Funfest
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 56
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From: Flat Rock Illinois
Funfest
Hey is anyone going to the Corvette Funfest in Effingham? I was there yesterday for the Corvette auction. There were some nice cars went through there. Weather wasn't real bad considering all the rain they had earlier in the week. Going back today to catch some seminars and see what all is there. 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL
Funfest 09
Well other than a bunch of rain and mud, it was a blast this year. Survivor really rocked the house. Always a nice selection of cars to view between the rain.
Yeah the attendance was down and due to the economy Mike had to charge a bit, but you still got more for your money than at most shows.
Can't wait for next year and better weather!!!
Yeah the attendance was down and due to the economy Mike had to charge a bit, but you still got more for your money than at most shows.
Can't wait for next year and better weather!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Attendance was WAY DOWN!! So much so they were giving TWO T-shirts to us cheapskates that ONLY paid $25 to get in,,instead of the one that had been advertised!!Just looking around it was easy to see there were FAR less cars than in the past few years!! Great weather to START the day.The event turned into a mud bog event.We started out on dry ground under one of those portable party gazebos,,in about 20 minutes we were standing in 1" of water. After a dozen of cars funnel through an exit it turned into a mud bog or water pool in some of the entrances. This time I was glad I have a Blackwing instead of a Vararam
!!Will be interesting to hear the Motorworks spin on attendance!!
!!Will be interesting to hear the Motorworks spin on attendance!!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Olive Branch MS
FAIL!
No other way to say it really.
Attendance was WAY DOWN!! First year I was there, cars were lined up almost to the interstate to get in. State Police directing traffic all day to get a good flow of traffic. NONE NADDA of that this year!
Was easy to see if you was there, and simply looked out over the horizion.
The chrges for spectators was over the top also.
Saturday they were charging them $10 a head just to come in park and look around!
A real simple way to see the impact that there charges effected it, was to just look at the pile of exhausts they had laying out thare that had been changed. Yes ONE pile! In years past there was as large a pile near each vendors area!
This year one pile, and was probably smaller than each vendor had in past years!!
And while talking about vendors..... Way fewer there than in the past! Did anyone see a supercharger , nos vendor there?? Thought not! And that can not be blamed on the POOR weather!
You REAP what you SOW!
No other way to say it really.
Attendance was WAY DOWN!! First year I was there, cars were lined up almost to the interstate to get in. State Police directing traffic all day to get a good flow of traffic. NONE NADDA of that this year!
Was easy to see if you was there, and simply looked out over the horizion.
The chrges for spectators was over the top also.
Saturday they were charging them $10 a head just to come in park and look around!
A real simple way to see the impact that there charges effected it, was to just look at the pile of exhausts they had laying out thare that had been changed. Yes ONE pile! In years past there was as large a pile near each vendors area!
This year one pile, and was probably smaller than each vendor had in past years!!
And while talking about vendors..... Way fewer there than in the past! Did anyone see a supercharger , nos vendor there?? Thought not! And that can not be blamed on the POOR weather!
You REAP what you SOW!
Last edited by DocAcumen; Sep 28, 2009 at 05:56 AM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington Illinois
I agree that attandance was WAY down, and there were far fewer vendors there. In the past, Corvettes were lined up solid from I-57 to the parking area on MAM's grounds. When our small caravan (5 cars) approached Effingham on I-57, we only saw one other Corvette south of Champaign Saturday mid-morning! Many of the food vendors were standing around with no business. The parking area was only about 1/2 full. Much different feel this year. I'm sure MAM will blame the weather (which was just fine until Saturday afternoon) or the economy. Truth is, they hacked off a lot of people by charging admission for a "customer appreciation" event. They need to find a better way to handle the financial end of the event soon, or Funfest may shrivel up and die, which would be terrible. They are managing to ruin a good thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
I agree that attandance was WAY down, and there were far fewer vendors there. In the past, Corvettes were lined up solid from I-57 to the parking area on MAM's grounds. When our small caravan (5 cars) approached Effingham on I-57, we only saw one other Corvette south of Champaign Saturday mid-morning! Many of the food vendors were standing around with no business. The parking area was only about 1/2 full. Much different feel this year. I'm sure MAM will blame the weather (which was just fine until Saturday afternoon) or the economy. Truth is, they hacked off a lot of people by charging admission for a "customer appreciation" event. They need to find a better way to handle the financial end of the event soon, or Funfest may shrivel up and die, which would be terrible. They are managing to ruin a good thing.
I can remember when it took 30 min. to GET to the highway exit !! I'd be surprised if there were 1/2 the cars from the last two years!!
