CARHUNTER is veteran of many Pigeon Forge Rod Runs, actually coming up on 27 of them! There was a family friendly feel back in the day and now it seems folks are trying to convince all that it is a giant used car lot, not a car show. The large contingency of used vehicles trucked in take up all the parking spots for over a week. I watched an interview on our local news and the man said they were annoyed by all the tire kickers that come to take photos, not interested in buying cars!
For the last few years young folk with Diesel trucks and now those squated trucks are literally coming to the Rod Run with the idea and disturbing everyone. It has been amplified by car owners attacking these kids about the trucks coming to the rod run! When we were young if someone told us they did not like what we are doing, we would do it more, right? The squated and lifted trucks are getting ticketed for everything from bumper height to illegal lighting, the tickets are a badge to be proud of being posted on facebook pages along with videos of doing a jig chanting I hope we ruined your rod run! I am not going to keep going on and on about it, I would think having a different weekend for the truck crowd would benefit them with less traffic and more parking?
CARHUNTER has taken to a pattern of cruising the "rod run" during the days, not the evenings and skipping the weekend just out of frustration, usually seeing most of the vehicles there anyway.
The treats of the "used car" crowd boycotting the rod run is humorous because it would be great to have a rod run back, most are unaware there is even an orgainzed show going on at all!
I will not even comment here about 2 attempts so far to draw people to a car show during the rod run that seemed to fail! They might be better off using that venue as a large car coral, but it was in a giant grassy field miles from the Parkway strip, hotels and resturants.
This sounds like a better idea;
** register for the outside show- you will be able to register on site after 8am Wednesday morning. The point of registration is in the Vendor Lot adjacent to the LeConte Center at the white trailer. Registration is only $55 and you will receive 2 entrance arm bands for all 3 days along with the chance to win part of the $8,000 give away. Outside Show Cars will compete in the "Super Five" $500 competition.
I won't comment much more because there could be a some long winded stories here about the State of the Rod Run! At the end of the blog is the official news release of changes to take place!
It's a pickup, it's hot rod, it's everything you wnat it to be!
If I had the time I would have counted Chevelles again!
I just realized this Willys is chopped!
A 30's Plymouths made it, but no 39 which is CARHUNTERS favorite
CARHUNTER is drawn to the Rod Run just to find creations like this, I just get a kick out of what folks come up with!
Actually get some people cruising so keep an eye out and be ready!
The multi color paint was really neat, it is like having more than one car depending where you stand!
Gassers have never been my favorite, but from an historic retro look I get it, but are they just like the squated trucks scorned? Proving my point the guy bought or traded it to flip it and knew nothing about it, not even what engine was in it? With the rumors of enforcing a NO CARS FOR SALE LAW this guy got all uptight whne I approached the car with a camera, I looked at him and something like : a little nervous huh?" More on this perception that we are tire kickers and this is not a car show attitude as the blog continues.
They need them for sure!
You din't see many classic Vettes and this one was real nice!
Camaro, Camaro, Chevelle and OBS, it is the state symbol here!
is it, nah, maybe? LOL Well Christine was a 2 door, younger guys google it please.
A Rod Run where most of the cars are not "rods" , ooh here is one!
Again
Tri-5's always rule down here!
MOPARS are rae as with this 72 Charger that was stock
Any Novas? You bet your stars they were, pun intended!
Any Chevy Trucks? You decide?
I think 2wd Blazers are just the bomb!
Again
Could not find the owner, but guessing it this old Caddy was a hearse, that is hearse, not hearst like people say lol!
Seen many stock Firebirds as of late?
The guy just traded for this, it was spotted by the CARHUNTER staff traded to another expert down the parkway 2 dyas later. The guy knew nothing about other than he wanted to sell it!
Let us begin 71-72 Chevy pickup with the roof cut off
An 88? Silverado OBS bed molded in
A big block Oldsmobile powering it, but and it's a big butt
The engine is in the rear and powering the rear wheels from a Tornado and looked like the engine frame was just welded in including what was left of the front steering parts just locked in place, probably goes down the road like a horseshoe?
The guy had no clue of anything about it!
CARHUNTER found this giant Lincoln very cool, not many 2 doors were built I am guessing
CARHUNTER would take this one home!
Practicing safe parking?
Very Nice Caddy
Hurst Edition
Very Nice Hudson
This was the guy where I realized the fact is folks like CARHUNTER are an annoyance to guys like this who was getting angry when I asked him about this vehicle, he had no idea what it was, just kept saying it's on the title but had no idae where the title was?
It was clear I was not buying it, but he was ready to sell or trade it. He actually wound up with that rear engine Chevy Truck 2 days later!
What is it? A German built Lloyd that obviously has been heavily modified
So much work, but who would want this thing? I would think a stock one would be cooler!
I always though a Dark Knight Corvette like this would have made a better current Batmobile
Don't see many 66 Caprice 2 doors with that formal roof line
CARHUNTER promotes diversity as seen in this photo
Sinister Lincoln
Rarity GMC Sprint and I saw 2 which was the brother to the Chevy El Camino
Ok CARHUNTER gives in and liked the Chevelle SS wagon clone thingy
Be still my heart a nice 70 Challenger
Think it;s bagged? Or just sagged?
Should I? Chevelle, Camaro, Camaro
Guy rolls in with a long trailer laoded and this what the issue is
THis portion of photos was loaded in reverse order so you are starting at the rear of this Fiat Topolino?
Neverr found anyone near it to ask and even a mystery engine, they porbably had no interest in talking to a tire kicker anyway!
Don't scan too fast it is a Nova II made into a pickup, A NOVAMINO
It was 2 for Tuesday on the Chevelle SS long roof's
More of that shifting color paint
Don't start me off, Camaro city!
They were holding that spot for another Chevelle LOL
CARHUNTER was scared!
HUGE QUILT SALE!
This was one clapped out Chrysler
They just tucked that body way down over that frame, the engine looks like it is leaving
Oh it's one of a kind for sure and CARHUNTER is glad, what are people thinking whne they put so much work in?
This prevued at the Cabin Fever show and went right up for sale, some guy with disposable income will buy it and bloat at the crusie ins
NOTMOBILE
LONG ROOF PONCHO was different
Anothe r close to stock Charger, 73-74?
My friend just traded into this Avanti II, I like it, but he was looking for $$$$$$$. this was the 2nd generation private venture after Studebaker was gone and all GM drivetrains
This the unusual portion of our journey
1980 Ford! Huh? Ford commissioned these built with Pinto drivetrains by Shay and sold them in dealerships as new cars
It's a Henry J
A stick Pinto
CARHUNTER could stump many with this one, A Willys Aero, but lots of customization
Very unusual to see one of these old Chevy Vans
58 Chevys seem to be sparce compared to 55 56 57
Speak of the devil and it shows up
NO WORDS FORM YOUR OWN CAPTION
Trans Ams wer a plenty, but it has a Formula hood?
That is a mucho Chevy's over yonder!
Well now a stock 307 2 door Malibu before it was Chevellized!
OOH OOH a 70 Challneger SE
Don't recall seeing a Blue T/A too many times
Another 58
That is a big boy
There were 2 almost excat Volvo's out there, always thought they looked like a tiny 48 Ford
These were called Dodge Route Vans and CARHUNTER got a real kick out of seeing it
A rusted patina vinyl wrap, ok??????
That take up the spots so early these guys never made it!
Radio Control crusing the strip
He left building and jumped in the Caddy
Not sure Baja Buggy or?
Love them taillamps
Everytime the Catfish is wearing something new at Huck Fins, he still had the Eclipse Glasses on!
Ford EXP, but check out the bumper stickers
Was purchased from a Museum that closed, Packard 200
This was the same dude with a row of for sale cars
Now 3? years ago I was looking at maybe buying this 28 Plymouth (1st year of Plymouth) I thought it was an early HEMI in it at the time, looking closely it had HEMI valve covers on a small block Chevy. He was hard to deal with, it has been for sale all this time, that engine went bad and he swapped another SBC in without the HEMI valve covers. I tried talking to him again, reminded him of the HEMI valve covers and he kept saying it ain't a HEMI, it was like talking to a bowl of soup! Then he informed me "all flatheads were HEMI's people don't know that". I guess having a spark plug sticking up is a HEMI, never mind the hemisherical combustion chamber, another expert!
1939 Ford Standard was very nice and simple
It ain't what ya think, take a close look
Studebaker flatbed
I don't know, don't ask
NASH
Bronco Celebration was nearby so they were everywhere
This was the actual show in the LeConte Center
OH MY LORD! CARHUNTERS 1st Tesla Truck, then I saw one near my house and it looks silly!
The ACTUAL ROD RUN show has expanded a parking/show area and I am looking to get the info on that?
RAMSTANG, all Mustang under that Rambler
Photo can not capture how bright this green was!
CARHUNTER liked this "natural" 34 Plymouth
All MOPAR too!
Color-shifting paint again!
Well the Dirty Dozen was kinda familiar without a bunch of RODS!
So look closely it is a new Camaro with a Chevelle body kit so why would it be picked? They produce them someplace.
YIKES!
Back to the streets!
Yes maybe even the kitchen sink!
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - It’s an event that’s grown so
popular, city leaders in Pigeon Forge met Thursday 4/18/24 with elected officials to
update them on plans for this year’s car show.
A change coming in laws later this year will change parts of
the event as vendors won’t be able to advertise cars that are for sale on The
Parkway.
You can see cars parked on the Parkway with ‘for sale,’ or a
simple price.
A new agreement about the public right of way will make this
illegal for shows years to come.
“Going forward the new sublease calls for no commercial
activity in the state right of way, so you wouldn’t be able to sell a vehicle
in the state right of way going forward,” said Eric Brackins, Assistant City
Manager.
Pigeon Forge leases the right of way from the state for
additional parking at businesses and then subleases the spots to businesses to
maintain. The agreement just made with the state of Tennessee limits even more
the commercial activity that can take place on these spaces.
“That’s always been in there, that no advertising is allowed
in the state right of way, so it just clarifies it in the new sub lease,” said
Brackins.
Cars will not be allowed to have "For Sale" signs
on them after the car show this spring.
With thousands of people attending the event seeing and
selling the cars is a main draw.
Police plan to bring in extra enforcements to try to keep
traffic moving and make sure no one is breaking the law.
“Eventually, it just gets to the point where we have too
many cars and not enough roads. So, we do have our officers try to monitor
traffic and keep traffic flowing as much as best we can. For those not coming
here for the car show alternate routes are highly suggested,” said Pigeon Forge
Police Chief Richie Catlett.
This chief said both motorists and pedestrians need to obey
traffic laws as calls for help increase.
“Probably a normal weekend we would have between 300 to 350
calls, so when you times that by three is what we’re looking at,” he added.
For the city, it’s about messaging about how selling cars on
the Parkway will come to an end. For those attending the show at the LeConte
Center, it will be up to the car show promoter who puts that show on if cars
can be sold there.
“For those who may not go to the events center, we’ll
definitely have to communicate that and make them aware of the new laws,” said
Brackins.
The chief said those who are walking or riding scooters
around town need to pay attention to the moving traffic. Anything on city
streets has to be street legal.
