2016 BCA meet in Allentown, PA

[mdkd]

All

I'm seeing the most BUICK swap stuff in a long time.

Milton

[WkillGS]

I was there today with my blue '66. Show field was very sparsely populated, maybe 5%. Was a great opportunity to check out the Bulgari complex, the resto shops and his private collection of cars. It's a beautiful facility.
I had my blue '66 there, also saw Jimmy's green '66 vert, John's (Kooch66) red '66, and did see Tony's white '65.
Only met a few folks as it was HOT and people weren't sitting out in the sun by their cars.

They actually have assigned parking spaces, with the owner and car type printed on tags staked on the show field.
When I arrived, I got a 'golf cart escort' to my personal show space!
Was pleased to see that Brian was assigned the space next to mine. See you tomorrow Brian!
I saw about a dozen spaces assigned to '66 Skylarks/GS's and about the same for '65's.
The '66 row is up on the hill, and the '65's are in a row parallel and lower on the hill.

Milton, do you have a car there, which one?
I'm sorta local and commuting the hour or so to and fro.
I gotta sort through my pics, I'll try to get some up later.

** be sure to pick up your 'special gift' between noon and 1pm. Mr Bulgari himself was handing them out today.

Here's a NY Times story on Mr Bulgari's complex:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/automobiles/rough-gems-brought-to-a-fine-polish.html?_r=0

Looking forward to meeting you guys on Thursday

[Brian]

Just finished loading the car in the trailer about 15 min ago.  We plan to leave here at 7:30 in the morning.  Mapquest says an 8 her drive, but with stopping for fuel/food/bathroom along the way, guessing it will be more like 7 pm when we arrive tomorrow.  We will most likely eat and turn in for the evening, then see everyone on Friday morning.  We are staying at the Hampton Inn on Gateway drive in Bethlehem.  Right now the weather is not looking good for getting the car out of the trailer on Friday...

[mdkd]

All

Actually got in last night.

Hotel turned out to have a corporate customer base and they gave our room away and I wound up sleeping on the couch. Ugggg.

New hotel tonight for less money and a smile on my face.

Everything else has been very good.

Planned on bringing my white 65 GS but it was setting in a puddle of transmission fluid when I opened the garage door in the pole barn. I don't think it is truly anything big but I was out of time for a cross country trip so hoped a plainer.

I seen a real nice Verde green 66 convert at registration so I assume it was Jim I also seen a red 66 that was probably John. I haven't seen Tony yet or Walt's blue 66.

Based on the show location tags we should have a lot of really good viewing and chatting.

I'm on a tour Thursday and working in Show Registration Friday morning.

I'm signed up for both banquets but could easily drop the one Thursday evening for a 65GS event/get together. If others are signed up for Thursday night that could work well also.

In any case I'm really a looking forward meeting up with you..

You can find me in one of the 65GS.com hats.

Mdkd
Milton

[GS66]

Thank you to those in attendance for sharing info, stories,  and pictures for those of us who at this time are destined to live vicariously through you! Much appreciated! 👍

[mdkd]

All
Not sure what I was thinking. It was probably sleeping on the couch last night or what but I am available after the AACA tour on Thursday and Friday afternoon/evening.

Thanks
Milton

[Brian]

If you guys do get together tonight, send me a pm on here and let me know the details in case we get there in time to join you.  Heading out from here in NC in about an hour. 

[mdkd]

All

Mr & Mrs. Stone and Milton Dale are registered for Saturday banquet table 83 for those interested in joining.

Milton

[Mark Ascher]

How's it going there today?

Mark

[WkillGS]

It was awesome. Great turnout of cars and spectators for the final day.  The staff and volunteers treated us very, very well. Even the mayor of Allentown was at the entry gate shaking our hands as we arrived!

The threat of rain cut things short at about 1pm, 2 hours before the scheduled closing time. I got caught in a downpour leaving town but it was dry roads for the rest of my 1 hour drive home.... gave my car a good 'blow-dry'.
Great to meet board members Brian and Milton, as well as a bunch of V8Buick guys, and many non-net folks. The man himself, Dennis Manner, stopped by our cars and chatted with us about nailheads for about a half hour.
Time to relax and sort some pictures!

[WkillGS]

Pictures....I'll start with some shots of the Bulgari complex, the layout and the main lodge. The lodge is constructed of century+ old lumber from area barns. It served as the hospitality area for BCA members. The free refreshments and air conditioning provided quite a relief from the summer heat.

In it's former life, the 26 acre site was a drive-in movie theater. The movie screen has been restored and word has it, is still being used as a 'big-screen' tv! Most of the complex was built/rebuilt in the past two years. Everything from the lodge to the shops and landscaping are top-notch.

[WkillGS]

65 GS's....
Tony brought his white GS and displayed 65GS.com info. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him this time.

The green GS now resides in Pa, it's a low-mileage beauty!

[WkillGS]

65 Skylarks....
Another light green beauty belongs to a local guy. He also owns a few 65 GS's that are being restored.
"Shangri-La'  is a blast from the past, I first saw this car at the 1982 Buick meet at Island Dragway in NJ.
And a Astro blue vert...

[WkillGS]

A good turnout of 66's.
My Astro blue that I bought in 1982 for $200. (Ahhh the good old days!)
Brian's 66 Skylark that once belonged to his grandfather.

[WkillGS]

Just one of Jimmy's HUGE collection of 66 GS's. This one features a 4 speed.
John from V8Buick brought his 4 speed fire red GS and his Wildcat GS.
A blue mist 4 speed vert belongs to a local guy. Don't recall if he's the original owner or bought it when it was a few years old.
And another astro blue 66, this one a Special Deluxe. The owner did an extensive restoration/repair after his daughter wrecked the car in '94.