^^^ True!
I get much more outa 'Shop Tours'. Almost like poker runs.
Bunch of people get together with their rides & go from shop to shop on a Saturday.
You get to see projects in different stages of being built.
You can actually talk to the builder.
From seeing some amazing stuff being put together in amazing & huge, beautiful shops, (along with all the 'automobilia' some guys collect.) to amazing stuff being built in a barn or a converted carport.
A great way to 'network'. Get to meet people that do things that you can't do, but can't do what you do.
See vehicles that will never see the inside of a trailer or be surrounded by stanchions.
And... the guys on the tour are driving their rides, so you get to see what the cars/trucks look like doing what they were meant to do, (& IMHO, that's when they look the best!) Rollin'!!!
A good time, with no attitude involved, & the opportunity to learn something new, or old, as the case may be!
Don't get me wrong. I can appreciate the time & effort it takes to prepare & set up a vehicle in a show. It IS a lot of work. Been there. Don't want to go back!
But for me, I WANT to smell the burnt rubber! Hear that engine being shifted at redline! See the street lights flashing off of that paint job! That's the best 'car-show'!
Power park, grab a burger & chat up a 'Tire-biter'. (car babe!)
To me that's way more entertaining than sitting in a building in a lawn chair, for a whole day or two, making sure that no-one messes with your ride, while fielding dumb 'Q's from the uneducated, the ignorant, &/or the opinions of the combination of those.
Not trying to put the car shows down. I do attend many, & many of the vehicles I have worked on fit into this category.
A trophy is good! Very good! But it doesn't mean that they are the best!
It's an 'opinion' of 3 or 4 people (judges) of what they feel is the best of whatever else is in that category, on that day.
Even still...that is one bad-a$$ Camaro! Hope the wife drives the hides off of it! She's a lucky gal!
Congratulations!
