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Why are there car shows?

The cars is already a band. I don't make enough to participate so I ask these thngs because them that pay me do and understanding your job is good. Rich old people will probably fade out soon though, and their relatives will probably donate them all to Japan as boatloads of scrap rather than fillng them with TNT (or worse) and dropping from planes this time. Don't mind me, its not just you guys I don't make sense to.
 


Regardless of how many rich old people die, and the nice cars they had end up headed towards the scrapyard or worse, there will always be someone that was brought up understanding that driving a car means more than just pushing pedals and turning a wheel.

Those are the ones that will buy the rusted out shells from a junkyard and restore them... and even if the money isn't there to do it completely and fully (and letting you keep your job), at least they will get it back on the road and give it a second chance at life.



Some will do it because they love the styling of the era, some will do it just to hot-rod the car, but the end result is the same: someone does something cool with a car and wants to show off, and other people like looking at the cool thing done with the car.

To me, that's the definition of a car show.
 
Well everyone that fixes up cars tend to gather some where. The. Some guys start a car club of sorts and then they decide to gather all of the cars together, have judging to see who thinks which is best. Kind of like gun matches or now shoots. Gotta see what everyone has and how good they are.
 
IDJ. I'm not sure if your going through a mid life crisis or tired of working on wealthy peoples cars who couldnt dream of having the kind of skills you have. It seems the real answer to your question is why not.

People do things because they can. Car shows spark curiosity and creativity. Its the same reason I like this forum.

I mean so disrespect to you. Trailer it drive it beat the crap out of it who cares to each there own

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Mid life crisis? Oh boy. Its a year old thread that Monza dude found. Car shows are to display your wealth, primarily. As you guys pointed out it is a place you can gauge your standing among your peers. What they remind me of is I make a little more than half what I should. Thats my fault. Sometimes I find myself in ridiculous situations because of it. For example, I am down to one unguarded ten year old cutoff tool and use it for everything. But I am treated like some top notch metal guy which I ain't. Somebody told me to read up on King Solomon and I did, and that helped me understand what I feel but I still question if doing what I do is a noble pursuit, and doubt that it is. But I get to eat and have somewhere to go each day.

Being this old is wierd and I should know better now than to ask younger people for answers to things like this. Pretty much any question I post anywhere can't be understood by anyone and I am learning it is best to just keep one's mouth shut and work.

Since I made the original post, my name has been mentioned in three magazines for my metal work. That does perk me up but does nothing to prove that I'm doing the right thing. Fortunately, I exist as an individual so I can't spill my thinking on anyone who has to listen. My strangeitude will die with me at least.
 
I should add that no disrespect is intended on my end either. Worthy of mention is the fact that a couple months ago, I entered a car show and sat through the whole thing. What did that bit of research reveal? A stalker lady introduced herself and showed me pics of my car taken while following me and in different places around town including at home. Dozens of pics. Thats not what I need. I need a pay rate like I had ten years ago. But my boss needs his garage to always overflow with his own new trucks and cars, show cars, trailers, boat, tow rigs, etc. While I would have to pay better wages to have my lawn mowed, than what I make. So I wonder.
 


One more. I'll stop.

The car show I went to last weekend had a car in it I did bodywork on. That was a thrill as always, and I feel honored. But I still need plugs, wires, oil changes, tires...and just don't understand why my life has to be that way. Its a mystery to me.
 
If you saw my 66 Caprice and the fact that I will show it without perfect paint, perfect build.
I have always driven what I build, just like now. I drove a $300 04 Grand Prix GT, pulled bad engine and swapped in a low miles engine I traded work for
Some claim they need to make more money, but most times the management of the money is a much better idea.
I actually broke $30k last year, first time in many years of making money I actual made better than I thought I could.
I've lived , bought land and trailer and built cars and barely make what many would call poverty level.
But I have NEVER felt poor, or destitute.
I LIVE on what most spend on drugs/drink/smokes in a year.
My friends make twice/three/four times what I do and I still can't see the difference, they have what they make, I make mine.
If you take what you make, make every dollar count and and look on it as the gift God provides for you.
So many look at what others have and get envious, and then I think of how many BUY thier dreams.
But I MAKE my dreams come true, as best I can. And maybe one day I'll get to build my car all the way.
Till then I LIKE driving what I got, and I'll show it as I see fit. And so far only a small few tell me they show to show off money.
Most had a dream of that car or such. And most scrimp and save and barter and sacrifice. And they bring those out.
And a smart show goer learns from others. I find most shows and races bring out camaraderie in each car owner. I watched 4 guys strip pieces from thier cars to help the guy get to finals of the all run. He actually won the race, and then they started talking about how to get everyones parts back. Every one of those guys buy engines from me and had some similar set ups, they got started with junk yard engines and trans, cheap cars, fixed up a bit each year.
Saw a fellow who's been building a car for showing for last 24-25 yrs. This year he asked for help prepping for paint. We helped him build a wood frame with visqueen and a old furnace fan on one end and some big old diesel filters on other.
He scrounged a gas compressor from state, got it running and built a filter system and we sanded and sealed and painted his car.
And I just found out he won best paint at local show with some cars that have $20k paint jobs.
It's the fun of doing something different with so much less than others. And seeing people recognize your skills.
 
Go ahead and finish the first sentence.

The more with less thing seems to be a competition about appearing to be smart. Somebody spent ten grand on his Acura engine to "do this to" me. He probably made it faster but has twice in the engine what I have in the whole car. He calls that a win but its just twisting words. I don't care and don't like that kind of attention. From wierdos and stalkers. I painted mine so it would be one color.

If you knew me and what I've done, you could understand. I am not competitive or "about" money. Never was. Please spare me from God and substance abuse references. High and mighty is the wrong approach to use on me. The compensation in custom and classic work is a cruel joke. I put in a hard working decade to find out theres no increased earning potential over time. That sucks so I gripe and try to understand. Bringing yourself up by bringing the other guy down isn't cool at all. You guys think whatever you like but car shows are wealth competition events that people organize in the name of charity in order to further promote themselves in the public eye. That seems wrong to me. You want to give a grand to women and children, reach in your pocket and give them a grand. Theres no need to announce it and call it a car show.
 
Car shows, I used to really enjoy going to them, not to show off my own car, I dont enjoy that type of competing, but I do like looking at old fixed up classic/muscle cars. I love the smell of fresh car paint, and the smell of a freshly detailed engine compartment with all the new paint fumes burning off the engine block and the new rubber hoses emitting their "VOC's". Twenty years ago not a week went by without a weekend car show or midweek cruise in, driving there in my own car used to be half the fun, but now adays driving is just a chore that annoys me, therefore I have to see my boost bars go full tilt once in a while while feeling the push into the seat as the supercharged v6 screems at 191k miles. It's too hot to walk around at a car show in Florida these days for more that half an hour, and I am absolutely SICK and TIRED of the blaring 50/60's music with the same old songs over and over and over again, FFS! Oooh carp, I might be getting OLD!
I entered one of my cars at a car show once back in 1993, a castillion bronze 1971 Firebird I restored myself, it was my mother's car since 1972. I got a little plaque at the end for my entry, BIG DEAL! I hate trophies!
 
I honestly love the venting going on here. It resonates with my parallel joy and disdain for car shows, along with personal life/finance/career thoughts.

This quote slapped me in the face with the reality of what I think much of the 3800 world have been doing since the beginning:
"The more with less thing seems to be a competition about appearing to be smart."
Our sensible, but sporty family cars happened to have potential to get modified to the point that they'd challenge/beat more traditional "fast" cars in races, and/or get appearance upgrades to become flashier than cars that don't require as much to draw the eyes of onlookers. We do this in ways that appeal to us personally, and are confined (or not) by our own finances/imagination/ability/etc.

I've transitioned to enjoying car activities for the camaraderie, once I moved away from my old ClubGP modding circles, and have limited car folks to now spend time in the garage/street with. My goal for vehicle entertainment is the joy of firing it up, stomping on the pedal, and having it go smoothly. My goal for getting in the garage for anything beyond upkeep, is to enjoy it with friends/family.

"Vehicular Avatar" is something I just mentioned when describing this chat to my g/f, and I wanted to drop that phrase here before closing.
 


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