car show rant sorry
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 560
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From: nanticoke pa
car show rant sorry
i go to all the local car shows with my o3 ae vert, i have to enter in the modified corvette class, with my engine completly decked out with carbon fiber, chrome parts, kewl products and everything is immaculate. there are other c5 and other c3s and c4s. this guy with a blue 65 coupe always wins. now if the car was completely flawless i wouldnt say a word but this guy has a crack in the left fender, a hole in the rear fender that has been filled in with bondo that you can see, and his cowl still has wax between the grates. why are our cars overlooked just because the other ones are older? i wish we had a specific c5 class but there isnt. im sure some of us other forum members feel the same. i not sayin i should have won the class but i know my car was in a whole lot better shape than the one that did. let me hear from other c5 members that feel the same. thanx guys/gals.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11,530
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From: New Bloomfield Pa
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'10
Many tmes when yougo to a peoples choice show you take a a chance of not winning. Many times it is a large club that will vote for one of the members or if it is an older crowd they will always vote for an older car....younger crowd just the opposite. Being clean has nothing to do with it at a participants or peoples choice show.
Best thing to do is enter a judged show where you compete with cars of your style and modifications....then if you dont win you have nobody to blame but you or the person that cleaned it.
I take peoples choice show with a grain of salt...many times I have won and deserved to and other times I have won and should have. Lost the same way.
Best thing to do is enter a judged show where you compete with cars of your style and modifications....then if you dont win you have nobody to blame but you or the person that cleaned it.
I take peoples choice show with a grain of salt...many times I have won and deserved to and other times I have won and should have. Lost the same way.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,903
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From: I finished a Marathon, did you? Michigan
CI 6-7, 9-10 Veteran
The 2 shows I have entered have had all the different C classes, but of course they were Corvette only shows. I was lucky to take 1st in both of them. I do agree with you on your complaint. They should also list the daily drivers separate from the Garage Queens. If that guys car is as bad as you say it is, take some pics of it and if he wins complain. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,073
Likes: 1
From: Sarver Pennsylvania
Car shows have two purposes:
*Raise money for what is hopefully a worthwhile cause, and
*DRIVE PEOPLE NUTS!!!!
Unless they have a very specific list of what they are looking for and what would deduct points, you have to go with whatever the judges feel like that day.
I had been to several street rod shows and most often in a poorly judged show, the cars that had the most fantastic work usually lost out to the ones loaded with chrome (or crappy patch jobs but was liked because a judge remembers having that car as his first
)!
You need to ask what the criteria for the judging is and go with the flow!
*Raise money for what is hopefully a worthwhile cause, and
*DRIVE PEOPLE NUTS!!!!
Unless they have a very specific list of what they are looking for and what would deduct points, you have to go with whatever the judges feel like that day.
I had been to several street rod shows and most often in a poorly judged show, the cars that had the most fantastic work usually lost out to the ones loaded with chrome (or crappy patch jobs but was liked because a judge remembers having that car as his first
)!You need to ask what the criteria for the judging is and go with the flow!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by iceburgh
Many tmes when yougo to a peoples choice show you take a a chance of not winning. Many times it is a large club that will vote for one of the members or if it is an older crowd they will always vote for an older car....younger crowd just the opposite. Being clean has nothing to do with it at a participants or peoples choice show.
It's like any popularity contest...the more people that see it, the more likely people will vote for it.
I actually won a people's choice Vette-only show today (C5 class)...but one of the car's I was up against was a $132,000 Mallet 435 which is immaculate and perfect in every respect. I've always lost to this amazing car at previous local shows.
The only difference today was I got there early, had a prime parking spot...he got there late and was stuck at the very back corrner of the lot. He took 3rd today.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Judge'd shows are the only way to go. Club events are always a crap shoot. So I do go but with no expectations. If I did, I too would get upset. Last event I went to the person who won just drove it off the lot. And all his friends voted for his car. Can't do anything about it so enjoy the day and the great people. My .02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,246
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From: somewhere on a roadcourse
Cruise-In IV Veteran
it's wild-I used to do car shows every week the first yr I got my C5, won a lot of trophies, had fun
now that I have all the mods, I rarely go, and when I do I never win
car shows and the clubs are hilarious, it's all political, some actually follow some rules
I go now and relax and enjoy the people and the vettes, I never stay to see if I won anything because I am doing things with my vette that are much more fun-like tracking it
now that I have all the mods, I rarely go, and when I do I never win
car shows and the clubs are hilarious, it's all political, some actually follow some rules
I go now and relax and enjoy the people and the vettes, I never stay to see if I won anything because I am doing things with my vette that are much more fun-like tracking it
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,238
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From: Lakeland, Center of Florida Fl
I understand your frustration but its just one show there are many others. Maybe that car is just what those judges liked. Juding still always comes down to what the judge likes. I have the point system pretty down now after all this time. So when it comes to honest judging I know how my car will do.
When you goto a show you should go just for the fun of it if not it will just drive you nuts.
The thing that pi$$es me off more than anything that people try sitting in your car, hitting the car to feel material, and parent letting kids run around in the car. Now, yes I do get very upset when that happens cause I do not play in there 100k+ house... 
I love to see the ideas the young people come up with and just have fun spending time with my gf and my car. Goto a few more shows and have fun 
Jon
When you goto a show you should go just for the fun of it if not it will just drive you nuts.
The thing that pi$$es me off more than anything that people try sitting in your car, hitting the car to feel material, and parent letting kids run around in the car. Now, yes I do get very upset when that happens cause I do not play in there 100k+ house... I love to see the ideas the young people come up with and just have fun spending time with my gf and my car. Goto a few more shows and have fun Jon
Last edited by XCELER8; Aug 15, 2004 at 10:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,707
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From: Eastern LI, NY
I have entered my Camaro in many shows over the past 10 years, and have won numerous trophys.
However, my feelings have changed. I still love going to shows, but I'll sum it up this way. I dont need no stinkin' judge to tell me I have a nice car. I will still go to the shows, but will limit my number of shows entered per year to either none or 1 at the most. There are too many BS politics that are there. To me, I look at my cars as my love...my passion and as mentioned, I dont care what some judge has to say.
However, my feelings have changed. I still love going to shows, but I'll sum it up this way. I dont need no stinkin' judge to tell me I have a nice car. I will still go to the shows, but will limit my number of shows entered per year to either none or 1 at the most. There are too many BS politics that are there. To me, I look at my cars as my love...my passion and as mentioned, I dont care what some judge has to say.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
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From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Impressions of my first "People's Choice"
Just got back from my first involvement with a "People's Choice" car show today...our club put 11 'Vettes on display, several C5's and C4's along with one C2 that won the event. It's a beautiful car and I'm glad it won.
Having said that, I do think there's a lot of nostalgia for the older cars along with their relative scarcity that makes lots of folks "prefer" those over the newer ones.
I just had lots of fun at the show...seeing lots of people admiring my car was kinda cool...had to "ask" a couple of kids to keep their hands off the car though...
Having said that, I do think there's a lot of nostalgia for the older cars along with their relative scarcity that makes lots of folks "prefer" those over the newer ones.
I just had lots of fun at the show...seeing lots of people admiring my car was kinda cool...had to "ask" a couple of kids to keep their hands off the car though...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Nashua NH
Originally Posted by Red_Racer
Just got back from my first involvement with a "People's Choice" car show today...our club put 11 'Vettes on display, several C5's and C4's along with one C2 that won the event. It's a beautiful car and I'm glad it won.
Having said that, I do think there's a lot of nostalgia for the older cars along with their relative scarcity that makes lots of folks "prefer" those over the newer ones.
I just had lots of fun at the show...seeing lots of people admiring my car was kinda cool...had to "ask" a couple of kids to keep their hands off the car though...
Having said that, I do think there's a lot of nostalgia for the older cars along with their relative scarcity that makes lots of folks "prefer" those over the newer ones.
I just had lots of fun at the show...seeing lots of people admiring my car was kinda cool...had to "ask" a couple of kids to keep their hands off the car though...
I think it is just the scarcity that helps the older cars. Each one is unique in some way. You just can't go to the local Chevy dealer and buy one just like the one at the show (even if the new one has mods) so people think about them differently. Newer cars are just measured by a different standard and it's called depreciation. It's easier to see this if you go to a show for a car you don't own - like a Mustang or Camaro show.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by StephenT
Just go and have fun. Like every thing else in life there are always politics involved when it comes to judging a winner for something.
He's right on!!
Administrator
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
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CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
After attending many, many shows, I have learned that participant judging is not always fair. If I go to these type of shows, it is to just have a good time and show the car off. Judged shows seem to be the better route to take if you want to end the frustration a bit. It also helps if they break the classes down to where you may be competing with say '84 and up Vettes or a C5 class.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: Centerville Ga
come to our show on Oct 9th we have a separate class for C5's. Course you will have a little drive here to Georgia. The poker run is Friday Night. We are also hosting a vette fest Sep 24 & 25 including an all vette drag race. see our web site for more info http://www.corvetteclubcentralga.org/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 2
From: North Manchester Indiana
its all about the fun, not the prizes,,,but it does suck to get beat by a neon and a brush painted 60 biscayne like I had happen sat....I was told I was not from the judges home town....go figure..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Winchester TN
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Hi brad6285 -
I try to enter with the frame of mind that I am just ensuring a good parking spot for the duration of the show.
I have entered shows where the competitors were swirl-marked and dirty - with the insides of the wheels covered in crap (not cleaned) etc. and lost to these competitors because they belonged to the club that held the show, and I am not a member.
At the next show, the judges (it was a judged show) actually asked me how I keep the underside of my car so clean. I took 1st at that show, and it was many of the same cars that I had lost to in the prior show - but this show was not held by the club that sponsored the prior show.
That's life in the big city.
best regards -
mqqn
I try to enter with the frame of mind that I am just ensuring a good parking spot for the duration of the show.
I have entered shows where the competitors were swirl-marked and dirty - with the insides of the wheels covered in crap (not cleaned) etc. and lost to these competitors because they belonged to the club that held the show, and I am not a member.
At the next show, the judges (it was a judged show) actually asked me how I keep the underside of my car so clean. I took 1st at that show, and it was many of the same cars that I had lost to in the prior show - but this show was not held by the club that sponsored the prior show.
That's life in the big city.
best regards -
mqqn
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
I have gone to car shows for about 12 years, and they are inconsistent, and judged in different ways from show to show, it would be nice if there were some uniform methods, and catagories, published by some major car groups. maybee that would help. i have won when i should not have, and lost to inferior cars at times, also. but you just go and dont take it to seriously. EVERYBODY loves their car. some jusdges are very biased to the older cars. you should show your car for other people to enjoy and forget about the competition. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 24,921
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From: Knoxville, TN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03 thru '26
We don't go for the "show"...We go for who we "know"!
We go to participate, show support, and make friends.
I've been known to "park and run"...park the vette dirty and RUN! Only to come back after the show...
We go to participate, show support, and make friends.
I've been known to "park and run"...park the vette dirty and RUN! Only to come back after the show...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
I go to have fun and talk to like minded people. If you go with no expectations,then your not disappointed, if you don't win and surprised and elated, if you do. The worst part are the people who think they're in a dealers showroom and open the doors, lean on the fenders, etc.