When & Why did car shows turn MODERN?

I see the same thing here in local shows and I don't really have a problem with it. The last large show I was at there were three new Chargers and all were mildly customized with matching color bits in the engine (they were purple, lime and orange - for you old Mopars that's plum crazy, sublime and go mango) and fancy wheels. They just wanted to show off what they had, no different than many of the rest of the cars there. What bothers me is the lack of interest in the history when you see a customized 2008 Mustang win the people's choice. Its all personal preferences, and the beauty of a car show is you don't have to look at what you don't want to. I (sorry to step on toes here) walk right by a '57 Chevy or '69 Chevelle because I have already seen more of them at shows than I think were ever produced by the factory. My biggest giggle was the two guys that brought their Smart cars to a show last fall.
 
I recently had the "new car" expierience at a local car show that used to be a good one in Mt Vernon Ohio. My coupe has won best of show at more than one local car show and bigger ones than this but did not trophy,beaten out by a 2012 VW Jetta . Not one old Ford ,and at least three very nice Model A Fords were present got even a plaque,quite a few were given out. I do not understand the showing of a new car,what can the owner say to people about what they did to the car"I made a good deal" ?. Used to be an appreciation for the work in a restoration. When I questioned the new car awards I was told that it was no longer an old car show but a car show. Another show I went to last year only gave out three trophys and two of them went to the same ratrod whose owner's business was the local supporter of the show. Most of the local car shows and cruise ins today are fundraisers for a local charity,firehouse etc.and I understand showing appreciation to the volunteers like I was told the VW Jetta's owner was,but they need to understand how to get cars and people back the next year.
 
not all car shows have turned modern.....

just the local-yokel shows where the sponsors care more about numbers and $$ than the quality of the show ;)

recently attended the MARC national, the MAFCA national and the Mountaineer Region AACA. no modern cars at any of those venues......
 
But those are specific make large area shows. Unfortunately you can't do that with the local all brands show. I don't take my cars anywhere that they are judged or require an entry fee unless the fee is for a charitable organization. The bulk of the local shows are Church [X], School [Y] or Business [Z] that is looking for cars to show up and then people show up to look at the cars. The more cars, the more people and these events are like teenage boys with food - not real picky on what is there.
 
WTSHNN said:
At a car show a few years back a PT Cruiser owner rubbed me the wrong way (I think I've told this story before) when he pulled one of those foam pool noodles out of his trunk and held one end against his door, and, after lightly tapping the (closed) door of my '31 Pickup with the other end, determined we were too close together and asked me to move (the noodle had not been cut, it was the normal five or six foot length). I asked him if he did that every time he went to the grocery store, got in my truck and left. That was one of the last times I went to a car show.

I agree, if people are expressing their interest in the hobby, great, all people/cars welcome, but there is a tipping point when a show is a "car show" with unique and unusual cars and it is just a normal Saturday afternoon Home Depot parking lot.

Last weekend I took my '31 out to run errands and I wound up in a Kmart parking lot. I parked right up there with a Saturn and a Lexus, ran in to get the USB memory disk I needed, wandered out and left. Hardly a car show in my opinion, yet, could very easily be the future...
-Tim
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WTSHNN ..........................
You should have never let a jerk, like that, run you off. You should have said that it didn't bother you, and if he didn't like it, he could leave. Don't be afraid about going to another car-show. You will, probably, never park next to him again.
MIKE :)
 
here in Minnesota, the shows i go to restrict cars newer than 1981. also we have Back to The 50s car show, they restrict cars newer than 1964. so i rarely see newer cars at shows
 
Because a heck of a lot of people are getting too lazy to take a bit of a challenge to drive an antique...Of course modern traffic enters in to it.....Big John
 
I know of at least three local guys who are older than me and I am 66 who have gone the modern route. All of these guys have always been gearheads but in thinking only and always got frustrated or challenged way back when. Simple things,which old Fords are,like fuel issues and ignition or cooling and these guys were done with the old 4 bangers and the flathead,thus went the Chevy route and always rode me to do the same,been a V8 Club member for 41 years. Nowadays each one of these guys play with new Mustangs,I mean brand new. One guy tried the 65 Mustang but that even was to frustrating and he just went 2012. All they have to do is call the Ford service department now.
 
went to a fathers day show in boise and it was limited to 200 cars it was a open show and was for pre 1960 a lot of great looking cars and trucks one of the best that i ever entered i do about ten shows a year and usely place with the tow truck and did thier i was not one of the good ole boys i'm from washington
 
We are now a quick fix, I want it now society. It appears that these days of instant communication, instant answer, instant gratification, the here and now, has now entered the car shows.

Someone can go to a dealer, pick up a ready made car, add 20-30 dollars of “bling” and get the admiration of the crowd and judges and be the big guy for a moment.

How many have the talent, interest, and time in spending countless hours working on making parts work as they once did years ago. Not enough instant gratification.

Read what goes on here on this site, a site dedicated to the restoration of the Model A and you will here owners adding “modern” items because they think they have to do so to make the car run, or that it is easier to maintain.

Here in Florida they no longer teach the American Revolution in school and only dedicate 2 days to the civil war. There is no sense of history anymore.

Can this be turned around, I don’t think so.

What I can tell you is that we need to go to these shows and preferably in groups to show that their are these old cars around and they do run, and run well.

I too stay away from non charity events and believe in why a private person or business should make all the money off my car.
 
INSPIRED by this thread, I set up a Quickie Ice Cream Run just for Model A's, and even though, a 1937 Ford V8 Roadster, a 1913 Ford Model "T", and some sort of Shay which is LATER (?) than the Shays showed up among the TWENTY Model A's in our Waterfront Village Park. Thanks to our Village Board for quick permission for us to hang in the park for a couple of hours on a Sunday in July.
 

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Showed up at a rod and custom benefit show that had about 120 cars. The show benefited St Judes Childrens Hospital.

My car is a restored 1930 Packard convertible. The only other "old car" there was a 1930 AA flatbed. All the Mustangs, etc were there.

The owners chose winners and the Packard was best in show. Got a 4' trophy, strapped it in the seat and drove all over town. That was an open-minded group.

I also have a 2010 Mustang GT, white with Shelby stripes but you can see that on the streets any day. The Packard doesn't come out much.
 
We have a local "Cars n Coffee" show first Sunday of every month and my wife and I thoroughly enjoy it. We've made several friends there, just discussing our cars. It's only for a few hours, not a whole day, so it's just long enough to set up our chairs and cooler, do a few strolls and take it all in.

Since my 28 Tudor is in long-term storage awaiting "re-restoration", we show a Ford of a different type. Bear with me here...it's a 95 Miata with a 95 Ford 5.0 in it. Very clean, unique conversion example, interesting to build, and a heck of a conversation piece at these shows. That's probably the most fun part. At one last year I was parked next to a new Superformance Cobra and a nicely restored Sunbeam Tiger. It was great to discuss what they all had in common.

The shows are open to everyone, free, and you won't find a wider variety anywhere. Different car clubs are featured each month. There's something for everyone. In this little bedroom community outside Austin, at this show I've seen Model A's, an occasional Model T, Rolls Royces, Mini's both old and new, beautiful old VW buses, a Singer, a Fisker Karma, the usual Cobras, and about anything else you can think of including a beautiful '59 Olds convertible resto-rod towing...a beautifully restored Airstream. And yeah, since it's sponsored the local Bentley dealer, it's fun to check out the new cars he brings to the show.

So, yeah, I'd go to a true Antique car show, but these informal ones with a lot of variety are a heck of a lot of fun, too.

TM
 
Big John said:
Because a heck of a lot of people are getting too lazy to take a bit of a challenge to drive an antique...Of course modern traffic enters in to it.....Big John
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The wife and I have been driving our recently acquired 1928 Tudor quite frequently and on the 70mph freeway @55mph, occasionally . But of course, we don't have the heavy traffic like other areas.

We drive all of our vintage cars, no trailer queens in this garage.

Trailers are for boats!
 
The organizers have the ability to control attendance. They should clearly state that this car show is for pre 1980 or whatever year suits them. If not it is fair game. Yes it has changed our hobby and not for the good as I see it. Cruise nights are now roaring engines and squealing tires. The 30's cars can not keep up to the newer ones in a cruise and so quite often they choose to not participate.
It is the same as swap meets. Many tables are now covered with dishes, pottery and used clothing. Should they be allowed to sell this stuff. Of course they should...but at a neighborhood garage sale and not a car show !
Our hobby is changing and unless we lobby the show organizers it will only get worse ! Change is inevitable but it is quite often made by a minority to the disadvantage of the majority !
 
Here in Mexico there are not a lot of antique and classic cars so everyone is invited. Even a new car dealer might bring a couple vehicles. The entry fees are very low and the money goes to cover any costs, very minimal, and then for items that get raffled off at the end of the show. The sponsors also donate items for the raffle. Every classic, or antique, car owner goes away with some sort of raffle item. The items are usually quite good. I have won 5 gallons of house paint (that I gave away to another participant who could make good use of it) and a car battery which is always useful. The organizer makes every effort to keep it a family show and very carefully allows only certain sponsors that are family oriented. No political sponsors. The cars are enjoyed by thousands of people that see the cars and trucks as he always gets the prime location in town for the show.
Quaker State is always the biggest sponsor and provides the batteries and cases of oil for the raffle. I was hoping to win one of the Quaker State girls at the last show! :D

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