I guess I will chime in on this subject. I started going to car shows about 10 years ago when I bought a 56 chevy 4 door, It was nice but not really show quality.
First show I got a 3rd place trophy, (there were only 4 in the class). But it got me hooked. Sold it and got a 78 chevy short box C-10 that was customized. A real beauty, and almost always brought home a 1st place trophy.
Then decided I wanted to join a club, and besides the street rod club, which I have never been into, there was the Mustang club. Bought a 65 coupe 6 cylinder, and have been a ford guy every since.
Our club puts on a show every year ( this is the 27th annual this year). Like every other car show in a 100 mile radius, we charge admission to show your car, and spectators are free. I should take that back there a few that also charge spectator admission, but they Are all indoor winter shows. We charge $15 preregistration, and $20 day of show. This is pretty common around here. We also have many sponsors, but after we buy trophies, and door prizes, advertising, insurance, etc etc, we make very little money.
I personally go to very few judged shows anymore, because I have so many trophies, I don't know what to do with them. We moved a couple years ago, and ended up with less room to display stuff, so gave away several dozen trophies to the Boy Scouts. There several show and shines that are free that I take in. A couple of the local retirement/nursing homes have show and shines each year that are great. Many of the old folks (many very little older than me) really like these old cars.
I also agree that at many shows the music is WAY to loud. I do enjoy the old songs, but not so loud. I am not that hard of hearing. LOL Oh, About Lawrence Welk, As many of you may know, when he was starting out, he played all over the country at dances. Well there was a well known ballroom in a small town about 20 miles from where my folks lived, and they went there to dance quite often, Well when I was a baby, His band was playing one night and they went, but couldn't dance, because someone had to watch me. Lawrence saw this, and offered to sit with me while they danced. So I tell people that Lawrence Welk was my babysitter.
There have been bank robberies and the local 'police' in a '30 Roadster swing in and in a gun duel arrest the bad guys. A live band plays era music, a newsboy in knockers walks around selling a paper,,,,, all kinds of neat stuff if you haven't been there try to make it!!
Is that why leaded gas was developed, to reduce knock(ers) and pings at summer car shows?
No one wants to see a young boy in knockers I think I said that wrong!