I hate Car Shows

"LemonsEngineer" (cegan09) 11/03/2015 at 16:07 • Filed to: Get Off My Lawn

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I think I’ve been in denial about this for a while. I used to be all about waking up at 6am on a Saturday and driving 40 miles to the local Boston Cars and Coffee. I spent a solid year and a half volunteering at them because I felt it was the right thing to do. For two summers I lent my time to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum to help them put on the annual Tutto Italiano show in the middle of summer. I would drive to random corners of New England just to sit around with some friends at whatever random show was going on that day. I hate it.

I didn’t used to hate it. Early on it was actually exciting to see new and cool cars, meet new people, and talk crap about terrible cars that showed up. It was a chance to catch up on the latest gossip from local shops, car groups, and general BS. We’d droll over the same dozen cars that came to each show and got VIP parking, while eventually ignoring everything else. And for a while I really did enjoy myself.

For the last year I’ve been less and less excited about each show. I’d tell myself I was going to see friends and who cares about the cars. Even that started to fail in its motivation. The conversations were always the same, the cars were the same, the stupid drama was always the same.

I don’t think I’m going to car shows anymore. I’m over it. Standing around watching dick measuring contests, owners rubbing down cars that see 500 miles a year. Elitists complaining about the teenage VW owners, teenage VW owners complaining about not being allowed to park next to Ferraris, One car club bashing on another (even if I used to be all about jumping on the bashing bandwagon). I’d much rather be driving.

Standing around a parking lot brings me no joy. Carving down a wooded road, the sun flickering through the treetops with the windows down and exhaust howling, that’s where I want to be. Talking about the merits of a car you’ll never afford will never be better than chasing taillights up a mountain at sunset. Arguing RWD vs AWD will never be better than actually going out and putting it to use.

Strap me into a car I built and let me loose on the local track chasing down dozens of other similar minded madmen. Bench racing can never compare to the thrill of reaching the checkered flag in a car you build and piloted. Bragging about the 150mph highway pull on the way to the show will never excite me as much as pulling off a 3-wide pass.

Put a wrench in my hand and let me lose hours and days to a project. Arguing over who has the worst repair bills will never be better than the joy of seeing an engine that you assembled yourself fire up for the first time. I’d so much rather be in my dingy garage slowly making progress on my own project than stand around looking at cars that the owners have never laid a tool to.

Maybe I’m just sick of the whole “scene”. Maybe I just need a break. Whatever the problem really is, you can bet the next time I’m up at the crack of dawn on a day off, it will be because I’m headed off on some adventure, and not heading towards some parking lot to stand around.

I refuse to improve my photography skills.

DoYouEvenShift > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:12

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I agree 100%. I prefer the late night events on empty roads outside of town. Much fun

GhostZ > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:14

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Everything in moderation. I love car shows, but the joy would be lost if I did it weekly.

Tripper > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:20

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Lol I almost wish I hadn’t read this, as there is so much truth in what you say about car shows. I go to cars and coffee and whatever local shows are around for similar reasons. First of all as I car guy, I feel like I should go/should want to go.

Secondly and mainly, I’m chasing a little sliver of hope that I will bump into someone that might provide some direction, a contact, or even an opportunity to work in or around the automotive field.

I have a good job and I’m good at it, but I don’t particularly love the industry. I figure if I meet more car people, and do as much car stuff as I can, then is slightly increases my chances.

Sneaky Pete > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:25

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I’m very near that same point. One of my local Cars and Coffee events is downright miserable now. Horribly overcrowded and basically the same cars. Plus, once you’ve seen one late model Camaro, Mustang, Corvette...you’ve essentially seen them all. I don’t care to look at 25+ of each.

The other local Cars and Coffee is still a bit interesting, because we do get some truly rare and interesting cars there.

thebigbossyboss > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:26

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This year I went to more car shows than any other. I drive a rice rocketed Cavalier with over 100,000 miles. I have enjoyed myself but the constant looking down on others cars get tiring. I like all cars. Well except Volvo’s and Camrys. I met good people this year.

Svend > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:49

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I’m not so much about car shows but car detailing meet ups are great. People show up in all manner of cars that are incredibly well looked after, get to look at new car cleaning products and see them demonstrated and even have a go. There are cleaning products to suit all types of pockets from big spenders to more frugal car cleaners. You get to meet all types of people from all types of profession and a great mix of from manufacturers, professional detailers to ‘weekend warriors’.

Grab Paddle > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 16:50

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The best part of a car show is the drive there and the drive home.

JustJim > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 17:05

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Maybe you should try to only do CnC once a month. Use it as a meeting point for you and some friends to go on a backroad cruise, and use the rest of your weekends to wrench.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > LemonsEngineer 11/03/2015 at 17:06

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I share your views ln volunteering for car shows. The one I do was much more exclusive to super cars, and It was tiring. I hated some of the owners.

Old Red Wagon > LemonsEngineer 11/04/2015 at 05:00

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I love car shows as much as the next person but at times they can be a pain. I went to the Frankfurt Auto Show last month and that was hands down the worst experience i have ever had at a car show. Insane amounts of people that you couldn’t move at times. People pushing each other trying to squeeze through the crowds. I didn’t get to see A LOT of things due to the crowds. I didn’t have a good time and my wife was miserable as well so we called it quits pretty early on. Terrible experience. Never again will i go to that clusterfuck.

LemonsEngineer > JustJim 11/04/2015 at 08:28

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I went to maybe 3 shows this year total, and I still didn’t enjoy myself. I think i need a year off. The other problem is most of the shows in New England are nowhere near good roads, so getting there and back is just a highway jaunt.

JustJim > LemonsEngineer 11/04/2015 at 09:07

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Our CnC here in Indy is a ten minute highway ride as well, and our best roads an hour away so I get it.

I agree with most of what you said, but I don’t usually interact with the other owners so I’m not exposed to that much negativity. I usually wonder about looking for what’s new or different.

Hopefully you’ll get the love back. Enjoy your free time.