Sometimes, hobbies can be great generators of economic activity.

Take, for example, the 33rd Annual GTO Association of America International Meet, which was held in early July at The Ranch and Embassy Suites.

It was a busy week and several busy months of preparation for the Northern Colorado GTO Association – of which I’m a member – and the Classic GTO Association of Denver, joint non-profit sponsors of this show. This show, and others like it, is significant boosters to the economy of Northern Colorado.

Our show generated 856 room-nights at the Embassy Suites, well over $100,000 of revenue. Total direct spending by our clubs to sponsor the show was approximately $60,000.

We had 204 Pontiacs registered for this event, 46 GTOs in concours judging and the rest in popular voting classes. The xXx GTO was on display and there were seminars describing the making of the Vin Diesel xXx movie, touring Route 66 in GTOs and several other topics of interest to GTO and Pontiac owners and restorers. For the first time, the GTO show was open to all Pontiacs. There were 259 persons registered for the show and there was a steady stream of spectators viewing the many Pontiacs on display, especially