2012 BCA 500 National Meet Info

[CarolinaBuick2012]

The Carolina Chapter of the Buick Club of America is pleased to announce the 2012 Buick Club of America National Meet is coming to Concord, NC June 27-30, 2012. We would like to invite all Buick owners to join us for this event. We are expecting to get over 500 Buicks to this event and have great tours and activities planned. A registration form is attached, but more information can be found at our website www.buickclub.org/2012. All Buicks are welcome and we have classes for 400 point judged, display only, driven, modified, specialty and professional, and vintage race cars. All Buick’s through current production year can register to attend this event and be placed on the showfield, but accepted years in each class do vary so check the registration form if you have a fairly modern Buick to see which classes it is eligible for.

The showfield will be located on the grounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway (at this time tentatively in the garage area of the 1.5 Mi oval) and will host the 500+ Buicks including a vintage Buick Race car class new for 2012.

Also beside the new race car class for 2012, this meet will also host the 75^th Anniversary event of 1936-1938 Buicks in cooperation with the 36-38 Division of the BCA. All 36-38 Buicks in attendance will receive a special dash plaque and there will be awards for highest scoring 36-38 Buick and longest driven 36-38 Buick. We are hoping to have one of each model (40C, 41, 46S, etc) of each year ’36-’38 Buick in attendance.

The host hotel is the Embassy Suite Charlotte Concord just off I-85 Exit 49. They will begin accepting reservation July 5,2011 at the BCA rate of $129 per night which includes a full hot buffet breakfast each morning and two cocktails each night at their manager’s reception. The hotel also features a Spa and an 18 hole golf course.

The event begins Wednesday with a bus tour to Steele Rubber in Denver, NC. This is a great opportunity to see how they make the rubber reproduction parts for our Buicks and many other cars.

Guest may also visit the Hendrick Motorsports Museum and Race Shops which is virtually across the street from the host hotel . Guest can take self guided tours at their leisure throughout the event during the normal business hours of the museum.

Wednesday night guests may choose to participate in zMax Dragway’s Drag and Brag Series which is a weekly “run what you bring” event that takes place on the 4 wide “Bellagio” of drag strips, zMax Dragway, just a half mile from the host hotel. Due to insurance reasons, this is not an official BCA event so fees for this event will not be collected in advance.

Thursday there is a choice of bus tours to either the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum or the Levine Museum of the New South, both in downtown (or as we call it, uptown) Charlotte.

Friday there is a driving tour to The NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC and the shops in Salisbury, NC. This is an approximately 1 to 1.5 hour long (each way) driving tour from the host hotel to Spencer, NC, the route will be meander through both scenic and historic areas along the way and will travel at speeds suitable for all but the earliest Buicks.

Friday night we are going to cruise to Oehler Barn (pronounced “Ay-ler”) for a Buick Heritage Alliance benefit BBQ dinner event. They have a large grass field next to the barn where we can park our Buicks. The barn is approximately 6 miles away from the host hotel on roads that do not exceed 45 mph speed limits and there are only 3 turns.

Saturday is the show day and the only day the cars will be allowed on the showfield. The awards banquet in the evening will be at the host hotel.

Sunday The Buick Driving Enthusiast and the Pre-War Division of the BCA hold after tours. Contact those groups for specific details.

We will have a Buick only swap meet and car corral at the host hotel throughout the event with indoor and outdoor swap meet spaces.

For more information contact the Carolina Chapter at CarolinaBuick@yahoo.com or visit www.buickclub.org/2012 where we have a more information , a Frequently Asked Questions page, the registration form, maps and links to each tour destination’s website. We look forward to having you going to Carolina not just in your mind, but in your Buick.

[CarolinaBuick2012]

As we have worked very hard to bring this event to life if you have negative feedback or concerns, instead of placing those comments in this public forum please respect the golden rule and treat us the way you would like to be treated and contact us directly via private message or email at CarolinaBuick@yahoo.com. We will respect you by responding to each concern and do our best to address your concerns or learn for future. Thanks and go Buick!

[38Buick 80C]

And yes you read that right. We ARE going to get 500+ cars!

[1957buickjim]

Brian, Sounds GREAT!..looking forward to it!

[NCReatta]

I'll be there!! would it be fine for me to bring 2 cars?

[Thriller]

Marck - there are typically a number of members at any given meet who have multiple cars. Some are big collectors, others just tend to bring multiple Buicks if the meet is local / convenient to them.

About 1700 miles and 29 hours for me to drive (avoiding Chicago area tolls and heavy traffic). As it is early, if I make it, it would be just me. I'd likely drive the Reatta or possibly the '41. That isn't ruling anything out, but the Reatta would probably be the most comfortable quickest, most fuel efficient drive.

[bhclark]

I'm going to try to have 2 cars there next year.

Brian, Great job on the events and tours! Very affordable in most cases!

One question, does the BBQ joint offer kids meals? (and for what ages?)

The BBQ barn sounds like a perfect follow up to Jewel.

Nice Job!

[38Buick 80C]

I'll find out on the kids BBQ meal..good catch!

[BigDogDaddy]

Hee Hee, knowing this meet will be at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when I read the title to this thread I thought there was going to be a race...The BCA 500 !
Can the Pre War division get a head start ?

( I'm kidding, I didn't really think that, but it sounded funny. )

[BJM]

About 1700 miles and 29 hours for me to drive (avoiding Chicago area tolls and heavy traffic). As it is early, if I make it, it would be just me. I'd likely drive the Reatta or possibly the '41. That isn't ruling anything out, but the Reatta would probably be the most comfortable quickest, most fuel efficient drive.

About 1100 miles from Madrid, Iowa. Not tooo bad. 2 days. Looks like the 73 Centurion.

Derek, from mid Kentucky to near Charlotte there is some nice scenery. Appalachians (sp). Take a nice driver. There will be 3 in my group, 5 in yours. If we can do it, your clan can.

[NCReatta]

Just curious, if I were to have a modified Reatta judged, would I put it in the Modified class? or the standard Reatta class?

[Thriller]

Thanks BJM...with a 3ish day drive plus the earlier date, if I make it, it will likely be by myself as it coincides with the end of school here...no decisions made yet.

[Thriller]

Hey Marck...the Doritos made for one handed typing, which is a bit difficult, so I didn't want to put too much in the earlier post.

The questions to you are a few. First, are you concerned about winning hardware, or is it about attending the meet with a car? How modified is the car? With some minor changes, you can still have it judged in the 400 point class - check out the BCA Judging Manual from the BCA page / Documents drop down. It will give you an overview of how the cars are judged. The modified classes are not described there, if I recall, but there is usually an article in the Bugle each year describing the mild / wild (radical?) / resto-mod classes. Lightly modified Buicks are kind of in a no man's land as they may not win any awards because they don't fit in as well to either class (i.e. not enough mods to win in Modified, but too many to be considered authentic enough to do well in 400 point). At that point, entering as Display or driven class (possibly modified driven...check the rules) would be the best bet.

So the short answer is, it depends.

For instance, my '76 pace car doesn't qualify for the Driven class because it has Centerline wheels on it, but the modified guys don't really want to deal with it either because that is marginally a modification. Ultimately that becomes a discussion with the BoD to see if we can come up with a better continuum to ensure all cars have a class they can enter with a reasonable shot at an award.

[Booreatta]

Just curious, if I were to have a modified Reatta judged, would I put it in the Modified class? or the standard Reatta class?

Marck I sent you a PM

[38Buick 80C]

For anyone wanting to make reservations at the host hotel you can, I have hear d a few reports that the reservation people do not quite know what is going on, so you can contact the hotel directly at 704-455-8200, if needed.

[MrEarl]

And yes you read that right. We ARE going to get 500+ cars!

The '54 Buick Highway will lead straight to Charlotte in 2012. To help Brian meet his 500+ cars goal, we on the '54 Buick Highway have set a goal of 54 '54 Buicks for what should be a great, fun filled meet. The G & H Class judges are going to be busy.

[NCReatta]

The '54 Buick Highway will lead straight to Charlotte in 2012. To help Brian meet his 500+ cars goal, we on the '54 Buick Highway have set a goal of 54 '54 Buicks for what should be a great, fun filled meet. The G & H Class judges are going to be busy.

That will be awesome! what percentage of that 54 are you bringing, Mr. Earl?

[MrEarl]

That will be awesome! what percentage of that 54 are you bringing, Mr. Earl?

just 1%... don't want to hog the field. BUT I plan on having you in one by then.

[NCReatta]

Well, I plan on bringing at least 2 of the Reattas.. So.. Not sure how I can drive 3 cars in one weekend..

[38Buick 80C]

The '54 Buick Highway will lead straight to Charlotte in 2012. To help Brian meet his 500+ cars goal, we on the '54 Buick Highway have set a goal of 54 '54 Buicks for what should be a great, fun filled meet. The G & H Class judges are going to be busy.

That is what I am talking about!!!! Oh man 54 '54's with the Landau in the middle will be INCREDIBLE!!

Also I heard from a gentleman that want to do something special for late 40's Buick Woody Wagon and will get back in touch with me. Another great idea.

[NCReatta]

Hmm... wonder if we could get 50 Reattas...

[stealthbob]

Lamar, just get a car hauler and load about 10 of your pasture Buick's...that should do the trick!

[bhclark]

Gee, I guess that means I need to start rallying for 50 1959 Buicks????

I sense a contest...

[stealthbob]

Gee, I guess that means I need to start rallying for 50 1959 Buicks????

I sense a contest...

Nope it's harder for you guys...you need 59 1959 Buick's

[Hector]

I don't think that I will be bringing any of my cars but I will be volunteering my time on the swapmeet and judging on the modified classes.With that said,I would like to invite and encourage everybody coming to Carolina who can bring parts to do so.

As many of us know Buick parts can be a bear to locate,the Carolinas area is no different.Here's a chance to have our own swapmeet full of Buick parts and vendors,lets get the word out.


The 500+ cars goal for the meet is a great target and if achieved will make this one of the biggest Buick events on record not only for the BCA but the whole Buick cummunity.I'm personally hoping for one of the biggest Buick only swapmeets to complement that achievement.If I can be of any assistance to anyone considering setting up as a vendor don't hesitate in asking. Hector.