Car shows?

I have a question for you guys. I was talkin with a local man about a car show. He said no one will show up unless you give away big prizes.

This got me to thinking.What gets you guys to take in car shows? Do you go for a trophy? Is all about the cars and friends? This man said he had tried to organize a little local car show and a man from the local auto parts place circled threw found there was no big prize and took his ride home.This seems kinda like a stuck up at***ude. Maybe I'm just confused.

If I was to try and organize a NC show what would bring participants out to it? Let me know what you guys think. I'm talkin about the little downtown type shows.

Zman, Murph what do you guys think?

 

Unfortunately a lot of folks build cars and go to shows just for the prizes. And that’s cool, just not for me. I don’t mind the big shows and I do go, but I like the small shows with a picnic atmosphere. I like the NSRA appreciation day, no prizes maybe 150 cars (NoCal) a BBQ and a raffle. I see a lot of the same folks there every year and it’s fun to BS. I like to drive so I do like it if there is some sort of poker run, just something to get people out of their fold up chairs and into their rods. Shoot, to be honest, I like driving to the events more than the events themselves.

 

We never even fill out the judging forms, but then we're not trophy hounds. We go to shows with our friends for the fun of the ride, and to relax, eat, drink, and hang out. Our favorite shows are located in nice parks with plenty of shade, and have a DJ playing oldies, and food from one or two local charity organizations. About half the time, the 50-50 raffle winner donates the pot back to the charity. The *really* good shows feature home made trophies instead of cheap, junky, plastic store bought trophies. Trophies made out of old gas pump nozzles, broken engine parts, and old parking meters ROCK. I'd take ONE of those over 20 plastic trophies.

Hemi-roid

 

what brings everyone to the hcpu? can't be the trophys or give aways, there are none. you just have to find something to attract like minded people. if you want trophy *****s, ***emble the largest mountain of shiny plastic you can. i would want people who aren't in it for trophies. who built the cars to drive them, have fun in them. who built them and can go on and on about the details. who are just as interested in others cars as well.

 

It seems each show has a different "hook" for me. Local shows for me are all about seeing the folks I know, checking up on the cars I know, etc.

I really enjoy the Kansas small town local shows, because of the small town feel and approach. Good food, plenty of nice folks, and cars I don't recognize.

Big national shows are all about the high buck cars for me, the "show cars" and "magazine cars" 'cuz I get to see 'em in person, get close to 'em, not just see 'em in the rags.

It's never about the awards for me- the cars and the people.

 

Most folks with any sense dont give a RATS *** about trophys......The trophy****ers are the lowest of low in my opinion.They have ruined the "rod run" atmosphere of old times.
Driving your car and the comradery and the trip to and from ,is what its all about!

 

I agree with Moparsled. But it takes all to make it great. I go to NSRA, Goodguys, LA Roadster club, area shows within 500 miles of my house. My plan is to be gone every weekend all summer. The trophies don't mean much to me. Once the mantle is full, what do you do with them?

 

Oh hell yeah! Tell all your roddin' buddies what you want to do,talk to the local powers that be to find out what permits you need {if any}and/or what dates and times the location you want to use is available {and how much $$}SOMEONE you know has to have a garage band to play,or the friend of a friend knows someone. Start out small time with a good time,then stand back and watch it grow! Thats how some of the best shows got started.Friends telling friends,those friends telling other friends. Add the home made trophys later on down the road if you like{or not}.get a charity involved to give a donation to for a warm fuzzy feeling. BUT, if all you do is think about it,it wont happen. Just go for it and see what fun develops,
R.R.

 

2 things i go for is cars and parts. i like shows with swapmeets (ie la roadster show) or just swapmeets for that matter. the low key shows are the best, no attidude......i'm kind of a loner, shy person so smaller is better....hell i've even been to a couple of shows where hambers were and didn't say anything because i wasn't sure...................i really need to go the next so cal hamb gathering.

 

I'd rather be at a show with 20 cars where everyone has fun and theres some cool music and good times than a show with 10000 cars and all the owners are just waiting to see whos gonna win what.
When we did our show (which was small but hopefully be even bigger this year) we gave out some home made trophies to people we thought really deserved it -- ie. Don, Steevil and the rest of the Road Demons for gettin Dons car done so fast and so cool for the show. But there were no huge fancy prizes. We did have a silent auction to raise money for the charity we gave all the cash to though.
Anyone who shows up looking for some kinda prize and leaves when they find out there wont be one isnt needed anyway.

 

Thanks for the advice and thanks to all the others who have posted thus far. I'm going to look into doing it.

I don't tout it on here but my wife and her family own a traditonal Mexican rest, I would like to have a show in the shopping center parking lot. Maybe give away a free meal or some suds. I mite be able to bring back some Mexican blankets to give away as prizes.

I hope some of the NC guys will chime in with their thoughts on the whole thing.

 

I like cars shows that give away cheap but good looking trophies.
No Judging Sheets.
Play music.

The WORST thing you can do is having judging sheets.
These cars are NOT concors. Get over it.
Have fun.

 

I only look for a few things in a show to help me decide if I will attend, and I do attend a lot of shows.
1. Location - Is the show in a park with shade, or downtown so that my wife can spend my money but come away feeling good about going to a car show with me? I tend to avoid parking lot shows.
2. Where is my money going - I only go to shows that are donating the proceeds to a charity or other worthwhile cause. An example might be a fund to update the city park swimming pool.
3. Show hours - I don't like to be tied up for 8 to 10 hours. If the show is 4 to 6 hours everyone seems to be happier.

 

I go for different reasons. I'll start by saying I haven't attended a major show of any venue for at least 3-4yrs. I've just be "showed out" so to speak. For many years my buisness was something that actually revolved around the cl***ic show circuit. Meadowbrook, Pebble, etc. If I had a car there I was there to win. I attended many CCCA judging meets and part of that was to show that level of enthusiast how often we turn a car out. No small feat with a big American cl***ic. Usually once a year something new. But as I said above, I went to win. I did Autorama once with a cl***ic, went there to win, and did so without a problem. I guess it wasn't the same as all the autoramas prior to. I used to do the weekly "cruise" deal, ya know, a show every night of the week. I'd take what I was driving at the time (usually a musclecar) and just stop in. I did get sick of hearing about the latest chrome widgit and how expensive this guy's $1500 paint job was. Or the guy with the 410 duration camshaft and 14:1 compression. I got sick of it.

If I enter compe***ion I enter to win. If I go to see then see I do. Mostly I don't like what I see. I can't help it. I see some unique as well as proven details on some of your cars here on the HAMB. More "thing" less "bling". In general car shows wear me the **** out. I like socializng with the buds, and sometimes I can generate a little biz outta the deal, after that it gets old. I'm actually going to try and make Autorama this year for the 1st time since 50th anniversary. And THAT show was a dissappointment with regard to the tributes. Just not nearly enough nor highlighted as it should have been IMO.
I liked what was there though.


Funny autorama story...I really wanted to go to see so-and-so's car one year. Worked late on a Sunday and didn't get there until 5pm. I was short on dough and thought I'd pull a 3 stooges move at the exhibitor's entrance and walked in backwards. Yeah, you read that right, backwards! One guard saw me and laughed his *** off as he called me over to stamp my hand. I guess in the end it's all what you make it. We all go for our own reasons. This year for me it's to see wnat's up, visit you guys and gals in the ba*****t, and support my buddy's new speed shop. {insert cheap plug here} MAYFAIR SPEED AND MACHINE in Dearborn Hgts. Some of you locals might wanna check him out. He "gets it" and will be a stocking dealer for a lot of kool stuff.

 

Could not have said it better.....thats why I love SK500 Mickey does one hell of a job its a great time for all...

 

Just do a cruise night....

No entry fee......
print a few flyers and you MIGHT be surprised.

A lot of folks like to go about 5 or 6 in the evening, hang out a while, see their friends and make new ones and then head home around 9 or 10. No compe***ion for awards, a place to eat and cars to look at.......

 

I go for the friends, people and to look at cars, I could not care about awards. I didn't build my car to gather awards.

For your information we put on a show in our town that anually has 400 - 600 cars. There is a ten dollar registration fee and no awards are given. It is a show & shine that is part of our cruise nite weekend. The first few years we didn't charge anything, we made money from a dance and the help of sponsors. After a few years bands were charging a lot more and fewer people were going to the dance. We began to charge an entry fee and the car count hasn't changed. It should be noted that we doante $3000 - $5000 a year to scholarships, local charitys and other organizations with the proceeds from this show.

 

In M*** if you drive antique plates to get the cheep insurance the only time your are really supposed to drive the car is to a show or to a shop to be worked on. So thats one reason I go the other is just to see whats new and maybe show off something I might have done to my car over the winter. And just talk with everyone you never know what you might learn just like Hokey *** Message Board.

 

Hey from Raleigh. There are basically two shows a year that I try to make. Blood, Sweat, and Gears in Raleigh (currently in it's 3rd year) and the Heavy Rebel Weekender in Winston Salem (July 4th weekend). The key reasons that I attend these shows are:

1) Low-key, with focus on having a good time
2) Low entry fee (less than $10 for BSG, I don't recall HRW)
3) Attract and feature (mostly) trad-styled rods/customs.

There is also live music, art, merch vendors, and good food/beer options at these two shows. These are definitely plusses, but not prerequisites. There's no DJ blasting oldies that makes it impossible to have a conversation. And you don't have to walk past scads of muscle cars and 1-800-BILLET mobiles to find something cool to look at. I love muscle cars, and can appreciate the high-zoot cars for what they are, but the local weekend cruise nights provide plenty of opportunities for that. I don't feel obligated to drop $20+ for a local show, just to cover the cost of the oldies DJ and to pay for someone else's trophies. No sour g****s here - I don't want trophies, and in most cases, I don't want to look at the cars that are going for the trophies. So by eliminating the trophies, it kills two birds with one stone - reduces the cost of entry and also "weeds out" the muscles/billet cars.

As an example, there's a show going on at the NC State fairgrounds this weekend. A bunch of us locals walked around for a few hours yesterday morning. It's a real shame it costs $25, just to be able to park in the show and hang out. If it were more like $5 or $10, then yeah, I could see spending the money and making a day of it. So, of the 6+ HAMBer/car-guys that I know who were there, only one entered his car. Even at $10/car, they could have made $60 between us, instead of $25 from the one guy who entered. The "real show" in my mind was seeing all the cool cars in the parking lot that are driven on a daily basis.

Yes, I know there are costs ***ociated with putting on a show and swap meet of that size, but I believe the promotors are making their money on the vendor spaces, the "car corral" fee for people selling cars, and the $6 fee for spectators to get in the gate. It seems to me that if you want to draw more paying spectators to a car show, you need to have more cars for them to look at. And the best way to get more car owners to show them off, is to provide a decent venue and LOW entry fee. That being said, if I knew the money was going to a charity or good cause, I probably wouldn't flinch at the entry fee. But I'm kinda getting off-track here.

There are a bunch of local shows in the Raleigh area, and even more within a 45-minute drive. But time is just as scarce as money these days, so I'm much less likely to invest either resource, if a show doesn't meet most/all of the three criteria I listed above. But it's a double-edge sword for someone like yourself trying to start a show. I mean let's face it, there are only "so many" cl***ic, hotrod, custom cars/trucks in a given area. So, if you're trying to make putting on a show worthwhile, you want to attract as many cars as you can - just to help make the numbers work and keep from losing money. And you can't please all the people all the time. The next guy you ask might have totally different criteria for what would get him to attend.

Stone, you should definitely come out to BS&G on April 22nd - lots of great cars and people. Maybe it will give you some ideas for your own show. I wish there was a second throw-down similar to this in the Fall.

-murph

 

What Deuce said.

-murph

 

im trying to get one up and goin next year in northeast mo... my bud doug has a bike show every year on sat.. his tattoo shop is next to our bar... im talking to folks about it know.. getting the pot sturred...flyers is one way and radio is another im using. ad in papers..im goin to get up some vendors fwr food and swap...live music, kegs, the norm... dont think i will ever give out the plastic, but id like to have lud, [one of the tat shops artist] to make up some trophys.. we got some stripers in our club and i think we could really have a good time.. if things go off good, we could have some good turnouts as time goes on.. were bout 3 or 4 hours from hunnert, and 2 or 3 from the st. louis area... des moines is fairly close also.. its bout smack dab n the middle of everything... get kenny up here to chop a top [ just kiddin kenny] and we would be set.. it will be in june... long before hunnert.. i think thats a good time to have it.. dont you??? not trying to steal you thread.. just throwin it out there..........breeder

 

Thanks Murph. I cant wait for BSG. I would want to have something in the fall if I did it. No DJ. Maybe a local bluegr*** band. I prefer pre 65 entries.
Maybe I can get something together. I wanted something layed back and relaxed.

 

We have a show every year and we give out 3 awards that we make our selves. Someone here might have some pics of them. But f... that if thats what you go to a show for. The pileup doesn't have awards and it gets biggerand bigger every year. So if thats what your into have someone build you a street rod and pay your 50 dollar entrance fee and wait to win your glorified bowling trophy with a gto on top.
Jack

 

heavy rebel is free......
with that said depending on how big of a show you are wanting to do to take liability off you then you'll need insurance and it ain't cheap for an event like this. i just canceled the big vw show i was doing here because of it. the cheapest rate i got was $900 for the standard suggested minimum million dollar policy for 1 day. now in consulting a lawyer i found you don't have to do so. you can print entrance tickets to read that you are not responsible for accidents/theft bla bla bla. and you should have a large sign disclaimer of such at the entrance to the show. still can be sued if something happens and you'll have to spend the $$$ going to court to prove you posted such but it helps and usually is good enough for small functions. the show i was doing had a forcast of 2-500 cars as one of the big tenn shows was supposed to be canceled this year but now isn't(another reason i canceled). i know it's being way careful but one of the folks i talked to who does several large shows had several problems and now will not do a show without it. with $900 for ins and $600 for fairground rental for the day(outside only) and promo **** like flyers and little stuff i'd be looking at $2k minimum and thats nothing in the line of bands or dj, trophies, prizes, bla bla bla. now even at $10 a pop i would have to have at least 250 through the gate be it cars or people just to break even hopefully. i decided to do something smaller and am waiting til fall because the show in tenn is going on now and it will have heavy attendance.
i'm gonna research the insurance thing. was given some info that VVWoA chapter presidents can ride on the organizations insurance for shows but i don't know that for sure and it doesn't matter in the situation your talking anyhow. i go to shows for fun. the only show trophy i've ever even kept was the one my buick won at heavy rebel several years ago. i was thinking on doing like an event participant sticker for everyone and NO trophies at all. that way EVERYONE got something to show for being there. kind of like a dash plaque but more simple. oh and you had me pegged at MEXICAN FOOD.hahahaha. yummmmmmmmmmm. now i just gotta get some of my old stuff on the road. the buick is down for a while since the nailhead needs to be rebuilt. the plymouth i just wish would go away so i stop thinking about chopping it and turn it 2 dr to keep it from wasting in the garage with me uninterested otherwise. and the '63 vw needs a set of dropped spindles to straighten out the geometry and pull the front wheels back from being slammed with a narrowed adjustable beam. my front tires rub the headlight buckets from any rock in the road. that and i still want it an inch or so lower still. anyhow the advise i was given even for a cruise like event put something on the flyer thats says you are not responsible for accidents of any kind just to cover your own ***...ken....

 

No one with their hot pink '33 Street Beast will show up with their stuffed animal collection if you don't have prizes. Not offering big prizes is a great way to keep stupid people away. Your show will be smaller but it'll be cooler people.

 

One of my favorites has $5 registration. Starts at 3, ends at 9 pm. Blocked off main street affair. Usually has better than 300 cars. Everyone has a good time. They have $10 t-shirts also.

 

I think a cruise-in is your best bet, though in this area it seems hard to actually limit it via year or quality (I'd dig a pre '62 show). Trophies are nice but not essential. A good at***ude (which is no at***ude). I say go for it...
Get a couple other business' interested, it's very cheap advertising...

Personally I think what the Southeast needs is a Paso/Roundup type event. Be tight on the year and quality of the cars. I've thought about it and even discussed it with some. All cars would have to be approved, maybe do it the first year by invitation. It would be a huge undertaking and would take at least 6 or 7 months to plan and organize. And it would take a little bit of investment....

But this is street rod and muscle car hell.... though a lot of these dip****s are now building rat rods....

 

Good advice, and very true.

Hemi-roid

 

Thanks guys. I may talk with local business owners and see what can be done. You guys are renewing my confidence in the hobby. Even in minitrucks I'm not nor have I ever been about a trophy.