New city (Madison, IL (St Louis area)) this year ....and new venue (NASCAR track).
https://www.bloomingtongold.com/
Further from me but sounds like a neat place. I'm going to try to get there at least one of the days. Just to see.

Anyone else heading there?

 

I attended on Thurs, unofficially (pre-show), helping a guy get a car set up and checking out the new digs. Obviously no crowds in the pics below b/c the show hadn't started. I really like the possibilities of the new venue at the race track. I think (hope) it will be liked by others. For one, it gets everyone closer together ..incl attendee cars, some who were arriving late in the afternoon. I enjoy visiting and learning from other owners and enjoying the older, original and restored cars. I wasn't able to attend on Fri or Sat when the real action was supposed to happen.

Most of the C3s were chrome bumper cars. A couple rubber bumper cars under the canopy. A nice 82 CE in the Heritage room. There were a lot of C1's and nice C2's as per usual. There weren't as many 'Heritage cars' this year as some years past. Which is ok. I think with attendee's parking their cars on the infield grounds and some near the Gold cars, it will have a more intimate "Car Show Feel". With owners being able to show off their cars and chat with others.

I spoke with a couple guys who trailered their cars from GA, TX, ND. Had a long conversation with two gentlemen at the wash zone who just arrived in a C4 (in a group of 4) from the Los Angeles area -- cleaning off the grime. Some people really made a trip out of it!!

I didn't take many pictures as it was pre-show. But it was a good time for visiting.



Below is an expanded view of the 'Pitt' area where the judging or certified cars are housed (per the above picture)

I have a soft spot for Pace Cars!!


The show has definitely gotten smaller but hopefully the new venue will attract more attendees. I think it will. Hopefully the weather held out (no rain) on Sat. A lot of nice cars there if you enjoy Corvette history. If you were able to make it, please share some pics and experiences/thoughts, etc.


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Mark G, I think it is a great venue. With the rich racing heritage of the Corvette it certainly fitting. As has been pointed out in other threads. The Bloomington Gold is not what it used to be and certainly this year was not an exception. This was my first time attending Bloomington Gold. I was expecting more. More of everything, cars, people, vendors, cars for sale, entertainment, etc. The quality of the cars I thought was exceptional! I hope the things turn around for Bloomington Gold. Unfortunately, having a change of venue and less than ideal weather for the event. Likely won't help. If the weather would have been better. I think it may have changed some peoples perception of the event.

 

Yeah I hope it turns around too. Most guys which go to BG are more interested in day-1 "factory correct" restorations right down to the chalk numbers and finest details. There is a lot of challenge to getting cars 'right' that way. And a lot of those C1/C2 cars which were popular during the 'Golden years' have already been restored and are big money now. And they take MONEY to restore, which a lot of the younger people don't have as much of. These days it seems most C3 owners are becoming younger and want their 50year old (Plus) cars to drive/handle like a new car. Or at least do a few mods in many cases to modernize them. Restomod's are becomming a bigger deal.

Maybe Bloomington Gold ought to do the unthinkable, and start a "Best Corvette Restomod" event parallel and next to the Gold Judging cars and another F-body (mostly original ..up to 3rd gen) judging event in a separate section nearby. I say "Judging event" so you don't get the $1500 POS Camaros with 4BT diesel engine conversiions and 18" wide mags with whip antennas and fur on the dash... the kind of owners which would rub high-end Corvette owners the wrong way (No offense, there *is* a difference between the crowds). And maybe include restored 1960's GM intermediates too (also for judging...to keep nice cars coming). Then younger (and older) guys can show off their restomod creativity, swap ideas on what and how they did what they did. Give awards to various restomod owners for Creativity, best looks, best paint, popular appeal, etc.

That might attract more of the younger C3 owners and other GM car owners which I would think may help improve attendance. A good number of these B/G early vette owners also own other cars, incl C3's and GM muscle cars ...so they would probably get something out of looking over those other GM muscle cars. More than likely that sort of combining is what will probably occur (even if organically) anyway at some point in time, if BG and other car shows shrink. But better to do it sooner than later. A lot of shows are shrinking..

 

I personally like the B/G events they had at Pheasant Run (golf course) near Chicago ....a LOT. Really nice, beautiful venue. Owners could park their cars in a nice beautiful setting. Tons of people attended. Great to walk around and look at other (Owners') Corvettes. Plenty of eating joints in town. Quick access to hotels. The streets would fill up with Corvettes. I thought that was great ...for a Modern Corvette show.

Yes, I know...P/R closed down (you don't have to remind me).

 

I attended Bloomington Gold this year. Hadn't planned on it, but last minute arrangements worked out and we booked a 2 day pass. Very cool venue being at WWT race track. Rain hampered the activities a bit but there were plenty of space under roof. Seminars were informative and timed well with the drizzle.

Guessing around 75 or so Corvettes being judged under the pit area hanger. The quality of the cars is superb, top notch. LOTS of C2's, many C1's, nice mix of older C3's, a couple later C3's. Only two or three C4's being judged. Some really special Corvettes in the gold room with real racing heritage. More spectator cars on the fringes to walk thru too. Having never been to BG, I expected something on the scale of Carlisle, but soon realized this is event is different, centered around the judging. Still plenty of people to talk with, stories to share.

For us it was a great father / son trip to remember. In the evening, just across the river in St. Louis, we saw the Gateway Arch and caught a Cardinals baseball game. Actually x2 as we went back the 2nd night.

One of our favorite memories was seeing a few groups of Corvettes running around the main track. Groups were mixed generations, represented by anything C2-C8. Cool hearing the different exhaust tones go by, and watching of few of them get on the gas for a short stint. Seeing the cars get out and move, make some noise, make some speed. Afterall, isn't that what a Corvette is for?

I applaud all the attendees that drove their Vettes to the track, despite the weather. I don't like my Corvette getting wet either (like almost never happens) but if it rains going to or from an all-Corvette show, well, that's for a worthy cause!








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Nice!! Sounds like you had a great time. Good pics. We also did the Gateway Arch and St Louis downtown.

There's a greater Bloomington Gold discussion ...for anyone who cares, on the C1/C2 forum:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...gton-gold.html