Let's talk car shows

House of Wax

House of Wax

Active member
For those of you who participate in car shows/cruise nights, when did you first decide your car was "worthy" (for lack of a better term) of entering them?

I've always loved going to them and thought it would be cool to be able to participate someday. Well, with the recent purchase of my GTO, my interest has certainly peaked. My Goat has a decent list of mods (nothing crazy though) and I personally feel it's gorgeous, but the last thing I wanna do is be that guy people are walking by wondering why that car was entered lol. I guess if nothing else it's a bit intimidating since I've never done it before and don't personally know anyone in my area involved in that scene.
 
I would enter the show and enjoy. So many people get hung up on car shows and the "which car is better". Trust me I used to stress at shows trying to make the car perfect. In the end I wasn't even enjoying the show or even getting a chance to see the other cars.

Now I go., relax, and see tons of great cars. I would put an "Autopians" car against anyone at a car show :)
 
For me, I had gone to car shows as a "spectator". Yes I understand completely how entering for the first few times is intimidating, but don't sweat it. For the most part it's just a bunch of "car guys and gals" having a good time.

The first one I entered here, I was really scared, not knowing what the judges were looking for etc. A really nice guy struck up a conversation with me and started showing me the "ropes" so to speak.

The harder shows are the "car club" shows...... They normally seem to favor their own members. One of the funnier shows here is a corvette show that takes the whole down town area. It is sponsored by a local corvette club, their member aren't allowed to enter the show. Funny thing is a week before the show, about 4 or 5 of the members quit the club so they can enter.........

Tough part is you don't know what group of judges are looking for at the beginning. I got bounced from one show having a water spot on the edge of my engine gunnel (for lack of better word). (club show)

I've worked my butt off to make the car look great and nothing, I've done nothing, driven 100 miles had the car rained on and won........................

So best thing I can say, is make car look good, which we know it will, and GO HAVE A GOOD TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I was waiting for you to chime in Ron haha. That's pretty cool that club sponsors a show but doesn't let their own members win. See, being so serious that you'd quit a club to win a dumb trophy just doesn't even sound like it would be fun.

I'm gonna start looking for some clubs in our area. I've found a few shows coming up still this year and some of em look like the proceeds actually go to some charities which is pretty cool.
 
House of Wax said:
I was waiting for you to chime in Ron haha. That's pretty cool that club sponsors a show but doesn't let their own members win. See, being so serious that you'd quit a club to win a dumb trophy just doesn't even sound like it would be fun.

I'm gonna start looking for some clubs in our area. I've found a few shows coming up still this year and some of em look like the proceeds actually go to some charities which is pretty cool.
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These guys actually qui a few weeks before the show, then re-join week after.......

I would say that 70% of the shows I go to the proceeds go to charity so it's a win/win.

Just enjoy the shows. As Pat said, if you get caught up in making sure it's "perfect" you'll miss out on a ton of fun.



Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go make my car "perfect" for a show today, and another all corvette show tomorrow............ :rofl
 
So just to give you my routine for a juried show...........

Wash car
some sort of quick shine
Dry
Then concentrate on where you know water collects and dry off/shine up

Decide if you want tire dressing or not and how shiney

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Making sure I don't get dinged for a water spot........

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All great stuff. Think my winter project will be to design a little sign or display with a few pictures and the mod list
 
Back in high school I had an 02 Trans Am that I loved keeping clean. Eventually I replaced the stock radio for a Pioneer DEH-P77DH, then all the speakers and finally a very skilled friend helped me build my dream fiberglass subwoofer box. It filled the wheel well area on the fbody and the entire trunk area to squeeze 4 big 10 inch subs. For such a small cabin, it was LOUD. I was Mr. Cool on my high school turf.

After adding a SLP whisper lid intake and loudmouth exhaust, I was approached by a couple guys in a car club called "Details Details" ironically enough. I hung out with them a few times and it was great. The president of the club was building a Spoon inspired Honda NSX and we would just hang out at his shop and help him out. I ended up being the "car audio guy" of the group. Later on we found out we were all expected to show our cars at a local car show at Palm Beach Community College. I was admittedly VERY NERVOUS. I subscribed to a lot of car magazines and knew the level of craftsmanship some people put into their cars and didn't think my car was anywhere near "show car" ready. I really didn't want to go, but was strong-armed by the club.

The morning of the show was horrible. I woke up late and didn't get to wash my car, let alone wipe it down with any of my Meguiar's Quik Detailer (my favorite at the time, I remember always buying the Gift Pack at Walmart). I arrived at the clubs' shop and everyone's car looked great but mine. Every imperfection was magnified. I was sweating bullets but everyone else seemed so laid back and were just having fun. We all cruised to the show together in a spirited but responsible manner and all parked together with out club decals proudly displayed on each windshield. I had registered into the car audio sound off competition and wanted to back out. There were vans and trucks there that made my system look like childs play. When it was my time to roll into the sound competition area I wanted to pull a Jesse (from Fast and the Furious) and run away: https://youtu.be/kLJCWb1apYo?t=1m33s

But I didn't and I'm glad. I put up respectable numbers for my class and every bass head in the area came over to check out my system. I was so happy.

Looking back, stressing over all the small stuff isn't what car shows are about. It's about a bunch of car guys and girls just having fun. I like seeing car shows where there's a little bit of everything for everyone. Some tuner cars here, some lifted trucks over there, american muscle over there, everyone likes something different. And if you even get one person that slowly walks around your car, admiring your work; trust me it will be worth it. Just go have fun and if you see something you like, try and let the owner know. It will mean just as much to them, as it will to you. :)
 
car shows are supposed to be for hanging out and having fun (or for many of us, advertising). have never really heard of someone truly looking at them as "competition".
 
Vega@Autopia said:
Back in high school I had an 02 Trans Am that I loved keeping clean. Eventually I replaced the stock radio for a Pioneer DEH-P77DH, then all the speakers and finally a very skilled friend helped me build my dream fiberglass subwoofer box. It filled the wheel well area on the fbody and the entire trunk area to squeeze 4 big 10 inch subs. For such a small cabin, it was LOUD. I was Mr. Cool on my high school turf.

After adding a SLP whisper lid intake and loudmouth exhaust, I was approached by a couple guys in a car club called "Details Details" ironically enough. I hung out with them a few times and it was great. The president of the club was building a Spoon inspired Honda NSX and we would just hang out at his shop and help him out. I ended up being the "car audio guy" of the group. Later on we found out we were all expected to show our cars at a local car show at Palm Beach Community College. I was admittedly VERY NERVOUS. I subscribed to a lot of car magazines and knew the level of craftsmanship some people put into their cars and didn't think my car was anywhere near "show car" ready. I really didn't want to go, but was strong-armed by the club.

The morning of the show was horrible. I woke up late and didn't get to wash my car, let alone wipe it down with any of my Meguiar's Quik Detailer (my favorite at the time, I remember always buying the Gift Pack at Walmart). I arrived at the clubs' shop and everyone's car looked great but mine. Every imperfection was magnified. I was sweating bullets but everyone else seemed so laid back and were just having fun. We all cruised to the show together in a spirited but responsible manner and all parked together with out club decals proudly displayed on each windshield. I had registered into the car audio sound off competition and wanted to back out. There were vans and trucks there that made my system look like childs play. When it was my time to roll into the sound competition area I wanted to pull a Jesse (from Fast and the Furious) and run away: https://youtu.be/kLJCWb1apYo?t=1m33s

But I didn't and I'm glad. I put up respectable numbers for my class and every bass head in the area came over to check out my system. I was so happy.

Looking back, stressing over all the small stuff isn't what car shows are about. It's about a bunch of car guys and girls just having fun. I like seeing car shows where there's a little bit of everything for everyone. Some tuner cars here, some lifted trucks over there, american muscle over there, everyone likes something different. And if you even get one person that slowly walks around your car, admiring your work; trust me it will be worth it. Just go have fun and if you see something you like, try and let the owner know. It will mean just as much to them, as it will to you. :)
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Pull a jesse from f and f......rofl. might be my favorite part of your story haha. Thanks for sharing. Hearing stories like this makes me want to do it even more
 
MooreImpressive said:
car shows are supposed to be for hanging out and having fun (or for many of us, advertising). have never really heard of someone truly looking at them as "competition".
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Speaking of advertising. ...how do you guys go about advertising in any shows you're in?

The "end game" for me when I started picking up side work a couple years ago was to get to where I could kinda pick and choose what work I do and do more "fun" vehicles. Shows and cruise nights are obviously a good place to advertise but I don't wanna do it in a "trashy" way
 
Ronkh said:
The harder shows are the "car club" shows...... They normally seem to favor their own members. One of the funnier shows here is a corvette show that takes the whole down town area. It is sponsored by a local corvette club, their member aren't allowed to enter the show. Funny thing is a week before the show, about 4 or 5 of the members quit the club so they can enter.........
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Agreed. I remember the first show I entered a fews yrs back. It was held by the local Buick dealer by the local BCA(Buick club) There was another 72 GS there and it was a rust bucket. They judged by originallity ect ect.---- I remember they wanted us to start our cars up, so this guy who had his GS had to get in his car, pump the choke a few times and it kicked over. When it came to me I just reached into the car from the open window and fired mine right up--I do not run a choke on my car and it fired up after sitting for about 3 hrs. Needless to say I did not win--I was told my another fellow that I had the wrong color shirt on!!! I asked what that meant and he said I did not have a BCA club shirt. O well, chock it up to experience. Now I only go to enjoy.

Most of the time I am the only GS there, so I will win or come a close 2nd for being the "oddball" so to speak but when it comes to shine I always get the comments(plus I usually win the burnout contest if there is one)

Just have a good time and relax.
 
I live in a rural area, no big cities, so there is not that many cars shows close. I never really had anything worth showing off before so I was just a spectator. 3 years ago when I bought my Camaro I decided to enter a nearby show. I have attended a few, never won, and never really expected to since I have nothing that really stands out. Most shows here give away car care products and gift certificates for entering or registering. Since the shows here you usually have to drive minimum of 50 miles or further to see or attend I have only went to one this year because you see most of the same cars. I did drive 200 miles one way last weekend to a potato festival and car show. Upon arrival I parked my car at the show but decided not to enter or register. Most shows in our area will allow you to show your car without registering, you just aren't allowed to win trophies or door prizes. With over 150 cars at that show I just see that it wasn't worth spending the money on and it didn't look like the money went to support any charities. I also was able to leave early and didn't need to stick around the whole 5 hours. Also, some of the cars at a lot of the shows are unfinished projects. A lot of the shows around here actually have a trophy for work in progress vehicles. I have really never thought as any of them as "what are they doing here" cars. Most of the people that attend the shows around here are usually people that don't own or can't afford to own the cars in attendance.

All in all most of the shows I have went to over the last couple years anything and everything has been entered. I myself have lost the interest to attend them. If you are talking about entering one than you have the interest to do it. I would suggest you attend then you will know whether you will enjoy it in the future. A list of thing to bring is a cooler for refreshments. If you drive any distance at all to the show bring some detail spray and towels to clean bugs and such. A chair to sit in. A camera to take photos of the other cars. Don't forget the sunscreen and enjoy.
 
grisby said:
Agreed. I remember the first show I entered a fews yrs back. It was held by the local Buick dealer by the local BCA(Buick club) There was another 72 GS there and it was a rust bucket. They judged by originallity ect ect.---- I remember they wanted us to start our cars up, so this guy who had his GS had to get in his car, pump the choke a few times and it kicked over. When it came to me I just reached into the car from the open window and fired mine right up--I do not run a choke on my car and it fired up after sitting for about 3 hrs. Needless to say I did not win--I was told my another fellow that I had the wrong color shirt on!!! I asked what that meant and he said I did not have a BCA club shirt. O well, chock it up to experience. Now I only go to enjoy.

Most of the time I am the only GS there, so I will win or come a close 2nd for being the "oddball" so to speak but when it comes to shine I always get the comments(plus I usually win the burnout contest if there is one)

Just have a good time and relax.
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That was the perfect comment = wrong color shirt...... (same as yesterday for me, again)

Waitin for Tropic Steve to jump in on that comment.
 
I actually quit going to the local meets in my area. It's a lot of extremely rude and disorganized people giving the Auto scene a bad name with yelling profanities at strangers and doing burnouts in parking lots they didn't get approved to be on. However I do enjoy going to well sanctioned car shows. My University throws one every year I enjoy going to. Although as part of the department for Automotive stuffs I kind of usually am helping to host it. My advice is just do what you would normally do to step back and enjoy your car. It will likely be as good if not better than everyone else's there. Oh Ron this is the first time I've seen so many pictures of your Corvette. I do love the new ones and it looks great. But to the OP lets see some pics of your GTO!
 
That looks good. I really like the fitment on that. Not too low, not to tall. Good choice. Plus the GTO is a pretty awesome car to begin with. Nice work :)
 
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