Official thread for Wagonfest Nationals, Geneva Ny , July 2012

Overview - Wagonfest’s goals:
1. To meet, hang out with and get to know other GM B-body wagon owners,
2. See lots of GM B-body wagons in one spot, neat modifications.
3. Trade, buy or swap parts with each other
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Date: Friday and Saturday July 29th and July 30th.

Place: Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva, NY, 20x40 tent along the lake front road just west of the pavilion used for last year’s event.

Note: Don’t forget there is also a park entry fee collected by the Seneca Lake State Park itself of $7.00 to enter the park facility for the day. This is separate and NOT park of the $10.00 Wagonfest fee. It’s a good idea to get a day pass ticket and put it on your dash so you can leave and come back during the day if necessary, like for food There is a bathroom facility nearby to the tent. The entire area where we will be is wheelchair accessible, including the bathrooms, no steps anywhere.

Time: 10:00 – 6:00pm The park opens at dawn for fishing and boat launch access, and you are welcome to come earlier than 10:00am if you desire, or help set up.

focus: This event’s focus is primarily ’91-96 GM B-body wagons. This includes Chevy Caprice, Impala SS, Buick Roadmaster, Cadillac Fleetwood, and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. Although other ’91-96 B-body & D-body sedans and other year GM B/D-bodies are also welcome, the focus is clearly WAGONS.

Registration:

• Entry fee is simplified for Saturday. It will be $10.00 per vehicle. This is to cover the cost of the 20 x 40 tent rented from the park, awards, and previously mentioned meal related supplies. 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 sooooo…..

Checks can be made out to:

David J Buchholz
57 Northaven Terrace
Rochester NY 14621

(585) 266-3464
My direct email is: lakeffect@gmail.com

There will be an Official Wagonfest Roll Call thread that I’ll post as checks are received to get an idea of whose coming. Do not forget to bring cash for the chance auction. Tickets will be available at the fest. Bring cash and parts/items/tools to auction. Last year was a lot of fun and this year will be even better!



Thursday July 26: Historically, this is the official arrival day for most out of town Wagonfesters, and a lot of festering goes on at the Micromotel. I’d suggest to swap some cell phone numbers beforehand with each other via the forum private message service.

Friday July 27: • Friday events have an added item. The “Traditional” event includes the cruise to and from Watkins Glen racetrack, taking several laps, getting pictures, and then hitting Mac’s drive-in (in Waterloo) for dinner.

Afternoon: 2:00pm
The Watkins Glen Thunder Road Tour is on Friday, July 27th, 2012 at 4:30pm

It's 3 paced laps around the famed road coarse, 55mph, or so, depends on who's pacing the cars, (we were able to go 70-80mph last year) and we will be able to line the wagons up on the starting grid for group shots (about ten minutes), so bring your camera men/women. The track photographer may or may not be there, we won't know until we get there.

The track has our reservation listed under Wagon Fest. It will be Friday July 27th 4:30pm, check in at gate #2.We are on a reservation list for 10-20 cars at $25.00 each car, minimum 10 cars. If we get the minimum 10 cars the price drops to $15.00 per car. If the event gets cancelled (Rain) your money will be refunded.

Cruise to Watkins Glen Racetrack is simplified. Leave the Wegman's parking lot (rt 5, just west of rt14)t at 2:30 SHARP. Please fill up your gas tank, and empty your personal body tank at Wegman's before we hit the road. Driving time is about 1 hour south via Rt 14 which parallels the west side of the lake. It's a nice scenic ride down the west side of Seneca Lake that will take about 45-50 minutes.. We’ll buy our tickets in downtown Watkins Glen, then drive up the hill to the track.

• No helmets needed – everyone just needs to have seatbelts on.
• You CAN NOT BE LATE. Tech instruction starts at 4:30 and they will not be wait for stragglers.
• If would prefer to meet us directly at the ticket store if you are coming up from the south That’s fine as well. But please let the coordinator know of your intent ahead of time.

Contact Mike (200OZ)to work out the ticket purchasing.

Passengers of any age are welcome to ride along, so bring the kids..... and screaming wife!



Here’s a link http://www.theglen.com/Plan-Your-Visit/Thunder-Road-Tours.aspx

Mike (200OZ) will be the coordinator for this portion of the event . Check back here for further instructions as they become available.

Friday Night alternatives:

1) Dinner: 6:30pm Mac's Drive-In, 1166 Waterloo Geneva Road, Waterloo, NY‎ - (315) 539-3064‎.. It's west of Waterloo about 2 miles on Routes 5 & 20 (one road with two numbers). Good cheap Americana. ( Joel suggested NOT eating the seafood) They are looking forward to hosting us and have plenty of parking in the back for our group. We need to provide them a head count by July 23rd so they can be ready for us.

2) Car Show in Geneva
Coincidentally, this year, the local car show sponsored by the City of Geneva happens on Friday night as well. This is a major yearly event in upstate New York! In its thirteenth year, it’s a fantastic great show and includes three different stages of live entertainment as well. There are numbers of food vendors and concession. Bring your camers!
General info at:

http://laurieanderson0.intuitwebsites.com/

If you’d like to participate, then registration forms at:
http://laurieanderson0.intuitwebsites.com/vehicle_registration_form_2012_final__2_.pdf

facebook info at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geneva-Business-Improvement-District/298098814760

Saturday July 28 WAGONFEST 2012

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, or are volunteering your time to the cause.

Wagonfest meals are simpler this year, and put the burden on the participant (you) to supply your own food and drinks. Supplied for you will be Grills, charcoal, (and lighting fluid) cooking utensils, condiments, plates and napkins. Again, there will be no food supplied. You must either provide or make arrangements your own. If all else fails, there is a concession stand within the park at the beach area.

1:00pm Grills will be ready to get cooking! Lunch under the big top!
4:30pm Awards, you guessed it, under the tent
6:00pm 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 ( 04/21/12)

Awards (plaque given out):
People’s choice Wagon
Best exterior mod (paint, woodgrain, detail, bodywork, etc.)
Best interior mod (anything inside the vehicle including interior electrical)
Best mechanical mod (whether powertrain, suspension, or exterior electrical)
Recognition: Farthest distance traveled

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

Suggestions: Since most of us will be walking around looking at other peoples cars, you might consider making up a one-page or two-page show flyer about your car that you can tape to your windshield stating year, make, model, mileage, and any modifications or work you have done on the car. Got photos? Lat year some people brought their scrap books with pictures of their work for others to view at leisure.


T-shirts: In an interest to simplify and reduce costs, some people are into t-shirts, some not. If you want one, event t-shirts will be available through John. (“bewber” on this forum) You must contact John directly if you have interest, it will not be included as part of the $10.00 fee.. , a s As of 04/21/12, price has not been to be determined, but preliminary artwork has been created. You can contact John (bewber) to order custom t-shirts, and wagon related stickers. Please do so either via private message or by direct email to John at: flameology@gmail.com


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 & gabfesting for everyone.


Saturday night:. Meet back at the Microtel for some Saturday night elbow bending with 12 -16oz liquid weights. Hangout in 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. ( swap some phone numbers ), see some of the beautiful sights around upstate NY, then head home.


The Parts Exchange:
As you may know, 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.

Prior to the fest, the GMLR forum will host two threads: Parts for sale, and Parts wanted. This way you can make arrangements ahead of time as to who has something and who wants it.

At the fest, we will attempt to have a poster board in the pavilion with the same two categories. You are welcome to use the board to see if someone needs what you have or has what you need. For sellers Therefore, if you are participating, you can make it easy for everyone by bringing a typed list stuff on it, and post it on sellers, buyers board at the tent other folks to see Do not post prices per park rules. Park rules strictly prohibit flea-market type activities. The park staff has been gracious with us and we’ve been discrete too.. 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!

Please keep all items in your car as per park rules require an additional permit for formal swap meets. A buyer should find you and then he can inspect the item at your vehicle, so include your name and at least a license plate number or description of your vehicle so you can be contacted.

Volunteer needs:
I need folks to help with the following items:
1. Registration (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 and a few to help clean up
4. Beer swap: NEED VOLUNTEER
5. Cleanup in the evening ( Seneca Lake State park is a Bring in / Take out facility) a few people and vehicles would be appreciated to police the grounds and take it back to the motel for proper disposal)

Beer Swap
There will be a beer swap at the fest. We have folks coming from all over. If you’d like to participate – please bring a selection of your favorite local or regional brews from home. Swap it bottle for bottle, with someone else’s favorite from their home town. It will be held under the tent. ( I have signage available from last year)



Parking at the fest:
• Follow the WF10 signs to the the lake front. When you see a big freakin’ tent and bunch of wagons, there’s good chance 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 just enough width away from the next car to open doors. We should be able to center things in both directions from the tent.
• If you park along the water, please park as carefully as you can so that folks can fit in. Between trees and benches, it’s a bit tricky.
• If you park opposite the water, watch out for the dip next to the road.

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.
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.
• State park has lots of walking trails.
• Downtown Geneva is nearby (5 minute drive), lots of little eateries too.



Wagon services at/during 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.
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


Area 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/

Events Geneva Summer Concert Series
at Lakefront Park Gazebo, Route 5 & 20, Geneva
Music by It's My Party. Free. 6:30pm
Phone: 315-789-5005
Web: www.geneva.ny.us

July 26, 2728
Ontario County Fair
Where: Ontario County Fairgrounds (map)
Description Demolition derbies, horse pull, tractor pulls, stunt show, 4H activities, DIRT racing, music and more. No entrance fee, but small charge for grandstand events. For more http://www.ontariocountyfair.org/

Tractor pull is Friday night, Demo derby is Saturday night