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Car Shows - Advice?

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I'm thinking of entering my car in a show - my first. Any advice?

I'm hesitant because I don't really want to spend hours and hours cleaning and polishing and I'm not into every detail being original. Though I appreciate spit and shine - I couldn't care much less about winning a show trophy. I'm more interested in auto-crossing it and driving it on the street.

I'd like to share it with other brit owners and enthusiasts. But I don't want to show it and have other owners scoffing at me because I didn't scrub every bit with a tooth brush and white gloves, the air intake has been removed, the paint isn't perfect, it has adjustable cam sprockets - etc.
 
Drive it 50 miles down a dusty road, into a water crossing, through a mud pit and straight to the show. You'd get my vote in an instant.

In all seriousness, you have the right state of mind. Car shows are for two types of people... trophy hunters and car nuts. Sounds like you're a car nut. In that case, go to the show, share your car to other people, complete with quirks, personal touches, modifications, etc. Tell the story of each nick and dent to anyone interested. Anyone who scoffs at you or your car will never know the true joy these cars can offer, and aren't worth a passing thought.
 
I am the car nut type. Just entered to be part of the day. I did however clean the snot out of it because I like em clean. Car is far from perfect chips & tears here & there. Crowd & judges liked it, I got a first place in the category for MG's. I was floored. Just present it the way you want it. If they don't like it, too bad. It's not their's.
 
I agree that its more fun to drive them
However I do like to go to some of the shows with my Lister tiger clone.I like to sit back and listen to some of those so called experts telling others what my car is.These type know squat.Then there are the others who you can really share with as they are the car people who enjoy cars and really are interested in how you put the car together.
Have I ever won a trohpy? I must confess I did win a couple.
The best were ones in the sunbeam only shows.
I must admit that I am kind of a modified car person.I like the challenge.
 
There is a new appreciation for less-than-perfect cars. I think some of this has come about from the popularity of "Rat-Rods" and is sort of a reaction to seeing 25 perfect hotrods at the local hotrod show. I guess all that perfection is "tiring" for some folks (I'm actually thinking of building a rat-rod Spridget from a parts car this winter).

I appreciate show-quality cars, but like you, I'm more of a driver. Many of the less-perfect cars (like my race car) have great "history" (or "provenance") but may look a bit tatty.
(I'm a bit like that m'self /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif )

One of my brothers brought his Midget to a show this year and won "Diamond in The Rough" award. He was delighted. I'm glad to see these types of awards for less-perfect cars.

As for show trophies: I brought #11 to a show last year "just for fun". It was filthy from a previous race-weekend, but a lot of folks seemed interested in it anyway. I won 2nd place for chrome-bumper Spridget....pretty funny since it has *no* bumpers and is a rubber-bumper car anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I've got cars that could fit into both of those categories....My 58 A is a car I rarely ever drive(put maybe 20 miles on it this summer) and I like it spotless, and when I show it I make sure it is spotless(I've got a wall of plaques from various shows across north america from when I used to take it everywhere....but it's been 12 years since I've last shown it...those in Ontario - watch for it this coming british car day!). My wifes 61 A is a daily driver and we take it into any show in whatever state of clenliness it's in at the time. The B's are about a close to perfect original cars as you can find without getting into the big dollar " never titled" cars(these B's have under 20,000 original miles) so when I do show them(I never have yet) I will make sure they are spotless as well. I've added some aftermarket accessories to one of the B's(the blue one), so it might get scoffed at...but I like it that way. As for the TC when it's finished I probably won't do much with it other than polish it(and take it to a few select shows), I know that kinda defies the purpose of owning the car, but I know I am not going to be very comfortable driving this car after I've put this amount of time and effort into it. The TR6 I'd be embarassed to show to anyone in the state it's in now..but when I am done it's cosmetic restoration I'll polish it up and show it just for the fun of being there.

A few years ago I was at our annual British car day with the MGB LE that I've now sold. Being black it got really dusty entering the park(gravel entrance) so I dusting was it off and someone in a filthy B pulled in beside me and made a rather outta line comment about me cleaning up my car...If you don't feel the need to keep you car clean - fine, but leave those who do alone.

As for show advice; if you car has wire wheels try and clean them the best you can...I've seen some many cars in shows that are perfectly clean and look great expect for the wheels and it affects the entire look of the car.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am not going to be very comfortable driving this car after I've put this amount of time and effort into it.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's a good reason to not put that much time and effort into it! It would be a real shame to never experience the joy of driving full throttle down a dirt road, just like the cars were designed to do.

My TC placed 1st and 3rd in the two shows it's been in. The 3rd place show was the day after a 1,300 mile drive to get there. The next day I was driving a dirt mountain road and got the front end airborne. Owning a car like that and not driving it is the same as owning an incredible piece of artwork and hiding it in a closet.

If restoring the car to show standards will prevent you from driving it, then just put it together to be reliable and have fun! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I put my old Spitfire into a local show with rust, cracked dash and all. Great fun for me and no one had a bad thing to say. In fact I'd guess it got more attension from show go-ers than some perfect cars - more character maybe.
 
I certinaly plan on doing both. Shoot the next time I restore it I will improve on a lot of things.

Bugeyes are to enjoy and I plan on it. No rainy days though.

The further I get along with this build the more I learn about how I wish I had done it. Like powder coating. Gesh, wish I had had everything powder coated but none close here.
Next time maybe when I am 75 or so I will do it again.
 
Awright! In my estimation they're ~all~ drivers. Designed and built to be so. I can 'fuss' for hours over a piece of this-or-that to fit it, clean it, repair it, etc... but it's 'cause I wanna *drive* the car. Puttin' 'em on pillows or somethin' with a plinth seems a colossal effort for a too-small reward.

...but that's just me.
 
I think I have a good compromise, for around here at least. I belong to a driving club that uses car shows as a reason to get a caravan of LBC's on the road to the show. When we are on the grounds, we park where assigned and then gather our chairs in one area and have a fine time telling lies and admiring the other peoples cars. The drive home usually involves an early dinner somewhere and -in the summer- a top down drive home in mid-evening. No one cares about winning, though someone always seems to, it's the whole package that counts. Join a club of folks who want to use their cars as they were intended to be, and enjoy the people and places along the way. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Got a 3rd once at the Pittsburgh Vintage Gran Prix....

Showed up while it was raining, hopped out & ran under a tree.

Everyone else was covering their cars even after the hoods were up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Some guy asked if I was worried about it getting wet inside.
Think I said...."Well it's not gonna fill up if that's what you mean."

Anyway.....After the judging ended, it stopped raining and you wouldn't believe some of the cars that were hiding.
 
Another of the charms of frozen snot. "Self-bailing" with a few strategic holes and nothing to rust.
 
Jack, powder coating isn't the best for everything. If it might get scratched, I'd rather have paint. You can't touch-up powder coat. That's why there will be very little of it on my '65 when it's done.
 
[ QUOTE ]
"Self-bailing"

[/ QUOTE ] /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now if I could just find some windscreen sized tear-offs.

I could drive it in the rain. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Thanks for all the repsonses! I wasn't sure if displaying a driver (that looks like a driver) would be appreciated at a show or not. I really do enjoy seeing "show" cars myself and I'd like to have my car detailed to that level - or have another like it that was detailed to that level just for display. But I'm limited a one-car-does-it-all for now (accept for daily driving - that duty goes to my 15 year old Jeep Wrangler)

Thanks again!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am not going to be very comfortable driving this car after I've put this amount of time and effort into it.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's a good reason to not put that much time and effort into it! It would be a real shame to never experience the joy of driving full throttle down a dirt road, just like the cars were designed to do.

My TC placed 1st and 3rd in the two shows it's been in. The 3rd place show was the day after a 1,300 mile drive to get there. The next day I was driving a dirt mountain road and got the front end airborne. Owning a car like that and not driving it is the same as owning an incredible piece of artwork and hiding it in a closet.

If restoring the car to show standards will prevent you from driving it, then just put it together to be reliable and have fun! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

To late! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
I am really not someone who is solely about driving the cars, I've got cars that I drive the heck outta(TR6, XK8, 61 MGA)and some cars that I just like to appreciate, take them out occasionally. Maybe once I am retired and have some time on my hands I'll feel differently, but at this point I spend 5 days a week at work from leaving at 6am and coming home at 6pm....That leaves 2 days to recover from work, do house maintence, do all the family stuff, leaving little time for my hobbies(aside from cars I collect vintage furniture and artwork). Add to that the fact that we get about 4 months a year of good LBC driving time. And there isn't alot of time left over to do what I want with the cars(it's been 2 years since I've touched the B's and Camaro) and my list of car related repairs/improvements continues to grow faster than I can keep up.

During the summer when all the cars are out(and I have 4 weeks holidays) I usually end up feeling more like a full time mechanic than I do enjoy the cars. Hence the reason I frequently threaten to sell the whole lot of `em. But I know in 5 years once I can retire I'll regret letting them all go, so instead the fleet keeps increasing because I can never pass up a good deal(was just out looking at an 86 Camaro Iroc-Z).
 
Some shows won't appreciate less than perfect cars. Those also tend to be shows that either require an invitation to begin with or ones that you probably wouldn't be welcome at anyway (as in not for LBC's. Most LBC related or accepted car shows are 'run what ya brung'. Any condition, push pull or drag. Some are even starting to award 'bugs in the grill and on the windshield' as well as the road grime that Steve S. first mentioned.

Drive it, enjoy it and share it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Well, if you make it to So Cal, I'll take you for a real TC drive so the dirt gets on my car instead of yours. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

(click to enlarge)

In the dirt at Mount Hood.


Touring the back roads, beyond the pavement.


60 MPH on logging roads.


And still took 3rd place, because people appreciate a driver.
 
I've shown mine... ripped rotten seats, no carpet, faded paint, rusty wheels and all... twice! I paid the money to enter because some of it went to charity... and then enjoyed looking at and taking pictures of the cars and talking with their owners.
 
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