should i partcipate.. need opinions

[tim21391]

i go to college for automotive restoration technology.. so my college is known for restoring cars and learning everything bumper to bumper.. and as all yall know my truck i redone and just needs painted for the most part.. the cab is in primer along with the front clip.. and a small section on the bedside that i fixed a tad bit of rust.. and theres a few hail dents and a few dings from when i transported my bed places when i had the truck tore apart nothing major dent wise.. but theres a car show that they are expecting a great turn out.. and the student section is for all us restoration majors.. would it be a good idea to enter it just to show that its being done or what? im 19 and other people might think its trashy and im not up to par with all that mumbo jumbo.. what do u all think?..it'll be free to enter since im a student

[oldblue1968chevy]

heck why not lol im cruisin with no bed and trailer lights!!!!! Who cares it'll be fun go for it

[70cst]

tim21391...do what makes you feel good. You will be a winner either way! JMHO

[Leviticus]

I just got my truck in our local car show parade, it was a blast! They block off the streets and let us all cruise and rev em out etc. I was the only 67-72 chevy truck in the whole deal, but I had a blast!

Our car shows are all model A's, 55-57 Bel Air's, a few chevelle's and Camaro's but never many trucks. I say go for it, even the trailer queens were at the stage you are at now...well unless they bought it at Barret Jackson

Take some pics!

[N2TRUX]

Yes, you should do it. But you need to do it for the right reasons. Your going there to show off your pride and joy and talk trucks/cars with folks that enjoy them. DO NOT do it and worry about what the judges think, or any awards. Just enjoy the day for what it is.

I have had cars/trucks that have won some rather prestigious awards. I wouldn't trade a single one of them for the friends I made while going to car shows. I meet some life long friends that would never have happened had I not attended.

[burbguy]

I agree with everybody here... Don't worry about the politics of car shows, and remember be proud of what you have, and that your showing it for you, and not for anybody else. Your only bringing it out as a glimpse of what it's evolving into...!!

[vectorit]

The first year I had my burb, I basically put a new set tires on it and scrubbed the rust holes so they wouldn't look so bad. Paint was faded down to the metal on the hood with primer spots all over the place, and the interior was complete but ragged. This was before the whole trend of worn shabby chic cars/trucks.

I started buying restoration parts just to get it road worthy, and the shop that I was buying from was sponsoring a giant Chevy truck show. The shop workers there talked me into going, while my girl friend kept asking me "are you sure"? with a worried look on her face.

Well, I roll into this show worried I'd be looked at or treated like the family drunk at Thanksgiving dinner. I parked, and the girlfriend and I split to look at the clean rides to get away from my rig really
I get back, and the guys parked next to me were all saying, where did you run off to?!? People have been asking all kinds of questions about your truck, and the judges were asking why I didn't enter it...
I though they were just pulling my leg, but really everyone did get a kick out of it and wanted to look her all over. I learned so much from everyone, and talking to like minded people it was very cool. That's the day I decided to really go all out in getting my burb to the way it is today.

So, I say do it! You will meet all kinds of cool people that have the same interest as you do in trucks like yours, and you will get a lot of interesting comments that will make you think differently about what your direction may be (at least it did with me). I thought it was a huge boost in my motivations, and was amazing to me that so many people are envious of people like us that have the talent and will to make old trucks look and run so good.

Go have fun!

[cdowns]

a car show is a great way to spend a day. you never know who you'll end up talking to and what you may gain out of it. i've run into great scores of cars and parts just by standing around talking to people answering questions on my builds and you never can rule out the possibility in your situation there maybe some owners of local shops attending looking for young guys to bring into thier shops as part timers

as far as the awards thing go take that with a grain of salt

[big_al_71]

Yes go and show your pride and joy that you worked on!!!!

I went to a car/truck show last year and they put me in a class where there were over 15 trucks so what they did bunched up all the trucks together. I thought to my self well at least I can hang out and look at all the nice rides since there were several true show trucks that were brought in trailers and mine is a driver not a show queen well guess what I got second place and it felt good because I thought I had zero chance to place top five even. I got to drive mine there and enjoyed the day.

Go for it and take lots of picts to share with us....

[Hottrucks]

not sure what your truck looks like but prime it out take off the hub caps and run it in there old school....


oh and you can't beat the parking..it beats walking to get in and you can always leave early

[tim21391]

thanks guys i might just actually do it.. heres a pic of the ol girl

[slomotion]

I would take it to the show without a second thought! Next year you can take it again with pictures of this years show just to prove the progress. Like everyone above has said, it's the people, the ideas, and when someone askes "are you doing the work?" you can tell them "As a matter of fact I am!". I will promise you someone will tell you that they wished they had your situation when they were your age. Good luck!

[mclairmo]

You should do it and you will be surprised at the nice comments you will receive. People will understand that your truck is a work in progress and will enjoy seeing what you have done so far. Just realize that you may get one or two haters but they're idiots. You are there to talk cars, meet some cool guys/gals and have fun, not win the best of show trophy. I've never won an award at a car show but I still enjoy it. Also, entering the show gives you awesome parking and allows you a great "home base" to look at the other cars. If you get tired, take a nap in the truck.

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

not sure what your truck looks like but prime it out take off the hub caps and run it in there old school....


oh and you can't beat the parking..it beats walking to get in and you can always leave early

hell I'd do just what I said pull the rest of the trim and give it a quick coat of primer rattle can your wheels..then a cheap roll of black window tint on the back window and I ........wait then it would be my truck??

[breeh]

I think that what you are hearing here is what you will be hearing at the show because these are the people that go to these shows. Go in with realistic expectations and have a good time. It really is about the camaraderie. Graduate with some skills and you will be taking it to SEMA someday!