Issue #227

[charger74]

Spotlight hobbies showed this on their Facebook page, so we should receive it in the next couple of days/weeks

[thatz4u]

looks good, going by the cover

[SpeedAndViolence]

Ok... here's my dumb question of the day... 

Lately, I've been noticing that several NNL's are ceasing to exist. I've never lived within a day's drive of a NNL to my knowledge, because they all seem to be confined to the east and west coast's. I live in the central US.

Why are there so many of the NNL's ending? I have a hard time believing it would be due to attendance. 

Edited Saturday at 11:31 AM by SpeedAndViolence

[Dave Ambrose]

2 hours ago, SpeedAndViolence said:

Ok... here's my dumb question of the day... 

Lately, I've been noticing the several NNL's are ceasing to exist. I've never lived within a day's drive of a NNL to my knowledge, because they all seem to be confined to the east and west coast's. I live in the central US.

Why are there so many of the NNL's ending? I have a hard time believing it would be due to attendance. 

A lot of model car contests, not just NNLs, end because the organizers didn't plan for succession. They get to where they either can't run the show, or don't want to anymore, then there's nobody to step in and take the reins. 

My understanding is that West Coast NNL ended because they could couldn't find an affordable venue. The Santa Clara Convention Center is just across the street from the '49ers stadium, and it becomes prime real estate during playoff season. The rest of the Bay Area is pricey so the numbers just didn't work out. 

[sfhess]

11 hours ago, Dave Ambrose said:

A lot of model car contests, not just NNLs, end because the organizers didn't plan for succession. They get to where they either can't run the show, or don't want to anymore, then there's nobody to step in and take the reins. 

My understanding is that West Coast NNL ended because they could couldn't find an affordable venue. The Santa Clara Convention Center is just across the street from the '49ers stadium, and it becomes prime real estate during playoff season. The rest of the Bay Area is pricey so the numbers just didn't work out. 

One of the NNL West organizers told me that they had a "grandfathered" rental rate with the convention center for many years.  I heard that there had been a change in the management group for the Convention center and the reduced rate was taken away.

We all know that in the past few years many of the NNL West organizers have passed away.  As Dave said, there were no firm plans for succession and no one willing to step in and help organize the show. 

As many who organize model car shows know, a lot of these events are dependent on the efforts of a small handful of dedicated individuals. 

The venue for the show I help organize has had several management changes since our show's inception.  Each time this has happened there has been uncertainty over our status with the venue, but we have communicated with the management and have been able to keep our date with the venue.   

[tim boyd]

While some of the original NNLs have ceased after long and outstanding runs, new ones are taking their place.  For instance, in Ohio where the NNL Nationals, the one that started it all, concluded after the 2019 show, two successors of sorts have launched - the NNL Undercover near Akron several years ago, and just yesterday, the first ever NNL Gem City in Dayton, both located less than two hours beyond the original NNL Nats in Toledo...  And Tom Geiger and the NNL East leadership have always had succession planning on their minds as they organize each year's shows....TB 

[Ragtop Man]

This is the best issue of MCM I've read in a while.

Tim's FC story is terrific and the photos do a great job of telling the tale of the FC kits. Some day, one of those El Toros will turn up for me! I'm overdue for a Nebraska visit to the family farm operation, I know I will be in the Lincoln area for an extended stay, now. 

But I'm heaving all the laurels on the MPC '67 GTO-LeMans convertible build and the clear, common sense build suggestions in the story... and oh wait... why ELSE would I love this story? 

FWIW, I'm a news stand buyer, not a subscriber, so it is an hour drive, minimum to the LHS where MCM is on the shelf. Worth every penny to chase it down this issue!

[Straightliner59]

On 9/12/2025 at 9:01 PM, SpeedAndViolence said:

I live in the central US.

There's NNL North, in the Twin Cities. There's also my favorite hobby shop on the planet, in St. Paul--Scale Model Supplies, AKA "The Dungeon". It's almost worth the trip, itself.

[Kit Karson]

ACME Southern Nationals 2025

[Tom Kren]

Waiting for my issue patiently!