Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 The 2012 OCA National meet was held this past week in Des Moines Iowa and it was indoors at proba thbly the best possible time. It was easily 98 to 101 degrees for 4-5 straight days outside and cool and air conditioned inside. The Cadillac LaSalle Club had an indoor meet in Las Vegas NV a couple years back. Another key point-they allowed public access for $10. For me, I volunteered to park cars on Thursday from 4pm to 8pm to gain free access on Saturday. Let me say that everyone from drivers to local members were friendly-friendly-friendly. I came back on Saturday with my friend Al Kiley who owns 2 Cutlass'. And even though neither he or I am OCA members (that might change as we want to go to Springfield IL next year) we were welcomed and many members talked to Al and I at length about their cars. Issues? Well, once you are in the a/c indoor parking you are there for the duration. Being a Buick Club member, we like to drive our cars. So I think that was a drawback, that cars could not come and go but that's the way it has to be due to the venue. There was parking for 500 cars I suppose but I don't think there were more then 200? there. Some of the swap was outside and I could barely stand it. Metal parts became burn hazards in my hands. Although I wasn't a member, this facilty had excellent conference rooms so those OCA members in attendance had 1st rate digs for meetings and sub-group get togethers. The whole affair is/was connected by air conditioned skywalk system to all of downtown Des Moines - motels, eateries, etc. The only other negative I can say is personal, not related to the OCA necessarily. I have come on this forum and stated that the NAOC and the OCA should have a joint meet, heck they should just merge. This issue was in evidence here. The meet was at least 50-60% Cutlass/442. Swap parts were 80% Cutlass / 442. I am 48 years old and have owned 2 442's, a 66 Toronado and a 56 98 2 door hardtop. There were huge gaps in missing links of cars. I think there were 2-3 pre WWII cars plus a 1940 Hot Rod. There were a fair amount of 50's Oldsmobiles. There were NO full size 70's Olds except 1-2 Delta 88 convertibles. I personally missed the Toronados. There was 1 1966, one 69 and overall I think 4 Toronados. Anyway, enjoy the photosMy personal best of show would be the 1959 2 door hardtop and a 55 Starfire. The owner of the 55 Starfire was soooo nice. Al and I wanted to steal it and instead of being grumpy, he just laughed along with us as we heaped kudos on him for a spectacular car. None of those "don't touch" types anywhere, everyone was so friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 More-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 More- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 More- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 More. In that last set I was interested in the 1957 first in dash a/c. Lots of plumbing but it all appears to come out of the area where defrost would normally be. I never had a chance to ask the owner about there the in dash cold air came out. There were 2 57's with factory a/c but I figured those aren't money shots so I did not include all the photos... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Sorry, still more. On the 55 98 Starfire conv, The 1950's cars exhibit so much detail in the way of ornamentation that it makes looking at modern cars jelly bean shape hard to do. Note the 3 dimensional effect of O-L-D-S-M-B-I-L-E and the "Atlas" of an emblem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Most of these shots were upstairs. However, I came back downstairs and took some photos of the 60's stuff. I am a BIG FAN of the 61-66 era Oldsmobiles. Also please note the flat roof non Vista wagon. Was that offered? Al and I had never seen anything but a Vista Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 There were 2 61 Starfires in attendance. Let me tell you, if you ever get a chance you will want to check these out. 1st, detailing is incredible. Note the "metallic" sheen of the leather. It's unbelievable compared to "normal" leather. Then, for 1961, they place the power windows and locks IN THE CONSOLE. How spaceship is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Back when GM was king, they sweated the details. Note even in the 68 98 sedan how the embroidery is duplicated on the seat upholstery and door panels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I certainly like the idea of being inside on 100 degree days, but isn't it a little sad not to see many people there? I am in several clubs and I really feel we need to be open to the public to get the next generation involved, and to bring a smile to someone who remincisces about a particular car. By having to pay for attendance for a car show/meet should be a crime. I paid $5 today to enter as a visitor to a meet in Massachusetts. I left the cars home.I previously owned a 1953 Super 88 2 door sedan with 27K original miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I highly suspect the admission fee was to help cover the cost of the venue rental, not to exclude anybody from attending. The Buick Club of America has a rule that admission can't be charged to attend a BCA National Meet by the general public as spectators. Not sure about OCA, though. In Fort Worth, there is a recently-new OMNI hotel attached to the Tarrant County Convention Center. The annual new car show is held at the TCCC, indoors. It's big enough to do a BCA National Meet (for this part of the world, going from prior BCA National Meets in TX) to be indoors . . . completely. But I suspect the cost of the room rates in the OMNI, plus the cost of renting the building for the event, would put the price of admission for participants into the stratosphere. There is another venue where an annual custom car show is held, but with less total floorspace and no really nearby hotels, much less one attached to the building. I might need to check on the various costs for participants of this particular OCA meet for reference.THANKS for the pictures, BJM! Glad you had fun there, too!NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 85CieraHoliday Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 BJM, thanks for the great photos and commentary for those like myself who could not attend. I couldn't agree more that having a splintered Oldsmobile hobby doesn't make sense to me. This has been debated on these forums before....but old feuds seem to keep the two clubs from getting their acts together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldsfan Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Old feuds are dead, as are a majority of the folks who were involved. The NAOC has its act together. The other organization I cannot speak for.Maybe you should join the NAOC and attend next year's National Meet. It'll be very close to you. Then, maybe it will make sense to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 I don't want to imply that I find anything wrong with the NAOC, quite the contrary. I am "only" 48 but my interest is old-old-old anything. Maybe that's because of muscle car fatigue. It's interesting my friend Al owns 2 Cutlass' and I have owned 2 plus a 66 Toro but we both got tired of the 442/Cutlass rows at the same time ! ha. After 6-7 rows the cars I am sure were just as spectacular but yawn! give us some 50's!And I wonder where the teens through 40's Oldsmobiles were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 85CieraHoliday Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I'm not a member of the NAOC because my cars aren't "antique" enough. Paul, I don't think anyone was trying to say that the NAOC isn't well run...it just seems odd that this group is so splintered. The Cadillac LaSalle Club, Buick Club, and Pontiac Oakland Club all cover the full spectrum of vehicles made by each brand. I know that the OCA is very heavy on the A-body participation but there are many of us who don't own one of those models. I've noticed in my own participation in the OCA that cars pre 1949 are hard to find in attendance. It is a shame because many members like myself would love to see more of them at the shows.Speaking of which, where is the 2013 NAOC nationals? I couldn't find it on the website but if in the north east I would love to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starfireelvis Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 The 2013 Meet of the National Antique Oldsmobile Club will be held in Elmira, New York, the week immediately following Father's Day (June 18th-22nd). You do NOT have to have an Oldsmobile to become a Member of the NAOC, just like no ownership is necessary for the OCA. I belong to both the OCA and NAOC, and have attended many National Meets for both; I plan on attending OCA Springfield and NAOC Elmira next year. Believe me, there IS a difference... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 85CieraHoliday Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 The 2013 Meet of the National Antique Oldsmobile Club will be held in Elmira, New York, the week immediately following Father's Day (June 18th-22nd). You do NOT have to have an Oldsmobile to become a Member of the NAOC, just like no ownership is necessary for the OCA. I belong to both the OCA and NAOC, and have attended many National Meets for both; I plan on attending OCA Springfield and NAOC Elmira next year. Believe me, there IS a difference...Thank you for the location! I will be sure to do my best to check out the show. I'm sure anyone can join, which is very nice. I just wouldn't join as long as the club doesn't cover/include my cars. I wouldn't join a Mustang owners club either since I do not own nor plan to purchase a Mustang. It seems like NAOC people are very proud of their club which is great to hear. I am curious to figure out what the "difference is" since both clubs seem to have similar goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldsfan Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Keep watching the website - information on Elmira will be forthcoming. We just completed our 2012 meet, so it's going to be a little while until we start gearing up for 2013.The best analogy I can come up with is that the NAOC is like an old, country general store, where the OCA is like Wal Mart. It's just different. More laid back. More social. Less competitive. And, right now, less political.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 85CieraHoliday Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Keep watching the website - information on Elmira will be forthcoming. We just completed our 2012 meet, so it's going to be a little while until we start gearing up for 2013.The best analogy I can come up with is that the NAOC is like an old, country general store, where the OCA is like Wal Mart. It's just different. More laid back. More social. Less competitive. And, right now, less political.PaulPoint well taken. I thought the current political situation within the OCA was part of it for sure. I guess I don't see much of the other issues because I'm not as involved with the national group as I am with my local chapter. I do see the political stuff coming from the national group and I don't understand it....we are a car club....lets have some fun.Thank you for the excellent analogy Paul. Does the NAOC have plans to include newer cars? (I see it has been changed to include cars up to 1976). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldsfan Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Two years ago, we adopted a rolling 35 year cut-off. We are currently up to '77. In January we'll roll to '78. Yes, this includes the A-bodies, but we don't have 100 different classes for them. They all go in just two - '61 to '67, and '68 to '77.If you PM me your address, I'll send you a copy of our September issue, which will cover the Columbus Meet.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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