Car Shows are taking some interesting turns....

[C9]

Small and local ones anyway.

And this is just an observation and not a rant.


One Central California show coming up this month has a pre-registration entry fee of $30. Day of the event = $35.
For cars.
Motorcycles = $20. $25.
Spectators pay $5. per carload.

Most of the area's car shows run $20 - $25. for pre-reg and day of show, bike or car.

Then there's the town about 30 miles away where the show promoter wants $25. for you to sit in an unshaded mall parking lot on a Saturday afternoon into early evening.
Reason being, the car show - such as it is - is geared toward attracting mall shoppers.

The other show of interest in a small valley town not too far away has the show giving out cash prizes.
Pretty good sized ones, but I don't know what they'll be this year.
I would guess the awards thing for the cash prizes go to those who know the show promoters - sorta the same thing that happens with trophies.

Don't get me wrong here, there are lots of good shows and rod runs in the area, just that I see a trend toward greediness and everybody wants to get in on the action.
It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Last observation - a local shopping mall had a car show/rod run thing, free, just park.
They advertised it and there was a good customer turnout for the mall - more than the usual for a Saturday night.
Not to mention the car show participants shopped and ate at the mall as well.
Story I heard was the mall got greedy cuz the hot rods et al weren't paying anything to the mall and when that all shook out, local hot rodders said 'screw it' and that was the end of that show. And the mall is back to it's usual sorta quiet Saturday nights.

The saturation point that I thought wasn't too far away seems to be here.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[k9racer]

Maybe insurance cost have driven up entry fees. I know its killing race tracks and other specator driven events as well as small busisness.

[Antibilly]

The Rumblers in orlando are changing a few things as well.
I hear its gonna be around 20 pre reg/ 25 day of the show and ALL cars will be trailered in and out of the show to reduce the risk of burnouts and the sound of straight pipes through out the day!
As well all rockabilly cuffs will be unrolled upon entry to insure there will be NO switch blades, after market hair grease or rebel flag cell phone face plates

see ya all next year http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[40StudeDude]

[ QUOTE ]
Reason being, the car show - such as it is - is geared toward attracting mall shoppers.

Don't get me wrong here, there are lots of good shows and rod runs in the area, just that I see a trend toward greediness and everybody wants to get in on the action.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jay, that's been happening here for about two years now...every little bar, mall or tire store has decided that car guys and a car show will bring the customer in...never mind that they CHARGE YOU to show off your car...and give away cheap door prizes/trophies to pacify those that need to have them.

There's even one huge mall on the west side of Denver that does this twice a year, altho they do give away some hi-dollar door prizes...they pull in about 400 or so cars all trying to get those door prizes...

I do not support those little car shows...it IS about greed!!!...

R-

[flatshoebox]

WE NEED TO START A HAMB ONLY SHOW!! FREE AND FOR HAMBERS ONLY! or not! I hate shows anyway. I just go to be cool, and make fun of other peoples crap! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[porknbeaner]

C9
There's still a bunch I this area that you can do for grins or a donation.
They don't seem to attract too many high-zoot rides I guess because there are few trophies to be had, and no bike time magazine coverage.
Good place for real hot rodding, usually builders instead of collectors. And everyone out for fun rather than fame.

[Smokin Joe]

We have a few shows here we do for the old folks home or worthy causes. I try to show up and support those. We keep getting businesses and promoter assholes wanting us to pay them to display our cars and bring in customers for them. I don't care if they starve to death. There are other ways to make money. We didn't build our cars so other assholes can turn a profit on them, and I'm sure as hell not going to pay someone for the privilege of displaying my car. I do pay entrance for rod runs, but you always get something back for that and the clubs get to recoup their losses putting on the event. I don't do events where they charge the public to see the cars. Want to see it, come to cruise night or just wait for me to run by on my way to work. You won't have to pay some rich bastard living on the golf course to see it. Promotors are scum living off other's work! The shallow end of the gene pool...

[Fourdy]

This is an interesting topic for me as I am the president of the RAKERS car club in Port Townsend, WA. We are having our first car show on June 26th at a county park right in the middle of town (plug for you northwestern hambers). We have gotten so many positive comments on the fact that we are only charging $12 for a car load and $2 walk in. We think it is important to make it affordable for the whole family to participate. We also have to pay for insurance and field rent so we need to charge some but not looking for a huge profit. If any local Hambers are interested in info for the show, shoot me an email.

Thanks,

Fourdy http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[DrJ]

The club I'm in, Midnighter's Customs So. Cal. is having a FREE car show event at Glen Ivy R V Park @ 24601 Glen Ivy Road Corona, CA on May 15th. 10:00-5:00
That's in a couple weeks...

Yes FREE ENTRY

There will be a DJ playing assorted era Oldies, a raffle with Craftsman tools, bicycles (for the kids raffle) and a TV as some of the prizes to raise money for charity, and grass to park on.
There is overnight camping available, call 800-628-9044 for rates and reservation of camping spot, or to rent a vendor's spot.
There will be "10 best" trophies.
Food available or bring pot luck or picnic.
There will be 50 dash plaques free to the first 50 cars to get there.
There will be "beverages" and food available at the camp bar.

Yes, I said FREE ENTRY

(The car show will NOT be in the nudist colony part of the park....) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Petejoe]

Last year we decided to travel up to Vermillion ohio up by the lake to a car show.
This was the greatest show I have ever went to. Positioned in a shaded valley with 60 ft cliffs on both sides.
Approximately 400-500 cars attended. And it was FREE!! Sponsored by a car club who used funds generated from various drawings that had great prizes. Probably 250-300 prizes total.
Tools, home generators, lawnmowers, car stuff up the yingyang.
Only a low number of tickets were sold per item. Tickets ranged between 2.00 to 20.00 per ticket depending on the item.
The best time and most fun we ever had at a show. Now that's the way to sponsor an event and generate money.

[CruZer]

Similar things are happening here in the northeast but the prices aren't going quite as high ..... yet. But it is all about greed.Our club gets contacted weekly by shopping centers,towns,bars,etc. to do cruise nights but we turn most of them down,because they want us to do the work and they collect the money.AND they think we should appreciate the offer !!!
I live in a relatively rural area of Mass. and there is a cruise night every night of the week and shows every weekend. We have gotten very selective about where we go now because there are so many.

[Sixcarb]

All show promoters should try to keep entry fee's low to encourage more car owners to come out, maybe spectators should pay a few bucks more, The Goodguys car club broke away from nsra because they were tired of the nsra bullshit but they seem to be just as bad, a one day pass $45. If your in a area with decent cruise nights that's where some of the best cars show up and you can always seem to have a good time.

"Muthaheads"

[earl schieb]

[ QUOTE ]
Promotors are scum living off other's work! The shallow end of the gene pool...

[/ QUOTE ]

Ouch, dude, that hurt.........maybe you meant MOST promotors http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I, with two partners, do an indoor show here in the dead of winter(when there's nothin to do). We charge $25 a car to cover $35 in award expenses(not crappy plastic trophies)and we get $6 a head for specs. The first venue cost us 12 grand plus for rent. Add 3 million dollar liability insurance.And 8-10 grand in advertising. And comp hotel for "draw" car owners. Plus countless other expenses...
And bad weather could KILL us(the aforementioned stuff is non-refundable)

Yeah, I'm gettin fat offa that show! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm with ya(I think)-- I'd drive a thousand miles to a swap, but I'd have to think about crossing the street for a show, cause MOST are about the $$$....but not ALL http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Hellfish]

We charged $25 at the Pileup, but that included a tshirt, sticker, and FIVE bands. Then again, we didn't have to worry too much about insurance or venue rental before. That stuff is expensive. The Gears & Ears show here is in that $$$ neighborhood, but you get a tshirt and all you can eat corn on the cob and soda ALL day long. It does seem excessive when all you get out of the deal is a parking spot... no bands, no shirt, no shade...

[SwitchBlade327]

theres a show near me in a tiny ass town they have once a month like 8 months out of the year, and theres always 200-600+ cars lined up down mainstreet every time. Doesn't cost shit, theres a burnout contest, but nobody gets prizes for shit. It's all just to try to bring a little bit of business to all the old places downtown and just for there to be something to do in this godforsaken place.

[MBL]

Cuffs are not a good place to put a switchblade....but are a good place for cat turds....so you're invited to someones house/apartment...let say its Noodles place...load you cuff with some cat turds...once you're in, flip your cuff and vwola....you have effectively introduced cat turd into the situation.....then write helter skelter on the fridge and get out of there.
Tim
MBL

[OGNC]

You think that's bad, big truck shows are anywhere between $55 to $65 for a two-day show! And spectators are between $5-to$10 per person. I asked one of the show promoters why the shows have gotten so expensive and he said that the cost of a decent venue (one with shade and real bathrooms) had doubled in California over the past 5 years. And insurance costs are up too. He said that even with the price increase that he would have to had an additional 100 vehicles on top of the price increase to cover all of his costs. That's why he stopped doing a couple of his events last year.

On the other hand, we here at the magazine decided to do a totally free "reader appreciation" show this year. Free to enter, free to spectators. Open to all years of trucks.

We figured, just like a lot of you have, that shows have gotten really too expensive for a lot of people to attend. Especially if you have to factor in the cost of gas, a hotel and meals because you're traveling from out of town.

Here is a link to our website and a copy of the poster for anybody who cares. And if you're interseted in coming out and bringing a truck (anything from a T-bucket to something late-model) just shoot me a PM and I'll hook you up with all of the info. And the best part is that we aren't going to ask you for one red cent.

And if there is enough interest from HAMBers we could even create some type of home-grown hot rod truck section in the show.

www.streettrucksmag.com (http://www.streettrucksmag.com)

http://www.streettrucksmag.com/images/StreetTrucksOpenApr04a.jpg

[aussiesteve]

I don,t agree with any show that charges you to bring your car and then charges people to look at it.especially if you don,t even get food or a shirt for your effort.This is why I don,t go to any Goodguys event or NSRA event.I don,t go to hot rod events to see Prowlers,I can go to a Dodge dealer for that.Also the last NSRA eveent I went to was Peublo and there was some bozo in a late Chevy truck with shitty 39 Stude fiberglass on it entered.Not a hot rod in my book.
AussieSteve

[thirtytwo]

[ QUOTE ]
theres a show near me in a tiny ass town they have once a month like 8 months out of the year, and theres always 200-600+ cars lined up down mainstreet every time. Doesn't cost shit, theres a burnout contest, but nobody gets prizes for shit. It's all just to try to bring a little bit of business to all the old places downtown and just for there to be something to do in this godforsaken place.

[/ QUOTE ].

.............perfect!!!!!!!!!............

[bufordtjustice]

Holy crow.....local NY car shows range in pre-reg from 5 to 10 bux! What a difference!
Greg

[Ichoptop]

our version of a car show is parking together at the local burger joint and eating some cow with your buddies. After last year I have decided that car shows and everyone involved with them suck ass. If I want to see old cars I'll stand in my driveway.

[Nads]

Don't listen to Draglinks. Our Rumbler's car show's been $10 pre reg, $12 day of, for 4 years. With that, ALL the people you can stuff into the car get in free to see the bands, we had six this year. Spectators are free and everyone else who wants to see the bands pay $5. All our trophies are hand made, no chintzy store bought shit.
On top of all this we give money to charity too.
I think a lot of shows prey on the fact that most car owners are egotistical assholes who don't mind payin $30-$60 to show off their prides and joys.
Shit, I've been known to plonk down $50 to go to a Goodguys show.

If'n you wanna see pics from our show it's in the new issue of Old Skool Rodz.

[Antibilly]

Yes Nads good point!! come get your Ol' Skool Rodz mag here at Mickeys Place today!!

[Digger_Dave]

We have an independant hamburger joint up here who has a "cruise" every Wed. nite. (weather permitting) No charge, and every once and a while he has draws on free burgers. He also supports all kind of rod related events. (coupons and even cash)

It seems he has a good location, because McDonalds set shop up next door to him. Because parking is at premium, once the lot is filled with "rides"; the spectators often park on the lot at McDonalds. (can be as many as 150 on any given night)

The manager of the McDonalds got his ass in hot water last year because he had a bunch of the spectators cars towed away. (without any warning) Seems a bunch of them had purchased at least a soft drink at the McDonalds. The judge ruled in their favour!!

[smittyshotrods]

I have noticed more local shows than usual. I tend to go to the ones that are doing it for charity organizations with a good reputation like MS, Childrens Miracle Network or some local charity group. I feel my money is going to a good cause and have no problem with the entry fees. I have found that most of these shows the entry fees are very low ($10-$20) and the turn out is usually pretty good because they have no charge for spectators. C9 is right though there is some others shows in my area also with big entry fees and I'm sure some of it is lining the pockets of someone. Those I just stay away from. My two cents.

[Wicked Death Chop]

this is a very interesting topic, as me and some buddies are preparing to throw a show of our own here in sac. we kept going back and forth on charging admission for the cars. i think we finally decided to charge $5 bucks and a hubcap, or 10 bucks w/out hubcap. but were gonna have bands, raffles, trophies(hehe), possibly a tattoo artist or two, and a host of other goodies, plus food for really cheap. i don't think 5 bux and a hubcap is outta line. it will atleast help cover advertisment, stickers, and posters and shit. should be fun. we're gonna call it "midnight mass"(tm) and start it around 7 ish, to midnight.

whatever, if it even ever comes together, we'll be doin' good.

[Wicked Death Chop]

p.s. spectators would be free.... sorry, my ramble read kinda confusing........... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Wicked Death Chop]

oh yea, and for the record, me and my guys have thrown several bbqs, which have always been free(duh) and we even supplied the food. it would be nice to break EVEN for once...

[Muttley]

[ QUOTE ]
Then there's the town about 30 miles away where the show promoter wants $25. for you to sit in an unshaded mall parking lot on a Saturday afternoon into early evening.
Reason being, the car show - such as it is - is geared toward attracting mall shoppers.



[/ QUOTE ]

You must be talking about the Strawberry Festival at the Sierra Vista mall. It wasnt worth a crap, it took me about 5 minutes to see the whole thing.