Car show issues

Dean Lampe

Member #023
First Name
Dean
Last Name
Lampe
Why is it that we are "special interest" and a '32 hi boy with a fiber glass body on a tube frame can usually show in the hot rod class for the given year the car represents? That car is no more a '32 than my GT40 is a '69. What should our class be?

Any thoughts?
 
That's easy -

No Classes - since we only have a few trophies. How many trophies is Gateway providing ?
 
You and I know what our cars are. The person putting his 32 in an "original" class is a trophy hunter and they can have all the trophies they want. I used to enjoy visiting car shows, then I used to enjoy showing at a show, now, I just want to avoid them. Too many politics, too many trophy guys and too long of a show have kind of driven me away. But I digress. To answer your question, I don't know.
 
Mark, I'm not talking about our show. Just show's in general. I just wanted to open the topic for a little venting.
 
Special Interest Cars

The classes are based on the focus of the club hosting the show. The St. Louis Street Rod Association is focused on pre 48 cars and as such has many classes for these cars. In order not to have an unmanageable number of classes it lumps other cars into "special interest". I have been to shows hosted by the Falcon club and anything outside of the Falcon community are "special interest". If we were to have classes I would lump all street rods into one class. I agree with Tim, I don't care about classes or trophies, I just enjoy being with people with the same hobby and interest.

Clyde
 
Sorry, yea - they always put us in special interest - with tractors, electric cars, etc. Kinda silly. If they put us in sports cars - we compete with vettes. From the few car shows that I've been too - I've heard 2 distinct reactions - 1) That's my dream car - I love it, and 2) That's not a real car - it just a bunch of old mustang parts all dolled-up.

Very frustrating. Even rat rods, and sometimes low riders get their own class.

I've always wondered where a "real" 427 Cobra would be classified. And would it have a chance to win against a dolled-up 65 vette?
 
All I know is Marks, Mikes, Tom's, Steve and Bruce's car should win whenever they show up. Nothing against those that I didn't mention, just these cars in particular are great examples of what can be done with these cars. My first trophy came at the EPC car show where I entered Special Interest. I learned a lot that day. I got 2nd, to a 65 Vette and 3rd was a 56 Chevy. The guy I sat by all day had a 79 Camaro and pointed out the people that walk around looking at what class a car has entered. If they think they can beat that car, they enter the class in hopes of winning a trophy. Now, after thinking about this a bit, what if later on they wanted to sell their car and they had numerous trophies displayed with it? Would that get your attention more than just a picture of a car? Probably. So, maybe that's what these people are doing. I'm sure all of us has run across the guy with the late model Chevy truck, white with Orange Rally stripes? This guy is fanatic about winning trophies. Look for him and just mention something about his truck, he is what is bad about shows. The guy in the camaro I sat and talked to all day - that is what is right about shows.
 
Car Shows/Trophies/Car Shows

My attitude is who cares? We'll I don't. But having said that there are many guys who live & die 4 a 10 cent trophy. I say their nuts. I made the mistake of POURING $$$$$$$$$ into a frame off restoration of a 57 Nomad 20 yrs ago, drove it to Phil., Penn 4 the Natl Nomad Conv. won a 10 cent 1st place trophy drove it home put in the garage & didn't drive it cause it was immaculate. Sold it several yrs later after it collected lots of dust under a car cover & took a big loss. Don't think I'll ever do that again. I am not a car show person. Pay to enter, sit around, get a 10 cent trophy (maybe), go home. I have had more fun in this club on one day cruises DRIVING on snaky roads w/great guys then anything else I have ever done in connection w/cars. It has been an absolute BLAST! That's why I respect U Dean. UR having fun racing not going to some goofy car show to win some stupid trophy that sits around collecting dust. OK I'm done w/my soap box editorial. :eek:
 
I have to agree. The best part of car shows for me is pulling up in the parking lot and having people(truly interested in cars) walk away from the show to come look at my car parked in the lot. :D
 
The "Cost"

Time for some time value of money Geek speak......

8 hrs at car show * $100/hr for your personal time = $800

Cost of trophy: $10

Net loss: $790 + all the fun you would have had driving your car with your buddies if you didn't spend it at a show!

Sorry guys, couldn't resist.....:D
 
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