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I enjoy driving my collector car to outdoor car shows and I have even entered a few of them. If I drive there as a spectator, I can lock my doors and my hood is closed. I can also leave once I've had my fill of checking out the scenery. If I enter my car in a show, I am usually expected to have the hood open for display and most likely have the windows rolled down to the open position for the attendees to get a better look at the interior. I could break out a folding chair and hang out with my car and keep an eye on it. But I never like to sit with my car all day. But I can't really leave it unattended because of (aside from idiots opening doors, leaning on your car for photos, errant baby strollers, etc.) is outright component theft.
All of this to ask a question: What do you now remove from your Corvette so that it doesn't get stolen in plain sight ?
I assume:
- Cigarette Lighters
- Fuel Caps (Wasn't there a rash of solid-axle fuel cap thefts awhile back, based on the value of originals ?)
- Original Air Cleaner Wingnuts
I haven't had my '66 Coupe in a show in a few years, so what else is out there that is being boosted from our old cars these days ?
A friend "lost" radio ***** at a show. I saw someone trying to lift the cig lighter from my '66. Silly thief, I was right there.
To answer you question, I do not remove anything and I do not leave the car unattended.
I would have hit the guy in the nose as hard as I could. On the way to jail, I could mull over weather it was worth it or not. Probably worth it. I have ZERO tolerance for human garbage. Also, I don't ever plan on entering any show with any of my cars...I tend to drive them TO the shows, check out the cars, and leave. Don't want to be 'trapped' all day at a mostly static event. YMMV.....
If you have to sit and pull security detail on the car, is the car show that enjoyable?
I've had my Corvettes in a million of these shows, they always get a good dose of attention.
I leave them alone. I walk around and I never gave theft a second thought. I even leave the keys in them.
I enjoy sitting and looking at my car, especially if it is nice warm sunny day on a grass field and I have a cooler of cold beer. Sometimes, i will go sit across the aisle next to someone else's car (and visiting with them) and take in its magnificent beauty and stunning lines and flawless paint and marvel at what an exquisite work of automotive styling it is while basking in a Zen like state of enlightenment and relaxation; so I find it very enjoyable to keep an eye on my car.
Doug
Everybody in NJ knows a car with its keys left in the ignition is police sting operation. EVERYBODY.
Doug
Originally Posted by Wayne88
I've had my Corvettes in a million of these shows, they always get a good dose of attention.
I leave them alone. I walk around and I never gave theft a second thought. I even leave the keys in them.
I like going to car shows but I don't ever enter mine. Half of the time we drive a different car, that we don't worry about so much so I can enjoy the show too!
At car shows I "always" keep the doors locked, windows up. I keep hood down( about half of the time). I always sit in a place to observe the car at all times. If, I need a break, I can leave to get a bite to eat or use the bathroom without worry.
My engine bay is not for show, No chrome or polished metal. Just boring standard stock engine bay. Not like some cars with all chrome engines, chrome serpentine assembly, chrome headers and chrome radiators and stainless steel hoses.
If you cannot go to a car show and enjoy your self and worry all the time about your car....why go???
Last edited by CorvetteMikeB; 02-17-2019 at 08:40 PM.
Reason: edit sentence
It is good idea to lock the doors, even with the windows down.
I have had people open the doors and try to get in my cars. I don't know if it was shear cluelessness, or it was a way for somebody to lift something like a cig lighter. One old bat about 75 or 80 I attributed to cluelessness, I came back from the restroom and she was sitting in the drivers seat of my '61 talking her cell cell phone to her son saying it was a car just like she and his dad had before he was born. I gave her a pass.
Years ago at a spring show a guy spent a half hour wandering around my car, but always wound up near the driver's door. I really didn't think anything of it, except it seemed a little strange. That summer was when all the gas caps were stolen at Carlisle. I then knew what he was up to.
We go to lots of car shows all over New England and have never lost anything. We typically bring convertibles. I've never been worried.... Must be a Southern issue....
In my case, what I mentioned (Post #2) happened while living on Long Island.
I'm also wondering if this is a regional issue with spectators /thieves? I'm in SoCal where there are certainly no shortage of car shows......or criminals. That being said, I don't think I've ever seen anyone open someone's else's car door and actually sit inside at any of the car shows I've been involved with. I think it might be the local California mentality that this kind of behavior will certainly lead to a physical confrontation, at the very least. This just seems to be a "known thing" here. Not to say that thefts don't ever happen or perhaps someone who is just not familiar with proper car show etiquette makes a blunder. But I think most owners could tell the difference between the two. Years ago I had a friend visiting from Europe who I brought along to a local car show. He was amazed and thoroughly enjoying himself but at one point I had to stop him when he reached for a door handle on a '70 big block Chevelle. He was innocent of the rules and just curious, like a child. Once I explained that this was considered bad manners, he completely understood, this was not "hands on" like a dealership car lot. I like to share my car at shows and don't mind repeating the same answers over and over to people who just want to know. But I think if I actually caught someone inside my car I might slam his head in the door a couple of times.
I've had my corvettes in a million of these shows, they always get a good dose of attention.
I leave them alone. I walk around and i never gave theft a second thought. I even leave the keys in them.
When I go to a car show, I wire an 80mm mortar shell to my cigarette lighter - and to a sensor under the driver seat. I also douse myself in gasoline (non ethanol) and stick a pistol in my mouth and sit in the passenger seat. I stuff a box of 12g shells in my rectum just in case. Then I can relax and enjoy the day.
02-17-2019, 02:21 PM
Car Shows And Theft
I've had my Corvettes in a million of these shows, they always get a good dose of attention.
