The other part that has caused a huge rift in the car-show world is charging for spectators and show competitors; While I paid almost 70+ dollars to attend WekFest with my car and one passenger (my G/f) there aren’t many show-goers around anymore willing to spend that kind of money on just any show. In fact just this week with a passing show I’ve heard complaints over $30 entry fees and $15 spectator fees. Being able to attend an event such as the Mystery Meat (Orlando, FL) or Simply Clean (in Daytona Beach, Florida) where thousands of cars show up at every year for the cost of $10 to park really changes the dynamic of what people have come to expect car shows. For less money you see more cars, more people, and experience more of the culture – but at the cost of no trophies, less organization, less competition (only friendly rivalries), and less serious builds.
If you saw my RSX post a while back – I highlighted some of the most fierce competitors in the show scene – There are still a lot of people building very serious show cars out there – however there just aren’t as many as there used to be; to the point where if you attend one major car show a year – you’ve basically seen everything that will be ‘shown’ for the rest of the year. We need a revival of builders in the car scene – We need people to be more serious about modifying every aspect of their cars and not just looking for the quick-fix to get a little bit of attention on Instagram. We as import-tuners need to take notes from Classic Car Builders and start paying attention to the details. It is time to take ourselves seriously again or watch the Car Show Scene completely die.
Story and Pics From SHIFTHYPE USA