Car shows - spectator experiences

[Opti]

I ended up dropping by a local car show today after one of the librarians told me about it on Saturday. I have very rarely attended local car shows because I thought I might be bored or feel like I wasted my time. I'm not that into Corvettes or Cadillacs unless the Vettes are old, i.e. 1960s to about 1973 or some small sub group I like. I do like muscle cars from the 60s and 70s but again only certain ones.

I was curious as
1) Do you go to car shows?
2) If you do, what kind and what do you like to look at?

Just like local street fairs that last hour is pretty iffy to see what you want or get to talk to the car owner. I spoke to the owner of a Lambo who I think won the prize in his class, not sure just remember hearing it on the loud speaker. I did talk to him and he let me sit in the car. He's at least in his 60s and has no plans to go fast in it.

I had to remind myself that its the people who buy cars because they look cool or it makes them feel sexy, important, rich, whatever
keeps that car make alive so it is even available for those who would drive it as intended or at least occasionally. I might car a Triumph car club meeting that is local even though I do not have a Triumph, have no legit experience with British Sports cars, but want to hang out with those that do. I did get a verbal explanation of double clutching(done it for myself without knowing I guess) and suggestions on how to convince the gearbox to shift from first to second if it isn't feeling like it.

[zibazinski]

My uncle buys and tinkers with old cars. He has a love for cars from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. DF and I love to go and look as well. He's more into 50s and I'm more into 60s. It takes all kinds and I love meeting and talking to the people who care for and love these old cars. You couldn't put a car from that era into today's garage even! Won't fit!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I used to all the time when I lived in San Antonio. There was a drive in that used to have an 'old car' night and we'd hit it about once/mo. I haven't gone in a long time though, since there's nothing like that where I now live.

I liked seeing the restored cars, some people were really generous in giving rides and letting you sit in them. Yet others wouldn't let anything other than your eyes touch it.

That being said, my cousin has an old Chevelle that is probably now worth what a small house would cost, especially since he stores it in a climate controlled facility, it's in pristine shape and only has about 20K original miles on it. Original engine, paint job and interior and it looks almost like it was off the showroom floor. Since he's a mechanic, the engine's in perfect shape so if he can ever bear to part with it, someone's going to get an excellent car.

[zibazinski]

Car like that will go to one of those fancy auctions and sell for big bucks.

[Tiny]

1) Do you go to car shows?
I try to go to a local "Cruise Nite" where the locals bring out their vintage cars - doesn't matter what state it's in. It's informal. I can walk over, mosey past the cars, talk to my neighbors, stop in a shop for an icecream or the bar for drink and then walk home. It's nice on a weeknight summer evening.

I also like to go to the Route 66 car show. There's all sorts of vehicles (old, new, other) lots of people walking down the street, food, beverages, etc. I usually meet up with some of my neighbors and we have a couple of drinks at the bars along the route.

2) If you do, what kind and what do you like to look at?

I tend to look at 60's era muscle cars I like old Chevelle and Novas. I think the Low Riders are interesting too, the cars are cool and I find it neat that the guys/gals who show these cars have a novel look. The Motorcycle guys are interesting too along with their motorcycles. The people who soup up Hondas/Saturns/Scions are another unique group - with a 'look'. There are usually a bunch of War Veterans and their vehicles from various wars too. I think it's cool that there are thousands of people walking around all getting along having a good time on a Sunday morning. Great people watching. I probably most enjoy the people watching.

[Opti]

Sept 9, 2012 15:46:17 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

My uncle buys and tinkers with old cars. He has a love for cars from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. DF and I love to go and look as well. He's more into 50s and I'm more into 60s. It takes all kinds and I love meeting and talking to the people who care for and love these old cars. You couldn't put a car from that era into today's garage even! Won't fit!

I saw a very long Cadillac with the tail fins today. It didn't have the nice entry/judging paper in the window so I could not tell what year.
Very long. Pretty, but to me it be like driving a boat, or a 50s living room on a boat platform. LOL.

Mich, on the pristine thing. I talked to a guy who had a 1969 AMC with only 32 miles on it. He is the third owner but it looks like it has all the docs anyone could want. He restored it to stock condition, owner#2 decided to paint the exterior himself, and it moved from PA to NJ.

I'm always amazed what some of these guys/people will do for their cars. I rarely wash my car so I've never had any interest in showing a car I own so I'm impressed by those people willing to do all it takes to clean up the exterior, interior, and engine area. There was the MOPAR club from NYC there which apparently is mostly Dodge cars but does include RAM trucks and Jeeps. I saw many brand new or very young Dodge Chargers and it occured to me if I buy a new cool car I can show it before it gets filthy. I would show it just for the experience of being an exhibitor. (I'd be tempted to hang a designated loser class X on the vehicle just for grins.)

[weltschmerz]

Every Wednesday, my son shows off his classic Camaro at the Hot Rod show at the Orange Julep.




It's a blast!

[Tennesseer]

My uncle bought his one and only Corvette (red convertible) back in 1966. He still has it and it's in mint condition.

[Deleted]

We go to them once in awhile and the first one I ever went to I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm not a big "car" person but I do like things with a history.
I also remember thinking this is where I need to tell my single girlfriends to go to meet men. They were everywhere and sober.

[zibazinski]

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mich, on the pristine thing. I talked to a guy who had a 1969 AMC with only 32 miles on it. He is the third owner but it looks like it has all the docs anyone could want. He restored it to stock condition, owner#2 decided to paint the exterior himself, and it moved from PA to NJ.

My cousin's car is not restored. He got it as a collector's item back when it was new and kept it stored.

This car has the original paint, original interior and original engine. It looks like it just came off the showroom floor.

[2kids10horses]

Oh. I was thinking about the NEW car shows.

There, the "spectator experience" is watching the pretty girls wearing hardly anything standing on platform heels raising one arm in the air.

[Waffle]

I like car shows. I don't know alot about cars - I just like to look. The ones I think are the coolest are the ones from probably the '20s to the '40s - think the cars in the old gangster movies. The muscle cars are probably the ones I like the least and I really dislike seeing a car with flames painted on it.

[Bluerobin]

I like anything from the 70's or older. While I don't seek out car shows, I will go to one if it is nearby. Modern cars just have NO personality. Almost all of the older ones had plenty. Sometimes, I miss the cars of yesteryear.

[Deleted]

No. I like when you have that first nice sunny day of summer and you see the random old guy taking their grandkids for ice cream in their classic car. I also like when they drive in the 4th of July parade.

Hate car shows though.

[2kids10horses]

No personality?

What I saw at the car show had PLENTY of personality! She was bubbly and perky, and...

oh, wait...

you mean the CARS?