Wagonfest 2022 in Florida.

Well it's that time again! Spring Turkey Run (or Wagonfest as we prefer to call it) always happens on the last weekend of March. This year Easter is later in April, so there won't be a conflict like there was a few years ago. Anyway, I spoke with Sprocket tonight, and as far as he and I are concerned, our get together should still take place this year. Robert, it may be too soon for you to reserve a block of rooms yet, but maybe check and see. As to our annual dinner on Saturday night, I guess we will see how many people plan on attending this year, and if they are interested. Any thoughts or questions, please chime in!

Likelihood of attendance is 50/50 for me next year. We just bought a house and now I have a real driveway and a place to work on my car. Bought a welder and will be starting on body work, finishing rack delete soon. Plus the numerous other things I have not been able to take care of in the 5 years I have had the car. Wagon may or may not be usable in March.

As mentioned in a previous post, I will be in Hawaii in the weeks leading up to the event, and will ask others to cover any details while out on my trip. I spoke to 1993 Roady and he is making trophies for the meetup that will be far and away the nicest ones we have had yet.

It's not too early to start your planning

I'll be attending Friday 3/25 and Saturday 2/26. Bringing my 91 OCC with new wheels. I also have a couple of spare parts that I will bring along.

As the date draws nearer, I expect a post about pre-paying entry fee. I live close by so won't need a hotel room but am interested in attending dinner. Will that be on Saturday night?

Walterf wrote:

I'll be attending Friday 3/25 and Saturday 2/26.  Bringing my 91 OCC with new wheels.  I also have a couple of spare parts that I will bring along.  

As the date draws nearer, I expect a post about pre-paying entry fee.  I live close by so won't need a hotel room but am interested in attending dinner.  Will that be on Saturday night?

just pre-register at the turkey run website. We will probably get a block of the slabs again, but you still need a turkey run entry so get that as soon as they make it available.

There will be a Saturday dinner signup as the date draws closer.

Where in Florida? Is there a info page on the event?

Daytona Speedway.

Here's a link to the web page:

https://turkeyrun.com/

I am planning to be there. I usually cook the steaks on Saturday night. I will check on the availability of whole tenderloins that I can cut into filets. They will be a little more expensive this year. This is once a year, so splurge a little. Everyone should bring a side dish, paper plates, utensils, napkins, condiments, or dessert. Try to coordinate so we do not have 10 of one thing, and no plates or utensils. Everyone has always brought their own drinks.

I will need a count of who is coming, and # of steaks they want. Buy-in will be determined by the number of steaks you want. I am making a thread to list the number of attendees.

Sprocket said someone will pickup the grille, and propane from him.

I will be there Friday and Saturday nights.

The show website states that there is no pre-registration and all cars will be registered at the gate. They state that CLUB pre-registration is still not resolved. Updates will be announced on the site.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

The show website states that there is no pre-registration and all cars will be registered at the gate. They state that CLUB pre-registration is still not resolved. Updates will be announced on the site.

The site also states that 1992 and older vehicles only are allowed at the Turkey Run:

https://turkeyrun.com/event-registration/car-show.html

--> Question: great for OCC and (almost all) pre-LT1 B-bodies, what about 1993-1996 cars?

They have always allowed all years of B-Body Wagons. They are considered "special interest" vehicles.

See you there.

Reverend Bob

To look at them, they all look so similar that unless you know the subtle differences, you can not tell what year they are. Just keep them in show worthy condition.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

To look at them, they all look so similar that unless you know the subtle differences, you can not tell what year they are. Just keep them in show worthy condition.

The mirrors are a dead giveaway, but I like the plan. Thanks!

Rev Bob wrote:

They have always allowed all years of B-Body Wagons. They are considered "special interest" vehicles.

Question for a friend: is that true also for other B/D bodies, e.g., Cadillac Fleetwood?

The FWs have always seemed to get in as well. They are the last of their breed.

If memory serves, a member was once turned away when he tried to enter with his FW.

94Woody wrote:

If memory serves, a member was once turned away when he tried to enter with his FW.

Was that recently, or a few years back?

7 or 8 years ago. I don't believed he pre-registered.

94Woody wrote:

If memory serves, a member was once turned away when he tried to enter with his FW.

That was me!! I can't remember why I didn't bring my wagon, but it was the last time I didn't pre register.

ayilar wrote:

94Woody wrote:

If memory serves, a member was once turned away when he tried to enter with his FW.

Was that recently, or a few years back?

Pre-register and there is never a problem. We also usually meet across the street at 8AM and all drive in together, so thinking if a wagon isn't pre-registered and there are 10 others like it they won't turn it away.

Pre-registration takes away the 'veto power' the person working the gate has. As long as it isn't a 2016 Camry or something, you should be fine with a pre-registration.

I tried to pre register this morning
The Turkey run web site says they no longer pre register
https://turkeyrun.com/events/car-show.html

Isurf wrote:

I tried to pre register this morning
The Turkey run web site says they no longer pre register
https://turkeyrun.com/events/car-show.html

I am Minnesota so no way for me to go, but looked at site out of curiosity.

They plan on doing at the gate registration for 5000 cars?  What possible go wrong with that?  We have seen here that even with preregistration a 5-10K show with 4 entree lines for non registered.  Wait in line times in the multiple hours range is common.

Sprocket wrote:

ayilar wrote:

94Woody wrote:

If memory serves, a member was once turned away when he tried to enter with his FW.

Was that recently, or a few years back?

Pre-register and there is never a problem.   We also usually meet across the street at 8AM and all drive in together, so thinking if a wagon isn't pre-registered and there are 10 others like it they won't turn it away.  

Pre-registration takes away the 'veto power' the person working the gate has.   As long as it isn't a 2016 Camry or something, you should be fine with a pre-registration.

They did away with pre registration this year.

I bet it's a way they can keep out the cars they don't want.

I think we will be fine but every year I get a laugh or two from show workers and have had comments about belonging at the grocery store. lol.

Guess I can throw a board in the car and hit the beach if they don't let me in. Got a grand daughter on the west side of fla to visit after anyway.

Just curious, do the cars come and go every day, or are they parked for the weekend?

Isurf wrote:

Guess I can throw a board in the car and hit the beach if they don't let me in. Got a grand daughter on the west side of fla to visit after anyway.

Just curious,  do the cars come and go every day, or are they parked for the weekend?

Come and go. you can leave and come back. No cars spend the night in the track, they all leave, only the vendors leave their stuff.

Things in our favor. We all will have a slab parking pass, and when we show up all together, some of us have windshield stickers from last year, so that should also help bolster us getting in.

I have NOT heard of one our wagons being turned away, even at the gate, only Mark's Fleetwood and a new Caprice PPV about 8 years ago (when they were brand new).

That said, someone should email the show with a pic of their car and when they reply it's okay, print out the email and bring it with just in case. They mention and have an Impala pictured, so I feel pretty confident.

Well...if they turn us away, we can still get together and have dinner Sat right? I am planning to come regardless for the steak and friends. Weird they won't do the pre-register but I guess they had problems.

If we do the slabs, can we get some kind of club entry thing? How much is that?

Will we be at the same hotel again? Let me know so I can get a room.

I will check on the hotel tomorrow.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

I will check on the hotel tomorrow.

I also emailed the event and asked about the wagon....nothing back yet.

I'm a new member, but my parents were big in the B-Body world around 2005 and took me to alot of meetups especially the Rod Run. They had a 96 Impala SS and RMW. I live in Jacksonville so I might head down for a day for the meetup. My cars not show quality, should I come as a guest or enter as a member?

I'm not really even close to show ready. I hope to get in with the rest, enjoy the company, cruise the swap, find some stuff. I will polish up as best as I can. I figure it's a work in progress. Some parts from the swap may help that progress. If I don't get in, I can visit my daughter and catch a few waves.

We all love our wagons but VERY few of us actually own one that would be considered "Show Ready". Wagon fest is about hanging out and checking out the car show and swap meet. It's the one time of the year that many of us see the people we have became friends with over the years. We park the wagons and forget about them for the rest of the day.

The Impalas, and Caprices have always been allowed in, no matter what year they are.

I sent an email to clubparking@turkeyrun.com asking about reserving a pad for Wagonfest and offering to visit their offices to pay a deposit or otherwise secure a pad for our group.  I told them that we traditionally have about a dozen 91-96 OCC, Roadmaster and Caprice wagons in attendance. I will advise if I hear back from them.

Purplezombie wrote:

I'm a new member, but my parents were big in the B-Body world around 2005 and took me to alot of meetups especially the Rod Run. They had a 96 Impala SS and RMW. I live in Jacksonville so I might head down for a day for the meetup. My cars not show quality, should I come as a guest or enter as a member?

Don't sweat the "show quality" thing! Only a handful of ours are. Wash it at least, and come and enjoy the show. We usually enter the gate as a group at 8 am Saturday and Sunday morning, so come join the fun.

Walterf wrote:

I sent an email to clubparking@turkeyrun.com asking about reserving a pad for Wagonfest and offering to visit their offices to pay a deposit or otherwise secure a pad for our group.  I told them that we traditionally have about a dozen 91-96 OCC, Roadmaster and Caprice wagons in attendance.  I will advise if I hear back from them.

Thank you for doing that. If they reply in a supportive way, it'd be great if you could ask about 1993-1996 FWBs as well?

I reserved 10-15 rooms at the Best Western Speedway. The phone number is 386-258-6333.

Price is $118 per night for Friday and Saturday. plus taxes. There is a further discount for Thursday night $103 plus taxes (both figures may have a couple number after the decimal point).

Remember to add your name to the steak list with a number, or zero for none.

Received the following message from member Sprocket:

yes, Adam is reserving 4 pads for us which will cover 16 cars. He is getting two more and will most likely have extra space as well.
Additionally, he will be getting them with some of the Orlando SS guys, so we should be well represented.

We are set for March 25 Wagonfest. Get your cars ready and hope for good weather. Thanks, Sprocket.

Remember to put your name on the steak list if you have not done so.

94woody wrote:

They did away with pre registration this year. I bet it's a way they can keep out the cars they don't want. I think we will be fine but (...)

I don't like uncertainty, so I emailed the following question to rick@turkeyrun.com today:

"I have an opportunity to attend the Turkey Run for the first time (with) a 1996 Fleetwood Brougham. The Cadillac is in great original condition and has the V4P towing package.

From the website, the cutoff year is 1992 for most cars but all Impala SS are allowed. My car has the same powertrain and handling package as the ISS, and it is the same B/D body vintage (1991-1996, last of the RWD full-size GMs).  

—> Can you please confirm that my car is eligible for admission? I will make reservations after I receive your confirmation."

I got a helpful answer very quickly:

"Yes you can bring that to this show.
Thanks
Rick"

--> my conclusion:

PS: I will not be able to stay past Friday afternoon, so unfortunately I won't be there for the steaks.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend my first WF in Florida after all. I had been optimistic about being able to eke out some time ahead of a work trip on the 25th so as to make it with my '96 FWB for part of that Friday, but the stars have aligned differently and I need to travel earlier than hoped :-(

Looking for information on where to meet up for Friday morning trip to the track infield/reserved pads.

Most folks don't go to the track until Saturday morning so I'm not aware of any meetup on Friday. May have to reach out to whomever has the passes.

You can go back to the pads, and someone should be there with them. That is the way it went down last year on Friday.

My first fla wagonfest. I plan to be there Friday, Driving down from NJ. If nothing else will cruise the swap. Mrs.booked rooms somewhere by the beach. Might be a nice day to check things out, look for some deals.

Awesome start
20 miles from home highway speed left rear blowout.
Started changing the tire, semi passed, jack collapsed.
So now I also need a jack

I can't help you there, but I have a couple of jacks on hand. There is an LKQ in Daytona that may have a jack from the Roadmaster in the yard. They remove them, so people can not use them in the yard.

Isurf wrote:

Awesome start
20 miles from home highway speed left rear blowout.
Started changing the tire, semi passed, jack collapsed.
So now I also need a jack

Bad sign. Are the other tires the same brand and age?

Yes, but all have good tread. Clearly hit something to cause blowout

I ran over a 1 inch diameter stick with my front tire once, and it punched a hole in my rear tire.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

I ran over a 1 inch diameter stick with my front tire once, and it punched a hole in my rear tire.

That is an odd phenomenon isn't it, flatting the rear by hitting something with the front.

I had the same happen, except it was a (closed) Stanly retractable knife of all things. It actually punched through the rear tire and they found it inside the tire when I got the a new tire for it.

My guess is that the front kicks up the object and when it lands it it angled and jammed between the road and tire so essentially horizontal to the tread. The knife made a hole through the tire exactly the size of the knife. The knife still worked when they found it.