My first Car Show

noblec5 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 11:07 AM

Went to my first Car show last nite and thought I would post some of my observations.

This event was put on by a local fire dept to raise money for MS, and is a annual show. I've been seeing the ads for this for over a month, and in the ads it specificaly says "arrive together, park together", "no holding spots". Well, people were holding spots, and making the others have to circle around and around to find a spot.

After 10 minutes or so, I find a spot between two new mustangs. They had put their fold-up chairs between them and were obviously "holding a spot" for one of their friends. So, i asked if I can park there. They pretended not to hear me, so I took that as a Yes and started to back into the spot, which they promptly moved. After I shut the cobra down, i noticed that they were boring holes thru my head with there stares, so i jumped out and went up to them and thanked them for holding a spot "just for us ford guys" and then made some random comment about the weather as I was getting out my chair.

Anyway, I noticed people reaching up in the fender wells with their finger's. Which, I guess, is the universal way to tell if its fiberglass or not. After about a dozen or so times, two guys walk up chattin away to each other, and one fella reaches up in the well and starts scratchin his finger!! He stops, and I say, "you know..there is a easier way to tell if it's glass or not" the guy looks at me and says " really? how?" I say, "you could have asked"

Not a single kid touched the car

Another funny thing is listening to people talk about your car when your just 3 feet away.

One guy told me what a nice "big Block" I had. I said thanks and asked him how he could tell that I had a BB? He said he could tell by my valve cover's.

I have a 351W with normal valve cover's.

One guy was asking his friend what kind of engine I had. The friend promptly pointed at something on my engine and said "see that" "its a "427 Side Oiler"

Last One: A father and son walk up, and the kid is just loving the car, and asking his dad all kinds of questions. The kid noticed the reverse speedo and asks his dad why wasn't the tach reverse as well? The dad looks in at the gauges and tells his boy "well, on the original cobra's, all the gauges went in reverse because they came from England" So, i asked if that included the AMP and Oil pressure gauges as well? I couldn't tell if he heard me or not

Had a great time, and will do it again at my next chance

Chris

RedBarchetta · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noblec5

..I noticed people reaching up in the fender wells with their finger's...

Chris, you have considerably more patience than the average guy. With my car those people would have been dressed down so fast they wouldn't have known what hit them. Most people at shows are considerate and respectful, but every now and then you get a few that do stupid things.

-Dean

BDR298 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 12:24 PM

I was at a show standing near the car with my wife and a guy walks up with his friend and says 'Nice to see a real Cobra here with all the kits' I replied no it isn't . He gets real huffy and say 'well how the he** do yo know that ?' I replied 'I own it and it is a Backdraft' He turned and quickly walked away. I have had both real positive and real negative comments. Who cares I drive it they don't. Lots of kids tell me they pick the Cobra as thier car in some xBox game. I let a lot of them sit in it and have their picture taken.

CBattaglia · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Chris, you have considerably more patience than the average guy. With my car those people would have been dressed down so fast they wouldn't have known what hit them. Most people at shows are considerate and respectful, but every now and then you get a few that do stupid things.

-Dean

Agreed !! Its no more appropriate than if you reached up his wifes skirt felt around. "Hey buddy this thing got panties?"

Time to get one of them DO NOT TOUCH signs.

Snakebit · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 01:58 PM

Took mine to a local show last night about 120 cars. Received a lot of nice comments. People were very respectful, no touching. Really snowed them with the Webers. One guy commented " that's the only Ford I'd let park in my driveway".

What I don't get is the guys with the new Corvettes, Chargers, and Mustangs that are bone stock, except for the red Brembo brake calipers, sitting next to a nice 32 Ford. Hell, If I want to see those cars I can visit any show room! I had a guy park behind me with a new Corvette and didn't even raise the hood and the guys who showed up late had to park in the next row next to the spectators. What's the point???

CBattaglia, that's a great response. If you see some one reaching under the fender, ask him if he is checking for panties or a set of balls!

RedBarchetta · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakebit

Really snowed them with the Webers.

I have no doubt. Car looks great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakebit

What I don't get is the guys with the new Corvettes, Chargers, and Mustangs that are bone stock, except for the red Brembo brake calipers, sitting next to a nice 32 Ford. Hell, If I want to see those cars I can visit any show room! I had a guy park behind me with a new Corvette and didn't even raise the hood and the guys who showed up late had to park in the next row next to the spectators. What's the point???

Welcome to what C&C in Irvine has slowly become.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakebit

If you see some one reaching under the fender, ask him if he is checking for panties or a set of balls!

I gotta remember that one. Embarrasses them all to hell without coming off as a total azz.

Xavier · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 05:12 PM

Yeah, I heard many time about the reaching up the fender deal, but man - I would not know what I would do if someone did that, no one has done it.... yet. What a stupid thing to do.

I share the comment about the big block though, very few poeple comment about the SB versus FE, or should I say - they just don't know. Most poeple really love it, are very nice, the skate boarders and the guys with the dangling key chains are the biggest concerns at the show, amongst unparented kids. Other than that, they are great ways to meet some people who share the same pasion we do.

I find that the smaller shows are better than the bigger ones - the more "regular joe's" you get, the more family involvement, the better the shows are, the more "traditional" hot rods are there, the more kit cars are frowned down upon, the less activity there is. The small rinky-dink hole-in-the-wall mom and pop restaurant shows, is a hell of a lot better than the garage Queen, huge, multi-sponsered event. That's my opinon anyhow...I have won a lot of awards thus far, but I would take an un-judged event having a good time than a big show any day of the week.

Local cruise nights are the best...nothing like have a Cobra mixed in with the low riders...everyone respects their cars and yours and everyone is different.

RodKnock · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noblec5

Last One: A father and son walk up, and the kid is just loving the car, and asking his dad all kinds of questions. The kid noticed the reverse speedo and asks his dad why wasn't the tach reverse as well? The dad looks in at the gauges and tells his boy "well, on the original cobra's, all the gauges went in reverse because they came from England" So, i asked if that included the AMP and Oil pressure gauges as well? I couldn't tell if he heard me or not

Chris

Well, they do drive on the left hand side of the road over there in England.

People used to feel up inside the fenders on my mid-year Vette, but that was to check to see if the original bonding strips were still there. What's up with "feeling up" everyone's fenders?

You showed tremendous restraint. Do you see all those little smiley faces off to the right when you post a response on a thread? That's the kind of looks I would have given those people.

Now, I'm wondering who will be the first person who feels underneath my Kirkham's fenders to see if my car is fiberglass?

I'll immediately hand them the "Most Stupid" award.

For some reason, people enjoy touching or want to touch your car. I don't get it. Just leave the car alone. IT'S NOT YOURS!

jwd · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 06:21 PM

I think you guys are wound way too tight. I've been showing cars for 35+ years with no problems. If you don't want to hear lame azz comments or have a fit when somebody gets too close to your car, leave it in the garage and quit your whining. Maybe the people in the Pacific Northwest are nicer/more respectful than the rest of the country.

Jim

jerry w · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 06:30 PM

I agree with Xavier, I go to local shows that are raising money for charities, and cruise-in nights sponsored by mom & pop restaurants. I do not need to waste a day hoping for a trophy that is ultimately awarded to the guy who spent the most money, I would rather be driving.

Regards

bobcowan · #11 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 07:29 PM

I go to car shows whenever I'm in the mood. People touch the car, but I'v not noticed anybody feeling under the fender. I let kids sit in it to get their pictures taken. They think it's really cool when I put the shoulder straps on them.

At the end of the day, the car needs to be washed: Dust, finger prints, drool, etc. No big deal. The car gets more dirt and dings from one week end at the track than it does from 5-6 car shows.

rustyBob · #12 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 09:53 PM

I like car shows it's a chance to educate someone smarter than me...or I...what ever...and the kids really do like the Cobra's.And yes the car can be washed by a group of young women in ...............high school?

RodKnock · #13 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwd

Maybe the people in the Pacific Northwest are nicer/more respectful than the rest of the country.

Jim

Yes, you're correct, they are nicer and more respectful in the PNW.

Whining is an American pastime, like baseball, hot dogs and apple pie.

Ron61 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 07:04 AM

I am a little surprised at all of the shows that seem to let new cars in. Our big show here, Kool April Nights won't let any car newer than a 1979 in and many of the smaller shows are the same. A couple of the really small ones will let any car in as they don't get many, and one of them has quit having a car show every year.

I haven't see any of the reaching under the finder stuff, but some of the people here who take their cars to shows before they are completely finished would end that. All it would take is to get one of those rough fiberglass splinters stuck in your finger and I doubt if they would want that again.

Ron

D&M2 · #15 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 11:03 AM

Hi Ron61,

Here in the North East, most all of the shows that I have been to have allowed newer cars in which is good for us since the cobra is not finished yet. For me, it doesn't matter if they are new or old as long as I get a chance to see how people have set up their cars, the modifications that have been made, the paint colors, etc so that I get ideas on things that I might like to do to ours. I still have not decided on a paint color for the cobra but I've certainly spent a lot of time talking to owners at the various shows on the colors that they have used that I like myself.

Mike

Ron61 · #16 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 11:13 AM

Mike,

One of the reasons that Kool April Nights won't let newer cars in is they only have room for 2300 cars and have to turn away some every year. As for some of the smaller shows, I am not sure what their reasoning is as I like to look at the new cars, especially the high end ones that I can't afford. Some of them are starting to let newer cars in now, since there are several of the Shelby Mustangs in this area. But I don't think our big show will ever change to let new ones in because of the amount of older restored ones they have that want to enter.

Ron

trularin · #17 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 11:47 AM

I like to listen to people telling other people about the Cobra. "That's a big block honey." or "That body is too straight to be aluminum."

I try to stay out of the light until someone starts touching things inside the cockpit. What is up with that??

Ron61 · #18 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:00 PM

Tru,

When I did take my car to any shows I quit using the Do Not Touch sigh they gave me because it is like a wet paint sign. Everyone has to touch it to see if it is there. After I quit using the sign I never had any problems. Although a friend of mine did come back to his car one day and found two teen agers in it shifting the gears and playing as if they were really going. And they did go when he got there.

Ron

franklin · #19 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:27 PM

So? If you own a Kirkham and someone feels under either the front or rear fender they will most likely feel the padding put there to keep rocks from denting the aluminum. Really then people don't know what they are feeling for, right?

Doesn't an original also have the padding?

I think it is just so they can tell their friends they got to touch a car that is much nicer than the one they actually own.

SP01715 · #20 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:41 PM

I go to a local cruise night a couple times a month, and I have very similar experiences as the OP. I have come to the point where I really don't like talking to the idiots though (I try to stand back and act like I don't own the car). I don't mind reasonable questions, but the idiots with the stories I have heard a thousand times are annoying.

I actually carry a bunch of SPF brochures with me and I have found it easier to just give them one when they get the confused look on there face when I tell them it is a factory built replica.

As far as touching, I seem to have more of a problem with fat ladies rubbing against it or bouncing their purses of of it because they don't fit between the cars very well.