Bloomington Gold Moving!
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Sandwich Illinois
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Great. Now I can get there in 3 hours. Looks like it will take me much-much longer to get there and back in 2013.
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Pro
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From: Sandwich Illinois
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
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From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Maybe not, the U of I area has got to be way cheaper to rent for the show. If, and this is just an if, they would drop the fees for vendors it could be the shot in the arm it needs to make a comeback. JMO and nothing more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
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From: Pendleton IN
I was going to that show back when it was the grand daddy of Corvette shows, located in Bloomington.
If they fail to try to bring back swap vendors, it will never grow like it used to be. They should damn near give swap spaces away in order to bring back the swap meet. It brings in gate revenue and helps to grow the event.
Unfortunately, the emphasis seems to be only on the auction and judging. It's turned into a C5-C6 show of sorts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 895
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From: toledo ohio
I couldn't agree more. I started going in 2004 and have gone every year since, but I doubt I'm going to go this year. Even in the short time I've gone I've watched it degrade into only late model cars, mostly C5 and C6. I'm not sure if it has to do with gas prices, the economy, or just the security of driving a reliable car, but the show just isn't the same. I can get the same experience at the Chevy dealership across the street from me. Heck, I have a better time visiting Proteam, and they're half an hour away as opposed to 4 hours away!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Plainfield IL
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I was going to that show back when it was the grand daddy of Corvette shows, located in Bloomington.
If they fail to try to bring back swap vendors, it will never grow like it used to be. They should damn near give swap spaces away in order to bring back the swap meet. It brings in gate revenue and helps to grow the event.
Unfortunately, the emphasis seems to be only on the auction and judging. It's turned into a C5-C6 show of sorts.
2011 was my "first" B/G. I've been into the Street Rod scene for nearly 30 years and I LOVE swap meets, but I was dissapointed that not many vendors, both new and/or used, were there for C4 fans. You could buy about anything for C5 & C6 cars!
I'll go back but I hope they can re-stimulate this iconic event.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Just like everything I suspect. They've managed to turn an enthusiasts event into one they are only interested in greenbacks.
I hope it works for the vette enthusiast
I hope it works for the vette enthusiast
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
I went to a number of them when they were in Bloomington. I missed about 15 years when I lived in Arizona, then attended the last few at St. Charles.
I think it has gone downhill too. I used to really like the swap meet but that has changed. I hope the move to Champaign might help bring it back.
I also noticed that the for sale lot from 20 years ago had a lot of "medium" priced cars that were nice drivers. It seems like the last few years there have only been some overpriced cars or some crude cars needing restoration or just fixing.
I also liked the Friday afternoon road trip. Last year they didn't have it. I suspect that the Chicago traffic would make it tough to do, so I hope that the Champaign site might be able to bring it back.
Good luck to them at the new site. I would like to see it come back as an enthusiast event again.
I think it has gone downhill too. I used to really like the swap meet but that has changed. I hope the move to Champaign might help bring it back.
I also noticed that the for sale lot from 20 years ago had a lot of "medium" priced cars that were nice drivers. It seems like the last few years there have only been some overpriced cars or some crude cars needing restoration or just fixing.
I also liked the Friday afternoon road trip. Last year they didn't have it. I suspect that the Chicago traffic would make it tough to do, so I hope that the Champaign site might be able to bring it back.
Good luck to them at the new site. I would like to see it come back as an enthusiast event again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
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From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I will go, I always do. I just hope the vendors we have on the forum see some of our responses. Two years in a row I have went looking for C4 stuff and came away empty handed. C5 & C6 parts are plentiful as are C3's & C2's.
