Just got home from my first car show in almost 4 years. Just been too busy. My 03 Z06 mostly just in storage for a while. Spent every day over the last week cleaning it, polishing, waxing, tweaking, clean, polish and wax again. The car was immaculate, paint great, engine near spotless. Open car show with probably 150 plus cars, separated into decades. Got there early, picked a prime parking place. Over the day, tremendous response from lookers. My car probably had more attention than anything parked around me. I enjoyed the conversations. Prior to judging, I overheard one of the club members telling another club member that several judges were no-shows and "Go find somebody to judge." Well, they found somebody, and that judge may have spent 30 seconds if that long looking at my car. Didn't even look at my custom leather work for speakers or look at the trunk, or stick his head inside the car. So, I walked over and asked "Did you notice the custom stereo install?" He said "Yep." No trophy for me, but had a fun day, until I noticed that while I was away at the award ceremony, somebody wasn't watching their kids and they drew hearts all down the drivers side of my black car in the pollen that had settled since judging. Oh well....... I've heard others say, just go for the fun, not the trophy. Probably won't go to this club's show again, though. Gotta go polish out some hearts.....

 

I entered one show in my life. Around 1990 I had a 69 442 W-30, buckets with a column shift. Kind of an oddball. Anyway, the car was really nice and I entered it in a local show.

A Chevelle parked next to me and he got out all his stuff and sat down. We of course were shooting the sh*t. His car was a 2 out of 10. Rust had eaten part of the quarters, etc. Not show worthy IMO. He said, "I'll get second today but maybe first." I was thinking this guy is highly delusional. He then went on to explain that his car club goes to shows en masse where they have already designated who will win or place. They enter enough cars that if it's participants judging, they win.

At that I packed up my sh*t and left to enjoy the day instead of sitting there watching a rust bucket POS get a trophy.

 

50thz06 . . . Was it the Loxley Strawberry Festival Car Show? If it was, I’m sorry I missed it. Rode my motorcycle there but couldn’t get parking anywhere close on a hard surface, so turned around and went back home. Would’ve liked seeing your Corvette.

 

I like to go to car shows but do not bring my Corvettes as I do not want any damage from people that dont respect others pride and joy possessions. When I brought my Corvette in the past to shows it was like babysitting my car. Sorry just how I feel.

 

Yep, Loxley. The place was packed with people! There were some good cars there, but not a lot of Vettes, maybe 6. Apparently, the Club had short notice to organize the show, as they announced that several times during the awards ceremony.

 

Yea my first show in 1980 they said you belong to club you get trophy, if not you might get keyed! Did get keyed with a ring in my new 93 at a winery tour.

 

Before the pollen trashed it too bad. I've already started disassembly to clean it up. Everything's dusty!

 

Every show is different. Some are poorly organized, some have people judging that don't know squat about cars, some are like mentioned above, the results are already determined before the show begins. It's hit and miss when you've never been to a particular show before.
And yes, it's aggravating some times when you've worked your *** off preparing your car and spent a lot of money. I remember one time a judge walked by the front of the car and never looked at anything else, and one show where a young girl was judging Corvettes and told me she had never seen one up close before.

I have found that the fellowship is what is most enjoyable. I like to go with friends and just shoot the breeze and pick on each other all day.
Most of the shows I attend locally are for charity, so that's always a good thing too.

 

I stopped entering car shows many years ago. I usually go late, sometimes stay til they leave, as I'd rather HEAR the cars leave, as they rumble away

 

I've been going to car shows for over 40 years. Rarely get a trophy because most of the time I don't bother filling out the entry sheet with my info. I don't care about trophies. If I wanted one I'd just go to a trophy store and buy one.

I go to car shows to look at other cars. How they did stuff, how nice they are, etc. Don't go to many anymore though, just the big ones like the LA Roadster Show or Grand National show. I'm a hot rod guy and have never taken any of my Corvettes to a show. I prefer to see the earlier stuff that you don't see every day.

I have friends that are trophy hunters and get all upset if they don't "win" something. They trailer their cars to the show, unload them out of sight and then drive in, power park, set up their little signs and spend the day sitting in a lawn chair next to their car. I drive my car, park in the first available spot, get out and start walking around looking at cars. Only go back to my car to get drinks or food or whatever.

Nothing wrong with either method but I just don't understand getting upset if you don't get a trophy. My rewards come from talking to other builders and sharing knowledge. Those are the guys that matter to me, not some silly "peoples choice" award or the Mayor's pick or some other non-car person selection.

My recommendation? Go to the show and enjoy what's there. When you get home you can clean your car up and have your wife present you with a trophy!

 

I stopped caring about trophys long, long ago. For me it is a nice day outdoors, meeting others that have the same interest, sometimes even get a new t-shirt. I exepect nothing more, and I am never disappointed. Participants choice shows are frustrating though, what ever club has the most in attendence wins.

 

FB guy said he always took a recycled trophy with him just in case he doesn't win. Some of the trophies have horns on them from a musical show, LOL
I never go expecting to win but if it happens its a bonus. Enjoy the fellowship with the guys I hang out with.
B well my corvette buddies

 

I enjoy car shows, never taken the corvette to one but I have my Delorean to several of them. I will only take it to designated car shows only, not car shows that are part of festivals or fairs. I've found that people who show up to just a car show are a lot more respectful of vehicles than the people who are there for the festival or whatever and walk through the car show because it's there too. I've never had a bad experience at a car show but have learned to keep the doors closed and locked, people have a weird fascination with them and sometimes felt obligated to open them or if it was open, to sit in the car uninvited which didn't go over well. I just like the comaraderie, listening to people who think they know about the car and all the other misinformation that people provide. It's entertaining to me. Sometimes you get lucky and get a dash plaque, tshirt and maybe some take home goodies from sponsors but I never expect to leave with a trophy.

 

My club puts on a car show every Veteran's Day weekend. It takes months and over 120 people to put on our show. We close 8 city blocks downtown and host between 350-450 cars every year. One of my jobs every year is to chose the best Mopar out of the top 5 or 6 scoring Mopars. ( I'm primarily a Mopar guy, although I do own a modified C-5 which shares the garage with my '64 Super Stock Dodge.)

What I look for when judging is not necessarily how nice the car looks but how much effort was put into the car to get it to score in the top 10. Simply having a polished, detailed stocker is not going to impress me that much... unless its an extremely rare car. I look at how much work has been done and how well it was done. I like to talk to the owner if he's there just to see if he's really a "car guy". I also take into account whether the owner did the work, which is a plus in my book, or whether he just wrote a check. Anyone can buy their way to a trophy but I feel that trophies need to be earned, not just bestowed on the guy with the biggest pocket book.

All that said, when I attend shows I never expect to earn a trophy. I really couldn't give a damn if I get one or not. I'm there to meet new people, enjoy the cars, and have a good time. My ego doesn't need to be stroked by a little piece of plastic with a gold car on top.

 

Looking back to shows I entered definitely have felt the outsider vibe OP described. However it taught me a valuable lesson about depth of character and what could be mistaken for unwarranted poor behavior that is often times protectionism to soften the blow of the exact same thing. Being left out and not recognized.

Well I'm here to tell you breaking that barrier isn't easy but the more you interact in a healthy, positive manner, even if you only reach one person it matters.
The Yin to that Yan is sadly we have become an "everybody deserves and gets a trophy" society. Not that hard work doesn't deserve recognition. But do we really need another reminder collecting dust, sitting a shelf that we do hard work?
A better trophy worth showing off is a phone pic; making true friends with people you don't already know and sharing your interests with people who aren't as knowledgeable or skilled

That's a trophy worth showing off and braggin' rights

 

I'm kinda burned out on the traditional car show format. Nothing wrong with Wolfman Jack impersonators and '50s Doo Wop music but I prefer seeing the cars being pushed to their limits. I like walking the paddock areas of Auto X, Road Course races and the staging areas at the drags. Cars that show AND go!

 

agreed 100%

as of late I enjoy our local 'cars & coffee' gathering, been fortunate enough to have made some really nice friends there over the years.

 

I raced Corvettes for many decades and recieved awards. Now that my racing days
are over, I have been going to shows. I have judged open shows. Just with the C5
I have won over 100 trophy's at Corvette only and open shows. I have gone home empty
handed more than I have won. I tell everyone especialy Corvette Virgins , Car Shows are to
be enjoyed, it is not to win trophy's. Most shows are very subjective as far as what is a Show
Car. A lot of judges know nothing about cars or Corvettes. Please don't be disappointed or
pissed off if you dont win. Corvettes are your hobby, enjoy them. Meet new people, learn
a little bit, and have fun.
Good luck

 

^ good advice. Go to have fun, if a trophy happens to come your way, enjoy the recognition.

 

Mine is not under glass. I love driving mine everyday. I am sure you find some cheating going on at these so I will stay a spectator.