I read on the Iowa OCA page that non OCA cars are now welcome to be shown at the Nationals. They are not judged but they are welcome to participate. Is this correct? I know in the past you had to be a OCA member to place a car in the show.

 

Yes. Other brands are also welcome to race; there will be a BOP race at Eddyville Saturday and we hope some of them will stop by our show.

 

The site says this policy has always been in effect, but I dont recall anyone but OCA members being welcome with a car. Did they finally change this policy?

 

I was very surprised by that also. I always thought an OCA number was required for entry. Never thought I'd see the day the OCA would allow non-member cars on the show field even in an "exhibition-only" role.

 

Maybe that discussion thread about the Reno nats got some people thinking.

 

I just received JWO the other day, Iowa convention center has some rules: fuel tanks at 1/4 or less, battery cables unhooked, no tire dressing at all, and you need to wrap your fuel cap with a plastic baggie and secured with a rubber band (baggie and rubber band supplied by host chapter)

I believe that cars inside will remain inside for balance of show?

This makes it an easy decission for me, not going for sure!
OCA memeber
Former R.E. Olds chapter memeber


Pat

 

In my past experience the majority of the cars show up on Thursday evening into Friday morning. Then people leave after judging, not a lot but a few do. By rules no one can leave, but does everyone have to be in by a certain time? Im guessing they do.

The rule that stuck out to me is no food or drink can be brought into the show. Everything must be bought from consessions inside the venue. No coolers of food and water?? Sounds pretty crappy to me.

 

I am not aware of any time constrants except judged cars most be ready with hoods opened and unlocked @ 9:00 A.M. and remain there till 1 or 2 in the afternoon? Day of judging only

As far as food and beverage, I don't recall OCA meets having to purchase from food vendors only, I always had my own cooler and eat at local eateries!

Pat

 

my car was judged at an OCA meet and i wasn't a member

is this not judging non members just for the nationals?

 

That is correct, nationals are OCA members only as far as judged and non judged cars unless they have changed the rules. If memory serves me right you have to put your OCA membership number on the application.

Pat

 

If you are concerned about the rules for putting your car inside, you have the option of being outside. If you are going to race (and any of the show cars are welcome at the race), your car will be put inside in a special area, where the banquet will be set up and will leave for the Friday evening race. Saturday will be more racing, or you can opt to go to the outside show field for Saturday.

 

I've never understood why an Olds guy wouldn't pay the $30 freaking dollars to be a member of the OCA. The JWO is worth that alone. If you don't like the OCA,fine but if you want to show you car,judged or not,just pay the $30 and be done with it. It's just like the Wild About Cars site. They made it FREE and guys still biotch about it,give me a freaking break,please.

 

Interesting. Who is bitching, and what are they saying?

I will agree that the site is stronger in content in some areas and not so strong in others, but material is being added continuously. I find it a very well organized, easy-to-get-around site with lots of useful information for Oldsmobile, at least.

 

On another site somebody was biotching about how many Olds sites do we need and how hard it was to navigate. The point being it's free,who's to bitotch.

 

OK, so he's an idiot on multiple fronts.

First, it's not just an Olds site, it's Wild About CARS (all cars!).

Second, it's very easy to navigate.

Third, we need as many Olds sites, Olds-exclusive or otherwise, as we can possibly get. Is there some magic number of them above which we shouldn't go?

 

Thanks for the lesson,I'll use it to the fullest.

 

Don't mention it.

 

I didn't see anywhere here where anyone bitched about the OCA rules for National meet entries.
It was simply a (civil) discussion about an apparent change in the rules.

As far as paying $30 for an OCA membership, I seriously doubt that would discourage anyone from entering the Nationals. It usually cost me thousands in travel & lodging expenses, plus a week off from work, when I was attending them regularly.

 

Not, that IS something worth bitching about. I can understand the venue enforcing this for spectators, but to impose that rule on entrants who are staying all day for several days is an undue hardship. I wouldn't think twice about violating a rule like that.

 

I agree, but remember it's not just $30 to enter. The actual registration fee for the nationals itself is $50 for an OCA member, so the cheapest way to enter the each year costs $80, but you get, of course, the OCA membership as well.

If you want to attend the awards banquet, that's another $35 per person. There are other fees, of course, for the other meals, tours, additional car, parking for a trailer, etc.

 

The topic was being a member to show your car or not,not how much it costs. So if we're changing the topic,here's the deal. If I'm finished with my car,I'm already entered and I paid $50 to enter,$40 to park my trailer and $20 for a t-shirt for a total of $110. After a $50-$60 K investment in my car,that's peanuts. Like I've always said,if money is an object,there's other hobby's that don't cost as much. As far as the banquet goes,after 20 + Nationals,I've been to one and I haven't missed a thing. I've been an OCA member for 29 years but not an OCA insider and don't want to be either. I don't know if you realize it or not,it costs $$$$$ to put these events on. If the info I got is correct,the OCA now helps the chapter putting on the show with $$$$$$. I'm not getting into a debate with you about this because I know how much you like it. This is all I have to say,either pay up or stay home.

 

Yes, the topic did move to how much it costs.

I wish I knew what the hell you are talking about. I wasn't "debating" you or anyone. I've never said I "like' anything in this thread.

Are you actually on planet Earth?

 

The OCA has been changing and improving a lot over the past few years. I hung in there for around 30 years of problem-laden leadership, and don't see any point to vilifying the organization today when a lot of good things are happening, and the leadership and Board of Directors are listening to us.

 

Vilifying is a pretty strong word. I don't think anything that's been said in this entire thread rises to that level. An organization with 6,000 members is never going to please 100% of them, let alone all the non-members looking in, in anything it does. A few criticisms of some of the policies have been expressed here, and that's healthy and legitimate.

 

Ok that is strong for this thread. . .I was thinking about past threads also.

 

I have re-read JWO 2012 national update and does say "open to any Oldsmobile owner to display"

As speculation, I think they opened it up to compete with the numbers that the Homecoming show has been putting up! nationals (280-380) Homecoming (480-510) open to all Olds and Oldspowered.

Pat

 

I entered an OCA car show back in 2000 and I'm not a member and I even took second place in the class I entered.

There was only two cars in that class.

 

I think you're talking about something different here. You say it was "an OCA car show." What does this mean, exactly? It wasn't THE OCA nationals? Where was the show? In 2000, the OCA Nationals were in New Jersey.

Maybe you entered a show put one by one of the OCA chapters? The fact that there were only two cars in your class suggests this. Those shows are always open to non-member cars.