Our Two Cents: Favorite Spots For A Car Show
It seems like every city or town now has multiple car shows that service the unique needs of their local car communities. They’re often held at schools, churches, coffee shops, and even at car dealerships. Of course, concours lawns and track paddocks get the job done, too. Shows are usually remarkably easy to find, too, especially if you have a Facebook account and use the Events Near Me feature.
With all the diversity inherent in modern car shows, I wondered what the staff here at Hagerty Media personally like when the time comes for them to get out of the house and interact with others in our world of automobiles. Let’s see what we came up with!
No Thanks
“Anywhere but a car show.” – Stefan Lombard
Small Gatherings With True Believers
“The formula of bringing like-minded car enthusiasts together on an early morning for coffee and conversations was a strong pull for me. My favorite show is one that became a thing thanks to Instagram, became unmanageable because of Instagram, and is now a fun place to grab a coffee and learn more about a wide array of cars from passionate owners of all generations.
The show seems to go on no matter the weather, as many showgoers know that cars don’t melt in the rain. But it rarely gets big enough to make it impossible to chat with the owner of every car in attendance, something that feels more like a rarity these days. It was nice to see that Google Maps memorialized this little show, making something that’s informal into a memorable event for the ages.” – Sajeev Mehta
Race Tracks
“I prefer ‘car shows’ where the vehicles move and I am stationary. So: the end of the back straight at Mid-Ohio, anywhere I can place my ladder and shoot photos in the infield at Daytona, or on the pit wall of any track.” – Eddy Eckart
“You need to come to Woodward Dream Cruise: Park your butt in a lawn chair and watch the show go by.” – Eric Weiner
“I’d be down for that.” – Eddy Eckart
Goodwood Revival/Festival of Speed
“I still have fond memories of the Goodwood Revival, where I was luxuriating in a hospitality suite, champagne flute in hand, while vintage race cars zipped by a mere 25 feet away. It is a fine combination of the Monterey Historics and the Pebble Beach Concours, in one event.” – Joe DeMatio
“I’m with Joe. Goodwood is the answer. I don’t really like car shows, but attending Goodwood Festival of Speed is my all-time favorite car-related experience. I would go every year to both Revival and Festival of Speed if I could.” – Ben Woodworth
“Goodwood Festival of Speed all day. Great mix of awesome/rare to see old stuff that runs, plus whatever new-fangled stuff the OEMs want to peddle, plus general civility with their queues and bacon baps in the morning, etc. etc. 10/10 event.” – Matt Tuccillo
McPherson College C.A.R.S. Show
“The best spot of all is standing in front of Templeton Hall while the cars clear out of the annual McPherson College C.A.R.S Show. Back in the old days, the students would verbally bolster the courage of anyone hesitant about doing burnouts while exiting the show field, usually under the handshake agreement with campus maintenance that said students would come back and remove the evidence the next day.
Now, professor Ed Barr stands out front with a custom sign of his own making that keeps the tire smoke in the tread, but I still go back every year to stand in that spot to enjoy the cars. These days I get to make small talk with Ed while watching the cars. It’s a win/win.” – Kyle Smith
More Race Track Love
“I’m also team race track. I will never forget the experience of walking through the fence at Laguna Seca with my photo vest during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and having a screaming V-12 from a 60s Ferrari prototype come screaming past a few feet from me. I didn’t have earplugs in, which was a mistake.
That whole day was incredible, watching cars slide and hustle around a famous track like Laguna. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the action—which eventually cost me my well-being, as I got sick from some combination of adrenaline, excitement, dehydration, and very, very poor nutrition. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.” – Nathan Petroelje
Monterey Historics
“For me, it has to be the paddock at the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca. You’ll spot everything from every price range. From as attainable as Austin-Healey Sprites and Triumph TR6s to exclusive as GT40s and vintage Can Am racers. Trek on up to the top of the Corkscrew and you’ll see a fantastic show. Now, I hear the vintage weekend at Road America is pretty epic as well. That is my favorite track to spectate, so I’ll need to get off my butt and attend to see if it becomes my new favorite.” – Greg Ingold
Bonneville Speed Week
“Dry, crusty desert salt beds. You get to watch the sun rise over teams of the most passionate and helpful enthusiasts as they prepare their cars and bikes like they’re about to go to battle.” – James Hewitt
One Person Car Show?
“Best spot for a car show: fourth parking meter down on the left where someone has wedged a bone-stock six-cylinder ‘72 Nova on steelies into the otherwise dull lineup of plastic, all-activity, five-star crash-rated corpuscles. One-car car shows are the absolute best car shows.” – Aaron Robinson
Until his health (and some misgivings about a few attendees), my neighbor Gil was hosting a “Hot Rod Breakfast” at his home here in Centennial, CO the first Saturday of August every year up to a few years ago. I loved it, small enough (about 50-75 cars at any given moment, constantly changing over about 5-6 hours) that you could virtually talk with every attendant about their build or specialty vehicle…all parked on our public neighborhood street(s). The Police (Arapahoe County Sheriff would show up with his Mopar) would show up, have breakfast with us, and admire the show. Small venues like this, but I also like to walk (not show my C7) at large shows, which we have quite a few of here. I also used to like to go to the Vintage Car Races when they were in Steamboat Springs…that track layout on the streets at the Ski Base was great as you could get up to the track fence and watch the races as well as walk the pits…miss them. Still, things change and I’m content to be a “gawker” instead of sweating it out on the hot tarmac for a trophy…
Favorite spot? Since it has been 108 degrees lately in Southern California, any indoor car show.
I’d rather be driving them any day!
YOU CANT GET MUCH BETTER THAN THE HERSHEY FALL MEET IN OCT!
Another favorite of mine too. Need to make it back there soon!
Lovin’ – so when John Doe- Hyundia, Kia , Subaru – brings the new 2025s to the mall your all in? Hows the food court?
Way, way up north, here in Ontario Canada we have “British Car Day” put on by the Toronto Triumph Club at Bronte Creek Provincial Park every September (15th this year) and we see between 1000 and 1100 cars from all over the east show up. The organisers must have a direct link to the sungods, because in the 30+ years that I and my family have been taking cars ,I’ve only got wet a couple of times—Cheers
Here in Southern California we have many different venues. They are all good due the amazing cars we get to see. As far as car shows go I favor the small beach town shows that are held near the beach and / or on their main streets. My favorites are the El Segundo Main Street Car Show, Seal Beach Classic Car Show, Dana Point Classic Car Shows and Manhattan Beach Police Department K9 Car Show. Then there the on the pier shows both Santa Monica and Redondo piers. The rest are really good shows with the same enthusiastic car people. I have always like the Car and Coffee events due to the not committing to an all day show. The turnouts are amazing. I particular like the Net Cruze Cars and Coffee held at The Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum. If you are interested in local Cars and Coffee events I have a car blog called Frankscarsinthehood.com go to events and see what is happening in the airport area of Los Angeles.
Missing from this list are the national traveling car shows. Usually one showcasing new models and the other custom car shows like The World Of Wheels. These in themselves pulled a lot of enthusiasts and their cars into the parking lot. Another one is the Vintage Grand Prix in Pittsburgh. Tons of entry vehicles and again, many locals in the lots with their cars.
But I must confess the last time I went into the convention center for a custom car show, the entries were hokey at best. Some looked like space fillers pulled off the street. Nothing like the glory days of the 70s and 80s when i first went to them. Anybody remember the Zingers?
They are built to drive not park.
We just got done with our big one. The Rod Run at the End of the World, in Ocean Park Washington. Starts with a typical car show with a 1000 cars in an open field. Ends the day with a cruise from Ocean Park to Longbeach Wa. Many, many more cars never even enter the car show, but you’ll see them all cruising.
I quit going to cruises, too many new vehicles with extra loud mufflers driven by young guys burning tires, speeding, cutting in and out of the parade and being a nuisance. They should have their own show and keep out of the classic drives. Bah humbug!👎😤
The number of times I’ve heard old timers say stuff like this and then 30 seconds later talk about how they used to street race straight piped V-8s downtown on Friday nights just blows my mind. Some things never change and it makes me laugh when people loved it when they did “the thing” but refuse to allow anyone else have the fun they did.
Also, it’s not just “young guys” driving like dinguses. Idiots come in every age and flavor.
For me, I like the big, bring-what-ya-got shows, like Caffeine and Octane in Atlanta, Georgia, monthly (probably one of the largest monthlies). Whatever you’re into, somebody brought it. I’ve never been to a Radwood event or Woodward Dream Cruise, but I think i would really like those events.
Thanks, Tech! I was waiting for someone to mention the Atlanta Caffeine & Octane. Admittedly, I liked it much more when it was in Alpharetta & much smaller better. Actually haven’t been to the new location. Last time I went was at Perimeter Mall with my 1963 Galaxie 500 when I still had it.
Also, the small drive & gathers we used to have at Stone Mountain, GA with the air cooled VW’s were awesome. Did the same events with the MX5Atlanta crowd & then the Subaru folks from WRXAtlanta.com. FaceDevil basically ruined the core attendees of all these. I haven’t been to a car show in ages.
Headed to Alabama for Vintage Festival next month. I’m actually more of a motorcycle junkie anyway.
Louisville, Kentucky (center of the country, slow way of life, very reasonable cost of living, hospitality capitol of the U.S.A.) just hosted the annual Street Rod show with over 8,500 cars from everywhere. Best visitors in the world! It’s the most delightful week of the year, except for Derby!!
So many weekly, monthly and annual shows near me in New Hampshire. The best run show I’ve ever attended is the British Invasion in Stowe VT. It’s a three day show in a post card town. The NH muscle car club puts on three huge shows a year at different venues. This year a racetrack (Star Speedway) and two fairgrounds. Then there is the Castle in the Clouds show in Moultonborough NH. This is an estate built at the turn of the 20th century on a mountain top overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. Stunning location! Oh, and then all of the local cruise nights! The best being Candia NH, and Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel Maine. These cruise nights attract 150+ cars a night. I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch, but these are great!
The Stock Eliminator and Super Stock staging lanes, cars are static for pictures and conversation with the drivers, and the starting line at an NHRA event are where you will see classic and new muscle cars doing what they were intended to do, burn outs and wheel stands