Event Coverage Car Show Blue's

Thank goodness we still have ONE in Texas (that i know of) that has a strict limit on age of entrants---all pre '49. Its call the Key to the Hills every October and has hundreds of cars show up. The town of Boerne closes the main street (major highway) and the cars all park along it, down the side streets, etc. Its also a major rod run event so a lot of them come from all over-even out of state. Some of the best rods i've ever seen. Major vendors also set up booths, tents, etc. to show their stuff. Neat to see all the late crap parked a mile away. I try to go every year, now just to observe since i sold a coupe i used to enter. Wives love it too since the town is old with lots of shops, restaurants, wares, etc.

 

forgot to include a sample---we all like pix

 

Also people tend to like the cars they drove, wanted or couldn’t afford when they were in high school or young working adults. For folks in high school in the 50’s and 60’s that was probably pre war roadsters and coupe or early or mid 50’s cars. Those in high school in the 70’s may have wanted 60’s muscle cars because they became more affordable. These folks are now in their mid/late 60’s into their 70’s and 80’s if they are still around at all. I know at 76 I’m a lot more selective as to which shows I go to.

The trend will continue as younger folks buy the cars they wanted in high school in the 80’s, 90’s, etc. I have been going to Cruisn the Coast (which last year attracted nearly 9,000 cars) for 25 years and every year you see less and less prewar coupes, roadsters and 50,s cars. Still a lot of muscle cars from the 60’s but they too will eventually decline and give way to cars of the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Actually those cars are already there in numbers.

As far as late model Mustangs, Camaro’s and Dodges go. Like it or not the car hobby is declining. Kids today are just not that interested in performance cars, racing, etc. hell a large portion don’t believe people should own cars at all. So I say let’s welcome everyone to car shows if you don’t like what you see keep walking or select shows you know what’s going to be there.

 

I remember being pretty proud of my fairly late model (for the time) daily driver. The only thing to set it apart was nice wheels.

Gary

 

Yeah, I bet the brass era guys were saying the same thing when those Model A's and 32's started showing up!
We're all getting older by the day, enjoy it while you can, it won't last forever!

I agree 100%. By all rights, I should be more into 60's and 70's vehicles since I finished school in 1977...45 years ago. But I don't limit myself to year models, I like what I like, be it a 1930's or 1990's.
Right again as to our ages....look around at any show, you'll see more gray hairs than young folks. Why? Because we can now afford the stuff we've dreamed about, where a guy in his 20's has to buy a 1990's econo car and make it his own. A lot of these same guys graduate into modern pony style cars, and build some serious HP out of smaller engines and electronics. I admire their skills, when my drivers break down, I look for the kid with the hot economy car, he'll know how to interpret what the computer is trying to say!

 

Local shows around here have gotten to start looking like a Wal Mart parking lot only the cars are cleaner. Nothing interesting much at all, most are nearly new, just buy a new car, wax it and show up, easy peasy.

 

I'm old school and prefer the early cars but when it comes to charity car shows you have to except the host are looking for quantity ( registrations) that equates to dollars.

I went to such a show recently and my '32 Ford was parked beside a brand new Corvette sporting a window sticker and paper tags, There were several brand new cars and trucks there and a hand full of pre 66 cars.

They had free BBQ and entertainment for any children in attendance, I heard some complaints about the new cars and trucks but the dealers paid the admission and the charity made money, HRP

 

So, all the old guys with the "traditional" cars are going to quit going to shows because their car might be the only traditional car there. I guess that makes sense if traditional cars are all you understand.

If you don't take you car to the show this year, where you had the only traditional car at last year, how many traditional cars would you expect to see there this year?

Then how many of us old guys want to park in some parking lot all day when its hot out? How many of us just don't drive our cars very much? When was the last time you drove your car over 20 miles to get to a show and planned to attend it until it was over? We and our cars are decreasing numbers, for sure!

 

Most of the gatherings I attend cover about everything. To me it’s silly to have a 2 year old Mustang, Camaro, or Dodge whatever but I’m not them. For what ever reason 50 and early 60’s cars get the most attention even with people in there 20’s who can’t get over the colors, interior and chrome especially on mid 50’s cars.
I look at most when I walk around but don’t waste my time on 61-64 Continentals sitting the ground with gold 22’s on them, but they are there none the less. We are lucky in SoCal with so much every weekends and some week nights we can pick and choose what to attend..

 

With the up front comment as usual I am going to offend someone. I’m fortunate still have the second car I ever bought and many of those in between. I drove last week the 34 Roadster, the 40 deluxe coupe, the 66 450hp Corvette convertible and the 67 435hp convertible all to different shows and enjoyed every minute of it. My newest old toy is a 67. My daily driver is a 2013 JCW GP Mini. If it has four wheels and is fun to drive I like it. It’s that simple. Don’t care who else likes it or how many are there. It’s about the pride in the build and the drive, that simple.

 

A while back, several car clubs in my area added lifted trucks and foreign cars, then added ratrods and such

Over the years, the turnout was less vehicles .... I was turned down at a few as my 65 F100 was flat black

It increased the turnout and all the various classes were grouped together

Ricky.

 

To me it goes in waves, some people young and old are not into the same stuff we are here. But it was the same when this place started, try to find a show with more then a couple of HAMB type cars in it (back then). This place really helped, we made our own shows to attend (remember the @Bad Bob BBQ at Legg lake or Save the broiler) and looked forward to it as they were so few of them. I think with cars we like bubbling to the surface of societies consciousness it's been too easy to see them everywhere and getting commonplace. Don't get me wrong, I like having cars and parts I like available almost everywhere, but the downside is the prices of both have shot through the roof. I don't really get enjoyment from new cars in any form (yes, I know faster on less fuel, I don't care) but that's my opinion, yes I'm stuck in an old, vintage, antique car rut, but I like it.

To be blunt, enjoy the traditionalish trend while it's still here. It's slowly going to return back to a pre HAMB time where our likes are not the norm and it's back underground. I'll still be here when it's unpopular again and maybe will still be alive when (or if) it's back. Personally when that happens I hope there's another revolution from another generation.

Take this with a grain of salt from a person who rarely goes to car shows and goes through life with blinders on .

 

A little finer point for me would be to just not go or if you get there and don't like it just leave.........go for a drive in your car/truck. That's what I tend to do if I go to a unknown show and 99% of the time I don't park in the show anyhow. A lot of the stuff out there I would deem as "street rods" and I would rather see a stocker.......but that's me.

 

I'm not much for late model cars, post 2000. My '32 hasn't run in about 9 years. But I go to a local cruise night every week who have cars from Model A's to 1979. Yes, I am one of the older ones attending. But the love of cars is evident in all the people that drive their cars. It is nice to see people and young people working on their cars. But I avoid car shows with new to late model cars. I live in a large metroplex area where there is a choice of events.

 

A lot of the local shows are charity fund raisers and have no cut off date, Since the first of the year everything I own qualifies for classic plates according to the state.
Remembering that in 1993 When I drove my 48 to Tulsa for the street rod nationals it was 25 years old. Our daily driver Monte Carlo is 25 years old. The flatbed dump runner is 35 years old.
I just walk by the cars I am not interested in at any show and at the open shows walk past way more than I take photos of some times. That includes a lot of Hamb friendly by age patina cars that I have no interest in because they were boring cars in the 5o's and 60's when we viewed them as parts cars for two doors.
It might be better for some to look for interesting events a bit further from home base and drive 150 to 200 miles one way to a one day event and drive back afterwards rather than fuss about the boring local shows..

 

Saturday I had the coupe at the AACA museum Hershey for a show. Lots of old cars, hotrods, also some new cars, new vettes etc. It does not bother me I looked at all the cars and we had a great time. The show supports the museum. The coupe got tons of attention from young and old, we talked with many nice people. It was a great day.

 

Here in Northern Wisconsin the trend is 60's 70's muscle cars with many new/newer super car type . There are less older men with their older traditional type cars, attrition is happening, our local car group is shrinking scary fast. Hobby still strong, changing some, only 4 local shows so far and rained for everyone, having a beautiful spring weatherwise, just been raining on Saturdays.

 

That's one good reason to live in Michigan: Although there are a lot of parking lot car shows, there are several big events over the course of the summer where you'll see all the old cars you'll want to see. There's just about something for everyone. The ridiculous turnout at Woodward and Back to the Bricks in August should comfort anyone who thinks that the hobby is dying; it may be changing a bit, but those events are so crowded that I don't go anywhere near them!

 

It's all in who puts the show on. If they are car people and want old cars only they should make flyers that say that.
I put on my first show last year. fourth of July weekend, small town no one has heard of. I had 126 cars and trucks. Nothing newer than 72. most older than 65.
This year I am expecting over 200. 67 and older.
It's all in how you promote it.

 

Point of view,how good or bad any show ,is kind of in what you like best.
I've mellowed out some,an found out it's not going to be my way any more{ hot rods an customs that are the type I like,styled to post World War2 -to about 1965<so anything that shows up that fits in that,I enjoy lookijng at an talking with them.. So now just happy when a few other hotrods show up,with owners not too in love with the new bubble of bull shit trendy crap all over there rod. I sure do miss the indoor shows that took all weekend,but even the places they were in are gone now days. For those that bring out there cool cars,thank you!! Ture that I walk right by some cars,do too little things that turn me off,{ flat or bad paint,Moon tank ,big headlights and a few other trendy things}
I just don't want too see any more new copycat stuff,,tell near the end of a show. I'll give them a short look. Some have good points under/behind the carp.

 

I wonder if guys in the 50's bitched that there were 1950's cars at their car shows?

 

The '54 Ford Club of America had their Convention in Novi in 2014 and we attended the Woodward cruise, I talked to several residents of the area and I was a little disappointed with the cruise, I had heard all my life about all the hot rods and muscle cars for as far as you could see.

Granted there was some old cars and older muscle cars, but the family sedans and brand new cars that had recently rolled of the factory floor made up the majority of cars driving up and down the street.

I did happen to see a bunch of wing cars rolling down the road in a pack.

Time changes and so do people, many of use old farts remember car shows that were packed to the gills with pre 48 hot rods & customs and that was great but that was years ago, you ether except that this is a different time and make the best of it or park it, believe it or not you don't have to go to a cruise in or a car show to enjoy your car, I try to drive my cars at least 3 or 4 times a week, go to the grocery store, get lunch, go to the hard ware store or to see friends.

Remember when the hot rod was your only means go transportation, I certainly do.

I was told that 20/30 years ago Woodward was exactly like I was told, much like Pigeon Forge ,Tennessee, but today they ain't what they use to be. HRP

 

I drive my '50 nearly every day April thru October. I drive the Galaxie whenever it suits me, and whether I'm just going to pick up some parts, groceries or a case of beer I enjoy driving them. The car shows are a bonus. Some are more to my liking than others, but that's just part of the world we live in today.

 

I guarantee some of those "new" cars are 30 years old, and you just can't tell because you're uninterested. It's okay, the owners of those cars like them.

They also think you bought your Model A new, so there's that...

 

From the great prophet David Wooderson “That’s what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age……

 

Dumb question...

Are the vehicles in question, paid for or not...CARS..?

I'm not in favor of seeing newer cars...but the above comment is well...!!

Mike

 

At a car show in the 50s, most of the custom cars were less than ten years old, eh?

 

There are almost no car shows around here that have any rules or guidelines to restrict what will be allowed. So it's impossible to say what you'll see when you get there, or whether the shows will be full of cars from the muscle car era, or modern cars.
I just don't attend many of them, as I'm not interested in trophies, or sitting all day at a show when I've seen everything there in a couple hours. I go every Wed. night to the local Wed. night drags/cruise in since I can see 500-1500 cars depending on the weather, and I can go watch the drags also.

 

Thats a pretty good analogy right there.