Car Shows General

[Anthony Page]

Lately it seems spectator admission prices have been going up even for smaller basic car shows. Just looked it one in Knoxville, TN Chilhowee Park Oct 2-4 $ 19 for general admission. Is this a trend Nationwide or am I just being cheap?

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

Close to ALL shows in Wisconsin have FREE admission for spectators. Car admission is typically $10. The car show here in my town has been around 5 years. We have other FREE family events during the three-day run. Our car show is one day, random door prizes to all show cars and is FREE. This year we had 150 cars.

 

[91r/t]

Usually around here it costs the guy entering the car the dough.....which I never understood. I always figure I am bringing the entertainment in the car so why charge me and let the crowd in for free. I don't mind the $5 donations or whatever, but the $20-30 entry fee for B.S. judging car shows is a joke. The judges never have a clue and you are bringing the crowds with you entering the car.....charge the crowd a buck or two to get in and let me in for free with the CAR for the CARSHOW. I am more of a cruise night guy for this very reason. That, and I don't wanna bake in the sun for 8 hours and wait for someone to tell me my car is up to snuff or not and maybe win a plastic trophy.

 

[toolmanmike]

We charged $10 for our show but that was to cover the admission to the drag strip where our event was held. No plastic trophies either.

 

[91r/t]

We charged $10 for our show but that was to cover the admission to the drag strip where our event was held. No plastic trophies either.

View attachment 1009307 View attachment 1009308

Totally cool! No problem paying for a service or event, but just to sit in a parking lot or line up down the street and bake for the day seems pointless to me.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

Usually around here it costs the guy entering the car the dough.....which I never understood. I always figure I am bringing the entertainment in the car so why charge me and let the crowd in for free.

I agree 100% and is what I have said for the last five years. If they want someone else to run the show fine and charge admission. I will help but not run the event.

 

[Ironbuilt]

A local church has a show every year and the admission is $20. They provide nice wall plaques for the winners and the money goes to a good cause, so it's worth it. But, I agree with @91r/t I am not going to pay to park in a empty lot and sweat all day.

 

[dla4567]

I thought all car shows were free? Except big shows like Carlisle.
(Some ask for donations)

 

[Anthony Page]

Thanks for the input. I looked to see if the car show was for a good cause and if a portion of the general admission was being donated. No such thing. It is a NSRA show and the webiste talks about how much is given away in prizes etc. but looks like the prizes come from suppliers.
Maybe this is typical for a NSRA show. see website and scroll to Knoxville, TN https://nsra-usa.com/events/#event-southeast

 

[91r/t]

I thought all car shows were free? Except big shows like Carlisle.
(Some ask for donations)

Yea they get "donations" but they are getting pretty hefty at some shows I see lately. I actually see alot of shows here getting smaller and cruise nights popping up like crazy which is right u my alley.

 

[64BEL]

Close to ALL shows in Wisconsin have FREE admission for spectators. Car admission is typically $10. The car show here in my town has been around 5 years. We have other FREE family events during the three-day run. Our car show is one day, random door prizes to all show cars and is FREE. This year we had 150 cars.

Pete- I thought your show was canceled this year? At one time it was said to be, anyway.

I don't mind paying a little to participate, but it does seem backwards to charge the car owners. I'm more and more tired of shows and am just interested in the Mopar shows where the people there are car people and know what they're looking at. A lot of the others are full of clueless people who are like fish just captivated by a shiny lure and otherwise don't know what they're looking at.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

Pete- I thought your show was canceled this year? At one time it was said to be, anyway.

No, "Celebrate Waupun" activities were cancelled but not our Car Show. We will see what happens next year.

 

[Slap Stick]

I'll ask my buddy in Knoxville, Dirk, about the turnout, etc. I'm sure he's at least viewing. His 88 Siverado is show worthy as a sharp daily driver.

 

[moparedtn]

I'm just like anyone else here, apparently...
If the show benefits a cause I can support, I don't mind kicking in.
Local cruise-ins, at least around here, never cost anything - despite the ones
downtown definitely having a cost associated with them to the organizers.
It's considered advertising and promotion by the local tourism folks, I guess.