Car Shows... Going down hill ?

R

Redcar GUY

New member
As I have been doing car shows for only a short time (6 years) I notice a new trend in the cars that are in attendance are more and more everyday cars? Last weekend I went to a show and was really unimpressed. Most of the cars there were less than a year old and didn’t have more than 1-2 mods to make them more interesting than a stock car of the same make and model. I can understand a newer car that has a ton of mods to make it more of a show car more than a one that is setting at the dealership. Am I the only one seeing this? It seems to me that it is taking the “show� out of a car show!



Now don’t get me wrong if you have a car that is 10+ years old and it looks brand new and has 10k Miles & no mods that is still something to show. But a K&N FIPK and some colored wire loom on a 2004 doesn’t seem to make a show car? Lets see some custom paint, Maybe some polish work…. Heck even some chrome!!!! I am not trying to step on toes here… But lets give the people something to look at, something to wow about!





Ok ok Rant off.. Sorry

:eek:
 
I agree, around here the local shows generally won't allow any cars less than 15 years old to participate. My other car just qualifies this year. Even at that, being so "concours minded" I would hesitate to put it in anything higher than a "survior class"; to me it still doesn't really qualify as a true show car due to some body issues, but they generally don't get that technical. Now that my car can be in a true car show I'll have to get around to entering it one of these days ......
 
The biggest thing I see with this is people taking SUV's and putting huge rims on them.



I'm not saying they look bad, but when that's your ONLY mod, I'm not impressed. Any idiot can go out and buy cool rims. To me, its the upkeep (detail and maintenance), DIY mods, and something more than just rims that makes a car show worthy.



To me, I don't care if your car says "RICE" down the side, it's your thing and that's fine. But some of these people literally pull their car off the dealer and think its show car worthy.



There should be mod restrictions or desirability testing before a car enters. IE: If you drive an Integra (I'm just using it cuz I drive one), there should be a certain amount of mods done that makes your's stand apart from the stock ones. OR. If you pull in with a Brand new CTS-V, it's a different story. They are very rare (as of now) and VERY desirable.



Could just be me, but that's how I feel.
 
GSRstilez said:
OR. If you pull in with a Brand new CTS-V, it's a different story. They are very rare (as of now) and VERY desirable.
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Mnnnnn yum a new V... Caddy + LS6(Z06 Covette) Motor = Screw car shows! Go for a drive!
 
Redcar GUY said:
Mnnnnn yum a new V... Caddy + LS6(Z06 Covette) Motor = Screw car shows! Go for a drive!
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Can I get an Amen from the congretation? :D



I agree with what all has been said. I see cars at shows that are lowered and have aftermarket wheels and think, where is the custom work? Anybody can buy a bunch of stuff and screw it on to their cars, let's see something unique. I wouldn't classify many of these "shows" as such, they are more of a get together. Wait, my car is lowered and I have aftermarket wheels, maybe I'll enter it in a custom car show. :rolleyes:
 
i personally hate it when ppl say, ''ye i've got a custom air filter, and custom boost guage'' and stuff like that, when in reality its just bought off the shelf!



custom usually means ONE OFF
 
What I've seen over the last few years are too many car shows period. Now that the internet is so pervasive, anyone can organize and promote a car show at any time. Get 10-15 people together on some internet forum and they're organizing a show someplace.



The guys with real talent aren't showing at every little worthless event but display only at large events where the recognition is there. But even those events are getting more common. I dunno.... as a spectator I like lots of shows but I agree with you guys that the quality has dropped significantly.
 
That's why I don't even go to World of Wheels anymore. You used to see all kinds of wild vehicles there. Now you see cars with a cold air package and a bolt on exhaust and these people think they have a custom creation on their hands. I like seeing the newer cars and all at shows but there should be a minimum amount of mods to qualify for entry.
 
Thumper said:
That's why I don't even go to World of Wheels anymore.
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I use to take the SS to the world of wheels here in Indiana, then they moved the show from one of the nicest convention centers around to the darn fairgrounds!
 
The same problem has been happeneing here to the point where cars with 100 miles on them were competing with 10 yr old cars. I was in one show last year where I was in a class "Stock 1970 to Present!" A T-Bird with 68 miles on it won! This year they changed the classes into 10 yr groups so I'll be in 1990 to 1999 wish is better.
 
The biggest thing I see with this is people taking SUV's and putting huge rims on them.
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Thats all I seem to see anymore. Its big rims, TV Screens, and Neon. Whatever happened to the classics.
 
I’ve had this argument with several members of my local GP Club chapter. They are upset that more members aren’t showing cars at car shows, even Poncho specific ones. I tried to explain that most of our cars aren’t show cars. We have a few cars that have custom hoods, spoilers, wheels, engine mods, etc that are show worthy.



My car could easily be confused for any other GP in any given parking lot (except a bit shinier :D ). There is no reason for me to show it, even if the class was 1997+ Grand Prixs. Our MG Club puts on a big show in June of each year. There is one category for modern cars. The focus is mostly on foreign and sports cars, but we do also get good ol’ American Iron. I think that people that want to show off their modern cars, they should stick to cruise nights.
 
I disagree with just about ALL the opinions posted here. If I put my hard earned money and time into making MY car look good. I believe I have the right to "show" it a car show. The point of a car show is to look a "nice" cars. Your defination is of nice is up to you. I don't care if the car is a 2004 stocker or a 50 year old car modded to hell. If you can see the hardwork the owner has put into via either keeping it clean or adding mods then he gets a thumbs up in my book.
 
RCG, I gotta hand it to you: You have the nerve to tackle the HARD discussion topics.



Now ... <flame suit on>



I guess I'm just not interested in the kind of "car shows" that most folks in this thread are talking about. I gag at cars lowered, neoned, nitro'd. I just look them and say, "What is that person trying to prove?" It's like they bought a "base-piece" on which they wanted to do some artwork.



I gotta confess a bias to the older cars. I find today's cars just BOOOOOORRRRRRRING. I'd like to buy a new car, but everything I see just says "same-old/same-old."



So ... I just go the shows that have older cars (And, yeah, I confess I go to the British/Euro showsl) And what impresses me is the way that folks have maintained/restored their classic cars. Whether it's Afshin with his 90s Benz or the guy on Autopia with the old MG .. that's what gets my jets racing.



Me, with an old '70s Jag ... I just dont "get it" when folks with a 2004 Jag show up at a "car show." Like what did it "cost" them? :nixweiss They just had to wash and wax it. They didn't have to scrub 30 years of scrunge off the engine. They're not having to do war daily against rust.



Maybe old cars and late-model cars just need different "shows"? :nixweiss
 
Hi, new to this forum.



I have a 2000 Z3 and plan on showing it. The only modifications I've made (so far) are adding some chrome. I feel comfortable taking the car to show because it's no longer made. I'm looking forward to the day I put "historic" plates on 'er.
 
Pats300zx said:
Thats all I seem to see anymore. Its big rims, TV Screens, and Neon. Whatever happened to the classics.
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They sit in my garage for my personal enjoyment. ;) No flash,no neon, no added chrome, no fancy wheels, no psycho paint job, and no fingerprints. :D
 
I cant believe no one on here seems to appreciate stock vehicles. The car that i use for shows in a standard 1999 Peugeot, I have done my best to restore it to Factory condition and dont plan any mods to it apart from keep it clean, clean and more clean. I can apprecite any vehicle of any age modified or standard, i look at one thing how clean it is! In our show and shine and concours automatic pints are issued on both age and mileage, this combined with the fact some of the older cars are cheque book restorations and only ever about 500 miles a year means , that even with a 5 year old car i find it hard to compete.



I can understand the dismay of entering in a class with a brand new 2004 car straight from the factory, i have a feeling i will be up against some of them this year.
 
Agree that the neighbours Civic with a juice can exhaust doesn't cut it. So far we haven't got too bad up here in the Great White North but I know it's coming.

That's why I get in my vehicle and drive 10 hours one way to see The Street Rod Nats in Louisville. If you're into cars or in some cases Automotive Art do yourself a favour and go there.

NSRA and Good Guys still produce good shows. We just have to be selective.
 
RichPug306xsi said:
I cant believe no one on here seems to appreciate stock vehicles. The car that i use for shows in a standard 1999 Peugeot, I have done my best to restore it to Factory condition and dont plan any mods to it apart from keep it clean, clean and more clean. I can apprecite any vehicle of any age modified or standard, i look at one thing how clean it is! In our show and shine and concours automatic pints are issued on both age and mileage, this combined with the fact some of the older cars are cheque book restorations and only ever about 500 miles a year means , that even with a 5 year old car i find it hard to compete.



I can understand the dismay of entering in a class with a brand new 2004 car straight from the factory, i have a feeling i will be up against some of them this year.
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Hey Rich - I appreciate factory vehicles and yours is damned clean my friend! It's clear you've put in a great deal of work to retain a factory appearance (I've only seen 1 or 2 XSi's in that shade of blue) plus you have no garage to keep the car in so hat's off to you as far as I'm concerned.



The debate between stock, custom etc will always be there, simple as that really. I love cars period, whether they're old, new, standard or customised, doesn't matter to me - love em all!



Put it this way, I can go to a FOC event and see standard and racing Ferraris, a Peugeot Club event and see road, race, custom and all sorts of different cars. I can then go to a VSCC show and see only pre-war vintage cars - they're all wonderful cars whose owners clearly love them and cherish them so who am I to criticize what gets shown?



I said in another thread that maybe judges/clubs etc should consider entry criteria carefully to avoid this sort of argument and mean that anyone who wants to show their car can compete against similar cars - I understand entirely people's concern with competing against a brand new car which is factory fresh - obtaining that sort of result on a 5 year old car must be hard enough, let alone anything older.



Mind you Rich, if the chap I seem to hace upset over at PSC is one of your judges, I've gotta say I'm surprised that he can even judge your car as his head's so far up his a$$.......meow!



I'd thought seriously about concours with my own car and to be frank it's scared the **** outta me - at this point I just don't think my car's anywhere near that level - maybe 2005 - but it's a standard car, no modifications or custom parts/features so should I ruin a low mileage contemporary classic for the sake of it being "different" or as Lynn said simply concentrate on removing years of grime and grease, dirt and neglect to restore the car to its former glory?



As for quality over here, I don't think it's slipped. A lot more car events have sprung up but most aren't concours, more gatherings with a show & shine. The "real" concours events have opened up to allow more modern classics to enter which I know has upset some of the purists big time but I believe they're being short sighted as a lot of cars of the last 20 or so years can rightly be regarded as classics in their own right and should therefore be eligible for showing.



You pays your money, you takes your choice.
 
~One man’s opinion / observations ~



There used to be divisions or classes at car shows, Concourse d’élégance(usually trailered to show) Street, Un-restored (10 years old+) and Wash/Shine (Entry level) with a best of ‘class’ and a ‘best of show’ awarded.



I no longer compete in US car shows anymore, as most of them (Porsche being an exception) are just new shiny cars that compete with a ‘80s Jag and the 2004 wins best of show cause it has ‘no faults’ (from experience I took my ’02 XK8 to a ‘car show’ and competed (and won) against a MB that was in better show condition than my ’84 SL)



~Hope this helps~



Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*
 
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