[AT] Florida Flywheelers

[David Rotigel]

Hi Farmer,
	I have NO first hand information about the Flywheelers Show. Talking to many people, however, I've learned the following.
		1.) Several years ago (perhaps 20 or 25) people with money from the North came down and "took over" the show. The founders were moved out and the show took on a VERY 				different character.
		2.) When a "new" exhibitor gets to the show they are put in "as they arrive". That means that you have a tractor, then a yard sale then chinees tools, then an engine, then, then, 				then……..
		3.) If you don't bring, or rent, a golf cart you are likely to be run over!
		4.) The people who run the show have their nosies so high in the air you would think they all live in Naples!
	As I said, I have never been to the show and I have good friends who really enjoy it and drive 1,500 miles to attend. 
		Dave
PS, The year I brought my 11 HP Austral to Zolfo I was "invited" to bring it to the Flywheelers the following year. When I bring several Hercules engines no one from the Flywheelers 				seems to even stop by to talk!
PPS, As I said earlier, I have never been to the Flywheelers Show!
PPS, Free advice is worth what you pay for it!
PPPS, I have NEVER been treated better at a show that I'm treated each year at Zolfo! (Baraboo is a close 2nd and Portland is 3rd--Findlay is a close 4th because of the people and the 			CORN ROAST!)

On Feb 5, 2015, at 8:16 PM, Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 6:25 PM, David Rotigel <rotigel at me.com> wrote:
> 
>> I'll be leaving for Zolfo on the 11th. FLYWHEELERS just is NOT my kind of
>> show! But there seem to be many who enjoy it.
>>        Dave
>> 
>> 
> 
> Is there some reason that you can put your finger on Dave as to why it's
> "not your kind of show"? or just a general feeling? I suppose that we all
> have some shows we like the most and some a little less. I have been to
> shows where I just didn't care if I went back but couldn't really say why.
> There just seemed to be a bad feeling between many of the exhibitors.
> Sadly one of my least favorite shows is the local show only 3 miles from
> me. They have several great guys that have tried very hard for years to
> make a good club and show out of it but it just gets worse every year. Back
> when I was first in it they would have well over 300 tractors in a show.
> Last summer I drove past the fairgrounds and I counted about 2 dozen
> tractors. A friend of mine who shows engines all over the place is
> currently trying to revive the show. Some of you may have  met him, Richard
> Dingman. Usually takes a trailer full of stuff and sits with it to talk to
> folks.
> The club had two big problems for a show. The first is that most of the
> members are pullers. Don't get me wrong, I don't pull but I like to watch.
> The pulling problem is that the local pullers roll in for the pull and then
> roll out. They will not take part in the show.
> The bigger problem in the past was about a half dozen guys that for no
> better way to say it were royal asses. Arrogant and blustery and really bad
> about bullying many of the younger newer guys that wanted to be part of the
> show. They got their jollies walking around in a group mostly belittling
> what everybody had brought to the show and at times really insulting them.
> Once in a meeting one of the young guys made a suggestion about the show
> and they treated him so bad that I was embarrassed to be there. They didn't
> like me much, I don't keep my mouth shut well.
> :-)
> Needless to say very soon we didn't have any new guys... then just almost
> no guys. That was when I quit.
> It's kind of sad that most of the counties around us have very nice shows,
> some quite successful. Those shows exhibit a whole different attitude
> toward the public. Some are out in the sticks and they all charge to get
> in. The local show is free and at the edge of town but nobody will come.
> It's kind of hard to charge to see a couple dozen tractors.
> The grounds can make a big difference in some shows but it takes more than
> that. I once took my little Farmall Cub to a tiny show about 60 miles south
> of here that was held in a smallish parking lot in a state park in that
> county. A tiny show in a small space but the friendliest bunch you could
> want to be around. They were also very anxious to interact with the public
> which is something I favor in a show.
> 
> I guess I am just fishing for thoughts on what helps make a desirable show
> or an undesirable show maybe including some of those less obvious factors.
> I have not been involved in the local show for some years now but I would
> really like to see it become a real show again. Maybe I can do something to
> help.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Francis Robinson
> aka "farmer"
> Central Indiana USA
> robinson46176 at gmail.com
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