Kinda of a off shoot of another thread I saw. I remember last summer my wife and I were coming home from breakfast and we saw some car show signs. Followed them to the show and when we got there the guy held out his hand and said $25.00 please. I looked at him and asked him what was in it for me and he told me it was for me to be able to show my car. I said, Guy, anywhere I stop it's a car show for me. I backed the old T up and left. I stopped for gas just down the road and it took close to an hour to leave the gas station because of one of my one car, car show! I try not to pay to let others look at my car,,,, Question is how my do?
We too hadn't been going to shows if we had to pay as there are plenty of free shows but lately we have gone to some that raise money for local charities and that seems acceptable to us.
I'm kind of with Rich on this one. Who is sponsoring the show and where does the money go? If it's a good cause (and even just keeping a local car club going can be a good cause), then it's not a problem. I also take the practical view that it's a parking fee. In Kirkwood, we have the annual Greentree Festival every September. All kinds of international food booths, crafts and other displays, performances, etc. etc. It turns out the whole community and people come from surrounding areas to have fun. There is also a car show with a two-tier price - cars to be judged and "display only." People who are into judging pay the higher price and they are paying for the trophies they (may) get. I figure the "display only" cars get to park in the middle of the festival for $10 instead of parking a mile away and walking back and forth. Also gives you handy storage right at the festival if you buy something, as well as a chance to answer people's questions and maybe spread a little Model T lore.
http://www.kirkwoodmo.org/content/2025/greentree-festival.aspx
Only once paid ( like Richard says it was for charity and l guess too thats OK), like Will if my wife and l take two cars for a drive and coffee, the same thing happens as l guess will do with all T owners, the coffee goes cold but the conversations always stay warm.
We had two ladies come talk to us once, one was the daughter of an 92 year old woman, who was rather quiet, but when her daughter asked if she (her mom) could sit inside the 13 runabout, l said why dont l take you for a quick drive around the small town, " l remember this sound and the feel of the air when l was a young girl, my father had a T ".
Kinda makes it all worth it.
I might pay to look depending on the circumstances but I won't pay to show. I just don't need a trophy or what ever. With one exception. There's an American Legion Post that holds a show in town that asks for donations for the troops. Not cash. Hand sanitizer, envelopes, razors, pens, ect. There's a list you can follow. They handed out a grab bag to all entrants last year and frankly I was amazed at what was in it. Driving gloves, flash light. magnetic dish parts holder and a few other items I was almost embarrassed I took one.
Wow, I really need to proof read,,,,My question was how many of you guys pay to show your cars... I dont mind paying and have many times if it's for a good cause. But that said, My T is far from being a top rated show car, It's a driver with more than it's fair share of dings, dents and scratches. Although I did wash it once last summer.
I do not pay to show my car. The main reason is that the public comes in for free and drools, slobbers and touches the car I just spent years working on.
Same with most fund raisers, the car owners pay and the public walks in for free. If its good enough to raise funds for a good cause why do only those who show cars pay??
Optics Guy, very good point, why does the walk in public get in for free ????
Most shows around here are fundraisers for either a club or their charity. Going rate is $20 day of show or $15 pre-registration (But you don't get a refund if it rains). I know of two shows that don't charge, but they don't give but say, three trophies. The ones that charge probably give out 25 or more. I enjoy showing and don't mind paying $15-20 to do so, but winning a trophy with our scratched and rusty T's is embarassing. And it happens! Especially with the TT. People love it. It has beat out my fully restored '29 Model A MANY times. I don't go for the trophy. I go for the fun of answering questions and educating the public about T's. That is one of the reasons I keep mine original as possible. I like to explain how the coils work and point out that it has no oil, fuel or water pump and watch people's reaction. The best one was in Atlanta at Georgia Tech (Free show). The audience was mostly professors and engineering students. MUCH more intelligent questions from that group than your typical small town car show crowd.
I still remember one show back when Linda had her 1931 Deluxe Coupe, unrestored and tattered. It was in a row with the other A's, the others mostly being nice and shiny--I think the one next to it was a '29 Tudor. These kids, about 10 years old were walking by and they stopped in front of Linda's car and said, "WOW!! Lookit this OLD car!"
It used to bug those club members when we'd go on a tour and it would climb the hill like nothing, and there nicely restored cars would be beside the road, overheated.
T'
David D.
Never gonna pay again to show a car.
No point in it.
I'll go show a car if I don't have to pay for a plaque or trophy. I have too much clutter already.
In my neck of the woods, we have a local, weekly cruise-in which, when the weather is favorable, can feature as many as 250 collector cars. It's held in the parking lot of a supermarket strip-mall shopping center and it's free to show and free to attend. On those days, this casual cruise-in can be as good or better than most organized and promoted, single-event shows.
It kind of galls me that an organized show which charges the public admission to see the collector cars will also charge a registration fee of the car owners who provide the very attraction that generates the show-organizers' profit for them.
And there are those shows that similarly burn the candle at both ends, but give all the money to worthy charities — and I think that's the best of both worlds. I'll gladly pay a $25 registration fee to enter my car into a show for a good cause.
I take my car show with me and am on tour where ever I go. I have done some things for relay for life and such but really don't do shows or parades. Have fun, KB
There is nothing good about standing on Hot asphalt and people telling lies to me about the work they paid to have done on it, do it yourself then drive it, why leave it set to look at, they will come to you for FREE!!
I'm with you Will. "Anywhere I stop is a car show" for me, too. Not too long ago I drove the '14 runabout a short distance from the farm to Gruene, TX - a year-round vacation destination. Found a parking spot right in front of a popular antique mall to put the top up and was immediately surrounded by tourists with cameras and questions about the T. A young couple obviously on a honeymoon was taking a bunch of pictures of my effort when I asked if the young lady wanted her picture taken while sitting behind the wheel. They eagerly responded in the affirmative so I asked if he wanted to take a picture of his girl and I driving away. The crowd roared in laughter and the young couple shyly shook their heads NO. So I got out and answered questions for a hour and she got her pic taken behind the wheel. Pay to enter a car show after spending hours making the T presentable?? . . . nope
I will never pay to get in and just show off my car(s). However - I participate in a yearly show at the Copenhagen Citadel where we are charged 3$ for cleaning up the place afterwards and surplus goes to the childrens ward at the university hospital in the city.
Another event is the Graested Steam Fair where there is a lot more than just cars.
Here you get a discount and may park inside the gates if you arrive in a car or motorcycle from before 1970.
But there are others like the ones mentioned above and I avoid them.
Its free but I donate a dollar to the DARE fund.
James,
is that the Donuts Abuse Reduction Enforcement program to help keep cops off donuts?
(Saw that on a bumper sticker once)
T'
David D.
No!
Norm
David,
Thats funny I haven't heard that one before. I like that. If thats what it really stands for they should review the program in my area!
James B
We are having our first annual in town here and I was asked to help organize. We are accepting donations to the food pantry that covers 4-5 local towns as admission.
Doug, that sounds like a great approach.
Dick, you guys are all welcome to come visit and sample our hospitality.
I entered our TT (see my profile) in our fourth of July parade a few years ago. I won a third place ribbon, and there was only one other entry in my class! Oh well, it was a fun day. Dave