60th Anniversary of GT350/Mustang Las Vegas event

[owenkelley]

Anyone on the forum planning on attending? April 11-14.

[crossboss]

IF I don't work, I will be there.

[QuickSilverShelby]

Anyone on the forum planning on attending? April 11-14.

More information please.  I'm gonna be in Vegas for all of April so I'd like to attend.

QSS

[98SVT - was 06GT]

It's the annual Shelby Bash.

[Don Johnston]

Team Shelby event: https://www.shelbystore.com/product-p/z79-bash24-ticket.htm

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Team Shelby event: https://www.shelbystore.com/product-p/z79-bash24-ticket.htm

Thanks I'll pass - $765 to participate in everything. I won't even do their "shop tour" to watch guys swap parts on cars for $59.

[crossboss]

Team Shelby event: https://www.shelbystore.com/product-p/z79-bash24-ticket.htm

Thanks I'll pass - $765 to participate in everything. I won't even do their "shop tour" to watch guys swap parts on cars for $59.

I'm out also. No reason to pay to look at cars...
Can go down the street to Henderson for Cars 'n Coffee for free.

[Don Johnston]

The annual event is the Team Shelby similar but smaller version of a SAAC convention with various events, shows, dinners, etc.  While it features mostly the SA cars that are the later generation, many early Shelbys attend.  Also, some of the speakers are ones that we have had at SAAC events.  At least it keeps the Shelby interest going for the newer generation.  It has never been convient for me to attend, though I have thought of it and visited the SA folks about once a year since they started up in LV back in 1996.   

[98SVT - was 06GT]

It has never been convient for me to attend, though I have thought of it

I've been a couple times with a friend who was an invited guest. I wouldn't spend my own money to attend.

[owenkelley]

It's kinda spendy, but it'll be fun. It's nice that you can pick and choose the events you want to participate in. The ones we've chosen will cost $400 for my wife and I to attend. The old SAAC Does Vegas meets were a blast. Back in those days all there was were the original classic Shelbys, the cars that would show up were amazing and it was a more affordable event. Carroll would be wandering around visiting with folks, that was amazing in itself. Anymore SAAC events seem to be too far away for me to attend. However, I retire within the year and hopefully there will be a SAAC event in my future, when I have more time to travel. Will still have to take the newer Shelby, too far to drive the old one and I don't have a trailer.....

[98SVT - was 06GT]

The old SAAC Does Vegas meets were a blast. Back in those days all there was were the original classic Shelbys,

Lots of politics when CS took over SAAC does Vegas. CS was in Vegas - that was the prison years when he had inmates building the cars. He was in the building by the track. That was a sweetheart deal. The GM of Caesar's Palace built the place and let him move in with a startup loan. The problem arose when the GM who was married to the owner of CP daughter got divorced and he was out on his ear. CS was in default on the note he has secured with the Coupe. CP took the Coupe and CS had to do a lot of fancy footwork to get it back. He was the Shelby GT there and as he grew he demanded that SAAC give him the Vegas event. He had his employees working alongside the SAAC volunteers learning how to do the event. None of them were happy with their added duties and no extra $. TS which is now an inhouse marketing arm rather than a true club and lacks the comradery of a SAAC event. Since there are 100,000+ of the "new" Sheblys it means they don't need many repeat customers for a successful event.

[Side-Oilers]

Brett, are you referring to Richie Cline? He was a high-up guy at Imperial Palace, not Caesar's. 

I went with Richie and CS to tour the beginnings of the track, when the dirt was being graded and leveled, so back in 1993 maybe?  Seemed to me to be a huge undertaking at the time.

Yes, then at some point Richie vanished and I can't recall who took over for him. Do you remember?

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Brett, are you referring to Richie Cline? He was a high-up guy at Imperial Palace, not Caesar's. 

You're right. Don't know why Caesar's popped into my head they didn't have a car collection. It had been a joint venture between the owners of the Sands and Imperial. I think when Cline got the boot they decided to sell and that's when Brunton Smith stepped in and bought them out.

[Don Johnston]

That sounds about right.  It explains why all the early SAAC Does Vegas used the Imperial Palace as the host Hotel and dinner location.  After the track ownership switch the host hotel changed to a different location each year. Those SAAC mini-conventions were some of the best to have track time, see CS, check out the new Shelby American operations and enjoy a smaller but fun gathering.  But having them in the middle of winter, usually around News Years Day weekend, made it for very chilly days at the track.

After the first year that Shelby's team took over we stopped attending due to comments previously posted about the switch from SAAC operating the event.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

After the first year that Shelby's team took over we stopped attending due to comments previously posted about the switch from SAAC operating the event.

It became a profit center rather than a fun gathering of fans.......