1st Annual Pinball Festival - 2012 - Newcastle area

[Strangeways]

Thanks for the photos guys 

All I can say is WOW.. I'm sitting in front of the computer WISHING I was there !

This has to be "right up there" with some of the USA Expo / Conventions / meets. Well done to the organizers 

Good to see Gav and Mike "Photo bomb" Homepin 

[swinks]

A huge thanks to AP, APR, Hot Rodded Pins, Retropin and Homepin for your generousity in sponsoring the event with adds, especially for Gav and Mike making probably the biggest trip out of everyone to come this event 

Hopefully the venue owner is stoked and wants to run another - bigger and better in every way.

[Extra Ball]

Todays turn-out definately bigger than yesterday, the crowds lining-up to get in at 10am. I estimate that we had 800 adults minimum, and a ton of kids over the weekend. The machines really only had the odd issue that needed a repair, and we fixed them within minutes of them going down. Big thanks to the expertise of Ken, Graham, Grant, and Luke's Tech for being on-hand to fix them so quickly. Thanks to the sponsors, it was a pleasure to have your involvement. I may not say this again publically, but........Mike Homepin is one top fellow indeed, really obnoxious, but tremendously helpful. Thanks to the volunteers, I know it was a ton of work, but we all enjoyed it, and have made an awesome contribution to promote the hobby for years to come (big things to come from the NPA, other than Pinfest). Huge thanks to Caves Beach Hotel, such a generous offer of an outstanding venue. Everyone that supplied machines, pinball, and the hobby is so much better for all of you.

Todays Pics

[swinks]

here are a few

- kids enjoying

- bub strapped to mum getting a early training session

- 80's line up

- em line up

[Caveoftreasures]

does anyone have the final count and list of machines which were on show ?????????????????

Surprisingly, I didnt see a Addams Family or a Twilight Zone, thought a AC/DC Pro would have made it too ? (I did offer mine but someone said there was already a Pro on the included list)  maybe next year !!

[swinks]

yep no TAF or TZ nor a CFTBL or even a AFM along with so many others were not there, maybe next year if we get both rooms with a possible capacity of about 120.

Refer to post #94 as it has a very close list with maybe a couple slight differences but approximately 58-60 machines in a 30 x 10m room.

[swinks]

just heard that we had 810 paid tickets but with families probably a few more in numbers. This means around $8k for SIDS charity which is awesome.

A few people asked what is happening next weekend  and the owner of the venue has offered 2 function rooms next year, so Pinfest 2013 potntially twice as big will be coming to Caves Beach - Homepin loved the drive too  .

So once organisers release a date, if no one else does I will start a new thread and rally sponsors and get people revved up to visit beautiful Caves - not Blue Pacific 

[Caveoftreasures]

for a 8 week organising time only, the NPA did a outstanding job !  I reckon the Cavesbeach Resort owner would be both happy and surprised at such a great turnout.

I think next year there will be ALOT of interstate people like me and others who will be able to make it next time round and definately book a room at that beautiful resort.

[ddstoys]

Looks like an Awsome weekend hopefully next year I'll be able to make the trip

[blue95]

What a great event and effort put in considering there wasn't even a Newcastle Pinball Association 8 weeks ago when it was decided that this event was doable. We got lots of people out playing pinball and we got a lot of interest in the Newcastle Pinball Association. The amount of people that came up and shook our hands on the way out this afternoon to thank us for putting on the event was great, the publican was happy with us and already asking about next year.

[v8racefan]

Thanks for the pics, this festival looks as if it was held in the states, well done to all that made this happen.

Events like this are what the pinball hobby needs.

[oldboy]

Fantastic show and a lot of work for all involved but what a great crew.
Funny I  didn't realise the absence of "Cookie Cutters" like Adams Family" until it was mentioned but there was stiil a good variety with definitely no complaints.
The number of people with their own machines who thought there was no one else out there with one was amazing.
There was also a long line of people with non working machines who will keep our two local techs busy for years.
A number of machines also changed hands so expect a number of newbies joining the forum over the next little bit.
Our 20 page program went down well with the punters as did the AP key rings that Gav supplied....people love free stuff.
Great to put faces to names and Gav is certainly a top guy but Mike Homepin that is another story. He did win the silent auction for the David Hankin autographed Orbit 1 back glass so he went home a happy man.
Just to back up the recent comments from those that were actually there and involved. It was rewarding to see the Newcastle Pinball Association event was free of any the politics of pinball.
The venue owner was that impressed that he wants us to fill 2 function rooms next year. Don't miss it.

[greenechidna]

You're going to need a bigger boat.

Great weekend, great venue, great people, great lineup. Nice to know it'll happen again next year.
Carolyn and I scored a beautiful room at the resort and so had a very relaxed evening.
I spent the entire evening bullshitting with all sorts of people, and played till my hands went numb.

Whilst we enjoyed the new stuff, we spent most of the night over the other side.  Master Stroke was a treat, Bank a Ball ,2001 and Capersville are exquisite restos, Mustang took most of my time. Countdown had me giggling all night with the space tiger (you had to be there)  and the Bobby Orr Bally felt straight out of the crate.

I ended up buying Big Casino tonight via SMS as it is a July 1961 just like me (and it's former owner  Mark) -it will need a tidy up and a fettle but is a sweet little table with a lot of the hard work done (as well as a couple of funny little homebrew mods).

Hats off to everyone involved. Everyone was accessable, happy to yarn, welcoming and committed to making the weekend a success.

[swinks]

last little vid with alot of photos quickly mashed in together with some old and new pinball music.

http://youtu.be/Al__VUlWZ_w

[Wotto]

Firstly - MASSIVE congratulations to ALL and everyone involved in getting this event up and running and ensuring it a success on its first run , and by the looks of it , ensuring that this will build into a massive annual event- Top Quality games , a great location, well organised and well promoted - THIS is what has been needed in Oz for a long time - From the looks of it THIS will be THE event , THE festival/expo that has been talked and talked about for years that never came to fruition........CONGRATULATIONS again for making this a reality  :cheers:   :worship:   :cheers:


For the 800+ that went through the gates to have actual QUALITY games to play / experience is fantastic - THATS how 'newbies' walk away WANTING a game and wanting to possibly become part of this community :041:


And Cavey - all I can say re TAF and TZ - is THANK GOD for that