kind of nervious...car show

Go for it. Your car does not need to be perfect in order to have a good time, and that's really what car shows are all about. I show my Maverick several times a year, and except for a few rare occasions I have always had a lot of fun. If my car wins something, terrific. If it does'nt, no big deal. Trophies are nice, but in the end they become one more thing sitting on a shelf collecting dust. The real prizes are the people you meet, the stories you swap and the friendships that are born. Take your Maverick to a show and enjoy yourself.

 

i got a couple of chips in the paint, should i be worried???

 

I don't enter mine in shows... it is not in 'show condition' at all.
However, the only time I drive my Sprint anymore is when going to a show.

Sometimes the vehicles parked next to a car show are a show in themselves...

 

I've carried mine to two, but I don't enter it to be judged. While at Fun Ford for our meet this year, I was parked next to Rayzorsharp's car, and not a bit ashamed of mine. Ray's car is way nicer than mine, but people came up and talked to me just the same as they did him. To me, it's about showing pride in your work, not if your's is better than anybody else's. I hope to be able to take it to several cruise in's and shows next year.

 

I would touch them up not just to make the car look better, but to prevent rust from forming on the bare metal.

 

I am not interested in owning perfect cars. When you get everything perfect, you put it in a box and only bring it out at a show because you are afraid of getting it dirty, scratched, wet, or anything that would make it less than perfect. To me, that is no fun.

I drive all my cars to shows and cruises, even if that cruise is 800 miles away like the one I just attended in Ky this past August. Getting there is half the fun! I attend because of the interaction with people, not the awards. Once in awhile, I win an award, but that is not why I attend.

It's all about the people,the cars are just an excuse to show up. If you take that attitude, then you will enjoy the event much more. I usually park my car, touch it up, and leave it to walk around and talk to people there. That's where the real fun is, for sure.

Brad, I took the Pinto Sprint to our local cruise last month and parked it on the edge of the Mustangs in our club. It got as much attention as the nicest Stang!! People like to see something different for a change. In a sea of Stangs, the Mavs/Comets and others stand out.

We need to get these cars out so that people will pick up on them. One of the reasons that Mustangs are so popular IS the fact that you see lots of them. They will increase in value in direct proportion to how much they are out in the public. The more the public sees them, the higher the value and desire to own one.

Take it and enjoy the cruise or show. The more times the merrier!!

Jim

 

i mostly enter mine for the...front row parking...W/cold drinks and lawn chairs...

......

 

I take mine every chance I get. Never enter it but luv to go in and park and enjoy good conversation.

This car has been 20 yrs in the making and now that the engine is in I take it to shows.

#1 question is, When are you gonna paint it though ? but I'm still waiting for my ship to come in. LOL LOL.

 

i hear that alot also. i ask them...what color would they paint it?
if they say BLUE...i ask what shade they don't know.
if they say GREEN...i ask what shade? they don't know.
etc. etc.
after they suggest 3-4 colors they understand...why it's not painted...

......

 

Alright, here's a very specific suggestion then. For you, nothing will do but gold. Maybe not the same exact factory 70's gold, but something like this. (Pretend it's not a Chevy, sorry.) A color like that needs contrast, so add some satin black LeMans stripes. Not flat black, not gloss. Start them at the end of the hood bulge where a grabber stripe would be, take them all the way back and end them with rounded corners in the tail panel just above the bumper. Make them 2" apart with a round cutout between them showing 1/4" of gold around a Shelby style flip-down gas cap. Surround the outer edge of the stripes with a 3/8" pinstripe, with 1/4" of gold between the pinstripe and the LeMans stripes. No accent stripe on the inner edge where the LeMans stripes meet. Also, something on the sides. Grabber stripes or C-stripes might look rather busy with the LeMans stripes, but I think rocker stripes ala Shelby GT500 would do nicely.

 

Every show is different!

Cruz-ins: fun, short, get there and leave whenever you want.
Shows: usually an early am registration deadline, and a late in the afternoon time for show end/awards announcement.

Some shows have 'display only' categories. Some charge for that
category, others don't.
If you want your car judged, be aware that there is very little qualifications at most shows for a judge to be named 'judge'.

The person(s) judging your car will likely have personal tastes, likes
and dislikes that affect their opinion(s).

If the guys from Overhaulin' or Unique Whips looked at a classic
car-restored as originally equipped, they may not appreciate or
recognize the work that went into restoring the car to factory
specs. Vice Versa if a guy who generally judges or has an interest
in Model T's is looking at a modified '80s Fox Body Mustang.

Each show will have it's own following, or several groups of people
with similar interest.

I have attended shows with lots of Fat Fender cars, ie: '40s and '50s
cars-hot rods and originals. I don't get much recognition at those shows. The car is too new for that. On the other end, I showed up for a show one day in my hometown-a first time event, and other than 2 other cars, everything was import/Japanese tuner cars. We got a couple of looks, but not much!

My car gets more attention at shows with 60's and 70's cars, along with
the occasional '55 or '57 Chevy. I think Mavericks/Comets do better at
shows like that.

I have taken some MCA-Mustang Club of America, judging classes with a local MCA judge. For a basic open class show, they stress:

1)Cleanliness-everything. You should have no dirt visible if you want maximum points here. The judge can tell if it is a driver or a trailer queen. You don't want a judge to know that you routinely drive on dirt roads and eat french fries from the local drive thru.

2)Workmanship-stock or modified. Are you missing bolts? Leaking valve covers? Worn belts or hoses? Acid splash from batteries? Worn tires? Missing center caps? Torn upholstery? Scratched windows? It's one thing to be a work in progress. It's another thing to be an incomplete car. Few incomplete cars will get attention at shows, unless they are a very rare model.

3)Modifications-to what degree? Engraving on windows may have been cool in the late 70's and early 80's. It won't win positive comments at todays shows. Wild Multi-colored upholstered interiors seem to be out too, although you still see some of that in shows-they were stitched back in the 80's! There is a limit in some shows for what is acceptable, and keep in mind, that you are generally being judged within a class. Pay attention to who your competition is. You may be up against a 10K mile original, or a rotisserie restored car that just left the garage for the first time in 10 years. Under the hood? Can you compete with a medically clean stock engine bay? How about all chrome and polished aluminum?

Pay attention to todays styles and trends as seen in magazines. Stock or modified? Muscle in a tank top or street sleeper?

Paint color & quality have a lot to do with a judges' opinions. Good judges take a hard look at paint quality, color selection, body panel fit etc. Ever hear of 'over restored'? In stock classes that can happen: paint too slick/shiny compared to factory original.

Look at your suspension components. Rust, dirt, oil and grease affect your score.

Go to a show, take your car expecting nothing but a good time, and sit back and learn!

http://www.takeakidtoacarshow.com/

For show info:
http://www.carshownews.com/customs/customs.htm


Good luck!




Seth

 

frank, i thought patches wasn't painted because when a man of your age finally picks a color he can't remember what the color was for . let effie pick the color for you and it might be painted before mine.
as to cruising and shows, go ahead and have fun. some of the best people i have met and my closest friends have been due to meeting at shows. people laughed at me for showing a 4 door mav in primer but shut up quickly when asked what car they are building. i got way more positive comments and stories than negative comments.

 

Alright, here's a very specific suggestion then. For you...

......

(thanks...that took a lot of thought)...:Handshake

 

It's my favorite car to show!! I get more responce from the Maverick than my '69 Mach 1.

 

I took my '74 Grabber to a show.



Seriously, if I can take that thing to a show, you can take anything.