Page 11 - GMC Vintage RVing - Winter 2018

MECUM Muscle Car/ Corvette NationalsBY BOB AND LINDA DUNAHUGH | CEDAR RAIDS, IOWA 1978 HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE CUSTOMIZED ROYALEThis is not the type of show at which you would expect to see a GMC Motorhome displayed or any motorhome, for that matter. Read on to see how we, Bob and Linda Dunahugh, succeeded in getting our 1978 Royale into this national show.Chicago MECUM Muscle Car and Corvette NationalsThis indoor show is held in Chicago each November. At the 2017 show, there were 450 of the finest show cars in the country coming from 38 different states. Nearly 55,000 spectators purchased tickets for $30 to attend the annual show. (For information about the 2018 show go to www.mcacn.com).Step one of getting in the show is by submitting an application. Next, if accepted, comes an invitation; but only if the car is proven to be what it is said to be. For most, getting invited to attend is a big deal. Then to win an award is extremely difficult.JudgingParticipants do not compete against each other. Each participant begins with 1,000 points and a blank judging sheet on which deductions are taken for incorrect, dirty, or missing parts.Each participant has the potential of having a perfect vehicle when the professional judges, from Corvette Triple Crown Shows, begin their assessment. Depending on the number of deductions the judges apply, a car can be awarded a gold, silver, or bronze level score in their respective class.We have had three of our Yenko cars judged. We have received two silvers (929 and 948 points) and one gold (969 points).In 2014, I was invited to bring my 1969 Yenko Goodyear Tire Test car to the show. It was the only Yenko Stinger built that year. I told the show owner I would come if I could put the Yenko on an open trailer behind the GMC Motorhome with a bannerPictured beloware three Yenko Stingers: the blue 1967 (#YS108 –1 of 11 built) on the trailer has been used for road racing since 1991. The white 1966 belongs to Cris Shade (#YS064 – 1 of 100 built). The red 1967 belongs to Ed Cunneen ( #YS119 – 1 of 3 built).simply saying, “Make your car event into a family affair”. The owner’s response was that the GMC was not a muscle car or a Corvette; he just wanted the Yenko. Well, his wife happened to get wind of my idea (maybe my call to her had something to do with it). The next day he called to ask how much space I needed. I was in. I called Kim Weeks for help with a banner, a GMC Motorhome basic information poster, a GMCMI club poster, and brochures. (Thanks to Kim and the board of directors we had marketing tools.) Still, I needed something to broaden the display’s family appeal. Therefore, the GM go-kart was added for kids to get their photo taken in.This go-kart was part of GM’s promo of a Corvair-based sports car scheduled to come out in 1963. (Note the Pontiac eight lug wheels on the go-kart.) However, the sports car was canceled to avoid taking attention away from the upcoming Stingray introduction in 1963.I now use the go-kart to get around the infield of tracks we visit.As it turned out, the GMC display was such a big hit that the show promoters, Bob and Vikie, invited me back for 2015, but unfortunately, our Royale burned in August of 2015 so they asked us back for2016. They received great reviews on the GMC Motorhome in some magazines. We were invited to return in 2017. They keep inviting me back with the GMC Motorhome as long as I keep putting a different one of our Yenkos on the trailer; we have four, original COPO Yenkos (Central Office Production Order). Their normal policy is that you not be invited back without three years between appearances. But, they have received so many positive comments about the GMC Motorhome and observed the people lined up on Linda's wheelchair ramp to tour the GMC that we have been invited to show again in 2018!In ClosingHave some fun! Take your GMC to a local cruise-in, show, or another event. Your GMC Motorhome does not need to be a showpiece.You will be the hit of the event. Exposure of our GMCs helps drive demand raising up the value on all of our coaches. We are pleased to be entering our 14th year of GMC Motorhome ownership, membership with the GMCMI, and owners of the “GMC Mouse House”.WINTER 2018 GMC MOTORHOMES INTERNATIONAL 11