Our biggest local car show failed

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Bill Crowell

Bill Crowell

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Once a year, during the county fair, our town would have a car show at the county fairgrounds. Up until a few years ago, the fair directors would make sure to have qualified car judges decide which cars got prizes. Then for some reason they started using the "people's choice" method of award.

I have a nicely-restored '22 Dodge Bros. touring car that I would enter in that show. Here's a picture of my buddy sitting in it, trying to look like a big, tough guy!:

When the car show had real judges, people would enter lots of rare antique cars. Once they went to "people's choice", the tri-five Chevvies won every time and the owners of antique cars stopped showing there. Then the show declined in popularity until today it is a mere shadow of its former self.

So no matter how "undemocratic" it may appear, there is value in aristocracy!!
 

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That's a shame. I went to a show one time that featured (and I hate this term) "rat rod" style cars that all looked like they had been dragged out of a field. They wouldn't let us in with our car because it was "too nice." They didn't want nice looking cars with shiny paint and nice interiors. Car show snobbery has infected the whole hobby. Sounds like you used to have a really good thing going. Nice Dodge Bros., by the way!
 
Nice car!
I like everything except rat rods and high rollers. I'm OK with some well built (safe and well thought out) cars in rust and patina built as though from a specific era ...but not the crap that is passed off as "rat rods"!!!!

Again, love your car!!
 
Bill Crowell said:
Once a year, during the county fair, our town would have a car show at the county fairgrounds. Up until a few years ago, the fair directors would make sure to have qualified car judges decide which cars got prizes. Then for some reason they started using the "people's choice" method of award.

I have a nicely-restored '22 Dodge Bros. touring car that I would enter in that show. Here's a picture of my buddy sitting in it, trying to look like a big, tough guy!:

When the car show had real judges, people would enter lots of rare antique cars. Once they went to "people's choice", the tri-five Chevvies won every time and the owners of antique cars stopped showing there. Then the show declined in popularity until today it is a mere shadow of its former self.

So no matter how "undemocratic" it may appear, there is value in aristocracy!!
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Why do they need to judge the cars at all. Just have a fun show, where some owners don't feel good going to, because they can't afford to restore what they have, but are still proud of it.

Just my opinion, because I, didn't build mine for trophy's and ribbons. I've won best of show once and politely declined the trophy, told them to give it to someone who wanted it.
 
Years ago, the old Slant Six Club of America meets recognized "prize winners" with a hand written certificate. No serious money invested and no hard feelings. I really enjoyed those meets where the purpose was getting to visit with people and enjoy the cars, not spend half the show dusting and polishing. In recent years, I might pay the entrance fee, but don't bother to put the form on the windshield. Mostly I just quit attending because of the issues that always seem to arise.

I have boxes of overpriced plaques and trophies in storage that were awarded with good intentions but mean less to me than a few minutes of talking to someone who likes my Mopars enough to ask questions and share thoughts.
 
I like going to the shows. I've won a few and lost a lot but the people really enjoy my car. Most of what you see are Fords and Chevys so a Barracuda gets a lot of attention.
 
4spdcuda66 said:
That's a shame. I went to a show one time that featured (and I hate this term) "rat rod" style cars that all looked like they had been dragged out of a field. They wouldn't let us in with our car because it was "too nice." They didn't want nice looking cars with shiny paint and nice interiors. Car show snobbery has infected the whole hobby. Sounds like you used to have a really good thing going. Nice Dodge Bros., by the way!
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Rat rod used to mean a traditional style hot rod that was still unfinished but driveable. It may have had patina, primer, a home-brew paint job - whatever. Started in the late 80s as an alternative to the overdone and undriveable Pro Street cars of the era.

There's some that still build them that way today, but there's also a trend to create ridiculous looking contraptions with all kinds of tacky crap welded (poorly) all over the thing in an effort to be unique or quirky. Those types I refer to as junk rods.
 
We have a once a year town festival and car show also. One award for peoples choice. The rest are judged. Only problem with that is cars are judged by local car club who sponsors the car show. Two guesses who wins every year. Like others said I also have boxes full of plastic junk. I usually just pay to enter anymore but don't put the registration sticker to vote on the car.
 
GaryS said:
Years ago, the old Slant Six Club of America meets recognized "prize winners" with a hand written certificate. No serious money invested and no hard feelings. I really enjoyed those meets where the purpose was getting to visit with people and enjoy the cars, not spend half the show dusting and polishing. In recent years, I might pay the entrance fee, but don't bother to put the form on the windshield. Mostly I just quit attending because of the issues that always seem to arise.

I have boxes of overpriced plaques and trophies in storage that were awarded with good intentions but mean less to me than a few minutes of talking to someone who likes my Mopars enough to ask questions and share thoughts.
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I agree. its about visiting with people with like interests and enjoying the cars!!!
 
Our town holds a large car show every year during the fall festival. It used to be a judged show with many categories and trophies and the whole nine yards. People began to complain about seeing the same group of cars year after year so the organizers changed it to a "Cruise-in" format and the number of cars attending doubled! Sure you get the occasional guy that thinks his Chevy Cavalier with ground effects and a big wing is cool, but mostly it just drew more cars that are cool as hell but maybe not perfect and the owners never entered them in a judged show because if that. It's not about trophies, its about the cars and the friends you make because of the cars.
 
It's your choice as to where you drive your car, so don't hate on trophy hounds, rat rods, and the like, cause they deserve their moment in the spot light just like us.

So many options.......

There are cruises (day and night) where anyone can go and there is no competition, just hanging out with your buddies and others with the same passion.

There are judged shows with professional judges for those who want a fair shot.

There are judged shows with judging by entrants. You can expect the buddy system to decide who wins at these shows. You can expect the car clubs to sweep the awards cause they all vote for each other.

There are shows where there is viewer voting. IE anyone who attends can vote. Be prepared for a clone of the Tomater truck and the Back to the future car to win every time. That's OK because it's mostly kids and their moms voting.

Then there is the big dollar World of Wheels/Good-guys type of shows. Big money to enter, gotta be there for three days, so spending big money for food and drinks, then it all comes down to the sticker on your headlight......did I win? What did I win? When can I go home? I'm worn the F out and sick of this show!

Lastly there is the personal cruise. That's where you call a buddy or two and go cruising the back roads and twisties. Stop at an out of the way watering hole and enjoy a greasy lunch and a cold beer. This is my favorite event to attend! :D

If you want to go to a show you should do your homework and know what to expect. That way you wont get pissed, when that worn out 69 Camaro wins yet again.
 
I live out here in th sticks, county roads with little traffic, mostly an occasional tractor or a possum. the BIKE riders love to cruise our area, and at lunch stop at the out of way bar/grill..... good times with bikes instead of cars.

I can see a group of 2-3 mopar guys cruising around in their old cars the back, back roads here , finding a yard on a sat. with some old cars sitting there, finding the owner home and striking up conversation and friendships!????
cool way to enjoy our cars and buds, and never know what you will eventually find from such!?? lol
 
barbee6043 said:
I live out here in th sticks, county roads with little traffic, mostly an occasional tractor or a possum. the BIKE riders love to cruise our area, and at lunch stop at the out of way bar/grill..... good times with bikes instead of cars.

I can see a group of 2-3 mopar guys cruising around in their old cars the back, back roads here , finding a yard on a sat. with some old cars sitting there, finding the owner home and striking up conversation and friendships!????
cool way to enjoy our cars and buds, and never know what you will eventually find from such!?? lol
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Exactly! I live in the country also, but not far from all the chaos of the city. I love the back roads and the fun of carving corners and slow racing your friends through them! We see so many sights and talk to curious people when we stop. Nothing like a greasy pork tenderloin sandwich and a cold beer on a Sunday afternoon.:burnout:
 
I forgot one.............the city cruise.

That's where you cruise through the big city with your car and rattle windows/set off car alarms. It's usually a short cruise as your trying to avoid getting pulled over for excessive noise. :D

Just blast up and down a few blocks then run back to the country! :burnout:
 

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momoparman said:
I forgot one.............the city cruise.

That's where you cruise through the big city with your car and rattle windows/set off car alarms. It's usually a short cruise as your trying to avoid getting pulled over for excessive noise. :D

Just blast up and down a few blocks then run back to the country! :burnout:
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HA! I recognize the bridge, K.C., Mo......going North, take right to Smithville, left to Platte City!!!!!??????
 
The older cars are drawings less of a crowd the people that wanted them and enjoyed them are dying off

At a judged show the judges look at different things than people's choice, but in the end it still up to the persons perspective.

I use to really want a trophy but that changed when I had a room full and now if I get anything would like wall plaques, they stack better in boxes........LOL

BUT I have been at a show where they gave 3 trophies, it was a fund raiser for children's hospital in Indianapolis. 50-75 beautiful cars and a few that were not so nice

The judges, kids from the hospital, my Prowler was still fairly fresh and looking its best. I figured it is always a favorite of the kids, well I went home empty handed. One of the kids picked a 76 trans am with a different color fender and another picked a fox body mustang that had been wrecked and stuff in primer. But that was their picks, what they liked, I was ok with that.

What I didn't care for was taking my 1981 Imperial to Mopar nationals and getting 2nd place to a 78 or 79 fury maybe cop car. The judges walked right past my all original 13,000 mile car at the time to say, I always wanted one of those. So even judges shows aren't what you expect sometimes.

Seeing the old cars are enjoyable to me even if I don't have interest in owning still appreciate the effort to restore and show one.

Everything runs in cycles, ours will end too

Enjoy your car for yourself, share with those that appreciate and when it is no longer fun put it away for your relatives to decide what to do or sell it to a person that will enjoy it some.

People choice isn't always about the best, sometimes it is who has the most friends at a show.
 
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Great looking car, Bill. Congrats on owning a true piece of history. :thumbup:
 
norton said:
Why do they need to judge the cars at all. Just have a fun show, where some owners don't feel good going to, because they can't afford to restore what they have, but are still proud of it.

Just my opinion, because I, didn't build mine for trophy's and ribbons. I've won best of show once and politely declined the trophy, told them to give it to someone who wanted it.
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This. ^

I have never understood trophies. Perhaps when they were awarded to people among smaller societies with far less amenities, they would be a topic of conversation.

China hutches full of gold plated plastic on marble bases get a chuckle now and then, but beyond that, nobody really cares, except the guy who owns said China hutch.

The real shame is in the mentality of those who won't come out to share the history. That Dodge is great. If the other owners would stop being so obsessed with status and just enjoy, they could knock the mental walls down that keep everyone from romanticizing shoebox and muscle all day, over hot dogs and ugly t shirts.
 
We have a local cruise-in at an area strip mall every Saturday.
The restaurants at the strip mall love it because it fills their dining rooms, good family fun.
There is no trophy's awarded, just car guys and their family's hanging out.
 
I was pitted next to a trophy fanatic once who was PISSED that another car won the coveted trophy that he felt he rightly deserved, all because of a bolt that was not plated correctly on the other guys car!! It was that kind of attitude about showing that ruins the experience for me! I will only go to shows that are raising money for a good cause, and never enter my cars in any class, no matter what the reason!! Trophys for cars???? Why??? Another waste of resources and only meant to boost the egos that are already overinflated!! Just enjoy your cars, and the satisfaction of owning it! Most of the trophy winners never turn a wrench on their own cars, so they are being awarded for having spent the most money on them!! No thanks!!
 
cosgig said:
Most of the trophy winners never turn a wrench on their own cars, so they are being awarded for having spent the most money on them!! No thanks!!
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As far as the local shows I very much agree with this. I hate seeing obvious 'rich guy' cars win. Especially if its just an 'OK' car with an expensive paint job or a lot of bolt ons and chrome.
However, I do like to see those perfect restorations. I realize that most guys are not capable of doing that. So, if someone is willing to spend crazy money for perfection. They deserve to win. I would just like to see them win at a bigger show (where they usually have qualified judges ) and give some credit to the shop that did it. That said, it is unfortunate that many of those won't come out to participate in local shows if they don't think they will win.
Hopefully I will have my Duster done in the near future. I plan to take it to a few local shows. Would I like to win? Sure. Do I expect to win? Not really. But I dont need a trophy. A few nice compliments will be fine.
 
sireland67 said:
We have a local cruise-in at an area strip mall every Saturday.
The restaurants at the strip mall love it because it fills their dining rooms, good family fun.
There is no trophy's awarded, just car guys and their family's hanging out.
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That's the way to roll. We have a monthly here that drags out the weirdos. We get everyone and everything.

The lowrider crowd shows, vintage Japanese clubs, rat rods, kit customs, etc. Everyone loves the variety and nobody gets any award.

I wonder if the nut and bolt clipboard crowd does it because most of them don't turn wrenches, scrub sandpaper or spray?

Maybe it's a way for them to feel more involved?

I never understood bringing a new car to a show or cruise as a focus, either.

Now if I could just finish a car and manage to keep it long enough to go to one...
 
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