Thread: 2011 NSRS Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, KY. Big disappointment.

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This is my personal opinion. First of all, I love old cars of any type. Last year the NSRA began allowing cars to attend the Street Rod Nationals up the year of 1981. I have always looked forward to attending the Street Rod Nationals. I have a 1929 Buick that I am building. It is, or will be, a Street Rod. To be classified as a Street Rod the car has to be 1948 or older. Anything newer is a hot rod or street car.
It was with great disappointment that last year when I went I saw some vehicles that had no business being there. I saw an old International scout 4 wheel drive, an old Lance candies delivery truck and a lot of other vehicles that looked seriously out of place. What WAS missing was a lot of the old street rods that I had been used to seeing. For those of you that have ever attended the Nationals in Louisville, KY and are familiar with it, normally, there is a pretty good size swap meet outside. Last year it was noticeably smaller. This year is was filled probably a bit over half the size of normal. The Kentucky State Fairgrounds is where is is held. Always before it was filled to capacity. This year it was freakishly sparse.
The NSRA is alienating the street rodder in an attempt to gain more profits. As I said before, I love old cars of any vintage. I own a 1957 Chevrolet but would never consider driving it to the Street Rod Nationals because it does not belong there. As a matter of fact, I am not sure if I will go back. This year I spent most of my time indoors looking to see what the vendors were offering. That is another thing! Normally, you would have to turn sideways to walk through the crowds. This year there was no difficulty moving around anywhere.
To me, I feel there are plenty other classic car shows for the 49 and newer, such as Good Guys. I really enjoy going there and expect to see the 49 and newer classic cars. For many years, I have built 1967-1969 Camaros and Chevelles. I have had several show winners, but then again, they don't belong at the Street Rod Nationals regardless of how good they are. Again, this is my personal opinion. I am hopeful that I haven't stepped on any toes saying this, but I feel the Street Rod is in it's own class and should stay there.

this has already been discussed here if you want to check it out
Nsra 2010

I posted pics of a lot of the stuff that didn't belong at the Nats in this thread

Last trip to nats?

Yes, I see it has. It took a long time to read through all that. I also saw what the attendance was this year. In an effort to get more attendance, they came up considerably short. In the past at Louisville, I have seen them have to take up part of the spectator parking and fence it off to allow for more street rods. It sure was not like that this year. I understand what a lot of the posters was saying about the glass cars. The rules were that the car, or vehicle had to be American made and 'replicate' 1948 or older. Nothing was said about it being a reproduction.
I love old cars, particularly those of pre-72. I even like to look over Rat-Rods. I think it is sometimes ingenious how some would take a car that most would not walk close to, for fear it would fall apart on them, and drive it to the Nationals. I am sure they were just as proud of their build as some of the high dollar cars. Some of them, I found to be were put together really well, regardless of how they looked. I guess some of the newer cars came to the Nationals just because they were allowed to come, and I really don't blame them. Problem is... there was no appeal to me, that is not what I went to see. I guess a lot of others felt the same way and didn't show up.
Sooner or later even the 'later' models will be worth something as the older ones fade out. But, one thing you can take to the bank. Unless something catastrophic happens to the pre-49s they will always be worth more to see to me. What seems 'barf-bag' to me now will be nostalgic to others later. But think about this... The pre 49s initially were put together from a basket of old parts that they could find and built to the owners imagination. I see nothing about the mid fifties-up that has been done that way, other than possibly changing the engine.
Another thing... the original rules stated that even the pre-49s had to be modified in some way. Where is all that in the newer models? All-in-all, it is what your preference is. The way they have changed it is not mine.

Ed

This thing has been rehashed so many times and nothing ever changes. Not likely anyone is going to change their mind, NSRA is not going to change their policy, so why bother with another "discussion"????

Hi Dave,

Sorry, I wasn't aware of a prior discussion until last evening or I wouldn't have brought it up. It just... nah, never mind, not worth the trouble. I thought this was a discussion area.