Are Car Shows A Waste of Time

[devous1]

Let me first off say I do like going to car shows to check out everyones rides and meeting people as well as seeing old friends. Hell I went to a car show in Loudonville (Mohican) last weekend and saw a truck a local guy built in the 70s, sure as shit it was the same guy and he still owns the truck as it was built then. This week we went to Good Guys Fri and the the Arthritis Foundation show in Dublin today and we participated in the 50th Mustang Parade.

Most of the shows I participate in are Ford/Mustang shows but I have a hard time gauging what the judges are looking for? Today our car was my daughters 03 DSG Mach1, 4800 miles has never seen rain, is 100% factory except tires and battery. The only flaw the car has would be a couple stone chips on the hood. She didn't win a thing, while some fairly wore down GTs received awards. I don't get it.

I also went to NMRA last fall at Trails, I took my TR 03 Mach to that show, my Mach is heavily modified and very clean (in my opinion) I had tons of people coming up to me talking about the car and a couple offers on it. That car I entered in Pro Street because that's where it fits. That show a damn near stock 03 Terminator won the class? I have probably over 100k in my car wtf?


I have noticed a lot of the awards go to the sponsoring members, is this common? I've also seen some judging forms from other organizations and they seem to solely be judging on how well you clean and present your car. If that's the case I might as well not bother to ever go to another show because I'm not traveling with a bunch of shit in my car and I'm not gonna spend 3 days cleaning it and then clean it again for half a day when I get there. Cars are meant to be driven not cleaned like the hope diamond.

My main issue is I try to involve my family and keep them interested but the judging just doesn't make sense to me.

[Crucial]

i would much rather go to a cruise in then a car show ... car shows seem to be just like you said, hit and miss judging

[TooFast98Cobra]

I went to good guys Columbus Ohio today just to spectate and had a blast with my old man. Didnt talk to one $100 on the dash try to grab it car show guy.

[devous1]

Its incredible how many cars are at that place. It's the only car show/event I have ever been to that I get tired of looking at shit and wanna leave.

[redfirepearlgt]

I like cruise ins best, but I enjoy both. That said I am able to enjoy both because if I go to a carshow I do so to support their fundraising cause and hang out with other car enthusiasts. I'm not there to compete. I enter and display only. Just makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. And I may have no interest in sitting around for the whole thing so I can leave when I am ready to. I get a kick out of the response I get when I tell the regstrars I want to register but have no interest of being judged. They think I have lost my mind until I explein that I am there to support their cause and just enjoy the day. And I prefer 100 entry shows and smaller. THose great big national events just are too much to take in.

[devous1]

That's funny because I normally blowout before judging. I just get bored, I need some type of action. I'm really trying to draw my daughter in and hold her interest and I know if she cleans her car for a day and doesn't get a return on investment she wont wanna bother with car shows.

[redfirepearlgt]

That's funny because I normally blowout before judging. I just get bored, I need some type of action. I'm really trying to draw my daughter in and hold her interest and I know if she cleans her car for a day and doesn't get a return on investment she wont wanna bother with car shows.

Opinion - I think if you took her with the understanding that she was only going to display the car and teach her to enjoy the conversation and interaction with people about cars and enjoy the compliments she receives from the effort put into her car she would walk away with a greater feeling of achievement than simply getting a $3 piece of plastic. Just my thought on the matter.

[thecollector]

Most car shows are judged on cleanliness and condition. Dirt in door jams, wheel backspacing, and underhood will cost points on a sheet. It is hard to keep a daily driven car competitive in the car show circuit. Even a weekend cruiser is hard to keep clean. If you are not present to open doors/hood/decklid those items may be blanked on your sheet. That rear main seal leaking on your Windsor will cost you-weaping pinion-gonna cost you. Rip in the side bolster, cracks in the windshield, peeled paint in the decklid jam etc. I've judged car shows for years here locally. Its very competitive but you have to remember most are volunteers. Smaller shows a more appealing car wins. My dad sold a super clean 66 hdtp years ago that was a fresh frame off restore. It was gorgeous. It was also only an 200 6 cyl. If it sat beside a big block car it would lose even if the other car left a puddle of oil, had paint laid with a roller and rust bubbling thru the rockers. Go to car shows meet people and take in the sites. If your going to try and win every time and are gonna get all wound up if you lose pick a new hobby.

[ibstrokin]

Your better off building your car to please yourself, that way your always happy with the result. I have never been interested in building a car for car shows, in my my opinion, cars should do something, not be something. Function over form.

[redfirepearlgt]

^^^DING DING DING We have a winner!!! I could never own a car show trailer queen.