an autocross event near the main enterence and was a smashing sucess. The attendence this year was a little over 3500 cars and it was about 75% full so that should give you an idea to its capacity.

If one were to setup a new show location I would think it would get a lot more attendance if it were more centrally located and at a larger venue. Anywhere in the middle of the country and i will be there.

 

Rob,
When I look for shows to attend the first thing I look for is what else is there to do in the town where the show will take place, sight seeing, shopping, go carts. The second thought goes to where we will stay hotel, cabin, tent (deal breaker). Third thought is how far we will have to drive to attend. I put my limit at about 10 hours from home. Any longer than that and I have to add two extra days for travel time one going and one coming home. The weather (climate) of the area is a big deal in the mid west. It is always hot and humid June thru August. September is the best month around here. I’ve always thought Nashville TN would make a good choice for a show location as would Myrtle Beach SC. Those are family friendly places. I don’t care much for driving my truck around folks under the influence of drugs or alcohol. So if you want families to be involved that is an area that needs addressed. Those are my thoughts, hope that is what you are looking for. Good luck in putting this together. And yes I think an all makes Classic Truck Show would do well.
brian...