Here's a few tips from a north 40 parking volunteer. Please note this is MY opinion only, nobody elses. Not the EAA's nor my fellow volunteers:
So you are arriving by plane. Whether newbie or veteran, here's a few bits of advice from a north 40 volunteer.
Make your letters BIG. By that, I actually mean the letters on the sign you make so volunteers can direct you to the right spot. Acronyms like GAP (general aviation parking) or GAC (General aviation Camping). Make the letters THICK! They might look fine from 2' away in your living room when you draw them with a sharpie, but seen through your windshield with the sun shining, its kinda difficult. Make the letters at least 1/2" thick, but the thicker, the better. Don't run them together though. Keep some seperation. Oh, and the signs should be on the pilots side. Its the way the traffic flows, the volunteers are on the pilots side, at least when you are coming in.
Please, PLEASE, PLEASE follow the directions of ground crew. We are trying to HELP you. If we signal you to turn, or stop, don't ignore us! It could be for safety of all concerned.
Don't be a privileged snot. We are trying to park the planes as efficiently as possible, so please dont' go charging off to find your own parking space. We understand many people have traditional spots, and if we aren't busy, we can usually accomodate you, IF we can. FWIW, those who come in before official north 40 rules start can often get their pick of spots, but these are usually veterans who know the procedures. Understand we try to fill the rows from back to front. Some aircraft will be able to taxi straight in, others will have to be pushed back tail first, so we can nest the planes tightly. Please don't get huffy (we can read your faces, even if you don't say anything) if you have to go tail in. We'll push you back, and we promise not to break your plane. :) . One year, we had a guy come in, ignore our signals completely, and park at the front of a new row. We kept signalling him to move to the back, but he refused. His reason? "This is my 25th year, I deserve this". Sheesh.
Oh, BTW, we have no problems with you holding a spot for a later arriving friend, just let us know. (unless you are arriving a week apart, in that case, why?). If you already have a spot (and you took a flight after setting up), or you have a spot held for you by a friend, put a sign that says "ROW XXX" (where XXX is the row number) in your window. Big thick letters please!
Bring your tow bar, and put it on TOP of your cargo! If you get a tail in slot, this will make everyones life easier. With a tow bar, it's easier to steer your plane while pushing it back, and putting it on top means you don't have to unload your stuff to get at it! This happens a lot. :)
Please hold off on setting up your campsite until other planes have been parked to either side of you and behind you. This is so we can fit the planes in more easily. You also avoid having your gear blasted by the prop of someone parking behind you! Sometimes, we will simply ask you to wait or to move your tent, which is inconvient for you, but it saves you (and us)aggreviation too. Admittedely, the high wingers have the advantage in this situation, they can set up under their wings. Low wingers, I suggest getting the smallest tent you can stand. :). Incidently, tying down your plane would be a good way to pass the time while waiting for your soon-to-be neighbors to arrive.
Bring tie downs. They are required. You can get kits at the site, but they are pretty basic.
I would also suggest your bring some plywood for your wheels, if you have a heavy plane, and if you have the room. The grounds of the north 40 can get soft if it rains, or has rained recently. Sometimes we have some plywood squares available, but not always, and never enough.
MASS ARRIVALS, or those who want to be in those groups:
Pilots: PLEASE stay with your plane until you get a camping ticket (orange ticket). Please don't rush off to chat with your friends as soon as you shut down. It might take some time for you to get a ticket, cause there is usually only one volunteer (sometimes 2) to handle tickets for each row of planes, and dozens are coming in at a time during these mass arrivals. These mass arrivals are controlled chaos.
Also, have your tow bar handy as above! Half of you will be tail in, obviously, and some of your (beeches and mooneys) are kinda heavy, so please be ready.
If you are arriving BEFORE or AFTER the mass arrival and want to join the group...NO. Sorry, can't accomodate you,unless you are one of the organizers (and we know who they are). This seems to especially happen with the Beech people. Either fly in with the group, or be prepared to get a "normal" spot.
If you aren't camping, either don't arrive with the group, or have a very distinctive sign (GAP) when you arrive. A herd mentality takes over during these mass arrivals, for both pilots and volunteers, and the pilots just follow the plane in front of them, and volunteers just wave all the same make of plane into line. If you want to park with the group, then expect to pay for camping. Just ignoring the ticket doesn't help, cause a copy goes to the registration booth, and your N number is on the ticket.