Dukesfest was boring!

[Hotfoot]

Gates opened at 9 and we got there at 11. Lots of people were already leaving.

Lots of cars to look at. The autograph lines were long probably 2 hours each. Nothing like standing on hot asphalt in 91 degree high humidty! Don't know how much the Dukes stars were charging.

Stood in a short line for Adam West and Lee Meriwhether.

Batman was $40.00 for an autograph, I laughed and passed. Lee's was $30.00 and all the money goes to her charity. You write the check directly to her charity and get a tax write off. Didn't have my checkbook. Never saw the Batmobile.

John Snieder passed me in a golf cart. Saw Ben Jones sing a few songs.

Very few vendors. Other than looking at cars, standing in autograph lines and the fair with kiddie rides (No armbands as advertised!) wasn't much to do today! Left after 3 hours.

Late tomorrow will be the stunt show and General Jump to close out the event. Don't know if I'll go back (120 mile round trip) even though I am paid up for tomorrow.

Cest La Vie!

[GSPUSA]

I'd like to go atleast once in my lifetime, but my stomach turns when I see classic cars destroyed in the name of entertainment. aka General jump

[toys2cool]

That sucks dude,I've gone to events like this which have sucked also.So i know the feeling

try a 600 mile round trip

[Hotfoot]

Almost drove from Atlanta to Nashville last year! Glad I didn't.

Things were drwn out and the heat and sun was killer. 70% chance of showers all day tomorrow so the best parts may be rained out!

Such is life. There were only 4 rides my kids could ride. Pretty lame but being 4 and 6 1/2 they had fun.

[supes]

I know it the past when they had Dukes fest in Sperryville, VA the Dukes autographs were free. They were all very gracious and kind.

[batmanmc]

would ahve loved mmerriwethaers auto. and adam west charged me either 50 0r 80 i believe it was 80 at a show in boston. he was super nice though. mike

[AUSSIE-Rebooted-AMM]

batmanmc
mego batman collector
i believe it was 80 at a show in boston. he was super nice though. mike

Mike. . .for $25 I am prepared to be Luke warm towards you. For $40. . .I can manage mildly pleasant and 2 Autographs! For $60. . .you won't even hear me calling you a git as you as walk away!!!
Sad that this is the way it is. . . but it must be awful to give your time for fans for Autos and look up and see a line that you know means you are stuck sitting for hours and hours. . .getting writers cramp whilst folks line up with arms full of merchandise for you to sign. . . maybe they think the higher the price. . .the shorter that line. . . and the lesser the writers cramp!!!

[Hotfoot]

we had planned on going but after reading online about other expriences there , we decided not to go. Glad now for sure.

Adam wests website sign charges lss than that..lol

I guess he doesn't have to travel and can sign at his leisure! Plus he doesn't have to pose with the smelly masses!

[Hotfoot]

This years schedule is here
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...08Schedule.jpg
Wish it had been posted on the website. Than I would have known when to get there and wouldn't have tried to spend all day in the sun with a 4 and 6 1/2 year old.

[apes3978]

It must be awful to give your time for fans for autos and look up and see a line that you know means you are stuck sitting for hours and hours. . .getting writers cramp whilst folks line up with arms full of merchandise for you to sign. . . maybe they think the higher the price. . .the shorter that line. . . and the lesser the writers cramp!!!

Well, the shorter the line means less people... Less people means less ca$h for them, so I'd imagine they welcome the lines... It gives them a guarantee that they won't be sitting there all afternoon waiting for someone to come along... And don't they take occasional breaks sometimes?

[Hotfoot]

Well I broke down this afternoon. Left at 1 and got there at 5 minutes to 3. Traffic, Potty break and gas stop. Cast came to the front straight around 3:10 chatted for a little bit. Than they jumped Roscos Sherrifs car, did the pipe ramp roll for Sherrif Littles Chicasaw cruiser than jumped the General. That was it for the Stunt show. Than the Parade of Generals and others. Stretched all the way around the 2 1/2 mile track. They went around 4 times. The auction than started. Sherrif Little's cruiser went for 650-700, Rosco's cruiser 1100 and we left because the rain started. Dont know what the General went for. We sat high in the stands to avoid the sun! Didn't make it back to the van before the downpour of rain.

Don't know if I'll go back again.

[filmation batman fan]

I almost didn't go to Dukesfest myself because my closest friends who own General Lees didn't go this time. And I wasn't too hot about dealing with Atlanta traffic and going through what I went through in Nashville, but I wound up going and having a good time. Through connections, I got to be an emcee. Not the main one unfortunately, the main emcee was some a**hole named Ron Lester from the movie, Varsity Blues and he got to host the Daisy Duke sponsored by Hooters. He was under contract and I was a volunteer. All I got to do was the Dukes trivia both days and do my voice impressions of the cast, host a watermelon eating contest with the Mayberry Deputy, and hosted a Q & A with the stunt drivers. I had fun since this was the first time I had V.I.P. all access credentials. I got to hang out with the cast of the Dukes and I got to meet one of my childhood heroes, Adam West. I've wanted to meet him since I was 5. I got to do my Batman voices for him. He laughed and did impressions of Mr. Freeze, Liberace, and Gregory Peck for me. So I enjoyed chating with him. Oddly enough, I even ran into him when I ate at Outback. I also met Lee Meriwether and she was a real sweetheart.
That weekend was a great weekend for me. However, I know where you're all coming from. As a commoner, being at Dukesfest can suck because of the following:
1: Traffic: I rest my case.

2: Lines: It's one big waiting game, from waiting for the gates to open, to parking, to buying tickets, to autograph lines, etc.

3: Meeting the stars: At smaller Dukes related events or non Dukes events where a cast member might be, you can actually chat with them for a minute and the lines are smaller as opposed to Dukesfest, where you might be waiting all day to meet Tom Wopat, John Schneider, or Catherine Bach ( you better get in her line early in the morning) and you can only say hello to them as they can only sign one or two items, then you have to move along.

4: At Dukesfest, you stand, unless you have a lawn chair.

5: At Dukesfest, you burn, unless you have sunblock

I should know. From past Dukesfests, I have returned home burnt with tired, achy feet. If I hadn't gotten to emcee with credentials, I proabably wouldn't have gone either. My friends and I believe that Dukesfest has gotten too big and too corporate.

Cheers.