Concord - 53rd Convention July 23-29, 2023
It was 23 years in the making – a return to the home of Lionel! The LCCA has visited the home of Lionel twice before: first during the 1993 LCCA Convention and again during the 2000 LCCA convention, both in Dearborn, MI. The 2023 LCCA Convention was held in Concord, NC, the new home of Lionel. And as in the past, Lionel planned on hosting the convention attendees with special plans and events that were beyond belief. Truly a convention that all attendees will remember for many years!!
Our Club Photographer put together a quick video presentation of the Concord convention covering many events and tours. Renew the time together or see what you may have missed if you did not attend.
Starting the week, two days were set aside for a tour of the entire Lionel facility and its operations, with major areas where Lionel employees were on hand to give us the firsthand review of what happens in their areas. With a train ride scheduled for Friday, the Lionel Seminar was moved to Wednesday immediately following the LCCA Business Meeting. Thursday was open for tours with Friday evening reserved for the opening of the trading hall.
It is widely known that Concord is not only the home of Lionel, but also a hub for NASCAR. No visit to Concord would be complete without a few NASCAR and racing-related tours. 90 percent of NASCAR teams have facilities within 75 miles of Concord. And we were lucky to visit a few of them. To complement the relationship Lionel Racing has with NASCAR, a few extra special racing-focused tours were scheduled. Lionel arranged for a Special Event on Monday evening – an evening dinner in the clubhouse and overlooking the Charlotte Motor Raceway. This limited-seating venue was a must see, and it included action on the track. The evening was topped off with a special guest - Richard Petty
But Concord was more that just trains and race cars. There were a dozen other tours offered that were of interest to attendees and satisfy many tastes. There was the opportunity to meet fellow members at the Get Acquainted Party and to renew friendships at the Saturday LCCA Banquet.
The 53rd Annual LCCA Convention in Concord had it all. The exclusive tours and events, our traditional LCCA Get Acquainted Party and Banquet and, of course, a lively trading hall. All the folks at Lionel were ready to greet, host, and show us around.
Last year’s convention in Nashville was very successful, with 18 tours to 28 different venues. We loaded 59 buses during the week with 2,158 members taking tours. But this year’s convention was more successful but distinctly different. To top it off, Lionel hosted a week-long “Poker Run” that culminated with the best hand(s) winning prizes awarded at the banquet on Saturday night with some really great prizes.
The first two days of the Concord convention were all about the Lionel Headquarters in Concord, N.C., and a behind-the-scenes experience we would never forget. We were welcomed by the Lionel team as they personally guided us through their headquarters and showed us where all the magic happens and how they bring Lionel model trains to life – from start to finish. From engineering and creative to production and shipping, each department plays a crucial role in the overall process of creating these iconic trains – and we got to see it all! We heard from Lionel’s own experts and got firsthand knowledge about what contributes to the success of this 123 year old brand. Lionel's headquarters is not open to the general public, and the Lionel team was really excited to welcome the LCCA convention into their home office for this exclusive tour. Toward the very end of each tour group's visit we stopped into the CEO's office and got to sit at his desk. A photo was taken with Howard Hitchcock and to our surprise showed up on a custom printed one-of-a-kind Lionel boxcar as a remembrance of our visit before leaving the convention.
The North Carolina Transportation Museum is in Spencer, N.C., just north of Charlotte and Concord. The Southern Railroad chose this spot because it was exactly halfway between Atlanta and Washington DC. Once the yards and railroad shops were established, the town of Spencer grew up around them. Several historic structures dating as far back as 1896 are still standing on the museum site. This museum contains all types of transportation including trucks, cars, airplanes, as well as trains. We took a ride around the museum grounds in a full-sized train pulled by a vintage diesel, and we also rode on an operational turntable serving the largest remaining roundhouse in North America. The 37-bay roundhouse was the site of the 2012 Norfolk Southern Family Portrait and the 2014 Streamliners at the Spencer event. We also had a catered barbecue lunch on the museum grounds under its picnic shelters reserved for our group only. This is a well-known first-class transportation museum that we all were glad we did not miss.
This was a short tour for Monday’s people coming back early from the Lionel Headquarters tour, or for those waiting for a later afternoon Lionel Headquarters Tour. A shuttle bus transported us to North Carolina’s largest and #1 shopping destination, the Concord Mall just a few short miles from our hotel. This mall facility is all on one floor and covers 1,362,404 square feet with over 200 stores, including the Lionel retail store. There was also an attached Speedpark, as well as an AMC/IMAX theater there. Those that got tired of shopping could relax with a snack at the outstanding Food Court with its many choices and variations. The Food Court was just outside the Lionel retail store in this gigantic mall. Most of us needed plenty of time for the Lionel retail store and its four different operating layouts. One which was of particular note was created by Lionel’s own Lauren Morris, showing the different seasons on different levels. For everyone with a convention badge there were special deals for convention attendees and a chance to pick up another Poker card.
The Speedway Club is the ultimate fan and guest experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We all enjoyed the iconic Speedway Club food while overlooking the world famous Charlotte Motor Speedway. This was a very limited tour, with a maximum of 225 people on a first-come sign-up basis. The outstanding dinner included a choice of meat and non-alcoholic drinks and dessert. We were welcomed to the evening by Lionel Chief Executive Officer Howard Hitchcock, followed by a special guest speaker from NASCAR - Richard Petty. A very limited- production surprise gift was provided on the tables by Lionel for each person attending this event and an exclusive autograph session with Richard Petty was provided complements of Lionel at the end of the evening. The Summer Shootout Legend Series Cars were running on the track while we were eating in the glass-enclosed, air-conditioned dining area, high above the front stretch of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This was truly a unique experience for those that attended the event.
There were three separate venue's of Nascar motorsport we explored on this tour.
Venue #1 - RFK Racing offered us a behind-the-scenes look into its pit stop practice area where members of its pit crews were practicing. RFK’s pit athletes train multiple times per week as the Cup Series is in its second season with the single-lug wheel on the NextGen car. The RFK museum was also a stop on the tour, a historical peek at the rich history of Jack Roush and his race team. Multiple cars, including some race-win cars and show cars, were on display throughout the museum, as well as multiple trophies from Roush’s 300-plus wins throughout his NASCAR career. Partner displays, a shrine of Roush’s Hall of Fame items, and more were on display for those who took a walk through the facility. Guests on-site received a 30 percent off discount in the RFK Retail Store, which serves as RFK’s official apparel and gear store. In addition to a photo opportunity at the fountain in front of the corporate building, membersreceived a RFK Racing hat, pin, and decal, as memorabilia for their visit.
Venue #2 - Hendrick Motorsports offered us the rare opportunity to see inside the team’s race shops, where cars for the Nos. 5, 9, 24, and 48 Hendrick Motorsports teams fabricate, assemble and race prep their Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s. We also toured the Hendrick Motorsports engine and CNC facilities where the organization designs, manufactures, assembles and tests over 200 race engines each year. These engines are raced in over 400 events annually between the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Hendrick Motorsports Museum was open for us to enjoy. The museum features a variety of historically significant race cars, some of Rick Hendrick’s personal cars and offered a special look at the history of the 14-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning organization. We also received a 20 percent discount off any items purchased inside the museum Gift Shop, as well as an LCCA/HMS special item for each person on the tour!
Venue #3 - NASCAR Research and Development Facilities. Originally created for safety within the sport, the R&D Center first opened in Conover, N.C. in 2000. In 2003, the current R&D Center was opened in Concord, N.C. This 61,000 square foot building houses R&D, Inspectors/Officials, Series Directors, and Training/ Development personnel from all NASCAR series. Our tour included multiple areas of expertise during our visit, so no questions were off limit. NASCAR was excited for our visit and personally thanked us for our support in carrying on this great sport. During this exclusive experience, we viewed car setups, parts of the at-track inspection process, the chassis certification process, and gained access to engineering insights and tests used to execute the great races you see on Sundays, while sustaining the highest levels of safety for drivers and fans. Some of the topics and displays covered were the NextGen Car, CAD design, dynamometer cell, Optical Scanning Station (OSS), and the fabrication and rapid prototype shop. At the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to drive a lap around Daytona International Speedway, with the NextGen Car, in one of the iRacing Simulators.
There were two separate venue's of Nascar motorsport we explored on this tour.
Venue #4 - JR Motorsports - Now in its 22nd year, JR Motorsports is the professional race team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. The company is based in Mooresville, North Carolina, and operates out of a 66,000-square-foot facility that serves as the nucleus of Earnhardt Jr.’s racing, marketing and business interests.
JR Motorsports tours nationally in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with four full-time entries and is also active regionally with its late model program, upon which the company was founded.
JR Motorsports has three championships (2014, 2017 and 2018) to its credit. In 2017, the organization made NXS history
by becoming the first team to claim the top three spots in the
championship standings after locking four teams in the Playoff
Round of 12, which also stood as a series record. The trend marked
the fourth consecutive season (2014-17) that JRM placed at least two
cars in the top four of the final standings. The company also maintains
a distinction as the only NXS team to produce rookie champions, accomplishing the feat with Chase Elliott (2014), William Byron
(2017) and Tyler Reddick (2018.)
Laying the foundation for this success was the team’s monumental 2014 season, in which it won the championship and earned a single-season-record nine victories among four drivers. In 2022, JR Motorsports shattered that mark with 15 triumphs among four drivers and placed 2-3-4 in the series points. All told, JRM boasts nearly 75 NXS victories and 100 late-model victories, including late- model championships in 2012, 2014, 2016-17 and 2022, along with a national title in 2020.
The company’s journey began in 2002 with a foray into street stock cars that competed locally at Concord (N.C.) Speedway. After numerous wins in the local ranks, Earnhardt launched his Xfinity Series program in 2006. In 2008 he merged with Hendrick Motorsports to field a joint effort that would include engineering, chassis and engine support. The collaboration paid off as JR Motorsports enjoyed a breakout season with four victories between its two teams. The company would score eight victories during the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. The team’s triumphs carried through the ensuing seasons, culminating in its championship efforts in 2014, 2017 and 2018. In addition to its NXS teams, JRM also expanded into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with a single entry in 2015- 16, scoring two wins, including a victory in only its second series start.
Venue #5 - Penske - Performance has always been a top priority with Roger Penske and Team Penske’s state-of-the-art-facility located on 105 acres in Mooresville, N.C., mirrors its owner’s philosophy - performance paired with style. Gleaming Italian floor tile, black leather chairs and an ample supply of glass in the main entrance do not even provide a hint of the massive race car building facility that lies on the other side of the courtyard. The two buildings that once housed the Matsushita Compressor Corp. of America in the Mooresville Business Park total 424,697 square feet. Matsushita operated the manufacturing plant for a decade, but then vacated it. For three years, the property was left to its wildlife inhabitants. In 2004, however, Roger Penske entered the picture.
After acquiring the property in June 2004 for $7 million, two construction crews were placed on the project in seven-day-a-week shifts. The main building’s interior was gutted and a major facelift begun. Within six months, the race team’s administrative department and chassis shop began relocating to the new racing campus. By March 2005, the NASCAR teams’ move had been completed. In May 2005, a 4,986-square foot gift shop that provides visitors access to a 432-foot fan walk above the garage floor opened, and before 2005 ended, Penske’s sports car series team had moved from Reading, Penn., to the North Carolina facility. By early 2007, all of Team Penske’s race teams called the massive structure home. The IndyCar Series team, located in Reading, Penn., since the early 1970s, completed its move to Mooresville in late 2006. The IndyCar Series teams occupy 55,843 square feet in the facility. The consolidation of Team Penske made Roger Penske the first owner competing in three different major auto racing series to place all of his teams under one roof, and the first to base his IndyCar Series team in North Carolina. Team Penske visitors know they’ve been to a facility that’s world class and a place that creates a team environment for preparation and performance.
This tour advertised that we wear good walking shoes for this adventure and they were right. We had a shuttle bus between these three locations although they are all three in the same facility. The first stop was the Gibson Mall, a new name for the old textile manufacturing company headquarters. We had around four hours for the three stops so planning our time between each location allowed each of us to pick and choose priorities. The gigantic Antique Mall, one of the largest in the U. S., stretches for what seems like miles and includes over 800 vendors. Thank goodness there were street signs and “arrows to exits” throughout this place.
The second stop, the AutoBarn housed hundreds of exotic cars, and almost all of them were for sale. The inventory is never the same two days in a row. However, every day is filled with unbelievable inventory. There were also antique restored trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and more. The AutoBarn also provided us refreshments.
Our third location was the Cabbarus Brewing Company. They make a variety of quality craft beers which we could sample along with a tour of the brewery. Cabarrus Brewing is the largest craft production brewery in the county. They are also the iconic Brewery that made the “Lionel Ale” for the 2019 LCCA Reno convention.
Whether you were a past, present Mustang owner, or just a current car buff, the Mustang Owners Museum was the place to be. This museum featured over 25 Mustangs from classics, modified, racing, and a few unique versions. At the museum, we saw the 1964 World’s Fair Mustang and a Shelby Cobra found in a river and totally restored. There were barn finds, including cars, memorabilia, and much more. We saw the fourth Mustang ever produced, along with Henry Ford II’s Gold car. If you visited the Corvette Museum last year at our Nashville convention, this tour was just the museum to complete your bucket list. Each tour attendee received a unique souvenir pin of the tour event at the end of the tour.
The next stop was the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and Museum combined with the Curb Motorsports museum, all in one gigantic building. As soon as we stepped inside we saw musicians of the North Carolina region including Randy Travis and many more. Walking through the displays and seeing the outfits and diorama settings of the Country Western musicians and other famous people from the area completed our experience. We could also listen to music and watch videos from the greatest artists in the North Carolina history. We saw the exhibits from pioneering older artists to memorabilia from some of today’s most well-known entertainers. From there we went just next door (same building) to see the Curb Auto Museum. Charlotte is NASCAR country and Mr. Curb’s collection of older NASCAR, Indy cars and drag racing cars astonished us. We also saw cars raced by Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and many more on display. From cars to trophies, to everything else in the racing world, this was place to visit.
Another opportunity to tease our taste buds awaited us at the famous Southern Grace Distillery located in a recently abandoned prison. The prison was built in 1927 and when closed as a jail, it was converted into a distillery. The old cell blocks have been turned into a distillery and storage rooms. However, a couple of prison cells have been left in their original state for our photo shots between the cold steel bars. We also saw the old Guard Tower, the Warden home, and the infamous Hot Box that was located on most prison grounds. The this guided tour included whiskey tasting for those interested.
Our other educational stop on Thursday afternoon was the Reed Gold Mine, (oldest in the U.S.A.) where we toured the underground mine/tunnels and also tried our hand panning for real gold. First, a little trivia. Do you realize that gold was first discovered in North Carolina? Back in 1799, farmer John Reed’s son found a 17-pound rock with gold in it. North Carolina led in gold production until 1848 when the gold rush in California took over first place. The first U.S. gold rush was in Dahlonega, Ga., in 1825 where a U.S. mint was later established. And, do you own a Lionel-issued Dahlonega Mint Car #7530 produced by Lionel in the 1979-86 Mint series? We visited the museum, toured the mine/tunnel, and panned for gold if you wished. Those that found Gold were given a vial to take it home in.
Mr. Duke is known for quite a few things but one is the Duke Energy Company. Another is Duke University. Why was his mansion in Charlotte and his university in Durham? As a successful tobacco farmer, most of his farm land was up in Durham, so that is where he established his university. Built in 1915 and tripled in size by its most famous owner James Buchanan Duke in 1919, The Duke Mansion is a 20-room bed-and-breakfast and event venue. The Duke Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operates as a nonprofit whose proceeds are used to preserve and protect this community treasure.
Being in the heart of NASCAR County meant a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame was a must. This facility located in downtown Charlotte is not only a museum, but a shrine to the history, heritage and future of the fast sport of car racing. As we entered, we were greeted by the famous race track with its high elevated banking. Try to walk up it if you dare! The track is covered with famous race cars, however, different cars rotate on an annual basis. We could also take part in over 50 different interactive experiences. We could get behind the wheel in a racing simulator designed for our favorite track. Do the pit road challenge and competition individually or create a team.
Could you change four tires, fuel a tank of gas, and do this in less than 15 seconds? At the end of this experience, we were surely a NASCAR fan for life.
The Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railroad (AC&WR) is a privately owned 150-mile short line in the heart of North Carolina. The ACWR connects to the Norfolk Southern and the CSX, allowing for its freight shippers to be dual served. It had to shut down its entire working day just so we could take a scenic ride through the fabulous Carolina countryside. We rode from Candor through Pinehurst to Aberdeen and back. The famous Pinehurst Golf Club hosts many golf tournaments including the prestigious men and women U.S. Opens. The excursion consisted of open-air cars, a Budd full dome car, a baggage car, and a double diner off the Pennsylvania Railways Congressional. Included in the event was a tour of the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway headquarters and their 80,000 square foot railway shop. we toured some of the most beautiful historic passenger cars which date back to the early 1900s. Along with the refurbished passenger cars, we also saw many other engines, locomotive parts, and railroad artifacts and were greeted by Robert Menzies, the founder and owner of the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway. Lionel has modeled many of these passenger cars and locomotives, and this tour gave attendees the opportunity to view and ride some of the models. A box lunch was provided.
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is one of the most picturesque spots in all of North Carolina. Its mission statement is “Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden creates an inspiring, unforgettable garden experience that instills a love of nature and its beauty.” Daniel Stowe, a retired textile executive from Fremont, N.C. reserved 380 acres of prime rolling meadows, woodlands, and lakefront property and established a foundation on which to develop a world-class botanical garden. His wife Arlene helped him envision a complex evolving over several decades to rival other internationally renowned gardens. We entered the gardens through a stunning 13,500 square-foot pavilion with a breathtaking 100 year old stained-glass dome. There were eight different gardens and 12 exceptional fountains. It also contained the Orchid Conservatory. Two more areas have been added lately - the Kimbrell Children’s Garden in 2014 and the Piedmont Prairie Garden completed in 2019. This was a venue that was a place in the Carolinas we all were glad we did not miss.
From the Gardens, we traveled a short distance to the NarroWay Theater and Performance Hall just south of Charlotte, the premier Christian Theater of the South, known as “The Broadway of Christian Entertainment.” After a visit to the gift shop, book store, etc., we were served an outstanding lunch from the hands of today’s performing cast, followed by the afternoon’s performance of “Samson, The Last Judge.” Billed as “A show that all Christian Americans need to see.,” this is not only a Christian show but also a captivating, patriotic show filled with hope. It is the story of Samson and also the story of America. The creative setting for “Samson” begins in a Senator’s office and though written with no political agenda, it may be interpreted as doing so in today’s environment. If you were a patriotic American who believes in the principles the founding fathers built this nation upon, you couldn't help enjoy this production.
On the south side of Charlotte, we visited the world famous Billy Graham Library, boyhood home, and the beautiful landscaped grounds and burial site of Billy Graham. This place is known as “An Ongoing Crusade.” Billy Graham was always against the idea of a museum bearing his name. He did not want to take away from the message he preached for more than 60 years, pointing to Christ alone as the way to God. When the concept was presented to him as a Crusade for generations to come, he reconsidered. This spot is organized around the themes of “The Man,” “The Message & The Ministry,” and “The Mission.” Graham grew up on a dairy farm in Charlotte, and from there became known, appreciated, and loved worldwide. He was often called the pastor to presidents since he met with many U.S. Presidents during their terms in office as they sought spiritual counsel. We were able to soak in the memories and accomplishments of this man of God at this memorial.
From the Graham site, we traveled a short distance to the NarroWay Theater and Performance Hall just south of Charlotte to enjoy a great performance and outstanding lunch.
July 23-29, 2023, will be a great memorable time. However, we can look forward now to the model railroad train shows, camaraderie and more at the Omaha convention in 2024.
These events held in Omaha are just a taste of the type of things in store for you, your family, and friends when you come to an LCCA convention and help us celebrate the annual anniversary of the "Best toy train club on the planet" by making each convention one of the best in Lionel Collectors Club Convention history. Members may register online for the Omaha Convention starting in mid-February 2024 or read the details of the events published in The Lion Roars, the club’s model train magazine. Non-members may join the club now and be prepared for a fabulous week of fun, great food, toy train shows and friendship with train operators and collectors who favor the Lionel brand and celebrate the world’s greatest hobby.
