So how many of you all think Nopi has what it takes to become "popular" again?

[RandomGuy]

There are many events like IA, wekfest, etc...that have taken Nopi's role as a facilitator of car events. I'd rather have a wekfest car event here than the nopi event coming up.

I'd rather go to a forged/z1/import atlanta/garage zero/import alliance/HIN/southrnfrsh event than nopi. Nopi is literally at the bottom of the list for me as far as "what events I want to go to."

That's your opinion, but I do know it'll be fun. I mean drag racing, dope cars, and swimsuit contests. They actually spent some money on DJ's live entertainment and all sorts of giveaways. I think it's a whole lot better than those big ImportAlliance type shows where everyone just looks at each others cookie-cutter cars.

NOPI used to be like an ImportAlliance thing, which was fun back in the day, but this year it's going to be dope. Plus they've been listening to the community again which I respect. I don't know how you can say they're out of touch- they're working directly with many of the key players and actually considering their opinions. Only way to change something you don't like is by being constructive.

My 2 cents. Not that it matters, turnout will be huge and fun will be had. IA has a booth there too!

[RandomGuy]

Well we are all different, so I say I like the drag racing aspect..

As for the other stuff I could careless!!

Dude it's going to be fun. No bull

[ECMgarrett]

First post here in years
Just wanted to get on to see how the locals felt about this

I've been to three Nationals, and one or two of the regional show/races ( I think its two, its been a few years)

Im coming down.
I always enjoyed seeing the cars, and while Im not into the car scene anymore, it still interests me
And with them having drag bikes - it gives me a place to come and run for free.
ATL is a great track, ran there with the Harley drags four years and had some success ($) there.
At $35 bucks for two days it is well worth the four hour drive for me

I think I'll keep the dragbike at home for this and bring my street bike, Buell 1125R

Looking forward to seeing yalls cars, aint been to a ImportAtlanta event since the 2006 Drift Fury (by the way, I took tons of pics at that, if you were there drifting or showing and want pics of your car, let me know via PM and I'll email them to you)

[RL...]

I've heard nothing but bad things about the atlanta based nopi events for the past several years. The event coming up maybe awesome, but Im going to pass on this one. It's like when a movie is about to come out that you want to see, but you have doubts about it being good, so you wait until your friends see it and give you feedback. Well thats what Im doing. lol If I hear good things Ill come out next year, but the last few events were so bad I don't want to waste my time otherwise.




For me, my favorite events/meets, have been the local meets like forged dyno days, southrnfresh, z1 motorsports, zen motors meet, tunerfest, etc...way better than even IA etc...

The cool thing about IA is that going out of town is fun b/c its a different environment to chill, packing out a hotel with modified cars and drunk ppl is fun, and the cruise to and from is fun.

[Slow Motion]

Not sure what is going to happen with NOPI, but I hope they can bounce back. I went to my first NOPI show when I was 6, thats 1989 for the kiddies out there. It was amazing. It took a while to get there but, man. I can't remember everything about it but, I do remember the feeling.

[Julio]

We will find out this weekend.. The best Nopi Ive been to was in 2001. Oh yeah.. Party, alcohol, sold out hotels, naked chicks and dudes..People jumping in the pool naked... Police + Helicopters, orgies.. Black eyes.. This was the Year Importatlanta started so you can imagine.. And oh my yes.. All I can remember is a Blur... ha ! Epic..

[Julio]

That's your opinion, but I do know it'll be fun. I mean drag racing, dope cars, and swimsuit contests. They actually spent some money on DJ's live entertainment and all sorts of giveaways. I think it's a whole lot better than those big ImportAlliance type shows where everyone just looks at each others cookie-cutter cars.

NOPI used to be like an ImportAlliance thing, which was fun back in the day, but this year it's going to be dope. Plus they've been listening to the community again which I respect. I don't know how you can say they're out of touch- they're working directly with many of the key players and actually considering their opinions. Only way to change something you don't like is by being constructive.

My 2 cents. Not that it matters, turnout will be huge and fun will be had. IA has a booth there too!

I beg to difer... ImportAlliance has never and probably will not match the old Nopi Nat shows.. Only car event I can compare to the Nats was the show in Carlile, PA.. Nuts.. Shit, Nopi Pigeon Forge was bananas too..

Wish Nopi the best this weekend.

[B18c1Turboed]

Pigeon forge wow those where the best!

[UpSideDownDesi]

It seems to be pretty popular. Currently All vendors spots are sold out at NOPI Nationals.

[RL...]

we'll see after this weekend how it goes...

[-EnVus-]

I got offered FREE Tickets and still said "Its not worth my time and Gas"

[tnomud]

I got offered FREE Tickets and still said "Its not worth my time and Gas"

It will never be what it was back in the day (pre 2002). The scene is a fraction of what it was, the manufacturers have dissolved, and what is left is:

1.) Bottom Feeders with junk cars
2.) Good Niche Markets (EVO Guys, Miata Guys, STance Guys, Etc.)

It was huge back in the day, but most have moved on to other things. There simply isn't a financial pull that was there 10-15 years ago. The economy is soft, gas is nuts, and cops/emissions/laws/overpriced parts/junk China parts make it too much of a hassle to be worth the effort. Besides, when the NOPI show was huge, it was the only show of its kind/caliber. Now there are Drift events, SCCA/NASA events, and dozens of others. I simply don't see it taking off, but I can respect the effort to some degree. The money just isnt there.

[CHADbee]

No bullshit, I had a lot of fun today at NOPI. In my opinion this was a very refreshing event, I saw everything from riced out widebody ugly "whatever" to a doublesided Civic, to twin turbo Viper, to mid 9 second GT500, to MINT old school muscle cars....the hydro event was soooo badass! The music gave off a great vibe for the day. Had lots of very cool venders with some great products and cars on display. I wish it was as large as it was 10 years ago, but regardless I had a blast....I'm glad I decided to go last minute, I really am.

[RL...]

The event was pretty good. I liked how we could hang out in the meet area, then make passes down the 1/4 miles, hang out, race, etc...

I learned that I am not good at driving my car. lol I left VDC on for 2 passes, and missed 2nd on another pass. lol fail.

[slimx554]

I went to NOPI and it wasnt a bad experience. I have to say the drag track made all the difference. Its not what it used to be but Im not the first person to state the obvious. It was free of Henry Co. jerk cops which anyone who attended AMS nationals in the previous years. I showed a NOPI and IA some love and looked at some cool cars and some busted cars. Good day.

[RL...]

It was more like a big car meet with drag racing and vendors, than like nopi nats from 6 years ago. It was different. I may even go tomorrow.

[quickdodge®]

It was free of Henry Co. jerk cops which anyone who attended AMS nationals in the previous years.

Don't do anything stupid and they won't be "jerks." I never had issues with Henry County.

[CHADbee]

I took a few pics today....like 15 or something. Enjoy....or don't...whatever.

CHADBEE PHOTOGRAPHY: NOPI Nationals 2012….is it back?!? « CHADBEE'S BLOG

[quickdodge®]

....is it back?!?

I don't mean to sound mean, but I think the answer will be no. And I'm not basing this on personal feelings of NOPI shows as far as the days I enjoyed, but more on the later years of the show from 1999 to the mid 2000s when it seemed to be at it's peak, quantity wise. From the last one they had two years ago to what I've heard about this year's (so far), it just isn't there. I'm not saying this steadfastly because I wasn't there this year. This is just my feeling judging by my attendance at the last one, two years ago, and what I've seen/heard of this year's. In my opinion, it's not back and it won't be back......to what it was for folks a decade ago.

Like I said, I'm not saying this as a bash to NOPI. This is just my gut feeling.

[CHADbee]

I don't mean to sound mean, but I think the answer will be no. And I'm not basing this on personal feelings of NOPI shows as far as the days I enjoyed, but more on the later years of the show from 1999 to the mid 2000s when it seemed to be at it's peak, quantity wise. From the last one they had two years ago to what I've heard about this year's (so far), it just isn't there. I'm not saying this steadfastly because I wasn't there this year. This is just my feeling judging by my attendance at the last one, two years ago, and what I've seen/heard of this year's. In my opinion, it's not back and it won't be back......to what it was for folks a decade ago.

Like I said, I'm not saying this as a bash to NOPI. This is just my gut feeling.

Oh its nooooo where near what it was when I started attending(early 00's). Honestly, this event was much larger and better than the last one when they paired with HIN....you were there, we hung out in the ********** booth haha. It was better than that, but still 1/6th the size of the last real Nats in 2005, I think it was.

[CHADbee]

LOL IA stars out ImportZ1ne

[slimx554]

It was free of Henry Co. jerk cops which anyone who attended AMS nationals in the previous years.

Don't do anything stupid and they won't be "jerks." I never had issues with Henry County.

Its not todays cops but back in the late 90s early 2000s. They were pulling over anyone who did any mods to their cars. I never give a reason to pull me over.

[quickdodge®]

Its not todays cops but back in the late 90s early 2000s. They were pulling over anyone who did any mods to their cars. I never give a reason to pull me over.

I wasn't talking about today's cops, either.

[Julio]

.......

[RandomGuy]

We had a lot of fun, a lot of familiar faces and met a lot of cool new folks:

[RL...]

QD, I have a feeling that your idea of quality if very very different from the majority's view of quality. There's nothing wrong with being on the other side of the status quo, but it seems you have a differing perspective on a fundamental level. You have an old japanese car that you're trying to restore to stock condition, cool. But most people are taking their newer civic, and making it less stock(and ricing it out). lol I'm not saying either goal is right or wrong just very different, and that perhaps the scene has evolved(or devolved?) in such a way that it's no longer relevant to you.

[quickdodge®]

quality

This single word nullified your entire post, lolol.

[tnomud]

I don't mean to sound mean, but I think the answer will be no. And I'm not basing this on personal feelings of NOPI shows as far as the days I enjoyed, but more on the later years of the show from 1999 to the mid 2000s when it seemed to be at it's peak, quantity wise. From the last one they had two years ago to what I've heard about this year's (so far), it just isn't there. I'm not saying this steadfastly because I wasn't there this year. This is just my feeling judging by my attendance at the last one, two years ago, and what I've seen/heard of this year's. In my opinion, it's not back and it won't be back......to what it was for folks a decade ago.

Like I said, I'm not saying this as a bash to NOPI. This is just my gut feeling.

Yeah, I think 2001 was the last good year for this event. It has nothing to do with NOPI, its simply a numbers situation. The market just isnt as big as it was 10 years ago. Gas was $1.50 a gallon, so it drew people from 500+ miles away.

It's good to see that there was a decent turnout. I think combining racing/shows together is good, it exposes people to the other side.

[03RCode]

We had a blast. The USACi show was REALLY unorganized, but our Tahoe drew a pretty good crowd most of the weekend. Got some sweet hairtrick and demo videos, got to see some nice cars, and some good racing. I'll definitely go next year if they do another.

[Echonova]

I got there waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy late today and missed damn near everything. But the short time I was there I had a blast. Saw several guys I hadn't seen in years... Was like it was 1999 all over again.

[03RCode]

I got there waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy late today and missed damn near everything. But the short time I was there I had a blast. Saw several guys I hadn't seen in years... Was like it was 1999 all over again.

Miles and myself were curious yesterday if you were there. I rolled out today right after the audio awards, he was still there. Did you run into him?

[Echonova]

Echo circa 1998...



Still boss (Before the Wings West was color matched with the rest of the car) Sorry for the shitty quality, but this is a picture of a picture since I didn't have a digital camera back then.

[Echonova]

But yeah... I was still faster then, than most of you broke-ass bitches are today.

Slow


Faster


Fastest (guess what not hooked up item yet the highlighted line goes to). If you guessed Nitrous, YOU WIN!!!!!


Bitches betta recognize....

[Echonova]

Miles and myself were curious yesterday if you were there. I rolled out today right after the audio awards, he was still there. Did you run into him?

Nope. Wish I would have. Haven't seen Miles since Road Atlanta last year.


He completes me.

[03RCode]

Nope. Wish I would have. Haven't seen Miles since Road Atlanta last year.


He completes me.

He was around us most of the day Saturday, today he didn't show up till 1ish, and was just driving around in his golf cart ackn uh f00.

[Echonova]

I couldn't go at all Saturday due to some personal issues... Wish I could have.

[ECMgarrett]

Just got home a short bit ago from this
I had a great time.
It wasnt anything like the old Nopi shows, but thats ok
Turnout, to me, seemed low, lots of open area at the track
But it was nice seeing so many get out there and get on the track

Saw some awesome stuff, and saw the same ole shit from years ago (stock engine crx with HUGE alum wing on the back and ram air intake, or painted interiors...when did anyone think hunter green and yellow went great together???)

It was nice meeting you Hassan, thanks for the tee and sticker

I had a blast and made some new friends

Hope that they have it again next year!

[stretch]

I understand why everyone is timid about nopi, I get it. But I went there both days and I must say, this event had a LOT of potential. They have the right idea, be they are not up to the times as far as the scene is concerned. They need to cater to every aspect of the event differently. The emphasis was a bit one sided and the event was a bit jumbled. All in all, if nopi focus on the event and the sport a little more than their own pockets, this can be the biggest yearly event in ATL......... Just my .02