Anyone ever enter a car show?

It tows my 77 lb kayak on a 14' boat trailer. But so could a junk Chevy Spark if it had a hitch.

 

Amen brother. Thank you. Yeah there are the usual corvettes, mustangs etc but the last time I went there was some new jeeps. It is exactly like you described food music and people just enjoying cars. Nobody cares if they win.

 

They’re all gonna laugh at you! Seriously, don’t enter your 4Runner…don’t even use it to go to a car show…unless you take all that stuff off

 

There are jeeps there. I’m going.

 

@morfdq , honestly, it depends on the show.

Some shows are all about old muscle cars, or classic cars. But, some shows are open to all types.

In my area, we have "cars and coffee" shows that tend to be more welcoming. I've pulled the 4Runner in a few of these, and even gotten a few compliments.

Do what you want, and have fun!

 

I really like your post because I can see how much you love your 4Runner and thats really cool. And I love the positivity that exudes from the idea of taking your car to a car show.

The 4Runner is a super common SUV. It might be more car show material in a few years but right now it would be like taking a Camry to a car show. No one goes to car shows to see the common, run of the mill stuff.

And now to be brutal. Your 4runner looks like a lot of 4runners, tacomas, even Rav4's i see in parking lots. People are exited to spend a little money and want a unique car so they get accesories like the max trax mounted on the side there. Its totally not unique at all. So now you have this common vehicle with common accesories. Not even mods really. Just accesories. This is how you'd be looked at, at a car show.

Again. Excellent attitude. I admire it. However 4runners now are better suited for a 4runner or 4x4 group meet.

 

Thats so bad ass

 

I guess If it is a toyota specific car show. I entered a Mitsubishi specific car show when i was younger, I'm sure those kind are still out there. But me personally would save the 25$ and just go to mingle.

 

Not in my 4runner as Im new to this game and never entered in a car show.

But in my Tacoma there was a local car show to me every Saturday during the summer months. My wife worked at the restaurant that put on the show. So when I had some free days, I'd bring my truck and the kids, open up the roof top tent and hang out. I was surrounded by beautiful cars and true car guys and gals. But the tent would draw huge crowds. Was kind of fun.

 

The OP will be fine at the show . Ft. Myers is down here in SW Florida where RTT are not at all common. Scarce actually.
Pop that baby up and people will stop by to see it .

 

Back when I lived in Michigan, I had a 1972 Buick Riviera that I took to local car shows. Drove it, didn’t trailer it. 455 C.I.D. V-8, 4 bbl carb, dual exhaust, front bucket seats, center shift / console.

It had that Corvette style rear glass, some people called the rear end design “boat tail”. It had a hood 20 miles long. Maybe some of you can picture the ‘72 Riv’. It was a blast to own. Sold it- didn’t bring it down to Texas with me. Kicking myself in the ass these days for selling it. I should’a kept it.

l never took it to the shows to enter it in any sort of completions or contests. Just to display it.

 

OK here you go- for you young whipper-snappers who’ve never seen a ‘72 Buick Riviera. A couple pics I just pulled off the ‘net. I miss mine dang it. Mine was that cream yellow color with the dark brown vinyl roof, just like the one in that top pic.

 

i’ll have to dig up some old pics of my #’s matching 69’ 442. 4 speed (M21 muncie) with a 400 ci and 3.91 posi rear. That was the first car I bought in 1990 when I was in HS. Sadly a drunk driver hit it while parked in front of my parents house and destroyed it. Sold it as a “parts car” :-(

 

nice!!!

 

Mmm mmm mmmmmm!

 

There's nothing quite like those old American boats!

My mom's BF has a few cool vehicles, the most interesting being a '67 Plymouth GTX Hemi, convertible. Full frame off, numbers matching restoration. I got a ride in it at the Concours D Elegance in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and it felt like we were celebrities driving along with people lining the streets and waving.

It's actually for sale right now, in case anyone has $300K burning a hole in their pocket.

 

Thank you. I appreciate the words. Yeah Ive been there to the Ft Myers "car show". Yes, technically it is a car show with food, music and about 100 cars. But nobody cares if they win, its just a bunch of people who love cars. There are new jeeps and some pickups who enter. I figure, why not join the fun? Its not like its some crazy exotic car show where there is an entrance fee etc. Everything is free and the winner gets a $25 gift card to the restaurant where the show is held.

 

Nice - thank you. Im the OP thats exactly what I want to do. As I mentioned, I know i wont win but for me, its just about having fun and talking cars with other people.

 

@Thatbassguy This event is so welcoming, you have so many different cars - most of them are newer this is open to ANYTHING that has wheels. Its just about having some fun on a Tuesday afternoon. Thats it

 

I'd go, then.

These are my favorite types of shows. No theme. Just bring what you have and hang out. There's one like this at a local Toyota dealer, and I went last year with a few people from the Wisconsin Tacoma/4Runner group I hang out with.

 

What if you put a roof top tent on the Camry?

 

Turd gen best gen?

 

I'd vote 1st prize for a Camry with an RTT.

 

1st place for newest PCV valve.

 

Tough crowd here.

 

Can't help you with your actual question about rules and how not to be 'that guy' as i've never been in a car show myself. However, just do it and see how it goes. Best case scenario you'll get some people who like your car and want to chat it up, see what you got. I think worst case scenario is people just walk by with maybe just a glance. I 99.9% would say no one is going to bash your car, especially not to your face. Not much to lose for going.

I'd like to enter my mustang into our local car show, my only thing is i don't know if i can dedicate a half/whole day to sitting around talking cars with people, lol.

 

@morfdq, yes you are the OP! , don't listen to these mother truckers here, letting you think your rig is not car show worthy. In fact, you actually have a shot at something special if you go. I see you got an external molle panel, why don't you put one of the toilet paper holders outside (below). I am pretty sure you be the only one out there with this mod!