Car event opinions...?

[patrick66]

I like a variety of car events that involve either the Imperial or the Coronet. More and more, I enjoy events that involve driving as part of the event. I've got plenty of trophies over the past 40+years from racing, shows, and such, I certainly could care less about another plastic trophy or dash plaque.

So...what say you? You want to attend an event that may or may not be C-body centric, or even Mopar-centric. What is your first choice for a day of fun involving your Mopar? Above, you can pick up to three of your favorites from the choices listed. Just an informal poll to gather ideas from, thanks. It says "multiple votes allowed" but please vote just ONCE!

 

[1978 NYB]

I like a variety of car shows. Cruises, parking lots, car shows with optional race event if it is well run and safe.

 

[LocuMob]

I like car shows for their premium parking! But I love to drive my cars, and after going on the Cars at the Lake run this year, I want to do that even more now. Almost 300 miles in a day of cruising the countryside, and seeing new places that aren't that far out my back door was an awesome experience, and I recommend everyone take the opportunity to go on a car cruise. I hope to go drag racing in one of my cars someday, but I won't lose any sleep if I don't get to. As long as I can turn a key and drive somewhere, I'm good. And if I didn't go to, and support the car shows, then that's one step closer to not having them, and that's no good

 

[JC68vert300]

The car events I like to participate in are usually fund raisers for organizations like the Boy Scouts, Elks, American Legion, VFW, fire departments. I don't mind giving an entrance fee or buying 50/50 tickets if it goes to a good cause.

 

[cantflip]

I went for "other"...

I don't give a crap about events where idiots and burnouts are a hazard, likewise, I'm happy to leave the car open and would allow a clean child to sit in the seat... but see too many with ice cream hands and little to no supervision. I do not want your GF to take a selfie on the hood. I also hate to sit behind the car and guard it. That kills the local cruise scene...

Cars and Coffee sounds like fun, but too much late model stuff and I don't enjoy reciting the history of the car for every person who is looking for a friend.

I go to 2 Mopar events, and don't babysit the car while I'm there. I love driving them in the off hours, but traffic pisses me off. Gas station visits have been interesting, lots of folks like whichever one they see, some don't get it, and one old guy felt the need to back into the parts car.

 

[Fratzog]

Cruise nights and car shows are my preference. Mopar only shows like Moparfest in New Hamburg and Spring Fling in Mississauga are favourites. If admission is charged I want funds going to a worthwhile charity. I try to support the local cruise nights since I've gotten to know some of the participants quite well.

 

[Fratzog]

driving them in the off hours

Agreed and something I should have mentioned in my post above.

 

[Big_John]

I do a few car shows, but only those that I really enjoy. One of the largest car shows on the east coast is 10 miles away happens the weekend after Carlisle. I've never had a car there... I don't like hot pavement and crowds.

I do one or two events with a regional Mopar club and they usually involve touring the area in my old Mopar. Those are fun.

We have cruise nights every night during the week... I'm selective which ones I go to, but I always have a good time.

I love the "Cars and Coffee" type Saturday morning events. We had one that I regularly attended and they lost their venue last year. The new venue (Wegman's Parking lot) was good, lot's of cars (over 300) but with it being a 35-40 minute drive, it stopped being a regular deal for me. The guy running it decided it was too big (and no fun) for him and he started another one 3 weeks ago about 3 miles away from me in a local park. That one is getting a small, but growing turnout and I'm really enjoying that one.

And then there's Carlisle....

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I don't do much local stuff, except drive them like a regular car. I go to Carlisle because I'm close and some people wait years to go once. I go to the Nats because it is fairly close and it is big (although Roadkill nights is hurting attendance) they really need to step up the racing game. I go to Norwalk Oh again (track is just too good to pass up) it is more of a race weekend so not everyone's cup of tea. They have some nice cars in the show, but no effort put in if you are the trophy type.

 

[david hill]

Car shows and cruise nights among my favs to attend. Traveling to events is almost fun as the events themselves. The new venues combined with new friendships made adds to the car culture atmosphere. 90 degree days on hot asphalt not my favorite, but renewing old friendships and making new ones is. The reward is fellowship I have w/ car collectors.

 

[rapidtrans]

I prefer cruise ins at local restaurants stores etc.
Carlisle, Frankenmuth and St. Ignace shows are the few I’ll hang around all day.
I also tend to avoid “judged” car shows. One, I’m not sitting around all day and two, these shows are always full of critics who point out the flaws in everyone else's car and ***** when they don’t win “Best in Show”.
When they critic my car I just nod or laugh then quote one of my favorite movie lines. “Opinions vary.” Pisses them off.

 

[Wildaugust]

Yeah, I like just taking her out late evening on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, cruisin' the city streets and hitting the Drive-Thru. I don't see many other classics on those nights, but I like the light traffic. Weekend early mornings are good too.

Agreed and something I should have mentioned in my post above.

I also like going for a late night drive on a quiet highway, under the stars.

Cruise Nights, "Cars 'n' Coffee" for sure and the 40 or 50 mile point A to B thing could interest me too.

 

[LocuMob]

I also tend to avoid “judged” car shows. One, I’m not sitting around all day

Almost everything here is judged, unless it's a cruise in. But I never care about that, I just go and pay a bit more to park closer to the swap meet. I laughed when I got a plaque last year, only because there wasn't that many cars at the show. Trophy by default.

 

[HWYCRZR]

I am most interested in the drive. I like driving events where you have a few stops, just to try new roads. I don’t mind cruise nights if I know someone there.

 

[monaco75]

I used to enjoy the local cruise inns up north in MI. There was a couple shows to hit every week of the summer. Bakers in Milford was a good one every Sunday. Down here in FL I have no interest in it, or maybe just in general no interest in it anymore. You’d have to deal with the public then!! Yuck!! LOL

Usually only do one show a year. The Ocala Mopar show (speaking of which @70bigblockdodge you still coming this year??) and if I’m really lucky Carlisle.

I enjoy just driving em mostly now a days. I like to do both when at a show though.. Like hanging out, and BS’ing by the car, as well as walking around and seeing everyone.

 

[patrick66]

Far as car shows go, I prefer judged shows. Cleanliness and detail, versus "numbers-matching factory air in the tires"-type of craziness. I don't like judging as a participant. In fact, in those kind of shows, I don't judge at all, usually.

Long drives are now my favorite events. For our latest Mopar club event, we had a 138-mile cruise. We had a couple of folks that complained because we were not having the usual six-hour car show. They had Hemi B-bodies that they roll on and off trailers. Cool, go to the shows where rolling on and off of an enclosed trailer is a thing. We wanted to try something different, and different was a rousing success! So some people feel excluded. Can't make everyone happy! My reply to those folks is: You try putting on a show for 35 years! Considering about eight of our members even put in an effort to operate the show, it was time for a welcome change...needless to say, the two Hemi trailer queens didn't participate this year!

In Tulsa, they have an all-Mopar show, swap and race every October. Awesome time! Same thing at Bandimere Speedway in Denver. In Dallas, they have an all-Mopar judged show that brings out the trailered crowd. Different, and a nice show. Same in Fort Worth, Wichita, and Kansas City. Something different for everyone. If we all had the same kind of show, i'd probably pick one and done.

I like different.

 

[LocuMob]

No matter what event, I get to drive. I drive two plus hours to the big Mopar show in Stillwater, and I've driven six hours to go to the Volo event. I love getting out and getting out beyond my comfort zone. It ends up moving my comfort zone hundreds of miles past where it was. I used to stick close to home and worry, now I head out and don't care, I worry about the wind in the cabin, and hope the sun's not directly in my eyes.

I still will do the car show deal, but even that's evolved for me. I used to go and see all the cars and take photos of everything. Now I know so many people and have to meet up with different groups, I don't see even 30% of the cars. I didn't see the swap meet this past year. But I'll keep going because there's so much to see or buy, ideas for a build in the future, or verifying options for certain years. It's all in what you want to take out of it. But I'm driving to wherever I go, so just setting out for a car show means it'll be a good day, no matter what I do once I'm there. And the people I've met makes it all that much better, it's like family to me.

 

[patrick66]

I appreciate the responses and the votes! The votes for driving events were a pleasant surprise. Didn't figure I'd see anything for a racing event...not many "C"s on tracks! Cruises and C-n-C type of events were represented well.

 

[jct]

I leave after I get my car gets judged and get my free food

 

[bluefury361]

the best part of any car show, for me, is the drive there and back. A good swap meat is a big plus. I'd rather dig through dusty boxes then sit and babysit a car.

One thing that drives me crazy are folks who immediately open the hood, doors, trunk lid etc. This really spoils the lines of a car. Not good for photos either. (how many folks look at the back of their refrigerator)? The primary draw at a car show is the style and design of the cars. If it was up to the designers there would be no hood, doors or trunk lids to spoil the flow of their design. I will gladly open a body panel for anyone who is interested enough to ask, but it gets closed back right away. I enjoy a nice tidy engine compartment but not enough to sacrifice the appearance of the design. I don't get to excited about spare tires and jacks either.

Another thing. I will always give credit to the guy who attends a show with a not so pristine car. Paint chips, minor rust, slight body damage and wear patterns are character marks. It should not make the owner less proud.
Anyone who leaves their collector car home in the garage, drives a modern car to the show and walks around picking the cars in attendance apart is a ....... You fill in the blank. Not really a car guy.