I do not understand car shows...

[gnosez]

Every owner and his/her car has a story. Why that specific car, that year, that model, those modifications, etc. Some folks want to own the vehicle that they drove to the prom or the first new car they ever bought with their own money, or the one they got after getting back from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Gulf I/II. The one they got lucky in.

Stop at any car and ask these questions and all of a sudden you'll have the owner talking your ears off and maybe you'll find yourself a new friend in the bargain.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Since my 71Z is almost done I thought I would enter it in a local car show in Moline, IL. There were over 400 cars entered. A friend told me this was a car club show, and if I wasn't a member don't expect any awards. Since this was my first car show ever i didn't have any high expectations. In the end over 40 awards were handed out. I noticed that there really wasn't any category for foriegn cars anyway. However, as my wife and I sat by our Z car that day, I noticed something kinda funny. Although we were surrounded by old hotrods, 67 Camaros, Mustangs, 57 Chevys, ect..ect...Almost every person that walked past our car would stop and talk to me about it. I even noticed the people on either side of me were acting a little jealous that I was getting so much attention. In fact I found it difficult to get away at times. I think since I'm here in the Mid-west, you just don't see these cars around here. Even with over 400 cars, I had seen everything in the hour or so. It turned out to be a really long day waiting for the awards to be announced. My wife and I agree that we will simply enjoy this car on our own terms, and maybe pop into a car show once in a while if we have nothing better to do that day.

Would it be possible for our cars to look any more alike.

I think your car looks spectacular.....stunning even!

Love the rims.

[Oiluj]

One of the awards I am going to add is the DIM (Did It Myself) award for interior/exterior/engine for each car with proof the owner did much if not all of the work in at least that one area. I know how hard it is to get the things on my own cars just the way I want them-and I recognize that effort in others. My belief is A passionate person spends Money and serious time on what they are actually passionate about.

I fully agree with this.

I did all the dis-assembly, prep, 80% of the interior work, upgraded the suspension & brakes, painted & polished detachable parts, installed after-market HVAC, fabricated custom parts and did all re-assembly myself. I even ended-up with 4 stitches in my finger in the process, but finished installing the diff before going to the emergency room...

I admit to just writing a check for the engine build and body paint, but to quote Dirty Harry, "a man's got to know his limitations". If you ask my wife, she'll be happy to tell you!

While my car is certainly not restored to show car level, I take satisfaction in how it turned-out and the effort it took to get it there.

Having gone through the process a few times, I REALLY appreciate the amount of work & money it takes to make a show winner...

[72 OJ]

To me the best car gathering is my local Sunday AM Coffee Meet , in Burtonsville MD. A very eclectic group of car and owners, American Muscle, Exotic Italians,Expensive Germans, Proper English Iron, the occasional Nippon and every thing in between . Some are show type and others like mine are well kept weather friendly drivers.Some owners are full of it and some are down to earth . It is a place to network and form new friends , lost of free advice on mechanical's and at times a helping hand on a needed repair.,,,,,,

Edited October 24, 2012 by 72 OJ

[madkaw]

Not to sound arrogant, but for me it is everyday I drive my car is a car show. Getting all the "thumbs up" and "nice car", and 'man that's SICK' is what it's about for me.

I didn't build my car for show, but for me it was wanting to beable to say "I did that". And the most important part of saying- I did that- was the personal touch I put on my car to make it different than anyone elses car.

I have only been to 2 Z car shows since my car was completed(never really done, but...) and it was all about the adventure of traveling there and hopefully meeting guys like you all there at the show. It's also about seeing things others have accomplished on their cars.

I did win people's choice at the midwest Z show in Ohio, which was greatest trophy I could have won. It showed me that my personalized car did strike a chord with others in what we thought looked good on a Z as far as tastefull mods. It's a shame it was so freaking hot that it took away from the fun of hanging about the cars and telling war stories.

As far as the judging-well at the midwest Z show it wasn't done all that great. I don't want to be critical becasue the judges were all voulenteers that had to work in the crazy heat. It was a lot of work to put on an event like that in that heat and the staff did a good job making sure everyone was as comfortable as possible. The biggest complaint I has was during their inspection the judging team left gas doors open on several early Z's and walked away. It was an easy way for damage to occur on these fragile cars.

Next year the midwest show is in my back yard and I hope to help and maybe use some stuff I learned to make the show a success. More than anything I hope to make more friends in the Z community

[jtmader]

" Please post pictures of your Lime( Nissan/Datsun/Dealer Resto) Z "

Best looking Vintage Z of all of them and the ONLY picture of someone else's Z I have framed and hanging on the wall. Superb car. This car is on the cover of my Vintage Z research essay.

Thanks very much 26th-Z....appreciate the kind words.

Jeff Mader

[jtmader]

Trophy or no trophy my butt.....you win first place at ZCON two years in a row.......no wonder you don't worry about it Mader.....and with legs like yours, you need a nice car to get a girl like Sue! Just remember.....in Savanah, I finished 2nd and you finished next to last!

Guy - if you notice I made no mention of my awards at ZCON 2010 and 2011....they are trophies and I really could care less (although kickin' your butt was as good as it gets)!! Really, I am kidding....Guy.....we both know what we are really after is a Gold Medallion. Anything less at ZCON is just "OK". Based on what I've seen with your latest Z my money is on you in 2013 for a Gold Medallion. Oh and thanks for the kind words....as always!!

[Jim-n-Texas]

One more note about the local hot rod car club - when they do their annual car show, the vehicles of the members are not eligible to win any of the awards. They display them for show only and give out participant's choice and people's choice trophies. Bring the Z to the Baytown show.

[Diseazd]

Guy - if you notice I made no mention of my awards at ZCON 2010 and 2011....they are trophies and I really could care less (although kickin' your butt was as good as it gets)!! Really, I am kidding....Guy.....we both know what we are really after is a Gold Medallion. Anything less at ZCON is just "OK". Based on what I've seen with your latest Z my money is on you in 2013 for a Gold Medallion. Oh and thanks for the kind words....as always!!

Jeff.....All joking aside.....the people are what makes the shows great. ZCON is an awesome collection of the very, very best of Z people, and no matter how you spin it, the prettiest car wins......."don't hate them cause they're beautiful"! The closest thing to what it looked like from the factory or the one with the best paint, interior and engine bays win (as it should be). You're car looked superb, but the thing I enjoyed most of the whole Savannah experience was the people. Meeting members of this forum and all the other folks that love their Z's so much is what it's really all about. "Mad Mike", Bob and Carol Sharp, Carl Beck, Jim Frederick and Sheila and yes, Jeff and Sue Mader.... all the other great Z people were what I brought back from Savannah......it's what I remember. And if you look at the pistures I took at ZCON, it's the people that I tried to capture......Vince, SteveJ, Will, Eiji, Vince etc. etc. etc.. is what I tried to capture. And yes after I lost to your awesome Z, and finished crying (cause there is no one's butt I wanted to kick more than yours), I came to the realization that the real trophy was the fantastic people I had met. If you've never attended a ZCON, you really need to make an effort to go. Just don't worry about the damned trophy.....because you know that your car is the best of show in your mind, and that's all that really counts!

[ninjazombiemaster]

Related...

Any ZCONs or good shows in or around Salt Lake? I feel like I'm next to alone out here.

Mines no show car, but I'd love to take it to a few.

[jtmader]

Jeff.....All joking aside.....the people are what makes the shows great. ZCON is an awesome collection of the very, very best of Z people, and no matter how you spin it, the prettiest car wins......."don't hate them cause they're beautiful"! The closest thing to what it looked like from the factory or the one with the best paint, interior and engine bays win (as it should be). You're car looked superb, but the thing I enjoyed most of the whole Savannah experience was the people. Meeting members of this forum and all the other folks that love their Z's so much is what it's really all about. "Mad Mike", Bob and Carol Sharp, Carl Beck, Jim Frederick and Sheila and yes, Jeff and Sue Mader.... all the other great Z people were what I brought back from Savannah......it's what I remember. And if you look at the pistures I took at ZCON, it's the people that I tried to capture......Vince, SteveJ, Will, Eiji, Vince etc. etc. etc.. is what I tried to capture. And yes after I lost to your awesome Z, and finished crying (cause there is no one's butt I wanted to kick more than yours), I came to the realization that the real trophy was the fantastic people I had met. If you've never attended a ZCON, you really need to make an effort to go. Just don't worry about the damned trophy.....because you know that your car is the best of show in your mind, and that's all that really counts!

Guy - very well said....I was looking at it from an "awards" perspective.....you're right it's all about the people.

[TomoHawk]

IMO (from experience with my car and some hand-built customs) you need to remember a few things about car shows, and trophies:

#1: Show car = NEW car. If it's not chromed, shiny, or perfectly painted, forget winning a trophy.

#2: Cool car NOT equals votes! Please refer to #1. I have 10x more visitors/chats than other cars, but the "show cars" always get the votes!

#3: Trophies don't mean squat. I take the "plastic tube" out of my trophies (even the First place one) and bolt it back together. Only the headpiece and the base with the engraved label remain, and they are now 5 inches tall. You can fit them on your average bookshelf that way

#4: Judges don't care how popular your car is: A judged show is close to rule#1 because (usually) people with money (checkbook cars) usually get all those glitzy chemicals o the car to make it shiny, and the judges go for the blingy stuff over the original interior, wheels and paint. That is, unless you are at a marque-specific show.

that's why being in a club, going to shows as a club, and regional Z meets have the significant advantage of getting you the recognition you deserve for your efforts. Even the 350Z guys will appreciate your car and your efforts over the checkbook ones.

To me, a real "trophy" is when people point to your car, or the engine, or center console, or whatever, and say, " look at what he did..." or something like that. Then you have people all over referring to you or your car, and making a special trip to check it out...

Edited October 26, 2012 by TomoHawk