Du Quoin fair manager: Street Machine Nationals should be a 'pop fly'
Du Quoin State Fair manager John Rednour, Jr. emerged from last Thursday's meeting with Illinois State Police and Indianapolis-based Family Events representative Mike Moore now believing that June's reconstituted Street Machine Nationals will wind up being little more than a "pop fly" for the fair and the people of Du Quoin.
The NATs return June 28-30, 2013 to the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. This event was legendary for its hardcore horsepower, cool classics and plenty of big block engines. This national celebration of horsepower and dream machines will be no different--except for the numbers-- as the grounds will swell with beautiful, high-performance street machines, hot rods, and street trucks from across the nation.
"It is going to be a smaller show," said Rednour. "We had 3,500 cars before," he said. "They (Family Events) think there will be 1,200 entries and maybe 8,000 participants this year. We have more than that at one day of the fair." He added, "It should be a more mature crowd."
Last week's meeting was held at the Illinois State Police District 13 command at Du Quoin. Master Sgt. Scott Isaacs has been placed in charge of the detail.
Rednour said city administrator Brad Myers, city police, state police and emergency services are involved in the discussions. "We are going to try and keep people on the grounds," he said, "but still give them the ability to run out for a sandwich or go eat. We have a plan in place for a little free entertainment. They can spend time on our grounds while Du Quoin still enjoys the economic impact of it."
He said participants will enter the fairgrounds from East Jackson Street.
Spectators will pay an admission off of Rt. 14 and park near the Southern Illinois Center. He said Family Events is leasing part of the grounds for long weekend, but the fair will retain all camping revenue. "We are going to set the tone on Friday night," he said. The fair hopes to confine the traditional "cruises" to the grounds and not allow them in downtown Du Quoin.
He said a cruise route is being established through the hills on the grounds, sort of a parade-of-power for car building and customizing fans. "They will have a burnout pit. There will be a lot of after market manufacturers and vendors. There will be both food and beer available on the grounds."
He said it will be a trial-size Street Machine Nationals under a one-year contract-- "NOT a multi-year contract." Rednour said, "I think this is going to work for the economy of Southern Illinois."
Show Dates & Times:
Friday, June 28....................10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 29................ 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 30...................9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Address:
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds
655 Executive Drive
Du Quoin, IL 62832
618-542-1515 | www.agr.state.il.us/dq
Advance Tickets:
Advance tickets are available online at www.StreetMachineNationals.net and will be sold 30 days prior to the event at Black Diamond Harley-Davidson. Multi-day passes will be available at the gate. Advance: All tickets $10. Gate: All tickets $13. Children 10 years of age and under will be admitted free with paid adult.
Participant Information
Participant entries are being accepted. All makes, models, and years of street machines, street rods and 2-wheel drive trucks and sport utility vehicles are invited to attend. Registration includes weekend admission for the vehicle, driver, one passenger, and children 15 and under riding in your vehicle. Pre-register your ride and save, $35 plus $3.50 handling fee before Friday, June 21st via www.StreetMachineNationals.net or by calling toll free, (877) 413-6515. You can register at the fairgrounds for $55 beginning Friday, June 28 at 8 a.m.
To request sponsor or vendor information, please contact The Promotion Company, Inc online at sales@familyevents.com or call (877) 413-6515.
The latest information may be found at www.StreetMachineNationals.net, www.facebook.com/streetmachinenationals or call (877) 413-6515. For hotel info, visit www.familyevents.com and click the hotel button.