Ok, we've talked about it on other post. IMO we need a role call on who's going to the T/A Nats.

My wife agreed to a free weekend away from the family so I'm goin'! Not sure if I'm gonna drive or fly but I'm excited to attend for the first time. So, I might show up in a rental and need a ride from someone?

I'd like to get a list of who's going and then we'll figure out when to meet up as I think it would be great for us all to put a face to a screen name.

Please state if you're going and what you'll be driving!!!

Thanks,
Greg

Vitals: 25th Anniversary Trans Am Nationals

When: August 28th - 30th 2009

Where: Dayton Ohio

Home: http://www.78ta.com/nats/index.htm

Registration: http://www.78ta.com/nats/form.html

Maps and Direction: http://www.78ta.com/nats/directions.html

 

I have been contemplating going, I won my class last year and I considered not returning because and a friend of mine could not make it, and I was thinking of going to the "year one Experience" in GA... They canceled the Year One Experience so I have no plans on shows this year..

If you are going to be there, and Tony is planning on going I might consider going and putting my Yellow car back in the winners circle...

I would need someone to hang out with and BS with... I would bring my Family, but i am not sure how much they would be involved as they will be using the facilities... I think the new place has a swimming pool....

John

 

I was seriously thinking about going to the TA Nats this year. I can make it this time as I am done with school. I've always seen the TA Nats but it was watching all the TAs on the road near the show as I drove right past it on the way to KS. LOL. As of right now put me down as going. The plan was to take the '84 as well. However, due to the car having problems that I've not expected I am probably going to be working on it throughout the summer. Even if I get it running and legal around show time I am probably not going to chance a cross country jaunt from NJ. However...never say never. I was planning on taking the car to the mechanic to get it running, so maybe I will have it. Who knows maybe I will get another Trans Am as well.

I will have it at the AACA Fall Meet at Hershey in October, and if it runs and is legal I will have it at the F-Body Nats at Island Dragway in NJ in August.

 

I plan on going for the first time this year, bringing the wife and daughter too I hope to have TTA #124 with me which I am going on the Power Tour with if I can get it back together in time.

I'm not much for car show, always rather be racing and if I cant race then driving. Sitting around drives me nuts, but hope there's enough cars and cruising to keep us going

Steve

 

If you are planning on going, there are still rooms available on-site...

I made a reservation last night, which I thought was a miracle that I actually got a room. If you are planning on going here is the information I have for hotel Reservations...

-------------

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
There is a TWO night minimum stay at the Dayton Marriott Hotel. You can call the Dayton Marriott hotel locally at: 937-223-1000 or 1-800-228-9290 and be sure to reference Group Code "trmtrma" to receive rate at $95.

-------------

I called the 800 number and it is a National call center, They are aware of the show and gave me the $95 discount without any problems... There is an inside & outside pool, and a "hot tub" workout room and bicycles...

John

 

I AM going! I am going to bring ole yeller
I think we mite have around 10 cars going from a town of about 1,000 !!!!!
I have a friend that lives over there and Im not sure if I'll stay on site (I want to) or not..
guess Ill call and get a room this week just incase..

 

this is very tempting now that mine will be all nice and repainted. Do any Camaros participate, or is it strictly T/As? I would ask a friend that has a Camaro if he wanted to take the trip and split a room.

 

Well I'll be there for sure. Staying at the hotel, will be bringing the GTA. Coming in on Fri evening.

Tony, lets talk closer to the date, we can probably meet up somewhere along the way. I'll be trailering my GTA and my buddy will be driving his 01 WS6. We'll be coming down
I65 to Indy and I70 from there.

Last year it was just the 2 of us and right as we got into OH, we were passed by a TTA and 2 4th Gens cars and it was just plain awesome bc we all knew where the others were going!

Greg, so are you not planning on bringing a car then?

 

I'll be there.

http://www.78ta.com/nats/index.htm

Probaby wont be showing a car though.

 

Don't know....prob not bringing a car as no one would prob want to see any of my crap....

Figured I'd fly up and just mooch a rid off one of you guys!?! Otherwise it's a 12 hour drive from Tulsa.

Just reserved a room. Only king sized beds left. No doubles. Anyone wanna snuggle?

 

Hmmm maybe I could bum a ride from you..... If I bring the TA I will probably just stuff it in the original survivor's class or whatever it is. I know I will lose a crapload of points but then again...for me that is not the point. Not ruling out the chance that I get another one and take that one though.

 

Unfortunately it is a Firebird only thing. For so long it was Camaros only at the Camaro shows, now they are letting Firebirds in, we should see if the Firebird club would let Camaros in... Besides Firebirds are down right Sexier than Camaros

John

 

true, it isn't like the Camaros would make us look bad or anything :-) Oh well, I guess he rides shotgun or nothing.

 

You could bring it through the tech line and say it was a Firebird Custom Some of the guys in the Tech line are not the brightest, most of them are pretty good, but it is amazing the questions I have had about my car, and whether or not it was original...

I always take it as a complement as I figure if I did a good enough job to fool someone into thinking it "Might" be original I did pretty good.

John

 

Well if it has to be original I should have no problems at all. Unless they realize that the motor is not original...which would be hard to tell in the first place.

 

Thats why I put some time in on the tech line last year, and hope to do it again this year. I only did it Sat. morning. I didnt do your car. I forget, did you have your red ASC car (or was that two years ago?). Either way, that and your yellow car always look good.

 

Hey Greg, you could drive up on a thurs stay at a local Hotel, its 4 miles from my house.(my house is small or you could stay there) then we could leave fri sometime... you could park your car n my garage and take a car of mine to hotel..

I think we have a 79 T/A, 89 formula350, 92formula350, 92 jyformula, 95 hawk, 96 formula, 02 hawk and these are just the 4 sure ones.. theres more that MITE go..

 

My Formula 350 Vert, I will always get stuck in the "Heavy Custom" It is the way they have it set up they count it as a major body modification. This year I see they have a new class for "Special Edition" and it has to have Paperwork... I have the paperwork, so I might be able to put it in that class...

Honestly my vert needs some help, like the paint is shot from the FL sun, and it needs a new top, someone sprayed Armor All in the engine bay so I have this yellowed Silicone crap on some of the pieces that I have to clean off... No matter what class I get put into I would never win, unless it was the only car in the class. Since I get put into Heavy Custom I go against some killer cars, and it is frustrating when I have an all stock motor going up against Chrome monster trailer queens...

John

 

The jy 92 is in need of some majior paint work but I like it just the way it is ! I dont care if everyone walks rite on by, that car means soooooo much to me I dont care what someone else thinks..... we all know what these cars mean to each other...

 

I know what you're saying about their classes. I'd be in heavy custom also and their judging criteria looks pretty strict. I've never been to a judged car show, so maybe that's par for the course. But I can see getting lots of deductions just from dust and bugs picked up on the drive there and for not having my intake manifold polished.

 

i might go....thats if i get a lot of driving with my finished project. The 327 isnt happy with a tpi on it right now

 

I kind of like the Judged type car show. On the one hand you get people that are supposed to be looking at the best presentation, cleanest engine, interior & Paint. The problem is you still get some bias, if someone absolutely hates Yellow they might not give you as good a score as the red they absolutely love. It is not supposed to work that way but I think it does a little.

Personally I prefer judged over a "Popularity contest", where everyone votes on cars, and the best car wins.

John

 

Ive said it a million times... I really dont care what others think about my stuff. I know whats wrong with it and I dont need to pay someone that doesnt know as much as they think to tell me whats wrong ! I go for the friends and other cars!!
Altho I do like to see cars that are perfectly done...

 

I'm in pretty stong agreement with you. It'd be interesting to see how mine is judged, but I'd mostly think it's cool to see others enjoying looking at the work I've done the same way I enjoy seeing so many other people's cars and the work they've done

 

That's how I lost 1st place last year. When I got my judging sheets, I got a 23/25 on presentation from both judges. If there are 2 judges then how is it possible that they both had the exact same opinion of my car unless they just talked to each other and asked what the other guy thought. Not to mention that the 2 separate judging sheets are exactly the same, both of them thought EXACTLY the same thing? I doubt that. They were friends and were talking to each other while going over my car. That defeats the purpose of the 2 judge system.

But whatever, it was an awesome time and I will go back again and participate again. 1st place or not doesn't really matter. I enjoy the competition of a car show with high caliber cars, and even though my opionion may differ from the judges, it is still a lot of fun.

362 days of work for 3 days of pure enthusiast bliss... that is my description of the TA Nats. For 3 days, you could not spit without hitting a Firebird. That is my kind of gathering!

 

Humm...I'd be tempted to pull #6 up and drive it the rest of the way with you guys but I think that's a few too many miles? Tony your still 6ish hours away? It would still be a blast to go up w/ you guys!!! Humm.......

Personally I'm more about meeting the people and chatting about the cars than I am about the "points." ....spend hours, day and months to get a car perfect only to be judged on seeming concrete points that all the sudden seem subjective to the judges? Nah...much more fun to have a good time with the guys!

G

 

Depends on if I get my passport or not.. Sounds like a hell of a party!

 

I think that's too far to drive #6. Hell I'm even trailering my GTA and it's 350 miles for me one way. Just trailer it and you'll be the only ThirdGen Hawk there.

 

They are made 2 be driven fast and hard.......kind of lol !!!

Its not 2 far.. How many 25th T/A Nats ar there guna b n our life times??

if Bruce brings his Hawk there mite be 2!

Greg have you talked to Jim about going??

 

First off....I might be in the same boat as Kevman. I assume eveyone needs a passport to visit Tony in Raymond IL?

I also assume Bruce will bring #1 if he gets it? Tomorrow is the auction!!!!

Haven't talked to Jim, yet. I should give him a ring today.

I know, I know....this is probably once in a lifetime but I really don't wanna put 1,500 miles on #6 and have it set outside. But then again it's just a car and that would be one fun story.......

 

Last time I spoke to Bruce there was a Corvette Show that he was going to this year that happened to fall on the same weekend as the Trans Am Nationals...

I might see if I can persuade him to go to the "25th" T/A nats, but I doubt it.

John

 

Looks like the Formula may make it on tv, Speed starts coverage at noon and the auction starts at noon. It is lot #11 so we should be able to see it, can someone tape it?
I'll be at work...

 

Bruce? Corvette show!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

ELO said it best, Bruce don't bring me doooown !!!

Greg, all's anyone has to do is come into Raymond stop @ the west end gas station and ask where I live!!!! no passport required !! haha

We use 5-6 tanks of gas to get to T/A nats and back and thats stopping every 200 miles or so 4 10-11 galls of high test!!!!!

 

I think he is going with his friend Terry. (The Blue car)

 

Well after the way Terry got slapped by the scores last year I would not blame him for not coming this year.

 

Thats just what I mean.... You spend lots of time, money, blood, sweat an tears just to have someone, that doesnt know all that much, tell you his or her opinion of your car... not soooo much fun for me...

 

Terry's car was possibly the best car at the show. On a 1000 point scale I would seriously think it should get 995. I think what kills it is the fact he has a Blue Formula 350, with the Red Engine, then a Gray interior with some Red mixed in. It is an Awesome looking car, And a great performer, but the colors kind of kill it for the overall.

Wade won best of show in 2007, and he won Heavy Custom in 2008, but by the time 2008 rolled around it was showing wear. there were chips and dents that Terry's car did not have, and Terry still did not even place either year...

I almost sent my trophy to Terry because I felt he deserved it more than me. I decided not to because I know it would not have been the same...

 

Yellow cars at the Show
- John's 1992 Trans Am Vert
- Tony's 1992 Formula
- My 1987 Formula
- Bruce Hawkins 1992 Formula 1LE
- I hope Leo brings his
- Mark you have to bring yours too...

There is 3 for sure, a strong possibility for a fourth, and Mark a fifth...

I have been tempted to bring my other Yellow Formula too, even tho it needs some work, I would love to get group pictures...


All I have to say is YELLOW ROCKS!!!

 

Ok John but here's the problem. Your Formula is heavy modified? John's TA Vert is also a modified class, myself, Leo and Bruce would be in Stock "D" so I guess 3 cars in a row would be sweet. Depending on the layout of the classes at the new hotel, we may still be scattered all over the place. We'll see just how many people promise to bring the old yellows out once it gets closer to the show. If there will be a big Yellow turnout then I might just have to bring mine.

 

The time and place for a Photo shoot would not necessarily have to be part of the show, I was thinking of some special car layouts for pictures of the cars all in one place...

I just think all those Beautiful yellow cars in one place has to be something special...

I even thought about inviting other yellow cars from other Generations... just thought it might make a neat PC background...

"you may be right, I may be crazy" : Billy Joel.

John

John

 

A very good friend of mine lives and teaches @ a auto tech school n Dayton.
that should make a nice private pic setting...

My friend Tom And I mite have a suprise 4 a small group of us that are going...

More details will be sent by PM as the time gets closer....

 

Here's another way of thinking about the potential of a JY convention at the TA Nats.

If.......
John with the JY TA Vert
Tony with the JY Formy TTOPS
Bruce with the JY Formy Hardtop
Leo with the 305 1LE JY TA Hardtop
Myself with the 350 JY TA Hardtop
All we need is the GTA from 2007 to show up and we have the whole lineup!

Hmmmmm

 

Whole Lineup.....was there a JY base Firebird too? Because if there was then thats not the whole lineup. Just a thought.

 

Of course you're right, there were quite a few JY Firebirds. I missed that part...

 

did GM really call the color "Jamaica Yellow", or is that just a nickname it picked up along the way?

 

Yes they did. It is kinda interesting though, my RPO breakdown sheet and the window sticker call it another color, I don't remember the name and don't have the sheet in front of me.
However, the "build" sheets for the car call in Jamaica Yellow.

And it is Jamaica and not JamaicaN.

 

There was a JY Base Firebird running around locally a long time ago. It had a Green Flame paint job... Yes it sounds as bad as it was... I thought about trying to buy it, but by the time I thought it over it was gone and I never saw it again... I honestly did not want it because it was a base firebird.

If you notice, there are not a lot of Base firebirds at the trans Am nationals. THere are a few, but most are Trans Am's, Formulas, Firehawks & GTA's.

John

 

It was my idea and now I am getting horned out of a picture... Hmmm...

Actually I think you would be missing a Trans AM T-Top, and a Firebird Hard top, T-top and Vert...

John

 

Well, I have the 92 Yellow GTA from 2007. I plan on going to the POCI Nationals in July and then I will see if I can go to the Trans Am nationals. I was really disappointed the way the car was judged two years ago. The cars that beat my car actually had dents in the doors. The judges just voted for somebody they knew. A picture would really be cool.

 

I want to think that there were problems with rain, 2007 IIRC it rained and everyone was having issues. I remember being told to leave my crap inside my car while it was being judged because it was raining. I think ultimately it hurt my chances because I tried to pull the junk from my trunk while they were looking at my car while it was raining.

The guy who won my class in 2007 had huge (not little door dings) but HUGE dents, about the size of softballs on both doors. you could see where they tried to massage them out but it was very obvious when it was dry. SINCE it was raining they were not as obvious... I think the judges were hasty personally...