I sure hope more people bring their cars to GN 2019 than in the past. Lately it seems that there is a decline in show cars in consideration to the number of attendees.
It is understood that most of the people reading this will bring a show car, try and convince other CLC members to do the same.
What's a perfect circle CLC unit?
I'm trying to ready mine for the trip...
Chris, awesome! Don't feel bad, not sure what a perfect circle is either?
Perfect Circle refers to a cruise control unit.
Brian
My 1970 DVC does not have cruise control, but mey 1970 SDV does and it works (not sure if it is Perfect Circle or not?). I know what you mean now, repaired a 1967 DVC with cruise and it was "Perfect Circle" unit. Way more fun to drive the convertible, so cruise-less is how I plan to motor there.
BTW Cadillac Tim rebuilds the "Perfect Circle" cruise controls, used his product on the 1967 Cadillac.
I would like to but with the price of gas and tolls and lodging not to mention food seems like a thousand dollar bill to be able to go. We just got a $6,700.00 tax bill, so no way.
Quote from: 76eldo on April 28, 2019, 03:17:56 PM
Perfect Circle refers to a cruise control unit.
Brian
Mine works! And I test its operation every time I take it out.
BTW Perfect circle is the OE on the 1968 Cadillac cruise control, so what's your point??
1969 and later went to a vacuum controlled unit, except for ElDorado. I don't remember who made them.
Perfect Circle is also a maker of piston rings, etc.
Quote from: Bill Young on April 28, 2019, 05:57:46 PM
I would like to but with the price of gas and tolls and lodging not to mention food seems like a thousand dollar bill to be able to go. We just got a $6,700.00 tax bill, so no way.
Yes, and it's a looooong drive from where we are, eve more for you.
For many of us that are still a part of the working population with limited time off we have to justify time and cost of attending a Grand National with our Cadillac. Estimating time spent in route, travel costs - fuel and meals and possible lodging, as well as possible damage to your car or mechanical problems while in route greatly affect a decision as to whether or not to drive a collector Cadillac or LaSalle' I think that is part of the reasoning used in locating Grand National events in different parts of the country allowing members in close proximity to drive and show their cars. At the recent Grand National in Texas I saw cars that I had never seen before and may not see again. I have always enjoyed seeing different cars at every Grand National. I would encourage anyone to bring a car but especially those members in the featured area of the Grand National, wherever the event may be.
Greg,
Well written. Agree, for me if I can drive to GN in a day, then OK will probably attend with my 1970 Cadillac provided dates work, time off from work and all. This year I'm signed up and it is about a 10 hour drive one way I think.
For those that are within a reasonable distance please bring your baby to the show field.
Quote from: Greg Powers on April 28, 2019, 10:06:45 PM
For many of us that are still a part of the working population with limited time off we have to justify time and cost of attending a Grand National with our Cadillac. Estimating time spent in route, travel costs - fuel and meals and possible lodging, as well as possible damage to your car or mechanical problems while in route greatly affect a decision as to whether or not to drive a collector Cadillac or LaSalle'
This is why it is great to live in Australia where the minimum workers Annual Leave is 4 weeks, on full pay.
Whilst I was working, I used to get 6 weeks leave, and always took the full time to go to car events on the mainland, and incorporate that with a vacation.
I have only been to 2 USA GN's, 2002 and 2008, and enjoyed both of them immensely, especially the 2008 one where I entered my '72 Eldo, even though it had NO chance of winning a prize of any kind.
Bruce. >:D
Quote from: Scot Minesinger on April 28, 2019, 10:38:38 PM
Greg,
Well written. Agree, for me if I can drive to GN in a day, then OK will probably attend with my 1970 Cadillac provided dates work, time off from work and all. This year I'm signed up and it is about a 10 hour drive one way I think.
For those that are within a reasonable distance please bring your baby to the show field.
For me the drive is more like 12 hours one way, and that's at STS N* speeds if you know what I mean.
And forget the gas, I use the cost per mile which someone here recently put at 60 cents per mile. That's about $1,200 in vehicle cost alone.
I would suggest that you register your cars soon. We expect a full parking lot.
Bruce,
I envy the quality of life benefits enjoyed by Australians. Americans could benefit from a cultural attitude that allowed us more time to enjoy our Cadillac/LaSalle.
Of course we "old guys" have 52 weeks vacation each year(for however long we last). Haa ha.
Bob
Barry, I sure hope you are right. In 2017 GN in Washington DC area, we expected a full parking lot too. There were about 350 cars in about 435 available spaces. Was shocked we were not turning away cars in May. It seems like a good turnout, but consider half the Country is within an 8 hour drive (Cleveland is 6 hours, Atlanta is 8 hours, and Boston is 7 hours). The show field was not very full for GN 2016 and GN 2018, both of which I attended... In talking to attendees that were within driving distance (they drove their daily) they were like it is too much trouble to bring my classic to the GN.
Again, hoping you are 100% correct. How many spaces?
To park your car on the show field, your car must be registered for the event, it must be a Cadillac or Lasalle, and you must be a member of the CLC in good standing. So, no, locals cannot bring and display unless they meet the above criteria.
I'll be driving my '49 to Louisville. As Scot wrote, it's about an 8 hour drive from my home in the Atlanta area. (I've been through Louisville before with my Cad on the way to and/or from other CLC events in the Midwest.) I could do it in a long day's drive, but to be prudent may split it up into 2 shorter days.
If you want me to bring a car, try having a GN in my time zone. Or even the adjacent time zone. I enjoy attending car-less when in interesting locations, but it ain’t the same as having your metal mistress on the lot.
GN should be coming back your way in '2021.
Glenn
Quote from: David Greenburg on April 29, 2019, 01:44:48 PM
If you want me to bring a car, try having a GN in my time zone. Or even the adjacent time zone. I enjoy attending car-less when in interesting locations, but it ain’t the same as having your metal mistress on the lot.
Where do you reside?
Northern California
Steve, and all,
GN is at least $1,000 to attend and probably two days off from work minimum. Then plus add to the cost of the car upkeep and etc. The hobby is not cheap.
A trip from FL, is probably more than a day drive to KY also.
However, there are plenty of people within driving range and I hope that they attend with a show car.
Enjoy your Cadillacs!
I'm sure those in the nurturing biosphere of the Mothership know the amount of cars registered.
Perhaps they could share the figures?
Steve,
You are super serious, I just use standard pump gas premium for my 1970 Cadillac DVC, which has enjoyed a valve job with hardened seats. My other 1970 SDV is an all original untouched engine, except carb., and I use premium pump gas on that too and does just fine. Of course leaded is better for the engine, but not willing to go to that extent.
I'm going to start another post on preparing for the drive to GN 2019.
Scott
Every Cadillac motor built since 1966 was made with hardened valve seats. Cadillac engineers were aware, and were actually pushing for unleaded gasoline since the late 50's
Greg Surfas
Signed up today and planning to drive my 55 Fleetwood the 8 hours or so to the GN.
Good for you Art. Safe journey and enjoy. We would Love to see pictures of the GN and your trip.
Quote from: StevenTuck on May 01, 2019, 06:39:52 AM
Your GN cost estimate is pretty close. I had mapped out the drive so as to find ethanol free gas stations along the way. It's a 1,668 mile round trip for me.
I have also mapped out gas stations selling ethanol free fuel along the way. Between my home in Atlanta and Louisville there are enough of them such that none are more that a "tankful's distance" from the one before.
If the rubber / plastic fuel lines have been changed in the past 15-20 years, ethanol in the fuel shouldn't hurt anything. I only use toptier gas companies, mostly Shell around here because the Circle-K Shells are usually the best priced. I generally cannot find ethanol free higher than 90 octane, so I'll use the premium even if it has a little ethanol.
Premium only which has spiked a Lot in the past few months. Plus if its a real long trip, I'll take a couple containers of that Octane Supreme that someone here mentioned earlier.
Quote from: cadillacmike68 on May 01, 2019, 10:34:22 PM
If the rubber / plastic fuel lines have been changed in the past 15-20 years, ethanol in the fuel shouldn't hurt anything.
I only use ethanol-free gas not because I'm concerned about it will hurting something, but because my car tends to vapor lock with it on hot days.
Quote from: Jay Friedman on May 01, 2019, 11:58:53 PM
I only use ethanol-free gas not because I'm concerned about it will hurting something, but because my car tends to vapor lock with it on hot days.
That would definitely be a great reason to use ethanol free gas.
The last time I had vapor lock was in an old korea-vietnam era jeep when I was a new Lieutenant on a training convoy from central MA to new Brunswick Canada. We were about three hours late getting to the training base.
I’m driving from southern Wisconsin. What web site are you using to find ethanol free gas?
Thanks,
Bob Kielar