Can a trailer rally be too big?

I found in any type of gathering the larger the crowd the less personal it becomes, but the more that is there the more likely you will get to see what you are interested in. SO what that means is life is full of trade offs and it all depends on what you wish to experience. In other words some people would prefer a rally with a thousand trailers, other would like a twenty trailer rally better it all depends on you and what you expect to take away from it.

A lot of people don't know the reason that Pismo South was created. I'm not going to go into detail here because we are supposed to "be nice or be deleted." But to make a long story short, certain people who got involved in the preparation of the rally suddenly did a hostile take over of the main Pismo Rally over money and power. The original people who started the rally had had enough of dealing with that person and said to heck with him in so many words and began the rally to the south. Then the wife of that team had a stroke and was unable to continue with all that it takes to put on a rally of any size so the work was handed over to trusted friends.

When any event gets as big as Pismo, and then becomes involved with media sources like television and sponsors, a lot of money comes into play and greed get's in the way. The Pismo Rally has been booked wihin 24 hours of notice of availability for years and grew to the largest trailer rally in the world in no time. You can't buy a spot in that rally if you have never participated before. Participants from the previous year get first dibs on the following year sign up. 

The rally to the south was created for the "rest of us" and also has become very popular almost over night. The entire hobby is now strewn with people looking to make a quick buck due to TV shows like the "Flipping RVs" and Flyte Camp's show on high end restorations. As far as Rallies are concerned I go to very few now and the only ones I am interested in are the small ones in which I know everyone. Besides that, when I do attend a larger rally I'm swamped with people who want to ask me a lot of questions and I don't get a chance to enjoy myself. So I stick with people who already know me and most of them know more about restoring a trailer than I do so I'm not overloaded with people asking for advice. 

None of us were professional restorers at the small rally we attended,although there were newbies and experienced "Vintage People." We toured the trailers and enjoyed asking and answering questions. It was part of our "events." But mostly, we socialized and it was GREAT! We all had vintage trailers, no novelty there. There were other campers in the campground who would stop and chat, but all in all, it was a very pleasant experience. It's also a great learning experience for the novice.

Larry it isn't just Trailer rallys, car shows, boat shows, gun shows, everything has went the same path. I used to love to go to the "Big' shows but it has got to the point that I prefer the small more personable type gatherings. It tears me up to go to a show that winds up costing me a hundred or so just to get in because I have to by a national membership then buy an admission pass to get in and then get to pay $5.00 to $9.00 for a coke. Example went to a show last summer with a friend and we decided to just get a coke and a soft pretzel for lunch so we found a place to sit and I gave him a twenty an said I would buy if he would fly. He came back with two small pretzels and two bottles of warm coke and a huge smile on his face, he then laughingly explained that I was two dollars short.

I think smaller items could take a walk. Most people are honest, but you never know. We've never lost anything, but also, there's someone with the trailer or it isn't adorned with accessories. I mean, who's gonna carry a welcome mat off?

I collect trailer toys, which are small. They are only on display when we have an eagle eye out...

That being said, you have to want to show off your trailer and welcome people. I've had people with sick kids (runny noses, coughing) who have been kind enough to ask if they can enter. (yeah, if you wipe the nose) It is a lot of fun to meet fellow vintage trailer fans.

Anything in life is a risk. I think vintage trailer rallies are among the safer gatherings.

Hot glue.. that will surprise them!

Oh dang sorry to misinterpret the facts like that. I had read what Cindy told me as being just south of Pismo and later heard that it was being called Pismo South. So bad info there I guess. The original part about how the big one was taken over though I think I have pretty much right. Cindy told me that story herself and it was not too long after that she had the stroke. Thanks for clearing it up John.