Car Show Rant
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
Car Show Rant
TOOK my 72 to a local car show this weekend and i gotta say it may be my last. i dont really care about winning a trophy but,let me back up. they gave plaques to the top 25 not by any category. there was a 59 vette there that was mint, no plaque, but a 04 honda with a monsterouse stereo system wins one. then 1 of the 2 bikes wins ,but dont know what they were even doin there, i dont take my car to bike night. anyway it seems that every show i attend a vette never wins. then a datsun wins one. to top it off my main gripe was when i went over to my car there was a father with 2 little kids who were hanging from my door trying to look in. i told them dont touch car but he nevere said a word to them. maybe ill just leave car home anymore and only take it to cruises and fundraisers. any one else feel this way or is it just me? sorry for the ranting, now i feel better , nutsy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
TOOK my 72 to a local car show this weekend and i gotta say it may be my last. i dont really care about winning a trophy but,let me back up. they gave plaques to the top 25 not by any category. there was a 59 vette there that was mint, no plaque, but a 04 honda with a monsterouse stereo system wins one. then 1 of the 2 bikes wins ,but dont know what they were even doin there, i dont take my car to bike night. anyway it seems that every show i attend a vette never wins. then a datsun wins one. to top it off my main gripe was when i went over to my car there was a father with 2 little kids who were hanging from my door trying to look in. i told them dont touch car but he nevere said a word to them. maybe ill just leave car home anymore and only take it to cruises and fundraisers. any one else feel this way or is it just me? sorry for the ranting, now i feel better , nutsy.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
The trophies are awarded to friends of whoever sponsers the show. It has nothing to do with quality of cars anymore. I rarely go to shows anymore. If they are having a driving event I'm there. To park your car and have someone with a kid or dog that knows nothing about cars lean or paw all over it just irks me.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
I posted a similar story about this exact thing too awhile back. Car shows can be fun, but when you have to pay to get in and then find that the judging is screwed up or even rigged, it is disturbing.
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Personally i think that anything 1980 and newer(excluding 81-82 corvettes) should not be allowed into car shows. I want to go to shows to see classics, not cars that i can see everyday on the street. Maybe im a rare breed of 19 year old kid...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
We have the same problem down under. The shiniest and gawdy ones seems to get the prize. To be fair though the judges don't have enough time to look at originality when there a many types of cars on show and they would not know what a correct Corvette would look like anyway.
I have a good NCRS Second Flight car and I know what goes into Originality and Condition.
It doesn't worry me if I don't get a prize or recognition I'm just happy to show the car and a true enthusiast knows what a good car looks like.
I have a good NCRS Second Flight car and I know what goes into Originality and Condition.
It doesn't worry me if I don't get a prize or recognition I'm just happy to show the car and a true enthusiast knows what a good car looks like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Yup, that's the way it goes. I was not at all surprised when last summer an original owner 67 435 horse tri power vert (NCRS top flight no less) lost at a show to another 67 which was not nearly as nice, but had a more eye catching paint color. The original owner tri power was dark green with a white stinger stripe, and white top. In fact in my class the winner was daily driven 72 with an awesome and bright paint job, but every day driver dirty under the hood and underneath. Mine has a nice black paint job, but is detailed under hood.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Local shows are rarely about originality or any measure such as that, but are often more about the packaging of the vehicle. Judges are often not car afficianados but local business people, politicians or beauty queens.
so yeah, a top flight survivor is likely to lose to a newer model with shiney paint, a brand spanking new interior and tons of chrome on the engine.
I dont go to the local cruises to win any awards, my car isnt that nice. I go to hang out with friends, bench race and see a pile of bitchin cars. Usually its the rods that win here, although a nice muscle car occasionally merits the winners circle.
Also the event I frequent is well established and in the 10 years Ive been going to it, my car has yet to be leaned on by inconsiderates. And anytime a kid comes running up to the car yelling at daddy to take a look, that kid gets to sit in the drivers seat long enough for dad to take a photo...
so yeah, a top flight survivor is likely to lose to a newer model with shiney paint, a brand spanking new interior and tons of chrome on the engine.
I dont go to the local cruises to win any awards, my car isnt that nice. I go to hang out with friends, bench race and see a pile of bitchin cars. Usually its the rods that win here, although a nice muscle car occasionally merits the winners circle.
Also the event I frequent is well established and in the 10 years Ive been going to it, my car has yet to be leaned on by inconsiderates. And anytime a kid comes running up to the car yelling at daddy to take a look, that kid gets to sit in the drivers seat long enough for dad to take a photo...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Bardstown Ky
TOOK my 72 to a local car show this weekend and i gotta say it may be my last. i dont really care about winning a trophy but,let me back up. they gave plaques to the top 25 not by any category. there was a 59 vette there that was mint, no plaque, but a 04 honda with a monsterouse stereo system wins one. then 1 of the 2 bikes wins ,but dont know what they were even doin there, i dont take my car to bike night. anyway it seems that every show i attend a vette never wins. then a datsun wins one. to top it off my main gripe was when i went over to my car there was a father with 2 little kids who were hanging from my door trying to look in. i told them dont touch car but he nevere said a word to them. maybe ill just leave car home anymore and only take it to cruises and fundraisers. any one else feel this way or is it just me? sorry for the ranting, now i feel better , nutsy.
I am very picky when it comes to attending car shows; cruises (around here) don't seem as bad, because the element is usually "car folks". they recognize the TLC and obey the unspoken "look all you want but please don't touch" rule.
Don't give up the faith; it's all in having fun bro
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,900
Likes: 3,327
From: NYC NY
If you like to attend the shows to meet people and have fun just write on your registration card "for display only". Then you don't have to get frustrated (you will never get justice anyway) you can have your fun and leave when you want. Besides the "bowling league trophies" just clutter the garage anyway. It's politics that you have just about the same amount of say in as you do the price of gas.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
I don't care about even getting a trophy at all. I go to talk to other vette owners and give and get ideas and information. That in itself is well worth attending not some stupid thing that shows I was there and won. i go home with knowledge and that is better than anything IMO.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 872
Likes: 3
From: Cortlandt Manor New York
If you do not attend a show to win a trophy then why complain about who wins the trophys? I don't understand.
Car shows in my opinion are for you to show your car and look at what others brought. The judging at these shows are circumspect at best and most cars are gone by the time that trophies are awarded anyway.
If you don't want people to ask questions or touch your car then you should leave it home. 90% of the people who attend these shows know little or nothing about cars or the effort that we put into getting our cars to look the way they do. Don't hold that against them just remind them not to touch the car and answer their stupid questions much the same way your grade school teacher answered your stupid questions.
Not everyone shares the passion of a car enthusiast but that should not be held against them. Chill and enjoy the night.
Car shows in my opinion are for you to show your car and look at what others brought. The judging at these shows are circumspect at best and most cars are gone by the time that trophies are awarded anyway.
If you don't want people to ask questions or touch your car then you should leave it home. 90% of the people who attend these shows know little or nothing about cars or the effort that we put into getting our cars to look the way they do. Don't hold that against them just remind them not to touch the car and answer their stupid questions much the same way your grade school teacher answered your stupid questions.
Not everyone shares the passion of a car enthusiast but that should not be held against them. Chill and enjoy the night.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
dont get me wrong, i i had a great tme and love kids but when you have to pay 8 or 10 grand for a paint job parents have to be more considerate. like i sais i did say dont touch but the father just acted like he didnt hear me. what are you supposed to do? if i lose my cool who knows where it could go. i made little signs to put in corner of window that say please dont touch but i never put them out yet but i will from now on. on another note i had a guy with a 74 coupe that i was looking at telling me about his car and he bought it from original owner and said its original paint but between both doors you could see the overspray on weatherstrip but i didnt have the heart to show him because i think he really beleived it.
Last edited by nutsy; Jun 9, 2008 at 08:50 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
I don't mind seeing newer cars if they are rare or special. I know I spend as much time looking at the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959 as I would spend looking at any of the classics. Sure I have zero interest in looking at a Honda Civic or something...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
dont get me wrong, i i had a great tme and love kids but when you have to pay 8 or 10 grand for a paint job parents have to be more considerate. like i sais i did say dont touch but the father just acted like he didnt hear me. what are you supposed to do? if i lose my cool who knows where it could go. i made little signs to put in corner of window that say please dont touch but i never put them out yet but i will from now on. on another note i had a guy with a 74 coupe that i was looking at telling me about his car and he bought it from original owner and said its original paint but between both doors you could see the overspray on weatherstrip but i didnt have the heart to show him because i think he really beleived it.
Now thats whats Great about going to these shows in the first place. If I win I win if I don't even show on the radar thats cool too. But talking with guys with more or less education with these cars is the whole reason I go.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
I don't do shows. Cruises only. They're so much more fun. No entry fee, and I can come and go whenever I please. Not to mention that the people there respect most all cars and appreciate work that goes into maintaining a car, no matter what condition. The only exception for shows I make is if it's a charity and I have a few buddies from cruises that are going.
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: Lake Geneva WI
Look at it this way; what do you have to do to a c3 to make it a cool car? Really nothing except restore it back to it's original design if need be. A ricer or whatever requires alotta cosmetics, paint, graphics, stereo enhancements, blah, blah, blah. Almost forgot the exhaust thingy on the back end.