[AT] Portland setup

[Gene Dotson]

    Portland is the World's largest tractor and engine show. Normal exhibits 
include 3000 stationary engines, 800 tractors, over 100 trucks and cars, 50+ 
acres of tractor parts vendors and several acres for craft and flea market 
areas. Add to this a campground with usually 1900 camp sites. Multiply all 
this over a 1 week period for the show ground and more than 2 weeks for the 
camping facilities.
    Considering all this, one can imagine the vast size of this show. Many 
of the suggestions are just not workable on this scale.
    My main concern and question I have put to the directors is why the new 
display grounds were not properly graded, leveled and seedeed before being 
opened for use.
Last year I witnessed a teenage girl nearly ejected from her wheelchair when 
it hit a rut in the ground.

    A little recent history may be in order here now. Tri-State Gas Engine 
and Tractor club owns land to the west of Jay County fairgrounds where they 
have the club facilities and the camping area used during the August show. 
This land is also used for a week long tractor and engine parts swap meet in 
may and a 2 day swap meet in the fall.
    About 6 years ago, the club bought 75 acres of farmland adjoining the 
east side of the fairgrounds. This land had drainage tile installed shortly 
after purchase and over the last few years many trees were removed from 
fence rows by heavy equipment. This land has never been properly graded for 
the public access and use. This makes it very hard for the spectators and 
participants to access the tractor display area.

You won't likely hear many complaints from the stationery engine people 
since they got all the nice shady and smooth areas with the paved driveways 
to access them.

    Tri-State club has a work day scheduled every year on the last Saturday 
of April for volunteers to help prepare the grounds for the year's shows. I 
personally have been attending this work day and have always posted ahead of 
time for more volunteers to help, but participation has been less than I 
hoped for. Mark your calendars to help out and I can assure your suggestions 
will be considered by the directors.

    There are many long range plans for more use of the new land, but 
unfortunately it is like mating elephants. Done with a lot of moaning and 
groaning and takes years to get results.

            Gene Dotson, ATIS Wagonmaster



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Strobel" <Richard_Strobel7 at msn.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>; 
"stationary-engine" <stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 9:49 AM
Subject: [AT] Portland setup


>
>  My two bits from this arm-chair quarterback who's never been there.
>
>  Two semi-circles, multi-rowed, one for engines, one for tractors. 
> Feature in front row(s).  Think Roy G BIV for tractors, excluding the I,V 
> :-) (Would look great from altitude, IMO).
>
>  One access walkway between rows for foot traffic, next access way for 
> butt buggies (one way only).  Repeat as necessary.
>
>  Portapotties in the middle with express lanes leading to it..
>
>  "Warmin' up some in the Big Sky"
>
>  Rick
>
>
>
>
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