By Kane Potter


So I read and even reposted the article recently about the death of the car show due to meet styled events.
Well I've been doing some thinking. That's not all that true. Let me explain why.

Since the birth of the automobile folks like you and I, gear heads as society calls us. We have been modifying
cars and showing them off. With the ever growing need to show off, the car show or then known as the "car
cruise" were born. However so was the beginning of racing. Car cruises still exist and are very similar to our
"car meets". Eventually a car show scene was born by companies hosting larger events and offering
trophies, along w charging for entry. These events were a great way for car clubs to get together outside of
the typical drive in cruise or race track get together, as well, they could walk away with a trophy to show off
to every other club. Car shows also draw attention from vendors locally.

Well the point of all this is, the car cruise came before the "car show" and yet, a very solid show scene was
birthed from this, despite cruises not offering trophies or charging for entry.

You may now say, so why is the show scene declining so fast??? Well as we have all felt the squeeze on
money, extras like building a show car have been removed or dropped on the priority list. The last time
our Nation had a recession we were given "rat rods". We currently see the new age version of this in
our modern day society. Whether it be a Honda, Ford, Hyundai, or any other affordable vehicle that seems
to be ugly but under construction. Usually these are performance driven, or show characteristics of a show
car, without the flash or bling.

The other issue with our current show scene is forums. Join any forum or automotive Facebook group
these days. The moment someone mentions building a show car and not a performance driven car, the
ridicule begins. The keyboard warrior has changed the way people build their cars. Even I went through
this. I had a Saturn and put lambo doors on it, custom interior, I truly wanted to keep putting into it to
make it a show car. But after time on forums, I was ridiculed so I hard I truly began to believe these
were distasteful, so I began to change the direction of my car. These days I am glad that happened
because I was able to drive my car and enjoy it more, but nobody should be ostracized for wanting
to be all show, and no go, or some show and some go. People will build what their wallets can handle,
and who are we to judge? As gear heads young or old we should respect the work put into any car
truck or SUV, even if we don't find it to be our taste. Once the acceptance of show cars comes back,
the sooner we will see true shows that are fairly judged.