Classic car shows and meets are the glue of the local collector automotive community. They are a wonderful place where likeminded people gather to discuss what they share, a fervent passion for everything automotive. Whether it is your first meet, or you’ve a seasoned veteran, car meets are a fantastic way of gauging the pulse of your city’s local car culture.
Not only that, but car shows are often the birthplace of car enthusiasts. They are often the first real memory an enthusiast has of loving cars. Car shows also help expose people to new genres of car they would not otherwise be exposed to. I mean, where else can you find a factory original Mustang GT, sitting across the way from a Ford GT40, or a custom Mustang Elanor?
If you are planning on attending local classic car shows soon, it is important to know what to do and what not to do, as established from long held traditions and common sense. It is also important to know the things you should absolutely steer clear of doing. That is since not all is perfect in the world of car shows. Because just like everything else in the world, they are often ruined by jerks. Jerks that do wildly stupid, reckless things that can quickly shut a meet down, or worse, hurt someone.
So, if there are classic car shows looming on your schedule, or you plan on going in the future then lets get started:
Show Up Early
It is essentially if you plan on having a successful time at any car meet you attend, to arrive early to the meet and comfortably secure you spot. Depending on the specific type of meet, whether Cars and Coffee, Caffeine and Octane, or some other flavor of car meet, they are often jam packed with eager attendees.
It is not just other cars you have to worry about either, it is the massive crowds that always seem to congregate at just the right spot to perfectly inhibit your safe entrance. Showing up early is also a great way of seeing the best cars in action.
Seeing your favorite cars sit stationary is still something worthwhile, but there is nothing comparable to seeing them in action, even if it is just watching them maneuver into a parking spot.
So, do not forget to set your alarm clock for that obscenely early hour, and get ready to either park up, or be on the lookout for your favorite cars. Just as an aside, why are car meets always held at inhumanly early hours? Is it because they are typically held on weekends, and people have other things to do? I would understand that, but I have the inkling it is only designed to torture the night owls out there.
Don't Feel Intimidated Attending Your First Meet
This one is almost unavoidable. It can be a scary thing to attend your first car meet, especially if this is your first time going and you are going by yourself. It is almost like moving to a new school halfway through the year. You show up as the new kid, while everyone else as already established their respective cliques. This is, in some sense, an accurate representation of car meets. You will often see people communing in groups, but that is not to say that the car community is cliquey. So, while you may be the new kid on the block, it is important to remember that everyone has gone through this before.
Not only that, the car community, despite its less than savory elements, is an overwhelmingly positive community. Being bashful may be your first reaction to venturing into an entirely new environment, but do not be surprised when you feel the full front of the community’s embrace. Just like bonding over sports, few things can bring two seemingly antithetical people together like a shared passion for cars. So, get out there and do not feel frightened by the strangers in the crowds, because as the saying goes, a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.
Bring Water, Sunblock, and A Chair
Okay, you finally decided on the perfect car meet that you have your heart set on attending. You arrive early, and eagerly anticipate the arrival of the bulk of the meet’s lineup. Then it hits you, you will be spending the next few hours walking around the baking asphalt, completely unprotected from the sun. An hour into it, you realize that because of the sun, you are now incredibly thirsty, but the only water around is from an overpriced vendor.
So, the car meets ends, and you are now the proud owner of the world’s worst sun burn and are out of pocket on the world’s most overpriced bottle of water. Not a good start to your journey into the world of car meets. That is why is imperative to not let yourself get too fixated on the cars at the car meet and forget the essentials to taking care of yourself. My rule of thumb is to always prepare as if you are going to the beach, that way you are covered on multiple fronts.
Just like that, you are now more prepared than half of the car meet’s attendees. Don’t believe me? Just look at other people’s skin as the meet progresses, and you will undoubtedly notice a gradual transformation into a tomato of their faces.
Also, typically there are no seats except inside your car for a relaxing moment, so a portable chair is an easy solution for a periodic break or to simply hang out by your favorite classic car.
Bring Plenty of Detailing Supplies
This tip is for those actively participating in the car meet. Now, bringing your own car to a car meet can be a special nerve-racking experience. You are experiencing anxiety from countless sources. Whether that is you worrying about how your car will be received, how the audience will treat your car, or if there will be any kids out there hell-bent on scratching your car. With all these thoughts running through your head it can be easy to properly prepare your car for the meet.
I am not just talking about giving your car a quick wash and wax either. Throughout the course of the meet, even just the drive over to the location, your car will accumulate some dirt. Nothing ruins that sweet IG post faster than a dirty car.
Which is why bringing supplementary detailing products should be at the top of every car owner’s list when preparing for a car meet. It does not take much either, get a decent quality microfiber towel, and some quick spray detailer, and you got yourself a winning combination sure to have your car looking fresh for the public. I put together a “to go bag” for classic car meets with all the needed supplies to a quick detail so that I avoid forgetting anything; which includes various microfiber towels, dusting rod, detailer, glass cleaner, tire detailer and a few other handy products. Now all you must hope for, is that no unattended kids lay into the clear coat.
Follow Proper Parking Etiquette
This might be the most anxiety ridden moment of any car owner’s odyssey into the world of car meets. It has become a point of pride to be a good parker, specifically, being able to back in a car. Now, to begin with, you should always listen to the event organizers, as they will typically be directing traffic to designated locations. Furthermore, if no event organizers are assuming this responsibility, it is crucial that you quickly survey the parking lot and observe the trend in cars already parked.
What I mean is, at most car meets, cars will usually back in, but that is a general rule, not a universal law. Therefore, it would be prudent to quickly determine what is the prevailing method of parking at this meet. When it comes to parking, just remember to be calm, and ask for help if necessary. Parking between six-figure exotics is not the time to let your pride get a hold of you. So, do not be shy to ask any spectator around to help guide you in. Also, unless otherwise given explicit permission to do so, do not be the person that takes up multiple spaces. It just looks bad on your part.
Dress Comfortably
Okay, this is a too-often overlooked one, and objectively subjective. Makes sense? What I mean is, depending on where you live, comfortable can mean something very different. T-shirts and shorts would be a comfortable option for spoiled Californians, but sure death for poor Minnesotans. So, the first step when preparing for a car meet, is to check the weather and dress accordingly. This is already something you probably planned to do anyway, especially if you are a convertible owner. Those five minutes can be a life saver if you live in a region with a volatile weather pattern.
As you may or may not know, car meets inevitably mean extended minutes of idle standing, brisk walking, and occasionally running under the right circumstances (think Ferrari 812 about to exit parking lot).
Before you know it, all this activity has tested the limits of your shoes’ arch support, and the strength of your deodorant. Add humidity to the situation, and things only continue to get worse. Therefore, it is crucial to bring the right gear that allows you flexibility and comfort. Seriously, you are doing yourself a huge favor. So, be wise and keep those leather-studded chaps at home for this one.
Bring the Whole Family
As I have mentioned before, car meets are a fantastic way of bringing people of incredibly diverse backgrounds together under the banner of common interest. What I didn’t mention is that it is also a great way of bringing together people with starkly different interests. I am talking of course about your family.
You see, just because you obsess day in and day out about your cars, does not mean your family shares the same level of passion. Usually, it’s not even close. If you are lucky, they will have a passive ambivalence about your extracurricular hobby.
Whether that be your significant other, children, or some other member of your extended family, car meets are great ways of exposing them to your favorite pass time. Show them the product of the hours of time and money you pour into your car. It can also be a great way of turning some members of your family into aspirant car enthusiasts themselves. At the very least, it will give your family a deeper understanding of what you are passionate about and why. Plus, car meets can be tons of fun, even for those who are not their because they love cars.
Don’t Start a Rev-Off
Full disclosure, at one point or another, you will, as a car enthusiast, feel the urge to do something pointedly stupid. One of those dumb things that are often the quickest to get a meet shut down, or at the very least, attract unwanted attention from the fuzz, is 2-stepping in the parking lot. This is an especially egregious party foul if you happen to have a straight piped car, which basically means you’re treating the audience to the sounds of thunder. I realize how tempting it is to show off that sweet blow-off valve you just installed, but it is important for you to exercise a little temperance and spare the general public’s ear drums.
As far as rev-offs go, which are as the name implies ridiculous battles involving your car’s exhaust systems. This is about as bad as 2-stepping, although I personally slightly feel that rev-offs are particularly worse, given the nature of how they arise in the first place. Typically, these start with two guys arguing over whose car either sounds better or is just plain louder. Only one of these is quantifiable, neither however, matter. Although, I must admit, shooting flames is cool.
Don't: Encourage Bad Behavior
As I have said before, 2-stepping in the parking lot is a bad idea. This bad idea, however, is often brought about by the instigation of members of public. The throngs of camera wielding spectators are almost insatiable in their lust from increasingly sketchy behavior. Shouting and cheering for loud revving cars, and burnouts does not do anyone any favors, including those doing the shouting.
The most salient example of crowds encouraging bad behavior must be the crowding of car meet exits.
You know exactly what I am talking about, if not, let me paint you a picture: you are leaving a car show, you have a loud, rowdy V-8, and you see a bunch of people at the exit egging you on to power slide out of the meet. You are mildly responsible so at first you are hesitant, but a few more cheers and the promise of Instagram fame seal the deal for you. What happens next is something that has happened all too often, because I almost forgot to mention, you are driving a Mustang. We have all seen the infamous videos of wild behavior going terribly wrong, and I am not suggesting the crowds are at fault here. But what I am saying, is that it is best to try to discourage such behavior, and the most effective way to do that is to ignore it, not reward it.
Don't Do Donuts or "Burn Outs"
Like the loud revving and the 2-stepping, doing donuts, whether in the parking lot or an adjacent street, is a remarkably bad idea. In fact, it is a substantially worse idea than just revving loudly. The only real danger from 2-stepping is from damaged ear drums, with donuts, however, we could be talking serious injuries to bystanders. Not only that, cops will not tolerate this, and will all but immediately shut down the car meet and may obstruct any future possibilities of holding car meets at that location. If that is not enough of a deterrent for possible tire-slaying rogues, know that those same police officers can go as far as impounding your vehicle if they feel you pose a great enough harm to the bystanders around you.
This is serious stuff, as it should be. Car meets are events designed to be enjoyable for people of all ages. One of the prerequisites of having a successful car meet, is to ensure the safety of all participants. So, doing donuts is a strict no-no for those looking to go a local car meet. You have been warned, be safe and exercise sound judgement when showing off your pride and joy.
Don't Touch Other People's Cars Without Their Permission
This is everyone’s pet peeve. No one likes the person that goes around putting their dirty paws all over your shiny, clean paint. This is especially prevalent among the non-car enthusiasts that attend their occasional car meet. This is a function of both ignorance and ambivalence. I like to think that these are well intentioned people who simply let the exuberance of beautiful cars temporarily override sounder judgement.
Sometimes, however, these well-intentioned people can lead to some serious damage. From scratches to dents, many cars meet veterans have stories of wayward bystanders ruining into their car without the slightest shame.
Even worse still, are the wretched group of people who are not well intentioned, and who instead have malevolent intentions when they attend a car meet. Whether jealousy, or pure evil, sometimes bystanders will purposely wound you baby. This is both cruel and excessive, but something that has happened before. Therefore, it is always important to ask the car owner for permission to touch the car, whether that be for a picture, or something else. This is especially true if you are trying to get inside their car. Common sense, despite being seemingly uncommon, should be always followed carefully.
Don't Start an Impromptu Drag Race
This is another one of those things that falls under the stupid category. I get it though, the exuberance of youth often prevails over better temperance, but still, it’s a bad idea. As I have already covered, doing any of these can lead to losing your car, or even someone losing their life. Drag racing is also a common feature at car meets. Nothing especially organized, perhaps something as simple as coming across your local car meet rival at a stop sign. Regardless, this is not something you want to be taking part in, because it is both dangerous and, again, stupid.
For that matter, I should also caution those attending car meets to obey all traffic laws. Not just speed limits either, though that is obviously an important one and one that is often the point of greatest contention at car meets. As well as speed limits, it’s also important to make sure you avoid the oft-cited “exhibition of speed” ticket. This is not the same as speeding, what this means is, people who quickly accelerate or rev their engines. I have already covered the trappings of revving, but quickly accelerating is also something to be aware of as you are exiting or arriving to a car meet.
Don't Complain About Other Cars in Attendance
Being “salty”, as the kids say, is when you assume the state of mind of a hater. Someone who only has one objective, bring other down. Whether that be through snide remarks, sour looks, or a combination thereof, car meets are filled with people getting their hate on. That is because the car community is a microcosm for the world at large. Filled with mostly decent, kind people, but also host to a seething, ugly underbelly where people thrive off disrespecting others. That is why, when attending a car meet, you should do your utmost to make sure you steer clear of any such behavior.
Complaining just is not an attractive trait. It is only exacerbated when what you’re complaining about it something as subjective as which car looks or is better.
Complaining effects more than just yourself too, it has a pernicious effect on all those who happen to be misfortunate enough to be around you. It casts a negative cloud over what should otherwise be a pleasant event. In extreme cases, complaining could lead to confrontations when the owner of the object of your complaints decides they have had enough. This is just a friendly reminder to be kind and avoid cynicism.
Don't Disrespect Event Organizers
Organizers are often the unsung hero of car meets. They handle the logistics, promotion, and vendor coordination, all of which typically goes unappreciated. Add to this, the monumental task of trying to wrangle a bunch of antsy car enthusiasts eager for mischief, and you got yourself a recipe for a thankless and taxing job.
Therefore, you should do your best to try to express your appreciation to these organizers, for all the work they have put in, especially considering a lot of them are doing this on a solely voluntary basis.
In my eyes, one of the best ways of expressing your appreciation and gratitude, aside from saying thank you (which you should totally do), is to dutifully follow their instruction and refrain from being a rampaging hooligan. Every dumb move someone at a car meet does, is added pressure and anxiety to the event organizers. Not only that, but participants in the car meets are also often resentful of organizers due to what they perceive as unfair or overly restrictive regulations. When in doubt, just follow the golden rule, and treat the event organizers the way you would expect and hope to be treated if you were in their position
Don't Lie About Your Car's Specs
Committing this sin at a car meet will do many things for you and your reputation, none of which are good or should be aspired to. When you lie to someone about how much power your car makes, or maybe just exaggerate the actual figures, you are putting leaving yourself wide open. That is because, if there is one thing car enthusiasts are good at, is reading through BS power figures. This ability is another point of pride for gear heads, and that in of itself is also easy to explain. You see, in the car world, how much power your car puts down is the equivalent of how big your stick was in primal times (i.e., a pissing contest).
On top of that, boasting about your cars inflated power figures makes you look petty and small, much like your cars power figures. Okay, that last part was probably hurtful, but that is part of the point. Your cars power numbers today reflect where it is currently at, not where it will be at. Every person at a car meet will recognize that and be accordingly supportive in your car’s journey. So, there is really no need to lie or embellish.
Don't Get into Arguments
This last point is an easy one to fall victim to. There exists in the automotive community today, such a polarizing set of opinions that are perpetually in conflict with one another, that it seems as though conflict has been adopted as an inevitability. This is a very bad thing, and fundamentally runs antithetical to the environment championed by car meets. The problem, however, is that there is such an expansive array of places of contention, that going to a car meet is always going to fraught with the possibility of finding yourself in an argument.
Whether that be over the appearance of one vehicle over the other, or its sound, or the parts that were used on the build, or maybe just over the owners themselves, there exists no shortage of possible things to quibble about.
It is easy to understand why this is as well, cars being the sources of passion for many of their owners, it is easy for them to get defensive about even the slightest criticism. Therefore, it is critical to realize that criticism should be welcomed. It is proof that you have something unique that does not appeal to all tastes, which is the first step towards having something extraordinary.
Take Lots of Pictures
With the proliferation of social media, and the ubiquity of high-quality cameras on smart phones, taking pictures has got to be one of the most obvious things to do when attending a car meet. But in the heat of the moment, you may begin to feel self-conscious about taking pictures of a stranger’s car. Don’t! Everyone at a car meet is their because they are passionate about their cars and are more than willing to share their projects with you and your camera.
Car meets are also fantastic ways of building a social media following nowadays. At the very least, you may just discover a new hobby in photography. Just beware and be cautious, because despite the typically characteristic openness of car owners at car meets, occasionally, you will come across an unwilling soul, dead set on sharing their vehicle to all your Instagram followers. Because of this, as a means of common courtesy, always ask for permission when taking pictures up close and personal of someone’s car. Better yet, start taking videos. Car meets are equally great at launching YouTube channels. Given the new wave of car spotters, you would not be alone.
Make New Friends
This is probably the most important thing you should remember to do. Car meets are wonderful in their ability to bring together what has traditionally been a polarized, and often volatile, community. It is the great equalizer of car events, where you can mingle with your local Bugatti owners, as well as people from the after-market community. Being a smorgasbord of diverse backgrounds, it is imperative to try to make some new friends.
Again, this is probably easier said than done, especially if you are skewed towards the introvert side. There are ways to break the ice with strangers at car meets. The easiest and way of is to ask an owner about their car.
If there is one thing car enthusiasts like almost as driving their cars, it is talking about their cars. It is also a great strategy to walk around to all the different sections, do not get overly comfortable staying in the same circle, this is the car meet equivalent of hanging by the punch bowl at a dance. So, venture forth, young Padawan, and make all the friends your little heart can manage.
Finally - Have Fun!
This is the single most important thing you must keep in mind when planning your time at car shows. At the end of the day, this is the whole premise of your attending a car event in the first place. As is often in life, unfortunately, you could easily get bogged down in the mire of logistics and social nuances, completely forget the reason that brought you to the car meet world in the first place. An open environment, where people congregate to enjoy themselves and their common passions.
Remind yourself that cars are meant to be enjoyed, and more specifically as it relates to car meets, meant to be shared and experienced. Their cars being the points of pride for many gear heads, it is easy to take something as seemingly relaxed like a car meet too seriously. Few things ruin an otherwise fun experience faster than taking yourself too seriously. With all, you are now equipped with a list of things to do when attending a car meet, now all that is left to do is to give you the run down on 10 things you absolutely should not do at a car meet.
