Hot Rods If you could design and organize the perfect hotrod event, What would it look like?

I've had my fair share of event organizing. It's been since 2006 since I put on the Hotrod-a Rama in Tacoma Washington. Did it for 5 years. It was a great success. What kind of things would draw rods and customs from all over this great land? How many days? Weekend shows seem to short. Driving events? Scenic cruises? Are band a must or are they a waste of money? I'm just looking to start a conversation. What's missing in the events that are popular?

 

as you must know, it's the overhead of securing a venue & cost of renting it & insurance & security & advertising, etc that makes putting on any show, much less one for the first time, an extreme challenge to try to do - to bring in enough money to cover all of these costs needs to cater to a wide variety of people - I hate a show that is just a big asphalt parking lot that has everyone park their rides so close together that can barely get doors open

 

Driving makes them so much more fun....and having it be a long drive, even better. Like, a week

 

What @squirrel said. Driving events are killer.

 

We have a pretty big show here every August. Not strictly a hot rod show ( as it's a fund raiser for Diabetes so they allow anyone who wants to participate do so) but it is a 5 day event, generally a lot of fun and draws people in from around the province. It runs from Tuesday through Saturday and they have things every day of the week.

Every morning there is a pancake breakfast sponsored by local businesses, they have BBQ lunches also done by local businesses on a couple of the days. They have a couple of smaller car shows though the week one Tuesday night at a local casino, and one Thursday night at a local garage. They do a poker run during one of the days and a "car roadeo" (ralley course) Wednesday evening. On Friday night they have a cruise through town where people sit out on the street to watch the cars go by that ends in the downtown area where all the cars park and then they have a street dance with live bands and food trucks. On Saturday the big show is hosted in a park and along the river valley where there is a walking trail system that the cars park along. They have live music vendors and food day and then Saturday night they have a indoor dance with food and drinks.

It's nice for out of towners because there is something to do every day if they want to keep busy and the multiple shows through the week, although seeming a little odd, do tend to get different vehicles out as everyone can't always make a one day event.

 

It would look like the hotrod hill climb.

A destination trip for almost everyone who goes it gets you on the road, it’s in the fall when it’s not so damn hot.

It’s a 3 day event if you do everything. Reliability run day 1, race up the mountain day 2, peak to peak drive day 3.

Has separate parking for anything that isn’t racing or fitting the niche so you end up with two shows and spectators feel like the can bring their off topic car with out feeling like a sore thumb.

It’s got a numbers cap so it isn’t likely to get to big and ruin it.

Very casual, very pretty. Not in a big city.

 

Free beer and wet T-shirt contests.

 

Bill & I host the All Deuce Run and in recent years we started gathering on Friday with a Meet & Greet dinner on Friday night then we meet up on Saturday morning at a designated starting point, we line up and drive some 125 miles through small towns and on to the Blue Ridge parkway en route to Blowing Rock, North Carolina for lunch.

We have a few stops along the way for gas and a stretch and a scenic stop on one of the beautiful overlooks.

The run is over by about 3 PM and people can shop or head back home, we have had people from as far a California, Florida and everywhere in between, this is the 19th year and the most cars to show up was 51 the smallest turnout was 8, and it was pouring rain.
This is so much better than sitting in a lawn chair and cooking your brains in a hot parking lot.

I consider this run a simple show and it continues to grow with no trophy's & no bruised egos.

BTW, there is no charge to participate but driving a '32 Ford, original or hot rod, real steel or fiberglass, flathead or overhead valve doesn't matter.

We are talking about changing it up for the 20th anniversary but that's a year away. HRP

 

This is how we do it.

 

a drag race, doughnut, tire burning, demo derby, autocross with a BBQ cook off
mini bikes. golf carts, go carts, bikes, unicycles, balloons, space ships, boats, military equipment, firing range, helicopter drop, jet flyovers, engine melt down contest, old, new, nuclear, gas, diesel, electric, flux capacitors
lots of music (no poodle skirt garbage)

pouting dolls and fake drive in movie/diner stuff are grounds for removal

All trophy hounds and award complainers will be banned for life and farted upon in their general direction

 

I only ever made one HRAR show, 2007, and it was and is still the best show I have ever attended.
Second closest would probably be the East v. West run that Chris/the Emperors used to put on.
Shows are fun, driving is even funnerer. I like the idea of a "destination" show or reliability runs (although I have yet to attend a legitimate reliability run).

 

Thank you for all the input. I went to the Hillclimb as a spectator last year and it was fun. Shows always seem to short. Trying to decide if I want to get back in the game again. I know I can pull it off but it's a ton of work. Just noodling for now.

 

I'll be driving up to this one next year to check it out.

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Can't be of any help BUT where I live seniors have to have a senior project completed before graduation. It takes most teens longer to think about what to do than doing it. A friend of mine (also a member here on the HAMB ) decided to put on a car show in his home town for his project, I thought that was rather Genius on his part!

 

My idea of a perfect event would be if I had the money and the property, to have a barbeque on some shady land in the country with lots of trees. Just a free picnic event where a bunch of guys and gals comes by, parks in the shade (its hotter than hell here now so I mention shade a lot), jaws about cars and eats barbeque, burgers and dogs, beer and soda. Maybe some home made ice cream afterwards.
Then take a drive in the countryside.
I guess by my description of a good time that you can tell I am a fatass.

 

A show that seems to short is a lot better than one that seems to last forever.

 

Pre 40 flathead only,cruise, rockabilly music and close to home.

 

The best shows are the ones where it's a more fun experience to have a car there. Parking lot/shade tree shows and swap meets can be fun but it's not really any better to have an old car there, you can see the same stuff and do the same stuff without it.

There are a few events going on that have guys building cars just to participate in them, those are the gold standard. A cruise is OK, a competition is better as long as it's not just whoever-spent-the-most-money-wins like drag racing.

 

Indoor show { fri/sat/sun}with all the same stuff as early 60s. Rods an customs/no unfinished cars,local hot 50s/60s band,venders an T-shirt painter,striper contest on stage before band comes on. Road rally before on wed,with trophy's at Show an give away prizes for fans.
Back then we didn't have AC in show=but today a must have. If I hit lotto big,I'd likely blow some on that,even though it would be hard to get it full of fans. Times are very def.

 

Know you can do it Dale..Been to HotRod-a-Rama years ago and enjoyed it.
Appreciate you're considering doing a show as they are disappearing as we grow old and do not want to deal with the work. Seems the big draw nowadays is the almighty $$$ and many are put on by non car people or should I say groups just trying to cash in on us car guys.
R&C Americruise was a fun event back when and looks like the HR Powertour is kind of on that order..Lots of miles on the road in the rod with coming together at a location...Like cruising to Bonneville has been.
IMHO this is how I rate a car show...Best to Last ( aside from comRODery )
1. The drive there
2. The drive home
3. The cruise if there is one
4. The car show
5. The cost (which is usually irrelevant), but was it worth it and would I do it again...

 

It would be great to have a Deuce run from the south to Lake Havasu AZ. the first week in March for the Havasu Deuces show.

 

Stray Kat 500

 

The one like we have in Myrtle Beach ain't bad. Big open lot area in the city. (It use to be a huge shopping center that is cleaned off. ) Officially runs from Thur. thru Sun but cars in show (or not) cruise around all week. Put on by local car club to raise $$$ for good cause. Lotsa vendors/swap meet stuff.
Good support from the city. Cops are pretty understanding about noise and such.
Early before heat and tourist.
A good model I would follow.
6sally6

 

I think even if you just spectated but drove your hot rod it would seem longer. If you drive the late model it’s the time at the show that’s “the event” if you drive the hot rod the whole trip is the event.

I mean really it’s jist an excuse for everyone to take a road trip to see each other.

I know a lot of guys show up early and are around town sight seeing and farting around before the official events start. Makes it easier to make the long drive when it’s at opposite ends of the week if that’s an option.

 

All good input. I will be talking to some folks at LARS here in a few weeks about this. I have some good ideas already. I'm still formulating a plan. The event would be pre-1965 I'm thinking. No rat rods of any sort for sure.

 

Held at an enclosed site that’s also a beautiful backdrop for photography. Carefully curated prior to the event. Location changes annually as does the “story” or theme. Cars are carefully selected from a long list of applicants in order to pay-off the “story”. Selected cars and attendees are eager to pay a much higher entry fee ($100) because they get a full day museum quality experience. Organizer makes more and therefore spends more. The prototype is Luftgekühlt 6 recently held on the Universal Studios Back Lot.

 

A HR event run by hotrodders or having them involved is vastly superior than those run on a commercial or revenue raising basis by non car enthusiasts. Charity and other worthy cause runs are exceptions IMO. HRHC, TROG, Goodwood and others are on my bucket list. Variety is the spice of life, diversity and something for everyone. A great venue or backdrop is the icing on the cake. Local business entities or community may like to be involved or contribute in some way and receive patronage from attendees.

 

Yep

 

Four days long. Food vendors. Auto Parts vendors. MUSIC STAGE of bands and radio host D.J.'s. A cruise to last all day long for all four days. Open header contest. Burn out Contest. A section for car games. Hot Rod related cars only. ie; Traditional rods, Muscle cars, Show cars, Trucks. Nothing after 1970. A Go-Cart section. Lots of picnic area. A fake jail to jail someone. NONE OF THOSE STUPID FACELESS DOLLS THAT PEOPLE THINK ARE CUTE! BANNED!