Show Season

[galeaiii]

I don't know if this would be considered a rant or what, but take this as you may. Years ago I was at my first ever Monte Nationals. My car was completely stock with a fresh paint job and I was very excited to be there. I was young and looking for some inspiration and to make some new contacts. Many of the people that I met were very receptive and helpfull with all of my questions, except one guy in peticular. He had a very nice G-Body SS Monte. I complimented him on the clean install of his big block and had many questions for him because at that time I too had plans of putting a big block in my car. The guy basically insulted me and made me feel like I was about an inch tall. I'm not going into who he was or what he did and said because that doesn't matter. At that time he totally took away all of my excitement I had. Part of me didn't ever want to go to another show again, but I instead went the other way (glad I did). When I got home I was mad!! I took my car completely apart, every single thing that could come off of it did. I was extremely motivated now (insert the 6 million dollar man theme song). Fast foward 10 years later my car was on the road again and I was on my way to my next Nationals, my car and myself with an attitude. To my dismay not too many people even gave my car the time of day. Everyone was interested in the stock restored cars. I almost became disgruntled again but the light bulb went off, I didn't really build my car for them I built it for me! I'm not going to lie I was a little upset I didn't win any awards, but I remembered why I was there to show off my car, get ideas & meet new people.
All of that being said the moral of the story is....
Please, please remember why we are all there, be kind and courteous to guys and gals with questions, don't downgrade them because your car is way better than theirs. They are this hobby's future and you just may push them away.

 

[86 Grand prix]

Shows can be great fun or really bad. For some reason around here a really nice custom that has tons of hours and sweat in it usually gets beaten out by a brand new Corvette or Mustang that just got bought and has absolutely no mods at all. It makes me sick to see the guys walk up so proud that they bought a car that won a trophy.

 

[DRIVEN]

Shows are just a slice of life. Some people are great and some, not so great. If you are just bringing out your car for the awards then maybe you need to rethink your strategy. You really can't please everyone -- and why should you try? Like it was said earlier, I go for the motivation too. Over the years I've met a lot of great people, asked a few "silly" questions, and even brought home a couple awards on the process. I've also been turned away at the gate for having the "wrong" car, had to drag a guy out of MY car's driver's seat, and been told my car is a POS. Like I said -- just a slice of life. :lol: :?

 

[tc1959]

I always get a chuckle from some of the comments people make at car shows. This is the one we get the most. "I used to have one just like it, Except it was" ______________ (fill in the blank).
Or, Is that one of those El Rancho's. I really like the guys that walk up and try to look like a car expert to their girlfriend. They usually have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[online170]

I always get a chuckle from some of the comments people make at car shows. This is the one we get the most. "I used to have one just like it, Except it was" ______________ (fill in the blank).
Or, Is that one of those El Rancho's. I really like the guys that walk up and try to look like a car expert to their girlfriend. They usually have no idea what they are talking about.

Shows are just a slice of life. Some people are great and some, not so great. If you are just bringing out your car for the awards then maybe you need to rethink your strategy. You really can't please everyone -- and why should you try? Like it was said earlier, I go for the motivation too. Over the years I've met a lot of great people, asked a few "silly" questions, and even brought home a couple awards on the process. I've also been turned away at the gate for having the "wrong" car, had to drag a guy out of MY car's driver's seat, and been told my car is a POS. Like I said -- just a slice of life. :lol: :?

Lol. Spot on!

 

[86 Grand prix]

You think that is funny. I also collect hit&miss engines and you should hear the dads walk up at the old farm shows with their kids and explain the hit&miss process. We just smile and nod.

I'm not there for the trophies, most times I carry my 1901 Olds replica just to get it out and ride it some. And watch the kids use it like jungle gym.................

 

[hurst1979olds]

I dont really show my car that much. But I do load videos on youtube from time to time which is like a car show of sorts. But I monitor my comments on youtube. People are *ssh*les and never have anything nice to say, they will critique everything. Why do you still have 14" rims, why didnt you just build a big block, why didnt you keep in carbureted, you know the car is suppose to be white and gold and not just gold, I have a 355 that will bust that junk, etc. But then you check out their videos and they A: dont have a car or B: its a rotted out Fox Body with a chrome air intake. I build my car for me and me only. I always look others people car with respect and the quality of the workmanship.

 

[DRIVEN]

I always get a chuckle from some of the comments people make at car shows. This is the one we get the most. "I used to have one just like it, Except it was" ______________ (fill in the blank).
Or, Is that one of those El Rancho's. I really like the guys that walk up and try to look like a car expert to their girlfriend. They usually have no idea what they are talking about.

:lol: :lol:
It's the moments like those that make any negative seem unimportant.
A couple of mu favorites:
-A couple of guys pondering the rarity of the belt-driven turbo on my dad's El Camino. It was just a Paxton supercharger.
-Having a drunk hillbilly tell me I wasted my time putting a Mustang II front suspension under my '36 Chevy. I told him it was a Toyota pickup frame. He stuck his other foot in by telling me that's even worse to put a Mustang II under a Toyota frame. Again, I told him it's just stock Toyota and pointed out the torsion bars.
"So you wasted even more effort by putting torsion bars on a Mustang II ?"
I just said, "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
He shook his head and walked away. I giggled a little.

 

[L92 OLDS]

I dont really show my car that much. But I do load videos on youtube from time to time which is like a car show of sorts. But I monitor my comments on youtube. People are *ssh*les and never have anything nice to say, they will critique everything. Why do you still have 14" rims, why didnt you just build a big block,......

LOL...A comment like that goes to show they don't know jack about Olds motors and the potential of a DX SBO build.

 

[81cutlass]

I havnt brought mine to many shows (like 3 maybe) but people look at it weird. Most people didn't realize Buick ever did the carb turbo setup so they think its absolutely the weirdest thing ever. Have had an eclipse person tell my to intercool it and when I said you cant he got all defensive but then I talked about fuel sheer and fuel dropping out of the mixture he kinda just walked away.

If it sucks I keep my words to my self. Im sure people think mine sucks but I dont care. If your a real car-person you dont care what other people think. You do it for yourself. Ive heard people say that G bodies are the stupidest cars ever and you should just buy a 68 chevelle but they drive Ford Tauruses so their words dont mean much. Most people talk and dont do anything.

Not to mention my car sits in a garage when its snowing but its usually the first car out in the spring and the last one put away and gets driven in the rain so the person with the 69 Camaro with a SBC that gets 500 miles on a year doesnt mean much to me.