Nice pictures

 

Looks like a nice show, great pics and variety, I love those restomods

 

Well,,you ARE partly right!! Haven't spent much in the past year or two,,budget is kinda tight right now!! But in the past I've almost totally rebuilt my shark almost exclusively with MAM parts,,as well as paying around 5 grand for a Backyard Buddy that I purchased at a vendor display at a prior Fun Fest . No I didn't throw away the shirts,,and the ONLY reason we got two this year was because there were SOO many left over they were giving them away!! I'll give them their FREE advertising when I wear them(still in the wrapper as for now!!As for non vetters in the past they charged $40 per car for non vets. Till this year I have always bought something at FF,,and the only reason I didn't this year as we were waiting till later in the day,,and then the storm hit,,and by the time we got back to them,,the vendors had closed up shop!! SO before you go throwing speculative allegations around ,,Best to have an idea of what the facts are before you throw stones!!! Bottom line LESS VENDORS,WAY LOWER ATTENDANCE!! FunFest was a shadow of what it used to be. It was VERY evident in the muffler take off pile.They used to have 3 or 4 piles ALL bigger than the ONE that was there!! It is quite apparent that they really only want to cater to the big buck folks that want to pop for $250 a person to have "lunch with Mike"!! So be it!! They are already advertising "sign up for 2010!! $25,$50,and $100 entrants get only 1 shirt If you want to pop for $500 you'll get TWO shirt!! Unless there is going to be some GANG BUSTER show We will DEFINITELY not be there,,as well as most of the folks I know,,our club spot will be pretty empty,,some will go,,but not as many!!

 

Great pics! I want that ZR1

-Adam

Corvettes of Dallas

 

This isn't an attack on you personally. I can certainly understand some of your points. I still have difficulty thinking such a fuss is made over $25. Can you think of ANY other event that can host 10,000 plus vehicles, give out goodie bags worth ANYTHING, seminars, and entertainment the caliber Funfest has FOR FREE??? NOT with today's economy!!
Add to that the crappy weather and pushing the event a week later than is normally held and you can't expect to have the same attendance. Rumor had it Funfest was pushed back a week so it would allow those that went to the NCM event Labor Day week-end another week between events. With other events like the Route 66 Festival in Springfield held the same week-end as Funfest this year I know several that missed Funfest. Next year it is back on the regular week-end. Also since everyone has a buyer's number at Midamerica they can track how much you spend throughout the year, so maybe if you spend a certain amount, you get a discount or free entrance for Funfest. Whatever happens you can rest assured everyone at MidAmerica will do what needs to be done to make Funfest 2010 a success!!

PS Not sure but I don't believe those in the past paid $40 to park their cars during the day, only when they came back for the concert at night. Also know some of those that came in Suburbans or vans with 6-8 people so it stilled worked out to only $5-8 a head.

 

MidAmerica would be very short sighted if they view this event by dollars spent by people on a given day. When I go to events like this I am looking to spend money and have mods in mind, but you can't judge everybody by that. I know guys that go to shows get ideas come back and order complete kits or more than they intended to buy when they get back and think through the project.
Bottom line, this thing sounds like it was botched from the get go. Bad idea to charge, bad timing (economy), rude parkers, and overpriced food. On the positive side, nice cars.
I think alot of people want to make it sound like it was the $25 (mainly the people that attended the event). I bet you over 90% of the people that attended the "free" event last year had the intention of spending at least $25 that day (tshirt, accessories, mods, etc).
Last point, I have bought some items early in my vette modding career from MidAmerica, but it sure is hard to continuously buy from them when they are significantly higher in price and shipping time is equal on most mods that I have purchased.

 

Their prices are among the highest(maybe not always THE highest,,but up there with them),,not to mention he is starting to take over manufacturing some of his own products. Maybe his investing in this stuff is cutting into the huge profits he used to make. The whole feel of the event for the past few years has changed,,more like hooray for me,,and catering to the big buck crowd!! All the VIP stuff is kind of a put off and feels almost like a bit of a put down.Cough up the cash and get to hang out with Mike,,,no thanks!!

 

Let me say something regarding the so called "rude parkers". First off, the parkers were not from Mid-America, they were volunteers from local corvette clubs. They were under the direction of MA employees on how and where they wanted the cars parked, the rest was up to us. Yes, I was one of those parkers. If being rude is trying to get people to park where MA wanted them to and not where they wanted to, to try and keep some sort of order. If being rude is trying to keep the cars a safe distance from the other cars and if being rude is trying to keep from getting run over by that person that's not paying attention to the people that are directing. Then I guess I 'm guilty of being rude. If I came across that way, I apologize. But for those people that think they can park anywhere they want or don't have a clue as to what they're doing or the ones that practically ran over the parkers with the noodles, you should trade that corvette in on a tricycle.

 

Much of what we "know" is actually something heard from a friend or from a friend of a friend or read on a "forum" and may or may be not actual.

"WHO" was actually the person or group of people that were treated "so rudely"???? As John pointed out our club, Coles County Corvette Club, was responsible for parking cars on Friday (and some volunteered again on Saturday because they, Midamerica, was shorthanded). I have heard a couple "comments" about the "checkerboard" parking just so it would look like there were more people there. This is a first!! I can't believe ANY Corvette owner would "BITCH" because the parkers left an empty parking spot on each side of their Corvette!! COME ON NOW!! For those that believe the parkers just wonder around out there without rhyme or reason they ACTUALLY have spots painted on the ground to be used to "guide" the Vettes in. Amazingly many drivers STILL found a way to bump against many parkers legs or brush past them. Try standing in a parking lot sometimes armed with a "noodle" and direct traffic!! Let me add this: MIKE, MIDAMERICA AND THE PARKERS WANT TO PARK YOUR CORVETTE, YOUR INVESTMENT, JUST AS IF IT WERE OUR OWN!! WE ARE ALL CORVETTE OWNERS, THE PARKING SPOTS ARE LAID OUT IN A MANNER TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF DAMAGE TO ANYONE'S CORVETTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!! There was also talk of parking Corvettes further out. On Friday morning we started parking cars in the first aisle off the main East/West asphalt drive, the drive that runs in front of the burnout pit and the scratch and dent tent. Virtually as close to the asphalt drive as possible. Some of the first to arrive were probably with-in 100 feet of the scratch and dent tent. We parked cars to the south in line first come first serve. I was not there on Saturday but I doubt it was done any differently and did not hear so after the show. Those complaining about the parkers, I personally know many of those parkers, I know how passionately they are about Corvettes, not ONLY their own but others as well!! I CANNOT ENVISION ANY OF THEM BEING ANYTHING OTHER THAN COURTEOUS WHEN DIRECTING DRIVERS WHERE TO PARK!! What would those that felt they were treated rudely want?? Valet parking, maybe your own personal tent to cover your car?? Parking cars is not rocket science, no matter what venue you are at, you follow those that are guiding you to a spot and turn your car off. Then anytime during the day you return to your car and find it in the same condition it was when you parked it. Better yet maybe you find one of the Celebrity Judges have picked your Corvette as a Celebrity Choice and you get to pull it up on the berm for a picture in next years book. Whatever happens EVERYONE, (you, the volunteer parkers and Midamerica workers) gets to do what the week-end is about, ENJOY being around Corvettes and other Corvette lovers!! And maybe make some new Corvette friends!!

Another point that some seem to be having problems with is lunch with Mike. Did I miss something? Lunch with Mike is a program that is held on the Thursday before the week-end. Those that want to can sit down with Mike and listen to his story, his passion. The fee for this is $50. You would hear how Mike got started, How he sold parts out of the trunk of his car. No one as far as I know has EVER been FORCED to go to this. This is all done willingly. The lunch as I said is held on Thursday so it is out of the way by the week-end. That allowed Mike the freedom to spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday walking the grounds and being around you, his customers. Also started this year was the Fun Run (FREE) that had about 200 Corvettes cruising around the Effingham countryside ending at MidAmerica with Mike personally welcoming every single participant. Many times throughout the week-end you see Mike (and his family, extended as well) out greeting everyone on the grounds. Mike is at MANY of the seminars through out the week-end that ANYONE is allowed into.

Along the lines of paying extra, Mike and Laurie also sponsor the Annual Charity Automotive Art Exhibit that is also held on Thursday night. Tickets are $100 and ALL proceeds go to the local 7-County Foster-Children Program and benefited foster children world wide. Are there some of you that think this shouldn't be allowed either?? Again everyone attends willingly.

Mike has brought in many of those that have written some of the same Corvette books we enjoy, Richard Newton and Dave McLellan among them. They have held book signings or been a part of the seminars ANYONE can walk into during the week-end.

Through out the year Midamerica holds several events, FREE events for not only ANY Corvette owner but also Corvette Clubs. These are ALWAYS fun and enjoyable and we end up learning more about our hobby.

Mike, Laurie and their sons are VERY PASSIONATE about the Corvette hobby. They have built a billion dollar business and MANY in the area depend on them for their living. Much that has been written this year about Funfest I feel has been misguided for whatever reason. For those that truly know the Midamerica team know they go out of their way day in and day out to make our hobby, our love for Corvettes, enjoyable for us all. It's not just about the money, it's about the PASSION!! I hope to see you all at a Corvette event in the future!!

 

Very well stated. Thank you for defending Mike and Mid-America. For those who think the event was "crap", It will be a better event next year without you.

For me, I'll go back every year. The local car shows around here cost $20-$25 and you're there for 5 hours. This event costs $25 and you're there for 4 days!!!!!

Excellent event and excellent value for the money. Plus the fact that I get to take a nice Corvette road trip with all my friends.

A well-deserved thanks to Mike for an excellent event again this year.

 

 

This is the first time our club (16) came to this event and every member was very impressed. They will be back next year and from what I have heard at our next meeting the number of members coming next year could be double. This personally was my second time and I had a great time and spent $ 500.00. Throughout the weekend Mike and his family could be seen everywhere and Laurie personally helped us get a weather vain put together from other weather vains. She got us both drinks for our patience. Keep up the good work Mike and as for the parkers they were polite and helpfull.

 

 

Bill,
Glad to hear you had a GREAT time and you're enjoying your Corvette to the fullest!! Maybe we'll run into each other next year, I'll be one of those with a "noodle"!!
Take care,
Dave "Shooter"

 

Paul,
Glad to hear you and your club had a good time. It's always enjoyable to meet other Corvette owners from outside the U.S., I wish we could have hooked up. Did your club go through Nancy at MA for club parking? If not check into next year. That way if you have to head back to the hotel during the day you still have a parking spot with your group when you return. You'll find Nancy very helpful. It sounds like you were in good hands though. You can't find a better hostess than Laurie. Blake and Michael are really making their presents known at Midamerica also. The entire family does a GREAT job promoting the Corvette hobby.
Take care,
Dave "Shooter"

 

 

Thanks Dave

Yes Nancy looked after all our needs she always answered our e-mails promply. First class organization and $ 25.00 for 4 days is priceless what other show can you go to and meet that many fellow enthusiast and share common grounds

 

 

Sweet pictures...thanks for posting em!! I do believe I spotted a Corvette nip slip!!