PARKING AT SHOWS

It has been brought up with our club and some others about the parking of exhibitors vehicles at shows. I would like your opinion on whether or not we should be allowed to park next to our engines or have to park in the parking lot that is almost always all the way across the grounds from our displays. I personally think that it benefits us to have them close by, say in the event that you need a tool or a book or part that you wouldn't have just sitting on the ground or out in plain view. It has been brought up that this takes away from the antique spirit of the show and we should have to park elsewhere. -- John

My sons and I like to keep our truck with our display, we can keep a tool box, gas can, planks and what ever in the truck plus it gives you a place to sit , at a big show it can get kind of tight to get in and out sometimes though. -- Mike

At the shows I show at they allow parking by the display (camping as well). I would not want to have my vehicle somewhere else, same reasons as you stated. Also, at night I wouldn't want to leave my engines unattended. My vote is with you! -- Norm

At our show exhibitors are allowed to park next to their display. I wouldn't want my stuff left unattended either, even though we do hire night security (dusk to dawn). Seems no matter how safe you THINK you are, if someone wants to pull some stunt they will find a way! Another valid reason for staying by your stuff is in the event of weather changes you don't have to run your butt off! -- Craig

I vote FOR camping and parking with your display. That way you can keep an eye on your stuff. And If you look at some of the fastest growing shows (Florida Flywheelers, Waukee IA, South Haven MI) they allow camping and parking with your display. Its just more fun that way. -- Patrick

I did the muzzle loading rifle, buckskin, rendezvous, "thing" for about 20 years. At all of those events we had to park our vehicles 1/8 to a 1/4 mile away. If it was rainy or the ground was wet we had to pack every thing we had in from the parking lot. That included tent, bedding (no modern "stuff") food, and fire wood. I would like to have my "stuff" close to my trailer as well, but I do think it distracts from the nostalgia of the old equipment, besides we probably ALL need the exercise. Some shows provide a tractor to park your trailer and that makes it a lot easier. Especially if you have a motor home. I vote to keep the vehicles away from the engines. -- Don

Like everyone else says nice to have tools and anything else that’s best kept close by but not out on the ground to be tripped over. I suppose you could bring antique truck and have a truck show too. -- BobRR

I do not display at shows where I can't park (next to or behind) my engines (all those extra needed items are in the pick up; tools, gas, tarp, ice chest, sleeping bag, pillow, pills, etc. ) I also avoid displaying at those shows where they make you unload your engine. I like to leave them on the trailer for safety reasons (just another barrier for folks to cross to get "UP CLOSE" and tangled up), and it's just easier. You can't keep everybody behind the safety ropes. -- Paul

There are valid points to both sides of this issue. The one thing that I do object to is being asked to park my truck "off site" in the exhibitor parking lot only to look around later during the day to see that that same requirement has not been made of others. -- George

This is something that I have seen happen all too often in 22 years of attending engine shows. Where you park depends on whether or not you are a member of the club hosting the show. If the rules are NO PARKING with your display. then this should apply to everyone. But, as often is the case, You abide by the clubs rules and park outside the exhibit area. Then, look around a little later and guess who is parking with their display? Club members. I guess this would be described as the privileged character rule. I don't know whether or not some of these clubs notice it or not but clubs that have done this to my wife and I, Never see us again. That is my rule. If a club has a rule on parking or any other rules it should apply to everyone whether member or guest. Then no one is offended. It would be good if all clubs, when they advertise their show would make it clear as to their exhibit/parking rules. Then collectors could easily decide whether to attend the show or not. No one objects to Handicapped persons as to where they park or display. -- Joe

I have been attending the Berryville VA. show for over twenty years and we have always had to drop off our engines and park somewhere else. Since I have grown up with this I don't mind having my truck away from my engines; when you unload for the weekend just unload a few tools, cooler, and a some chairs and your set. I try to make sure my engine(s) is in running condition before the show and if for some reason it fails during the show then I'll try to fix it with what I brought; if not, it sits there. Engine shows are just getting too crowded to allow everyone to park their vehicles next to their displays. I would love the convenience but I just don't think it's fair to everyone else. Another way I look at it is if you charge admission for your show then you should cater to the spectators a little bit; if not then do what you want. -- Martin

As a spectator i have never minded seeing someone’s vehicle with their engine display. -- Ken

This is of course one of those threads that can go on forever because there is no "Right Answer." All of the shows here in the MO/KAN area, allow camping with the displays and as a result, the exhibitors have become accustomed to it and resist any change. Many of the shows here have found ways to allow the Parking/camping to coexist with the displaying by setting up their display field "IN The Round" with parking and camping displays around the perimeter and a couple of rows of "Drop Off" displays in the center. One show uses a road about 1/4 mile in length for engine display, with electric hook ups on both sides of the road and far enough off the road to allow the exhibitors to pull in with camper/truck/motorhome and have plenty of room to leave their trailers hooked up. Last year they had over 350 engines on display and every exhibitor had electricity, even for AC! In 20 plus years in the hobby, I had never had to drop my display till the first time I went to Portland, Indiana. I thought it would "X Me Off" but in reality once I got there and understood the magnitude of an engine area with 3000 engines in it, I understood the reason it had to be this way. I have since up-graded my trailer to a 6X12 enclosed one, so at night I can just stash everything in the trailer and snap on the padlocks. "Bottom Line" we all want to show and have fun, and "all" of the shows want to put on the best show they can, so exhibitors and show officials need to work together for the benefit of the hobby. Just my .02, "Keep the Change" -- Ted

I tend to like it when shows allow limited parking near the displays. I think if you can park your truck within a hundred yards, that's pretty good. A little farther is OK. Most shows could accomplish this with some planning. What I can't stand, is going to shows and not being able to see the engines for all the motorhomes. Cars & trucks tucked within a short distance I can handle, fields of big white motorhomes with one engine beside the door I can't. -- Anthony

In keeping with my new policy of not being in the least bit antagonistic. I agree with everybody. But if I can't park right next to my exhibit. I don't exhibit. -- George

I can understand why some shows make you drop your engines off and park somewhere else, but I won't show at those shows because I'm too afraid of something coming up missing at night. If they offer a place to park and camp 400 or 600 or 1000 feet away, then why not just expand the show grounds. What's the difference, if the show takes up 15 or 20 acres, and the camping/parking takes another 20 acres, your still using 40 acres any way you look at it. If your grounds aren't big enough, maybe it's time to look for bigger grounds. I'm NOT trying to "pick a fight"...it's just my 2 cents. -- Mark

Here in Oz it is very simple. At almost all of the shows you do not park with your display. Parking and camping is only ever a very short walk away from the engines which nobody seems to worry about, but it is what we are used to. You could not fit a vehicle inside the display areas anyway as they allow enough room for loading/unloading in the area and that's it. I carry my "show toolbox" which has enough tools in it to fix most problems. Overnight the engines are tarped over and I have not heard of any pilfering and as there are usually a lot of people camped very close buy it is not a problem. Motorhomes are not a problem as you don't see any here. -- Patrick

I think that shows that have motorhomes, trucks, and all manner of home made buggies are tacky. Looks like no planning went into them. I have been showing for a number of years, and have never had a problem with engines or parts growing legs, and I have never heard of any theft problem in the Northwest. I'm sure it happens, but it isn't very common around here. By the way, if I had a nickel for every one that says that they won't go to a show for this rule or that rule, I could retire. -- Scott

A great thread, lots to learn here for show planners and attendees. I helped plan a new show a few years back. Instead of doing it out in the middle of a field someplace, we closed off a couple blocks of downtown and held it there. This also enclosed some parts of a town park. We had some areas that could handle parking with your exhibit, we sort of left these to the older folks, and those with health problems, the other areas could not handle parking with the display, but we had two church parking lots less than a block in either direction where you could park. While most folks preferred staying by the display, they understood the problem of space we had and were happy to park elsewhere. Sure a few griped, but most folks were plenty cool with it. One added benefit of doing the show downtown was that the ladies were able to find some shopping to do while the guys were busy petting the engines. We had a lot of folks after the show that said they enjoyed not being in the middle of nowhere in a field for a change, and several that mentioned how this was the first show that the wife did not get too cranky at. As for whatever else has been commented on in this thread...I must also say that I don’t mind attending shows with the parking nearby or far away, but I get annoyed at walking past bunches of people who seem too cheap to pay for a campsite elsewhere, and just set out one crusty Briggs & Stratton next to the door under the awning behind the gas barbecue of a 65 foot motorhome so they can say they are exhibitors...my two cents on the subject. -- Bill

I like to park with my display when possible. I do understand that at some shows like Portland that this isn't possible. I like to stop by the other campers, pickups etc., and sit down and talk old engines. My wife likes to set at our exhibit and knit, read or talk to the other wives. I don't even mind the 60 ft. campers with a rusty Briggs if there is room. I just smile, say hello and keep walking. I just like the atmosphere, fellowship and rusty old engines no matter where everyone is parked or what they brought. The one thing I don't like is the kids riding all sorts of mowers as fast as they can and even treating them like bumper cars and running into each other. Adults and even children riding at a safe speed and watching out for people walking I don't mind. Everyone go to all the shows you can and have a good time. -- Steve

If you can't park with your stuff you should boycott the show. Who wants to leave all their precious engines in the care of a security guard, if the show has one. -- Gus

Not having a trailer, I used to load one of my engines in the back of my truck, and drive to a show. I would park in the display area, drop my tailgate, and display a running engine in the back of my truck. No one ever had a problem with it. I agree that it would be a major hassle to carry tools or whatever is needed between a parking area, and a display area. When something is needed, unlock the vehicle, get it out, and then lock it back in the vehicle when finished. Besides tools and spare spark plugs, I also like to carry a jug of ice water, and some snacks in the truck. It's nice to have them handy when needed. -- Tom

I am for parking at least in sight of my engines. I have too much time and money invested to take my chances on their security. I like the motorhomes being on the perimeter of the show area or parked in rows. It is nice to have people in the area of the engines at all times. Just my opinion, but I doubt it is the exhibitors with regular displays that we have to worry about. I would worry more about parts finding their way into the flea markets and junk dealers. I enjoy having the area open without barriers such as shown in the "Oz" photo. I enjoy having young kids coming up to talk and usually am willing to teach them how to run an engine if they seem to have the maturity for it. Also for those of us with young children that occasionally need their naps, it is nice to be able to put them down in the car or truck and be able to sit in my lawn chair to keep an eye on them. Vehicles also serve as shelter from weather and as a safe haven for purchased goods as well as cameras etc. Have fun wherever you park! -- Bill

John, you sure know how to stir up an interesting conversation. I have several engines, but I am not ready to display them just yet. So I attend several shows each year and that must make me only a spectator. It all depends on the individual circumstances of the show. I do not think that there can be any hard and fast rule that will fit all shows. It is obvious that many people do not want to have to park their vehicles, motor homes, or whatever, over in the next county away from their display. As a spectator I do not mind having to walk a ways from the parking to the show area. I sometimes spend several days camping in my motorhome at a show. At the same time I can see the position of the exhibitor who has a lot of effort and money tied up in his display. It would seem that whoever is putting on the show should give some consideration to meeting the exhibitors needs as much as possible. I would suggest that if your motorhome vehicle is bigger than your display, it will have to be parked elsewhere. This controls the 40 by 100 foot motorhome land yacht with the one or two (figure of speech) "rusty boat anchor Briggs or Maytag engines." At one show one exhibitor had a rather large engine mounted on a flatbed truck. There was no way he or anyone else would have wanted to unload this engine for display purposes. A little common sense would do wonders in that case. Besides it was fun to watch the truck chassis bounce around on the springs on each power stroke. For those who have stated that they will never display at a show that doesn't see it their way exactly on the parking issue, just think about how much fun complaining about it you won't be able to do if you pout and stay away. Come on guys and gals, not every show is going to meet all your desires, so pull in your horns a little bit and save your indignation for only the worst of the parking situations at shows, which should really be few and far between. -- Russ

I just got to jump in here, with a idea or two. Getting a little long in the tooth, and remembering running a few of the machines that are now "antiques/ collectable", there's a thing or two about shows that annoy this old gimp. If the show's good, I sort of forget the ouch factor, and can wander around for hours, but it would be nice to be able to buy something and have a place to drop it off, instead of having to hump it back to the parking lot, usually at least a mile round trip. It doesn't seem that sort of a check stand would be hard to operate at a show, and most folks would be willing to pay a buck to leave a hunk of iron and be able to pick it up when they leave the show. The other thing that doesn't seem like it would be real hard to accommodate, given the number of tractors wanting to parade, would be to hook up a wagon or two and operate sort of a jitney to and from the parking lot. With this sort of ride situation, folks who come in land yachts with an old lawnmower, just to be able to park in the exhibit area just might be willing to park elsewhere and save the extra fee to exhibit. Now, I'll sit back and wait for the flames about insurance and all that stuff. -- Franz

Thanks for your opinion on the subject. I didn't mean to stir such a pot but I am enjoying this greatly. You have hit it right on the head as far as a show by show situation. I would love to see exhibitor parking at all shows with our exhibits but as you have said this is not always possible. Also, as for those who say they will not show if they can not park right there... see you at the next show! -- John

ELECTRONIC SURVEY RESULTS:

Park With Display: 77 = 75%

Use Public Parking: 22 = 21%

No Answer: 4 = 4%

Much more... CONTINUED (April 2001)