Chevellabration Weekend Now

Many of us attended ACES Chevellabration on this weekend every year starting in 1997. Sadly it ended in 2012. It was held in Goodlettsville, TN (suburb of Nashville) and hosted anywhere from approximately 200 to over 400 Chevelles for a 5 day car show/dragrace/autocross/party. It was a lot of fun and I miss it dearly.

I would love to see this ran again. Though current issue for many is Gas prices. Not sure how that would play out.

Well, we've been talking about setting one back up again, but to be truthful, I don't know where to start.

Von said:

Many of us attended ACES Chevellabration on this weekend every year starting in 1997. Sadly it ended in 2012. It was held in Goodlettsville, TN (suburb of Nashville) and hosted anywhere from approximately 200 to over 400 Chevelles for a 5 day car show/dragrace/autocross/party. It was a lot of fun and I miss it dearly.

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I was there in 97 or 98. I live just a few miles away.
Back then I didn't know Team Chevelle existed. And barely knew how to operate a desktop computer.
I did know who Chuck Hansen was.

Never went to one but Goodlettsville, TN. seemed like the place as centrally located to population in the U.S. Not sure where that could be replicated. I know of several good places good with space and access to a strip (Ga, NC, FL, MS, but not as centrally located as TN.

Not sure people would want to drive all the way down to FL but as we are located here, i know lots of areas. Especially the first one I would go to.

Plus getting ahold of Chuck to pick his thoughts of PROs/CONs, historical failures, Lessons learned, etc...

There was an annual chevelle event here in Canby Or. and Chuck and a few others made the trip. I met Chuck, he drove a red wagon, think it was a '67??? The get together was quite large by our standards, but even that has gone away. I'm not seeing the same interest as years go by, but do my part and get those I know out also. There was an older guy, John, I think he went by "framer" or something like that, who made the trip a few times.

I was there in '06 and '08

The Northern Ohio Chevelle Club's show has kind of taken over as the defacto replacement for Chevelle-abration.

Von, I miss sitting under the trees in the eve. at the Shoneys with you guys. This beer's for you.

If fuel prices killed CB'12 as Chuck said, this years' shows should do very poorly.

kmakar said:

Well, we've been talking about setting one back up again, but to be truthful, I don't know where to start.

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First thing is to recruit a committee to help. I'm sure Chuck would be open to discuss the planning and logistics with anyone.

We were far from long haul, only 900 miles. However the payoff is that a national event draws the best of the best cars. Where else could you stand in a sea of restored Chevelles and just walk from one to the next to study details? That was my enjoyment.

Then we should begin by asking who'd like to be on the committee to start discussions?

IN !

Funny thing is I am in Nashville, saw the signs to Goodlettsville. I wish it was for CB22

Chuck tried to find someone to take over for him but nobody had the time to commit, he had very specific requirements for the duty, he especially wanted a younger person.

In understand wanting a younger person but Sometimes you just have to settle or you get nothing. I don't know if my 48 is considered old yet. I heard it was getting to much to take on which is probably wiser for a committee as Kevin stated then going it alone. This is something I would have liked to been a part of.

Not sure how it would go over these days with the current atmosphere.

Derek, hows the Northern Ohio Chevelle Club's show turnouts going?

That's why I figure a committee is the only way to go.

All the work on the shoulders of one person is too much (unless of course you don't have a job and everyday is open and free).

I have noticed the Carolina Show dropping in attendance. The MD show is in 2 weeks, it is usually a big show, I need to get back to that one. Never been to Ohio or Mid America. I heard Georgia is hurting for attendance. So many that have been involved in the clubs have gotten older or passed on. Chuck Hansen had the media resources to advertise the show in Nashville. I know that many of those who attended were not on the
OCS. The show needs to be centralized, Nashville was chosen because of its distance to a % of the US population.

Good points. I wonder if something like Chevellabration would follow suit though. I get that the local and monthly shows are less in attendance, but would a once a year mega show like Chevellabration make it because it 'is' that one big show that everyone holds out for?

Another thing we have going for us these days is online media. If we had the backing or support of YouTuber's who supported and put it out on their channels, what would that do?

Any and all advertising would help. Lisa and I were just talking about this and she said she'd help, but we both agreed while I'd love it to be in Florida, it's not fair to everyone else, so a central location to the greatest populous would be required.

I was thinking the same. Several good places here to hold this with tons of potential vendors. But yes pretty far for everyone else

There was some talk of moving the event to Beech Bend Park because of the other entertainment opportunities at the venue. Just over the border to KY.

Besides ACES, Chuck sponsored the regional Clubs to garner their support. Another thing ACES had to draw upon was the mid-south Chevelle Club. Looking from the outside, they were dedicated in their support for CB.

Chuck’s years at the NHRA and then magazine and TV gave him excellent access to promotional opportunities. The first year I went the grand prize was a new GM crate big block. The events were a lot of bang for the buck. There was always decent swap meets, not in terms of sheer volume but specificity of Chevelle parts.

The event could have been made more comprehensive by incorporating the evening activities too. The ad-hoc communities that sprung up at the various hotels were impressive.

Just my opinion but the largest concentration of these cars in in the north east corner of the US, like over to OH/MI. Nashville was a good strategic location.

This is just an off the top of my head list of focus areas for committees.
1. Organization and planning.
2. communication and Advertising.
3. Sponsor Marketing
4. Event operations.

I’d suggest to start with a committee for Organization & Planning which would include developing a budget and making a feasibility plan. We need to sure that the event will pay off to keep it successful. I’d volunteer to work on this committee and others if it moves forward. Believe it or not, it’s almost too late to do anything for next year unless it is in the fall.