2018 Oldsmobile nationals
#2
Correct. Albuquerque next year, then Gettysburg. 2018 will also be the 50th anniversary of the H/O. I'd better start on getting my 69 put together now.
#8
The host hotel is the Wyndham Gettysburg. The overflow hotel is the Courtyard Marriott, which is literally feet away from it. OCA stipulates at booking cannot start before the rooms go on sale at the 2017 Nationals.
#11
You'll have to talk to OCA. The problem is that west coast nationals don't get the attendance of ones in the east. Part of the problem is the geographic makeup of OCA. Over half of OCA members live east of the Mississippi, and well over one quarter of OCA members are in the Atlantic Northeast zone.
#12
The subject of OCA Nationals locations comes up every year about this time. I compiled a list of OCA Nationals locations going back to 1983. Below is a list of nationals since '83 held west of the Mississippi.
1986 - Santa Clara, California
1991 - St. Louis, Missouri (right on the Mississippi but just west of it)
1992 - Omaha, Nebraska
1999 - Dallas, Texas
2001 - Denver, Colorado
2004 - Des Moines, Iowa
2005 - Seattle, Washington
2006 - Dallas, Texas
2011 - Reno, Nevada
2012 - Des Moines, Iowa
2017 - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Add them up, and that's 11 years out of the total of 36 years from 1983 to 2018, which makes it once every 3.3 years.
That doesn't sound bad until you look a little closer. Really only the Santa Clara, Denver, Seattle, Reno, and Albuquerque shows were/are in the west. The others were not terribly far west of the Mississippi. Only one in that time actually was in California. The 2011 meet, while held in Reno, was actually hosted by the Northern California Chapter, which I'm guessing would be Tedd's local chapter.
Where OCA shows have been held, at least historically, has been a function of which chapters were willing to take on the task of running it. Chapters used to submit bids, and as I recall, in some years the OCA was happy to have any chapter bid.
That tended to skew the locations to the east as that's where the members are as Joe has noted. This seems to have gone away with the OCA now apparently using professional meeting organizers to plan and run the shows, and this should give them more opportunities to locate shows based on reasons other than whether or not the local chapter is willing to do it. The Albuquerque show appears to be hosted by the New Mexico chapter, but I'm wondering if they aren't getting behind-the-scenes help from the professional meeting people.
As Joe notes, attendance is generally lower at the western meets because of the distances involved and the lower density of OCA membership. This usually causes howls of protest after the meet is over and people complain about what a disgrace it was that the show was so poorly attended, relatively speaking. That's just a fact of life if the show is ever to be held in the west.
1986 - Santa Clara, California
1991 - St. Louis, Missouri (right on the Mississippi but just west of it)
1992 - Omaha, Nebraska
1999 - Dallas, Texas
2001 - Denver, Colorado
2004 - Des Moines, Iowa
2005 - Seattle, Washington
2006 - Dallas, Texas
2011 - Reno, Nevada
2012 - Des Moines, Iowa
2017 - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Add them up, and that's 11 years out of the total of 36 years from 1983 to 2018, which makes it once every 3.3 years.
That doesn't sound bad until you look a little closer. Really only the Santa Clara, Denver, Seattle, Reno, and Albuquerque shows were/are in the west. The others were not terribly far west of the Mississippi. Only one in that time actually was in California. The 2011 meet, while held in Reno, was actually hosted by the Northern California Chapter, which I'm guessing would be Tedd's local chapter.
Where OCA shows have been held, at least historically, has been a function of which chapters were willing to take on the task of running it. Chapters used to submit bids, and as I recall, in some years the OCA was happy to have any chapter bid.
That tended to skew the locations to the east as that's where the members are as Joe has noted. This seems to have gone away with the OCA now apparently using professional meeting organizers to plan and run the shows, and this should give them more opportunities to locate shows based on reasons other than whether or not the local chapter is willing to do it. The Albuquerque show appears to be hosted by the New Mexico chapter, but I'm wondering if they aren't getting behind-the-scenes help from the professional meeting people.
As Joe notes, attendance is generally lower at the western meets because of the distances involved and the lower density of OCA membership. This usually causes howls of protest after the meet is over and people complain about what a disgrace it was that the show was so poorly attended, relatively speaking. That's just a fact of life if the show is ever to be held in the west.
#13
That's not how it works anymore. OCA picks the location each year and TELLS the chapter to host it. In part, this is due to the fact that OCA now uses an event company to do most of the work, however it is still work for the host chapter. For 2018, OCA designated Blue/Gray as the host, and there has been a significant push to engage other chapters in the area to assist. Capitol City Rockets is supporting and several of the other area chapters are also providing people.
#16
No, the local/nearby chapters are not ordered to help, their assistance is requested and negotiated with OCA headquarters. There is still some work that is best done on the local level. The event planning company helps an OCA committee find a suitable location within the general geographic area the committee decides/hopes to choose.
#17
Here is the Info for hotel reservations for the 2018 show:
The Wyndham Gettysburg was filling up fast this morning.
Phone: 717-339-0020 (Press 3)
Ask for OCA Group Block
rooms at $129.00
The Courtyard is the other Hotel but you can not register until 28 August. Not sure why.
Phone: 717-334-5600
Ask for OCA Group Block
The Wyndham Gettysburg was filling up fast this morning.
Phone: 717-339-0020 (Press 3)
Ask for OCA Group Block
rooms at $129.00
The Courtyard is the other Hotel but you can not register until 28 August. Not sure why.
Phone: 717-334-5600
Ask for OCA Group Block
Last edited by jharsh; July 20th, 2017 at 09:49 AM.
#19
Here is the Info for hotel reservations for the 2018 show:
The Wyndham Gettysburg was filling up fast this morning.
Phone: 717-339-0020 (Press 3)
Ask for OCA Group Block
rooms at $129.00
The Courtyard is the other Hotel but you can not register until 28 August. Not sure why.
Phone: 717-334-5600
Ask for OCA Group Block
The Wyndham Gettysburg was filling up fast this morning.
Phone: 717-339-0020 (Press 3)
Ask for OCA Group Block
rooms at $129.00
The Courtyard is the other Hotel but you can not register until 28 August. Not sure why.
Phone: 717-334-5600
Ask for OCA Group Block
Is the Wyndham sold out or just sold out of what was put aside for this.. "group block.."
#20
Sold out of the "group block" is my understanding. I just tried to book on the Wyndham website and they won't tale any bookings after July 19, 2018. My guess is they won't book anything more than a year out.
#22
The entire 248 rooms were set aside for the OCA block according to a representative I spoke to this morning... The rooms were sold out within 24 hours of being released... Anyone care to speculate why??? I doubt all 248 rooms were sold on the first day of the event, I could be mistaken, but that's JMO...
#23
The entire 248 rooms were set aside for the OCA block according to a representative I spoke to this morning... The rooms were sold out within 24 hours of being released... Anyone care to speculate why??? I doubt all 248 rooms were sold on the first day of the event, I could be mistaken, but that's JMO...
If it was a no refund deal. only those knowing they will be going, not maybe, we'll see, but know would be booking..
#24
Correct, "Booked", the representative used the term "Sold Out", I just repeated it... Also correct, if a deposit was required, refundable or otherwise, things would be different... There were a couple National events where there was an imposed deposit requirement, but I heard there were too many complaints and it was eventually dropped...
#26
#28
There's piles of motels in G-burg. Chambersburg and Carlisle are other options. Bout 30 min away and you'll prob get a decent room rate unless Carlisle Events is doing something that same weekend.
Gettysburg is a great place, but the lodging and food industry there is well aware they're a "destination". I've noticed they'll raise rates sometimes now during a Carlisle event, which they never used to do...
Gettysburg is a great place, but the lodging and food industry there is well aware they're a "destination". I've noticed they'll raise rates sometimes now during a Carlisle event, which they never used to do...
#29
The entire 248 rooms were set aside for the OCA block according to a representative I spoke to this morning... The rooms were sold out within 24 hours of being released... Anyone care to speculate why??? I doubt all 248 rooms were sold on the first day of the event, I could be mistaken, but that's JMO...
I'm sure rooms will open up closer to the time. Was there an offer to be put on a waiting list?
#31
I am sure some rooms will become available as time passes... But No, there was no offer of an available waiting list... Although that may change also as time passes and the hotel starts seeing too many cancellations...
#32
I am in the Cadillac LaSalle club and have never had an issue at the back up hotel. This seems to be a big turn off. No rooms even at the back up hotel?
How many rooms were available for this block? 10? A real issue, I have never attended the OCA national before, so how come this has happened?
Are people hoarding multiple rooms?
How many rooms were available for this block? 10? A real issue, I have never attended the OCA national before, so how come this has happened?
Are people hoarding multiple rooms?
#33
We already booked at the host hotel while at the Albuquerque Nationals but a friend called at 3:01 am Vancouver BC time which was midnight back east. He was unsuccessful getting a room at the overflow hotel.
He tried calling 2-3 more times and was told there were no more rooms available for the July 30-Aug 4th dates. I called 5 minutes ago and booked his room successfully. Really hit and miss. Perhaps someone cancelled. Not sure but try again and yes make sure you say you are part of the OCA for the $129 rate. Al
He tried calling 2-3 more times and was told there were no more rooms available for the July 30-Aug 4th dates. I called 5 minutes ago and booked his room successfully. Really hit and miss. Perhaps someone cancelled. Not sure but try again and yes make sure you say you are part of the OCA for the $129 rate. Al
#35
went to the OCA Nats in Reno. I think there was right around 200 cars in attendance. Calif Olds chapters were not very friendly to say the least! Pretty much stayed in a group and to themselves. Not a very well run event either.
I stayed for the Hot August Nights event a week later and it was 10X better!
Pretty much has discouraged me from attending any OCA Nats that far west again! I traveled 2,500 miles (one way) and spent a lot of $$ on fuel.
BTW: I heard the car count was very low for the 2017 OCA Nats. like around 200 cars. The one day Homing Coming in Lansing has almost 3X that amount.
I stayed for the Hot August Nights event a week later and it was 10X better!
Pretty much has discouraged me from attending any OCA Nats that far west again! I traveled 2,500 miles (one way) and spent a lot of $$ on fuel.
BTW: I heard the car count was very low for the 2017 OCA Nats. like around 200 cars. The one day Homing Coming in Lansing has almost 3X that amount.
Last edited by davebw31; August 28th, 2017 at 04:33 PM.
#36
I was at the ABQ show on Friday, and I hear that same 200 number.
Not really a fair comparison. I know it's a Nationals, but still, there are probably 20 times as many old Oldsmobile owners who live within a day's drive of Lansing versus how many live within a two-day's drive of Albuquerque.
#37
I have to say that we had a great time in Albuquerque. Yes the swap meet was smaller but I was surprised what I pulled out of there. The Unser racing museum was really cool. He had the 6,000 mile 1970 Pace Car sitting in there. It was great for pics/reference info. Next thing you know Al Unser Sr himself shows up and we got some really good pics with him. As we were leaving he even signed a jacket I bought. The drag races were fun too. Both my brothers and my parents are going to Gettysburg. If you haven't been to the AAC Museum its a must see.
Both the swap meet and the car show attendance should be up big time. Cant wait!
Al
Both the swap meet and the car show attendance should be up big time. Cant wait!
Al
#39
Rooms for Nats
If anyone is looking for rooms for the Olds Nats I plan to list a couple motels/Hotels that are only a few miles away from the show in a day or two. They are towards Gettysburg ,Pa on route 30. Gettysburg hotels are always high priced because of the constant battlefield tourists .
#40
An FYI for swap meet vendors, PA requires ANYONE selling anything at a swap meet must have a PA vendors permit even if this is the only event you sell at. Permit numbers are supposed to be posted at your space. There is no charge for permit and only takes a few days via internet to process. Couldn’t tell you if they enforce this, but fines could ruin an otherwise great time.