Are Nationals about Hudsons anymore?
So when the cars and people are gone during the day it kinds of feels like why did I pack all this stuff and spends days getting ready to show items that nobody looks at anymore. I do understand the at the age of people are playing apart and they may not need swap items anymore but just to have people look and have there cars there to be viewed is why I go.
If we don't focus on the "event" I see trouble in the future. Am I off base here?
Comments
-
Ditto.0
-
Ditto0
-
Ditto0
-
I think I feel the same way. One or two shorter tours is Ok, but wasting a good part of each day with tours is counterproductive to having a good meet. I come to the meet to see the cars, visit friends, and buy/ sell parts.
And drink beer!Ditto.
0 -
I guess I would agree for the most part. Of course, no one is required to go on all of the tours, or even ANY of the tours for that matter. I think most folks will go on one, maybe two and then spend the rest of their time at the hotel (or eating nearby). Options are good, and I know my wife, in particular can get "carred-out" after two or three days (maybe less).0
-
In the mid 70's , the tours were for the kids and wives.
Used to be no time for it for the guys , to many parts and cars to look at.
I've never gone on a tour , just the tour of the parking lot.
About three years ago someone predicted the Hudson meet would be about guys
sitting in the Air conditioned buses , showing photos of their cars at home in the garage.
But the Hudson swap isn't the only place it changed. 10 years ago , there were 3 or 4 swap meets a month in my area. Now there are 3 or 4 a year , half of the stuff isn't car parts.
Internet and economy?
0 -
So would it be of interest or opinion in membership that the organizers of the National bump an extra day(s) either before or after the 'meet' with some of these tours? Would this encourage folks to come early or stay late in the area to explore the surroundings and thus leave a couple of must days for everyone at the meet itself? Just thinking out loud.0
-
2015 Nationals schedule in WTN
I was a little surprised to see not 1 but 2 tours each day. I was also surprised that it appears these were scheduled in place of any and all tech seminars this year. IIRC last year has seminars in the morning and tours in the afternoon. But I wasn't able to attend last year.
I love Colorado and I attend a show there each year for the IH-International Harvesters community that I am also a part of. The scenery is an absolute must to take in while your there. So I understand the desire of the local club wanting to show off what they have. It just seems to have taken the place of most everything else.
I understand when vendors make the trip and take the time to setup all their merchandise, only to have the parking lot empty all day long while people are on the tours, it can make the trip not worth the effort.
They could in the future just show up like everyone else and enjoy the show and then go home. Then we pick up the phone and order a part and pay shipping and never meet the guy on the other end.
Or they can just decide to stay home completely the next year.
I drive to about 3 shows a year and fly to the rest. I simply can't afford to take the time away from my shop to drive to every event. The Nationals are almost a week long and that doesn't include travel time. So if a vender drives in, he is losing almost 2 weeks out of his shop. I'm a one man shop!
I understand a lot of the members here are retired and have the time to enjoy the hobby now, and I hope to be there soon. But if there is going to be any new/young blood coming in, you have to think about them also.
These things just scratch the surface of all that is involved but just figured I would give my $.02
No matter how it plays out, I'll still have my Hudson and I will still build a 308 with headers and a twin H manifold and fuel injection and I will still enjoy it. It just has to share time with my 20+ IH's!
0 -
I think Russell has summed it up fairly well. There is no way I could get my wife and kids to go to a meet if there were not things for them to do other than look at cars and parts. At the National in Colorado Springs there will be 2 swap meet areas (1 indoors for the "shiny stuff" and 1 outdoors for the "other" stuff). There should be enough parts to keep everyone happy. I will probably have a few trailers full of stuff myself. I live close enough that I can run home and get more stuff to keep the swap space stocked.0
-
I agree with the original post here. I just started attending national meets as an adult in 2012, hadn't been to one since 87 or 88. Friday and Saturday at the last three are pretty quiet, and a ghost town in the swap area. I expect those days would be busiest for the weekend, but there are few people and cars around? We have a great time checking out the local area as a family, but the meet itself seems to lack general activity in the last few dsys. The 2015 meet overlaps the kids starting school, so I won't make that one. I'm excited about Chattanooga in 2016 though!0
-
Ditto !!!!! What Ken said !!
0 -
Ditto!
I agree completely with Russ. I go to see the cars, get parts, and talk 'Hudson'. I could care less about 'bus tours', etc..
Suggestion:
Russ russmaas) - Post this on the HET CLUB Forum;
Everyone else - Mention this to your Regional Directors;
IMO, we need to get back to the basics of being a car club, and 're-discover' our roots.
0 -
Russmass & 46HudsonPU,Amen!Michael0
-
Russ,
I think your comments about dwindling Flea Market Vendors at the National is pretty accurate..Personally, i go to the National primarily to obtain Parts that I cant obtain at local Swap Meets and talk with other Hudson enthusiast's.. Ive learned local residents that work thru the week complain that the Flea Mkrt is closed Saturday morning. I think Vendors not needed at Saturday Meetings should be permitted to be open..
.
However, Tours of each National Area are necessary to attract spouse's & members not looking for Parts to have something else to do to pass time. Going forward, there should be more thought given to the effort Vendors put in to bring their Goods and better balance Flea Market selling Hrs with Tours. Just my opinion.
0 -
I also agree with some aspects of these posts. But look at it this way. I've been attending nationals, more or less, since 1988. I have noticed that it seems like there are fewer and fewer vendors selling parts every year. But, taken in contrast, this ain't 1975 anymore!!! Original parts are pretty much sold out - hence the rise of people making repro parts, and thank you all for that.
Looking at it from another point is motel costs. Yes, prices have risen over the past 50 years of Hudson nationals. Some of us don't have the money to make the trip. Take French Lick as an example - beautiful venue, great parking area, not to many vendors tho - not like in the past. But that said there is the cost. If I had not had a room share I would not have been there. $140 a night is NOT in my budget As it was I showed up Wed afternoon and to be honest I enjoyed the shortened week. I have discovered, and maybe it's because I'm getting older, that 4 days is about max for a meet - two or three days and you've seen all the cars, gotten together with old friends and made a few new ones and that's about it.
And this brings up another point about French Lick. To be brutal, tho the venue was beautiful and being an older hotel I loved the architecture but it was simply to damn big!!!! There were a lot of folks there I'd like to have seen, sat down and talk about Hudsons, but never did see them tho I know they were there. Despite the availability of golf carts there was to much walking because they didn't have schedule so weren't available when needed.
In planning a national I think the room rate needs to be kept in the $95 to $105 range, if possible. One national I attended I, for some reason, inquired about room rates - I got a room that was $15 below the club rate. Does that make sense?? A lot of folks are opting for nearby, lower priced motels and one can't blame them. I realize, after a conversation by a meet organizer at a national I went to, that there are costs for such as club store spaces, meeting rooms, etc. So that does add up to higher hotel costs. I'm not so much concerned about that - I stay at the host hotel simply to have my room handy so I can go kick back and lay down for a nap, should I desire same. In any event I won't be in Colorado Springs - from here in Memphis it's a two day drive so I'd have to get a motel coming and going, not to mention the driving - I'm getting to the point where it's a chore to drive across town!!! The hotel rate seems reasonable, however.
I don't take tours - again it's hard enough putting together the cash for the room. And tours don't really interest me - I come for the cars and the people. Of course if they are out running around on tours we don't really get together. Oh well.
That's my soap box for tonight.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
0 -
French Lick was very Nice and they did try to utilize the shuttle when possible because of the vast distance.. I rode it couple times myself and the Free Water at different areas was a real enjoyable Treat..
0 -
I guess I would agree for the most part. Of course, no one is required to go on all of the tours, or even ANY of the tours for that matter. I think most folks will go on one, maybe two and then spend the rest of their time at the hotel (or eating nearby). Options are good, and I know my wife, in particular can get "carred-out" after two or three days (maybe less).
Russell is right. Those who don't want to go on the tours, don't sign-up!
0 -
Chiming in to support Lance. There are equal numbers of Hudson car owners outside the club as in. Over the past 3 years attempt to recruit HET owners has been met with no or limited interest in joining a national or local club. The advent of the Internet cell phones and social media allows almost instant contact with parts vendors and like minded car owners. The days of going to meets to find parts are all but over. Seeing friends is more likely to
Occur at regional or chapter meets. After 50 years of Hudsoning... I focus on local vis a vis national events. Besides if my wife isn't happy my life is not as I want it... Old guys rant off0 -
When. they plan the last HET national meet , it should be in Detroit
I agree with Lance and OldFarmer , young guys are interested in the cars and getting them going.
There are plenty of ways for contact in todays world. I joined HET in 1971 , nothing is the same.
Never expected it to stay the same. I dropped out when gas hit $2 a gallon , decided I
was going to stay local .
Maybe there should be a sub club for venders , so they can stay relevant at the meets.
Maybe line up a shipping outfit for special rates on heavy items , etc.
0 -
I look for the best of both worlds. I like to do stuff local and then I like the regionals and the nationals. Sometimes I have to pick and choose depending on distance to be traveled. Parts are another thing. As I am building a car I seldom save a wants list to use when I go to a national. When I need a part I get on the network and find what I need. I save the national swap meet for those things that I would like to have but do not really need--just want. Most often that want list is too expensive and I end up passing. I suppose that I fall into the "old guy group" because today it is more about people, conversation, and cheap food somewhere near. I would rather sit in an easy chair in the shade and mill about in the swap area than take off on a long drive or walk about in a area where in the past 70 years I did not care enough about to seek out and visit.0
-
I DON'T THINK THE PLANNING WAS TO GOOD FOR THIS COMING NATIONAL. THE SWAP MEET TIMES SUCK WHEN I GO TO THE NATIONAL MEET I WANT TO FLEA MARKET TOURS ARE NICE FOR THE KIDS AND LADYS BUT FOR ME LET ME IN THE FLEA MARKET BUT THE WAY THINGS ARE PLANNED ON THIS COMING MEET I WILL BE THERE BY MY SELF I WILL NOT BE GOING TO THIS NATIONAL FIRST OFF WITH THE MEET BEING IN AUG. THAT MEANS MY GRAND KIDS ( WHO LOVE TO GO TO THE NATIONAL MEETS ) THEY HAVE BEEN TO 7 AND THERE ONLY 14 YEARS OLD WILL BE IN FOOTBALL CAMP AND BAND CAMP AND IF THEY CAN'T GO IT TAKE THE FUN OUT OF IT FOR US0
-
Bettie and I have only been to a few nationals and are looking forward to next year in Colorado Springs. Our first was San Mateo, Ca. and was thrilled to see so many Hudsons and parts. I guess we are lucky not to have experienced previous National so we still have the thrill to look forward to seeing more Hudsons and parts and all the rest that goes with it. Especially meeting new people.
I remember reading on the forum prior to past Nationals complaints about possible bad weather, distance, or whatever about an up coming National and found myself beginning to find reasons for not going. But, almost at the last minute we decided to go and had a great time.
If your still wearing the old hat then put on a new hat and enjoy what's new coming. It's not fair to compare one National to another National. Each is unique to its own. Unfortunately, some can't attend every National but please don't try to discourage us from attending when possible wherever it might be. Many
times I wish I had found out about the Hudson Club when it started and had the chance to enjoy what many of you have experienced.
I hope to see you next year at Colorado Springs for the International Hudson Meet. It will be great in its own right. It will be different as all past Meets have probably been. Forget excuses, just go and have a good time.
Lee O'Dell.
0 -
Since our first National in '89, my wife and I have enjoyed the Nationals. A location that perhaps we've not seen before, lots of Hudsons we haven't seen before, things in the flea market that I didn't know I needed, and old . . . er, long time friends we see only at the Nationals. She gave up her seat to our son this year, but that's definitely not happening in 2015! When the meet was to be in Seattle, I suggested it was a long way to travel, and maybe we should pass on it that year. Her response: "Absolutely not . . . I want to see all my "once a year" Hudson friends!"
0 -
Having never been I don't have a clue,BUT I do have kids/grandkid in Colorado Springs so we will see now. Look forward to putting faces with the names of the forum posters, plus I really need the deadline to have my 49 back on the road...
0 -
Lee, I agree with your thoughts and will see you in Colorado Springs if not before.
Bob & Susan
0
Categories
- 36.8K All Categories
- 97 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 14 Upcoming Events
- 82 Essex Super 6
- 28.5K HUDSON
- 537 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 992 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 171 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 72 Hudson 8
- 43 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 597 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 76 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos