Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

CDNSS · Member

CarCraft 2013 Registration

66 RAT · Vice President

I don't know if this is the best way, but here's the "Family Events" site that Car Craft uses:

http://www.familyevents.com/event/262

I should also mention something else that others may chime in on. At last year's Minnesota Street Rod Association show (in June), some friends mentioned that a discount (maybe $5?) on admission to the Car Craft show could be purchased. I saw the booth but didn't check it out myself.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

IIRC, you get the same 5 dollars off when you preregister with family events directly too. At least thats how it used to be. We have also been preregistered as a club and you just told them over the phone you are with the Northstar Chevelle Club and also got the same 5 dollar discount. That also may have changed.

John D · 2K+ Club

I've used the Family Events link the last several years.

Depending upon when you plan to be "in town", you can register on Thursday before the event... walk up cash in hand and get your stuff. Credential pickup for pre-registrants opens at noon on the Thursday before, and lots of people just register then. They have a trailer set up just for this next to the pickup area.

SShink · 3K+ Club

66 RAT wrote:
I don't know if this is the best way, but here's the "Family Events" site that Car Craft uses:
http://www.familyevents.com/event/262
I should also mention something else that others may chime in on. At last year's Minnesota Street Rod Association show (in June), some friends mentioned that a discount (maybe $5?) on admission to the Car Craft show could be purchased. I saw the booth but didn't check it out myself.

I think that's the only authorized on line way to do it now.

NCC doesn't have any kind of discount unless it's leftover from days past.

OscarZ · Treasurer

I registered at the BTTF's last year. It was quick and easy!

-- Edited by OscarZ on Friday 10th of May 2013 11:34:33 AM

CDNSS · Member

Thanks ..........just preregistered online with family events site .......... did not see anywhere to put NCC or any discount ............. hopefully by preregister I can PU credentials on Thursday to make it easier getting in Friday AM ............

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Getting in Friday morning isnt so bad. Having your credentials on Saturday morning is where its really key, you avoid a MAJOR amount of hassle and you skip the long lines waiting at the pickup trailer/tent and you are able to get right in line to enter the gates at the fairground. You can literally save yourself hours of waiting in line just by picking your credentials up before Saturday morning.

Bill, since your a NCC member now. You also have the option of parking with us at Car Craft as well. We usually stake out our spot prior to the show and email where we plan to be located ahead of time so members can find us. We also get a head count so make sure we ropped off enough space to fit everyone. But there is plenty of space so we never had any problems.

CDNSS · Member

Would be great to park with you guys count me in I will watch the forum for info where you will be and best entrance to use .......I know the fairgrounds fairly well go to 50's alot with hot rod .......... but yes the hassle last time I at CarCraft was brutal so want to avoid that if possible ..........

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Bill, I should probably clarify. Last year we made the decision not to broadcast where our spot is set up due to the sole reason that spots are getting so competitive now since everyone is wanting to save a spot for thier club, group, etc, that we dont want to publically announce when we are setting up and where. We always have an idea on where we want to be but there isnt a guarantee we will get it. One year, people were roping off spots as early as the monday prior to the show. So, what we do now is once a few members get a spot set up, all the members get sent an email with the map and location so they can find us.

We have been fortunate enough to set up in the spot we want but I hesitate to say we will be at the same spot again this year but I really hate to make that guarantee just because of the spots getting competitive. Seems every year, more and more areas are getting roped off further and further down the various other side streets in the fairgrounds.

Edit: Forgot one thing. Regarding the gate to get in.....

Como Ave. is the street on the south end of the fairgrounds. Its the street that when heading down Snelling Ave (the main drag heading past the fairgrounds, next to the water tower), you take the ramp off snelling to get onto Como since Como goes underneath Snelling. The southwest corner of the fairground is an entrance gate where everyone goes to get in. I dont know if its the only gate for participants but they usually have signs directing participants on where they need to go. Usually, the area where they have the registration tent, is near the vacinity where the gate for participants to enter is.

-- Edited by Chris R on Saturday 11th of May 2013 05:59:30 PM

CDNSS · Member

Thanks Chris .good info ....... I understand what your saying about CarCraft club spots will watch for email as we get closer ............

CC Entrance ......... Stay in Roseville so I am used to 50's where they use alot of different entrances I usually go in just off Larpenteur .....never get caught up on Snelling but sounds like you saying Car Craft only uses 1 entrance for participants ........ off Como ..........any idea what street name it is off Como that gate is at

-- Edited by CDNSS on Sunday 12th of May 2013 05:58:19 PM

bowtie · Secretary

You will take Larpenteur East to Snelling, go South. You will pass the main Fairgrounds entrance and the next exit is Como Avenue. You will take a right turn onto Como (going West) and follow it to the designated entrance. There will be flag people, and you more or less just follow the line of cars. Once through that gate and in, there will be a large tent off to the left where you can pick up credentials (or register on-site). This tent will be open on Thursday as well. Cntinue to the right and there will be a gated entrance letting cars in. This is where you have to have your windw decal affixed and your wrist band already on and show it. Then you're in. It is all one-way traffic going counter clockwise.

When the email is send regarding our location, John D usually includes a map. Remind me when we get closer, and I can give you my cell phone number in case you get lost, hungry, in a fight, lonely, whatever . A cool addition to our parking last year was these really cool signs I had made up by our good friends at Metro Moulded Parts http://www.metrommp.com/

Here's a past year's parking:

CDNSS · Member

OK I think I know where the participant entrance is ......... Gate 14 Canfield st ........... I am staying in Roseville so coming from North any reason I would not want to come down Cleveland ave to Como and then into gate 14 ??? as opposed to Snelling on east side ??

Chris R · 2K+ Club

If your on Larpenteur try turning onto Cleveland and heading south, then turn left on Como. Thats the way I prefer to go anyways. This is the west end of the fairgrounds.

CDNSS · Member

Chris R wrote:
If your on Larpenteur try turning onto Cleveland and heading south, then turn left on Como. Thats the way I prefer to go anyways. This is the west end of the fairgrounds.

Perfect, Thanks that looks like the way I will go I try to stay off busy streets since I have a Faceplated trans ( no synchros) can be difficult to downshift in traffic

Lost in the 60s · President

Chris R wrote:
If your on Larpenteur try turning onto Cleveland and heading south, then turn left on Como. Thats the way I prefer to go anyways. This is the west end of the fairgrounds.

90% of the rest of the cars will be coming the other way and don't like letting people in the "short" line.....just sayin'....

Some of them have been parked on Como since midnight.

CDNSS · Member

bowtie wrote:
You will take Larpenteur East to Snelling, go South. You will pass the main Fairgrounds entrance and the next exit is Como Avenue. You will take a right turn onto Como (going West) and follow it to the designated entrance. There will be flag people, and you more or less just follow the line of cars. Once through that gate and in, there will be a large tent off to the left where you can pick up credentials (or register on-site). This tent will be open on Thursday as well. Cntinue to the right and there will be a gated entrance letting cars in. This is where you have to have your windw decal affixed and your wrist band already on and show it. Then you're in. It is all one-way traffic going counter clockwise.

When the email is send regarding our location, John D usually includes a map. Remind me when we get closer, and I can give you my cell phone number in case you get lost, hungry, in a fight, lonely, whatever . A cool addition to our parking last year was these really cool signs I had made up by our good friends at Metro Moulded Parts http://www.metrommp.com/

Here's a past year's parking:
Wow looks great Thanks for all the advice

CDNSS · Member

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Chris R wrote:
If your on Larpenteur try turning onto Cleveland and heading south, then turn left on Como. Thats the way I prefer to go anyways. This is the west end of the fairgrounds.
90% of the rest of the cars will be coming the other way and don't like letting people in the "short" line.....just sayin'....
Some of them have been parked on Como since midnight.

Yes, good point .............. so CarCraft still only has this one entrance for participants

bowtie · Secretary

Yes, only 1 entrance. If you really feel like getting the whole experience, participate in the "Dawn Patrol": a small contingent of members show up about 2am on Friday morning partly to ensure our parking area is still there. The other part is that you experience a completely different part of the show. We used to bring camp stoves and cook right there while parked on Como Ave waiting to get in, but it was a decent hassle between preparing, transporting, and cleanup that John D took the brunt of (thanks again!).

(Chris R)

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Chris R wrote:
If your on Larpenteur try turning onto Cleveland and heading south, then turn left on Como. Thats the way I prefer to go anyways. This is the west end of the fairgrounds.
90% of the rest of the cars will be coming the other way and don't like letting people in the "short" line.....just sayin'....
Some of them have been parked on Como since midnight.

The cops usually prevent that from happening since they are directing traffic at that intersection when the gates open. However, if he gets there after the gates open, there is a line both directions anyways. But, most people go to the back of the main part of the line anyways and make a U turn. Its the few jerks that either don't understand or know full well what they are doing.

The early birds that get in line or in the club we call dawn patrol like Bowtie posts are where the fun is though. Guys line up at 2am. Some just get in line before 12am Friday night and sleep in thier cars all night, just to get that one spot to park for saturday and again on sunday even. Some say that getting together that early in the morning and hang out for a few hours until the gate opens is one of the funnest parts of the weekend.

bowtie · Secretary

We also don't shame anyone who nods off in a chair in the grass by their car either. It's usually quiet enough where we have been that you can do that.

Lost in the 60s · President

At my age (and Dashboards), if I got there at 2am, I'd have to bring a cot for an afternoon nap....

bowtie · Secretary

You use something else for the morning nap?

John D · 2K+ Club

Just be a "regular guy", and get in the line headed westbound on Como (parked on the north shoulder) regardless of how you get to Como.

Once they open the gates you get shuffled into "staging lanes" anyway, and wait another 1/2hr+ before they "release the herd" into the fairgrounds proper (thankfully IN ORDER of the staging lanes upon entry).

I've done Dawn Patrol for the last 3 or 4 years on Friday (and sometimes Saturday). The 1st few years when I was still involved with Scouting, I had all the mobile kitchen gear and earned the moniker "Chuckwagon"... did some pretty good gourmet breakfast chow on the roadside ('Camino McMuffins, Eggs-in-a-Hole, Build-yer-own-Omelet), and hot coffee always on the boil. Just got to be too much work with preservation, sanitation, and cleanup.

The last few years our Dawn Patrol members have been around car(s) 6 to 8 from the gate. The early AM cameraderie is great, but the real purpose is to stake our claim to "our spot" on the fairgrounds once allowed in - get a few cars parked along our area to legitimize our claim to space.
The "roping off of spots" is purely on courtesy, and NOT enforced by the promoter. Joe Blow could park his car smack in the middle of "your" area, and there's not a thing you can do about it, other than ask them to move. After 10am each day the courtesy of "roping off" is repealed, and any open space is fair game to later arrivals to the show.

bowtie · Secretary

If you participate in the Real Street Eliminator event, you get VIP access and can enter in a separate gate earlier.

68chevelle · Member

Here's a great Car Craft Video Clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9AZtzxJpI

68chevelle · Member

I just registered today and noticed that new this year on Friday night they extended the show hours until 8pm. Thats kind of nice.

CDNSS · Member

Yes I got my confirmation today that is great no fighting extra traffic to leave I see the entrance is Gate 15 Dan Patch ave and you can approach from either direction on Como and turn on to Transit Way not sure if that the same as past years been a while for me

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Its probably best to give a heads up on this one Bill. That transit road is where we referenced earlier in this post. Yes, you can approach from the west but the bulk of traffic comes from the Snelling Ave end and makes the right turn into the complex but thats where the problem lies. If you come from the opposite direction and make the left turn, you end up ticking off a lot of people. I highly recommend if your going head east on Como, keep going past the Transit road and U turn to get in back of the line. When your doing the dawn patrol, you will see a lot of guys going past and getting in back of the line as well. Its the one jerk that parks at the light going the opposite direction at the intersection and then you have a group of cars lining up behind him. The cops directing traffic try thier best to hold them from turning in from all the others that waited fairly, but they can only hold for so long before they have to allow the left turners in. Essentially screwing as much as 100 plus guys that waited in the actual line.

Its hard to explain in words when people may not be familiar with the area, but lets say we have a east/west road. 90% of the entrants come from the west and park on the side of the road and wait for the gate to open, typically around 2am lets say. So the western line builds up to around 6am when its time to open the gates and there is a few hundred entrants lined up, some coming from the east and turning around to get in the back of the line heading west. Then one of the other 10% comes from the east and instead of continuing to the back of the line. Pulls off to the side of the east bound lane and waits for the gate to open. As more east bound entrants show up, they see (likely not really knowing) that the line is on the eastbound side and wait behind eastbound guy #1. Police can only allow so many entrants from the west and they really have no way of knowing whom got there first so after letting as much traffic as they can before they stop the west traffic to let the east traffic in.

Its probably a moot point though when we have an area roped off though but its nice to get in and situated as soon as possible after the gates open IMO.

CDNSS · Member

Thanks Chris I hear you ... I thought this was a different entrance from the past years

cooz65 · Webmaster

When you guys go down, do you stay friday-sunday, just saturday, how does that work? I've never been in this big of a car show. If any of the members are from the north metro that are headed down, let me know and I would love to caravan down with you to get in and mainly not get lost in the sea of cars. Also is a touch of rust ok? My car might not be perfect (unless you are looking through my eyes) but I wouldn't want to be a sore thumb Thanks guys!

bowtie · Secretary

Yeah, rust is fine. A little, a lot, no biggie. My car is accepted, and we had 67SS's '66 old lady/barn find '66 300 Deluxe there 2 years ago. It was so barn fresh he trailered it there because he didn't trust the brakes. No worries.

Once you get to the fairgrounds, it's pretty well a follow-the-leader with the car in front of you situation. You can only go in at one gate, one way driving while there as well. Right before the show we'll email all paid Northstar members about where our roped off area is, usually get a map in the email too. Can't miss us, we're the block long group of Chevelles with the cool "Welcome to Chevelle Row" signs.

DavenSonS · Member

I just pre registered last night and plan on going all three days at this time. I will be leaving from Coon Rapids and would like to find others to caravan with, but there is usually plenty of cars headed that way too that you could jump in and follow.

SShink · 3K+ Club

66 RAT wrote:
Is anyone planning to go to QA1 on Friday morning? I know somebody mentioned that the cars from QA1 got split up last year on the way to the fairgrounds so there wasn't any "express" entry.

Tim, Chad, and I went last year. The drive wasn't good because there was construction all around QA1 (that's when the mishap with Tim following me on gravel roads in his nut and bolt fresh resto drive in the COPO tribute '69 Chevelle....), but that's finished now.

They had us park on grass to queue up for the drive before donuts and the tour, and that was cool. But yes, when we left we were separated almost immediately, and took some wrong turns, so it was almost 10:30 a.m. before we got to our spots on Chevelle Row. By that time, there were only about 3 spots left in our area, so I didn't feel like we got the full effect of CC that day.

If anyone hasn't been to QA1 before, it's a cool way to start the day, but hopefully they've figured out the cruise in to CC portion better this year.

I'm not going to QA1 this year as I want to get to CC by 7:30 a.m. on Friday to enjoy seeing some of the cars queued up in the parking area, and hearing some of them drive in after getting parked.

I registered tonight. Starting to get excited about CC this year!

-- Edited by SShink on Sunday 30th of June 2013 09:54:57 PM

66 RAT · Vice President

Is anyone planning to go to QA1 on Friday morning? I know somebody mentioned that the cars from QA1 got split up last year on the way to the fairgrounds so there wasn't any "express" entry.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

I will be there, but late. Lots going on that weekend and I won't be down to the show til afterwards.

68chevelle · Member

2 weeks!!!!

SteveS · Super Poster

I'm thinking about coming up to the show on Saturday. Sounds like it's a hassle trying to pickup credentials on Saturday morning? It's 225 mile round trip for me to come get the credentials on Thursday or Friday, but is it worth it? Anyone know the hours to pick-up the credentials?

SShink · 3K+ Club

SteveS wrote:
I'm thinking about coming up to the show on Saturday. Sounds like it's a hassle trying to pickup credentials on Saturday morning? It's 225 mile round trip for me to come get the credentials on Thursday or Friday, but is it worth it? Anyone know the hours to pick-up the credentials?

I'm not sure of the exact hours, but I think they go until 6 or 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Another option is I can see if I can get them for you on Thursday. I did this last year for someone, and I had a copy of their driver's license and insurance card, but I didn't get asked for them. I just gave them the name and they handed me the credentials.

bowtie · Secretary

OK fine, I finally registered late last night. I'm actually a couple days earlier than usual for me.

67ss · 1K+ Club

I'm all set as well, but I have to roll the camaro for another year. Thought about bringing the 55 but the owner is coming to get it this weekend. I'll have the chevelle next year for sure.

bowtie · Secretary

67ss wrote:
I'm all set as well, but I have to roll the camaro for another year. Thought about bringing the 55 but the owner is coming to get it this weekend. I'll have the chevelle next year for sure.

End of the row for you.

I'll park next to you though. maybe your car will get noticed more since it's next to my "schizophrenic barn find".

Lost in the 60s · President

bowtie wrote:
67ss wrote:
I'm all set as well, but I have to roll the camaro for another year. Thought about bringing the 55 but the owner is coming to get it this weekend. I'll have the chevelle next year for sure.
End of the row for you.

I'll park next to you though. maybe your car will get noticed more since it's next to my "schizophrenic barn find".

He's a Camaro Club member too and can park with them if he's not welcome in "Chevelle Row".....

No car for me. I'll probably just be a "spectator" on Friday.

bowtie · Secretary

end of the row, across the street, whatever.

Jon H · 1K+ Club

When I registered last year they were VERY picky about someone only picking up their own packets. There were some really upset folks who thought they could get the packets for friends and went home empty handed.

SteveS · Super Poster

I got registered. I plan on coming up Thursday or Friday myself to get my packet. Off Topic, avatar looks great Bryan!

-- Edited by SteveS on Saturday 13th of July 2013 10:38:24 PM

bowtie · Secretary

Yup, make sure you bring photo ID and proof of insurance. Sometimes they don't ask, sometimes they do.

bowtie · Secretary

SteveS wrote:
I got registered. I plan on coming up Thursday or Friday myself to get my packet. Off Topic, avatar looks great Bryan!

Thanks!, I also swapped on amber lenses after I took the pic, they look better.

I haven't seen any kind of schedule, but I'll probably stay. Same reason, easier to avoid the traffic and since there's stuff to do....

-- Edited by bowtie on Sunday 14th of July 2013 02:01:55 PM

SShink · 3K+ Club

Who's planning on staying for the Friday night activities? I think they have the burnout competition and miss car craft sports wear competition, but not sure.

I think I'll stay until 7 or so since that way I won't have to drive home with the rush hour crazies!

CDNSS · Member

I plan to stay late on Friday , never liked leaving at rush hour on Friday ......... planning to arrive late pm on thursday go direct to fairgrounds to pu credentials assume they will be be open til at least 5pm