Car Shows, Am I just out of touch?

never mind,they just quit doing it this was the last year.

 

To pay to visit an event is perfectly fine.
To pay to BE the event - - NO WAY!

Then you really must be hot for showing off your car and win trophies.
which of course, can be what some are VERY hot for.

If you organize an exhibition, you are nothing without the things you are
exhibiting. In this case, the vehicles. Would never go to an event and pay
to have my car displayed. My personal opinion and I'm sticking to it.

 

Car show coordinators are like bookees. You pay one hand to show and the car and spectators pay the other hand to see it. AND if you buy a shirt that's another $20
or so for them. The shirts usually **** so I p*** on those.

 

I've run accross quite a few of the people that ***** about car show entry fees, and feel these "chronic complainers" have no concept of what it cost to put on a quality event.
I used to promote a series of events years ago, I had my balls on the chopping block many times; with the weather, staff, rent, advertising, entertainment etc. etc. . We used to hand out more hardware for the trophy hunters than anybody else in the region, I even gave away a turn key hot rod every year ! All this and I still had to listen to ***h*les complain!

But, when you go to a big event like Goodguys, they give you value for your dollar- They work to entertain everyone. To me; these events are more of a convention than a show.

My rant is over, it's time get back in the shop get busy.

 

why not ask yourself! "self will i have fun?" "self am i doin what i like to do?"
whats a few bucks for entertainment???
pay the dough you cheap ****s and have fun!!
now im off for the jungles of florida with a pocket full of $20.00s

 

So far i have not seen a club say that 100% of the gate goes to a charity. Ours does, we pay for the dash plaques, hot dogs cheese burgers, soda ,bottled water, ice, dj, insurance, last year we closed the swimming pool the life guard wonted $250 . And no trophy's no judging. Our charity is a summer camp for handy caped kids. We have been doing this for over 30 years. You make a donation at the gate thats it averything inside is free. I was told one guy put in $3.00 and was seen eating 3 cheese burgers.

 

I've been trying to get a show together here in Raleigh for a few years.
Countless hours invested and I haven't been able to pull it off yet. City officials, chamber of commerce, and on and on. Trying to figure it all out and how to keep it all reasonable. Where I want to have it I can't charge spectators, very Paso like park. Trying to get sponsors to commit so it can happen as well as getting a date that doesn't conflict somewhere else. Porta potties, security, off duty cops, vendors, cars, permits. The list goes on. It looks like to do it the best I'll be able to swing is $30 entry with a free T and maybe a dash tag. Hopefully that'll let it happen and people will have a good time.

These guys get it. It's a bunch of work and money before it even happens.

great idea...

 

127 posts and opinions are all over the place. In reading all of the posts there are some really good opinions about indoor shows, outdoor shows, small independent shows, large promoter type shows.
I'll start here with indoor shows. Take specifically ISCA shows. The promoter does charge a spectator fee, but do you realize that he does not get any of the money that you as an exhibitor pays to enter your car? That money goes to the ISCA.
The ISCA is the sanctioning body that sets up the rules for how the cars are cl***ified, judged, points are recorded, and in general how the championship series is ran. All the way to including how the money is distributed to exhibitors at the end of each show and at the end of the series. My 2 cents worth on this is, IF that bothers YOU, then don't bring a car to the show.
Next is the outdoor shows. You have three basic types of outdoor shows with three different agendas.
1) The NSRA, NHRA, and Goodguys type of events. This one has the biggest risk factor monetarelly for the promoter. A complete rainout like Indy Goodguys was on Saturday hits the ol pocket of the promoter pretty hard. Providing the weather cooperates, participants, vendors and spectators all pay hefty fees. The return on that investment is strictly in the eyes and pockets of the beholder.

2) Second is the outdoor shows hosted by car clubs and car people. In the midwest that would include shows like HCPU, Road Rockets Rumble, Beatersville etc. Still a high risk for the host who puts it on. Lots of upfront money spent on advertising, t-shirts, facility rent, insurance, etc.. Weather is still unpredictable, if us as participants don't show up, these clubs-promoters take a big bath. I normally don't have a problem with the entry fee for these shows understanding that without people like us willing to come and bring a car, there would be no event. I also understand that a portion of the profits generated might go to a charity, help finance next years event, or to help keep a club running for the insuing year. I have no problem attending them, remembering that without car clubs there would be no organized car events.

3) The third type of outdoor event is the one day event, might be a cruise-in or car show put on by a church, civic group, resturant, etc. I pick and choose which, if any of those we attend. A lot of times these are run by people that have gone to the aforementioned events and think they can charge a 15-25 entry fee to park your car all day long on a hot asphalt lot. You all know the type of event I am referring to. The one where you sit all day waiting for the popularity contest to be over to see if your car was worthy enough to win a $4 plastic trophy.

We enjoy the free events just like anyone else. They are few and far between in our neck of the woods. Free is good and you normally get to be around friends or like minded people so that's cool.
We are normally good for 1-2 ISCA shows a year. Hell, there is nothing else to do from Nov-April here anyway.
We try 1-2 NSRA-NHRA-Goodguy events per year. Good place to see some good drag racing, see all the vendors and some nighly activities as well.
We try and support 8-10 events a year that fall under catagory #2. Most are within a 300 mile range of home.

Bottom line, it takes people who want to organise a car event to have a car event.
Car events cost money to host.
The events depend on car owners to bring cars or there is no car event.
Take your wife out for dinner tonight and then to a movie and see what that costs the two of you.
How can you even begin to ***** about what it costs to take your car to a local car event?

 

I saw a show once was the best idea yet, was a cruise in,and they let the people who came to the show vote on the cars, winners got homemade trophys made from welded together junkyard parts. all they charged was a small fee per car to offset any costs they had. I would have liked to have entered and won a homemade trophy much more then a plastic piece of ****. One of those kind has a story to tell behind it. best part is everyone just enjoyed themselves. they need more of those kind.

 

turdytoo-did you get the answer that you were looking for? What do you think about all of the responses to your question? Whatch ya gonna do now?

 

Putting on a car show properly these days is a huge PITA. You've got insurance issues, whether it's on private property or a city park. What is the entertainment consisting of - a DJ, a band, some dude performing magic tricks? Trophies, ribbons, or some sort of trinkets to give away - are these donated by sponsors? Bought by the club? Way too damn much detail to go into here, but suffice it to say, I've put on a few over the past 25 years, and I won't do it anymore. The trouble to put on a show generally is not worth the ***pain these days.

I'd much rather get with a few friends and their vehicles and just go somewhere - a drive-in movie (yeah, we have them!), a burger joint, a cruise-in...whatever. Shows just aren't much fun. Too many whiners to waste valuable oxygen on, IMO.

 

I avoid car shows for that small reason and 99% of hot rod shows are filled with 55-65 yr old men in hawiian shirts half ****oned walking around knockin everyone elses car

 

Like Dragnut said, "YES" I am out of touch with how things are today and yes, I should just stay home. This thing got way off topic reguarding other than "for profit car shows". As I said in another post to this thread, I have no problem with club, charity shows or what we used to call "rod runs". There were quite a few coments from "for profit promoters" to which I say "if you are in it for the money and not making any, don't do it." I do understand now why a sanctioned show (ISCA etc) would charge an entry fee though and I always understood why activities put on for the participants enjoyment needed enty fees. My question was not a rant or a whine but what I thought was a resonable question.

 

Turdytoo, Well at least you admit to being "out of touch" - and so am I - no biggie. I remember a while back when they charged for a show they had so many freebies for the participants that it was actually a DEAL to enter a show - matter of fact we had no real interest in entering those shows other than seeing our buddys and getting the grab bags - heck I didn't buy RTV for years. I also remember soem local shows where they let anyone wiht an "old car" in for free. Yeah those were the days. I liked the shows back then & I used to go - I rarely go now - the big ones ar too much like carnivals and full of goofballs. When the local hotels start screwing with reservations - then you know it's time to p*** - at least for me. If I'm gonna put up with that **** - then the show had better be REALLY KILLER - Nitromethane comes to mind - looking at 10 thousand street rods - while intersting for a short time gets pretty boring in short oprder - we've had way more fun at the Nostalgia drags - even if they're pretty small (bigger is better, but small is good too).

Some people LIVE for their "fame" at the shows - they'd probably pay any price to attend - more power to them. Me - I like the smaller venues - more homey. To each their own.

Have fun with your car - that's what it's REALLY all about!!!!

 

I can tell most of the people are out of touch on shows because i went to 38 shows this year, and none of them had cheap plastic trophies lol.

The closest i saw where some nice painted custom formed arcrylic trophies

I donated a print for my vendors spot, and even though I didnt have to register the van to display it I payed to help the club out.

Here is one of the trophies they presented(some jack*** ina blue corvair van won it)




We made some incredible friends this year, but if you dont like crowds and meeting new people maybe car shows arent for you

 

yup you are out of touch- welcome to 2008/9

 

Hello dead horse, ya ready for another beating?

Paying to get your car in a show - Welllllll.... think of it this way, you just paid for your spectator ticket as well. Usually you get not only yourself, but at least one p***enger in as well. Look at the price of several spectator tickets vs. the car registration price. Usually you get a goodie bag as well (you do at Billetproof).

Griping about show promoters making money from the show - Most car shows are a business. It takes time, effort and LOTS of money to put on a large show. Its a job to do it. Jobs involve getting paid for your time.

If this sticks in your craw one can always just attend shows that are strictly charity events. Note: if you do this make sure to look at how the cash is donated. LOTS of charity events donate the "profits" after those that put on the show are paid a salary.

Several Blletproof shows have charity components, beer sales proceeds at some shows go to local Fire Dept.'s, the Lions and the Soroptimists. I'm not saying we are charity organization, just pointing out that you might be surprised that some of the evil money making shows actually do support charities.


Its up to you - if the $ you pay to get your car into the show isnt worth the enteratinment you get from having your car at the show... dont go. Whether its becasue you cant stand the idea that the show is a business, or you just dont have $X worth of fun once you roll through the gates... then its not for you. No harm, no foul.


Personally I like kicking tires in a friends garage with a couple of beers, and I like seeing LARGE gatherings of hot rods that take me several days to see. Are they different? Yep. Not saying one is better than the other. Each offer something the other does not. I like them both.

to each their own.

even the size of shows is up for debate these days...

"I only want to see 200 hot rods in one day!!!" There are shows out there that offer that.

"I want there to be so many hot rods at the show it takes me a couple days to see them all". There are shows for you as well.

 

Another way to look at it- I always enjoy talking to people about my car. I enjoy answering questions about it. I enjoy the recognition that comes from people admiring it. I enjoy the little bits of knowledge that I gain from someone walking by my car and telling something about how to tune it, how to fix something on it, or a different way of customizing it. I enjoy hearing the stories they tell of a similar car they may have had in the past.

Those are the kinds of things you only get at a car gathering. At small gatherings you get little bits of that. At large shows you get lots of that. How much you enjoy these things should be directly proportional to how much $ you are willing to lay out to get them. If you get enough of these things at the free shows, then those are for you. If these things mean nothing to you, then its not worth the $ to bring your car into the show. If you enjoy them then perhaps its worth a few $ to get them.

its all a value judgment and only you can solve the equation.


I do know this... without charging registration large shows would not happen. No way, no how.

 

Thanks.

 

Exactly! Ya pay your $20 to put your car in the show and immediately you've got your admission free. You put in all that work on your ride and all kinds of folks (some ***holes) come by and tell ya how cool yer ride is. Makes ya feel good! In all that I've paid to get in to the money went to some charity. I don't expect some club to work their *** off, pay for the venue, and then let me roll in there proud as a pea**** and show my car off and tell people all about it all day. If ya got a problem with it, like Denise said, don't go.

 

agreed

 

The local indoor car show is free to enter. AND they pay milage (200 mile limint) ta boot. It's in Feb.

 

It's not the destination that counts, it's the ride getting there. Because then,


IT'S FOR THE FUN OF IT.


HellRaiser

 

How much per mile lol

 

Originally Posted by cavistyle
I avoid car shows for that small reason and 99% of hot rod shows are filled with 55-65 yr old men in hawiian shirts half ****oned walking around knockin everyone elses car

Old dudes in Hawaiian shirt scare you? Nothing wrong with that, but it's hard to believe you'd post in a large forum like this. Makes you look like a ****.

 

Hey choptop great post I need a vendors registration for the texas billetproof.........and I will pay to show the van also lol

 

We see paying charity shows as a way of giving back to the community and creating good will towards us 'car guys'.
I've only been into cruises and shows for 2 years,but, I've run into those "that ain't done right" guys. But not a large % of guys are like that, most are fun to be around. We only go to shows that charge entry if we know the charity and the org. that is operating the show.
I know this is a hot rod site, but I drive a '68 muscle car, I'll build a rod someday. There are a few rod guys that don't really seem too keen on anything but rods. Then again, muscle car guys seem to stick to like makes.
Now, I'll get flamed for this, but, to me a '32 coupe' with a $20k paint job, sbc 350/350, ps,pb,tilt wheel,a/t, AND AIR CONDITIONING isn't a hot rod, but more like a 'Cruise Rod'. Hey don't shoot me I love all kinds of cars, but, it really pissed me off when a guy with one of those store bought beauties didn't want me parkin' my Javelin beside his car,he said, "Park that thing in the lot, this is a Hot Rod show!" Hell his Hot Rod was more modern than my car! And nicer , too! Sorry 4 the rant.

 

My god you guys sound like a bunch of *****y old women. If you don't like car shows then stay home and shut up and quite complaining about them. I think most of you think its cool to complain about car shows so you do it. You think its not the "in" thing to do and your too cool to go. I say fine.... then stay home and be cool. The rest of us will go and have a good time, see some cool cars (and half naked chicks) and talk to some car guys about our favorite subject....cars. I've been going to car shows of all type for over 40 years because I like them. There are things I don't like about some of them but there are more things that I do like so I keep on going. So stop trying to be so cool and go to a car show ... you never know you just might have a good time.

 

complaining about car shows is the new flat black

 

Maybe you should read the post again.. This time slow down a little so u will understand every word and try not to add anything or put anything out of context. Old guys in hawiian shirts Who knock other peoples cars Do Not scare me. I just dont care to hear about how his fibergl*** walmart built 32 roadster is built better.