Let's Go The "2016 Tri-Five Nationals!"

Li

Let's Go The "2016 Tri-Five Nationals!" 

   -Alan Arnell 

If last year is any indication, the Tri-Five car hobby is still very alive, up and running.   In 2015 over 1800 plus Tri-five loving Classic Chevy owners along with countless in awe spectators made the drive to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the new First Annual Tri-Five Nationals. 

Belonging to the Dallas Area Classic Chevy Club (DACC) as well as attending the Lone Star Classic Chevy Convention car shows, I knew many car enthusiasts still dabbled with Classic Chevys of the years '55, '56, '57.   Still, I had no idea, that I and my fellow Texas Tri-Five owners were a part of a much larger following of our beloved Classic Autos. Sadly, I chose to not attend the 2015  Tri-Five Nationals myself, yet many of my club mates made the drive to Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

My club mates enjoyed their experience at the Tri-Five Nationals.  They happily reinforced friendships within the club and with other car people from across the nation and the world.  If you are lucky enough to attend the next Nationals you will surely meet people who, like yourself, love arguably the most beloved three years of Classic Cars in the world.  

I am in a way writing this blog to talk myself into attending the event.  In another way I want to share news about the coming nationals in 2016 and the many reasons you and I should attend.   

At last year's Nationals there were over 1800 cars registered.  That number is amazing to me.  I did not perceive that many car's would show up, but show up they did.  However, of the 180 dues paying members of the DACC club only a dozen made the trip to the Nationals.  I must digress.  The not having members showing up for events is sadly true for the many local club events as well. Why is it that club members do not show up, my inquiring mind wants to know?  If you would like an explanation go to my post in this blog entitled "Recipe for a Successful Car Club" 

For my research for this post of why folks beg off from national events I used a source with great information who is very close to home, me.  Instead of searching for research articles I have much experience in failing to attend events.   Why is it that I not go to the national events?  I have had many opportunities for attendance in the last 15 years.  I have mulled over going to national events many times over during that time, why did I blow them off?  Here is my reasons for nonparticipation.  They are reasons just not good reasons.

My list of most frequently used excuses that I and any of us must use: 

• The convention is too far away, my car may break down 
• My car is not good enough and would not compete in the Show and Shine 
• Costs too much money 
• I can't get away from work, family obligations, etc., etc., etc. 

I have a little voice that helps me get up in the morning to get out of the house.  That little voice counters my

excuses with... 

• The convention is always going to be too far from my home.  But, that is the reason to attend. Getting together with friends and club mates to caravan to an event is not all that scary and tedious. In fact, caravanning with friends or club mates is in fact it's own adventure.  They say, half the fun of going to the Nationals is the trip itself.  Who are they?  I don't know, that is why I call them they! 

• Don't be so hard on you Classic Ride.  Think about the following statements:   

• Do people like your car at local shows, in parking lots or driving down the street?  If so, your car will be fine at larger events.  
  My club  mates' car the "Trusty Rusty" was maybe one of the biggest hit of the Power Tour several years ago. Just months before the Hot Rod Power Tour the '56 wagon was still in the back 40 of a Texas farm where she had set for over 30 years.  "Trusty Rusty" was not a 1000 point car.  I dare say, the car may have been considered a Rat Rod.  My musing:  There is a push now in the hobby to make your car look like a survivor car even if it is not? 
• Find a friend with experiences of going to the Nationals to talk to about your perceived fears. You will find that there are cars of course better than yours, but your car will be better than many other cars.  Really, that is not what the Nationals is about.  You are there to celebrate all things Classic Chevy. 
• If you feel your car is not right for an activity at the Nationals, skip that activity and do another one.  Don't worry you will keep busy during the show. 

• Don't put to much thought into the showing or racing of your car.  Keep in mind that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  Do not let worrying about losing or your wounded pride to stop you.  Go, enjoy, compete, don't compete.  There will more than enough activates at the Nationals than you can do during the extended weekend. See more Plugola below.
• If you can get away from work to go on vacation, you can get away from work to go to a distant Tri-Five event, you can make the Nationals your vacation as you will gladly find out that both are one in the same. 
• To make your family want to go with you, you need to start locally with making Classic Car events and your classic car super fun.
• With your enthusiasm and the car's proven fun factor at local car shows, your family should be pressing you to take them to Nationals, not the other way around. 

Now that we have all the human feelings taken care of, now we will do plugola for the American Tri-Five Association, along with Danchuck's, Second Annual Celebration August 12-13, 2016 at the family friendly-heavily shaded Nostalgic Beech Bend Raceway in the city of Bowlen Green, Kentucky to celebrate the birth of the 1956 Chevrolet.   I hope to see you there!

More Plugola that includes press releases and National Media coverage of the 2015 and 2016 Tri-Five Nationals.

Beech Bend Race Way also has an entire amusement park  www.beechbend.com that includes world class amusements. Such as: rides, water slides, mini-golf, go-carts, petting farm, live shows and entertainment. Beech Bend also offers first hotels and camping facilities.

There is also Nashville. LINK events start Wednesday evening to run all day Thursday, as part of the Heacock Cruises. For more info go to the Convention and visitors Bureau www.visitbgky.com

Don’t forget the Corvette Museum.

 For more information for the National's schedule of events or to register go to www.frifivenationals.com or email to info@trifivenationals.com or call1-855-567-1957

Press release blurbs for 2016 Tri-Five Nationals:

It’s been over 60 years since the first Tri-Five Chevy hit dealer showrooms. And, in that time, the model of Chevrolet hasn’t lost any of their popularity. This was easily proven at the inaugural Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals presented Super Chevy magazine and produced by Woody’s Hot Rodz. With 1,758 1955-’57 Chevys filling up the car show space at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, it was easily the largest gathering of Tri-Fives in one place since they were being built and filled the lots at GM factories across the country.

The two-day event featured a massive car show, drag racing, and an autocross competition. As an added bonus, the Golden Star Auto ’55 210 sedan, built by Woody’s Hot Rodz, was given away to a lucky fan. Also announced was the formation of the new American Tri-Five Association, a club for owners and enthusiasts of Shoebox Chevys to interact with each other and enjoy similar passions for the cars that helped reinvigorate Chevrolet and put the brand at the front of the American car scene.

For an added bonus, below are write ups about the 2015 Nationals

"We are here at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals where the largest grouping of 1955-1957 Chevys we’ve ever seen has been amassed. We’ll have a tally of cars at the end of the event but for now, you’ll have to trust us – it’s big! Below we’ve put together some galleries from the events first-day happenings. Stay tuned for more updates and even more photos of your favorite Tri Five Chevys. " Get more info at http://www.superchevy.com/events/1508-worlds-largest-tri-five-gathering-storms-bowling-green/#ixzz3j6t36m00

Unless you have been living on Mars the past year you no doubt have heard about the Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals that was held August 14-15, 2015 in Bowling Green, Kentucky at Beech Bend Raceway. Over 1850 Tri-Five Chevy’s came out to the event which makes this the largest gathering of Tri-Fives in history. All manner of cars were represented from stockers, projects, RestoMods and way over the top custom builds. It truly was a sight to behold…Tri-Five Chevy’s as far as the eye could see and stuffed into every nook and cranny of the raceway grounds. There was also an AutoCross course and Drag Racing and a huge Tri-Five swap meet, vendors like Holley, Edelbrock and Lokar….something for everyone. Next years 2016 event is already being planned for August 12-13, 2016 and we expect it to be even bigger than the 2015 show. If you did not attend and you are a Tri-Five Chevy owner or fan this is one show that you should plan to attend. Get more info at

www.thetrifivenationals.com

Don’t forget to visit and like Texas Classic Experience on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/Texas-Classic-Chevy-Experience-1523985424589515/

Texas Classic Chevy Experience posts blogs about: Hot Rods, Chevy, Chevrolet, Drag Racing, Car Shows, Classic Cars, Custom Cars, Muscle Cars, How to Tech. posts, Dallas Area Classic Chevy Club, Texas Muscle Car Challenge, Tri-Five Nationals, Lone Star Chevy Convention, Class Car lists, Classic car links, Spotters guides, Car Shows, Swap meets, Book reviews and more.