• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Idiots ruining car meets

ksurfer2

ksurfer2

Well-Known Member
Local time
8:08 AM
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
974
Reaction score
1,698
Location
Plant City, FL
I am not a big fan of going to car shows. I much prefer cars and coffee type events....show up in the morning, hang out for an hour and then head home. In the Tampa area, DuPont held a great event for a lot of years. Unfortunately, they stopped when Covid hit, then sold their property and the event stopped. They have been getting restarted, but not on a regular monthly basis. There is another event at a local car dealership that is well attended and well behaved. As Covid restrictions started to relax around here, a local Detailing shop started a monthly meet. I went to a few, but could tell recently that the crowd started to change. It became more new mustangs, camaros, and challangers plus imports than the exotics and classics that attend the other meets. Now, towards the end of the show, spectators are lining the exit waiting for burnouts, donuts, and other foolery. This past Saturday, things seemed to get way out of hand. Looks like this is another meet that may get shut down. I work for the town that this is held in, it is a pretty small town and I can't jeopardize my career by being associated with this event. It's too bad....it could have grown into a great event, but the idiots are ruining it.
 
Long tradition of idiots "ruining it for the rest of us".
 
Haven't attended one in the last 2 years but they were still pretty much dominated by classics at that time and no shenanigans. I got a bit burned out, tired of frying in the heat just to hear knit pickers criticize other people's car's as they walk around without a car themselves.

I never really cared about trophies or any of that stuff but when the judges start calling out late model vehicles that the owner BOUGHT over classics with hours of labor I just shake my head, idiots! I guess the last one I attended just burned my ***, brand new Hellcats winning as I'm looking at all these beautiful displays of classic iron, piss on them, let's see what crowd they draw when it's all late model cars. Keep in mind these shows are typically 85-90% classics..

I built mine to drive, I have way more fun driving it anyways.
 
Last edited:
The car show at our event last year got taken over by a group of late model Challengers and Chargers. I walked around the show field and heard them talking about who they all were going to vote for because he hadn't won many trophies. Meanwhile a guy with a beautiful Barracuda convertible didn't even get looked at. This year will be different, the late models will be in a division by themselves.
 
Last edited:
The problem I have with most shows is the groupings and categories. Seems like most shows that aren’t mopar only will mix in late model cars and old model cars. We have 50-70 years worth of production models, why have a generic muscle car or sports car class when you can break it up by a date range or make? A stock 2016 ‘Vette really doesn’t need to be competing with a late 60’s Mopar or GM product.
 
I haven't brought mine to any shows for years. No interest and like already said, sick of the chatter of originality. I like going to shows though to look at other classics (and supporting the attending food truck lol).
 
Even Mopar only events I don't enter my cars anymore. Hours of spit shining and elbow grease to make it beautiful so I can pay to enter and show it off. No thanks.
 
We've all experienced "idiots" ruining events for us. We raced at the local airport a few times a summer for over 10 years and had one guy with a 4WD truck that would do a big smokey burnout every time and it was ok because we had gotten together and poured concrete for the starting line.
Well, he goes to another airport where drag races were being held and did the same big burnout, only this time on the runway blacktop, gouging huge holes in the runway, These airports are under the PA Dept of Transportation! PENN DOT says no more racing at any PA funded airports!
That was it for local racing! then he posted the video and bragged about it, and when approached about it said that wasn't the reason. He wasn't racing so it didn't matter to him. So, after more than 10 years we finally got the event started again to raise money for the local airport! ruffcut
 
A big event here years ago was a Swapmeet/Show over a weekend...it was run by the local Chebby Club, and the prize winners were always a member of Committee, or a friend. Back in around 1986 or so, I hatched a plan to change that. One of my fellow Club members (Chrysler Restorers Club at the time) had just bought a rusted out shell of a '37 Buick...not running gear, just a shell on a trailer.

I convinced all my fellow members and friends to vote for it.....and he won the Peoples Choice - the look on the guys face when he announced it was priceless. Our club wasn't invited back the following year. :lol: It was worth the effort.

For my part, I had never won anything with my cars except a Burnout trophy in 1989....1/4 mile effort always gets a look-in. :D

That all changed with my '70 GTX.....won something every show I entered into except one (there's always one) Prizes in that show were all jacked up....the best engine went to a Challenger with no engine....just a Blower hat poking through the hood (rested on a wooden beer crate...that was it for me with those turkeys.

Placing 3rd at our Concours Show behind a Morris Minor and an MG was just a learning curve.....age points cost me the win. :rolleyes:

The 'Bi-annual' Muscle car Show was the finish for me.....after winning Best Paint for a 3rd show running, I retired and decided to let someone else have a crack at it. That car could probably still have a shot today after 20 years. :D

:xscuseless:

upload_2021-4-27_6-31-10.png


upload_2021-4-27_6-31-34.png


:steering:
 
The mopar hobby in particular seems obsessed with fender tag originality, rareness, and just generally obsessed with resale value. I want no part of that.
We only have one show here, bring anything from a ride on lawnmower to a Harley to a late model, everything welcome. No pressure, no nit picking. 100% people’s choice. Love it.
 
toolmanmike said:
The car show at our event last year got taken over by a group of late model Challengers and Chargers. I walked around the show field and heard them talking about who they all were going to vote for because he hadn't won many trophies. Meanwhile a guy with a beautiful Barracuda convertible didn't even get looked at. This year will be different, the late models will be in a division by themselves.
Click to expand...
They have a show 20 minutes from me that I do really enjoy and that's exactly what they do only they break it down by decade. It's ran by people who know cars and as a result pulls in the biggest crowd around here for a small show.
 
The Niftee Fiftees club down here limits its entrance to 75 and older. Unfortunately you have the hanger ons with new vette, mustang's ect parked around the perimeter.
I've told a few that if I wanted to see a modern car I would go to a dealership...
They get upset or pissed but I dont care I did not go to their Corvette club function hoping to be included with my Dodge... dont expect me to want to include you in your store bought pos!
 
I like the cruise in we have locally. It's not brand or era specific and there are few to no late model cars. Small town gathering for a few hours on a Wednesday evening. 440'
 
My rides not trophy worthy so why pay the money and drool over someone else's nice car when I know I'll get nothing? I never had much fun anyway, I had a much better time loadin up the van and go sit in the swap area sellin parts than attend the show! I haven't been to a cruze night in 5 years, I haven't even gone to HAN and I live here!
 
We had a gathering at a local hangout each Friday, blaring music and little kids contest. I could last about 30 minutes then I’m gone. Most big shows at tracks around here require a fee of $50 to get a trophy and your name mentioned. When I do go I look at the old mopars and that’s it.
 
sitting at a show all day long is not my idea of fun, i show up late so I can leave early, all cars are cool but one under 10 years shouldn't be there IMO. A friend of mine asked me why didnt I enter my hellcat, I just give him the wtf look. and yes I have done a burnout leaving, but only when egged on by someone, and others preceding me.
 
What’s corked me over the years are the escalating entry fees for us showing our rides. I don’t want another coffee mug, dash plaque, cheap t-shirt, or pen. Skip that. Spectators at many shows don’t pay any fee; so charge ‘em a lousy buck or two and give da mugs and pens to them paid from their admission fee or raffle that stuff. If the fees are for charity, keep it to charities. Agree, new cars should be separated or they should have shows just for them. Had to laugh when I went to a show as a spectator few years ago driving in my Sonata and the guy asks me if I’m entering it in the show ready to snag the 15$ entry fee. Should a done it just to watch how many people might have looked at it, lol.
 
I would like to see the return of the late 70s, early 80's style cruises.

Word of mouth would say, "Everyone meets at the local [name your location] every [name your night] "

No trophies, no 50/50 tickets, no DJ, just a bunch of guys and their cars.
 
I am not an avid car show attendee let a lone a contestant. I agree that certain shows have specific personalities; if you are in line with that you are good, if you aren't you will hate it. I generally dislike most shows because they are X brand heavy but even the Mopar specific shows can be trying with all of the various "clicks" (purists, LX platforms, greedy parts sellers/buyers, etc.). As far as the people doing burn outs and such, not a lot a show coordinator can do about that other than not let them back in the next year. Its been my experience that if you don't fit into whatever click is prevalent at the show you are not going to have a good time.

To me, the shows are what you make of them. If you go with a group of friends they are usually a lot more pleasurable, going solo kind of sucks. Probably one of my biggest complaints of shows is that of the vendors, just because its a captive audience all a sudden a hot dog is $10...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ocdart
2024 14th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - It's NITRO Burnin' Time Again!!!
4 5 6
Replies
105
Views
3K
alsant
alsant
Mopargary
39th annual Southwest MOPAR Nationals Swap Meet & Car Show
Replies
0
Views
828
Mopargary
Mopargary
70bigblockdodge
2024 Hot Rod Power Tour
Replies
1
Views
588
Budnicks
Budnicks
HawkRod
  • Sticky
Carlisle Chrysler Nationals 2024 Tent Activities
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
5wndwcpe
5wndwcpe
kiwigtx
New Plymouth Americarna Festival 2024 - New Zealand **** Picture heavy plus video at the end
2 3
Replies
55
Views
1K
kiwigtx
kiwigtx
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top