Car Show observation

[RECHRGD]

I drove about 300 miles (round trip) to a Mopar show yesterday.  There were around 75 cars there and about ten in the 'B' Body Dodge class (no stock or modified classes).  Although it wasn't raining, alot of the cars did not open their hoods or trunks.  In fact, my car was the only one in my class that had both trunk and hood open for viewing.  There was a SuperBee that had it's hood open and had a well detailed engine bay.  I'm not whining about not winning a trophy (have plenty of them in the garage), but, 1st, 2nd & 3rd places went to three 3rd generation Chargers that were shut up tight.  When I'm judging others cars, I rarely even consider A car that doesn't open up at least the hood.  I figure, if it looked good under there, they'd show it off.  Hey, I think my car looks better with the hood and trunk closed, maybe that's the way I should show it.  Bob

[bull]

There's a lot of screwy things that go on at car shows, especially when there are trophies involved.

[ChargerSG]

I keep my Hood and trunk closed at showns but if someone that are very keen to see them i let them. Any pictures of the show?

[Charger1973]

Of course everyone likes to see whats under it, but you can get a better view of the car with the hood closed.  As for leaving my hood open at a car show?  I would never unless I was watching it closely... theres alot of people with sticky fingers.  Thats one of the reasons my fender tag is locked up safely with my title, and wont be going back on the car. 

[Troy]

I always have my hood and trunk closed on the Barracuda - mainly so I don't have to listen to the Mopar "experts" tell me that the engine compartment isn't supposed to be black but also because the car is a "driver" and looks much better on the outside. However, I also don't enter judged shows. I went to one and the judges asked to see under the hood and in the trunk so I showed them (after a warning that it definitely wouldn't help). I didn't want a trophy but I did win a set of plastic cups just for being there. As a spectator, I like it when the doors, hood, and trunk are closed because my pictures look better but then I can't get shots of the engine or interior so that sucks.

Troy

[RECHRGD]

HMMMM, at most of the shows (of any size) I've attended over the years, the majority of the cars have had the hoods and trunks open.  I like to see what effort has gone into the total detailing of the car.  Anybody can buy a paint job somewhere and make their car look good from the outside, while leaving a rusty trunk and a greasy untouched engine under the hood.  That's why when you go to a judged show, there is no choice in the matter.  I'm not a trailer queen fan, but love to see cars that are driven and still look like they could have arrived on a trailer.  Just my preferrence.   Bob

[Silver R/T]

I like how 2nd gen chargers looks just sitting with everything closed and windows rolled down

[moparguy01]

im not fond of the patented car show look of "lets toss a hand grenade in the car and run away so everything is blown open"

so i keep my stuff closed.

[Chris G.]

At a show, the general consensus is to at least have the hood open. At a cruise, you do pretty much whatever you want. I like keeping the hood closed, but at a show, it seems like most people want to see the orange behemoth under the hood... dirty as always.

My Hang 10 hood never comes up, regardless of where I am. It's just a 318 in an A-Body that doesn't impress many people. The stripe on the hood is a key part of the car, and opening the hood would wreck the whole "look".

[whitehatspecial]

I agree with you, if you can't judge a part of the car they should get 0 points. It might have been a "show and shine" show where judging was based solely on the judges' favorite car.

My engine bay isn't perfect but still represents a lot of work so I show it. Frig the trophies.

[69_500]

Wait a second did I see that Troy mentioned that he takes photo's at shows? Where are some pics from the show this weekend Troy? I"m all dissapointed, I thought I was the only one who took days to post photo's. Oh wait I take months.

[charger490]

i got this at our car show today with hood and trunk open . i took my 66 charger

[no318]

I have helped with a local car show for the last 5 years and been in charge of judges/judging.  MOST shows have points for underhood and trunk as well as paint/body, interior, etc.  BUT, some smaller shows that are participant vote may not matter.  All bets are off.  Obvuiosly people vote for what they "prefer" and their friends cars.  If you are referring to the show in Omaha, that may have been the case.  I went, but did not take a car, so I can't say.  There were some nice cars there.  Nice day for it.

[Blakcharger440]

There's a lot of screwy things that go on at car shows, especially when there are trophies involved.

Exactly. I usually go in thinking that the "local" cars are going to win because everyone knows them and will
give them the trophy even if the car is not actually better than alot of the competing cars....that is how it is around here at least.

[Brock Samson]

i never even concider getting a trophy, with the hood up and the black spray bombed fire wall and engine compartment showing it pretty much nixes any chance of reciving anything but lots of ... 

but i don't really care,.. i enjoy my car most out on the road, critics be dammed.. 

[BrianShaughnessy]

I open the hood and leave the trunk closed because I keep my stuff locked up so I can go look around.   
If I had a show trunk like 6T9's stock looking deal I might reconsider but I don't...   I did put a Cragar in the back in place of the old painted steelie 
If I leave the hood shut somebody asks me to open it...   if I leave it open some people ask me to close it to take a pic.   Frankly I'd rather take pics of cars with the hoods closed.

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Which car show were you at?

[41husk]

most local shows around here, they ask you to open hoods and trunks, put up convertible tops,  They can't make you do anything and taje points off if you don't.  I don't care about the trophy, I really like to here people talk about cars they had and admire my car, "hey! look JR, I had one just like that when I was in High School".  You also need to be thick skinned, because you will also here "those cars are way to big, I prefer Mustangs" or "I don't know why he put that stripe on there, only R/Ts had that stripe in 68" or my favorite, "Do you know there is a flaw in your paint right here"  No I have washed and waxed this think a bazillion times and never noticed that flaw you discovered in 2 minutes looking around it, I am so glad you mentioned it to me.

[6670charger]

I don't go to judged shows.  There are way too many stupid rules, and the judges don't have any particular standards they have to adhere to.   Often it's what they feel is right or wrong, and they aren't always right.  I go to local shows, and ones where there is particiipant judging.   I realize that these are even worse than judged from the respect of people not knowing what they're looking at, but I also don't worry about winning, either.   The ONLY  shows where I've ever won a trophy is at a participant judged all-Mopar show.  I already know that when my car is placed against any GM or Ford product, my Dodge will lose.   It just isn't as popular as a GTO, Mustang or Camaro. 

I open my hood since I'm not embarassed by what's underneath.  I used to open my trunk, but that meant having to take all my personal belongings out of the trunk and hide them somewhere.  I've had way more problems with people pilfering my stuff laying behind the car than anyone messing with the car itself.  Now I leave my stuff in the trunk and the trunk closed.  It doesn't get judged anyway.

Eric

[68chrgrwife]

My chally was a 10 footer, but when we did take it to the car show we left the hood open.  It was pretty ugly under there, but I figured who cares.  I know hubby takes pictures of engines so he can see what he has missing or how people wire their car up.  I feel that it helps...if you have your stuff properly wired.

[1972Rallye]

I usually prefer to leave the hood down... the cars just look better that way! Besides, one time I walked back to my car to see some moron bending over my fender trying to see the casting numbers on my exhaust manifold...  IDIOT!

[Charger1973]

I usually prefer to leave the hood down... the cars just look better that way! Besides, one time I walked back to my car to see had some moron bending over my fender trying to see the casting numbers on my exhaust manifold...  IDIOT!

Exactly why I would leave mine closed up if I was to ever leave it alone.  Same goes for the doors/windows and trunk. 

[almerkel]

Shows are "judged" as the judges want.  If there are judges there and they use judging sheets, it would be normal to have ood, trunk, and interior jdged as well.  I guess that having the trunk closed get 100% of the points because there are no defects visible.      

[Troy]

Wait a second did I see that Troy mentioned that he takes photo's at shows? Where are some pics from the show this weekend Troy? I"m all dissapointed, I thought I was the only one who took days to post photo's. Oh wait I take months.

Well, I haven't exactly made it home yet...

Troy