Nationwide show?

[cdennisg]

[DAIZEE]

Rigs: have you seen the thread in Vanagon/Eurovan on BBB, Az. Perhaps some of the members would let you borrow some pics for promo feelers. There are a few panaroma pics. All kinds of VW attended this annual gathering last weekend. It's a big deal as you can tell if you go thru the pics. Just a thought and a heads up
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83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 97 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (for sale)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

Mental Health issues affect us all. Ignorance is not bliss. It's up to each of us to educate ourselves.

[Riqs57]

I just got back into town after an extended business trip and I see this topic has been busy with discussion. I truly think this can be an epic event. I have been to a lot of shows including Europe and have seen entire towns basically taken over by VW's. Any of you that have been to the European Bug In in Chimay Belgium will understand that. The towns folk do not seem to mind when all the participants spend their money in their shops, cafe's, hotels, motels, bed and breakfast and pubs. Some towns look forward to the time of year when events like this come to their town, it stimulates their economy. Events of this size also allow for temporary hiring of local citizens to work the event. Food vendors as well as restaurants and grocery stores also benefit.

This event will be an epic event if all goes well. There is a lot of planning and organizing but I know theres a bunch of people that have experience and the know how to put this show on. The VW community is full of wonderful people always willing to lend a hand at whatever comes up. That has been my experience anyway. Since I started this thread, several of you have shown an interest in helping so theres a start.

I am looking into all sorts of possibilities and have considered contacting VWOA. It would be an excellent opportunity for them to show off their latest models and get involved with the vintage VW scene. I appreciate all the feedback that has been discussed so far.

It is the journey that seems to drive us to pack up our VW's and go. It doesn't matter if it is for the day or if it is for months. All of us that read posts on the Samba that discuss epic journeys enjoy reading these stories and think about doing it ourselves. For some, including myself, it reminds us of the simpler times when getting in our bus and taking off for the weekend on a road trip was great. For some others, it poses a challenge, just like the people driving across country or the great people that participate in the Shasta Snow Trip each year. It's events like that that get us going and want to do a trip like it.

A show of this scale would be more than a car show, it would be an event. It would be a destination that we could look forward to throughout the year. I look forward to other shows throughout the year but this would certainly be the big one.

Let's keep the discussion going and please, share your thoughts.

[vwracerdave]

You are absolutly wasting your time contacting VWoA. There is no chance they will sponsor a event.
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2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63

Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos

[60vwnewengland]

Kansas City, MO? It's smack dab in the middle of the US, centrally located... They have a huge convention center. Flights are cheap to MCI (kansas city).

Plus it wouldn't be a VW show if there were no fubu-q. Kansas City is home of bbq, so we might as well bring the two together. VW's and BBQ!
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'59 Swivel Seat Kombi

[Riqs57]

I think your right but I give it the benefit of a doubt. There are others that would probably like to sponsor an event like this. McGuires maybe? And of course all the VW related sponsors.

Definatly need the BBQ action, especially in Kansas.

[DAIZEE]

Well we all know one thing for sure. If you don't approach VWofA, they sure won't be interested.

Rather than a head on approach, think of an innovative way, perhaps using their history past, present, future to ENTICE them into some kind of participation. Think of a novel approach, possibly for all potential sponsors./ Just thoughts again.
_________________
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 97 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (for sale)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

Mental Health issues affect us all. Ignorance is not bliss. It's up to each of us to educate ourselves.

[cdennisg]

Does anyone here know anyone in VWoA's PR department? It may be best to plant the bug with an energetic lower level employee to start that ball rolling.
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[drscope]

[kingkarmann]

Inclusion is exactly why I was drawn to VW’s in the first place.
It seems to me that there are many here that can buy, maintain and enjoy most any vintage they would care to own but are drawn to the VW family.

Family is inclusive not exclusive

Focus on the intent of the original idea. “Has anyone ever thought about organizing a national show?”

I think a previous poster brought this up.
Doesn’t Effingham Illinois’ Mid America’s Funfest fit the definition and a central location of a national show? I have only attended one but regardless of what many think about his VW business he seems to have the heart and certainly the locale to do what you are asking. Why not contact them? I believe they would certainly embrace the idea.

[rjonas]

A Nationwide VW show is a great idea...but to be on par with "The Classic" or the bikers "Sturgis" it needs to grow for many, many years.
Although...with the Samba, Facebook etc... a giant show in the middle of nowhere in 2012 that alot of VW owners would flock to is a good possibility.

KC is a centrally located town large enough for plenty of lodging/camping yet small enough to allow VW's to take over for a weekend. Good active VW crowd there too. Drag strip is a plus for sure. I think KC has another drag strip that is not closing...???

IMO...a giant VW show needs:
Location for lots of VW's..duh
Lodging / camping
Bands...lots of live bands
Dragstrip
Food
Outhouses
And it would really help if it was....FREE!
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1965 21-Deluxe-SWR/BG "Sonora"
1973 Type-181 Thing "Velma"

www.aircooledmissouri.com

[DAIZEE]

so what is the cost of FREE !
_________________
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 97 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (for sale)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

Mental Health issues affect us all. Ignorance is not bliss. It's up to each of us to educate ourselves.

[Texas1960]

Topeka, KS is not too far from Kansas City and it has a drag strip and road coarse. Lots of parking too from what I remember. Probably a little smaller than Kansas City but still enough lodging to keep everyone happy.
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'60 Euro bug
'60 panel bus

[Riqs57]

I put an inquiry to Wyandotte fairgrounds in Kansas City. It is a large facility with enough space for camping, there are exhibit halls for vendors and show cars, stages for entertainment, restrooms with shower facilities, vendor booths for all the food and drinks, offices, power hook ups and various other out building for extra space. I am yet to hear from them but I think their offices may be closed for the winter.

There are other fairgrounds but I like the idea of something closer to Kansas City. There is another fairground with camping facilities about 200 miles away in a city called Winfield but its out in the country.

The Kansas City location is closer to the drag strip which would be great. Still looking into other possible locations. There is also Eldorado State Park which has 1000 camp sites, half with hook ups and the other half is primitive camping. Its surrounded by a man made lake with fishing and hunting but it is located down in southern Kansas.

The fairground idea is prime as it allows for camping and shows so let me know what you think. I am thinking we coordinate a few fund raisers into this event, it may draw a few volunteers for set up and running the event.

[vwracerdave]

Just curious.......

As a promoter, what do you think the total cost of this event would be to produce?
_________________
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63

Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos

[Riqs57]

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I am in the initial stages of planning. I am aware of costs associated with shows and I do believe this sort of show would take some serious funds to put on. The key is to get the local citizens behind it as well as some serious sponsors. There are quite a few international as well as state side sponsors but there are other industry giants that I would target as sponsors such as McGuiers, Mothers and all the others. This is all just a vision right now but the feedback has been overwhelming. My inbox has never been so full. The feedback has been both positive and negative but that's o.k., I want to hear it from both points of view. The idea of this particular show is quite different from all the others and is in no way trying to dis-credit other shows.

[iowegian]

Winfield Kansas sounds absolutely perfect.

[Riqs57]

I found Winfield on the net and that place has quite a bit of space and buildings and also has camping with facilities. The nearby town of Winfield seems picturesque and there are several attractions around town as well. The aerial picture of the fairgrounds show it to be a rural setting but not far from town. I do have an email into the folks there in Winfield as well but have not heard back from them yet.

[Riqs57]

What shows are happening around the states in October?

[cdennisg]