Car Shows... Going down hill ?

I'm not sure about all this but I bought a PT cruiser 8 weeks ago and got caught up in the mod fever. I have spent about $3k in mods like lights and engine stuff. I have entered in 2 old Ford club shows that have a class for late model and have won 2 trophies thanks to all the wonderful stuff I have learned here in the past 2 years. I feel a little awkward but the PT people tell me that we all support each others shows and that they are all usually for charity. There were over 100 cars last Sunday and like 20 PT's so I feel like me and the wif have done a good job so far.
 
Last week when I thanked everybody for all the help i've gotten and I was asked for pics. Well here they are. Not the best camera so I will try some with my friends when we go to Daytona next week. Again thanks to all.
 

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Many of the shows have gone to "popular vote" judging...which in my opinion is a cop-out so that the people holding the event have less to do. I only attend popular vote shows infrequently. The import-compact clubs show up and vote for each other.



Another thing that has seemed to change the car shows around here is no longer having classes....just top 40 or the like. I avoid them too.



I prefer judged events with classes.



I have shown for 15 years, last year only attending (only?) 12 shows. At none of these shows did a curent model year car win Best of Show. (I was fortunate to win that about 5 times last year.)





At least in my area, they don;t allow a new car to win Best of Show.
 
Depends on what you like. I disk jockey a Street Rod Run in October (have since 1984), and must admit my preference for the older vehicles (25 years or older). They only allow pre-1949 entries, so there is obviously some preservation and workmanship evident in the entries. Granted, I see a lot of the same cars from year to year. Even so, many of them have evolved from primer and parts missing to polish and chrome over the years.



Frankly, what makes a car show to me is not the age or the condition of the vehicle. It's the love and pride the owners take in their vehicle and the blood, sweat, and tears put in to presenting it for others to enjoy. A lot of the folks at the rod run have a "baby book" that shows the growth of the vehicle from "Barn Fresh Rust Bucket" to its present state.



Finally, if it's about trophies to you, that's fine. But to me it's the comraderie among folks with a love of vehicles that makes the car show. If you're so concerned about keeping score and taking home trophies, it's a competition; not an exhibition. :xyxthumbs
 
here in hawaii, i believe we have two major car shows. one during christmas time, and one sometime in march. the one in march is just a "new cars" show, where they showoff the latest years cars, so its nothing much. the one during christmas time is more of a ricer show, with lots of girls around (hehe), you know, that kinda stuff. i dont think there are too many classics going around hawaii. on the road, here and there ive seen a few, but i dont know about a classic show being in hawaii. we have a musthang club and a camaro club (my dad's friend is president), that they both have shows. i would love to see all of the older cars. not saying that the ricer cars at the christmas show are crappy, but its like sorta the same thing everytime. lights, tvs, subwoofers, rims, neon, drops, suspension, exhasut, engine swap, nice paint etc. ill probably keep gonig to the carshows in hawaii because theyre the only two that are around :\. i pretty sure that cars are still judged by classes during the christmas show, but im not really sure
 
I asked my grandfather when I was 10 or 11 why he didn't go to shows because he always had one or two cars he was working on that were great looking. 25 years ago or so (before I was around) he was the best auto body guy in the area. His reply to me was "I never bought a lawn chair." The truth was, he'd rather be doing things to cars then sit around and talk about them. :)
 
i have showed my last two cars mainly at Volkswagen only and import car shows but also others like world of wheels and custom bring anything shows.



I agree with some of the statements up top. If you just drive a 2004 civic off the showroom floor and add wire loom and ghetto neons inside the car then no it is not show worth. My car looks 100% OEM but there are a lot of little things i have done that many will never see or even care if they did see. But my last car on the other hand was a supercharge 1997 GTI VR6 with full roll cage, sparco seats, custom stereo and a helluva lot more and that car screamed for people to look at it and look further into what was in it.



no neither of them are a 1968 camaro but they dont have to be. A car that the owner has pride in, modified or stock, is showable but no not a basic model anything with some bling bling is considered a "SHOW CAR". The owner may think so but the general public just laughs as they walk away
 
Lynn said:
Whether it's Afshin with his 90s Benz or the guy on Autopia with the old MG .. that's what gets my jets racing.
Click to expand...



Just a note, I got to see Afshin's car (and meet him, what a nice guy) out in Irvine. Man, that car looks mint! :bigups
 
Anyone in the midwest or willing to drive to Louisville should see the Street Rod Nationals. Nothing later than '49 and some of the nicest cars in North America. I drive 10 hours one way to take it in and believe me it's worth the trip.

I agree that many local shows are not worth the bother but I'm not knocking enthusiasts that focus their attention into imports or later model cars but Please do it Right. Some import stuff is too jazzed up.....kinda like Snoopy's Christmas Display.
 
Also, i'm way over the politics in shows these days. There was a little show down here w/ a few hundred cars a few months back. My suburban broke down ont he way so I brought my dads 48 merc woodie. There was a best of woodie class and there was only one car competing against us. The car was horrible, the paint was peeling, it was an ugly pink, the wood was in horrible shape, etc, etc.





Well my dads car is basically flawless. When the awards came around people were talking to me everywhere how I had it in the bag, etc, etc. Well they gave it to the other one. First time i've ever heard a crowd Boo at an awards ceremony at a car show. Turns out the other woodie was friends w/ the judges!!
 
I don't try to get worked up about the judging at shows. My 1961 Comet S-22 never stands a chance. I did most of the work myself. It's a pretty rare model, and usually the only Comet at the show. The popular vote goes to over-restored 1957 chevy. I get more satisfaction in knowing I can drive mine anywhere without fear of fingerprints.

I don't like seeing "new" cars at shows. There are a few exceptions, but generally they don't do a thing for me. If I want to see that I'll go to a dealership. There was a new GTO at a show last week. It had less than 500 miles. :nixweiss Didn't do it for me. The unrestored - very rough - 1954 Vette was more fun to look at.
 
Hey,



Let me me tell you about the Peach City Beach Crusie I attended in Penticton BC yesterday (June 12). It had ~750 cars and most were from 1920-1970 with the odd new Viper. Of course there was a large Vette club displaying old and new iron. Overall, a FANTASTIC show! It was a breath of fresh air!!! It had cars from all over Western Canada and the United States. It was a 3 day event and a LOT of FUN! :)



Here is a only sample of what I mean (I took the photos):



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Tim
 
Boy, some are you guys are spot on. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t attend many shows anymore, especially shows with “modern� cars. I’m sorry, but I’m not impressed with an import with a poorly fitted body kit, large wing and nitrous. If that’s your thing, great, but it’s not what I define as a show car. These types of cars are pretty much a dime a dozen these days, and all look the same in my eyes. I can appreciate some of the stock vehicles, but even they can get bland. If it's a new car, that’s a rare edition (something like the 04 Ford GT) that’s a different story. But seeing 25 stock Mustangs or Corvettes that are 2 or 3 years old, in different colors, isn’t something that is impressive to me. I can see the same thing at a local Chevy or Ford dealer.



I try to attend Concours shows, mainly. The marque really isn’t all that important because I enjoy seeing a good restoration of nearly any classic automobile. Even at these shows, the judging has gotten absolutely horrendous. At many local, and even regional, events it’s not what car you bring, but who you are. I’ve routinely seen cars with notable owners beat other superior cars with less notable owners. At a recent Concours I attended a 1964 Rolls won Best in Class. It had freakin’ visible wear on the seats competing in a restored class! ARG! There were MUCH better cars in the class. Why did this vehicle win? The owner of the vehicle was one of the sponsors of the event. Jeez, that sounds like fair judging. :rolleyes:
 
I also agree with everyone else. (well, almost everybody...). i hate going to a show to see a car that is totaly stock competing. we went to a show a few weeks ago here at the beach and there was a stock Silverado SS competing. not even just parked at a booth, it was actually in the show.i dont think it would have been too bad if it was Chevy trying to get publicity for it, but it was a couple who just happened to buy it when their previous truck's tranny blew out on them on the road. Yes, its a nice truck, but its not a show car. its just a new car.



if i want to see a new stock car, i can go to a dealership. they even let you DRIVE the cars at dealerships... :D



Edit*



oops, just noticed the date on this thread.
 
Around here we have a lot of car shows during the day and then at night it turns into a cruise event. I usually go to the cruise part but not to look at cars but hang out with friends.



I'm seeing way too many car shows. There are like two going on every weekend around here. Every group I've been in someone starts trying to organize their own car show...



The world of wheels show this year wasn't that bad. There weren't many cars that were just stock with just a few mods. The only one I can think of is an escalade that just had chrome rims.
 
I have a couple of comments about this topic on car shows. First off, I'd also like to recommend the NSRA Street Rod Nationals held each August in Louisville, KY. Where else are you going to have a chance to see 12,000 pre 1949 street rods at one event? If you like street rods, this is a “must see� event.



On the subject of new cars at the shows, well, I think it is the responsibility of the shows sponsors to decide what year cars they’ll allow. I go to some “open� car shows and it does strike me odd that someone deems their stock 2003 truck/car as a show car. But hey, if they’re proud of it, and the show has no age restriction then I guess they have a right to be there alongside my 1940 Chevy coupe. While I love the NSRA street rod events, I also like the Goodguys and other shows that allow cars up to pre 1972. That allows a bit more diversity and I love the 55-57 Chevys, muscle cars, and the assortment of odd cars that show up. At the Ducktail run last year (Gas City, IN) there were even two boat tail Auburns that cruised through.



Then there is the subject of trophy’s. I’ll bet I’m opening up a real can of worms here! There’s nothing wrong with someone trying to win a trophy at an event with their car, but sometimes people get caught up in the trophy race and forget what’s really important. That is the fun of driving your car to the events and meeting new (and old) friends. The judges at these events aren’t perfect, they have their own preferences, and if you win that’s great, but if not I hope you at least enjoyed driving you car there. The real trophies aren’t made of shiny plastic and wood. It’s the people in your neighborhood who come over to see the “neat� car. It’s the little kid down the street who asks you a thousand questions, always prefaced with, “how fast will it go?� It is the thumbs up sign you receive from the guy in the pickup truck as you drive down the highway. Those are the real trophies. If all you want are trophies made of plastic and wood, then quit spending all your time in the garage and join the summer bowling league!



I’ll close with a quote from my best friend who passed away in February. “I don’t even raise my Hood anymore when I go to a cruise-in. I just enjoy driving to the event, looking in front or behind me at the cool cars in our caravan, the sound of my exhaust (turn off the radio). I enjoy getting ready for a Sunday trip or a weekend getaway, talking on the phone like a bunch of old women (thank god for e-mail and 3 way calling) with my crusin’ buddies, the planning, and THE TRIP is what I think Street Rodding is all about. If I had wanted a point car that never got driven I think I would have bought a picture… Thank God for bugs, dust and road kill.â€�



Life is short my friends, get in that car and drive!!!!!!
 
Three words; Woodward Dream Cruise! The most outragious display of American Muscle I have ever seen. You should trailer up the SS and head to Detroit for the 2005 cruise.
 
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