I would walk right past that truck that won to go look at your Blazer.
Martin
Martin
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
So...I entered my first Car Show
- Thread starter Chief Brody
- Start date
Agreed, the trailer queens usually win, but independent builds are more impressive to me. The guy that has restored a very nice 53 Chrysler Imperial impresses me more than the guy that has a car that you can buy every part out of a book..(like Corvettes, Mustangs and Camaros amongst many others)
Chief your truck is awesome. YOU know it is!
the level of craftsmanship at shows has grown immensely over the last 15-20 years.
Keep going to the shows to hang out with other gearheads and enjoy the show, the people and the food...and the thought of helping out a fundraiser!
One of my best memories was a 5 yr old boy that came walking by with his mother...he leaned in to look over the fender at the engine and his mom told him not to touch the car....I was sitting at the back bumper just watching...the boy was looking it over and looked in the door window, so I asked him if he'd like to sit in it. He looked at his mom like "is it ok Mom?" She asked me are you sure? I said yeah lets get him behind the wheel....He climbed in carefully and sat in the drivers seat, I closed the door and he grabbed the wheel to pull himself up to look out over the front end...I closed the hood and he got a huge smile as he looked at his Mom.
That was my BEST experience ever at a car show, and I'm pretty sure he's a motorhead now.
Chief your truck is awesome. YOU know it is!
the level of craftsmanship at shows has grown immensely over the last 15-20 years.
Keep going to the shows to hang out with other gearheads and enjoy the show, the people and the food...and the thought of helping out a fundraiser!
One of my best memories was a 5 yr old boy that came walking by with his mother...he leaned in to look over the fender at the engine and his mom told him not to touch the car....I was sitting at the back bumper just watching...the boy was looking it over and looked in the door window, so I asked him if he'd like to sit in it. He looked at his mom like "is it ok Mom?" She asked me are you sure? I said yeah lets get him behind the wheel....He climbed in carefully and sat in the drivers seat, I closed the door and he grabbed the wheel to pull himself up to look out over the front end...I closed the hood and he got a huge smile as he looked at his Mom.
That was my BEST experience ever at a car show, and I'm pretty sure he's a motorhead now.
one thing I learned when I went is, there is ton's of "good ole boy" politics going on with judging.... who gave who a reach-a-round lately kinda stuff...
I'll enter Mutt for the other reasons, the cool fans, turning people on to something different, etc and not worry about trophies..
I'll enter Mutt for the other reasons, the cool fans, turning people on to something different, etc and not worry about trophies..
Last edited:
I took my K5 to a children's hospital benefit car show one year. My mom has a frame off resto 69 Camaro, so I tagged along.
For those of you that missed my k5, it was a trail rig, as in
.
Dents, dings, leaks and all. Not well received by the "establishment".
But i spent all day picking up little kids to sit in it. Worth every minute to those kids
For those of you that missed my k5, it was a trail rig, as in
.Dents, dings, leaks and all. Not well received by the "establishment".
But i spent all day picking up little kids to sit in it. Worth every minute to those kids
I used to bring my vehicles to a local cruise night,held at an ice cream/burger joint...it attracted all kinds of cars & trucks and home brewed vehicles in various states of repair--some "complete restorations" to grandpa's 50 Chevy that still ran and drove,with its original patina,and hot rods in black primer with not so expertly done body work...it was all about getting to see others ideas and skills displayed..
I often drove my '69 GTO or '72 K5 there,and they let me put them in the display area,despite not being "nice" in many respects..
Eventually cars started showing up that had trailer queen status (but were driven there)..they didn't have any trophys or competition for "best this or that"handed out,but it was evident as the vehicles with thousands invested started showing up,the crowds soon flocked to all the "perfect" vehicles and for the most part any "in progress" restorations were taken for granted or even criticized...there was a snob factor among the trailer queen crowd,towards anyone who had a "ratty" old muscle car or hot rod..that took a lot of the fun out of going..
Sometimes though,a vehicle like I had would attract a lot of attention,despite being what some of the show participants considered "hack" or not worthy of being displayed..
I recall one night when I brought my '72 Chevelle Nomad wagon (454 & TH350) that was on a 4x4 Suburban chassis to the cruise night,a cop parked next to me displaying a Corvette was very miffed my "backyard abortion" was getting more attention than his shiny perfect Vette was,and he started grilling me ,asking "how the hell did you get a sticker on that thing--its a truck,but you have car plates on it too!.
I told him the Suburban it was mated too is considered a station wagon in MA too,so no,it was NOT a "truck"...not wanting a confrontation,I just walked away and started speaking to the many people staring under the hood and car,that had many questions about it..
He even complained to the management that it should not be allowed inside the display area...they just said "sorry--everyone here is welcome "...he was unhappy about their "rules" and ended up moving his car to another empty spot across the field from mine..he didn't show up after that--I only went a few more times,after it got too crowded the place lost its charm and it became a hassle instead of a enjoyable time..they played LOUD oldies rock & roll too,which made talking to anyone about their vehicle frustrating too,I'd often go home with a splitting headache..
I like the '64 Chevy pickup,but your K5 should have won best of show IMO--,and that Suburban,and the red Stepside,are pretty cool...there are so many Camaro's and Chevelle's,Mustangs, at car shows and cruise nights now,its gotten almost "boring" to see so many of them...I like the rarer and more unusual vehicles or ones that have been modified with different drive trains more than the "purists" section ..
Here is what my wagon looked like..
I often drove my '69 GTO or '72 K5 there,and they let me put them in the display area,despite not being "nice" in many respects..
Eventually cars started showing up that had trailer queen status (but were driven there)..they didn't have any trophys or competition for "best this or that"handed out,but it was evident as the vehicles with thousands invested started showing up,the crowds soon flocked to all the "perfect" vehicles and for the most part any "in progress" restorations were taken for granted or even criticized...there was a snob factor among the trailer queen crowd,towards anyone who had a "ratty" old muscle car or hot rod..that took a lot of the fun out of going..
Sometimes though,a vehicle like I had would attract a lot of attention,despite being what some of the show participants considered "hack" or not worthy of being displayed..
I recall one night when I brought my '72 Chevelle Nomad wagon (454 & TH350) that was on a 4x4 Suburban chassis to the cruise night,a cop parked next to me displaying a Corvette was very miffed my "backyard abortion" was getting more attention than his shiny perfect Vette was,and he started grilling me ,asking "how the hell did you get a sticker on that thing--its a truck,but you have car plates on it too!.
I told him the Suburban it was mated too is considered a station wagon in MA too,so no,it was NOT a "truck"...not wanting a confrontation,I just walked away and started speaking to the many people staring under the hood and car,that had many questions about it..
He even complained to the management that it should not be allowed inside the display area...they just said "sorry--everyone here is welcome "...he was unhappy about their "rules" and ended up moving his car to another empty spot across the field from mine..he didn't show up after that--I only went a few more times,after it got too crowded the place lost its charm and it became a hassle instead of a enjoyable time..they played LOUD oldies rock & roll too,which made talking to anyone about their vehicle frustrating too,I'd often go home with a splitting headache..
I like the '64 Chevy pickup,but your K5 should have won best of show IMO--,and that Suburban,and the red Stepside,are pretty cool...there are so many Camaro's and Chevelle's,Mustangs, at car shows and cruise nights now,its gotten almost "boring" to see so many of them...I like the rarer and more unusual vehicles or ones that have been modified with different drive trains more than the "purists" section ..
Here is what my wagon looked like..
I think that my thought process has been wrong...in thinking that to win something was a validation of all the effort put into it, when in reality the validation is came when the old salts came up and grunted their approval and when the younger guy with his family came up and started jumping up and down saying "I told you! I told you! Now it all makes since...this is the JAWS truck,,,we couldn't figure out why the Massachusetts license plate...that is awesome!
I also found out that car clubs come to these shows and vote for their own members and friends. For example, the Corvette Club brings out all 200 of their members and they vote for their members in the number one spot, and if a member also enters a truck they all vote for that one. It not necessarily devious or underhanded, it's just the power of clubs....
I do think that car show competitions could do a better job of laying out their "classes". That way you get grouped with vehicles at the same level and category. And for the record, I hate trophies...I think they are ugly..but I like a nice looking plaque or framed certificate.
Also I think the next time, I am going to put the bigger wheels on with the dog dish caps...I just thought that the skinny tires with full hubcaps would appeal to the classic guys.
I also found out that car clubs come to these shows and vote for their own members and friends. For example, the Corvette Club brings out all 200 of their members and they vote for their members in the number one spot, and if a member also enters a truck they all vote for that one. It not necessarily devious or underhanded, it's just the power of clubs....
I do think that car show competitions could do a better job of laying out their "classes". That way you get grouped with vehicles at the same level and category. And for the record, I hate trophies...I think they are ugly..but I like a nice looking plaque or framed certificate.
Also I think the next time, I am going to put the bigger wheels on with the dog dish caps...I just thought that the skinny tires with full hubcaps would appeal to the classic guys.
The stock rims was a good idea. People at car shows like that kind of thing. I go to the Jackson Barrett show most every year here in Vegas, and over the last few years I have been seeing more and more square body chevy trucks at the show. A 90% restored truck like yours is going for around $40,000 (plus or minus).
Is there any vinyl cut lettering or anything like that that is temporary and easily removed? I am thinking about going full-on JAWS blazer just once...including door decals and lightbar...just once...I guess trying the novelty angle. But if I did, I want the letters to peel off very easily at the end of the day. I don't want to use a magnetic sign.
I actually got asked to leave a car show once.
Bunch of high dollar pro builds had shown up. Like 150k builds. All of em beautiful cars.
Well me and three buddies showed up in our wheelers. All beat to death but still cool like yours. We parked on each other's tires and soon the crowd started gathering. We were lifting little kids into the rigs alot letting people crawl under them look at em talking to guys etc.
Well these high dollar guys roped their cars off with no touching signs about every 5 inches. Set up a shade tent that was roped off behind the cars so no one could even talk to them.
They complained to the organizers. Organizers said we don't care. Someone had even called the news cause of us. The organizers were stoked we were there.
Well this whole high dollar crew saunters on over and proceeds to tell us our trucks aren't worthy of being in a show. That we should leave and let people look at professionally built cars.
We just started laughing. The small crowd booed them. It was funny. Our three rigs won first second and third in the people's choice.
Every single kid got to sit in our trucks and pretend it was theirs for a bit. We actually had to stay after the show ended cause so many kids wanted to see our trucks.
Not sure mine was ever "cool like yours" though
Bright orange attracts attention.
Also 2 Chevy's pulling up on a 4 runner buggy things cage attracts plenty of attention.
Horton was all tubed out and my buddies Blazer was very similar. The runner was mostly tube too.
So a bright orange Chevy on 42s yah it kind of attracts attention
Also 2 Chevy's pulling up on a 4 runner buggy things cage attracts plenty of attention.
Horton was all tubed out and my buddies Blazer was very similar. The runner was mostly tube too.
So a bright orange Chevy on 42s yah it kind of attracts attention
Here's some pics from the car show I was at on Saturday. Autofair out at the speedway.
My summers are nothing but car shows. We have a 1952 Dodge Coronet. It's got a little rust, most of the paint is still original. At every show I'm asked "are you going to repaint it?" Some people get it & some people don't. Go for the atmosphere, talking to like minded people, and meeting new friends. Don't worry about the trophies. My 1st show was an all Mopar show, I won 3rd place for best stock Antique class. Just last fall I won 2nd place in "Best junker" at a show held at my old high school. Those are the only 2 trophies I've won
I used to take my '12 Camaro to a few local shows with the other 5th gen guys. Some shows welcomed modern muscle and others wanted us to leave. Honestly most of us were stock or slight mods and we didn't expect to win anything. We went to get together, have fun, and see all the other cars. It was funny though some people just straight up hated us because we had the luxury of affording a new car. We weren't trying to throw it in anyone's faces but by putting our cars in the shows some people thought that. The irony is that most of the restored classic muscle cars now cost as much as a new one. 
I went to a show where the 5th gen guys were meeting up before and diving in together so we could all park together. Well, I was late and so they put me as the first car in the line. And this was one of the shows they hated us
I went to a show where the 5th gen guys were meeting up before and diving in together so we could all park together. Well, I was late and so they put me as the first car in the line. And this was one of the shows they hated us
The fact that you closed the hood is AWESOME!!!
That kid was probably just happy to be sitting in there at all..... Letting him look out the windshield across that hood and IMAGINE himself actually driving that car probably "set the hook" with him for life!!
Class act Zim. Well done.
-G
I used to take my '12 Camaro to a few local shows with the other 5th gen guys. Some shows welcomed modern muscle and others wanted us to leave. Honestly most of us were stock or slight mods and we didn't expect to win anything. We went to get together, have fun, and see all the other cars. It was funny though some people just straight up hated us because we had the luxury of affording a new car. We weren't trying to throw it in anyone's faces but by putting our cars in the shows some people thought that. The irony is that most of the restored classic muscle cars now cost as much as a new one.
I went to a show where the 5th gen guys were meeting up before and diving in together so we could all park together. Well, I was late and so they put me as the first car in the line. And this was one of the shows they hated us
View attachment 202408
Hey, I was there!
me and you know who @sponsoredbydad
felt pretty good knowing we were the only ones that USE our trucks
450 chevy trucks only, whole background was full
felt pretty good knowing we were the only ones that USE our trucks
450 chevy trucks only, whole background was full
Last edited:
