Re: Nats location for 2013
#1, what people do at nats has nothing to do with location, there are different groups of people at nats, the idea is for everyone to have fun and to expect a mutual respect and understanding that everyone in attendance has a love for these trucks.
#2, while getting a location good for families sounds like a great idea, how many fathers/mothers want to drive 20 hours to sit at a hot track and watch their kids, or listen to their kids complain. Is nationals kid friendly sure, kids are great and can provide endless entertainment for all. At the same time they can be as annoying as anyone else that doesn't want to be there. To enjoy such an event you HAVE to be ok with spending hours in a parking lot talking about nothing. You have to be ok with people drinking alcohol and laughing loudly, if you aren't don't stay up late and expect something else. If you are going to send your wife and kids off to a water park, why even bother bringing them? save them the trip and save yourself some money, you attend and let them go to the local amusement park without you. I'm not saying don't bring your kids, I'm just saying that we shouldn't have to plan an event because there is an amusement park close by.
#3, it needs to be in different locations, each one has it's own unique style and things to do. The locals in that area help make that specific nats what it is along with the people that attend.
Chicago was huge BECAUSE at the time the chicago members were VERY vocal and very active. Now a chitown nats would bring together a bunch of old friends but i doubt it would be the same, especially since most of us have grown up a bit.
#4, If the drive is more than 10 hours away you are devoting an extra 2 days to the event just for travel, expect this and don't complain. Trust me you'll understand when you are there, driving your truck surrounded by other sytys. The guys that fly in, know the feeling, without your truck a piece of you is missing.
We planned on attending nats this year, but i was sent out of the country for 12 days for work, so it wasn't going to happen. I love nats and I plan on attending in the future, if it is possible.. I am however getting tired of going to the same locations and hanging out with people from the northeast, since as a whole we tend to travel quite a bit more than other groups.
Did anyone from MI, IL, etc attend nats this year? hell in the past I think Wade, Epix, and Gerber are the only ones that have attended, wouldn't it be nice for the regional guys to actually travel to other events. This goes for the Florida guys as well, I'd love to meet Keith and Gary.. What about MikeLee, he runs a business off of sytys and he hasn't attended a single event in what 10 years?
Just sayin..