Re: So what's the verdict-Bloomington?
Overall we had a very good experience. There were some hiccups but I'm sure they will be worked out. We got to the area on Wed. evening. The hotel was very reasonably priced so we got there the evening before set-up day so we didn't have to leave Detroit at 1 AM to miss the Chicago traffic. We scoped out the grounds that evening and Thursday morning arrived early to set up. Gates were closed and we got on line. At 7 they opened and we got in relatively quickly and did what needed to be done. We stopped someone who looked "official" driving around in a golf cart and asked what time we could get in Friday and were told the gates open at 7. What time does the public get in? 7. Well then, are we to asume that we have to set up as the public is milling around waiting to buy? "Yup, just like it's always been". Not- it has always been 24 hour access and we usually got there at 6:30 so we were ready when the customers were there and ready to buy. Finally he told us that he would be there early and if we had the right credentials he would let us in. And he did do as promised so we were set up and open for business at 7. At about 6:45 a couple of kids rode around informing us that the gates were about to close and be locked for the night so we had to be out. This turned out to not be true in that there was one gate left open so we could get out any time. Traffic was down and we did somewhat less than we had planned but it was still pretty good.
Jeff
Overall we had a very good experience. There were some hiccups but I'm sure they will be worked out. We got to the area on Wed. evening. The hotel was very reasonably priced so we got there the evening before set-up day so we didn't have to leave Detroit at 1 AM to miss the Chicago traffic. We scoped out the grounds that evening and Thursday morning arrived early to set up. Gates were closed and we got on line. At 7 they opened and we got in relatively quickly and did what needed to be done. We stopped someone who looked "official" driving around in a golf cart and asked what time we could get in Friday and were told the gates open at 7. What time does the public get in? 7. Well then, are we to asume that we have to set up as the public is milling around waiting to buy? "Yup, just like it's always been". Not- it has always been 24 hour access and we usually got there at 6:30 so we were ready when the customers were there and ready to buy. Finally he told us that he would be there early and if we had the right credentials he would let us in. And he did do as promised so we were set up and open for business at 7. At about 6:45 a couple of kids rode around informing us that the gates were about to close and be locked for the night so we had to be out. This turned out to not be true in that there was one gate left open so we could get out any time. Traffic was down and we did somewhat less than we had planned but it was still pretty good.
Jeff
that I have not seen in several years so it was a plus for me. They need more and larger signage to help locate the different areas of the event it was easy to miss the second swap meet area split by the food court 
. The car auction was for me a bust and as others have stated small number of cars. Do not think Mecum as a whole is promoting the event as he has in the past plus many of the cars were from his own collection in my opinion not a good thing. As far as the judging field it is good but they really need to have the grass cut much shorter so the chassis can have a more complete inspection 
. Thought the city of Champaign did a great job and the hotel and stores we patronized seemed happy we were there and many thanked us for coming seemed better then back at St. Charles. Just some of my thoughts but you have to get through the first year to find out problems you did not anticipate. 
You can't fix weather but you can with the other problem items.
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