Wagonfest 2015 info

11th Anniversary Wagonfest

Overview - Wagonfest’s goals:
1. To meet with, hang out with, and get to know other fellow forum members, and
GM  B-body wagon owners,
2. See lots of GM B-body wagons in one spot, some really neat modifications, and some "What the hell is that?"   mods.
3. Trade, buy or swap parts for needed (and becoming more rare) B-body wagons
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Date: Friday and Saturday, July 24 & 25 2015

Place: Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva, NY,
30x60 tent along the lake front road just west of the pavilion used for past events.  It’s big, you won’t miss it

Note:There is also a park entry fee collected at the gate by the  Seneca Lake State Park, of $7.00 (unchanged) to enter the park facility for the day.  This is a separate fee and NOT part of the $10.00 Wagonfest event fee. If you simply get a day pass ticket when checking in, and put it on your dash, you can leave and come back during the day if necessary, like for meals. There is a bathroom facility very close by, literally, just  a yards away. Our entire area is wheelchair accessible, including the bathrooms, although the grassy areas can be a bit rough.

 If you need it, here's the park's link for more info:

http://nysparks.com/parks/125/details.aspx

Time: 10:00 – 6:00.   The park itself is open from dawn till dusk. You are welcome to come early and stay later if you wish

Focus:  As always, the event’s focus is primarily ’91-96 GM B-body wagons. This includes Chevy Caprice,  Buick Roadmaster,  Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and even the ultra rare Pontiac.  As the name of the event indicates, the focus is clearly on WAGONS.

Registration:

• Entry fee is simplified for Saturday. It will be again be $10.00 per vehicle. This is to cover the cost of the 30x60 tent rented from the park, ($160.00 this year, up from $100 in the past) awards, and meal related supplies. Since  I'd like to enjoy your company, I’d prefer not to have to track people down to pay at the park or burden people at the registration desk to collect monies.

With that in mind, you can prepay either of two ways, checks  or  via Paypal.

Paypal to:  lakeffect@gmail.com
(Remember to send as a gift so that their fees are not taken out.)

Personal check payable to:

David J Buchholz
57 Northaven Terrace
Rochester NY 14621

My direct email is:   lakeffect@gmail.com
Phone(585) 266-3464 (land line, I do not have a cell phone yet)

There is an Official Wagonfest Roll Call thread. To help with planning PLEASE, Please sign up if you intend to come.

https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t11640-wagonfest-2015-roll-call

Schedule of events:

Thursday July 23 2015:  Historically, this is the unofficial arrival day for most out of town Wagonfesters, and a lot of festering goes on at the Micromotel, on Route 5 & 20 in Waterloo. I’d suggest swapping some cell phone numbers beforehand with each other via the forum private message service so you know who's  there and where.   There might be some fellow forum members traveling the same route. In past years several members have "wagon trained" or met along the way to travel as a group. There is safety in members, in case you break down.

Friday July 24  ****NO WATKINS GLEN THIS YEAR**** 
The “traditional” event  was going to Watkins Glen.  THAT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE. Due to Vintage Cup Racing that weekend, the track is not available for "hot laps" The Watkins Glen end of the lake will be packed with fans. So don't go near there or through it if you don't have to. Additionally it is closed the rest of the year for repaving.

Geneva Cruise in Night  

Date: July 24, 2015.  Once again, Wagonfest coincides with the downtown Geneva car show that night.  It's a “Cruise in” event, giving us all a chance to see some upstate  Hot  Rods, Customs and High Performance vehicles. It was a great time last year. In its sixteenth year and includes several different stages of live entertainment, and lots of good food. It's literally just  barely a mile west of the Wagonfest site in downtown Geneva.

 www.visitgenevany.com/events/16th-annual-cruisin-night-block-party

https://www.facebook.com/events/518751954934089/

info from their website

"Geneva's annual car show & block party is here again! This year it will be held on Friday, July 24th, 2015, in beautiful Downtown Geneva, NY. Located at the Heart of the Finger Lakes, Cruisin’ Night is Geneva's largest annual event. In the past sixteen years this event has drawn crowds from not only neighboring cities, but the greater Finger Lakes region, as well. It is a fun filled night showcasing cars, trucks, and motorcycles together with live music on three different stages, food, beverages, and children’s activities.

Please consider supporting this event, which draws upwards of 6,000 people and over 200 vehicle owners and enthusiasts to the heart and soul of Geneva. The proceeds from this event go towards Beautification of our District, which includes hanging baskets, street maintenance, and flower bed maintenance. It is our goal at the Geneva BID to keep our streets clean and beautiful."


***  Some may want to or participate in the Geneva show rather than just look.  If you choose to enter, check the above links.


Finger Lakes Winery Tours: Although not an official organized event (as of  05/27/15) The Finger Lakes area has some incredible wineries in the area. You might like to sample some of nature's bounty. Her's some links to help you "lift your spirits".

I'm thinking about taking a poll to may this an semi-official function, maybe an alternative to the cruise night. Give me your ideas and thoughts.

http://www.senecalakewine.com/

http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/seneca-lake-wine-trail.aspx

http://www.fingerlakes.com/seneca/seneca-lake-wineries


Finger Lakes Waterfalls and Gorges The Ice Age left our area with an incredible abundance of scenic gorges and waterfalls. Learn more about seeing and hiking some of them here:

http://www.fingerlakes.com/parks/waterfalls


• Saturday, July 25 WAGONFEST 2015

You can plan on coming to the wagon fest at 10:00 am for events, or earlier (9:00am)if you’d like to help set up. The park itself opens at dawn.

Wagonfest  Lunch will follow last years format. Simply  stuff your cooler with  drinks, food, (dogs , burgers, subs, Alaskan king crab).. whatever.   Supplied for you will be a  large grill, charcoal, (and lighting fluid) cooking utensils, condiments,  some munchies, plates, cups and napkins. Again, there will be no food supplied.  When  all else fails, there is a concession stand within the park at the beach area, serving hot dogs, hamburgers fries etc.

10:00 am arrival
1:00 pm:  Grills will be ready to get cooking!    Sharing lunch under the big top!
4:00pm judging ballots handed out.
4:30pm ballots collected
5:00  Awards, you guessed it, under the  big top.

It is anticipated that events at the Park will continue until about 6:00pm, when most people will want to catch some dinner. There is no formal dinner plan at this time (04/27/2014)

Awards (unconfirmed at this point  still thinking about categories) past awards were
    People’s Choice:  best overall Wagon
    Best Exterior Mod  (paint, woodgrain, detail, bodywork, etc.)
    Best Interior mod  (anything inside the vehicle
    Best Mechanical mod (whether powertrain, suspension, or something unique)
    Recognition:     Farthest distance traveled


Dash Plaques:  will be available to the first 40 vehicles that become registered at the event.  Lat year I made up magnetic ones) If you don’t like plaques, feel free to register late, or give it away to someone else.

Suggestion: Some”mods”  are so  nicely done and subtle that people don’t realize changes were made . Free free to make up a one-page or two-page show flyer about your car to point out any modifications or work you have done. Got photos?   Feel free to display a loose leaf book of pictures of your work your work for others to see. Most people put them on the cargo gate for viewing. by strolling forum members.

Shirts: undecided as of 05/26/15 as to whether there will be one.. look for a poll question coming up soon in another thread.

Rain plans:  It’s Rain or shine baby.  Bring a freaking umbrella and don’t whine about it!  It is rare that it rains all day during the summer in  Geneva.  Actually, There will be plenty of tables and room under the big top for the auctions and sitting for lunch & gabfestering  for everyone.


The Parts Exchange:, Many B-body wagon parts are becoming hard to find, or are heavy or bulky and therefore expensive to ship. One of the most valuable things we can do to help support owners is to provide a venue in which we can make parts available to each other. Thus, there will be an informal parts exchange happening all day at WF11.

Most of us simply put the parts behind the car. Park rules strictly prohibit flea-market type activities. Do not post prices  per park rules. The park staff has been gracious with us in the past and we’ve been discrete too. Please, let’s keep it that way. You are strongly encouraged to barter! Southerners, bring rust-free parts, and northerners, bring clean, non sun-damaged parts!

Saturday night:   In the past , most travelers meet back at the Microtel for some Saturday night elbow bending with 12 -16oz liquid weights. ( half liter for you w ay north folks)  Hangout at the Microtel parking lot until late.

Sunday: • No formal Sunday morning activities  at the time of this writing. Some may want to gather for breakfast, and can make communal breakfast plans if they so desire. ( so swap some phone numbers ), See some of the beautiful sights around upstate NY,  stick around, spend money, then when you are almost broke,  head home.


Lodging:
There are several hotels in Waterloo and Geneva, as well as campgrounds nearby. The Microtel just east of Waterloo is the preferred hotel spot as we will be hanging out there Saturday night.  A group rate has been set up you. Mention Wagonfest.
Microtel contact info: 1966 Route 5 & 20, Seneca Falls, NY - (315) 539-8438

Camping:
1. Sampson State Park. Its only 20 minutes south of Waterloo and typically there’s room.
2. Cayuga Lake State Park located in Seneca Falls, NY. Just under 30 minutes east of the park, 15 minutes east of the Microtel.
Stuff at the park for the kids:
• Swingset  just down the road next to the pavilion we used last year.
• Large grass area for frisbees, soccer balls and stuff (please keep this away from the cars )
• Long walking trails along Seneca lake
• Award-winning spray park about a 3 minute walk from the Fest.

Stuff for other family members:
• Waterloo Outlet Malls are about 20 minutes away.
Winery tours locally and throughout the Finger lakes region.
•  Watkins Glen State park has lots of walking trails.


There are some incredible micro breweries if you don't like to hike.
http://fingerlakesbeertrail.com/content/

• Downtown Geneva is nearby (5 minute drive), lots of little eateries too.

Volunteer needs:
I need folks to help with the following items:
1. Registration  table(need two folks for the morning to meet/greet)
2. Awards counting in the afternoon (need one or two persons to collect & tally votes from all entrants)
3. Lunch: one or two folks to help setup
4. Lunch  could use a few to help clean up
5. Cleanup in the evening (three people  and vehicles just to collect garbage and  take it back to the motel for disposal)

Parking at the fest:
• Follow the WF10 signs inside the park to the the lake front.  When you see a big freakin’ tent with a bunch of wagons near it,  there’s  a pretty good chance  that it's us.
• Park along the edge of the road in the grass like last year.   PLEASE NOTE Park rules are that we can only park one car length into the grass, so if you can park perpendicular to the road and with plenty enough  width away from the next car to open doors. We should be able to center things in both directions from the tent.

Wagon services near/enroute to the fest:

Mechanical repairs: These are two local garages in case you have a mechanical problem that is not solvable at the event.
1. Community Car Care (Bill Twist) 363 East Main Street, Waterloo, NY‎ - (315) 539-5300.
2. Seneca Auto - 66 Fayette Street, Waterloo, NY‎ - (315) 539-8259‎ or 315-539-2090.
3. Buchholz Auto - 3200 State St, Caledonia NY (585) 538-9334   (This is my son Richard's shop)

Car washes: There is a DIY carwash in Waterloo on Rt 414 (Next to Holiday Inn in Waterloo), about 3 minutes north of the Microtel Hotel. There are other car washes in the area but I don't have their information right now.

Auto Parts store:

Advance Auto Parts, store #4273 303 HAMILTON ST. GENEVA,NY 14456 315-789-8243
Friday-Saturday 7:30am-9pm Sunday 9am-8pm

Auto Zone  1963 US RTE20   WATERLOO  NY  13165  (315) 539-0290

Other rea points of interest for vacationers:

http://visitfingerlakes.com/    ( a wealth of local info on  some great things to do while in the area)

City of Geneva  NY  website, area activities, places to shop ,  other things to do, etc:

http://www.downtowngeneva.org/
Phone: 315-789-5005
Web: www.geneva.ny.us
July  26, 2728

Thanks to all who have shared info and ideas with me, Please feel free to  continue suggest other things to me as well so that this will be a wagonfest to remember!  Any thoughts you may have for grab bags, things to do, etc. I'm open to ideas, so don't be shy.

Dave Buchholz

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Please bring any typo's to my attention. This thread will be heavily edited to keep on topic.

Dave

To Scoffman.. Thanks for the edits.

Dave

just for the newbees the $7.00 fee the park charges is per car not per person

Some people already have shirts.

True.... but from years past.

lakeffect wrote:

True.... but from years past.

so what was the idea behind the reusable golf shirts that were done last year?

I wear mine from last year, and all the years before,  which to me is the whole idea of having them.


Others might want something Wagonfest related for this year,  maybe it's their first year, or for whatever other reason they might have. That's why there'll be a poll in a few days, and you are welcome to both vote and add your opinion.

I just booked my site at Cayuga Lake State Park for the weekend, Thursday thru Sunday, and there are still plenty of sites available (209) if you are late to the game like me.

If any of ya have any questions, or problems while on route to WF NY call my cell. We have a rescue team.... Sort of. It's like AAA, but free, and not as good, but we do what we can.

Mike's cell # 585-733-8835