I belong to the Pontiac Oakland Club International. As I look at pictures of meets and conventions, I rarely see a 1st gen Firebird. In the 'For Sale' section, never a 1st gen. Maybe once a year there 'may' be a 1st gen article. Why is this? Are we not members, or just not involved? My own 1st gen isn't even running, but I see plenty of sweet looking Birds posted on here. I know the GTO is the darling car and gets plenty of coverage. But they made a LOT of 1st gen Birds. The side bar says this site has 8,786 registered members. There has to be some P.O.C.I. members among us.

I have been a POCI member for the last 20 years or so and have been to a half dozen or more National conventions. There are always some 1st gens there but nothing compared to the GTOs. That is just the way it always has been and will continue to be. I never do the judged part of the show. They have a category called "Road Warriors" that is very relaxed with no stupid display rules.
The national Solstice event "NASSAM" is a much more enjoyable and a lot more fun. It is a driving event not just a five day car show.

I've thought about joining POCI but have not yet done it. We have a very good 1st Gen Firebird Midwest Firebirds club here that has many activities, cruises,and participates in a lot of events. There are even opportunities to join up with the Crusin' Tigers GTO club here for activities and an annual big all-Pontiac show, with hundreds of Pontiacs of all models and years. Several 1st Gen Birds are always part of that annual Indian Uprising show.

I have never been to any event or function. It always seems to be very far away from me. There is a Long Island Chapter that does some cars-n-coffee events but I have never been to any. I will say this- since HPP bit the dust, the Smoke Signals magazine is tops for Pontiac information. Plus there is a 'For Sale' section that is for members only, so no Craigs list ghosts. There is even an OHC-6 club/chapter. But what I said is true. Where are all the 1st gens? We have an informal car show every Friday night at the Belmore train station. My old primered hardtop was the only 1rst gen car there ever. Camaros, yeah. Maybe a 2nd gen Bird now and then. I find it strange.

I belong to the Alamo Area chapter. There is about an even split of 1st Gens and GTOs here. The newer members of the club have later 2nd Gens and now 3rd Gens. With that said overall membership is down as many of our members sell their cars and/or age out. I last had my car at the convention in 2013 or 2014. My cars are more show quality and so I generally only take them to local shows where I know the roads I’m taking.

I am. But I have a GTO too.

Anyone know what the deal is with Smoke Signals? Are they going to only have it online, or keep the magazine?

The magazine will still be available in print but only 9 issues a year. They had a lot of feedback when they tried to go digital only so they shifted. I get mine digitally and am OK with that.

That is good news. I prefer a real magazine in my hands. My wife goes to doctors a lot and I save the mags up to read in the parking lot. There are so few mags left it is a pleasure to read a really good one. Look what happened to Hot Rod. Only four issues a year and it is mostly full page adds. The rest is mega-buck projects.