Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

A group of us young enthusiasts are looking to have one more big Roadster Show every year to get more participation from the Roadster Community as a whole. But I want to do some polls to see where the most people would be interested in Such a show!!

Man, does not leave much for us right coast folks nor the breadbasket folks, does it?

Denver has been suggested in the past. Might get some of the central and mountain time folks out.

I thought I had put Colorado on there also, but I guess it didn't take, maybe Steve if you see this can you add Colorado to the list??

Lou

Why not Kansas City? In addition to being geographically central there's actually a lot to do, including gambling. Sam

What we are trying to do here is find a place that I agree is geographically tilted towards the West Coast, because I believe that most of the Datsuns imported into the US came through the West Coast Ports, and as we have seen through the registry and other avenues there are many more Roadsters in California than any other State.

Maybe we could start it somewhere like Nevada or Colorado and then Rotate it over the years, as it grows in size and scope!

Another thing I have been thinking is whether it should be limited to just Roadsters, or maybe all Classic Datsuns, 1973 and older??

I suppose it depends on whether or not one wants to increase the number of attendees. Sam

I have been thinking about this. If you want to have a truly National event, then thinking about the convenience of just the west coast guys is rather narrow minded. To be truly National, then it should be either central (Kansas) or an event that is a travelling event (like SAAC does for their meets.) By just focusing on the west coast, the message is that the guys in the central and east don't have as much importance for a national get together. (before the west coast guys get offended, think about the implication if the event were being suggested only in the Southeast - it would suggest that your attendance is not really deemed important - especially the folks in Washington state)

There is NO LOCATION ON EARTH that will please everyone. That is why most national organizations that have meets do them on a rotational basis. To have one based only on the west coast - even if it travels between Nevada and California - is more of a regional event.

Here is what I think about this issue. Roadster owners are a minority in the sports car world. Unfortunately, a lot of guys and gals that buy Roadsters tend to be frugal - either by choice or by circumstance. That means that you won't see hoardes of Roadsters being trailered across the US for meets like you would with the Cobra and GT350/500 guys of SAAC.

So, if the Roadsters can't come to the meet, then the meet needs to go to the Roadsters. A national Roadster (or Classic Datsun if you want to do that) meet date is defined. Then, regional locations are selected for the meet. One could be in Vegas, one in San Diego, one in Kansas City, one in Dallas/Ft. Worth, one in Daytona, one in Washington, DC, one in Seattle, etc, etc, etc. Of the specified locations, one would be selected as the spotlighted location for that year. That location would be responsible for coming up with a theme or agenda. They would be the ones to host the website for the photos. Each region would have a meet on the same weekend and perhaps a teleconference of some type could be done to virtually connect everyone. A webcam and laptop with wireless connection could let everyone see the meets around the US (or World if you REALLY want to be bold!) After it is all said and done, each region would forward photos/bios of the cars/owners along with the winners for whatever voting occurs (best car, best paint, most intoxicated, ugliest owner, etc. ) and within a set timeframe, the host club would post the photos and such for all to see. The torch would be passed to another club for the hosting for the following year and so on.

Yes, it is a lot of work and it requires a lot of clubs to pitch in. No, I don't expect vendors to send truck loads of stuff to each meet (they can just send it all to me! LOL!!), but rather the regional clubs can hit up the local auto parts places, national/regional magazines etc for prize stuff if that is important. Of course, to make Phil Hall happy, we need to get some Supermodels to attend each event and pose with the cars.

Anyway, that is the rambling that I have regarding this project.

One benefit from rotating where the meet is held, besides giving owners in various parts of the country a shorter drive, would be that Roadster owners might get to see parts of the country they haven't been to before and maybe wouldn't have gone to otherwise.

I like the idea, even though my roadster would have to be trailered to any of them, even if one were to be held right here. <shrug>

I like your post Sid, but I am trying to get the biggest Roadster bang on the initial startup of this, I do not want to leave anyone out, that is not the intention at all, but knowing that there is a significant amount of more Roadsters on the West Coast of the US and that is the biggest number I personally have contact with. It is easier to start closer in this direction.

Having other locations at the same time sounds great but the means that individuals in other regions of the country such as yourself need to step up and do their part. Are you volunteering to organize the Southeast of the United States? You're hired!!

Now I am going to need a coordinator in the Northeast, Northwest and the Central States regions. We can have the first show in Las Vegas, and then rotate the main show every year!

Who is interested in being a coordinator??

Lou Smaldino

I like the idea of having everyone able to get involved. Maybe have one Roadster East and one Roadster West. Perhaps a Roadster Central, if necessary. You could then rotate them from NE to SE and SoCal to NorCal or Washington State from year to year.
The only problem I can see is that the more locations you have the lower the average number of cars will be at each site. The nice thing about a big national event would be that EVERYONE would make a point of coming out and that would make the even really special--sort of a snowball effect. The bigger it got the more people would be willing to haul halfway across the country and the bigger it would get.
In order to make this a big event it would have to have some pretty cool activities like a track day, plus a nicely organized show, and some social events with good food. Organization like that lends itself to only one or two locations, again because their are economies of scale involved (less average organizational effort per attendee with higher attendance).
There are already some nice events on the West Coast. Maybe try a sister event in the wintertime in the middle of the country (Austin?) or east and see how it goes.
If people are committed to it and/or if it is an attractive enough event, they will take time off and drive out for it.

You guys know the irony here is that (arguably) the biggest roadster event of the year is going on right now, and none of us have driven to it...

Lou,

I added Kansas City and Colorado to the poll. I have had an ongoing survey for a few years now and there appears to be quite a bit of interest. The problem is the coordination which is a big part of the make it or break it. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

Steve

You guys know the irony here is that (arguably) the biggest roadster event of the year is going on right now, and none of us have driven to it...

I actually would drive out there, if my car were running.

That is cool, Andy. I look forward to meeting you at the next show when you get your car going and I clear the time. That is a long drive from Texas! TR