| Kustom Jive
From A Gallon Five By: KKOA President - Jerry Titus |
Supersized!!! Wow, sounds like a McDonald sack of fries.
But, with due respect to our ad agency, I prefer two
other words! Say Sure!!! The KKOA wants to make sure
that every hotrodder in America who wants to come to
Salina for the 30th anniversary of the Leadsled
Spectacular, July 23-25, '10, will be assured space to
get in when they arrive.
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Salina, Kansas has
been tagged "America' Hotrodding Playground",
and it's fast living up to its unique title.
This is due in part to the "Welcome Mat"
atmosphere the city dish's out, and the
accelerating support of hotrodders who
appreciate the hometown hospitality. This
combination is why the Leadsled Spectacular has
become one of the fastest growing events in
America.
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| The Spectacular has leaped every year in giant strides!
Domino-ing three-fold since '05 to over 1,000
traditional hotrods, kustoms & drag machines in '09.
This support growth has constantly been pushing the
boundaries of the eight-acre park where the event is
held annually. And, this last July, the show overflowed
into the park nursery, which wasn't suppose to happen,
but the city was kool about it. Plus, it pushed every
aspect of the park to it's limit's (restrooms,
electricity, safety).
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So, this left KKOA faced with a
what-to-do situation created by success! |
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| With the 30th annual looming ahead on July 23-25, both
the KKOA and the City of Salina knew something had to be
done to accommodate the projected record breaking
entrant's expected for the 2010 Spectacular. |
The park department sez there's no way the park can
expand in land size, and a up-grade for more electricity
is not fundable. The park is currently equipped with one
100 amp service. Not even close to what we need. We even
experienced a power failure on Saturday. Last year we
had vendors contact us that couldn't come because they
needed electricity.
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Recognizing this situation, the city contacted us
shortly after the closing of the show and asked for a
meeting ASAP (normally we have a winter meeting, but
this was late August). There concern was once again a
product of their genuine hospitality & caring of the
show. So, in mid-september, six KKOA officials and a
likewise amount of city & chamber high level's, gathered
at the Mid America Inn (show headquarters), for a sit
down to talk possibilities. The problems we all knew.
Land size, electricity, restrooms & safety! The
possibility of spectators crossing the busy 9th street
to get into the park was becoming dangerously high risk.
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So the options were put on the
table, w/the first being: Set a limit of how many cars &
vendors the park would hold, and work out a way to get
spectator' safety.
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Not a good deal, but understandable. Second, the city
asked if KKOA would consider moving the show to another
city park with more land, and better amenities.
This caused surprise, mixed reaction's, and curiosity
from all of us on the KKOA team. My first thoughts
immediately was no way. But, before I had time to
express my feeling's the Parks Director, said "Why don't
we load up and go look at the park? It's just a few
blocks from here."
We cruised south on 9th to Iron St., took a left, passed
by the Cozy Burger on 7th, and four or five blocks later
we turned onto Oakdale Dr. into Oakdale park.
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Talk about a jaw-dropper, this hunk-a-land had it all.
Size, looks, and 110 & 220 electrical hook up's all over
the place. It's 22 tree shaded acres, surrounded by a
branch of the Smokey River, w/cross-over bridges for
easy spectator access & control. Three permanent
restrooms, beautiful flower beds, sit along concrete cruisin' lanes, acres of green, lush grass to park on,
and a shelter building three times as big as the other
park.
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| Plus, it's got a nice open air shelter 100' away from
the bigger shelter where Bill Hines & Brad Masterson can
chop a kemp. There's a really nice, professional
concrete outdoor stage equipped w/ dressing rooms, etc.,
and by spring the city will open a brand new,
aquatic theme park adjacent to the park.
To say the least we all had lots to talk about on our
trip back. One thing we all agreed on, was, if we were
to move the show it had to be on the 30th anniversary of
the event.
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But now, nearly three months
later and conferring with KKOA officials and others about the offer, I've had time
to think it over and weigh-out the good & bad points. I
was so concerned, that a couple weeks ago I made another
trip back to Salina to walk out the park again, just to
be sure.
I now realize I first took on the "ol' man attitude", of
"disliking any kind of changes", and blanking out the
good bennies the park offered. I admit it. I don't like
changes. I dislike the cable company changing my
favorite TV show ("Reba"), to another time slot.
I even dislike it when my lovely wife changes my brand
of cereal. Grrrrowl, I'm a real bear. Ok, maybe a Teddy
Bear.
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So, for those of you who think & dislike changes like
me, do as I did! Take a good, hard look at the big
picture, and you'll see this change is 100% good for
everything and everybody. Oakdale Park has everything we
need to present a excellent & supersized show. And,
Oakdale is loaded w/the right ingredients to put meaning
behind the show' last name! "Spectacular." A Supersized
Spectacular.
Location, location, location, and Oakdale has it. The
"only" thing the other park has over Oakdale, is the
2-block distance from the headquarters motel & I-70
exit. Guess-ta-mating, I would say Oakdale is another
10, maybe 12 blocks further. Maybe you can stop by the
Cozy Burger and grab a bag of those 85-cent burgers,
yum, yum.
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Before I skee-daddle out
of here, I want to thank the
city of Salina for their offer to move, and these
photo's of Oakdale Park tells a thousand words. Just
know it's a good gut-feeling when you're standin' in the
middle of it.
I can't go without tellin' you I'm happy to let you know
that entries are flowing in from both coast's, and many
points of the country. It's going to be a hum-dinger.
And, so far John D'Agostino, Gene Winfield, Bill Hines,
Darryl Starbird, and the "King" George Barris, and a
bunch of KKOA Hall of Famer's has told us they're coming
back. Also, we've got the ok on a couple of
really,...really big names, but I'm keepin' it under
cloak & dagger for a while. Don't'ya just hate guys like
me? Sorry, but I want to brag about'em and I'm out of
space. Keep checkin' back, we'll break the news soon.
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Alright, I'm leaving you with two more hot names (no not
those big names, two other big names)! Paul LeMat
(Milner) of "American Graffiti" movie fame, and Lisa
Irion, one of America' best "Cher" impersonator's is
returning to the show because you asked for'em, and we
like'em too. Heck, KKOA digs everybody who's a hotrodder,
or a hotrodders friend.
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See'ya in Salina, See'ya @ the
Spectacular, See it SUPERSIZED.
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Enter on line by going to the "Events" page of this
website. Secure Visa - Mastercard charging accepted.
USE THE ONLY ON-LINE "KUSTOM"
CAR LOT IN AMERICA!...AND IT'S FREE!!!
If you're a current KKOA member you can advertise your
kustoms for sale on-line, for free. All we need is your
ad/photo e-mailed to us at,
kkemps09@centurytel.net, and we'll place it on-line
in less then 48 hours (most of the time within 24
hours). Also, if you want a picture with your ad, simply
scan it in jpeg format and send it w/your ad. Or, if you
want to U.S. Mail us a ad w/photo we'll get it on as
soon as we get it. Non-KKOA members can also place a ad
w/a picture for only $10 per ad, w/a photo.
All ads will run for a minimum of 30 days, or longer
w/space available. For even quicker service, Visa, or
Mastercard is accepted on either of our security-safe
membership page, or events page of this website. Once
on, in the bottom "comment" box, simply type in "Ad for
4-Sale Page." Mailing by postal service send to: KKOA 26
Main St., Cassville, MO. 65625. Additional info. can be
obtained by calling KKOA at: (417) 847-2940
Extra bonus! All ads received will also be placed
in the next immediate issue of the Trendsetter magazine
that's mailed to every KKOA member.
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