Is this where car shows are going?

-
TrailBeast

TrailBeast

AKA Mopars4us on Youtube
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
22,960
Reaction score
13,167
Location
Arizona
Like I have said before “I am not entering car shows any more, but will use the money for gas to go on drives.”

IMG_6182.jpeg
 
One show local to me has doubled the entry fee to $20.00 this year. For what I'm not sure, it's a small town, the show is part of their annual event, held on the "downtown" streets, an area of about 10 square blocks, and the only entertainment is a DJ located near the registration tent. Prizes are generally donated by area merchants. If the money goes to a charity, that's fine, but I don't think a lot of people are going to be willing to pay $20 for the privilege of having strangers critique their hard work. Just my opinion.
 
i only paid once to enter my car into a show and that was because the guy at the gate did the math for me (us) and showed us that 1 participant entry was cheaper than 3 spectator entries AND it got better parking

i had no intention of showing off the duster so as far as i was concerned, this was just me parking it in the participants area

i think i met @badsport that day
 
There's a few fairly local shows that I will pay an entry fee to, just to support the clubs putting on the show. I couldn't care less about winning a plastic trophy. A safe parking place is nice, but I just ain't into the wipe and grin stuff, along with the stupid question and answer sessions about stuff I did my way instead of leaving it bone stock. I mostly go to Mopar shows anymore just to walk the swap meet and shoot the bull with old friends I may only see once or twice a year. The network of friends I have made over the years are priceless to me, and many are members of this board and Moparts.
 
Some of the people that complain about I'm not paying them for the privilege of being in their show are often guys with cars that look like these:

000 G.JPG


000 gh.JPG


Polara 2.jpg


Rust 16 A.JPG
 
I do go to shows/cruises and pay the $10-$25 (usually) or even $40 fee. It's really just paying to sit and shoot the breeze with your buddies for the day and in my case, the wife enjoys it with their wives. I'm willing to pay simply for the fun we have but more importantly, at the end of the year and at least for our car club, the money collected during the year is divided up amongst worthy charities. Kind of a win-win.

Oh, and I'm not into trophies and such but I do enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories how they had one of these old heaps back in the day. And they are generally appreciative and understanding of the work I've put in to build my cars. Of course, there are always a few that would be better to have stayed home that day....!!
 
Always thought that was bullshit you should NOT have to pay to enter your car,but I can see charging people to get in, the biggest reason I started racing them instead of showing them :) :)
 
I show my car at one local car show and that's it. I go to that one because I know where that money they're raising is going to and I support that cause. I also make a point to be excluded from judging, I'm there to support the cause, and boost numbers, not trophy's.
I used to go to shows at least twice a month, but that came to a halt several years back. One of the shows, I happened to be near a couple of the judges, and overheard one saying that he throws points at Corvettes because they are his favorite. Everything else was junk in his eyes. That did it for me and that show. I'll never go back.
A couple shows later, we're at a show and they announce that they're ready to give out awards. I notice that my car still hadn't been judged. So as they start to hand out awards, I speak up and tell them my car hasn't been judged yet. They decide to send a couple guys over o judge the car as they're handing out awards. I saw the writing on the wall, and decided that they could just give me my money back, that the judging was unfair.
I didn't really care about a trophy, it was the point that pissed me off.
Now, I go to Mopar only shows, and I rarely bring a car with me.
 
Mine is not a show piece but I like to enter the one show in town. I’m kinda a blow in and I don’t get many opportunities to meet like minded locals. I think I gave them $10 last year. Funny you mention it cuz someone invariably leaves half a dozen leaflets on the car for other shows and much pricier entry fees. Lol
Same thing would happen when I was going to Rays in Lufkin. But that was more like a cruise in I guess.
 
I haven't entered any shows in several years, no interest in some plastic trophy and I don't want to spend all day sitting around in the sun and heat. I go to look at what's there, especially new builds, sometimes run into a buddy or two, and leave when I want.
I used to go to the drag strip at least once a month, had a lot more fun there, but don't have a car to race any longer.
I also used to run autocross events regularly, always enjoyed them and I might try that again since there is an organization in the area.
 
Kern Dog said:
Some of the people that complain about I'm not paying them for the privilege of being in their show are often guys with cars that look like these:

View attachment 1716412006

View attachment 1716412007

View attachment 1716412008

View attachment 1716412009
Click to expand...

And those are the guys i respect (well, not that duster) ... a large amount of those show guys can't even change spark plugs (at least in my area).. I have never been a show fan.. pay $50 to watch old guys polish their car.. or pay $10-15 and go to the track and watch em run :)
 
Kern Dog said:
Those crappy looking cars I posted were my own!
Click to expand...

I didn't know they are yours :) honestly... i am not a charger fan, but i dig that more than some purple polished up trailer queen.. looks like it wants to go get beat on :)
 
Kern Dog said:
Those crappy looking cars I posted were my own!
Click to expand...

Yeah,,Lol,,,I remember you posting a pic of the black Dart before .

If I remember correctly you enjoy really raising Cain on the off road trails at your place .
That is some of the best fun,,,you don’t have to worry about hurting them .

Tommy
 
i know quite a few guys with damn nice cars that wont pay to go sit in a local parkinglot. muself included.... we would ratrher go drive our stuff, stop in a cruise night, eat, socialize and split.. these places are getting just stupid in charging for these little shows. they will advertise that they have 50 trophys to give out and it brings all the trophy whores out.. its actually pretty pathetic. there is a local high school that would put on a show to support their auto program that i had no issues paying for. there are a couple other good causes i'll choose to support but i always question how much of the money actually gets donated.

there is small local town that used to have the main road blocked off, vendors down the middle of the street and a free car show. they would get a good amount of cars to line the streets. most if not all of the car owners ate or shopped at all the businesses on that street.. one year they decided to charge the car guys $5 to get in.. screw them.. i haven't been back since..
 
Icetech said:
I didn't know they are yours :) honestly... i am not a charger fan, but i dig that more than some purple polished up trailer queen.. looks like it wants to go get beat on :)
Click to expand...
I think I may have read this here first:

Trailers are for boats.
 
It is nice to see rare cars in pristine condition. The only way to do that is to trailer them.
It is a paradox though....A beautiful and rare car gets driven and then it loses it's value. I always come back to looking at the trailered car and the beautiful woman. I'd rather have fun with something imperfect than to put it in a glass enclosure and only look at it.
 
There is big once a month show around me, 700 - 900 cars, they charge $2 to get in. I leave before trophies to avoid the after show grid lock traffic jam. Around 90 percent cars classic muscle cars and the other 10 percent late model musclecars. Usually a good bit of classic mopars there.

I go to some Cars and Coffee and other cruise spots that are free if I have time which I usually dont.

Then some are awesome cars shows close by that I find out about after they are over....

Chrysler at Carlisle, thats expensive to put car in, but I think its worth it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top