It's a combined show of 'Horsepower and Hot Rods along with Corvette Expo
Horsepower is featuring the Camaro.
This type show neeeds more than Corvettes to continue (IMHO).
Personally I enjoy looking at any specialty/muscle car, I understand some don't, but frankly I'll put up with a couple of Mustangs if it allows me to enjoy a gathering of venders and displays of a failrly large group of Vettes too.

 

Are you gonna be there anyway? Always have admired your Vette. Love to see it in person. It is truly one of a kind

 

Originally Posted by Z06-JIM
Tried to register for the show last week but was to late and already filled up... ..Oh well, maybe next year....

Jim
Sent you a pm. You can use my registration if they will let you. I cannot make it. My son is getting married in two weeks and lots to do to help them get ready.

 

Thanks Rick, I'm defiantly interested and will give you a call...

 

Leaving Thursday. Hopefully, no rain going down......Then let it pour....

 

I just got back from up there. the building is huge compared to the one at Chilhowee. The auction tent and sales corral will be outside, but it looks like almost everything else will be inside. Cars were arriving today, but becsuse of the logistics of moving fehicles inside the building there is a definite order thatthey are requiring for the venders and show cars. If you drive your Vette they're having special parking for up to 95 of them right outside the door. This should be the best Expo in years.

BTW I was helping to shuttle sales cars up there from Knoxville. There's going to be some rally nice rides in the Auction.

 

I take Fridays off twice a year just to go to this thing. Really looking fwd to seeing it in the new place in Sevierville. Be there at 0900hrs or be square!! I sure hope a vendor shows up with some chrome C6Z06 wheels........he will be short a set after Friday. See you enthusiasts there.

 

Ill be headin over friday and saturday. Knoxville has always been a tradition to me. I have been going with my dad since before I could walk. We've had a lot of success at the fair grounds selling parts and more recently cars, and picking up several good deals on cars over the years. I am very interested to see how this new venue does. I hope for the best but change isn't always a good thing. Guess we will find out this weekend.

 

I'm going to drive up Friday (close to 600 miles) and plan on spending all day Saturday. I am anxious to see the new venue and I hear the Cooper's do a fine job.

Yep...taking a day off for me means going to yet another Car Show!

Life is good!

BA

 

I'm thinking about driving down for the day on Saturday, looking forward to posts here from you Friday attendees as to whether there are any C3 bumper cars in the car corral that would be worth a drive to check out.

 

There ae several C-3 bumpers in the auction. The sales corral is unknown until show time. I know Byron will have a really fine 69 BB there that is NCRS material.

 

We'd better start praying for good weather or our cruise is screwed. The weather forecast starting to look bad! Still looking forward to seeing everyone!

 

My dad took a red 86 and a maroon 72 up today we are trying to sell. Ill be going in the morning. He said there seemed to be a pretty good crowd for set up day.

 

Congrat's on the upcoming wedding Rick!!! I'll eat a big ol' plate of greasy chicken & stuff while I think about all the cool Vette's I'm looking at that you'll be missing.
See you soon!
Andy

 

Got a few pics today.


Link:

http://www.highperformancetoys.com/f...ad.php?t=12129

 

Just got back from day two of the expo. Just thought I would share my thoughts on the new venue. There is plenty of good, and plenty of bad about it in my opinion. I've been going to the expo's since the early 90's so I've seen the best and worst of them.
The new building is huge and looks great.
There was plenty of for sale cars
New auction company seemed to be on top of things
Plenty of spectator parking
About the same amount of vendors
Tons of people
Less individuals with parts there
Less how cars because there was not enough room
They charge you five dollars to park even if you buy car corral spaces? This morning between everyone in the truck we had four car corral spots and an auction spot. Exhibitors should get a parking pass.
There were only two places to eat in the whole show. The lines were outrageous.
Oh and here is the menu
Bottled soda 3 bucks
Hamburger and slaw 6 bucks
sausage biscuit 3 bucks
hot dogs 3 bucks
Hardly any variety, poor service, and I shouldn't have to say anything about the prices
The car corral from what I saw was pretty much dead. There was hardly any money moving around and what was was between dealers.
Car corral was full which on one hand is great but on the other sucks because there is no room to grow.
IMO they took two steps forward and one and a half back. They have some improving to do for sure. Only time will tell.

 

I heard that there was very limited parking and that the area was much smaller than before. It sounds like you assessment of it moving forward and backwards may be right on.. Dave

 

Just got back from day two of the expo. Just thought I would share my thoughts on the new venue. There is plenty of good, and plenty of bad about it in my opinion. I've been going to the expo's since the early 90's so I've seen the best and worst of them.
The new building is huge and looks great.
There was plenty of for sale cars
New auction company seemed to be on top of things
Plenty of spectator parking
About the same amount of vendors
Tons of people
Less individuals with parts there
Less how cars because there was not enough room
They charge you five dollars to park even if you buy car corral spaces? This morning between everyone in the truck we had four car corral spots and an auction spot. Exhibitors should get a parking pass.
There were only two places to eat in the whole show. The lines were outrageous.
Oh and here is the menu
Bottled soda 3 bucks
Hamburger and slaw 6 bucks
sausage biscuit 3 bucks
hot dogs 3 bucks
Hardly any variety, poor service, and I shouldn't have to say anything about the prices
The car corral from what I saw was pretty much dead. There was hardly any money moving around and what was was between dealers.
Car corral was full which on one hand is great but on the other sucks because there is no room to grow.
IMO they took two steps forward and one and a half back. They have some improving to do for sure. Only time will tell.[/QUOTE]

That's great feed back and I have passed it on to Byron.
FWIW Here are some of his comments about the coments (as I understood him)

The new building is huge and looks great. Great, he hopes everyones feels that way
There was plenty of for sale cars Thee may have been a few fewer.

New auction company seemed to be on top of things The auction worked well most seemed pleased, roughly 30% sold under hammer, more in lot following auction time. (I helped with auction and it was very well organized save a few glitches.)

About the same amount of vendors true

Less individuals with parts there E-bay seems to have an affect on the individual cleaning out his garage.

Less show cars because there was not enough room
Actually there were actually a few more than last spring. They were much closer together and may have appeared that way. There were also a few show cars placed in[B] the NCRS tent due to building restrictions.

They charge you five dollars to park even if you buy car corral spaces This morning between everyone in the truck we had four car corral spots and an auction spot. Exhibitors should get a parking pass.
This will be addressed and corrected.

There were only two places to eat in the whole show. The lines were outrageous. There is no question this was a problem. As a side comment, the inside food court closed early on Saturday. The food vendrs were restricted to operations run by the 'Events Center' and outside venders were not allowed by the 'Events Senter'. This situation will be addressed. Byron commented that this was their (EC) first large event and they were (frankly) overwhelmed of the needs of Expo, despite being told of the expected crowds.
Oh and here is the menu
Bottled soda 3 bucks
Hamburger and slaw 6 bucks
sausage biscuit 3 bucks
hot dogs 3 bucks Byron felt (and I agree) that the food wasn't cheap, however it was not out of line for this type event considering their was no competition and a 'captive audience'.
Hardly any variety, poor service, and I shouldn't have to say anything about the prices yup, unprepared staffing etc. by the 'events center'

The car corral from what I saw was pretty much dead. There was hardly any money moving around and what was was between dealers. There is no known way to predict what sales occur in corral. Everything from bad stock market on Friday to the economy in general could be reasons,
Car corral was full which on one hand is great but on the other sucks because there is no room to grow. Byron didn't comment, and I didn't get much time to observe that portion of the event.

IMO they took two steps forward and one and a half back. They have some improving to do for sure. Only time will tell.

Byron and Ronnie really appreciate your comments and any more that other folks have, I'll be sure he sees them. They will have a meeting with their staff and discuss what changes need to occur and how to make them.

Please tell us the good, the bad, and the ugly.

FWIW, I currently do their web site work, and have been friends with both Byron and Ronnie for years. I am not associated with the event planning any any other way. I do work with the staff at the event as it gives me a better feeling on web site needs and gets me a free pass to the event .

 

Phanni thanks for passing my comments on. If they are willing to address the changes needed and listen to the vendors and be willing to make changes then the show will continue to be a hit. I applaud them for listening and I hope more people will post there feedback on the event. One more comment as far as pricing of the food and drinks I'm not saying the pricing wasn't right on considering, i just think it would better serve the future of the event to keep pricing in line with the prices at Chilhowee and not the prices of a nascar or NHRA event.

 

It was my first visit to Expo and actually, I have never been to a significant Corvette show before. I had heard from some significant vendors that the expo had really diminished in quality and organization.

although I did not find the small piece I was looking for, it was worth the 4 1/5 hour drive. The venue was very nice. There could have been more room for a car show but then again, you can't expect madison square gardens.

I thought the attendance of car show folks was pretty good and the car corral was pretty good. I wished that I could have stayed for the auction but I got there the night before set up.

I do think that there was not enough Vette stuff in the car show, corral and the vendors (particularly in the building. I am estimating that th ecar show and vendors was about 50-60% directly vette related.

I would go again and I do believe it will continue to improve.