My first experience with car show knuckleheads....

[RedBarchetta]

Our wonderful city (Yorba Linda, CA) had a little car show of sorts this past weekend. I had other commitments during most of Saturday (Little League stufff) that precluded me from formally entering the judging. But with an hour to go I finally had some free time, so I fired up the beast and drove on over to check out the other cars there.

Hardly in the lot for 10 seconds and I was swamped with a crowd circling me. A friend I recognized motioned me over and I parked on the fringe of the "show area" right next to his gorgeous and fully back-halfed (tubbed) early Dodge truck.

I think I answered the question "Is it a replica?" probably 50 times. I wanted to rip the arm out of the socket of the pinhead who tapped the rear quarter with his rigid finger, with that look on his face that said "I'm checking to see if it's aluminum or not." What a d***.

Then another pinhead comes by with his 4 year old son. Junior was enjoying the car so much that Daddy allowed him to walk right on up and grab the top of the door as if he was peering over a neighbor's fence. I somehow held my cool and told the pinhead Pop that the sidepipes WILL burn his child, and just as he went to pull him aside, the kid got distracted and took off in another direction. Of course, the microfiber towel I keep behind the passenger seat came in handy at this moment!

I had heard these war stories from others (and many much worse), but to experience them first hand makes you want to spit nails.

The best compliment of the day came from one of the other attendees. He said "Good thing you got here late because that gives everyone else a chance to win...you would have cleaned house!"
Wow!

-Deano

[clayfoushee]

Dean,

LOL....hopefully you'll be cured of the urge to take your car to shows soon. It didn't take me long to receive the cure either, even though I won a trophy or two.

[trularin]

Thanks for sharing. I am not so kind to people who want to "tap, touch and feel"

But, if your gonna drive the edge, you got to expect a little attention.

Visit the show with your pickup!

[MAXVELO]

I had my car in the New Mexico Supernationals a couple of weeks ago and I was so sick of answering the same question over and over! " Is it a kit?", "Is it a real one?", "Is it fiberglass?". I had It listed on my "show registration sheet" that it was a replica. Several people were in love with it until they read replica. Then they walked off as if dissapointed! I dont get it. They find out you built the ENTIRE CAR and it somehow looses its value. Some treat it as its a Vokswagen rebody! At least I can say I got 2nd place in my class and a seperate one for best paint! another Guy had a superformance Car there and he had it listed as a "66 Shelby Cobra" I hung around his car for a moment and he seemed to get all positive feedback. I think he's been down this road and found the cure. Theyre so Damned stupid they dont know the difference anyway! At least he wasnt pulling his hair out!

[Bud Man]

I did a few shows last year, but doubt I will do any more. It's just not worth the headaches. Unfortunately, while most folks are courteous and keep their little ones in check, there are always a few that seem to act as if they were raised by wolves.

Last year, I left my car for a few moments to get something to eat and returned with some guy and his son leaning over the engine bay with their elbows on my fenders. One of them left a slight depression in the aluminum.

As clayfoushee said, eventually you get the cure!!

Bud

[Ron61]

Deano,

Welcom to the world of car shows and idiots. I quit taking mine to any shows a few years ago because of the fools that climb on them. I walked off once for a few minutes and came back and two teen agers were sitting in the car. By the time the cops got there both were more than happy to be escorted off the grounds. A friend of mine who is really into shows had his there and some would be cowboy with one of the big belt buckles walked over and leaned way over his door. The belt buckle took off a chunk of his custom paint about the size of a half dollar. It is fortunate that I had my gun with me at the time or there would have been a real problem as my friend was looking for it As for the questions, no matter what size sign you put up, people are still going to ask if it is real. I just politely explain that it is not a Shelby Cobra, that it is a replica and in no way is it original. Most people are polite and I don't mind their questions, but you are always going to have the jerks at any car show no matter what size the show is.

Ron