The G T O Tiger Times
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The G T O Tiger Times September 2018 Volume 23 Issue 8 The Voice of the G T O and Pontiac Enthusiast in Central Pennsylvania car after car was quickly registered and shown to their Preidnt Mesag show field. We parked them as well as parked Pontiacs out in the main road in front of P.Y. Our organization In 2011, Performance Years in Hatfield PA held their from that show forward was in intricate part of the first Pontiac Show. Myself and several SVGTO members show. Mike Spizziri who organized this year in and year attended. The show field was held in their rear lot. Pon- out told me on a few occasions, they could not do this tiacs from all over came out to enjoy that event, it was without our help. Our crew were on their game each a beautiful sunny day with beautiful Pontiac ’s parked in year. their designated classes. Over the years that event grew, and grew. Adding more That event was well received and from that point for- American Muscle Cars, and trucks. The event grew to ward that yearly event began to grow and in 2012 our include an open show with all American built cars and involvement began. The GTOAA East Coast Regional trucks. Each year we advertised this event utilizing the Meet which was hosted by the then Garden State GTOs SVGTO code which became a fund raiser for us. Chris held in Parsippany NJ had ended. That left a vacancy of Casperson was very generous to us. Over time with that event and the GTOAA was looking for a chapter to changes in their club Garden State GTO seceded from pick up that event. SVGTO at that time was continuing the GTOAA leaving us the sole host. Several members of to grow and getting more involved not only with local that club would still come help however it was up to events, but regionally. We were asked by the GTOAA to SVGTO to promote this which we did and the numbers consider getting involved hosting the East Coast Region- of Pontiacs still climbed. We enjoyed that relationship al. We were 3 years into our own Pontiac Show and until after the 2017 event. With our hosting the 2018 were seeing each year a steady rise in attendees from Convention we just did not have the time to host that the eastern region. With the word out on PY ’s show and event. The GTOAA East Coast Regional was not held interest in that event growing, we were approached by along with the now Pypes Show which grew to include 5 Performance Years about cohosting the East Coast Re- different shows within one and was held the last day of gional at the PY facility. In an effort to keep ‘Pontiac our convention. Our six years as a host to this event at Excitement ’ alive and celebrate it we accepted the invite the now Max Performance facility has come to an end. to cohost that event. Performance Years would Sponsor the event, SVGTO and Garden State GTOs would cohost I had heard talk 2018 would be the last year for car it. For both our efforts boundary lines were drawn and shows at Max Performance. I had a talk with Chris Cas- Garden State would promote the event in their area person who confirmed to me the talk was indeed true which was mid New Jersey and south and north to and after 8 years of sponsoring that show 2018 was the Maine. SVGTO would promote in PA south and west. last. There are several factors that played a part in this Each club had their discount code us: SVGTO and Gar- decision. One being the concentration of the newly den State: GSGTO. Preregistrants using those codes formed Pontiac Preservation Association and growing it would receive a $5 discount off their registrations. For from the ground floor which debuted at our convention our efforts advertising, each registrant using that code in Valley Forge. Chris is committed to keeping Pontiac we would receive that $5. From that point forward the ‘Excitement ’ alive and is focusing much on preserving GTOAA East Coast Regional event would be held at that the legacy and those who made Pontiac what it was. event, merged with the PY Pontiac Show. The GTOAA is now back to searching for a chapter in With attendance expected to grow, the show field was the east to host the GTOAA Eastern Regional Meet. I then moved across the street in the large grass lot. In a had been approached several times in the past about spirit of community involvement, PY invited a Mustang SVGTO considering hosting this event. I declined for Club to show in the front lot. Garden State would work several reasons. Mainly because of our great relation- the Pontiac side with their members, and SVGTO mem- ship with Max Performance our fundraising, the atmos- bers worked registration and parking cars on the oppo- phere there and the whole event in general. There is site side. It was that year we began organizing our now a void that needs filled. As President of the GTOAA members to work this event. From the very first event it is incumbent upon me to find a chapter to host this our registration crew impressed Performance Years as event. Our reputation on running a Pontiac Show, many SVGTO.COM The GTO Tiger Times, A 2006 -17 GTOAA Award winner for Chapter Newsletter Excellence September 2018 Club News who attended the Max Performance event Membership Update: and our area makes us a logical choice. We have seen a spike in memberships for Random Pontiacs There are two criteria that needs met to 2018, as of this date we ’ve accepted 20 host an Eastern Meet. 1. It must be a two new members into SVGTO. We are cur- -day event. It doesn ’t matter what that rently at 94 members. Of the 20 new event is, could be a cruise, a cookout, a members, 10 are first time GTOAA mem- seminar. It ’s up to the hosting chapter bers, 7 are existing GTOAA members and what they ’d like to do. 2. It must be a 3 are exempt from having to join the standalone Pontiac Show. When the East- GTOAA as they do not own a GTO. Be- ern Regional was approved for Perfor- cause of the safeguards we put into place mance Years, it was a standalone Pontiac 10 years ago to keep us at 100% mem- Show. After its inaugural year, is when bership compliant to the GTOAA, we re- other makes were invited in separate main at 100%. show fields. The GTOAA ‘looked the other Welcome to our newest members: way ’ while the event was held at Max. P. This was the motivating factor for them Lee Douglas: Lee owns a 2004 GTO asking another chapter to host the event. Now that Max P. is no longer holding the John Douglas: John owns a ’66 -68’ -and show, this aspect of the criteria will be 2005 GTO enforced. This makes SVGTO the logical choice to host this event. The format is William Kimball: William owns a 1968 up to the chapter, whether it be a judged GTO cv show, pop vote show, classed, or drive in and awards for the top so many. When Tom Kurtz: Tom doesn ’t own a GTO but Max P. went from classed to top 75 it ’63 Impala and ’68 Camaro didn ’t sit well with most folks, this I heard over and over each year. Riaz Jeena: Riaz has no show car, he wants to be a part of SVGTO So, what would change from the format of our show now to adding the GTOAA Harry Sanchez: Harry has a 2000 Firebird East Coast Regional? In my opinion? Not Welcome to SVGTO! much. Maybe tweak a few classes, add a GTO Judge Class. Our show would most likely grow. This topic will be discussed at ATTENTION! our September meeting on the 23 rd . If you have questions, or concerns on this I Be sure to check out the encourage you to attend that meeting. website Whether we decide to take on the East Coast Regional or forgo it, the member- www.svgto.com ship will decide. Those in attendance when a vote is taken will decide whether For the latest information of SVGTO will or will not grow our yearly upcoming events. Pontiac Show to an “official ” GTOAA Sanctioned Regional Show. We are al- ready a regional show as we see guests coming from as far north as upstate NY south as far as Virginia, and have had guests from Ohio. Next Meeting: The next regular club meeting will be Sunday, September 23rd , 1pm at RMHC in Hershey. This is a change from our normal meeting date, as that date would have followed the Neffsville show on September 15th. If you have comments We strongly encourage everyone to make it about, or suggestions to to the meeting as September is the month help improve The GTO for officer nominations for the 2019 season. Tiger Times, please If you have ever wanted to have a hand in contact Russ Esenwine. the running of our club, this is the time to through your hat into the ring. [email protected] Page 2 Recent & Upcoming Events SVGTO.COM Our 2018 Pontiac Show Recap A Look back at our 2009 All Pontiac Show 2018 has certainly been a crazy weather year. It ’s rained The first two years of our All Pontiac Show: 2008 -2009, more than it hasn ’t.