based on all the years i've been attending; if I was running the show:

 

friday:

-pre-registration pick up and/or registration at the 19th street lot until 6pm.. this also serves as a meet and greet / collection location for friday night street show..possible to set up some vendors..possibly eliminate pre-registration.. it would save you guys a lot of paperwork.

-6pm cars leave 19th street lot and enter atlantic for street car show until 9pm or the cars can leave when they see fit..  this is a safe and early time for the older folks to re-live their younger days of hotrodding on the street.

-after 9pm allow a 'protected' night life hangout in the 19th street lot for the younger crowd.  let them play their stereos and run their neons etc. in the lot (i am not part of this group but it is a very big group) no burnouts or etc. permitted of course... perhaps till midnight. setting up some vendors for food /games here would be nice. feel free to have cops there to immediately kick out offenders.. those offenses will also bring the city money.

 

saturday:

-cars enter boardwalk 10am-4pm by order of appearance.  this will avoid large boring gaps in the cars.. clubs like mine will stick together and enter in packs anyways. if the oceanfront inn is the host hotel (i would worry, they are really dissapointed this year as well) then the cars should at least pass oceanfront at some point for their contribution.

-5pm cars and people all can collect at the 19th street lot to capacity to have group awards. the awards should be separated by brand with some special awards perhaps for paint or interior and best in show, club support etc...exit by 6:30

 

i would not schedule anything after this.. most people are tired from the sun and show, they want to get to dinner at a reasonable time and relax the rest of the evening.. or have the choice of leaving for home... for the younger crowd the night will be the 'getting drunk at the hotel' or 'going out to the dance clubs' time.

 

sunday people can head out early to beat traffic, or sleep in from the long day previous... i dont think there is much gain by holding folks over for more show / awards.  years that have had a sunday show have all shown a big drop-off in enthusiasm and participation... no need to make this greuling we are all in it for fun.  some may chose to use the day to see the shops at the beach or go to the beach itself.

 

only other thing i would lobby for is to have it in may... any time in may PLEASE.

actually.. if you did the show beginning of may i bet you could do it again end of september and have a big turnout at both.

 

 

-whatever you do do NOT charge the public to see the cars.. nobody plans their vacation to come see the cars, only participate in the show.  this was a turn off to the public and participants.  i would bet that overall revenue for the area went down by charging more for the car show and to look at it.  think of all the hotel rooms and expensive dinners and shopping you are getting by just having people show up.

-lastly as i explained to the guy running the show this year i did not drive 2 hours to va beach only to be stranded in a parking lot for two days... same as any parking lot i can find local to me.. only ones near me have MORE cars in them.

 

what happened this year came across as being greedy for more money...and i bet you actually made LESS... so everybody loses.