Car Show Gripe/Rant

[toolmanmike]

We have a local guy who truly gets upset when he doesn't win a trophy or best of show every time. Keep in mind that he spent 30 years restoring it and it is probably worth over 300K. The car is beautiful and does win best of show alot. Now, I have beaten him at 3 different shows that I know of with 2 of my cars by winning a people's choice award or best hot rods etc and have heard him cry and say "that his car is way nicer then that".
I don't ever go to shows for trophies or awards and couldn't care less. It's the people that made the votes count.

We have one that has temper tantrums as well. The people that vote in the peoples choice shows get tired of the same guy winning all the time. I have been beat out by a car like mine but half the quality just because a large group of his friends showed up and voted for his car. Even the show promoter thought it was wrong but the numbers don't lie. It's fun to win a trophy but I don't go for trophies. I go for the social event that car shows create. When you run into an old friend you haven't seen for decades, that's what it's all about.

 

[toolmanmike]

A few years ago at our Mopar Maxx event, we had a small car show and no divisions for the late model cars. A big group of new Challengers and Chargers showed up and cleaned house, beating out some nice older Mopars including A 12 cars and a big block Barracuda convertible. I overheard the group members talking that they were all going to vote for a particular Charger owner because he hadn't won many shows. He won best of show of course. The next year we had a division for the late model guys.

 

[#41]

Quite frankly, if you are the type to complain about who won what and for what reason, you will almost never be happy participating in judged car shows.

 

[mmissile]

It's all politics, at every show. People are kiddin' themselves, if they think otherwise. I've watched many loaded ballot boxes.....
In the end, this **** cracks me up. I rarely go to a show anymore.......boring.

 

[toolmanmike]

We have a big show and shine Friday night, Memorial Day weekend. Hundreds of cars attend. A group of us Mopar guys all park in the same place and we draw quite a crowd. I don't have time to walk around and look at cars. Too busy visiting with the other guys and the spectators. Right @Scott Engelhardt?

 

[YY1]

Quite frankly, if you are the type to complain about who won what and for what reason, you will almost never be happy participating in judged car shows.

or possibly ever.

 

[SlingLow]

These are the only 2 trophies/plaques that I've ever won. Neither has anything to do with the vehicle which, of course, I didn't build. Both have everything to do with driving it. Both are proudly displayed in my office for my enjoyment. Sorry about the sideways orientation.

 

[torredcuda]

I'm too lazy and old to bother doing the prep to take a "show car" to a car show.

I know a guy that said he spent two days cleaning his newer Challenger for a local show that I went to. I didn`t even wash mine as I just gave it a quick detail a couple weeks before, drove it 120 miles, parked it with grime and dirt on the lower quarters, a dirty interior and went off and enjoyed the show not caring if I didn`t get a trophy. I may have won the long distance award but the girl I was with drove an hour further to meet up and cruise there with me. BTW that is her high school car she restored herself at the shop she owns and runs.

 

[68BabyBlue]

It's all politics, at every show. People are kiddin' themselves, if they think otherwise. I've watched many loaded ballot boxes.....
In the end, this **** cracks me up. I rarely go to a show anymore.......boring.

I've been around the block on this, attending the largest show in my area on a yearly basis, when town next to me shuts down the courthouse square. My motivation is the opportunity to catch up with people who I don't see unless I attend. I almost quit going, after I was parked under a tree shedding sap and bird droppings two years in a row. Cars were essentially judged when directed to park, and the crew didn't care for older Mopars. I stayed in the game after one of the organizers ran into me at the first non judged show the following season, and realized the Demonstrator was a local vehicle that had cruised the show area back in day. He put me into a select group of a dozen other "historic cruisers", parked in a prime spot next the the big sponsors of the event, including the owner of the local Chevy dealership.

Still didn't win a trophy, losing out to late model Challengers. Didn't care, but my friend, who owns a '70 Mach One, wasn't happy about the result, and lobbied for me at a participant judged show a few months later. I won my class, getting votes from the Ford and Chevy guys. Got second this year. Didn't even bother to detail the engine compartment after driving back from Carlisle.

Baby Blue was never anything but a well preserved daily driver, but got a best of show trophy back in 2018. My Mopar friend who did my truck maintenance and stored the car with his collection sponsored a show to benefit a fellow driver who was in hospice, with no medical insurance. I contributed on the side. The field judges used points, and I was never in the running. The family did the best of show vote. I suspect Sam might have tipped my hand.

 

[Charles Cook]

These are the only 2 trophies/plaques that I've ever won. Neither has anything to do with the vehicle which, of course, I didn't build. Both have everything to do with driving it. Both are proudly displayed in my office for my enjoyment. Sorry about the sideways orientation.


View attachment 1950752
View attachment 1950767

Here you go.

 

[Runner 68]

Here you go.

View attachment 1950880

View attachment 1950881

Those are nice looking. Office worthy for sure.
I just have a spot in the shop where I rack them and let them collect shop dust and gunk. (ignore Cheryl's crotch if you can)
I'm sure when I'm taking a dirt nap my wife and kids will say "What the hell should we do with this crap?"
I've already told them to pitch em. They don't matter.

When it comes to the club biased issue, I would beg to differ, at least in my part of the country. Probably my favorite award is the simple steel water bottle in the pic below that says "Club Choice".
I went to a small show this year in Cheyenne Wyoming at a Chevy dealership, ~100 cars, 53rd annual. I trailered up from Ft. Collins Colorado because I had nothing better to do. I was the only Mopar there. All Chevy and Ford. All Wyoming tags, I'm sporting Colorado tags. (Wyomingites hate Coloradoans as much as Coloradoans hate Californians.)

I was parked next to an 85 year old man with a beautiful original 58 Corvette that he bought new from the dealership where the show was being held. As shows go, you get to know your neighbors well throughout the day.
All awards were nice steel water bottles, nothing fancy. My Runner won the Club Choice award judged by the club who was putting on the show.

After awards we were packing our **** up to head home and the old man comes up to me and says "Young man, Cheyenne is Chevy and Ford Country. I have attended all 53 of these shows and I can't remember the last time a Mopar won anything. Well done." Best compliment I have ever received.

It's the experience and people you meet that make it all worthwhile. Not the ******* water bottle.

 

[71RRHI]

I do allot of shows. I hate the late model stuff too but I have learned it's all a part of the game these days. Some pretty cool late model stuff and some of these guys and gals are doing some awesome things with them. It's the next evolution of our hobby. Get used to it.
I talk to allot of the late model folks and am refreshed to see their enthusiasm and passion for their cars. Isn't that what it's all about?

Not all of us are lucky enough to own a classic Mopar these days. Consider yourself royalty at these shows because you own one. That's how I am treated by the younger generations and late model people. They want what we have but they are difficult to obtain.

Don't go into a show expecting to win anything. If you happen to win a plastic trophy or plaque, it's just the icing on the cake.
I like to show to be able talk to people with a passion for the machines. Both spectators and owners. Late model or classic.

I have never been to a show where they issue trophies, the shows on my small island are just the cruise in type. So I have no comments on trophies. But I agree with Runner 68 comments about late model Challengers/Chargers. I'm usually the only old Mopar or at best one of a hand full of old mopars at our local shows. But there are always a bunch of younger guys there with late model mopars. They always come and check out my cars and most comment that one day they would love to own one.
Let's not forget, some of these late model mopars are 15-16 years old already. My first car was a 16 year old 68 charger when I got it. These young guys are doing the same types of things we did back in the day. Changing rims/tires. Changing the stance. Engine mods to make more power. I always talk with them, they love their cars just as much as we do. So cut them a little slack. I just wonder if another 20-30 years if some of them will be removing the modifications and looking for stock parts to put them back to the way they left factory.

 

[oldchevelle541]

Howdy I stopped putting my cars into carshows a long time ago. As most winner's were friends of the club running the shows. On the other side I have judged cars at shows, Mopars at the Strip in Vegas, and I believe that when done fairly the correct cars will win.

I couldnt agree more. I used to have a Superbird and it would lose to a 1970 Cutlass only to find the Cutlass owner was friends with those that ran the show. I wont give my money to support those kind of shows anymore unless its for charity. Instead of going to a show and sitting for most of the day only to hear from those that did not bring a car whats not correct on your car I have learned to enjoy them more by taking them out for a drive.

 

[YY1]

All I have are "participation" plaques from being a vendor.

I do have a 1977 1st place custom van trophy with a gold chrome plastic B200 on top.

It was a $5 thrift store find I couldn't resist.

 

[1967coronet]

Good Guys Nats. 5,000 cars , would my old 67 ever win anything ?
Heck no but I go and register so I can get my cooler and lawn chairs right in the middle of that place.

 

[moparedtn]

Mostly all local events (crusie-ins and such) for Fred; not really major shows, but the downtown monthly
cruise-ins are supposedly for '80 and back cars (depends on who you are, come to find out).
The local "clique" bias is in full effect though - and even though all participants who register are given
ballots to choose their favorite cars there, the same bunch win every time - some with quite unworthy
rides for sure.

Fred's no show car, never will be. I don't care about trophies, never have.
I enjoy visiting with the "everyone else" types who attend and spectate and Fred gets his share
of attention, show or not - apparently he's quite the rare critter in these parts.
Strangers seem comfortable approaching he and I and striking up conversations, which I'm there for -
screw the awards and the local cabal.

Funny thing though - when I miss an event, I often get stopped at the store or wherever and asked
why Fred wasn't there by members of that same group - like we're "filler" or whatever that are expected
to attend, even though the fix is in on awards.
Screw 'em - and I do, every chance I get.

Oh, and on the subject of late model stuff just showing up and collecting awards?
Here ya go:

Yep, sums it up for me.

 

[toolmanmike]

Mostly all local events (crusie-ins and such) for Fred; not really major shows, but the downtown monthly
cruise-ins are supposedly for '80 and back cars (depends on who you are, come to find out).
The local "clique" bias is in full effect though - and even though all participants who register are given
ballots to choose their favorite cars there, the same bunch win every time - some with quite unworthy
rides for sure.

Fred's no show car, never will be. I don't care about trophies, never have.
I enjoy visiting with the "everyone else" types who attend and spectate and Fred gets his share
of attention, show or not - apparently he's quite the rare critter in these parts.
Strangers seem comfortable approaching he and I and striking up conversations, which I'm there for -
screw the awards and the local cabal.

Funny thing though - when I miss an event, I often get stopped at the store or wherever and asked
why Fred wasn't there by members of that same group - like we're "filler" or whatever that are expected
to attend, even though the fix is in on awards.
Screw 'em - and I do, every chance I get.

Oh, and on the subject of late model stuff just showing up and collecting awards?
Here ya go:
View attachment 1951019
Yep, sums it up for me.

Exactly!

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

We have a big show and shine Friday night, Memorial Day weekend. Hundreds of cars attend. A group of us Mopar guys all park in the same place and we draw quite a crowd. I don't have time to walk around and look at cars. Too busy visiting with the other guys and the spectators. Right @Scott Engelhardt?

View attachment 1950742

That is one of three shows I go to a year. It has a great turn out and I get to talk to @toolmanmike

 

[mmissile]

In the end......we're all different. We're all driven by different things. Everything evolves.
Go do what makes ya happy. I've been very blessed in my lifetime [and worked my *** off], in this hobby. I've won some prestigious awards at some of the larger shows, and
had my work recognized in print. I'm very grateful for the accolades, but I've done this for myself. I need to complete tasks to use my God given blessings and not lose my edge, as I age-out.
I appreciate any and all efforts made by people to be "connected" and share common ground. In those situations, people need to be thankful for our ability to congregate share our thoughts and feelings. The "cars", should just be a medium to do so. People need to chill a bunch, and enjoy the day. As my ex FIL used to tell me...."Every day, is a holiday".