Car Show Etiquette

[Black Gold 380R]

Hello Everyone,

With car show season just around the corner, I was wondering how most of you feel about car show etiquette or the lack of?

I was reading on the Classic Mustang forum that some guys avoid car shows because parents do not pay attention to their kids and instead of teaching the kids/parents proper car show etiquette they would rather avoid the hassle and car show all together.

So, I was wondering how my fellow SVT brothers and sisters feel about that?

Do you avoid car shows to avoid the hassle?

Do you politely correct parents or kids who hover jewelry, purses, belt buckles or other objects over or around your car?

Do you say anything to people who lean on your car?

Do you put up signs telling people not to touch?

How do you handle the situation?

This is how I have dealt with it in the past:

I have no problem telling the parents or the kids (with the parents in ear shot) to back away or be careful around my car. I spent a lot of time and money on my car and if parents or kids do not understand that, tough S#!T! If the parents give me a "look" I would tell them exactly where to put their stupid look LOL.

Also, in my experience, it's not just kids. I went to a local cruise in once. An old man (probably in his 60s) decided to lean up against the QTR panel of my 65 while talking to his buddies. I quickly went over and told him something. He apologized, but still, a guy his age should definitely know better.

I tell everyone to get off or back away from my car. I have no problems teaching people proper car show etiquette LOL...

 

[specracer]

Ive gravitated to doing Cars and Coffees, vs all day shows. Generally it seems like the CnC group is more aware. Another thing, some of our cars are 100% PPF'd, that helps, as its unlikely to get scratched. Ive found Im only good for an hour or 2, then I get bored. The "all day" car show, I'm just not into, unless its a biggie like Carlisle, and the MCA upcoming 60th. Both of which Im not taking any cars to. Taking a break from the trailering, prep etc.

And yes for sure I would politely say something if I saw something.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Ive gravitated to doing Cars and Coffees, vs all day shows. Generally it seems like the CnC group is more aware. Another thing, some of our cars are 100% PPF'd, that helps, as its unlikely to get scratched. Ive found Im only good for an hour or 2, then I get bored. The "all day" car show, I'm just not into, unless its a biggie like Carlisle, and the MCA upcoming 60th. Both of which Im not taking any cars to. Taking a break from the trailering, prep etc.

And yes for sure I would politely say something if I saw something.

I'm definitely with you on the shorter is better. My 65 has been finished since May of 2022. I have only been to one major car show with it. Mustangs by the Bay in San Diego. It was actually very nice. Nothing happened and everyone was very respectful of my 65. One lady asked if she could sit in it and have me take her picture.

I have taken my 65 to a couple cruise in's near my house. That's the one where the old guy leaned up against my car.

I do feel the cruise ins or C&C crowd are more aware, but unfortunately so far that's where I had to provide car show etiquette lessons LOL...

 

[Morgan]

If I'm at a car show (rarely), it's as a spectator and I absolutely remind my kids to look with their eyes and maintain distance.

I'm hearing that C&C meets are instituting restrictions to prevent domestics like Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers, etc. from attending. Saw it as a headline somewhere and a friend mentioned it was true for Houston. I guess it's a result of these cars being affiliated with disruptive behavior, a la street takeovers.

Makes sense, but sucks for the good guys.

 

[Bullitt1448]

We know how much time, effort, and money goes into our cars, the average family that attends a car show usually has no idea. They think the cars are like their dailies and often treat them that way. I also find at car shows the cars are parked too close together.

 

[01yellercobra]

I haven't had too many issues at shows. One year I was at a show where a guy was just walking up and trying to open doors on cars. He was up to something though. We all spotted him quickly and made sure he left.

The only other bad one was the girlfriend of the previous owner decided to put her hand on my car while talking about missing it. Before I could say anything, he grabbed her and moved her away. But I made sure she saw me grab the quick detailer and wipe her hand print off.

IMO, it's the quality of the show or car meet that you go to that makes the difference. The shows I go to seem to understand more about the etiquette. And I stay away from the meets where the crowds are younger. Though I've seen "kids" pull their friends as they were getting close to my car while walking by.

 

[TerminatoRS]

I hold my hands behind my back or in my pockets when checking out other cars. That's my way of signaling to the owner that I'm not anyone to be worried about.

I haven't had any issues that I can recall. Mostly get late teens into early 20s coming up with their phones out. Had two kids last year literally jog over after I parked the Cobra. They had what looked like a nice camera (I know nothing about cameras) and I overheard them say something like "I think that's a Terminator" as they went by me. That made me feel special. lol I was shocked kids that age knew what it was or even gave a damn. Even a Hellcat leaving the show stopped in front of my car and checked her out.

I don't want anyone touching my beaters, but if they farted next to the Vette, I wouldn't care so much. She's far from perfect so a greasy booger isn't going to hurt it. The Cobra would be a different story.

All day shows...ugh. I'm with you guys; unless it's a monster show, I can only walk passed the same cars so many times. We do an annual show at work and I stay the whole time mostly because I'm one of 3 managers and I think it'd look bad if I shagged ass early without helping out.

 

[Ryan2KRedL]

About 10 years ago I stopped going to car shows. Between the kids/adults rubbing up against, touching car, trying to lean into window, underhood, etc it became more stressful for me than fun.
Plus there's always the hilarious part of listening to people tell their buddies about my car/mods and constantly misquote or just plain wrong. LOL! If I had a nickel for everytime someone said my TTSaleen had twin superchargers. Haha.
Last year I went to a local cars & coffee event. I can say it was so packed that it was hard to walk around and see everything.
The majority of folks did seem to care about not touching the car, but there were lots of youngin's there revving their cars every 5 seconds and constantly cruising around the middle of the parking area.
I decided I had not missed much of the "Car show" scene and haven't been back.

EDIT -
Here's a picture from the last car show I was in 2013.
This was where the reasoning behind my post above.


Ryan

 

[13COBRA]

I have 0 interest in hanging around a car show. lol

I do that Mon-Fri with whatever cars we have on the showroom floor that week. I don't need to do it on my spare time.

But maybe, it's because my racecar is always broken. lol

 

[Black Gold 380R]

The only other bad one was the girlfriend of the previous owner decided to put her hand on my car while talking about missing it. Before I could say anything, he grabbed her and moved her away. But I made sure she saw me grab the quick detailer and wipe her hand print off.

Damn Bob, that had me literally laughing. I pictured you doing it and the look on her face LMAO!!!

But I'm with you. That would piss me off too.

 

[Pribilof]

I'll go to a cars n coffee with my daughters because they enjoy it. Folks that go to those are generally also car people and get the no touching rules.

Other people are idiots. I'll never go to car shows that are "events" where regular people attend. Most people are absolutely clueless.

I had to post a large sign on my Vette when we sold a previous house: "OK to look, please no touching." The first couple of showing people left handprints etc all over it. Just totally disrespectful. I have cameras in the garage. This was a multi million dollar home. You'd have thought people would be respectful of other people's property. After the sign was posted people laughed at it but nobody touched the car.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

I'm hearing that C&C meets are instituting restrictions to prevent domestics like Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers, etc. from attending. Saw it as a headline somewhere and a friend mentioned it was true for Houston. I guess it's a result of these cars being affiliated with disruptive behavior, a la street takeovers.

Hmm, that's interesting. I completely understand it though. Normally the younger folks don't know how to act. As I typed that, I realized it's a lot of folks, not just the younger ones, who act retarded at car meets LOL.

However, most of the YouTube videos I see are of domestics crashing as they leave the venue trying to show off....

 

[Relaxed Chaos]

Is it wrong to make sarcastic remarks to car owners that trailer their car in and push it off the trailer, push it around the lot, and back on the trailer?

 

[Recon]

I don’t have any signs but if someone, children or not, is touching or leaning on the car. I’ll normally just say off the car. Most of the time it’s not an issue, but occasionally it happens. And rarely do people get offended/defensive about it.


Sent from somewhere in the twilight zone…

 

[01yellercobra]

Is it wrong to make sarcastic remarks to car owners that trailer their car in and push it off the trailer, push it around the lot, and back on the trailer?

I think it depends on the car. If it's a 1000 point full restoration or all original stocker, I'll be a little more lenient. If it's just a nice build (Kindigit, Foose, etc.) I'll talk trash about not at least driving it into the show.

I have to find my sign that says you can touch the car if you're naked. One of my friends has threatened to take me up on it. I told him I'll record it.

I wonder if it's also because I tend to hang out by my car at shows and stuff and I've been told once or twice I'm kind of mean looking?

 

[OX1]

I voted "clueless", as I don't know what Car Shoe Etiquette is?

​

 

[Black Gold 380R]

I voted "clueless", as I don't know what Car Shoe Etiquette is?

​

LMAO!!! Just know I did "NOT" place that poll in this thread.

I'm assuming Brad did @03cobra#694 . He's famous for making polls that mock the OP. I actually voted for "Can't believe OP can spell Etiquette" LMAO!!!

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Is it wrong to make sarcastic remarks to car owners that trailer their car in and push it off the trailer, push it around the lot, and back on the trailer?

As mentioned above it depends.

There is an all Ford's car show just inside NM on April 13th. It's being held at a casino. It's technically right next to El Paso (i.e. considered El Paso), but on the other side of town from me.

I plan on trailering my 65 out there if the weather is nice that day. However, I will be driving my 65 off the trailer and into the show.

My 65 is perfectly capable of being driven out there from my home. And although some might make fun of me for trailering my car out there, I will not risk an accident. The morning traffic is expected to be light. However, on the way home, in the afternoon, all the retards will be out.

 

[Relaxed Chaos]

As mentioned above it depends.

There is an all Ford's car show just inside NM on April 13th. It's being held at a casino. It's technically right next to El Paso (i.e. considered El Paso), but on the other side of town from me.

I plan on trailering my 65 out there if the weather is nice that day. However, I will be driving my 65 off the trailer and into the show.

My 65 is perfectly capable of being driven out there from my home. And although some might make fun of me for trailering my car out there, I will not risk an accident. The morning traffic is expected to be light. However, on the way home, in the afternoon, all the retards will be out.

You know that people towing trailers also get into accidents...

 

[Black Gold 380R]

You know that people towing trailers also get into accidents...

I do, but I would rather risk a fender bender with my truck or trailer than with my 65.

Basically my truck is the blocker LMAO!!!