Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years!!!!!

During the exchange of salutations on the Happy Holiday thread there was some interest shown in a Southeast "Mini-Meet". The Atlanta area seemed to be OK with those who showed interest>

I believe potential attendees are as follows: (in no particular order)

Clyde Abbeville, SC
aphaynes Athens, AL
kknotts Ellisville, MS
GMCNUT Arab, AL
frost66 Cullman, AL
RustyNut St Louis, MO
Ed Snyder Jacksonville, Oregon

I am copy/pasting my invitation to the Wichita Mini-Meet held this past summer:

Since I joined the group (10+?) years ago I have always promoted the idea of all members to try and organize "Mini-Meets". I have hosted/promoted a couple & attended quite a few. There is no better excuse to travel & meet new folks! And the good thing is the folks you meet all have one good thing in common..... They love these trucks!!!!!

I can honestly say that the 20 or 30 members I have met at these meets all seem to be "Good People". Over the years a few of these folks I have met have turned into what I consider real friends.

I hope everyone here thinks about trying to promote/organize a "Mini-Meet" in your area. Throw the idea out there and see what happens. Might be 2 or 3 folks, might get 6 or 10, may be the blow-out extravaganza of the century (Highly doubtful, but hey who knows).

With that being said, Are there any folks in the Southeast that would be willing to try and get together sometime this summer? Depending on response and location I can try to find a central location to try and accomodate as many as possible.

My next question is, I have suggested a Mini-Meet at Barnesville (1 hour south of Atlanta) on May 2nd. They are have a "Battle of the Bones" Festival which includes a BBQ competition and Car show.

http://barnesville.org/bbq-blues/

Is this a good option???? Who could make it??? Should we start planning????

OR

If anyone else has ideas/suggestions please speak up now so folks can start making plans.


Take Care ALL!!!!!

Rusty

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hey Rusty,
I just saw this. I have played music around central Georgia all my life. I have been to all the festivals around here. Barnesville used to have the Buggy Days Festival. It was a nice event in a nice town. The only real negative to choosing Barnesville as a meeting site is the fact that it is quite a ways from the Interstate. I can get there the back way at night and never get lost. But I am thinking of folks from other areas.
The local Macon Cruisers car club hosts an informal car show/cruise in, every first Saturday of the month. It is literally right on the Interstate, at The Big Peach Outlet Mall. A clueless traveler could not miss it. There is a freakishly large Big Peach, on a 100 foot pole, that you can see for miles. It is the most centrally located place I could think of to have such a meeting. You can see the interstate from the car area. It is right up against the fence that separates the interstate. It is near the geographical center of Georgia, at the Byron exit, on Interstate I-75 .
If you were to have the meeting at The Big Peach, you could choose to have the meeting co-inside with the Annual Macon Cherry Blossom Festival, the ladies would have the chance to shop there brains out, and see the beautiful Cherry Trees. There are two weeks of cultural events and stuff for every taste. It would also provide some great backdrops for pictures of the old trucks. Being a local, I know where all the best spots are. Macon Georgia has some of the most beautiful antebellum scenery in the South. And Cherry blossom time is the peak of the entire year.
I would be tickled to have the meeting in my own backyard as it were. Either place will be fine with me. I will try to attend wherever you land. If I can help answer any questions, I will be glad to do so. Thanks, Greg Mead

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Greg,

I know right where you are talking about. I used to live down there when I worked at Robins AFB. To bad it's not in my backyard anymore. :) Although, we are considering coming back to the area. Right now, at interstate speed, it is a 6 hour ride for me. In the GMC probably a bit longer if it could even make it. :lol:

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hey AP, I worked at Robins at 645 about ten years ago. I understand the dilemma of the old trucks. If mechanically perfect, they all suck gas. I wonder if the out west folks might be planning to trailer there trucks. I would not want to do the math on gas, even at 2.50 a gallon. Scary. I have the utmost respect for anyone traveling cross country in an old vehicle. Takes guts and gas. I would love to see some more GMC steel around here. The Chevy trucks dominate this area. I have the only 1960 66 GMC that I know of in this area. If they are around, I never see them and they do not make it out to The Big Peach monthly cruise in. Hope it is where you can come, even if its in another vehicle. Here is a picture of Cherry Street, Macon, Georgia, circa 1955. I ate hotdogs with The Allman Brothers in the pool hall, with my dad, as a kid. The S&S is still awesome, though they moved. Little Richard washed dishes and invented rock n roll, all up and down Cherry Street in the early 1950's. Check the old Harley. I believe it is a 1936 Knuclehead Harley. Likely sold new sround the corner on Second Street, at the Walker Harley Shop which was bought by Mr. Grover, in 1957 and renamed Macon Harley Sales. That's where my truck used to work. Later, Greg Mead

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

As far as the guys out west bringing trucks......... I wouldn't count on it. It is not realistic.

And don't get your hopes too high. The usual turnout to these "Mini-Meets" is anywhere from 4-10 owners and 3-5 trucks. If you think there will be 100 folks with 50 or more GMC's you WILL be disapointed!!!!!!

Some of the more memorable meets I have attended are the two Rick Rusconi hosted near Sacramento, Ed Snyder's get together in Oregon, Jolly's 5 & 10 year wing-dings and most recently the Wichita meet.

These get-togethers are a great way to meet others that share an interest.

With that being said, I was hoping we could somehow agree on a location that would allow the most folks/trucks to be present.

Please start throwing out ideas of places and dates and hopefully we come up with a plan for the most succesful "Mini-Meet".

Rusty

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hey Rusty, Here are a couple of ideas to consider.
There is a Moultrie Swap Meet and Car Corral on Feb.6-8. It is right of I-75 in Moultrie, South Georgia.
The Macon International Cherry Blossom Festival goes from March 20-28, in Macon Georgia. It too is right at I-75. There will be car shows in the huge Central City Park, and other sites in and around Macon.
Either of these dates/places will have a lot to offer car and truck folks. The swap meet is huge and there are parts to be found there. I think this suggestion offers the most bang for the buck, for truck folks.
The Macon Park Show will have a good many cars, some trucks and a fair type atmosphere. The Barnesville car show historically has been a rather small car turnout. The big draw is the cooking contest. The cars have always been a less prominent part of there festivities. Nothing wrong with it, just kind of a smaller car pool in a big cooking pond.
These two events are all that jump out at me that might make the most folks happy. Any of the three are fine for me. I love the laid back feel of the Barnesville Fest, the wide open fair of the Central City Park Show, and I have always wanted to go to Moultrie for the Swap Meet. If you decide on Moultrie, I will now have a great extra reason to make it down there. Hope this helps, Greg Mead

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

I would dig being able to get to Georgia again too, last time we were there was 2003. My Dad and previous generations were from Crawfordville, and Taliaferro county area. They are all gone now but I still love that part of the country. Sounds like y'all have the beginnings of a cool meet starting!

DAC

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

I am open to most any location that suits the rest of you folks, pick some and we can vote on them. If anyone else has some suggestions please chime in. Looking forward to a get together!!!

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Haven't heard any suggestions.......

I pretty much open to anytime/anyplace within 150 miles of Atlanta.

How far would others be willing to travel? Or who has suggestions on locations?

Rusty

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Barnesville sounds good to me.

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Would you Alabama/Mississippi guys be willing to travel that far????

After mapquesting some members locations I am thinking more might be able to attend if we moved location west a bit. Possibly Talledega? Or would that be too far for you Clyde?

Once we decide on a location we can work on dates.

Rusty

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hey RustyNut, I can drive my truck to Barnesville or any point south of Atlanta and north of Florida. I would not dare get anywhere closer to Atlanta(and its traffic) than Barnesville. My first pick would be the Cherry Blossom Festival Show, and then Barnesville Battler of the Bones. Either one will be fun. Moultrie Swap Meet is in Feb., and it will be pretty cold, so it is third in line, among these choices. I am fine with whatever we land on. I wish I had some other events to pick from, but these are it till summer around here. The Dukes Of Hazzard has a big show a little later in Byron, but it will be hotter than the law will allow. I had a friend have his door handles stolen of his 1940 Ford truck out there last year, so I would not leave my truck to go pee without eyes on it. I do not know if it makes a hoot for anyone or not, but I have a lot of former co-workers and friends at CBS 13 WMAZ-TV in Macon. If we land on the Cherry Blossom Festival, I can arrange for a film team to get some footage of the trucks and possibly get a human interest story on the GMC truck meet specifically. It would be a chance to get some video of our trucks and something great to watch later on. Just a thought. If five trucks show, they can shoot tight and make it seem like 100 rolled in. Later, Greg Mead

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Dukes in Byron????? I thought the "Good Ole Boys" & Hazzard County were north of Atlanta. LOL!!!!

Right now, we need everyone who might be able to attend to throw out locations and there limits on travel.

The plan is to find a location that would allow the most to attend.

Rusty

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Don't kill the meet for me but February may be too early for me with truck as I am in putting it together as we speak. Could and would come without truck. Week of March 23-28 is spoken for as well. Should have truck running and rolling by late March.

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

6 hour normal ride to Byron form Huntsville, not sure my GMC is up to that long of a run. However, can't make everyone happy either.

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

I'm new on the site, but a micro-meet sounds like something I could do.
I have a bastard truck, Chevy 1/2 ton front clip, the rear frame stretched
about 36 inches, spicer/Dana 60 full floater axle, 305e/sm-420 trans with a 1964 cab, manual drum brakes, manual steering. When I got it, they listed
it as a 1 1/2 ton. Might ask for some info about things later.
I'm in North Carolina, but loading the truck on my rollback and coming down
to north or central Georgia to meet with ya'll sounds like a good time in my
book. If/when something is figured out, I would need to now abut a hotel, don't
have a sleeper on the rollback.
Been reading and figuring a lot of things out, still may need to ask about things
Truck VIN is 1502PF70453B

OTH
65 GMC to be truck hauler
65 Chevy 1/2t stepside
62 Willys 4x4
67 Ford styleside 1/2t
88 Int. Rollback

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

I was just reviewing this thread. Has a location been determined? Barnesville on May 2nd or some other location?

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Barnesville keeps coming up, what are everyone's thoughts? The way the weather has been it might not be warm until May. LOL Please everyone interested chime in.

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

OK Guys,

IF Barnesville is picked as the location who could make it?

Is May 2nd (Same weekend as a Barbeque competition and Car Show) a good weekend?

I would hope we could make up a firm decision soon so that folks could prepare/make arrangements.

Rusty

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Count me in.

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

My calender looks like the 2nd of May is good. Near straight across from Augusta, with
just a few up and downs on the way to 75N a few miles to Barnesville. Appears easy
enough.

Mike OTH

1965 GMC 1502
1988 INT Rollback
1965 Chevy 1/2t stepside

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

I didn't know when this was going to come together and assumed it would be later in the Spring; I will be at the Pate Swap meet in Dallas TX April 30-May 2 so cant make this weekend work - Pate is one of a handful of the largest swap meets in the country, so I suspect several members may be headed there

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Very little interest shown lately......

Whats up??????

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hey, Rusty,

I'm not real knowledgeable of events/places in the area down that way. Was watching/listening as things developed. Figured that would be a good way
to meet up and compare projects/rides with you guys.

Mike OLDTRUCKHAULER

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

Hey Guys,
I would like to invite anyone that is down this way to the Big Peach Outlet Cruise-In. It is free, literally right on the Interstate in Byron, Georgia, and next door to the best Mexican food in the area(Case Mexico). It happens every first Saturday of the month. So June 6 will be the next one. Contact me if you plan to attend. It can serve as a Southeast Mini-Meet, if you like. There are usually a lot of old trucks (including mine),and a lot of cool cars and projects. Y'all come! GM

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

I'm in Chattanooga so anywhere close to me would be Awesome.

Re: Southeast Mini-Meet
 

As close as we seem to be, its still 4 1/2 hrs away so I doubt I can pull that off as much as I'd like to. Next time you see me will probably be next ride to Moultrie