every show i attended this year has grown from last year. more cars, lots fill faster, more spectators. i think it's a fantastic sign for this "hobby". with such a supposed lousy economy everything seems to be growing what do you think?
Absolutly. My most favorite show hit the 22 year mark this year. The gates open at 6, i got there at 6:30 and i the field was past full. The stuffed me and about 30 other cars in a side lot. Last year you could have gotten there at 7:30 and still would've been able to park about 2/3s in.
Our Pair A Dice cruiser show has grown every year but last year - we had a very rainy night and early morning. We still has 179 cars show up. I attended MSRA Back to the 50s when it was under 2000 cars, and have never missed one since. Now it has 11000plus cars.
Shows do seem to get bigger. I do have a problem with any show. Promotors of smaller shows charges the car owner then lets anyone else in free to fingerprint theat car on which.that the owner has spent money and time, I think the car should get in free(car show without a car is nothing,right?) And charge each spectator.
I've thought about this too but if they charged the spectators no would come. I've noticed most spectators are casual observers looking for something to do for an hour to two on a nice day. If you try to charge them they'll just find something else to do that's free. The car participants are the ones who want to be there to show off their cars and commensurate with fellow car owners. We have a stronger urge to be there. Also, it costs a lot to put on a car show and in that cost are dash plaques and other awards, the car owners are the only beneficiaries of these, they don't hand anything out to the spectators. The car shows I've attended over the years have grown but when I first started going to the shows with my dad 30+ years ago there were a lot more small shows held in little burgs but now must of those have disappeared. I feel most have been consolidated into the better organized shows. I tend to stay away from shows put on by the car dealers and go to the ones sponsored by car clubs or civic groups which are held in a nice park setting. Nothing is worse than cooking on an asphalt parking lot in the middle of summer.
I do see alot of shows growing,but then again i see big shows getting smaller. I think it's all about keeping the quality up, by that i don't mean only the quality of cars but also the event itself. You have to keep your intergrity about the show. It's soo easy to see when promoters are getting money hungry and desperat and that ruins everything. Bottom line is, the spectators needs to get something for the money they pay, and the owners of the show cars need to be taken care of. Just like it was being said, a car show without cars ain't a car show.
Yes......more and more cars than 5 years ago......think the retired baby bloomers are starting to travel more ......notice that more hotrodders are older....
Well, and i think that people actually start using their cars finally. I've always noticed how people who own's hot rods and kustoms are more interested in attending shows without their cars just to pick at other people and their rides. Weird...
No/ The biggest show I attend is the NSRA Eastern Nationals in York,PA. A few years ago, when the new Pavilion opened, there were two,filled to capacity with overflow to outside vendor spaces. Now, it's maybe 1.5 and the aisles are a lot wide. Plus I'd say there used to be 7-8000 cars, and now maybe 3500-4000. I probably am off on the numbers,but the decrease is there.
NSRA East is definately down, buildings empty, infact the cars inside were asked to show their cars to fill up space, I heard free. The most cars that I remembered was 5200, this year I heard about 3800. Too much money to take your car in to participate and the 1977 cutoff.
I know alot of people attending car shows gets annoyed when for instance it clearly states "pre 1963" and you'll see some 70's Novas and a '84 Corvette!! I do understand that and that ain't right, but at the same time...Are you really gonna let that ruin your day and keep blogging about stuff like that?
There is a show in Louisville,Ky held in September.I went to the second one they held in 1980 and they had a good guest would be 250 to 300 cars and trucks.This year they had aprox.1600 to 1800 !!!!!! The show is put on by the Louisville Street Rods and is open to all. Tom (Tired Old Man)
11000 cars WOW I hope that is a all weekend event. Is that show in the twin cities? I miss MN I've been gone 4 years and can't wait to move back someday.
Viva here in Vegas gets bigger and bigger every year...last year had around 800 vehicles and thinking might hit 1000 this year. great times!
I say yes & no . Most I go to have but a couple were way smaller this year . I believe the economy has a lot to do with some of the shows this year . More attend the bigger shows and the smaller local shows close to home . Some go to the bigger shows as vacation also . It seems to go in cycles but the shows that keep growing , grow for a reason . You have to have a good show where the people putting on the show take care of the people showing their cars/trucks off . If you don't take care of the people entering their hot rods then they won't come back ! If you can to the Jalopy Showdown this year you would understand why . That show keeps growing by leaps and bounds every year . Everyone has a great time and it's a FAMILY show ! When you can take your entire family to a show , you will have more attending that show . The smaller shows are having trouble due to not having anything to offer except a few trophy's and music that's too loud . When you can see the entire show in 1/2 hour , why waist your time there when you can spend some more money and see a 100 cars at another show . So which show would you go to ? The one where you spend $20 to $50 and have a great time or a small free show where there a handful of hotrods and nothing to see or do ? That's not to hard to figure out , now is it ? Retro Jim
I go to the Hershey show and swap meet every fall (at least for the past 10 years). It has evolved drastically since I was a kid. Most of the show /swap meet is on asphalt now which makes the entire show more enjoyable, especially because it usually rains one of the days. I know the cars in the show aren't Hotrods, but I really do enjoy seeing the history of those really old and unique cars.
We ran our show for the first time this year, and had about 1500 people, 250 cars and 30 bikes. And, we only had about 3 months to promote it. We'll improve alot of things for next year and hope for more vehicles.
I think you hit the nail on the head. It will be very interesting to see 10-15 years from now what it's like as the baby boomers die off, and leave a glut of cars that nobody knows what to do with. Most car enthusiasts identify with cars they grew up with. The generation before the baby boomers grew up with all the Model T's and possibly Model A's, the baby boomers grew up with the 30's-50's cars, and the next generation grew up in the muscle car era. Once the baby boomers die off, there is not the emotional attachment to the 30s-50's cars by the newer generations. And yes, obviously there are exceptions out there.
100% Matt puts on the Hot rod Fallout here in CT, this show grows every year and is absolutelly the best show in the state! Good Music, Good Food, Cold Beer, and *****en cars! CHUCK
Lets not forget about the "Old school round up" at the Syracuse Nats. That one gets bigger every year, atleast thats what it seems to me. Ive only been to the last two.
Lonestar Roundup, Pre- Expo center was great, IMO its just not as much fun as it was. Just seems to have a different feel. Pistons& Paint.. Its grown steadily over the last few years.This year it will have a completly different layout. we'll see how it goes. Both of them are still the best in Texas. GROWTH AND CHANGE CAN BE CONTROLLED
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