Why do you go to shows & cruise in's?

I go to as many shows, cruise ins and swap meets as I can. For me its a family thing. My wife loves it too and that is a great thing to me. My dad and I walk the lot a couple times and I love hearing about the things he did when he was younger with these cars. My daughter is 12 and my son is almost 3. They are both impressionable children and I want them to respect and enjoy cars as much as I have. Let's face it folks we ain't gettin any younger and our youth will be in our shoes someday. Its also about meeting new like minded folks. I'm not searching for a trophy or even an atta boy. I'm there primarily to spend quality time with my family and enjoy the sights.

 

I go mainly to see friends, met people, and see cars I haven't seen before, along with old favorites I've seen umpteen times but still enjoy looking at. I don't do a lot of shows (for one thing, I can't afford the entry fees to go to a show every Saturday from April through October--there are enough shows around here that you could do that if you wanted to. I enjoy a good cruise in more than shows with judging and trophies/plaques. I don't care if my truck ever wins a trophy. I love it when people take on over Henrietta the '38 Ford pickup, an old work truck that was rode hard and put up wet, more than they do over the ones with perfect paint and upholstery. I especially love it when somebody swallows the cock and bull story about the rare Ford experimental overhead valve engine (thinly disguised 307 Chevy painted Ford flathead green, valve covers lettered "Ford Experimental OHV", electronic ignition module hidden inside an old flathead oil filter canister, old Ford oil bath air cleaner sitting on top of the 600 CFM Holley), and believe me, there are some who swallow that story hook, line, and sinker at every cruise-in and show I go to. When somebody takes the bait, I can really embellish the story about this rare experimental engine--Ford engineers working on the OHV design in secret, without the knowledge of King Henry V8, King Henry V8 discovering what they were up to and nipping it in the bud, the intake designed by legendary Ford engineeer Ed L. Brock, etc. I lettered Henrietta as a shop truck for Drake Motor Co., the Ford dealer here 1928-1956, Phone 13 (that was actually their number), and more than once at local shows and cruise-ins, some older guy tells me that he remembers when Drake Motor Co. had that truck. I manage to keep a straight face and let them have their memories. Now, I'm just trying to find a photo of Drake Motor Co. so I can get somebody who is good with Photoshop to park Henrietta in front of the Ford place way back when. I see so many of the "look but don't touch" signs that I made me one that says "Feel free to touch. It's just an old work truck, not a show car." I don't mind kids standing on the running boards or even sitting in it.

 

An added bonus

 

I go to quite a few shows. Some near- some not so near.
For me, it's not about the award- I've already done the trailered show car circuit w/ my past cars & have literally hundreds of those dust collectors in boxes. After awhile- who gives a rats ass what some clueless judge (and I use that term loosely) thinks of your car.
For me- it's checking out the rides, talking to the owners, or talking to others about my build. And........hanging with good friends.
I don't usually do too many cruises, same cars at every cruise.
I do like a breakfast cruise. Went to one Saturday- we filled up the place & had about 30 cars outside. I like going to shows I've never been too before. New cars & new faces.

I think a bunch of you are hermits. Get the hell out of your garage & socialize already!


I did like the Mooneyes show- seems to get some of you guys off the couch & to a show. But here's something odd I observed at Mooneyes. Was it just me? I have NEVER seen so many broke down cars on the way to the event in my life! Fix your damn cars guys!
Now I'm smiling when I typed that so no flamin' please.

 

Give this some thought, call up the local chapter of the Special Olympics in your area. Ask them if they could use your old trophies. We donate them and they rebadge them and give them to the participants.

 

There's so many great shows and cruises up here. I like going to the ones they have in the smaller towns. Corn Days, J J Hill days, Nickel Dickle days. There's a ton of them. They are a lot of fun. Laid back, small town vibe.
It's fun getting there. Seeing friends and making new ones. Shooting the shit with like minded folks. Checking out the cars. Checking out the wimmens. Roll my eyes at the ego maniacs/chainers. There's so much variety. Appriciating someones hard work and dedication.
I had a trophy winner for a year and that was fun but It's not that big a deal. the guys who get so worked up about it are goofy.
The seasons not real long up here. Everyone pretty much squeezes every drop of hot rodding and car showing they can while the weathers nice. Work on em all winter and break em out when the roads are clear.

 

That's a pretty good idea HRLC

 

I've done that many times. Still have hundreds of them. Grandkids want them now.

 

To see if I can see something unique and/or diffrent from a 32 ford,a 55 chevy or a 69 camaro.......
(as much as I love 55s) ........like the cool 4 door 60 buick I saw yesterday for example.
I love to witness the results of someones hard work and insight of what an unlikely car like that can be.
Not that many people step outside the line around here to build something like that so I guess thats why I admire someone who does.

 

I go to "cruise-ins" because I like to drive my car(s), talk to people about cars (mine and theirs) and see friends and meet new friends. I only go to car shows that are fun, just got home from Ink-n-Iron which has pin-up girls, bands, girls, great people watching and did I mention pin-up girls? Mooneyes Xmas party is fun, racing on the track at Irwindale, pin-up models, art auction, music. Don't go to those shows with 100 cars to benefit the 6th grade class of some local school to get there at 7 AM, wait for them to figure out what to do with the cars then sit until 3-4 PM bored out of my mind, I just can't take that.

 

I stopped going to cruise-in's along time ago...I still attend a few select events, for example, Bonneville, the Calif. Hot rod Reunion and the Goodguys West Coast Nationals. (they stress cars, not "lifestyle") The local shows have too many poodle skirts, cry baby dolls and fat asses sitting in lawn chairs...no thanks I'll pass!

 

Because "I gotta make the scene man"!
I like PT cruisers with surf boards on top,
new corvettes,
four door "barges" that no self respecting car guy would have given a rats ass about a few years ago,
back seats filled with stuffed animals,
listening to experts espouse their opinions about everyone else's cars (because they don't have one of their own),
or watching the "Top dogs" strut around and look down there noses at everything that doesn't meet their standards,
watching guys with arms crossed, stand guard over their muscle car,
or another guy work his magic with his California duster on those sparkling billet wheels (why didn't he clean them at home?),
and let's not forget the gold chainer who seems to own everything but a wrench, taking credit for a car that he couldn't even change a tire on,
and of course there's the fashion show, black leather jackets, black T shirts cuffed jeans, and engineer boots in 90degree heat,
and all the while rockin' out to the groovy sounds of the beach boys, --and she'll have fun fun fun.......
unless they've changed,------it's been a while.

 

Wow, some of you guys must have some really pathetic shows in your area. Most of the local outdoor shows in my area are run by nice people, attended by nice people and are as good an excuse as there is to drive your car a couple hours to participate in. I look at it this way: some people can have a crappy time at the same show as I have a good time while attending. As I see it, the difference is in your attitude and outllook. If you're the kind of "Black Cloud" that sees a half-empty glass, stay home and keep telling yourself how cool you are for being anti-social. Nobody will miss you...

 

I love hot rods....

 

We have literally 1 or 2 cruises locally every night of the week. Its non-stop around here.

I go alot. I usually dont even walk around.

We hang with our friends, BS, eat, BS, eat. Just to hang with friends.

My wife and kids are totally into it, so thats great for me.

Last thursday, we drove 30-40 minutes to a little 25-30 car cruise. Stopped, had a slice of pizza from the place hosting it, stayed for maybe 20 minutes, BS'd alittle and left.
Drove another 25 minutes to the other local cruise, this one with almost 60 cars, hung with a bunch of our friends, got a great $2 cheeseburger from the place hosting it, and BS'd somemore.

Sat night we went with a few of our friends to the local big Saturday cruise, about 400+ cars.
We sat under a tree, BS'd, watched cars go by, kids played, ate, BS'd some more.
We ended up being the last 4 cars there at 10pm. Some HAMBers we know from PA stopped on the way home from the Gasser Reunion, so we sat and BS'd.

Today, Sunday, a few of our friends came over for a Steak fry, we ate, then 4 car loads left for the local big sunday cruise, about 400 cars.
We sat there and BS'd for 3-4 hours, and then 6 car loads came back to my house for leftoversand dessert.

Its about the drive there, friends, the drive home.

This is what we do. And we enjoy it. We usually ignore all the new cars, the crybaby dolls, Hell, we normally dont pay any attention to anyone unless its a car we like or havnt seen before.
We're the young punks with loud cars, and bad attitudes, but always seem to have a large crowd around...

 

Well one reason I go to most of the shows around here is because it raises money for children's charities. All the local clubs in the area are big on that. But I guess the main reason is to take my 3 year old son along. Not only does he love to ride in "daddy's hotrod" as he calls it, but it's awesome quality time and I get to have some 1 on 1 time with my best buddy. I know that may sound cheesy, but you guys that have the little one's know what I mean.

 

I prefer non judging shows, Anoka cruise nights ect.
I like to hang out with Friends, see what is out there , gather new ideas, eat greasy mini donuts, and support the old car hobby.

 

When did become so "uncool " to go to a cruise? Ill go at least once every two weeks because my inlaws are very old and go to one every night! So I go to spend some time with them, We have very differant taste in cars but when we are there it doesnt matter at all.
They drive there '37 caddy EVERY day how many of us can say that? I drive my '49 Merc once every two weeks. Id say he's more of a car guy than I am.

 

Give that man a Seegar!

 

Does anyone here know the song "I'm One" on the Quadraphinia album by the Who?
There's this line in it:

I got a Gibson
Without a case
But I can't get that even tanned look on my face.
Ill fitting clothes
I blend in the crowd,
Fingers so clumsy
Voice too loud.

But I'm one.

That's kind of how I feel when I drive my Mercury to a show. I waited over 20 years to have a car (Pre 1965) that could get into Back to the 50's. My 66 GT 350 was too new. "But now I'm one". I like checking out the cars but now it's more the people and friends. Feeling the weather. Being out on a nice day or evening.

 

I go for the same reasons that I am on the HAMB.

1. I love cars, hot rods mostly, but customs and most everything in between.

2. To learn, there isn't anyone going to just show up at your house and tell you how to build a hot rod, you have to go out there and find them. Go to a show, car cruise, event or gathering, find a car you like and ask about it... so simple a caveman could do it...

 

People, spending time with friends (inluding my lovely wife). I ignore the critics and have had some nice visits with people from 8 to 80. Out of town shows is about the journy as much as the show, road trip with my hot rod buds. Shows are a place to go.

I enjoy looking at the cars. It's nice to see what others are up to but I tend to pass over the ones that don't interst me.

Stupid comments from the uninformed or just the rude go unnoticed. To paraphrase a book title. What you think of me (or my car) is none of my business.

 

I go to local cruzin to see all the In-breeders

 

Gee, I'd love to go, but there's no place in the roadster for lawn chairs. I'm thinking of making the seats in the car detachable. Then I could pull them out and set them on the ground so I can sit around with all the other old bastards and talk about how good it was "back in the day".

Bob

 

To listen to all of the trophy whores talk about how the'll never come back because the judge was wearing a Chevy hat and they are driving Fords. It's good for a laugh.

 

To hang with friends...... meet people, talk about rides and up coming other shows........ see whats new

 

To swill beer and smoke cigars in public, of course.

 

That's a fancy ring you got there Hiram.

 

I go to shows to talk to people and learn things. I never go to any show that requires spectators to pay. They suck. I want to talk to people about their cars, and I want to talk to people about my car. At a good show I'll learn a thing or two from both kinds of conversations, especially the "here's how I did that" ones.
I also like to see cars that are nicer than mine.

 

Its always a good time to go to shows and cruise ins i don't have a vehicle to take yet but its always fun to catch up with people you haven't seen for awhile.