Hi. Just got back from Car Craft Nats. St. Paul, And I am mad.Not at the show, or the fairgrounds. Everything associated with that was great. I am mad at the city of St. Paul.A big part of these shows for those of us who stay there and even the locals is the nitelife. For example,sitting in our hotel parking lot at night and watching the cars cruise by while sharing stories and refreshments with old and new friends.I have no problem with all the extra patrols up and down University,they seem to really have a problem allowing any kind of fooling around to even the littlest extent,(even a blip of the throttle seems to attract their immediate attention),but what ticked me and many others off was when they drove through our motel parking lot at 10:45 and told us to clear the lot.Their were probably 75 to 100 people sitting in lawn chairs not causing any problems , and there had been no complaints from the motel . I even talked to the front desk the next morning and there response was that the police had no business coming on there property and doing what they did! After they had told us 3 or 4 times to clear the lot and we had informed them we were guests at the motel,they didn't care they still wanted us out, I asked  an officer what the deal was.She said that they wanted to clear all the spectators away from the street so that people would stop cruising the Avenue. Since when is cruising aroung in the car you have countless hrs and dollars and pride and sweat built into a crime???She said that if they couldn't clear the street that they would put a roadblock on the Avenue and shut down the street. Which I heard that they did later anyhow.After about 11:15, we went to our room, but some friends stayed.The cops drove through again, and one time told our friends to dump out their beer.They were sitting in the parking lot of the motel that they were staying in. Thats private property.The cops can,t do that, can they?The whole experience was a bad deal.I have to have a CDL to perform my job and was afraid to drive my 67 Chevelle to find supper that night for fear that they would stop me and write some *** ticket. We unhooked our tow vehicle and drove that.I figure that Car Craft brought at least 5 milliopn dollars of business to town and the police are doing there best to chase it away.My group is not going back next year.Probably to Springfield or somewhere else.I am going to send copies of this to the St. Paul Police Dept.,  the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, and the city council, provided I can find the websites.I think anyone else that had similiar experiences should do the same. Please chime in and chat about this. Andy.   

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I agree that the police are a bit harsh, they are like that all the time though not only at this event. We have a show at the fairgrounds called Back to the Fifties in June and they are twice as bad then (there are tripple the cars too)

I've been coming to the Summer Cruise since the 2nd year and I think that this year was the worst for police enforcement on University. They want to totally stop cruising on the street and think that handing out tickets is the answer but it's only going to anger people like you, locals too.

I hope you decide to come back next year, it's a fun show and a decent venue to hold it in...

My gripe with the show this year: Lack of venders (and the knowledge their reps have) We went to the Dynomax trailer and asked the guy if he had mandrel bent exit pipes for a 69 Chevelle, he handed us the catalog and said I'm sure we do...the catalog (worthless btw unless you have a dodge aries) said right in it that they didn't but he didn't even know that!

Yes. I agree. The vendors were pretty sad for the most part.Seems easier to do your shopping via the internet these days. Sometimes its just nicer to talk to a real person and be able to put the part in your hand before you buy it.

Where we were sitting on University,there wasn't anything bad going on. No racing or burnouts or anything.Why are the police so bent on clearing the street by midnight. Has there been a riot or something in years past that has them all freaky or something?

I will say this. On Saturday there were more cars at the fairgrounds than I could walk and see in one day.A really great show, just would like to see my brand represented a little better.(Late sixties and early seventies Fords and Mercs).

I sent copies off the first letter to web addresses that I found on yahoo for the St. Paul police and city council , But of couse they came back undeliverable. The one that I sent to Chamber of Commerce went through.

LOL, we were calling it the Chevy show...Camaro's & Chevelles as far as the eye could see...

I have a Pontiac so I know where you're coming from.

The people have been pressuring the police to shut down the cruise because they think it's causing more street racing. They tried telling them that if it gets shut down there it will just move somewhere else but you know how it is with people that don't understand our culture (cars) they just hear the loud exhaust and chirping tires and think that it applies to all of us.

I agree with you, lots of nice cars, 2 days worth of walking to see everything.

I hear  ya...

here In MA. they  had a show in  woster(spelled wrong) over the june 30th-july3 w end...

they got it right...

blocked off streets for legal street racing  and "on the street burn outs"

police need he!! should know that they always is a group that will start a problem  and deal with them  instead of punishing everyone... 

I never ever thought that a town/city in my state would have a show like the one that they held that w end..  they took a big chance that a group might start something  but for the most part ..  didn't because  they respected the town  for taking that chance....

if a town/city holds a car/show event  then they need to let the car guys enjoy the show/event...  this show/event in MA. almost nailed perfectly...  and it shows that they want the $ that a show like this affords them..

cities like st. paul don't and should be shown the only way they'll understand...  loss of tax  rev.  from the loss of the show and any other show like it coming to their city...

that the only way they'll hear  ya...  as the local biz  are not gonna play hardball with the city they do biz. in...

all you can do is let them hear ya....

money talks  suckers walk...

they'll hear the loss of money(taxes) load and clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For what it's worth, I think cities are trying to shut down car shows.  There was a small show in St Cloud Minnesota the same weekend.  The numbers added up to close to 90 tickets that weekend.  That's not including the ones they're sending in the mail.  The city had cops in streetclothes writing down license plates, to send tickets in the mail.  They were handing tickets into cars through the windows, for stereos being to damn loud.  It's ridiculous.  My area is the number one methamphetamine producer in the state, and yet they can't do a thing about that.  But holy ####, somebodys got a radio on too loud.  Something needs to be done.  I'll be writing an editorial to my local paper.

I agree about the over-zealous police in St. Paul.  I think they are trying to nip trouble in the bud.  What I have seen and heard is that it isn't so much the people cruising that are trouble, but the crowds on the sidewalks.  The later it gets the drunker thay can get and the rowdier it all gets.  You have all seen this, the plastered guy on the side of the road shouting "Light 'em up!!" and pouring beer in the street for burnouts.  Drivers start to oblige, and things get messy.  I went to Davenport, IA to see the Power Tour in 2004 and it began to rain as everyone was leaving.  This prompted many burnouts and sideways action in the streets.  But the thing I noticed was that the car crafters were only goofing around on their way to the hotel.  it was the local idiots in thier Grand Ams that kept on and on getting more and more outrageous.  The car people are not the problem.   

Sometimes you have to wonder what is going on. We were over by the Impala club and some kid in a jacked up Nissan pick-up ran over the front bumper of an Impala. As soon as it happened all his buddies jumped out and ran. The cops came and the kid, who was under age, admitted he was drinking. The cop told one of the bystanders, "Sometimes we address underage drinking and sometimes we don't"  What the heck does that mean? Then they let the kid have a friend drive him and his crappy pick-up out of the grounds! I watched him get into the vehicle and he looked so trashed he could hardly get in! I don't know what is going to happen to the kid but the cops didn't seem to concerned. Someone could have easily been killed!  

After reading thru what you guys have had for problems I am really surprised I didn't get a ticket all weekend.  As for the loud stereo aspect I don't think the cops really cared about that too much, because a lot of you might have seen me make my lap around the show each day, wearing earplugs! (Red avenger, lambo doors)  I didn't cruise University with the stereo up because I had people in the car, but to and from the show each day the stereo was thumping.

I just have to say this is the first year I have went down to university and that is the best part of car craft... hearing the cars, seeing them under the lights, and the thousands of people makes it worth the lack of sleep.  

This is nothing new, the St Paul PD has been trying to stop cruising since the late 70's-early 80's. We old guys remember cruising the "Loop" in downtown St Paul until the cops effectively shut it down (including changing several streets into one-ways to interrupt the cruise route)

Cars were allowed to cruise up and down University and Snelling Ave's until the Street Machine Nationals "Riot". Officers in full riot gear and canine units were brought in to clear the streets and restore "order". It's never been the same since. There's a strong police presence around Porky's on the weekends, everybody knows that. But, there always seems to be a few idiots that cause trouble, messing it up for everyone else...  

Your right this isn't anything new, until today the last post was in 2005!  

True the St.Paul police have always tried shutting down the cuise (which is simply amazing to see some 9 second cars cruizing the streets) but i also have a problem with the security at the show....I own a 85 chevy (the candy red one with the flames) and our group frequently jumps into the back and cruizes the grounds. This year a security gaurd stopped me and said that everyone had to be seated on the bed of the truck, off the tail gait, and a limit of 6 people could ride at a time. This has never been a problem in the past and really shouldnt be. What am i going to do roll the truck goin 2 mile an hour? Anywho the security in general need to get off their power trip and let the participants have a good time. Since we do PAY to be there!  

Yeah it was a prime cruising place until I was about 18 now 28 they started wetting the roads,put rocks in parking lots and pulling us over for any weak excuse they could make up. Thinking they were stoping road racing or some thing when we have cars that can go over a 100 in 11 sec its pretty doubtfull on university 30mph if you were lucky! Thats not where we raced any how! We dont cruise saturday nights any more and dont give any money to saint paul that way. The crime was never that bad there and rarely was there a fight. After that year they closed snelling and every other main road to university after either the first year of car craft or a back to the 50s we all said screw it we will find other citys to cruise in of couse you cant even smoke a cigarett here any more so lets just all put microchips in our heads for our government thanks tim pawletty of crap!  

I suggest car craft is moved! I know there are more cities around capable of handling it **** Saint paul! worried about racing open a new minnesota dragways close to the last location not in the sticks problem solved  

Yea we too were a little PO'D with the cops too. I understand shutting the street down at 11pm for cruising (I guess).

We were at Porky's at 11 and they told us we could not be on the sidewalk in front. We had to stay on Porky's property if we were to stay there. Somehow we were breaking the law by standing on the sidewalk.  At first I was a little pissed but when I heard some young kid going on and on about it I remembered...... THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL CRUSING ON FRIDAY'S AND SATURDAYS.  You know the cops hassling you for no apparent reason really brought back a lot of fond memories for me. So I'm kind of glad it happend in that respect.

The hotel thing that started this thread is about the stupidist thing I ever heard. Letters should go out to all city and chamber groups.

As far as the vendors I agree. They have no business calling themselves SALESMEN. I asked the Mickey Thompson guys about a half-dozen questions about the new HR-1 wheels and the cool new tires they had mounted on them. Yes they answered my question too.......by handing me a pamphlet. I rolled the wheel over several times looking for part #'s ect.
Not one of those guys (4) would walk their butts 20 feet over to me to answer any questions. At that point and time I was willing to buy a full set of wheels and tires. I realize they weren't selling anything but I was hot to shop. So ten minutes later I bought the giant tool box over at the Garage Toys booth. These guys were GREAT.

Anyway had a great time. Hopefully the cops and stupid vendors won't keep anyone else away next year.

Blown Blue 94 Sonoma.