senor honda

Anyone remember the Sonics Meet that was held on Hillsborough
Avenue North of the airport? On a Saturday night, people would start coming in
early to get a parking place. As the meet grew, it stretched West past the
Dunking Donuts joint and eventually spilled over further West into the MacDonalds.
That was several blocks of car folks, motorcycles, cars, mini-trucks, etc.
People would drive from Orlando to hang out with Tampa Racing folks.

I always bought something and put the reciept on my windshield and carried
the Sonics soda cup (sometimes empty) around with me as I hung out and looked at cars.
Unfortunately, Tampa Cops would come in around 10PM Saturday night and
starting on the East end of the lot, they would tell people to get out. They
never bothered me since I always bought something and could prove it.
Had they told me to leave, with that reciept in hand, I would have went
straight to the manager to ask why they were throwing customers out.

Forcing us out of Sonics meant that everyone headed over to Courtney Campbell
Causeway......... LOL and we all know that story .....

For folks wanting to get a meet started, it helps you to get permission from the
lot owner if you can point out a benefit to him. Meets held at Restaurants
have sometimes increased their business volume by eight times. It doesn't
happen on the first night, but it has been known to happen as word gets around
and more hungry car folks show up.

The opposite is also true.
When a prosperous meet location stops holding meets, or drives away the
car people, their sales volume goes down.
I saw evidence of this today when I drove past the boarded up Hillsborough
Sonics. Weeds growing in the pavement cracks, a few papers blowing through
the lot and the ghosts of past car meets still hanging out there.

Rest in peace, Hillsborough Sonics. you brought it on yourself.-Bob

markstheman365

Owners kicking car enthusiasts out?

Some of the local events guy should know this right?

dan

I had gone there before. Used to get a hot beverage and shoot the shit. It wasn't a huge lot, so it kept out most of the riff raff, and half the people would just go down the street to race on Hoover, or over to the Causeway. I think at one point, Sonic had TPD sit there and chase everyone away, save for a few cars that went to eat or in the drive thru.

The Hedgehog

Maybe if people bought food, ate it, and then left, you guys wouldn't have lost that spot. I don't blame the manager/owners of any location that doesn't want those meets there. Nothing good ever comes from them, and eventually the thugs all show up and start shit, smoke pot, drink, and create problems.

If you get a manager/owner who likes you guys, then great, but if not, don't be surprised every time you lose a spot. Retards.

medicmatt

1) this belongs is local events
2) don't know why i clicked in this thread
3) you're implying that the revenue from car folks on 1 night a week kept a fast-food joint open

arsrac

Projekt

A ricer, talking about ricers getting kicked out and moving to a spot where they are still ricers.

Interesting thread,























































but not really.

The Hedgehog

I just noticed that in his last sentence. He really is fucking crazy.

dan

Bob, the car enthusiasts, or lack of, didn't put Sonics out of business. They've closed up 90% of their locations for some reason or another (economy, overall poor business?). I used to like eating there, but there are 3 or 4 in Lakeland that are gone, and many others in Hillsborough County.

markstheman365

I was at a miami subs meet one time, and the manager forgot my tomato. My and my crew dipped. Thats why you dont see miami subs anymore.