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Opel Nationals Discussion thread

15K views 77 replies 31 participants last post by  Gary 
#1 · (Edited)
The Opel Nationals is considered the "event to go to if you can only attend one major event that year".

Individuals or groups manage regional events held annually throughout the country. Attending the one in your region is a great way to held these expand and grow. The Nationals are rotated through these regional events. The schedule is somewhat flexible and is usually set 2 to 3 years in advance to help with planning.

Post your thoughts and comments about future National's locations here.
 
#2 ·
The "Big 3" as far as venue, attendance and history go for me is Rt. 66, Charlotte, and Carlisle.

The 50th anniversary of the Opel GT coming up in 2018 (and/or 2019) and the Nationals should be at one of those locations. Carlisle is in 2016 which I think is too close for a repeat. Past rotation would put 2018 in Rt.66 and 2019 in Charlotte. Any thoughts on this?

2017 - A request has been made for the Nationals to be held in TN. Is that close enough to the GA group for the event to be considered the "Southern Meet"?
 
#5 ·
2017 - A request has been made for the Nationals to be held in TN. Is that close enough to the GA group for the event to be considered the "Southern Meet"?
Gary;
I was going to wait till our next meet in July to discuss this with the GA group, but, if TN wants to step up to the plate, by all means. They seem to have a pretty good start already. :yup:
 
#4 ·
I like the idea of the Opel Nationals (or any other large Opel meet) being held at a venue in conjunction with a larger car show. That way Opel's can get more recognition from other car enthusiast and introduced to many who've never seen an Opel. Being a stand alone show or a show that's part of something other than a car show doesn't spread the Opel love near as much.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I completely agree that holding the Nationals in conjunction with a bigger event would be a plus for all the reasons mentioned above. If that is not possible, then shoot for something else that can make it a memorable event.

In planning this year's Nationals we looked at having it at Sonoma Raceway, hooking up with the Shelby Club. If that had worked out we'd be sharing the paddock with 50 years of Mustangs and we'd have access to the track. Yes, you could put on a helmet and take your car out on track, at speed. You would had also had the option of going out as a passenger in one of the Mustangs (Most people at track events are cool with giving rides.) and I had a very firm offer of $50 for a few laps as a passenger in the Tinyvette. ;) John "Rocket Man" Paxson, who is bringing the Bill Ward Bonneville Opel GT, said he'd even do a couple of demonstration runs down the drag strip, it they'd allow that.

At minimum we would have had lunch with the Shelby folks and been given a parade lap (guided, slower, safer) around the course before heading off to a winery or two, or three, then back to the hotel for dinner and other formalities. Anyway, we'd have a show and a guaranteed audience, plus the chance to experience a race track. Stuff to remember.

So, not being part of another big national show, our approach was to make the event much more than a car meet and show.

Years ago OMC held an event at the Queen Mary and I understand people are still talking about that. That's the kind of thing we should aim for.

The Shelby Club thing didn't work out this year. This was a big anniversary for them as well and they expected a huge turnout, meaning the paddock, as big as it already is, would be full.

What we did was move a little up the road to Rohnert Park. We'll be at a very nice hotel that has everything we could ask for, plus they are located adjacent to a golf course, and is in the middle of the Sonoma Wine Country, and more. There's even a casino nearby. We'll take advantage of what the location has to offer, starting with a several hour long cruise to and along the coast. The banquet will be on Saturday evening and on Sunday Keith has a tour of the hill country planned. For those with other interests we can help arrange for balloon rides and guided tours and area wineries and breweries. Think of this as your Opel vacation.

Maybe the wine country cruises will make up for a chance to run at Sonoma Raceway, or maybe not, but one of the things Gil has been shooting for with this was the chance to be part of the Monterey events the following weekend. Of course there are the historics races, but there is also the prestigious Concours d'Elegance, the Concorso Italiano (Gil and Roy have shown their cars there), the Legeneds of the Autobahn (They are inviting Opels, and we plan to bring as many as we can), and even the Councours d'LeMons (And you know I'll be there).

My plan is to attend the Nationals, then show at "Legends" and "LeMons". If you are traveling from an eastern state, these would provide a lot more bang for your road-tripping buck, plus when these activities are over there's still Yosemite, the redwoods, and many other places to swing through before you head back home.

So, we're not hooked up with a big show, but to make up for that we're linking it to some pretty prestigious ones, and you can take in other sites while here. Hey, drop on over to the Tinyvette garages and help me assemble yet another motor. ;)

I would love to make it to Carlisle next year, Nationals or not. I hear Charles is going to do something to make that an anniversary even to remember. And yes, I'd drive the Tinyvette out and back, assuming that big fat raise in the Blitz's editor's pay comes through. ;)

Mike
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
The problem with adding the Opel group to an established car show is that most are shows such as Goodguys, and it's not really set up where you park with a group. You preregistration and have your spots.
Being our plan would involve showing at the European Car museum, we did and have considered trying to make it an Euro/Brit car show, that way we could get other group clubs with similar interests to meet up. Harold has a good friend with ties to a lot of those groups, especially the vintage Nissan Heritage Collection. If we did snag the 2017 National Meet, we would possibly try to plan a regional show this year and next year to give it a trial run.
the plus side to this venue, is we have already established a when and where, just got to work out the how.
When the Georgia Nationals took place, it really didn't have a venue. It was next door to the Sorgum Festival, but really was more of a day cruise and not a show. That show was in a smaller town, that isn't the easiest to get to, which surprised me when Atlanta had so much to offer. It was a bit too stand alone...and I understand having other car groups to join in, as the more the merrier. So these are some details that would get worked in.
Again I'm not saying this is the right choice, but I am saying that we are giving enough time and notice to secure the event so it can be better planned out, funding can be achieved well in advance, and the a good chunk of the plans can easily be laid out.
It's hard to start a new thing at a new place because everyone has ideas of what should and should not be a meet. Georgia was a new venue for the Nationals and I don't know how successful of a National Meet it was, as there was not a trial run years prior to work out the bugs. I always thought the Orphan Car Show in Snellville would have been a good proven venue for the Nationals, unfortunately they stopped holding that show. Tacoma held the Nationals and that is a proven show that happens each year, but I was told it was not very successful either. I love the Big 3, but it needs to be the Big 6. the one good thing about Springfield is it pulls out people from the Midwest and Polar North, which I feel TN would do as well.

Things in Nashville to do are pretty obvious
The Johnny Cash Museum, George Jones Museum, The Country Museum Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry, The Gardens at Opryland Hotel, The Parthenon, Music City Downtown
 
#9 ·
The problem with adding the Opel group to an established car show is that most are shows such as Goodguys, and it's not really set up where you park with a group. You preregistration and have your spots.
Being our plan would involve showing at the European Car museum, we did and have considered trying to make it an Euro/Brit car show, that way we could get other group clubs with similar interests to meet up. Harold has a good friend with ties to a lot of those groups, especially the vintage Nissan Heritage Collection. If we did snag the 2017 National Meet, we would possibly try to plan a regional show this year and next year to give it a trial run.
the plus side to this venue, is we have already established a when and where, just got to work out the how.
When the Georgia Nationals took place, it really didn't have a venue. It was next door to the Sorgum Festival, but really was more of a day cruise and not a show. That show was in a smaller town, that isn't the easiest to get to, which surprised me when Atlanta had so much to offer. It was a bit too stand alone...and I understand having other car groups to join in, as the more the merrier. So these are some details that would get worked in.
Again I'm not saying this is the right choice, but I am saying that we are giving enough time and notice to secure the event so it can be better planned out, funding can be achieved well in advance, and the a good chunk of the plans can easily be laid out.
It's hard to start a new thing at a new place because everyone has ideas of what should and should not be a meet. Georgia was a new venue for the Nationals and I don't know how successful of a National Meet it was, as there was not a trial run years prior to work out the bugs. I always thought the Orphan Car Show in Snellville would have been a good proven venue for the Nationals, unfortunately they stopped holding that show. Tacoma held the Nationals and that is a proven show that happens each year, but I was told it was not very successful either. I love the Big 3, but it needs to be the Big 6. the one good thing about Springfield is it pulls out people from the Midwest and Polar North, which I feel TN would do as well.

Things in Nashville to do are pretty obvious
The Johnny Cash Museum, The Grand Ole Opry, The Gardens at Opryland Hotel, The Parthenon, Music City Downtown
Keith
We had a LOT of issues to deal with when we did it here in GA, yes, there are a lot of venues we could have attached to, but, any in downtown Atlanta brought up security issues. Time issues were if we did it in the summer, when most, if not all were able to possibly come, it would have been WAY too hot for these non a/c cars. Stone Mountain would have been too crowed, The Orphan Car show is no more as Snellville wanted to start charging us to use the field. This is just scratching the surface of what we debated.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Actually history lesson for those just getting into this. The National rotation was designed with the idea clubs would have a regular annual meet that every 5 years and would culminate in a national meet to encourage local clubs to get bigger and get more attention.

The odd thing is while this worked in Charlotte, Springfield, and Georgia. The opposite happened in California.. they went from annual meets to only holding the National. Which I think has been a detriment to the Opel community there and hurt attendance at their National Meets.

I can't imagine the Opel community has gotten that much smaller since the annual OMC picnics. Also with Gil running them in Northern CA, has left the Southern and Desert Opelers with no meets at all.. At least until Todd picked up the flag and started his June Bug Opel meets last year in Perris. Which he is doing June 13th FWIW.

The Washington meet, has stayed the same.. no real club activity from what I can see, but they do have their annual meet still.

Two other clubs, that were in the talks to host also seemed to have gone quiet. The Texas and Rocky Mountain Clubs used to be real active and havent been very active in a while.

So having Tennessee have a meet and kick start the local club they had there is a great idea. Might encourage other clubs to get active again.

See originally there were 3 slots.. with OMC (years 5 and 0) / Carlisle (years 6 and 1) swapping east and west.. Charlotte and Springfield have been solid enough to become the defacto meets before (Charlotte) and after Carlisle (Springfield). But nothing is written in stone, Except I would say Carlisle. As both the hosts for Charlotte and Springfield shows could retire from doing them, and its unknown if there is a new host to keep them going.

Anyway.. As Gary noted 2018 and 2019 will be (Depending on how you want to frame the anniversary) the 50th anniversary of the Opel GT. Maybe we could have both be 50th. The 2018 meet being the 50th anniversary of the start of production, and the 2019 being the "Official 50th anniversary of the Opel GT". Just an idea.

Technically this would mean the floater year would be 2018 and Charlotte would get the "official" 50th in 2019.

I personally would like to see Route 66 be 2018, and Charlotte be 2019 both being high profile events run by large groups. So if we can get a little extra attention. Leaving 2017 to be the floater.

But as stated earlier.. very little is written in stone. Most this is just rule of thumb the schedule has been set on. Other than next year being Opels @ Carlisle 20th anniversary I would think anything is open for tabling.

As for dates.. the best attendance has either been when the event has a lot of locals and the date does not matter ( Carlisle ) or when its in the Summer after school is out. October is a bit late for most, with school starting, and with few exceptions, weather is iffier than May in Pennsylvania. Rather it be a bit iffy on the hot side than iffy on the rainy and cold side. Nashville is no different than Charlotte or even most the mid-Atlantic in July-August its in the Mid-80s if its good 100 or so if its not.. but more than likely dry.
 
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#14 ·
This show may be worth consideration as is a very pro-club show like Charlotte and Carlisle. It also has a huge draw with all the other activities/events like the monster trucks and lawn mower races it puts on during the weekend.

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This sounds like it would be a great thing to be incorporated into a GA club or regional meet but April may be a little early for a national event. Those guy up north still haven't cleared all the snow away so they can get the Opels out of hibernation.

We enjoy a 12 month Opel season here.
 
#15 ·
I think Charles' idea of where the next 5 years of National Opel Meets has merit:

2015 California
2016 Carlisle
2017 Tennessee
2018 Springfield, Ill.
2019 Charlotte, NC.

I personally think that this is a great lineup. If someone (Club) new wants to participate in hosting a National meet, please let everyone know. It's great to see Keith and Harold stepping up to host a National Opel Meet. Great new place!

I vote for this lineup.
 
#16 ·
Seems to lean a little to the East, if you ask me.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Keith
It was my suggestion about using your shop, but, not so much the complete venue, but, as something like a cruise or mountain run. You're promoting your book on GT restoration, why not see it first hand? One of the meets we had in GA, we met at a high end restoration shop and a lot found it interesting as to what is done during a restoration.
Also, Steve didn't do it all, he did add a few touches that only he, a local business man could do. I did the plaques/grille badges/hat pins. We decided early on, not to do awards, we just wanted people to come and relax. Lance's little, ahem, "addition to the event made it even more special
 
#24 ·
The plus to having it at this museum, is we could tour the museum and it has facilities and indoor activities if it gets too hot. They have room for a 100 car club show, so it would be just right. I think you could do a picnic style thing there toO, and probably would want to. Look under car club rentals at
Home - Lane Motor Museum

We did a meet some years ago and reserved the front lot for free, it was really nice, but we could have had more as always. That was probably 11 years ago. They do some in house restorations and you can see their workshop at most times. This is just one possible venue location, I would work on getting sponsors to take care of things such as admission and rental of the grounds.
 
#25 ·
That looks like a GREAT venue.. Especially with all the eclectic cars they have. Heck I am almost 100% they would help promote the National meet as an event for themselves to get visitors.
 
#26 ·
I have been watching the thread and seeing if any others who attend the Route 66 Meet in Springfield wanted to chime in on the 2018 Nationals. I think it is a good Idea and of course I will do what I can to make it happen. The Event here has kind of established a rhythm and does not take a lot to get up to National speed. I just have never meant for this to be John & Connie's event. The local Convention and Visitors bureau has been asking when the Opel Nationals would return to Springfield so will be Happy to see us and will help with some promotion.

As far as other venues and places for the event, look at a map and Kansas City or Topeka Kansas jump out at you for location. Being one of a few in this group who have driven an Opel to most of the venues we now use, it can test your nerve to make a long trip. Three day events have been used to make it worth the trip. Letting folks know a few years out lets them prepare. I have always felt if I wanted to have someone drive to Springfield I should be willing to return the favor.

Bottom line, whether it is a stand alone Opel Event or tied to a larger show does not really matter as long as we get a good turnout and have some fun while we are at it.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Here's an alternate idea:

Have permanent Regional Nationals EVERY year in all 3-5 regions and scratch the single Nationals that rotates to various regions every year.

This is a big country. Most of the population lives on the coasts. It's seldom heard that someone drove their Opel from the Pacific to the Atlantic for a show. That's 5 days of driving 8 hours a day! If you have a REALLY nice car, all spotless and perfect, it would be trashed by a cross country drive, unless you have a trailer and a big SUV to haul it. Many folks' Opels can barely make it across town, leastwise out of state. If the "Nationals" only visits your neck of the woods every 3-5 years and you have a scheduling conflict, illness, car issue, etc., you have to wait another 3-5 years for your next crack at it.

I suggest that have permanent, yearly, Regional Nationals.

As far as a 50th Anniversary gathering(or 55th, 60th, etc.), Missouri sounds like a logical choice.
 
#32 · (Edited)
Here's an alternate idea:

Have permanent Regional Nationals EVERY year in all 3-5 regions and scratch the single Nationals that rotates to various regions every year.....
Thats sort of the idea.. but not exactly. Right now we have that in annual REGIONAL events in Carlisle (North East), Springfield (Mid West), Charlotte ( Southern ), Tacoma (Pacific Northwest - The issue with Tacoma getting much notice here is the organizer of it doesnt do the interwebs.. ) and Southern California ( Opels Unlimited June Bug Event (June 13th) is on its 2nd Year and Todd says he will keep it going for a while ).

The other regions don't have anyone standing up to host an event. As noted before, the older clubs such as the Rocky Mountain Club (Rockies) or Texas ( Southwest ) have had their meets off and on, but don't have a big annual meet anymore. Be nice if they did. But that takes volunteers to put one on. As for OMC, they only put on big event once every 5 years in Northern California. Due to the volunteers issue.

So yes Annual meets in the different regions was the idea.. but once a year one of the events gets the National moniker. You can't be both a Regional Meet and a National Meet. Its one or the other. Its so people that can only go to one event a year know which one to go to and meet new Opel people, its why its called the National meet and not the Annual regional meet. Only difference is the National moniker, this is typical of all national car clubs.

They do this so people, who can only get to one event a year, just don't go to the same old event every year (Carlisle).. kind of why you dragged yourself to Charlotte last year :) If Charlotte wasn't the national meet last year you might have not gone, but it does happen every April and September.
 
#33 ·
My point is that most of us east-of-the-Mississippians are NEVER going to go to a California or Washington Nationals and virtually no west-of-the-Rockians have ever come to Carlisle, so the idea that one Nationals, rotating around the country on a 3-5 year cycle, will bring us together more has not panned out.

If we're going to have only one Nationals event nationwide per year, logically it should be in the same centrally located location, like Missouri, every year, so that everyone in the country has a reasonably equal shot at attending it. But, that would effectively exclude, every year, those who's cars can't handle 3000 miles of round trip driving.

The Charlotte Nationals absolutely killed the Carlisle gathering last year. Carlisle is our primary, if not only, Northeastern event and only about 15 cars showed up. So as a result, hardly any of us northeasterners saw each other last year. There's no way I would have fought and clawed my way through all the Northeastern traffic to get to Charlotte last year in an old Opel. I came in my Solstice because it was a modern car that made the drive enjoyable.

Do other car clubs have rotating nationals or regional nationals?
 
#34 ·
Do other car clubs have rotating nationals or regional nationals?
They have Annual Regionals, and a National Meet held at one of the Annual Regionals.

The closest thing to MO is the Springfield show and its on the middle of IL very close to MO. I can say when its the Nationals a similar thing happens. I and many in the Ohio group and eastern group go to Springfield when its the nationals but not the other 4 years, same holds true for many that went to Charlotte.

I have been to Charlotte on off years, and attendance is smaller but you see a fresh crowd. But when its the Nationals. Not only do those from other regions show up, more locals show up as well.

Back when OMC had an annual event I went a few times and even drove to 2 of them. Bill, Gary, Bob and others went as well..

Just as I couldn't do the 14 hour every year to Springfield. Doing it once every 5 makes it special and that's the point of a National meet. Thats why I may go to the Charlotte meet during the off years (5 hours), but You, Gary, etc.. would only go on the years its a national meet (11-15 hours).

So its a system that does work. I once showed that there is a circular pattern to the events and attendance.

Inner circle is 50 miles from event, these are locals that will show to all

2nd tier is 100 miles from event, these are locals that usually show up but not all. But they do tend to show up when its a National meet.

3rd tier is 250 miles from event, these are regional members that will show up ( Vickie, Steve ) < Getting you to come to my BBQ.. for instance.

4th tier is 400 miles from event, these are regional members on the edge that will usually show up to a regional meet ( Gary, Bob ) especially if you're the closest event to them, and definitely to a National.

5th tier is 600 miles from event, these are the super attendees, that will show up to a national meet, or in some cases to every regional meet depending.. ( Pete, Gene )

6th tier is 800 miles+ from event, this is about as far as super attendees limit for a national meet and in a few cases regional meet (more true in the West).

Outside of 800 miles most wont drive they will fly, but you may get one or two to drive that are crazy enough. ( FWIW I drove to OMC 2000 and OMC 2005 - Coast to coast baby :) )

The more you can interlock rings between regional events the larger the National meet will be. Also a National Meet designation will double attendance usually at most regional shows. But it only works for a year or two if you keep it at the same place.

This is why most meets East of the Mississippi work, those to the west do not.

Once you get past MO, Texas and Colorado don't intersect, CO and WA do not, Northern and Southern CA do to a point, as well as SW with CO or TX. But as nothing has gone on in most those areas its hard to combine forces with other regions.

This isnt hard fact.. but it is what you need to base event participation on because it works.
 
#35 ·
Well, I can see your point and I don't disagree with what you said.

I, for one, would be highly tempted by the opportunity to attend, say, 3 regional nationals(Northeast, Southern, and Central) in a single year, rather than going to just one of them because that's the ONLY nationals.

:veryhappy
 
#36 ·
You are one of those nut cases (like myself) that are in a tier all of their own..
 
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#39 ·
I drove my GT to the Nationals at Monterey in 2010. Before that the wife and I flew out to the OMC picnics in 2000 and 2005. 2005 being the event at which the Idea of the Nationals was hatched. My feeling at the time was it seemed a way to get a bunch of Opelers together on a yearly basis instead of every five years. Something folks would attend even if they might not bring an Opel. Heck in 2000 at Huntington Beach even a bunch from Europe showed up. We set it up to stay a few extra days to enjoy the area, even went to see a taping of the Tonight Show where Sting Performed. One of the reasons I promote the Lincoln sites in Springfield is so folks can do something beyond the car show. I can see folks wanting to spend a day or two extra in Nashville to take in stuff like the Grand Ole Opry. Sometimes traveling to an Opel event makes you want to attend later in your own Opel. I know it sure put making a west coast event with an Opel on my bucket list.

Sometimes the fact that certain people in the Opel Community have said they would attend a certain meet prompts others to show up to meet them face to face. I know for a fact such was the case at the last Nationals in Springfield. The Nationals may be tweaked some but the concept is valid. Of course I may qualify as one of those Opel whack jobs. We flew to Germany in 2008 for the chance to see 250-300 GTs in one place, also stayed long enough to see a castle or two.
 
#42 ·
Nut Case? I resemble that remark :veryhappy. I have been to all but about 3 shows @ Carlisle, and to Charlotte for both nationals. I drove to OMC in 2005 w/ my '69 Kadett 1.1l w/ AT. I have also been to every Opel gathering @ Springfield.
Last year I put ~8,500 mi on my Bitter w/ the tri-fecta of Carlisle, Charlotte, and Springfield.
I have received a few awards, but mostly for distance or most needy. They don't have to be pretty, and you don't even have to bring an Opel. In 2012 I drove my new Miata and parked w/ the Opels.
I like to drive, and mostly visiting w/ my Opel family( and drinking a few beers:yup:)
The main thing is that I will try to make it to the nationals where ever it is.
 
#43 · (Edited)
Yep you both are in a tier of your own.. Especially you Kevin. :yup:



I Do believe this is your Kadett circ 1997 Carlilse :)
 
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