Hello and thanks for reading. As many here know I was in a national contest to win a free digital projector from Honda at projectdrivein.com but we came up short in votes. I appreciate everyone here who voted and I know there was many who did. I need to come up with some fundraisers to get around 30k so I can lease/purchase one and get this at 53 percent. WOW! I want to reopen next season and keep the tradition alive as the Central Drive In has been open since 1952 and is still open for 3 more weekends (Fri and Sat only) For great info on what is happening to drive in please see the video on the www.projectdrivein.com page.

For the contest I will limit the sale to 100 tickets at 125 each. Think of it like a modification purchase but only bigger. I would rather give each person their number in order from 1 to 100 but if you have a lucky number like 69 I will assign you that number and there is a limit of buying 2 to spread it out so more people could win. I picked WOZ since I am a JJP distributor and I will have some more in stock soon. This will be NIB. I must sell all 100 tickets or the money will be refunded. I can take PayPal at [email protected] or mail to Central Drive In 5111 Kent Junction Road Norton VA 24273. Once all 100 tickets are purchased I will have somebody well respected do the drawing, hopefully at Expo if not live over a webcam and it will be recorded.

This is real, I am honest just got caught in a hard space trying to update all 9 screens at my indoor cinema. Its also happening to all movie cinemas, not just drive ins as film is on life support and I hate to see it go. The gov't will not allow Kodak to reenter the film business, and we thought we had two more years to convert at the drive in as Fuji left early this year leaving just Kodak. One company can make money, like Stern has, without any competition. I have very little cash left at present and the Fall is not a blockbuster movie season as football kills business on Fri with high school, Sat college and Sun the NFL has everybody watching rather than going to the movies.

This fundraiser will greatly help my business and rather than just asking for donations, I do have something to give back and its a nice pin. I am also going to do my one and only Hemi Edition ACDC Premium. This has only been in my personal collection but I can not stop playing Steve's other great ACDC creation the Great Face edition Pro as its such a great pin too, like WOZ to do a fundraiser with so look for ACDC Premium next.

Thanks for looking and Good Luck!
For anybody with questions just contact me
Buddy
[email protected]
Fax 276-679-7778
Voice 276-679-7779
Office 276-883-2073
Cell 276-219-4663 (not real good signal in the mountains of VA)

I need to sell the tickets as soon as possible. I would like to take the pin to PinExpo in Chicago have the drawing there. If the winner is close I could deliver or take it on the way home maybe.

There is a backlog of work to get the new projector plus building modifications also have to be done. Electrical, climate controlled, and much more. The screen alone cost 5k to paint to the silver white to reflect light better.

I am running out of film to show as I can not get 35mm prints. In fact this past weekend was the last new movie I will ever show.

For people with Facebook here is our drive in page
https://www.facebook.com/centraldrivein
Thanks again
Buddy

Hi
I wanted to use Kickstarter only after finding out we did not win but I have to use another service and I choose http://www.gofundme.com/4h1t6c as Honda is using these people for the National fund http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-drive-in-save-the-drive-in-fund. If you have a drive in close to you please check they may need help also and I would understand if you choose to help them instead.

We've been asked why we didn't make a Kickstarter account on our facebook page and here is the reason. We are not able to because Kickstarter cannot be used to raise money for causes, whether it's the Red Cross or a scholarship, or for "fund my life" projects, like tuition or bills. Kickstarter cannot be used to fund e-commerce, business, and social networking websites or apps.

I posted this in the other vote thread but here is the video explaining why we need the money.

It really is a great way to spend time with the ones you love the most. Sometimes a life is even created! You tube link below

#t=27

Thank you! Your ticket number is 2 in the drawing.

Thank you! Your ticket is number 1 for the drawing.

Thank you! Your ticket number is 3 for the drawing.

A request for the number 31 has been sold, thank you!

Thanks again for all your help. Your numbers by request are 77 and 96. 96 was a good year me. I got married in that year.

Great response so far, a big thank you! I hope we can make our own happy video like this one at PinExpo. See the link please.

Please do they really are a great part of Americana and everyone should experience it atleast once and get it checked off there bucket list.

I did, good memory. I didnt put a great title on it so you had to look a little. Most thought it Kiss or The Munsters. I nailed it because I saw it from my Firestone rep. It always a good idea to follow the money guys, they seem to know and it makes sense since they are probably loaning them money to make the equipment. I have delayed that meeting this year as I have no extra money for buying items but I am so anxious to want to see the sheet of upcoming products. Its been hinted a Walking Dead pin could be in our future but I also heard Hunger Games.
Thanks for the donation, your ticket number is 6.

Donations for the drawings can also be sent here, should anyone not want to use PayPal.

http://www.gofundme.com/4h1t6c

Thank You! Number 23 is your ticket number and thanks again.

Number 9 and 31 are your tickets, thanks again! Buddy

Thanks for your donation. Your ticket number is 8.

If you can have it picked up at Pinexpo in Chicago.

You need to come this weekend.

Showing Fri and Sat is the new movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Grown Ups 2 starting at 8pm since it is getting darker earlier. Bring your camera I am almost certain it would be your only chance to ever see a movie on film again especially with your kids. I will not charge you or any Pinsider just show me your pinside handle. I work the ticket box.

Thank you! You are ticket number 1

Thank You! You are number 31

Number 31 is yours. Another asked but I overlooked. That is why I am trying to show the numbers as quick as possible.

Hi Craig

I overlooked number 31 as it was already taken overnight. Please let me know of another number and I will quickly add it to the spreadsheet. Sorry for the confusion. Just want it all correct.
Thanks
Buddy

Central Drive-In (Norton, Virginia) From our facebook page.
We've been asked why we didn't make a Kickstarter account. We are not able to because Kickstarter cannot be used to raise money for causes, whether it's the Red Cross or a scholarship, or for "fund my life" projects, like tuition or bills. Kickstarter cannot be used to fund e-commerce, business, and social networking websites or apps.

Yes domestic 48 states shipping is included.

Va has a lottery, allows for real gambling machines in truck stops that pays out quarters, even allows for track horse racing from off site locations. Now you cant have a cherry master or 8 liner machines anymore since the state has its own lottery. I have looked into it and its all legal.
its no different than churches, Shriners, Harley Biker clubs, High School Band Boosters. I posted a few days ago to gauge reaction so I wanted to make sure. As long as I pay tax on the profit I am ok. The IRS gets there share an state taxes too. Thanks again for the concern but this is the only time I will be doing this but it will help to fill in 5k profit to get closer to 30k so I can borrow money at 54 percent to stay open. I already borrowed 1.9 million and there is no more money for m to borrow as I am most banks legal limit due to loan reserves. No joke here is the loan info where you can borrow on property so well buy store fixtures or equipment forget about it. I just need a little help to keep a long tern tradition alive and reopen next spring on time. Please dont hate let me get thru this. I dont think I can make the money needed with bake sales. Maybe naming rights??? Thank you for calling Freedom Ford's Central Drive in or Honda saves Central Drive in now showing. That is the kind of other ideas tossed around so the donation/drawing seems best.

I would not be even trying this if we were not desperate, the task is daunting. 80k is alot of cash and we pushed that voting so much, I was sure we would have won but I am trying the best way to get it reopened next year.

This is the stuff that bothers the crap out of me, all this waste of tax money read here. The Va film office throws money around but only to people making the money not showing the film (movie) But this one below takes the cake as it might create a drunk driver. Where is the help for a 61 year old business that has paid taxes, real estate and sales and brings in tourist from out of state since I am near the border of Ky and Tn. It just saddens me.

RICHMOND—Seven Virginia agricultural producers have received more than $891,000 in grants to improve the sales of their value-added farm products.
And $826,000 of that grant money is going to six producers who attended grant writing workshops offered by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability, an affiliate of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
"To get a value-added producer grant, you have to have a business plan and a marketing plan, and most small producers don’t have the resources to do that," said Suzanne Lawson, marketing director for Mountain Rose Vineyards in Wise County. After its operators attended the workshops, the vineyardwas awarded $147,980.
"You need a plan that allows you to compete, and it comes down to who has the best grant application," Lawson said.
VA FAIRS held three workshops in 2009. The first offered general information about the value-added producer grant program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency.
The second workshop taught grant-writing techniques, and the third was for producers who wanted to apply for the Rural Development grants. Nine participants spent two days writing their applications.
Of the nine who attended the final workshop, seven submitted applications and all seven were deemed eligible for grant funding consideration. Nationwide, nearly half of all applications were ineligible.
"Eligibility is a major hurdle for this program, so just by attending the workshops and learning how to properly apply, these farmers stood a very high chance of receiving money," said Chris Cook, agriculture enterprise development coordinator and executive director of VA FAIRS. "We were very fortunate to have USDA Rural Development’s active involvement in this workshop series. Partnerships like this can make all the difference."
Contact Cook at 804-290-1111

It was to these new digital projectors came along. I had to get 9 at the indoor but those are smaller with less light bulb a 3000 watt vs 6500 watt needed at drive in. We still went overbudget and we thought we had 2 more years for film for drive ins and smaller indoor movie houses. Just too quick now.

The pin market has been so hot that anything bought and even routed has been sold at a profit for the last 7 years. Incredible lack of depreciation. Most of the money comes from Pool tables, airhockey and redemption games. Classic video games like Ms Pac Man Galaga still earn ok.

The McHenry Outdoor got saved in IL they puled out all the stops played Grease at 4am and gave away free donuts. I hope Honda can save more all across the country.

You are a great guy and hope the best to you. It's really none of my business Buddy, but is the note you posted for the indoor theater you are trying to convert? If so, you just took the note out and you have three months before you no longer have access to current movies if you don't upgrade?
I see your company took out the loan. I hope you didn't sign personally as well. Having experienced a family business failure, the one thing I can say is to get out when you can if there is an end in sight. Don't allow pride to suck every last penny and asset down with the dying business. Not trying to be a downer but if it is as dire as you say it is, you need to think about yourself and your family and try to shelter as many assets as you can. Again, I don't mean to be a downer, just concerned for a genuinely good guy. Pm me if you ever need to talk, vent or ask questions.

It is bad for drive ins as there is no repayment back from the film studios. I have had the newer indoor open for 5 years and it still somewhat easy to refinance property for what ever purpose. I will be safe, years ago before owning the bldg the rent was around 9k now I have a much nicer place that will someday go to the kids after 20 more years.

I do appreciate your concern and thats one of the reasons I no longer help on a local buiness board as it so hard to say goodbye. I already posted it on my drive in so everyone will not be in shock if we do not get to reopen.

1305549_584385371599295_1646147623_n.jpg

The drawing will be at the LTG show. I could think of no finer example of an honest helping man than Lloyd to show its real all numbers are there and let him help in the selection of the winner and 1st runner up and 2nd runner up.

I have to leave for a few hours but I will tell everyone there numbers and I am working hard to get everyone requested number too. Please send me your handle name as it makes matching up the number easier as some sent the cash and posted the number in the thread. I appreciate all the support and I just want to get thru this as its a fantastic way to help with the donations and I do not feel guilty sharing in some random prizes to be awarded. Lloyd will be helping draw the main winner and a couple of nice side prizes that are worth the donation amount at his LTG show at Pinexpo in Chicago. I hate drama and never wanted this to unfold like this. I wanted to feel excited and have my own Honda feel good event like that last video. I want to survive despite everything bad. Please bear with me as I will get everyone there number after getting kids from school and I will be back home at 4pm.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with me.
Your Pinballpal,
Buddy

PayPal Balance
$6,647.07 USD

I had a little in there but not more than 300 so we are half way there. Great news! The sooner its done the sooner the thread can die and we can have a winner. Asking for 100 donations at 125 = 12,500