2019 Garagemahal Show & Swap Meet Results, Pics, etc

[salans7]

YouTube. Word of mouth. Open it up to all fords, not just trucks?

Personally, I think it should stay all trucks.

Make a competition out of it. See who can recruit the most entries.

Make it a Ford VS CHEVY VS DODGE Truck show. You are instantly doubling your attendance with that idea alone. Many guys have both fords and chevys or dodge trucks. Make it a competition to see which manufacturer steals the show each year.

I'm part of a Facebook Group called Florida Ford Rangers. We have a little over 3k members, and occasionally we will have meets in the Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida areas. The average amount of trucks that show up is around 25. The most we've ever had was 50, and the least we've had was four trucks. These meets are planned months in advance, and yet attendance is pretty poor compared to what one would assume based off of membership.

It's hard enough to get people to show up to a meet in their own state, let alone to another state. Although it would be amazing to see a larger group, the majority of your participants will always be from the flyover states. It takes real dedication to drive across multiple states for a small show such as this, and not many people are able and/or willing to be that dedicated.

If one were to try and garner more interest in the show, I would consider branching out to the surrounding states, but I would not focus much further than that.

[Ray Cecil]

I'm part of a Facebook Group called Florida Ford Rangers. We have a little over 3k members, and occasionally we will have meets in the Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida areas. The average amount of trucks that show up is around 25. The most we've ever had was 50, and the least we've had was four trucks. These meets are planned months in advance, and yet attendance is pretty poor compared to what one would assume based off of membership.

It's hard enough to get people to show up to a meet in their own state, let alone to another state. Although it would be amazing to see a larger group, the majority of your participants will always be from the flyover states. It takes real dedication to drive across multiple states for a small show such as this, and not many people are able and/or willing to be that dedicated.

If one were to try and garner more interest in the show, I would consider branching out to the surrounding states, but I would not focus much further than that.

You know what they say in business and real estate....Location, Location, Location.

Skiatook isnt exactly a tourist town.

 

[kramttocs]

You know what they say in business and real estate....Location, Location, Location.

Skiatook isnt exactly a tourist town.

Congrats to all the winners! Well deserved.

Ray's no doubt right on the lack of it being a final tourist destination but with the proximity to Tulsa, I thought Skiatook was a really nice location for it - quiet main drag but still an easy drive to Tulsa which gives you a pretty good interstate access in several directions. It may be a state too low but relatively speaking it's not terribly far from the geographical center of the US.

There was a parade (and rodeo I think) going on but not sure if that will always coincide and even if so, how to utilize it.

Kind of like your mpg test, maybe a nice scenic drive and cookout dinner at the destination that would start after the show?

Make it more of an all day thing.

As Chris mentioned seeing you guys - would be neat to have a parade of (primarily bullnose ) trucks.

Not sure these would draw more people in though...

[Ray Cecil]

Congrats to all the winners! Well deserved.

Ray's no doubt right on the lack of it being a final tourist destination but with the proximity to Tulsa, I thought Skiatook was a really nice location for it - quiet main drag but still an easy drive to Tulsa which gives you a pretty good interstate access in several directions. It may be a state too low but relatively speaking it's not terribly far from the geographical center of the US.

There was a parade (and rodeo I think) going on but not sure if that will always coincide and even if so, how to utilize it.

Kind of like your mpg test, maybe a nice scenic drive and cookout dinner at the destination that would start after the show?

Make it more of an all day thing.

As Chris mentioned seeing you guys - would be neat to have a parade of (primarily bullnose ) trucks.

Not sure these would draw more people in though...

Scott, yeah, Tulsa isnt exactly a tourist destination either. So, I used to live in Collinsville OK, just 20 minutes or so from Gary. Not that Tulsa is horrible or anything....its just a town that is there because of oil. If oil hadnt had set off a boom, it would be empty cow fields still. Skiatook and Bartlesville wouldnt have existed without Conoco Phillips and the refinery industry I think. I think Gary retired from there too.

I just signed a contract selling my house in collinsville finally. I havent lived there in 6 years I think....

[Danny G]

Scott, yeah, Tulsa isnt exactly a tourist destination either. So, I used to live in Collinsville OK, just 20 minutes or so from Gary. Not that Tulsa is horrible or anything....its just a town that is there because of oil. If oil hadnt had set off a boom, it would be empty cow fields still. Skiatook and Bartlesville wouldnt have existed without Conoco Phillips and the refinery industry I think. I think Gary retired from there too.

I just signed a contract selling my house in collinsville finally. I havent lived there in 6 years I think....

On the regional aspect you could do a NE, SE, NW, SW, and Central.

NE could be centered on NY or PA(Philly) and inclusive of ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, PA, NJ, DE, WV, VA, OH, IN, and KY.

SE could be centered on GA (Atlanta) or SC (Charleston/Myrtle Beach) and inclusive of TN, NC, SC, MS, AL,GA, and FL.

NW Could be Centered on WY (Freaking Yellow Stone NP) and Inclusive of WA, OR, WY, ID, and MT

SW Could be centered on NV (Vegas) and include CA, NV, UT, AZ

But you could just combine west NW and SW into just West Coast and all meet at Vegas.

Central would have everything from the Mississippi west to the Rockies.

Then an Australian and European meet.

Of course this is all fantasy, nice to think about stuff with a hugely active group. You would need to have someone step up to be the regional chair for each year etc. You could even cycle the regional meet to different states. Say Atlanta one year, then Daytona Beach the next. The key would to be to run the event in each region at the same day making one large linked event (with the exception of extreme time zone differences). Also to get solid RSVP's for the event, sell tickets. Cheap tickets like $1-5, to reserve a space at the show.

 

[Gary Lewis]

On the regional aspect you could do a NE, SE, NW, SW, and Central.

NE could be centered on NY or PA(Philly) and inclusive of ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, PA, NJ, DE, WV, VA, OH, IN, and KY.

SE could be centered on GA (Atlanta) or SC (Charleston/Myrtle Beach) and inclusive of TN, NC, SC, MS, AL,GA, and FL.

NW Could be Centered on WY (Freaking Yellow Stone NP) and Inclusive of WA, OR, WY, ID, and MT

SW Could be centered on NV (Vegas) and include CA, NV, UT, AZ

But you could just combine west NW and SW into just West Coast and all meet at Vegas.

Central would have everything from the Mississippi west to the Rockies.

Then an Australian and European meet.

Of course this is all fantasy, nice to think about stuff with a hugely active group. You would need to have someone step up to be the regional chair for each year etc. You could even cycle the regional meet to different states. Say Atlanta one year, then Daytona Beach the next. The key would to be to run the event in each region at the same day making one large linked event (with the exception of extreme time zone differences). Also to get solid RSVP's for the event, sell tickets. Cheap tickets like $1-5, to reserve a space at the show.

Yes, Ray, Tulsa was at one time a center for the oil industry. But it was also a center for the aviation industry, very much like Wichita. There's still some oil and aviation here. Phillips was in Bartlesville and Conoco, originally Continental Oil Company, was in Ponca City. And while I did work for Conoco for ~20 years, in addition to living in Ponca City I also lived in London & Houston while working for them. Then DuPont bought them and I lived in Wilmington, DE, and then Chicago.

But there is a little bit of touristy draw. Darin and Anita, the couple from Australia, came here to see the Route 66 memorial. And with The Gathering Place others are coming to see it. Plus Bell's Amusement Park is said to be coming back. So while it isn't an exotic location, there are things to see and do.

As for the regional shows, I was thinking I'd try to be at each of them and that was making me feel very tired. But with the idea of doing them simultaneously I guess I could "be there" via Facetime?

Tickets? Hadn't thought about having an entry fee that might compel people to come when they wake up and it is raining. Hmmmm.....

 

[Danny G]

But there is a little bit of touristy draw. Darin and Anita, the couple from Australia, came here to see the Route 66 memorial.

Now wouldn't that be fun. A old ford truck caravan running route 66.

Reminds me of this commercial

[BigBlue 94]

This year, over on the fullsize bronco site, we organized a run to the rocks in Moab, UT. We had about 10 months of notice and planning, and chose to coincide with the Bronco Safari event. Interest peaked at over 60 members, but in the end we had 13 show up, from all over the country: NY, GA, ID, AZ, NE, KS, CA, UT and CO. The bronco Safari event is nearing 10 years old and is growing every year. There were over 100 Broncos of all sizes out there. I expect next year to be even bigger. They have obtained sponsorship from people in the offroad parts manufacturing industry and such. They hold a raffle, and everyone gets something. Top prize this year was a set of 5 US Mags Indy wheels. As well as a set of fuel wheels, roll cage, bumpers, seats, etc...

It's a matter of exposure. The more you put it out there, the more it'll stick in people's minds and eventually maybe they'll want to go. Advertising in magazines can also be good. Bronco Driver is one that comes to mind.

Another consideration is when you hold the event. This time of year, the farmers are in the fields 12 hours a day. Our local ducks unlimited banquet was moved from late October, to last weekend. Attendance was about half of normal, due to this.

Holding it at Grand Lake of the Cherokees might entice more people to come.

Wish I could have made it down there. Next year!