The big problem with picking a centeral point in the US is that everyone will have to drive half way across the country. It will be tough to get everyone drive the birds 1.5k miles to a barren cornfeild in Kansas. Myself, if the bird doesn't go, I'm not going to go. Imo, I don't see the any reason to attend a firebird meet without bringing my bird. As far as attendance, based on the traffic on this board during the last 18 or so months, the mofos create more firebird traffic than we boardmembers.
Regradless, I'm all ears, if I attended I would drive the dog, and the mofos may take note of a national firebird meet. One thing to focus on is the location of the largest population in the US. It happens to be the East coast from Boston MA to Richmond VA, with Baltimore/Washington being the meca, the reason why the mofos were able to meet or exceede half's attendence numbers and do so within a few weeks of actual existance of the club. The magic wand is that there are so many dam people around here. Simply, a large volume of people makes it easy to bring the birds out of the hiding palces.
I'm throwing the OC MD cruises on the table because there is strong mofo interest in the advents, possibly both. The dates are May 17-20 and October 4-7.
There has been 19 in the lineup, and it was done with almost zero planning. It's a safe bet that there will be at least 19 cars at the May 17-20 event. With some luck and relying on mofo members only attendence, it wouldn't be surprizing to have the fgf attendence numbers in the mid to upper 20's.
With the mid-20 local fgf attendence as a base for a national meet, another 20 birds--something that would be more than feasible based on just the fairly doable road trip from the Boston to Richmond corrider could bump the numbers up to an impressive level. As far as folks making road trips to OC MD? On any given day in the summer, there are many out of state cars, from all corners of the country.
The dermographics of the area is 100% cruiseing streets. As a reslut, there is the people who enter the show, and they are people who are spectators who go to specifically cruise the streets. That means that after show hours, cars cruise the mulit mile 3 lane blvd, that circles around, untill the early morning hours. Also, they have mini unorginized shows in all of the parking lots. It safe to say that after show hours, event/spectator muscle car numbers can reach 5k to 8k cruising on the street. Of course, passengers will be mandatory because someone had to talk crap out the windows to the cramaros.
There are lots of trailered vehicles at the event. About 1/10 of a mile outside of the city limits, there is a huge municipal free-parking lot that people can ditch the truck and rig.
I think that such a gathering is an excellent idea, but since it's a nationwide request, you have to look at what best serves the largest amount of people. We have already pulled off a 19 fgf car meet, and it's projected that OC will have a mid-20 car OC attendence, already established without a national invitation.
That's a pretty solid foundation. Again the only reason this foundation exists is the incredible large population in the what locals call the DelMarVa area. To help show the intense population in this region, the chunk of land that seperates the most distance mofo members is less than 1 hour drive. Ther are already 20+ who live within an hour's drive of each other, making the OC drive 4 hours tops, and much less for most. (Mofo members don't count as fgf members because lots of them aren't board members--not even going down that road.) If one would consider the fgf board members who live within 10 to 12 hours drive to OC, MD and add them to the existing 20+, it could be a signifigant event.
Just food for thought. We can also do it this way because it's more than obvious that everyone isn't going to make the OC cruise. I'll start a new post for so that we can have a consolidted list.
Maybe pick 4 or 5 places throughout the US and have whomever take pictures at each of the events and submit them with a rundown of the events and high points.
That way, we can cover all bases throughout and really show the Pontiac community Firebird unity.
The European and other international theatres would be a hard sell..very limited, but would also be a great addition.
That idea is the best Tom! I’ve wanted to get the central Ohio owners together for a short time. Easier said than done. I have contacted several fellow owners in the area to see what type of organization we should attempt to put together. All were in agreement to keep it a casual type of arrangement with out dues like starting a chapter at POCI.
The power tour or regional events would be best. Norwalk seems to be a popular destination. I personally have not attended but if enough commit I could be persuaded. But that kinda pulls the center. So does my next idea. The T/A nats in Dayton, OH is another event to consider. It’s a little closer to center anyway.
What I’ve noticed in the years I’ve attended the T/A nats, we first gen owners are the smallest group. The classes of cars, stock, mod, heavy mod has the FGs spread out all over the place. Perhaps contact with the event organizers could get us all put in the same area, despite what class that the car is grouped into.
I think some FGers don’t want to come to this gathering because they think the ‘bird has to be show quality, or it has to be a Trans Am. Not the case. I have shown both of mine and they’re driver quality. Other owners of drivers have also attended. Of course if you want a trophy... bring one.
Two years ago the event tried to start a new trophy winner for ‘restoration under progress, no one brought a car in primer or under repair, and I didn’t see that category last year. I’d be willing to contact... I believe its Sue Emmel, who seems to be the head honcho. Perhaps if enough interest was generated here, we as a group could be better represented at this event.
I also believe we were talking earlier of a few more regionalized sub-meets for photo ops and pintage ops, ie in our case out west say a Seattle/Portland type of location. A few of those in population centres around N america is fine.
Having said that some of us still would be interested in meeting up w/o the birds from time to time.
Last edited by Dave's White Rock '68 Droptop; 02/01/0708:47 PM.
