Palm Springs Avanti national meet

[Nelson]

Anybody going to the Palm Springs meet next week?? I should be there for a couple days. Hope to meet up with a few guys from the forum.

[ronmanfredi]

We are coming.

[aardvark]

I won't attend.

The whole Car Show thing is turning in to an Elegant Money Pit. Many are transporting via trailer and spending on costly Hotel's . Sorry, but for me, it's gotten out of hand.  ..... We have a Maggie Valley NC Studie  Show.. which costs nothing. I'll be attending that one.

[psdenno]

I stopped by the HQ hotel this morning.  Yes, there were many trailers parked in the Avanti area.  I suppose that with a 60+ year old car, a trailer assures that the Avanti will get back home. As for the hotel cost, it was extremely inexpensive compared to what it had been a couple weeks ago during Modernism Week and what it will be starting Friday for the Coachella music festival.

The Avanti event is actually in Cathedral City, not Palm Springs, so prices are a bit more reasonable than Palm Springs hotel prices.  Prices for events were mostly reasonable (and optional) with a wonky exception or two.  Can't be a CASO forever and still maintain an Avanti.

[ronmanfredi]

We are here and it's exciting to meet new friends and catch up with old.  Soon I will have some new news to share once everything is cemented. Sold the 89 Dolenz car that I restored today also.  On trailering, I know a few of these are show cars.  The owners spent a ton of money restoring them and one brought his from the east coast. There is no way that I would risk driving a car like that across the country!   Last year on the way back from Pennsylvania, in very busy traffic, a car in front of us ran over a shredded truck tire sidewall which slammed into the lower front of our 06 show car.  It took 8 days for me to repair the fiberglass and repaint the area. So it happens. As far as the cost of attendance goes, the few hundred dollars is nothing compared to the relationships and information that we get out of it.  

On another front, do you like the Halibrand wheels put on many 60s-80s Avantis but don't care for 15" wheels?  Well I'll be working on a project as of today to have that style wheel made in 17".  Once I get my 63 measured out to verify clearance, then we'll work on getting a quote to make them.  Hopefully in 7" and 8" widths. (Front and rear if there is enough room)  Stay tuned!

[ronmanfredi]

Dinner #1 at a car collectors location.

Edited Tuesday at 03:27 AM by ronmanfredi

[mfg]

Thanks for the pics!….

Ixnay on the ‘17” wheels, which are a ‘fad’ thing (IMHO), which spoil the look of ‘60’s collector cars…..

Also, I would think fender clearance up front would negate the idea anyway…..

Kudos to you for being inventive though!!

PS…. Your idea might work by using tires with a super low profile… I saw a ‘61 Corvette set up like that….. To each his own I guess!!

Edited Tuesday at 01:20 PM by mfg
Added text

[Guy]

I like the idea of 17" halibrand style wheels, I would be interested. Guy

[ronmanfredi]

According to a well known vendor who I'm working with, there has been a large number of inquiries on larger diameter wheels.  17" wheels will easily fit with the right tire size. We just have to verify the correct wheel offset and maximum tire size/width on both the front and rear. 

21 minutes ago, mfg said:

Thanks for the pics!….

Ixnay on the ‘17” wheels, which are a ‘fad’ thing (IMHO), which spoil the look of ‘60’s collector cars…..

Also, I would think fenders clearance up front would negate the idea anyway…..

Kudos to you for being inventive though!!

 

[slk1966]

A 205/70-R17 tire would have the same 28.3 inch outside diameter as the original 670-15 tires on most Studebaker models.

It would need to be checked for rubbing on the inner fender due to the 8 inch width compared to the 6.7 inch section width of the bias ply.

[mfg]

2 minutes ago, slk1966 said:

A 205/70-R17 tire would have the same 28.3 inch outside diameter as the original 670-15 tires on most Studebaker models.

It would need to be checked for rubbing on the inner fender due to the 8 inch width compared to the 6.7 inch section width of the bias ply.

Good info… May work as long as front springs are up to snuff!

[ronmanfredi]

We will be taking measurements on a 63 R2 to see if the 8” wide wheel will work on the rear and what the offset would have to be.  The same goes for a 7” wide on the front.  This will tell us if we can offer the staggered width sets or just the 7” wide.  We can also determine the maximum tire size that will work as well.  

[aardvark]

Said it before.. I'm in this for the profits (and I enjoy automobiles) 

When events like this happen, it might be a fantastic thing, but to spend a few $$thou. just to attend an event,...I'm just not in the position to afford that opulence...or want to if able.  It eats into the bottom line hard. By the time  , either I trailer a vehicle (or a shipping company does) eats up a half a $$thou+..Registraton and what not, Hotels, then California and everything there costing too damned much.... I can see $2000+ just to walk around and talk Avanti..I can do that for No Cost at the Free Shows

Before I even gave the idea a thought, it got shut down in my cranium.

This is NOT SEMA... it's just a show of like minds,

 

Edited Tuesday at 07:32 PM by aardvark

[mfg]

2 minutes ago, aardvark said:

Said it before.. I'm in this for the profits (and I enjoy automobiles) 

When events like this happen, it might be a fantastic thing, but to spend a few $$thou. just to attend an event,...I'm just not in the position to afford that opulence. It eats into the bottom line hard. By the time  , either I trailer a vehicle (or a shipping container does) eats up a half a $$thou+... then Hotels, then California and everything there costing too damned much.

Before I even gave the idea a thought, it got shut down in my cranium.

This is NOT SEMA... it's just a show of like minds,

 

I think an events location (and your location) has much to do with the practicality of attending.

 

[aardvark]

True.. but many are attending from across Country..Many are spending to trailer out, and the choice of California is cash cow to start with.,

[mfg]

2 hours ago, aardvark said:

True.. but many are attending from across Country..Many are spending to trailer out, and the choice of California is cash cow to start with.,

Well, they must be able to afford it… and I’ve heard that caskets do not have pockets!!!!!

[ronmanfredi]

We will spend about right at $1000 for this week long vacation.  Same as last year in Pennsylvania and the previous year in Detroit.  For us it’s not just a car show, it’s a vacation with old and new friends, we love it.  And next week we will go to Galveston Tx for 3 days to attend Mustang Week for the second year in a row.  Our S197 based Avanti was a hit amongst the 1500 Mustangs that attended from all over the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico.  Just think, 1500 Mustangs of all years and One Avanti!  Talk about fun!  

June 2027, AOAI meet in South Bend, Indiana.  We are hoping to bring our 1963 R2 plus our 2006 show car.  

 

[aardvark]

Ok... Not for me.. 

Free shows or ones with a $20.oo entry fee are fine.

[psdenno]

I've attended and participated in AOAI annual events like this one since the late 1970s.  It's a pleasure to see the cars that will be judged today.  I mentioned to my wife how interesting it is that when I went to my first AOAI/SDC annual gathering around 1978, most of the Avanti owners were about my age.  At this 2026 gathering I'm 48 years older and most of the owners are, again, about my age.  

[Skip Lackie]

On 4/7/2026 at 3:27 PM, aardvark said:

Said it before.. I'm in this for the profits (and I enjoy automobiles) 

When events like this happen, it might be a fantastic thing, but to spend a few $$thou. just to attend an event,...I'm just not in the position to afford that opulence...or want to if able.  It eats into the bottom line hard. By the time  , either I trailer a vehicle (or a shipping company does) eats up a half a $$thou+..Registraton and what not, Hotels, then California and everything there costing too damned much.... I can see $2000+ just to walk around and talk Avanti..I can do that for No Cost at the Free Shows

Before I even gave the idea a thought, it got shut down in my cranium.

This is NOT SEMA... it's just a show of like minds,

 

As you said, you have made this point before.  That makes it important to you, but maybe less so for others.  IMs exist for lots of reasons.  I was on the SDC board of directors for a number of years and remember the lengthy and heated discussions of how to best accomplish their many requirements: parking for Studebakers, parking for others, indoor and outdoor flea market spaces, security, cars-for-sale parking, trailer parking, RV parking, tours, family amusements, economy hotels, upscale hotels, shuttle busses, conference and hospitality rooms, volunteer assignments, etc, etc.  Some of us just go to look at the cars, see old friends and make a few new ones, and maybe drink a few beers.  Most of us have budget limitations, but turning a profit is not a consideration.  It takes all kinds.

[ronmanfredi]

1 hour ago, Skip Lackie said:

As you said, you have made this point before.  That makes it important to you, but maybe less so for others.  IMs exist for lots of reasons.  I was on the SDC board of directors for a number of years and remember the lengthy and heated discussions of how to best accomplish their many requirements: parking for Studebakers, parking for others, indoor and outdoor flea market spaces, security, cars-for-sale parking, trailer parking, RV parking, tours, family amusements, economy hotels, upscale hotels, shuttle busses, conference and hospitality rooms, volunteer assignments, etc, etc.  Some of us just go to look at the cars, see old friends and make a few new ones, and maybe drink a few beers.  Most of us have budget limitations, but turning a profit is not a consideration.  It takes all kinds.

You are right on.  The last 2 national events made "a little" profit.  Some donated back to help the ever increasing costs of operating AOAI and some back to the chapters for the same reason.  The costs of operating the forums, website, legally required insurances, accountants, lawyer consulting fees, the magazine (one of the MOST expensive), support for chapters, etc., add up quickly.  Inflation has had the same effect on AOAI as it has for each of us.  AOAI doesn't charge anyone to attend the meets.  The fees that are there, to be selected as an option, pay for the events such as tours, award dinners and entering your car to be professionally judged.  You could attend one of these for no cost if you lived within driving distance and passed on the events.  We added up our entire cost of this last event, which we consider a 7 day vacation, and it came to just under $1200.  $600 of it was fuel driving our 2006 for nearly 2600 miles.  The last cruise that we took was almost $2000 after the figure the costs to get to the ship and the all inclusive program.  We consider the vacation well worth the time and money!

[mfg]

Last national meet I attended was South Bend ‘17 ….Flew out to Indianapolis…. rented a nice new car….. Enjoyed the pleasant 100 mile drive north to South Bend, and the return drive after the meet……Dropped the rental car off…. Got back on the plane…….Back home in a couple hours…….VERY ENJOYABLE, STRESS FREE FEW DAYS!

PS…. And riding in the tour bus around the Indy 500 track, and visiting the ‘500’ museum was wonderful!!!