I know I am going to sound like a prude here. I really don't mean too. I know we are all into different models and make of cars and trucks. Some original, some modified, some old, some new.....

I haven't always owned Corvettes...I have had an '66 El Camino, a '68 Camaro, a '68 Cougar, a cutlass, a '77 Z28, even a '79 Mustang Cobra(a real dog). Each one I owned, I made the best of it and was proud of them.

Now let me say this right off......My parents own a trophy and award shop...so I could care less about the trophies, but I do like recognition!!!

Anyway, last year I was in a car show of about 150 cars. There was a "Top 50" award given out. So I have my '76 Vette there. Paint is a 10 footer, rear bumper in primer, the interior is nice and I had it cleaned up well enough. I didn't get a "Top 50" award but a '90's-ish Pontiac Sunfire that was a driving billboard for Autozone's "spice up your car" aisle did. I mean this car had every little vinyl graphic including bullet holes, flames, and even a baseball-through-the-windshield gag on it. He had chrome mud flaps, red stripes, a large wing, and some kind of funky homemade grill. He even gave it a "name".

Now, I wasn't expecting an award in my car's condition, because there was some really really nice cars there way out of my league! But to be "beat out" by this thing really got to me for some reason.

So I ask you this..in your OPINION and this is not meant to thrash anyone....how do you feel when a newer car(vette or not) enters a show? What I mean by this is a car that is less than say 10 years old and could just as easily be a car you see parked in the spectator parking lot? I know you all have seen them before and wondered too why they were there.

Again, I have owned some real POS cars that I was really proud of but I knew that I would probably embarrass myself taking it to a show. I have also owned new cars that while "neat" I wouldn't enter them in a show either.

This is just a discussion, and I know that with the "are C3's the last Classics" thread, this one may fall prey to the same fate. Please keep it civil, this ain't about chromies vs rubbers vs C4 vs C5 vs C6. And no, I don't think my Corvettes or any other Corvettes are the only cars that should be allowed in a car show! (Just in case you thought you would accuse me of that )

 

I quit competition...just go "display" about once a year now....

 

I should clarify, I don't go to win anything either. I go to hang out with my friends and family. I could care less about a physical award.

 

I went to the Super Chevy Show yesterday and put mine in the show. I had no chance of winning anything, There were 4 other chrome bumper C3's that were a lot nicer than mine but every one of them (I think) were trailered and mine gets driven on nice days. Their engine compartemts were chromed out with gloss black paint etc etc. Mine is clean, painted and detailed but not chromed out or glossy. It leans more towards stock than there others did even though my car has some mods. As far as newer cars, I tend to agree with you that anyone can go buy a new car and enter it in a show, but it's different to have had to build yours into somehting worth looking at. My point it I don't worry about it and IMHO, I don't think you should either. Just go to have a good time, and if you win something, great but if you dont' no biggie either.

 

When i go to a show i specifically ask not to be judged,ive had a show car that ive won with along time ago.I go now to hang out with friends and meet new ones that are interested in cars,doesnt have to be a vette.If you take pride in your vehicle be it whatever it is then show it off.

 

That is why I rarely go to a car show with mine. I do not ever have it judged. I see brand new cars there being judged. Cmon, are we judging or looking at wax? I'm not a waxer by any means. I do like to have a nice looking car but could care less what others think.

 

As far as new cars in shows I've thought the same thing at times but if the show permits them to enter who am I to disagree.

I've also been annoyed when a car that I felt should never win anything wins a trophy but what are you going to do. There usually aren't any judging standards so it's up to the individual, what he or she likes, who their friends with etc etc. With peoples choice voting it's worse. This usually comes down to how many friends did you invite or what car club do you belong to. I've also noticed a bias against corvettes at some shows.

With an NCRS judged show you don't run into these issues. There is a year limit for entering and your car is not judged against others, it's judged on it's own merits against a standard.

Best advise is to go and enjoy yourself but don't expect to win anything. I enjoy displaying my car. I usually have a good time checking out the show, talking to friends and to those interested in corvettes.

I sure don't need another trophy, I know what I have and I'm happy with that.

 

Several years ago I went to an all Corvette show at a Chevy dealership. They were broken up in classes by generation, which is good, though the cars weren't all parked together in their appropriate groups.

There was a C5 parked next to my '69...the owner was cleaning around the lug bolts with a Q-tip! I'm sorry...I don't keep my house that clean! If someone wants to go to that much effort, they're free to do so. I drove thirty miles to the show and had to drive thirty miles home afterwards. My car was going to have road grime both ways, so I wasn't going to go to that extreme to clean every last bit of dirt. I was docked points for leaving my jacket inside the rear deck and a couple of grass blades under the floormat.

I'm sorry...the fun of owning the car is DRIVING IT!!! I want to keep my car as clean and nice looking as I reasonably can and not be afraid to drive it.

 

I used to go to alot of shows in the late 80`s early 90`s but then started seeing alot of participant judged shows so the club guys would vote for each others cars and the older guys with the 20-30`s cars were voting on cars they hated like 60-70 muscle cars and heard several say just pick one and lets go etc..
so i got out of the shows for a while and then attended one in 02 and was talking to this doctor who had a super clean 1930 something Rolls R. at a small town show i was at and asked what size motor it had etc. he tells me i have no idea i just drove it to a shop and gave them a blank check and now look i won best in show etc...?? That really turned me off he had no clue about anything about his car just had more money than sense. So now i just go and park near the shows and walk through and talk to the real car guys and make new friends and laugh when people tell me my car should be in the show or ask why i dont enter the show!!

As far as newer cars in the shows winning trophies for cleanest car or such BS to me is a joke buy a new car spray some armoral on the wheels and hoses and win a trophy???

 

....used to do the NCRS judging with two of my cars years ago. Now, I just go to look at all the other cars. If I take one of mine, it won't be judged. It'll be there for display only.

 

I go to a lot of car shows & have for the last 10 - 12 years. I go for the social aspect - old friends & new friends - & just for fun! I don't go for the trophies or awards. Most judged shows are biased regardless of how hard the organizers try to be fair. A lot of time it boils down to a popularity contest.

Got to a show to enjoy the cars, enjoy the fresh air and enjoy your friends - forget the rest of the BS. And if you do get a trophy, consider it a bonus!

Life is short - Enjoy it while you got it!

 

 

...do those belong to the Chevelle or the Monte???

 

Then why worry about it and why start this thread?

There are many aspects to the car hobby and shows that are open to all usually try to keep as many people as possible happy. They sell millions of those bullet holes and other graphics so some people must like them. If the car is clean and shows some work and pride on the part of the owner they have every right to compete and win. If you are not concerned about prizes don't worry about it. If you are then look for shows where you have the best chance to win. If you want to win a prize, join a club, politic, talk to the members about your car, and vote for their cars and you will have a good chance of winning at their show. That is just how it works.

 

Sticking with you question here;

Quote - So I ask you this..in your OPINION and this is not meant to thrash anyone....how do you feel when a newer car(vette or not) enters a show? What I mean by this is a car that is less than say 10 years old and could just as easily be a car you see parked in the spectator parking lot? I know you all have seen them before and wondered too why they were there - end quote.

Yesterday I attended a show in a neighboring town. They shut down the street and surrounded the courthouse square with almost 500 cars. Some very nice street rods, 40 -50's classics, resto mods, cloned BB MOPARs and Camaro's (a couple of them had me going!) and ten members of our Corvette club...my Z, a GS (#328 of 1,000), one highly modded C3 and the rest C5s/C6s. Sure, some of our cars are common and could've been in the spectator lot but then the $20 entry fee for each car wouldn't have been donated to the local Parks and Rec. We didn't come to get judged, we came as a club to enjoy each other, our cars and the camaraderie of auto enthusiast in general.

I'm blessed to have adopted two Corvettes and normally show my '82 at events like this but decided to show my Z06/Z16 for the first time this year. I always show the Z car with a short write-up about the car – why she’s special; #165 of 2,025 Commemorative Editions produced, carbon fiber hood, factory stripes, polished wheels, etc, etc because people who don't know, think I added the stripes and polished the wheels.

I get lots of compliments on my "special Corvette" and take care of her as good as I do my '82. My point is, regardless if we have an '08 Mustang, Corvette or Honda Civic at the event, so long as they paid their entry fee/donated to the charity sponsoring the event I’m cool with them being there. Everyone has a connection with a particular car and starts in this hobby somewhere. I don't understand the "rice" crowd but admire the work they put into their cars.

I could sell both my Vettes and come out ahead with a nice street rod or sled to show but I'm a Corvette guy and few things can beat a Saturday drive with 9 of your buddies rolling into a show together, turning heads all the while helping out a local charity.

 

Because this thread was actually two parts...my story about losing to a Pontiac Sunfire...but that wasn't the purpose of the thread.

The main reason was to ask how people felt about newer cars entering into car shows. Sorry for the confusion, I didn't mean for it all the "blend" together and sound like I was asking the question because of my frustration.

I agree with all of you, and I like the idea of not being judged. I don't ever hardly go to shows. I went to two last year and that was it. Like I said I go to see other cars and hang with my family(My dad has a '76 vette and a '41 chevy delivery). I don't own Corvettes to show...I own them to drive and enjoy them.

 

i am there too i drive my 61 almost every day and bring it to shows and park in the spectator sections ,people ask why ,i don.t want to be bothered cleaning it every day ,i am almost done with my 72 coupe the reason i built it was to drive every day rain or shine also its a coupe so i can park in the street and not worry about someone cutting the top and breaking in

 

Maybe there for sale! If you dont win, just go down the aisle and buy one that you think fits your mood for the day..1st place, 2nd place, or even "Rat Rod".winner... aye,

 

Eh, you were probably in the wrong type. I don't care about shows either. The only judged show I ever stayed till the end was a local one at a community college. Awesome hot rods were getting overlooked for cars with hydraulics and 10 ft. paint jobs. The prizes were pretty neat, and there were about 25 different categories. After about 10 min. into the ceremony I left. Sad day for car enthusiasts when you see a stock looking Mustang with a Paxton supercharger beat out a 40something perfect Chevrolet truck with a blower sticking out of the hood.

I worry about the future of our hobby sometimes....

 

I have no problem with new cars of any configuration entered in car shows... as long as they are judged against one another.

I showed very competitively for years and Ive seen it all. Judged for ISCA, NCCC, etc. My pet peeve, and it goes to the OPs original question, is classifying cars in such year ranges that it ceases to compare "like" cars.

Now, ISCA (World of Wheels) etc, has a class for every detail. Maybe too many. I understand the weekend shows having to pick and choose. Still, almost every weekend show I ever see has a class for "Corvette." Period. I got very tired of competing with a '63 or a '58 against a new C5 or C6 with less than 10k miles. This has nothing to do with "what's better" - it has to do with the REASON for classification. Judging "like" cars against one another.

I stopped showing for this reason. I don't enjoy prepping a 50 year old restored car and competing with a new car that isn't much different than a Caprice. I think all of these shows, if they don't want to have year separations for Corvettes, Camaros, etc, should end their classes at a "classic" break... i.e. Corvettes at 1982, and put the rest of the new Vettes and Camaros in the "modern classic" class.

But, it is impossible to make everyone happy. I know, Ive put on many shows. And, most people only understand the point of view that benefits their own personal car and nothing else. So, its really not worth getting upset over. These people can do whatever they want.