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How ot make car show show appreciate a restored C2
My 66 Coupe had been restored to factory standards and has received a NCRS Top Flight. I frequently attend local car shows and rarely receive honorable mention. Car is Sunfire Yellow, which is suspect isn't as flashy as Red or Black. Car is clean and well polished. Does anyone have any suggestions how to succeed at car shows? I display documentation but the car just doesn't seem to have the same appeal as a late model c7 / C6. Any ideas how to campaign a restored car at a local spit shine car show?
I am at the point in my life where I attend car shows only to drive the car there. The car is always clean and well manicured. I usually leave before trophies are handed out. I have a 66 and get a lot of people stopping by and asking questions or just to talk. My advice is - quit worrying about trophies and enjoy the car.
If that's what you're interested in, you need to attend car shows for classics only, or with a classic category. It seems like most "fan choice", and "mgr's choice" etc, awards go to 2015 and up Camaro's, Corvettes, Dodges.
The best thing to do is go to look at cars, talk to people, show them what cars looked like in 66. Lots of kids will remember your car and forget all the cookie cutter cars, and that might affect them in a good way their entire lives. Going for awards is a losing proposition since every show has different standards to go by.
I had one judge tell me I didn't get top 15 because my seats were getting "tired looking". The leather is 20 yrs old and still looks great. The paint perfect, and 100% of the car was the way it came in 65, except the tires and battery.
I REALLY don't think it is your car. I think it is the TYPE of AUDIENCE the particular show is attracting. To APPRECIATE a vehicle you have to KNOW and UNDERSTAND its history and what work went into your effort. New and shiny seems like shallow judging criteria.
You have got a mid year corvette so you have already won! I know what you are saying. My 66 gets no attention going down the road, but my nom 60 red with white coves have people falling over themselves. I won most original car this spring and I restored a bunch of it myself and its nom. Spend $20k painting it red and you will win a $5 trophy everytime. Just enjoy the car because 90% of the people never will have the chance to.
I've run into the same situation myself over 20 plus years of car shows. What I can share is this.. If it's a "people's choice" show forget it. Some entrants relatives and pals have already determined who gets the trophy. If it's a local "judged" car show, don't be surprised that the judges are not up on the minutia of Corvette judging. Try to stay with Corvette only or AACA meets. Most of all take pride in the fact that your Corvette has been awarded NCRS certification.
I hate to say it...but at local "cruise in" type casual shows....restored/stock Vette's don't draw as much attention unless they are really eye catching. You'd think yellow would do it wouldn't you?
My car isn't a real show car by any means...it's a good 50 footer....but it's got enough of the "nasty" look that seems to get attention everytime. Even before I added the turbos, when I opened the hood folks piled around. A hot rod big block with a Dominator under a stock 427 hood surprises folks. Now with the turbos..it's over the top. People love to ask questions and BS about it.
I usually end up with some type of trophy or plaque...even had a show call me last weekend to see if I wanted to come out. This isn't trying to brag...just saying it has to be something that makes it stand out from the others. (no..not little stuffed animals and trash either!). I place photos on the windshield of it pulling wheelies and timeslips...so that helps with my Hot Rod vibe.
I quit doing "serious" shows years ago. It was pretty nice at one time...but it's had years of driving and racing since then. Now I just like to go hang out with folks.
I still encourage you to bring it out and let folks see it. I find people are amazed to hear we had 4 wheel discs, independent suspension, fuel injection, arguably the best dash/gauge package ever, etc etc. In a peoples choice thing...it pays to just chat with people even if they are just looking. They will always ask questions if you get them started. Heck...I never pass up a chance to let someone sit in it...especially kids.
If you just go to Vette shows...well...Vette guys already know everything about your car..so not as much to talk about...plus there is always someone who will spend more money or time to go that little extra.
Great looking car....keep enjoying it...and letting others do the same!
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
I hang with some friends of mine who are street rod guys... Stock and custom cars.. I'm the only Corvette that shows up out of about 25 cars every week at the Dunkin Donuts ..
They could care less about Corvettes...It's more of a BS session and coffee and donut holes.
Car cruises are just that..look at one car and then another and move on. A nice car like yours should fit very well at a good Corvette show. If your looking for some one who appreciates your excellent piece ...then Car cruises are not for you.
If you want to go to them look for the guy who will appreciate your car and it's history.
This is the place where I like to see cars like yours.
Its entirely dependent on the show and the crowd...
Here is my '61 parked next to an AMC Gremilin while Foose scores the cars....at an Orlando Disney show.
All day long, people walked past my super nice C1 to look at the Gremlin (complete with 8 track tape player). Its just what they remembered from their youth.
At some point you'll either quit attending these types of shows or else get over some lame award from unknowledgeable judges. At another similar show I heard the lead judge tell his partner that '61s never had dual quads from the factory....I just smiled...
I am at the point in my life where I attend car shows only to drive the car there. The car is always clean and well manicured. I usually leave before trophies are handed out. I have a 66 and get a lot of people stopping by and asking questions or just to talk. My advice is - quit worrying about trophies and enjoy the car.
Many times I won't even register for judging and also leave early; some Veteran's Day I will attend two charity events and have to leave the first one before it wraps up.
Some times local shows have the 'fix' already in. The trophies rotate around a bunch of the 'old boys' that hang together and the winning cars will have you wondering WTF just happened.
Bottom line - there is nothing you can do to make your nice Corvette overwhelm the crowd at such events....so just chill out and enjoy them...
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by JL66REDCPE
I am at the point in my life where I attend car shows only to drive the car there. The car is always clean and well manicured. I usually leave before trophies are handed out. I have a 66 and get a lot of people stopping by and asking questions or just to talk. My advice is - quit worrying about trophies and enjoy the car.
I dont know what kind of shows / cruise ins you go to but our 65 396 coupe.....people follow us in and ogle the car before we even get parked. Its a stock as a rock car. I dont go to many shows....its all about bling at those. Cruise ins are more fun. If you need a trophy to enjoy your car, you are missing the best part of having one. 90% of car shows are charity fund raisers and the people judging them dont give a rats a$$ about whether the engines are correct or the flat black on your core support is the right sheen so dont get your bowels in an uproar. Be happy you have a c2 and let it go.
People do read documentation/history if you present it well. Here's a pic of the 16 x 32 poster that we display on our '66 coupe at shows. Everyone, absolutely everyone who walks by the car reads it. A super presentation helps tell your car's story and could generate more votes from attendees.
There is really not a lot of rhyme or reason in these car shows. Friends with a 69 gold Roadrunner and red Roadrunner had the same experience at a car show Sunday. Losing to a new Challenger being in a Mopar class.
I was in a Corvette class 53-82 and had to compete against a friends stock 67 Corvette this time they liked modified better. You can look at a picture of his display, top partially up, hardtop laying behind the car. when he's on pavement he even has chrome check plate notched out that goes under the tires. https://www.flickr.com/photos/daddy_...etaken-public/
After the picture appears you can click it again to enlarge.
I am at the point in my life where I attend car shows only to drive the car there. The car is always clean and well manicured. I usually leave before trophies are handed out. I have a 66 and get a lot of people stopping by and asking questions or just to talk. My advice is - quit worrying about trophies and enjoy the car.
+1. I attend shows and cruises to drive my car, look at other's cars and chit chat about cars. I could care less about trophies. They are won too many times by someone that doesn't know the difference between a nut and a bolt. All the owner did was write a check.
My Sunfire Yellow 66 coupe has won many awards so I don't think it's the color.
Best of show - 1200 mile round trip and I think I won because I drove it.
Best original
President's choice - one all Corvette show and one open show
Sponsor's choice
Club choice
+1. I attend shows and cruises to drive my car, look at other's cars and chit chat about cars. I could care less about trophies. They are won too many times by someone that doesn't know the difference between a nut and a bolt. All the owner did was write a check.
I usually have to choose between logging happy miles and attending a show, but if I go to a show its just to see other cars. The need for a trophy just doesn't compute with me. The masses will probably spend more time looking at a new Hellcat that the owner has done nothing more than make two payments out of 72 in front him. So what. Drive on.
08-22-2016, 10:11 PM
How ot make car show show appreciate a restored C2
