Things I learned from the International Meet

[Son O Lark]

Things that I learned from the International Meet:
1. Some Stude parts cannot even be given away.
2. The governing board needs to seriously look at a single day attendance fee. Make it large enough to still encourage early or full registration. Probably about $20 per family to allow parents and kids to attend as their schedule allows.
3. An honor box works for honorable customers. I still watched as a few people walked off with parts without even paying a dollar for them. (I let customers set their own prices for 95% of the things for sale)
4. Hills on the fairgrounds get taller as the week goes on.
5. There are a lot of super great and friendly people in the SDC.
6. Local chapters put a lot of hard work and long hours into putting on events.
7. Bring along ibuprofen for your aching legs and back.

All in all, I had a fantastic time and found some valuable goodies for the Possum Smasher.
Kudos to all the workers vendors and attendees for making it a memorable event.

[mbstude]

One thing I learned: Some people will pay crazy money for rusty parts. One guy paid more than three times the asking price for a ‘37 cabover truck air cleaner.

Also;

I agree wholeheartedly with your second thing. Charging a walk-in the full registration price just to wander around the swap meet and look at cars - absurd.

I was told that non-SDC members weren’t even allowed to enter the fairgrounds, which is believable given how demanding the gate guard was about me showing him my name tag every day. (Meet registration is required to enter, but you can’t register without an SDC membership).

However, the public was allowed to enter on Saturday… The day when all of the vendors are packed up and leaving the premises before noon.

International Meets are wonderful events in populated areas that could be used to promote the club as a whole. Not allowing non-members to even walk through the door isn’t going to accomplish that.

Stephen took a stance and told the SDC President that Stephen Allen’s will not vend at anymore International Meets until those issues are resolved. Since Stephen Allen’s buys more vending spaces and rents more tables than any other vendor, we hope that the SDC Board will consider that potential lost revenue and make a change.

[mbstude]

One last thing:

Why is there a generic car show in conjunction with the SDC “concours”? It’s an SDC International Meet. Not a Burger King cruise in.

[Son O Lark]

One thing I learned: Some people will pay crazy money for rusty parts. One guy paid more than three times the asking price for a ‘37 cabover truck air cleaner.

The power and legend of Kohlrabi (a 1937 cabover) is strong and can be used to control one's mind. Used only for good, not evil. Unlike The Force, which has an evil side. Maybe Kohlrabi's power can be harnessed to convince some about attendence fees. "Kohlrabi, Kohlrabi, Kohlrabi....."

[JLB]

I live in Louisville Ky, a two hour drive from Indianapolis and wanted to attend for, one day only,............... the first day the swap meet and vendor area would be open. The $40.00 admission fee to gain admittance, so I could possibly spend some money was , in my opinion, outrageous, and thus did not attend. I've attended hundreds of swap meets and expect to pay an admission fee, that is reasonable. $40.00 is not reasonable in my opinion.

I looked into attending the AOAI with the same goal, attend for one day................ the first day the vendors are open. I was informed that it would cost me $119.00 to attend for the one day. Needless to say I did not attend, and do not understand the thinking involved with the decisions.

John Brissette
49 Year SDC and AOAI Member

[nvonada]

Buying a day pass makes a lot of sense. Maybe make it "members only" for the first day or two to give members first crack at the cars and the vendors. Then let anyone in. $5 a person or $10 for a family would bring in people and revenue.

[jbwhttail]

I agree there should be a day pass, the cost needs to be set to discourage use to bypass the registration fee. The contract the SDC signed for fair grounds rental two years ago was less than half what it would cost today for the same facility. That fee did not include other costs such as table,chair rental as well as other incidental fees. Those costs make registration fees higher than SDC would like. The car hobby is not cheap.
To answer mbstude's question on why an all makes cruise in at a Studebaker car show is simple, it is a way to add to the gate for the public attendance on Saturday. Public attendance is important to the bottom line of the sponsoring chapter. While the SDC guarantees a $5,000.00 "profit" to the chapter it is/was our goal to not need to request it. South Bend has for years had an all make cruise in at both their May meets and International meets, we just followed their lead.
Again the car hobby is not cheap.........

[52-fan]

The day pass sounds like a good idea. One reason the restricted entry was started a few years ago was non-member locals coming in and stealing things from vendors. Restricting entry to registered people only was a simple solution, but it had unintended side consequences.

[8E45E]

South Bend has for years had an all make cruise in at both their May meets and International meets, we just followed their lead.
Again the car hobby is not cheap.........

When I was in South Bend for the International Meet in 2002, that 'all-make' show'n'shine was a fundraiser for the SNM.

Craig

[Studedude]

The power and legend of Kohlrabi is strong and can be used to control one's mind. Used only for good, not evil. Unlike The Force, which has an evil side. Maybe Kohlrabi's power can be harnessed to convince some about attendence fees. "Kohlrabi, Kohlrabi, Kohlrabi....."

You, sir, are your father's son!

[Studedude]

One thing I learned: Some people will pay crazy money for rusty parts. One guy paid more than three times the asking price for a ‘37 cabover truck air cleaner.

How does that happen??

[Son O Lark]

How does that happen??

The man purchased the air cleaner of the legendary Kohlrabi (a 1937 cabover). It's power over the mind is immense. Even the strongest willed of Studebaker owners can fall victim. He was compelled to pay 333% of the asking price. The new owner now wields the power of Kohlrabi. He will use it wisely.

[Hawklover]

He undoubtedly has a deep pockets.

[skyway]

…or as a friend of mine has been known to say, “I looked for depth and saw the bottom.”

[mbstude]

How does that happen??

Son O Lark offered to sell me the elusive Kohlrabi air cleaner for $3.00. I felt it was worth at least $10.00