GSL announcement for final contests

[89AKurt]

From the email announcement:

 

August 26, 2018

                                          
All Good Things . . .  
The International Model Car Builders’ Museum, which presents the GSL International  Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention, has decided that there will be just two more GSL Championships.  In reviewing the event, its history and its possible future, the decision has been made to wrap up GSL in a fair, practical, and ethical manner with two more events:  GSL-XXVII will be presented May 2-5, 2019 and the final Championship three years later, in early May of 2022. Rather than adhere to the every-other-year schedule, the three-year interval (from 2019 to 2022) will give competitors who wish to compete in the final event nearly four years from the date of this announcement the opportunity to commence or complete entries to compete in what we expect to be the greatest GSL Championship of all.   
 
The Championship is coming to an end because every event has a natural "life." With so many of those involved in the administration and function of the GSL events getting older (I'll be 68 next year and 71 in 2022), it's appropriate to close down the Championship while it is in its prime, and to give plenty of public notice of this very important decision.
 
Above is a copy of the first of the display adverts that reveal the end of GSL to the public.  This first advert will appear in Kalmbach's Contest Cars 2018 to be published in October.  The "regular" GSL adverts that will appear in [the other model car magazine] will reveal the end of the Championship, as well as promoting those events. This announcement will also appear in a pending update to the GSL website.
 
This announcement has been particularly difficult for me.  I created the idea of the Championship to provide a venue where committed scale vehicle craftsmen (craftswomen, too!) could compete in a content-neutral environment where great work could be celebrated and rewarded.  Since those very early days, many dozens of dedicated and smart fellow hobbyists have cycled through the management team – but all joined the GSL team to present to the hobby the best competitive event that has ever been offered.  From the first event in 1979 to the final event in 2022, it has been a great experience for everyone who has ever helped with the Championship by contributing their  hard work and passion to the hobby, or by being here for the fun and the best competition in the history of the hobby.
 
Everyone is welcome at the two final GSL Championships.  All of the regular features will be presented along with what we hope will be the most competent and cheerful competition in the history of the event.
 
In the many years to come, the legend of GSL will be told, retold, and, we hope, help inspire and guide contest promoters and presenters of future scale vehicle contests well into the future.
 
My best personal regards to you all,
 
Mark S. Gustavson
Founder, GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention

[Bill Eh?]

Kurt, I received the same message today. I have only been once and it was certainly an amazing experience. If my traveling partner and I decide to go again, our chances have been narrowed down for us.

[Lordmodelbuilder]

Guess everything has to eventually come to an end.

It will be a sad day when the final show comes. Love that show & all the people I have met there. All will be missed.

[Bainford]

I have been wanting to go to this shindig for decades. I am now looking in to the possibilities of going before it is done. I have never been to a large model show before, and there are plenty to choose from, but this now legendary event seems like a 'must do'. I'm sad to see it go, but I really appreciate the advance notice, to give time to plan.