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"Festival 2nd Annual Spring Show!"
"A VIEW FROM MY SIDE" May 19: What an absolutely INCREDIBLE show it was Sunday!!! It was a day of breaking all records! In addition to breaking temperature records of 96 degrees, by 10:30am we also surpassed last years all time record of cars, as they just kept rolling in! At last count, I heard well over 700+ show cars in attendance! Car folks and spectators came out in record numbers to make this the most incredible event and undisputed largest car show in South Florida! Unfortunately, a show of this immense magnitude does not always go off without it growing pains. The sheer overwhelming numbers of show cars presented some unforeseen problems. As you can imagine, parking this many cars and trying to keep everyone happy is a daunting task. Over 400 cars pre-registered which was incredible, and extremely helpful too...but an additional 300 more unregistered cars still rolled through the gate. Parking spaces were pre-assigned to the pre-registered show cars, with extra consideration for clubs that wished to park together as well. Then to complicate matters, cars would be judged by class when they were not parked by class, adding a degree of difficulty which would be managed. As far as I understand what happened, the unforeseen problem came when many of the cars decided to just park wherever they felt like. With the overwhelming number of cars that kept coming in, there was little that could be done...so it was allowed. Well, you can imagine that with over 700 cars parking everywhere, judges had an impossible task of trying to find cars to be judged by classes, when they were scattered over 1/4 mile of parking! It was not known the scope of the problems with regard to judging, as information kept coming in non-stop...even after the awards presentation had begun. As stated...this show broke all records!! A typical South Florida show draws about 100 cars...a really good show draws maybe 150 cars, and a typical big show usually draws about 200 cars. To my knowledge, no one has ever had a South Florida car show draw over 700 cars in a single afternoon parking lot show! Our show promoters Dick Barton and show coordinator Russ Gagliano are BOTH dedicated car guys! They both drive classic cars, attend shows, and are part of our South Florida car show family. Despite the great weather and dedicated support for the show, and despite the incredible amount of work put into this show, and the fact these guys were up well past midnight and at the show by 5am, problems still happened. In all my years of doing and attending shows, I have never seen an awards presentation stopped before all the awards were handed out. I never saw a bigger look of disappointment and defeat like I saw in the faces of Dick and Russ, who poured their hearts and lives into this show. But please know that the unprecedented decision to halt the awards presentation was made as a final attempt to make the show as fair as possible for everyone! Some folks were understanding,
and some were not. I know that many thanks go out to the guys who stepped in to help where a tremendous last minute effort was made to locate misplaced cars that had not been judged yet. In the end though...it would still be not enough. I speak for these guys, as I know
EVERY attempt to resolve this is being done at this time!
I know these guys... please be patient and understanding! At this
point they can't undo what happened and make it perfect, but
they will make it right! If you need to contact
them, they can be reached by email... These shows are about having fun, and enjoying our wonderful hobby with our friends! Thanks again to all who came out, for you support, and for making the "Festival Show" the biggest and best event in South Florida! Look for our next show event on Dec 7, 2008! -Scott
-Reply Comments-
Comments: Dick, Russ and Scott, Just a quick note to let you know what a great time the show was once again. The pre-registration was a great idea and the thought was obvious to organize the clubs and classes toward making everyone happy. It was an effort toward some degree of ease in judging and concluding in a timely fashion. We pre-registered and had a spot assigned but upon arrival were told that it had been taken. We didn't think much of it until it became obvious that the judging was going to be a major undertaking for the sheer numbers of cars. I couldn't believe the total outrage that resulted! For anyone to get that worked up over a parking space or, much less a trophy is ludicrous. Don't get me wrong as I take great pride in my car but, it's a hobby! Like most of us, I enjoy showing the car off but, I'm not going to lose my sanity over such triviality. I have enough of a temper that I usually expel (as all 12 year olds do) in my work and generally won't in my leisure. I enjoy the people we meet, the music, the cars, trucks and bikes (although, not especially the heat) at all the shows and hope to continue till some nut shoots me for a parking space (or trophy). Again, we had a great time and this brief posting is to let you know that we deeply appreciate the effort towards improving the show and hopefully, the next show will be an even greater success on the hope that all will honor the "honor system". Many Thanks and Best Regards, Ralph Kroehle
Name: Sal DeBellis Comments: Hello Scott, Just want to say I had a great time at the Festval show! As I write this I speak for myself, but others may feel the same way I do.It is a great achievement on Russ's end to pull off and organize such a large car show, his intentions are so that everybody there has a good time,and most of us did do that. I believe that if you go to these shows just to win a trophy you will be disapointed,first of all you arrive in YOUR trophy and you leave in YOUR trophy! If everybody got a trophy someone would complain about something else! Look Man just go to the show and have fun! Maybe Russ should stop giving out trophys and just give everybody a plaque or something for being in such a large show. I think the look on the faces of the people walking by your car and stopping to say WOW! is better than any trophy! As I see it, all the cars have the best paint.. the best engines..the best interior and so forth. Everybody needs to lighten up and have some DAM fun! Life is to short! Lets all be thankfull for what we have, not what we dont have! Sal
Name: Alicia,Robert,Chris Comments: Just a follow up. Will there be any posts or somewhere to look to see what cars won awards?? Just like to see how everyone did. Thank You I will try to get that information posted for everyone... -Scott 5/21 Russ, Just a few words, THANK YOU, without you, these great shows would not be possible. Keep up the great work for all of us. Gerry Verrillo, #70, 1966 Corvette.
I for one, can not wait for the December show. If the registration forms were out tomorrow you would have my check on Wednesday. Keep up the great work.
Mike Rose 5/21 Russ, Just a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed the day as I know you put an awful lot of effort into trying to organize what couldn’t be. We were pre-registered for a specific spot that was taken when we arrived but I really didn’t think much of it until I saw the magnitude of the judging task. We stopped by to deliver our thanks after the show while driving out (blue Shelby Cobra) but it was pretty obvious that you weren’t very happy. I just wanted to let you know that we appreciated yours, Dick’s and Scott’s efforts, we had a great time and enjoyed the always present comradeship that your shows always offer. Thanks again and our best regards,
Ralph Kroehle, V.P. Const.
Services
Name: Dave Weber (webhead) Comments: I know this may have been tried before, but maybe it is time to try it again - especially at the larger shows...(comments edited)...specific show judging suggestions forwarded to Russ G Thanks for the great suggestions Dave...which have been sent along to Russ G and Dick Barton. I can assure you that they are already working on a solution...
Comments: Hi Scott, let me start of saying the “Music-Man” came through again at the Festival-Show … you really can spin them songs man. Scott I just read your comments on the festival show and I’m 100% with you it was absolutely a INCREDIBLE show. I hung out all day with the “Just-Us” car club we had a blast. The canopies were set up generator to power the fans, cold drinks, folding chairs and great company. JR and wife schooled me on antique cars, Anthony was educating my on models and years of classics, Big AL with those special cold drinks…. in his trunk, Gino, Mercy, Evelyn, Jr & wife, John hard - @__ Hardisson and I walk around harassing everyone we knew and tried to see all 700+ cars but don’t think we got to them all.
In all it was good times I don’t want to get into the judging or car parking because it’s obvious 700+ cars is no easy task. Dick and Russ were outstanding from my point of view 700+ classic cars wow.
That’s my 2 cents my thanks to all I shared the day with you know who you are and Russ, Dick and Scott thank you…see you next show!
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Name: Ralph Kroehle
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"Now that the smoke has cleared" by Russ G. |
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Because of the many complaints of parking and judging from last year's show (610+ cars), we decided this year to assign parking spaces (Dick B and myself worked till Midnight the night before chalking every space in the lot) and go to a point type judging system to make it fair for all cars entered. The problem began in the early AM when cars decided to park in spaces other than the ones they were assigned to (either to park under that one tree for shade, or to park with their friends, or another club. By late morning as hundreds of cars came in........you can imagine the tempers flaring when their assigned spot was taken. I tried with much difficulty to calm the situation.....but in the end....it was impossible. Because of this, the judges had much difficulty finding all the cars in a particular class to judge because they were scattered all over. The outcome.....late trophy presentation with not all cars receiving their awards. Since the show, (matter of fact that same evening), I have been receiving "hate mail" via the net, phone messages left on my machine with vulgar language, threats, and even one person wanting to boycott all my shows. It cost over $50,000.00 to produce the show with a registration fee of only $20.00 where everyone received: Breakfast-Value $5.00, Hat-Value $10.00, T-Shirt-Value $10.00, Food Voucher-Value $10.00, Festival Dollars-$25.00.... Totaling $60.00 value, and winners received over 100 quality trophies and over $2000 back in cash awards! Music-Cars-Friendship... Priceless !!!!!! My Dear Friends.. join me for one
movement, close your eyes....and just imagine if.....there were NO MORE CAR SHOWS OR CRUISE NIGHTS...... Life is too short ! In the last several years we have lost so many of our dear car friends......our car family....it is a good family.....let us all think of one another as family....and take care of each other...as family !!!!
The judging sheets from the festival show are being processed....many of you won trophies. The winners will be announced on Scott's Website (Thank you! Scott !!!) Trophies and the Cash awards can be picked up at the Festival Mall office. Dick B and myself are in the process of making changes for our December 7th show. I welcome any input that some of you might have on the show.. please contact me. To all those that were unhappy with this show (you know who you are) The December 7, 2008 Festival Flea Market Mall Show will go on......with or without you !!! Thank You! and God Bless !
-Russ G
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