Every Thursday evening, there's a free cruise-in car show at one of the local strip malls because the merchants there figured out a way to use their much-oversized parking lot to give business a boost. That works out great for everybody; the car owners get a place to display their cars and socialize, the spectators get a great free show with over 150 exhibition cars, and the merchants sell lots of burgers, pizza and ice cream. Every once in a while, they take up a collection of canned food from any attendees who feel the urge to donate to various worthy charities. Again, a wonderful thing.

It's not unusual, though, that some folks will walk in and distribute flyers promoting other car shows that charge five or ten bucks for walk-in admission and that's fine—but more often than not, there will be a $20 registration fee for the car owners. Now, that perplexes me: They're charging each show car owner a fee for the privilege of providing the very attraction that will bring paying customers into their profit-making show. I guess that must be working for them, but something about the principle of the thing just sticks in my craw. Heck, I'll do it for charity, but these other guys can go eat a bug.

Bob

Do any of those merchants at the mall sell bugs?

If the car show is one that awards plaques and trophies, I can see a club charging an entry fee to pay for the hardware. But charging both the car owners and the attendees seems a bit much. Personally, my attitude toward trophies is that I have too much clutter just in the normal course of things and I don't need to go looking for more. But I do enjoy the beautiful restorations at an AACA show or the like, so if the competition, judging, and trophies provide some motivation for folks to "do it right", more power to 'em. I also like events like yours, and Wichita's annual All Wheels Rally where people just show up at Lake Afton with whatever neat old cars they have, just for the fun of it.

Bob,

I started participating in car shows this year for the very first time ever. Every car show I've participated have been fund raisers for good causes.

With so many shows to choose from I always call to learn if the registration fee is going to a good cause. I've always chosen those and feel good about it and have fun at the same time.

Orlando

I used to do the Easter Sunday car show in Forest Park in St Louis - two to three hundred cars as a rule. The Model T Club paid to enter as a club, so the individual owners didn't have to pay. When my grandchildren got old enough to hunt for Easter eggs, that started taking priority on Easter.

The suburban community I live in also has a festival in September with all kinds of entertainment and food booths. On Sunday, they have a car show with two categories: Judging and Display Only. I do the display, and I think it costs $10. I look at it as a parking fee to be able to park at the festival itself instead of a mile away. In addition, the car owners get numbered tickets that are drawn throughout the show. I won a $25 gift certificate at a local barbecue joint last year, so I came out $15 ahead for the day.

Bob,
I just did a car show this past weekend in San Diego sponsored by the Corvette Owners Club, but open to any car before 1972. Do it every year. . . 450 cars, from Vettes to low riders to T's. Spectators free, owners pay $20. All money (every last cent) goes to the San Diego Society For the Blind. Best $20 bucks I've ever spent, most fun I've ever had, nicest people I've ever met, especially other car club members (it's really something when someone who has $250,000 invested in a Corvette tells me how nice my $7000 T is and thanks ME for bringing my car!).
Every car club in the Car Club Council of San Diego sponsors a show once a year--all money going to a charity--except the Model T Club. They don't like car shows, according to sentiment at our meetings, because they want to tour and show the public our T's. But I've never seen more people interested in learning about T's, taking pictures, and thanking us for coming, than at the car shows!
I'd do it again tomorrow.

Dick,
Somewhere on the forum someone said "Every where you drive is a parade and every place you stop is a car show!"

Bob, I'm pretty sure that the originator of that was Ralph Ricks.

Around here fees at car shows has always been a way of life. What gets me is when they want to change you a late fee if you’re not preregistered. One show had an exorbitantly high late fee. At the same gate spectators walked in for free. So I questioned them” the public walks in for free, but I have to pay a late fee to drive in with my car that adds to your show?” they said yes. I said okay, so I backed up my car two spaces and parked it, then walked in for free. People who are concerned about judging and trophies should pay the costs to cover them. The rest of us who don’t care about that shouldn’t have to pay for it.

I remember when our local T club got paid to display our cars at a shopping center.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

yes Wayne, I remember when we (Santa Clara Valley Model T Club) got $25 a car to display them at a wine fest in Fremont. Not that long ago either.

Having owned the T for nine years now, one thing has become obvious - far more people have come up to me saying they've seen me driving it, or it was parked somewhere, than those who saw it at a display day. Maybe it's just because I see my T as a normal car and drive it as such, but I'm pretty much over organised displays now. I certainly wouldn't pay to enter one.
And another thing; why do car events always have to start at the crack of dawn?

I am thinking of organising a car show for my Lodge as a fundraiser....doing so will have expenses and liabilities that will need to be covered, and the event will be a fundraiser for the Lodge charities. I see no harm in charging a modest entry fee, and likewise a modest gate fee.

If we can get 200+/- cars, and 1,000+/- public ticket buyers, and we charge $5.00 and $10.00, we will have raised $11,000 before costs (insurance, porta potty rentals, tents, trophy's, etc). That about equals our annual golf tournament....

Almost always a reg. fee for an organized show down here. The only exceptions are the "Cruise" type show Bob mentioned. It's usually a local club that meets in a restaurant or diner parking lot maybe once a month. Usually not a large gathering. Very few charge people admission.