Why do you enter car shows?

Car shows are a nice way for the public to look at (touch) our cars and to see old friends. It's also great when an old timer tells us stories about the cars they owned. That being said, once I was walking the rows of cars at a show with my granddaughter. We came across this car that had about 30 or 40 trophies surrounding the car. My granddaughter asked "did that car win all those trophies today" and I replied that "he won them at other shows". After a few seconds she asked "you mean he takes the trophies to every show he goes to". I said "I guess so", and then she said "why, that seems like a lot of work", I replied "I guess he is proud of his car". Well what I didn't tell her was that the real reason is, because by having the car surrounded by trophies tells the judges that "my car won all these trophies and if I don't win one today you judges don't know what you are doing". All of us that have been in this hobby long enough know in reality very few of us build our cars to win trophies.
 
I enter shows to try and force me to finish it. Haven't made one yet.... At this point I will be entered just to prove the car does exist....LOL
 
. . . We came across this car that had about 30 or 40 trophies surrounding the car.

Some car shows have rules prohibiting the showing of trophies with the car. For most of the shows I enter the winners are picked by sponsors that just pick their favorite car. I would think the showing of trophies would be counterproductive as a sponsor may well say, "I see that that car has won enough already, I'll give my plaque to someone else."
 
I enter shows to try and force me to finish it. Haven't made one yet.... At this point I will be entered just to prove the car does exist....LOL

My very first car show I entered in the "Work In Progress" category because it wasn't quite finished. There was a lot of cool unfinished cars in that group. You might consider that for a show before you're finished.
 
. . . Henry I thought you car was black too that is a nice color !


Here's the bright sun color:

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The cloudy day/shade color. (Eggplant?)

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Twilight color:

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Here's the night color:

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My father has an original 1967 Shelby gt 350. People are always very respectful at the shows. Every once in a while there is a kid who is super excited to see the car, taking a ton of pics etc. We always offer them the chance to climb in and get their picture taken. At a show this past weekend a girl about 13-15 was taking pictures like crazy with her dad. I offered her to sit in it she was so excited. Turns out her name was Shelby and her dad brought her to her first car show with hopes to see one. Made her day. That's why our family goes to shows. To put smiles on other peoples faces. No matter what you drive someone somewhere will think its special :)
 
We attended a car show this last sunday, It was held at an assisted living center of which some of the residents were judges, one elder in particular stopped for a while and admired my car I could tell he wanted to drive so bad , I had to offer him a ride, although being wheelchair bound he had no problem getting in the passenger seat, I felt deep down It may not be possible to take him for a ride around the lake, one of the caregivers very tactfully discouraged him (DUE TO LIABILITY), we so enjoyed seeing the smile on the shut in peoples' face, it was somewhat well worth passing up the shelby meet in Tulsa and a couple of other events just to bring a little happiness to those that were more appreciative of our efforts, I however to my surprise did bring home a small trophy. a day well spent!
Regards,
Fordestes
 
We were at a show a few years ago and I noticed a guy with four kids looking at my deuce roadster. The smallest kid couldn't see over the door so the other kids were trying to hold him up. I walked over and opened the door and said "get in". The father said no but I assured him it was OK. Man if you could have seen the smile on those kids, they probably will never forget it. After they left some guy walks up to me and said "I saw what you just did and it's not right that you did that, those kid's are going to think they can get in anyones car" I just said "why don't you mind your own business and these kid's are the future of hot rodding, so take a walk".
 
I always tell the kids to climb in and honk the horn (two big trumpet horns) they love it. Parents are always telling their kids to be careful and not to touch. I tell them, "For this car, you can touch, you can feel, you can pat, you can rub, you can climb inside and honk the horn." The parents are a bit shocked. Heck, what's the harm of a finger print or two in comparison to the joy of a smile on a child's face?

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Gotta love the photographers.

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The kid's smile says it all. I get the same reaction with them with the pickup. and yes the parents are sometimes in shock.

As far as the young lady photographer, I'll bet she produces some prize winning images. Have you seen any them?
 
The kid's smile says it all. I get the same reaction with them with the pickup. and yes the parents are sometimes in shock.

As far as the young lady photographer, I'll bet she produces some prize winning images. Have you seen any them?

Don't know who she is. She said she was a photography student and did take one picture of me standing by my car.
 
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