The Huffington Post Names Kansas City 'Coolest' City In America

Kansas City is the most up-and-coming city in the country, according to the Huffington Post.The Huffington Post ranked Kansas City as the most exciting, "it" city in the United States. The food, Midwestern hospitality and music were all highlighted as reasons to visit the metro area.

I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come.
I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come.
They got some crazy little women there and I’m a gonna get me one.

I’ll be on the corner of 12th Street and Vine.
With my Ford Thunderbird and baby, she’s really fine.
I sure hope to drive, I might have to drag,
but if I have to push I’m gonna get the bird there just the same.

I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come.
They got some crazy little women there and I’m gonna get me one.

The Vintage Thunderbirds of Kansas City invite all Thunderbird owners and enthusiasts throughout the world to meet in the center of the United States of America, Kansas City, Missouri, for the 2016 Vintage Thunderbird Club International’s Convention. Festivities begin Wednesday, August 10, and continue for the next four days and nights, as you greet past friends and welcome new ones to the greatest VTCI event of the year. Here is what you can expect to experience in a snapshot.

Wednesday – Registration opens and Welcome Reception

Thursday – Goin’ To Kansas City Coach Tour and Board Meeting

Friday – During the day, a choice of a stadium tour of the Royals or the Chiefs, followed by a stop at the County Club Plaza. That night enjoy BBQ at the National Airline History Museum

Saturday – Owner’s and judge’s meeting followed by Judging. That evening is the Awards Banquet.

That’s the snapshot, here are the details:

Wednesday – After you’ve checked into the Convention Hotel, Embassy Suites Kansas City – International Airport, registered at the special Registration Area (2) and picked up your goody bag, then making sure your favorite Thunderbird has found its rightful place in the hotel’s north parking lot, join us for a Welcome Reception in the lobby. Here you can imbibe in your favorite adult beverage and chow down on heavy hor dourves. But if you’ve still got a hunger on, catch the complimentary hotel shuttle for the short drive to Zona Rosa, which features over 20 local and national restaurants. Or get on over to the K (Kauffman Stadium) on your own, and catch the Kansas City Royals vs. the Chicago White Sox.


(1) Hotel Registration
(2) VTCI Participant Registration for Wednesday & Thursday.
(3) Elevator to your room
(4) Exit to secure parking for your Thunderbird
(5) Hospitality Room, Silent Auction & Registration on Friday and Saturday
(6) Morning Breakfast & Evening Reception
(7) Board Meeting, Judge's Only Meeting Room and Talley Room
(8) Saturday Evening Banquet in A, B, C & D

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Registration Area

12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Registration Open (2 above)
1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Hospitality Room & Silent Auction Open (5 above)
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Hotel Manager's Reception (6 above)
6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - VTCI Reception in Hospitality Room (5 above)

Pictures from Day One

Thursday – After filling up on the complimentary cooked to order breakfast adjacent to the hotel lobby (6), today get an up close look at Kansas City. Board your motor coach and sit back while seeing the sites out your window, while listening to on-board commentary, before being dropped off at either River Market, or Union Station. These two destinations are the termination points for the new RideKC Streetcar, a free way to get up and down Main Street, while stopping at points of most interest to you. Some places to consider, beginning north at River Market and working your way south, the Arabia Steamboat Museum, River Market Antique Mall, Planters Seed Feed Spices, College Basketball Experience at the Power & Light District, Crossroads Art District, the special exhibit at the Union Station, Science City, Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium, Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, National World War One Museum at the Liberty Memorial (the only WWI museum in the world), Hallmark Visitors Center, Legoland, or the Sea Life Aquarium. This is an all-day event with convenient pick-up at the end of the day for a motor coach return to the hotel by 4pm. Full details can be found in your registration goody bag. 

The annual Board Meeting will also be held on Thursday and is open to all attendees. Look in your Welcome Packet with time and location.

This evening you may join in the hotel manager’s complimentary evening reception (6 above) with dinner on your own.

New KC Ride Streetcar

Map of Street Car Route

6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Hotel Breakfast (6 above)
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Board Meeting, All Welcome (Polo I - 7 above)
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Registration Open (2 above)
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Hospitality Room & Silent Auction Open (5 above)
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Kansas City Experience Tour (meet in lobby - 1 above)
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Hotel Manager's Reception (6 above)
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Hospitality Room & Silent Auction Open (5 above)

Pictures from Day Two

The Kansas City Experience Tour

Pictures Courtesy Of Bill Clay, Rocky Mountain Thunderbird Club

Friday – Again enjoy a complimentary breakfast, and then board your motor coach to head out to the Truman Sports Complex where you have a choice of taking a 90-minute tour of either The “K”, Kauffman Stadium, home of the World Champions Kansas City Royals baseball team, or Arrowhead Stadium, home of the not-so-World Champions Kansas City Chiefs. If you are a party of two or more, each participant can individually select the venue to visit. There is no requirement that all persons in your group visit the same stadium. And after your tour, you again have a choice to either board a coach back to the Embassy Suites, or travel to the first shopping center in the world to accommodate drive up shoppers, the world famous Country Club Plaza. Relax with lunch on your own, do some browsing through the shops found in this fifteen block area, marvel at the unique architecture and wonderful fountains, and do some people watching. Return in the afternoon to arrive at the Embassy Suites around 3:30pm.

Aerial View of Kauffman Stadium - Bottom and Arrowhead Stadium - Top

Country Club Plaza

Kaufmann Stadium Tour-Home of the World Champion Kansas City Royals

Pictures Courtesy of Bill Clay, Rocky Mountain Thunderbird Club

Friday evening brings Bar-b-que to Hangar 9 at the National Aviation History Museum, where we have guided tours through the working hangar of a restored Lockheed Constellation (Connie), three NAHM aircraft, DC-3, TWA Moonliner II, American Eaglet, and one of only a handful of Martin 404s still in existence. There is also a unique collection of memorabilia including stewardess uniforms, real china and silverware and playing cards for airline travel in the past. Did we say you also get to indulge yourself with BBQ, a treat not to be missed, no matter which part of the world you reside. Never hurts to repeat such a treat.

Lockheed L-1049 Constellation (Connie)

Are You Drooling Yet?

6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Hotel Breakfast (6 above)
8:00 am - 9:00 a.m. - Judges & Owners Meeting (Polo I - 7 above)
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Authenticity & Wixom Preservation Judging (Show Field Parking out North Entrance - 4 above)
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Registration Open (Note that Registration will be held to the Hospitality Room - 5 above)
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Hospitality Room & Silent Auction Open (5 above)
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Operation's Judging (In place on the Show Field Parking out North Entrance - 4 above)
9:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Sports Comples and Country Club Plaza Tour (Meet in the lobby - 1 above)
​5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Aviation Museum and Barbecue Event (Meet in the lobby - 1 above)
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Hotel Manager's Reception (6 above)
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Hospitality Room I& Silent Auction Open (5 above)

Pictures from Day Three

Operations Judging

Wixom and Authenticity Preservation Judging

Airline Museum and BBQ

Hospitality Room Happenings

Night Pictures taken around 11:30pm

Saturday – After breakfast, the Owner’s and Judge’s meeting takes place on the Show Field, followed by the judging of your Thunderbird, or roam through the cars on display. The remainder of the day is a relaxing one where there will be talk of cars, or you may wish to opt for a free shuttle ride to Zona Rosa to do shopping and eating.

Street View at Zona Rosa

This year’s VTCI International Convention culminates Saturday evening with the Awards Banquet (8). After the traditional Cartales Hour, enjoy a sit-down dinner with your choice of Chicken Piccata (sauteed chicken breast topped with lemon-caper cream sauce), Marinated Pork Loin (served with roasted garlic and portabella mushroom demi), or Maple Lacquered Salmon (fillet of salmon glazed with light maple flavor and finished with bourbon cream sauce). Everyone will receive a chef's garden salad consisting of spring mix, cucumber, grape tomato, julienne carrots and banana peppers. And for dessert, your choice of New York cheesecake with fruit drizzle (classic NY cheesecake with a graham cracker crust finished with a seasonal berry garnish) or a mini chocolate bundt cake (rich and perfectly chocolate, drizzled with a bourbon laced creme anglaise).

Lou Paliani will also be performing his superb guitar and vocals during the evening. After dinner, the one-of-a-kind awards will be distributed with the “Best of Show” closing out the evening.

Banquet Set-Up

7:00 a.m. - 19:30 am - Hotel Breakfast (Please note weekend time - 6 above)
8:00 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Registration Open in the Hospitality Room (5 above)
8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. - Owners & Judges Meeting on the Show Field (4 above)
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Hospitality Room Open (5 above)
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Silent Auction Open (5 above)
9 a.m. - Rags Down - step away from your car, whether it is being judged or on display
9 a.m. - Judging Begins (Show Field - 4 above)
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Judges Only Lunch (Polo I - 7 above)
1:00 p.m. - Display Only Ballot Voting Ends (4 above)
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Please Pick Up and Pay For Silent Auction Item(s) Won - (5 above)
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - "Car Tales Hour" With Cash Bar (8 above)
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Awards Banquet (8 above)

Pictures from Day Four

Getting the Day Off Right

Owner's and Judge's Meeting

Preparation for Judging

Judging

TBirds On The Show Field

Banquet and Awards Ceremony

And The Award Goes To . . . 
Display Only - Popular Ballot
​1958 - 1966 Open Convertible

1958 - 1966 Closed Coupe

Late Model

Retro

Judged Divisions
Retro Modified

Retro

Late Model

Touring

Modified

Driver

Primary

1st Place Primary (New Senior Cars)

Senior Participation

Senior Concours

The Larry J Seyfarth Award for Best Little Bird Trailered
Bill Clark

The Larry J Seyfarth Award for Best Thunderbird
​Driven to the Convention
Wayne and Bonnie Settlemeyer

The Larry J. Seyfarth Award for Best Thunderbird
Trailered to the Convention
Jim and Maureen Mills

Sunday – A day to pack up and head home, after saying your farewells to those who have traveled to share a few days of memories that will stay with you forever. You’ll also be able to recall much that took place when you put on your event T-shirt or baseball hat, as well as looking again at the pictures that captured moments from the Convention.

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Hotel Breakfast (6 above)
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Goodbyes - Hotel Atrium (1 above)

License Plates Found on Some of the 90 Thunderbirds on the Show Field

Thunderbird Badges

Example of the 2016 VTCI International Convention T-Shirt

Host Hotel
Embassy Suites Kansas City - International Airport
7640 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway
Kansas City, Missouri 64153
816-801-2246

Making Hotel Reservations
There are two ways you may register at the Embassy Suites for the specially negotiated rate of $119.00 per night plus tax.

1. Via the Internet
Click on this link and you will be taken to the Vintage Thunderbird Club of KC reservation site. 
or
2. Via the phone
Guests can call 800-EMBASSY(362-2779) and ask for the Vintage Thunderbird Club of Kansas City group rate.

There are two options for sleeping accommodations. Two double beds/non-smoking, or one king bed/non-smoking. Included with your accommodation are:

•  A spacious two-room suite with a separate living area and enjoy a range of comforting facilities, including two flat-screen TVs, and a microwave.
• WiFi available throughout the hotel, including your guest room, which is free for Hilton Honor members
• Free cooked to order breakfast every morning
• Savor snacks and drinks at the complimentary Evening Reception in the inviting hotel lobby
• Take a dip in the large saltwater pool or the whirlpool
• Workout in the fully equipped fitness center, boasting the latest modern equipment
• Free on-site parking (a special parking area to the north of the hotel has been set aside for all Thunderbirds in their own personalized spot)
• If you are flying into KCI, the airport is 5 minutes away from the Embassy Suites, and the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to and from

If you make reservations via the special VTKC reservation site, the default check-in date is August 10 and check-out date is August 14. When you are ready to Book A Room and click on that button, a new page will open where you may change the check-in/check-out dates to meet your individual needs. You will also notice that the VTB special code has already been filled in under Special Accounts and Rates so you will benefit from the lower negotiated rate when completing your reservation.

You may also use your accumulated Hilton Honors points to secure your room. Otherwise, a current credit card will be needed to guarantee your room.

Note: The special room rate will be available through July 20, 2016 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. 

FYI, the rooms in our block are going fast, so if you plan on attending this year's VTCI International Convention, please reserve your room at the Host Hotel sooner rather than later. We've already asked for an increase in the number of rooms in our block, which the hotel honored, but we're not sure if they will continue that practice if our block is sold out. The early bird and all that stuff.

Are you ready to register for the 2016 VTCI International Convention?

Click here to open the Registration Form which is shown below. 
Once open, right click on the form, hover your cursor over Print, and left click to print out the form. Complete the form, write out your check to VTKC, and mail to Larry Graham. His address is on the form. The hard part will be deciding to order a T-Shirt or a Polo. Easy way around that is to order both.

You can also go to the Vintage Thunderbird Club International website and print off the Registration Form. It is available through this link.

Early Bird Registration Bonus Opportunity

Because it is easy to procrastinate about sending in your paid Registration Form, maybe this will give you a push to send it in earlier than you might otherwise. Here's the deal:

March 1, 2016 - When your paid in full Registration is received by this date, you receive 5 chances to win a free Embassy Suites hotel room night
April 1, 2016 - When your paid in full Registration is received by this date, you receive 3 chances to win a free Embassy Suites hotel room night
May 1, 2016 - When your paid in full Registration is received by this date, you receive 2 chances to win a free Embassy Suites hotel room night
June 1, 2016 - When your paid in full Registration is received by this date, you receive 1 chances to win a free Embassy Suites hotel room night

All chances received will be placed in a container and four will be randomly drawn at the Awards Banquet. The four winners will have their free night reflected on their final hotel bill upon check-out.

Check out some of the sights to be seen while in Kansas City by playing the video below, and welcome to Kansas City.

This page updated 9 September 2016