Improving dgrr

[91convguy]

My 91 vert happens to be in near mint condition and has always been in near mint condition. I payed good money for that lodge room a NV that weekend had great spot in front lot where it was parked during the night. Next morning when come down prep car for show that's when got rude awaking with bullhorn move my car to dirt lot across street. Hay TT just how many times have you had to show your car in dirt lot across street? inquiring mind would love know. Why can't the car show be held somewhere else like in Bryson so everyone can display there cars and feel as they are part of the show and not a rust bucket reject like TT thinks. It would also be nice if people living in the area or driving thought might enjoy looking at the cars and maybe even take interest in rotary power. I did not come on here to down the event as I stated before the event was ok but had a better time the following year hanging out at the mini event following year and that should not be. This thread is to make the event better was just giving a opinion.

[FC Zach]

Originally Posted by 91convguy

Why can't the car show be held somewhere else like in Bryson so everyone can display there cars and feel as they are part of the show and not a rust bucket reject like TT thinks. It would also be nice if people living in the area or driving thought might enjoy looking at the cars and maybe even take interest in rotary power.

I do agree with you here, I would be nice to see all the rotaries in one big lot. My only issue with this idea is that it's one more activity added to an already loaded itinerary and it's just convenient to have the show at the 'home' location.

When I say "loaded itinerary", that's just my opinion and I say that only because every year when I come out for this event I want to do so much and it seems as though I don't, there's just so much to do. The year before last I did make time to go on the zip line tour which was a blast! The raining didn't help this year and it kept us indoors most of the time.

I think it's convenient to keep the event as simple as possible and I'm perfectly fine with keeping the 'show' part of the event at the lodge. Think about the damn dam photo shoot, not everyone makes it there and if they do sometimes it may not be on time and get left out. . . I can only assume that the car show would end up like this if moved to a different location.

[DerrickS]

Originally Posted by 91convguy

My 91 vert happens to be in near mint condition and has always been in near mint condition. I payed good money for that lodge room a NV that weekend had great spot in front lot where it was parked during the night. Next morning when come down prep car for show that's when got rude awaking with bullhorn move my car to dirt lot across street. Hay TT just how many times have you had to show your car in dirt lot across street? inquiring mind would love know. Why can't the car show be held somewhere else like in Bryson so everyone can display there cars and feel as they are part of the show and not a rust bucket reject like TT thinks. It would also be nice if people living in the area or driving thought might enjoy looking at the cars and maybe even take interest in rotary power. I did not come on here to down the event as I stated before the event was ok but had a better time the following year hanging out at the mini event following year and that should not be. This thread is to make the event better was just giving a opinion.

Agree with this. I would like to see the car show cars organized all together. If it has to be somewhere besides the lodge, well that's fine with me. I didn't see a lot of the cars because they were scattered about, or I didn't know if they were part of the show or not.
Also, we had a local business owner stop by our car, and she also had a gsl-se that her father had bought her brand new. She just happened to be driving by and saw all the cars and decided to stop in. She was very interested in all of the cars, and wondered why there weren't signs around town telling others of the show. At the time, I didn't understand that the car show (and viewing of) was only for registered attendees, and so I didn't have a good answer for her. Now I know, but I would like to see that aspect changed to be more of a public affair.

Not a gripe, mind you. I am very appreciative of all of those that organized this great event. Thank you!

[reddozen]

Originally Posted by DerrickS

At the time, I didn't understand that the car show (and viewing of) was only for registered attendees, and so I didn't have a good answer for her. Now I know, but I would like to see that aspect changed to be more of a public affair.

Not a gripe, mind you. I am very appreciative of all of those that organized this great event. Thank you!

I kind of like this idea, but I'm not sure how it would work out... It may get into liability issues, and if it's fine for them to hang out at the car show, why not the damn. What if a non event participant won the car show... then how would that work at the banquet?

[TitaniumTT]

It absolutely does.

[evot23]

I think Derrick is referring to the car show as being more accessible to the public (ie in a bigger lot with all cars together, etc) and having it open/advertised in the sense that it is for the general public to enjoy as much as it is for all of us. The lodge space limits the public from coming in to view the show very easily. And since space is limited, only registered cars are in the lot.

As it is now, on the day of the car show, spots at the lodge are reserved for registered attendees participating in the show. Not fair if nonregistered people are taking up registered spots.

I would think that only registered attendees cars are able to win anything.

[rgould]

We've attended the last 3 years and continue to look forward to the next. We didn't know anyone that first year, but we quickly made new friends. Each year is a chance to catch up with them, and also meet new people. It is a wonderfully diverse crowd brought together by the love for the cars and the rotary heritage.
We like NV, especially being able to hang out on the front porch, but it would be better if the car show could be located elsewhere where all cars registered for the event were included, regardless of condition. If you are registered, meaning you received a tag for you and your car, you and your car should be able to participate, without prejudgement. Not all of us expect to win anything, but all should be allowed to participate. The final judging has always seemed appropriate, but the preliminary judgement due to space limitations seems to cause most of the negative feelings.
Consider as a possible alternative location the Ingles grocery store on Hwy 19 in Bryson City. It has a large parking lot right along a main road, food and beverage, and most likely has restrooms. Car show could be same time, day and duration as usual, with just a change in location. We love DGRR and plan to attend as long as we can. Many thanks to all who make it happen.

[afgmoto1978]

Anybody ever though of holding the car show at the Dam? It seems to be a place with more room. Say have the car show start in the morning and then do the Damn Dam photo shoot at the end. With the way the Damn Dam photo shoot is setup it would aid in the car show judging since each specific make is parked right next each other.

Only bad thing is lack of amenities. But there is restrooms available at the dam.

[Pete_89T2]

Originally Posted by afgmoto1978

Anybody ever though of holding the car show at the Dam? It seems to be a place with more room. Say have the car show start in the morning and then do the Damn Dam photo shoot at the end. With the way the Damn Dam photo shoot is setup it would aid in the car show judging since each specific make is parked right next each other.

Only bad thing is lack of amenities. But there is restrooms available at the dam.

This is an interesting idea... Certainly would solve the lack of car show parking space issue, and being back-to-back, it could allow for freeing up some agenda time too. After folks have had lunch, you could gather for the show about 1, have all the cars lined up and ready for judging by ~2PM, hang out and then do the photo shoot around 4PM. Folks can use the AM for free time (the Dragon is much more fun in the early AM hours anyway!), or spend that time shining up their cars for the show if they are inclined to.

Also it would have solved the one problem I had this year - I spent a little too much time having fun on the Dragon Saturday afternoon after the show, so I arrived a little late to the Damned Dam photo shoot and was turned away. Being back-to-back with the show, there's no excuse to miss the photo shoot if you're already at the show.

[WE3RX7]

I agree that NV is a bit crowded for a show of our size, and if we can have it elsewhere, than that would be more ideal.

Another idea on the car show is to not include entry to the car show as part of your registration, but supplemental instead. Not everybody attending this event (myself included) has a "show" car, nor cares to display it. It's why I leave my car(s) at the cabin most of the time. This would drop the cost of registration down a bit and cut down on the "well.. I paid for this but I'm not being included" mentality which is what I feel is more of the problem here. It's all about perception. I'm not hating on the event at all, but car shows aren't everybody's thing and making it optional has a lot of advantages:

1. You can limit car show entries (say we only have room for 50 cars, first 50 to register for the show, get in, the rest can still attend the show but not compete)
2. Makes the cost of the event a bit cheaper (not that I think it's overpriced) for those who don't care to take part in the show.
3. Gets rid of the "I didn't get included" or "I got shunned" or "What exactly did I get for my registration" - all of which are things I've heard and then some in the last 5 years I've been coming to DGRR.

The negatives are a bit more work on the organizer's end to separate those people out and a bit more work to the website to accomodate the supplemental registration.

Just a thought. Regardless, I think everybody is approachable at DGRR and I've really never had a negative experience with the people. Looking forward to next year.

[reddozen]

TVA doesn't let you "rent out" the Dam, and I don't think they would want a car show out there. Best idea would probably be to try to arrange something with Bryson City to have it down town.

[FcRx8MEL]

Originally Posted by reddozen

TVA doesn't let you "rent out" the Dam, and I don't think they would want a car show out there. Best idea would probably be to try to arrange something with Bryson City to have it down town.

I don't see how doing a car show there would be any different than the picture there. They let us all hang out and park in 1 lot for that hour or so for a picture, how would hanging out for a few extra hours for a show be something they don't want?

[rgould]

Holding the car show at the dam misses the real point of a car show.

Best idea would probably be to try to arrange something with Bryson City to have it down town.

We agree.

The shows are for the general public to see different cars that they don't normally see. Hopefully you will get more people interested in our cars and the event. (yes I know more work for Phil and the volunteers if more people get more interest in our event.) But we would get all our cars in one place with time to go around and look at all the rides and have time to converse with attendees and the public and the judges can judge the rides that display their event dash tag .

We have shows every Friday and Saturday in different places around Indy during the spring and summer for the locals to show off the finished rides and the work-in-progress cars to other Hot Rodders and the public who stop in to see the festivities. We go just to see what comes out from week to week (but we like all cars from Hot Rods, Tuners, Antiques etc.).

[rx7 vinnie]

I understand what Brian is saying by the Dam won't let large amounts of traffic hinder every day operations and that the Feds are kinda weird about them kinda things.....but hey I'm sure if someone take a professional approach into explain it then why not? What's the worse they can say?

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Plus you gotta leave your guns at home if its at the dam lol