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So...I entered my first Car Show

I've always loved car shows. Been going to them since I was kid riding in my Dad's 57 Chevy hardtop. Back then, as a kid I was hung up on going home with a trophy of some type. Dad's car is mint, as a unrestored original dual quad 57 Chevy it was and still is nearly as perfect as an unrestored car can be. But compared to complete full restorations, even 20-30 years ago it wasn't as up to date or slick. Then I was wiping the car down at a little local show at a parts store our club wanted to support and had a guy showing his kid our 57 and asking a bunch of questions. He saw me cleaning it and asked if I could show him where the fuel fill was since it's hidden in the fin. He asked who my Dad was and how long he had the car. This was after telling me he remembered a car a lot like this one that back in the day whopping up on his brothers 58 Impala with a 348. I told him who my Dad was and that he's owned the car since the summer of 58 and grew up in the Cherry Creek area of Denver. That's when his face changed all expression. His jaw dropped. THIS is the car! He flipped out and had to find a payphone (this was in the 80's keep in mind) so he could call his brother and tell him he found the car that beat him and it's still owned by the same guy. That flipped something in my mind that very day as a kid. I always thought the shows were cool, but the need to bring home some tacky plastic gold trophy went away. Hanging out, listening to the stories of my Dad and all the older guys from back in the day was the treasure. Seeing sweet rides of all types and appreciating what it took to get them there turned into the fun part. If we actually drove out with some hardware it was a bonus.

Still, I've witnessed some of the biggest friggen crybaby grown men at shows too. Guys that feel they are due a trophy based on dollars spent. Trailer queen show only rides that more often than not they paid somebody else to build for them. We beat one of those guys with my Dad's 57 at a Super Chevy Show when I was in high school. Now Super Chevy is not the full blown 1000 point concourse judging at Pebble Beach, but two guys that have over 100 cars to look at in an afternoon in 100 degree heat with no shade. Needless to say judging is quick. Two laps around the car, check some boxes and move on to the next one. We managed to beat a car that we were told he spent $40,000 on (early 90's money) and the dude flipped out. In the middle of the awards presentation no less. All over a $20 plaque and a Super Chevy Jacket. It was insane.

Fast forward, Dad's in his 70's now and just don't get around like he used to. Putting a car in a show is more necessity so we can park in the show and save some strain on his joints. We still have fun. Plus he got a Cruzin cooler he can scoot around on at the show and turn just as many heads. We did get it wrapped with 57 Chevy trim as a nod to his Hardtop.

Bottom Line, car shows are what you want to make of them. You are going to have the clubs sweeping in to stack the peoples choice voting. The full tilt super show cars that look down there noses at anything less than trailered perfection. Lowriders, muscle car guys, street rodders, rat rods, VW guys, Vette guys and others will each do different things. Don't take it seriously and take in some tips or tricks on other's builds. Have fun. People like what they like.
 
There were some local guys that had early 60s darts. Yah early 60s not the cool ones.

My first car was a 63 dart. I love em. Saw them at 3 or 4 shows stopped for a while just talking. Next year went to the first local show. Found my dart buddies. They had set up extra chairs for me and Bailey. We sat and just relaxed in the shade for a bit.

They basically said us early dart guys gotta stick together lol.

So many people passed those three cars up. The restoration and modifications they had done were just awesome. And hardly anyone got to see em
 
I wish I were more of a people person...I am sure I appear to be stand-offish to most even though I don't mean to be...it's just my nature. I have to work at being social..so maybe this whole thing isn't really for me anyway.
 
Awesome that you did well and enjoyed it. Just remember, YOU built this, in your yard and under a makeshift paint booth, with help from people you have never met or will probably ever meet, all while starting with basic knowledge and learning the hard way from day one till now. Them guys who win those things box those cars up, and pay others to do all the work, then box them back up and ship them around to win some trophy. Your truck fortunately has an incredible story, and one that can be watched from the first rusty patch welded in till the final drop of pretty much show quality paint dried. Now thats even more awesome than some rich dork who parades around a winning car but couldnt tell you a thing about it other than whats on the sheet sticking in the window.
 
454Sub said:
Awesome that you did well and enjoyed it. Just remember, YOU built this, in your yard and under a makeshift paint booth, with help from people you have never met or will probably ever meet, all while starting with basic knowledge and learning the hard way from day one till now. Them guys who win those things box those cars up, and pay others to do all the work, then box them back up and ship them around to win some trophy. Your truck fortunately has an incredible story, and one that can be watched from the first rusty patch welded in till the final drop of pretty much show quality paint dried. Now thats even more awesome than some rich dork who parades around a winning car but couldnt tell you a thing about it other than whats on the sheet sticking in the window.
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you lifted my spirits with this...it really is a very unique story
 
It's hard to be introverted if you have a sweet ride. Like K85 said it might be the best thing for your social skills. Funny story, the owner of the dealership I work at did something that shocked all of us. Mainly because despite the business he owns, he isn't what any of us consider a "car guy". Back to what shocked us. He bought a 59 Apache pickup in need of restoration at an estate sale. He then told me we were going to restore it. This is the same guy that told me I was nuts for sitting at a car show all day. Long story short, we kill ourselves hammering out a full frame off restoration in our service and body shops. The finished product was amazing. He planned on taking it to use in his son's wedding and had to drive it 80 miles into the mountains to the ceremony. I warned him that he better not be shy as he's going to get A LOT of attention on the road, at gas stations and anyplace else he stopped. As expected when he returned he told me about all the thumbs up on the road, gas station stops that took forever and people stopping and commenting on the truck where ever he was it with it. I don't think he really believed me until he got back from the wedding. He's still not a "car guy" yet, but he understands the culture better.

Nobody can take away the fact you built it Chief. Share the story. Show it off. Have fun.
 
Absolutely, and you did something so few of us manage to do...you started a big project, and then the crazy set in. You finished it. :screwy:

It may not show here at CK5 but I'm pretty introverted. I have always had to work at being social. I look forward to getting my 57 Pontiac into DD condition and hitting up a few shows.
 
It's ironic...it is the introversion that allowed me to finish this...so the crazy did help.
 
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