No, ALL PONTIAC & GMC TRUCK DAY is a FREE, fun, and NON-JUDGED vehicle display and gathering of enthusiasts, together with a Membership Drive.
There are NO Classes or Judging, NO Trophies... except for FOUR SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS (see Question #16 below).
Yes, our event is FREE and open to all enthusiasts of Pontiacs, Oaklands, and GMC Trucks. The Arizona Chapter #29 of the Pontiac-Oakland Club International (POCI), is actively seeking new members, so we will urge you to please consider joining! Non-members' (prospective members') vehicles will be parked alongside member-owned vehicles for this four-hour event.
Membership has two facets: The "international" club, and the "local" club.
INTERNATIONAL: Membership in POCI affords you Smoke Signals, the huge, full-color monthly magazine featuring Pontiacs, Oaklands and GMC Trucks. Members have access to helpful technical advisors, while the magazine provides excellent tech articles, stories and free classified ads. Members can also attend the national convention and car show/swap meets. Dues are $45/year if you'd like to receive your (printed) magazine in the mail, or just $25/year for an "E-membership" which allows you to download the magazine to read online.
LOCAL: Membership here with the Arizona Chapter POCI #29 (centered in Tucson) is additional at $18/year, and provides you with our monthly newsletter HOT AIR, plus local activites, meetings, cruises and a fun, friendly knowledge base.
Other local POCI chapters can be found around the U.S., including another Arizona-based chapter, the Desert Renegades Chapter #65, based in the Phoenix area.
The international club's website is www.poci.org
The local chapter's website is www.poci-azch29.com
Easy answer: ALL YEARS and ALL MODELS. If it wears a Pontiac, Oakland, or GMC badge, it is welcomed! See a complete list at the bottom of this page.
In the early days of General Motors, the Oakland Motor Car Company was based in Pontiac, Michigan (located in Oakland County), In 1926, GM asked Oakland to introduce a lower-priced "companion" car — the Pontiac — which quickly became so succesful that the Oakland nameplate was discontinued after 1931.
GMC Truck & Coach Division was also based in Pontiac, MI. In various years (especially in the late 1950s) GMC pickups were built with Pontiac-sourced motors. Thus, POCI recognizes the importance and legacy of all three of these nameplates... past and present!
Yes, especially if you have an interest in joining the club!
No. Our parent club (POCI) recognizes only trucks titled as GMCs.
Ultimately, the answer is "yes," but perhaps it would be better to base your participation on if you are a proud "Pontiac enthusiast" interested in joining the club.
Let's be realistic here: If your sole focus is in selling this car (not in club membership), your interests aren't aligned with the purpose of this event. Perhaps park it on a nearby side street or in the spectator area (top level of the parking deck). Otherwise, see the next question.
Yes, as long as the sign is of a discreet size and kept within the interior of your vehicle.
No. We are trying to keep the focus of this event simple. No vendors, no swap spaces, no concessioneers.
Yes, if you feel that your car's presence would be of interest to clubmembers and fellow enthusiasts, we encourage you to push, pull, or drag it there on a trailer! We will ask you to please park your "truck-trailer-Pontiac" combo in our designated "overflow area" on the upper parking deck. (Plus, your car may even become a contender for our "Golden Jackstand" Award! See #16 below.)
Also, if you should be able to get your car running in time for the event, you might want to consider getting a "Restricted Three-Day Permit" from the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit www.ServiceArizona.com to create (print) this permit from your computer. The cost is only $1.00.
Yes! We understand that everyone has different circumstances and resources. Most importantly, we certainly respect your enthusiasm, so if you're proud of it... bring it! (Plus, it may even become a contender for our "Golden Jackstand" Award! See #16 below.)
Great question! Before you off-load the Solstice from your trailer, it would probably be best if you found a parking space for your rig along either of the side streets... Mountainview Avenue or Arcadia Avenue (but watch for the marked "No Parking" zones!)
awards presented at the end of the day?
ALL PONTIAC & GMC TRUCK DAY presents only these 4 special awards:
- The Golden Jackstand recognizes one vehicle (any year) with "promise and potential." It is intended to reinforce that our club respects Pontiacs/Oaklands/GMC Trucks in ANY CONDITION regardless of its owner's ability to afford a costly restoration! Push, pull or trailer it there... We really do want to see it at this event!
- The Bill Armstrong Memorial recognizes a modified or customized vehicle (any year) which is built to suit its owner's personal taste and unique vision.
- The Ross Whitehead Memorial recognizes one significant 1963 or earlier vehicle which shows enthusiasm for the Pontiac-Oakland-GMC Truck hobby.
- The Al Coloman Memorial recognizes one significant
1964 or later vehicle which displays enthusiasm for the Pontiac-Oakland-GMC
Truck hobby.
Yes, we will be accepting donations for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. All entrants and spectators are requested to please bring two or more non-perishable food items to place in our onsite collection box. (While this is not mandatory for participation in our event, we hope that you'll keep the needs of less-fortunate individuals in mind and bring plenty of canned and boxed foodstuffs for our food drive.) Thank you in advance!
Absolutely nothing! There are no mandatory costs or hidden fees to participate or to spectate. We are simply hoping to bring together as many enthusiasts as possible in a central Tucson location while promoting membership in the world's largest organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of Pontiacs, Oaklands and GMC Trucks!
Our PRE-REGISTRATION FORM is available to download HERE. (This is a two-page PDF document which includes our Pre-Registration Form combined with the Event Flyer.) Print the first page of this form, complete the applicable sections, and mail it right away to the Event Registrar. It must be postmarked by October 24th if you should also wish to pre-order a T-shirt.
OR, simply arrive at the event anytime between 10:00am and 11:00am and we'll get you REGISTERED ONSITE... also free of charge!
Every participant will be asked to remain parked in-place until the event ends at 2:00pm. If you cannot stay for the entire 4-hour event, you will be parked outside of our dedicated, reserved area.
Registration is necessary for three reasons: (1) We want to have a record of all attendees with contact information so that we can keep you updated on future events; (2) This will reserve a FREE commemorative Dash Plaque for you at our check-in table; and (3) most importantly, you will be required to sign a Release Form as required by our club's insurance provider.
On the accompanying map at left, look for the red arrow. From Broadway, please turn NORTH onto Mountainview Avenue (the first street east of Swan) and loop around behind the tall, five-story "4801" office building. We'll have volunteers ready to direct all display vehicles and spectator traffic from there.
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE AREA THROUGH THE VISCOUNT HOTEL MAIN ENTRANCE on Broadway Boulevard... as this will only create unneccessary traffic congestion in the parking areas reserved for hotel guests.
Looking forward to seeing it! Designated club members (ONLY!) will be arriving early (prior to 10am) to prepare the event for non-members' (prospective members') arrival AFTER 10:00am. (If you are not a current member or designated volunteer, please do not arrive before 10:00am. There really is no rush! Please relax and enjoy the opportunity to hang out with fellow enthusiasts!)
Free, full-color limited-edition dash plaques will be made available only to the first 50 individuals who pre-register. Download the Pre-Registration Form HERE. Otherwise, onsite line-up for registration begins at 10:00am.
If fewer than 50 total entries are in attendance, remaining plaques will be made available at the end of the day on a first-come-first-served basis at $1.00 apiece.
Yes! A very limited run of T-shirts will be produced prior to this year's event.
Our full-color artwork features a 1972 GMC pickup and a 1962 Pontiac Catalina, celebrating their 50th and 60th anniversaries, respectively.
To purchase a shirt, you MUST PRE-ORDER IT! We will not have additional shirts available to sell at the event. Download the Pre-Registration Form HERE and complete the T-Shirt section. Be sure to indicate the size and quantity of shirts desired, and remit this form wih payment to the event registrar immdiately. This must be postmarked by October 24, 2022.
T-shirt(s), along with your Dash Plaque and Windshield Card will all be available for pick up at our check-in table beginning at 10:00am.
Please do whatever is possible to commit your presence there until 2:00pm. If you absolutely must leave early, we suggest that you park in the upper parking deck area. Our main display area lot (adjacent to Broadway) will be used exclusively for vehicles who can commit to the full four-hour display. Regardless, please exercise extreme caution with the pedestrians and spectators as you depart.
No, the more the better! Bring as many as you can find drivers for, but please make sure that each vehicle gets properly registered upon arrival.
Members will be treated to a free lunch on-site (this includes new members who join the club during the event).
Otherwise, the Viscount Suite Hotel has a great on-site restaurant, "Wilbur's Grill." Plans are in the works to offer a quick, reasonably-priced lunch special for non-members and hotel guests.
A few other eating establishments are available within walking distance to the WEST, including: Lucky Wishbone (fried chicken, steak fingers), a 7-11 convenience store, the Hungry Fox Diner, and a Jack-in-the-Box. Next door on the EAST side of the Viscount is Guadalajara Mexican Grill.
Yes. All new and active Arizona Chapter #29 POCI clubmembers are invited to partake of a complimentary lunch, provided in a designated area adjacent to the display. This offer is extended to all current members, plus to those who join at the event. Bottled water will also be provided.
The Viscount Suite Hotel would love to be your host for the weekend, but we have not coordinated any discounted room rates this year.
Regardless, you are urged to book a room as soon as possible. Call the Reservations Line directly at (520) 365-3985 or 1-800-854-9517.
UPDATE! Please note that the hotel is undergoing a NAME CHANGE. It is now being called "Ramada by Wyndham Viscount Suites Tucson East"
In the event that the hotel is completely booked when you call, please contact ALL PONTIAC & GMC TRUCK DAY Chairman Thom Sherwood at 520-798-3200 for other nearby accommodation suggestions.
The letter 'S' is silent, so the word "Viscount" rhymes with the phrase "High Count."
No, our event will be held Rain-or-Shine!
- Cooler with beverages and picnic items
- Folding Chair(s)
- Camera
- Friends/family/enthusiasts
- You may bring Display Memorabilia that is relevant to your car, such as: Owner's manual, original window sticker, photo albums, trophies, etc.)
- Loud music and stereos
- Hibachi grills, etc.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Selling of car parts and automotive memorabilia
- Pets/Dogs ...even on a leash!
- Skateboards and bicycles
- Burnouts and obnoxious behavior
- For space reasons and for the safety of others, personal EZ-UP Canopies are strongly discouraged! (Plus, there will already be plenty of shade in the display area anyway.)
Thom Sherwood
(Event Chairman and Club President)
520-798-3200
email: output@colorteks.com
-or-
Randy Rogers
(Event Registrar)
520-298-6874
email: rancai67@yahoo.com
Whatcha gonna see on display?
GMC Trucks (all years, through current production)
- Pickups & 4-Wheel Drives (old and new!)
- Suburban
- Sprint
- Motorhome / Coach / Bus
- Heavy or light duty
/ COE
Oaklands (All models, 1909-1931)
- Coupe, Phaeton, Roadster, Runabout, Landaulet, etc.
Pontiacs (1926-2010), including:
- Deluxe 6/8
- Master 6/8
- Streamliner
- Torpedo
- Chieftain
- Catalina
- Bonneville
- Safari
- Super Chief
- Star Chief
- Grand Prix
- Executive
- Ventura
- Tempest
- LeMans
- GTO
- Custom 'S'
- T-37
- GT-37
- Firebird
- Sprint
- Formula
- Trans Am
- Ventura II
- Grandville
- Grand Am
- Astre
- Sunbird
- Phoenix
- Can Am
- Fiero
- T-1000
- J-2000
- 6000
- STE
- Parisienne
- Sunfire
- Trans Sport
- Fiero
- Montana
- Aztek
- Vibe
- G5
- G6
- G8
- Torrent
- Solstice
- GXP
- and others!