when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

[Gene M.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

As a general rule I don't go to Corvette shows. I have all chrome bumper cars, no new stuff. Trophies and awards are not my interest. I do go to the cruise ins. And I drive different cars most times. They seem to get a good percentage of older Corvettes. The spectators also seem to take a huge interest in the old stuff and seem to just walk by the c4-c7 stuff. But younger kids seem to enjoy the newer cars. Cruise in is a come and go as you please, a big plus. Car shows are all day long which is a drag after a while. Different strokes for different folks......

[Frank K.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

I wish we had a drag strip here in ct. The car shows are a drag except the rural shows were the older corvettes come out of hiding .

[David R.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

Reality has a way of focusing your attention. I think we have to face a couple of things: The majority of C1 - and increasingly, C2 - Corvettes are now owned by Seasoned Citizens (such as myself at age 61, although I never think of myself that way). With few exceptions, we are the ones who can afford to purchase, restore, maintain and store them. Not a lot of us are willing to take them too far or drive them too much. Some of us have quite a lot of money invested in them, and if you were fortunate or far-sighted enough to have bought one relatively cheaply years ago (or even better, purchased one new), their current value may color your thinking and they get treated more as an objet d'art than a car. That's unfortunate, but understandable. I take my 1962 to about 6 or 7 shows per season, and then only if it's not too far and the weather forecast is favorable. I make no apologies for that - after all, I want to enjoy the day and the show as much as anyone else. Once I'm there, as I have said, I do try to interact with younger spectators and their families in the hope of getting them interested and involved in the earlier cars. Most of them know little or nothing about them, and many of them don't even know that there WERE Corvettes in the 1950s and 60s. That's amazing to me, but it is what it is. No moral to the story here, just an observation that we all need to do our part to educate younger folks (and let's face it, at this point that's just about everybody) about earlier Corvette history. Getting our cars out there and in front of them is a huge part of it. Do what you can . . . you may even enjoy it!

[Carl B.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

I attend the Hemmings MUSCLEPALOOZA Lebanon N.Y. and there seems to be more and more late model muscle cars every time I go

[Nicholas L.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

What ever happened to Connecticut Dragway in East Haddam?

[Brad K.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

I too have seen the same behavior here in the midwest. Very few c1 and c2's.....I honestly thought they quit making Corvettes in 1967. Don't get me wrong....the 2015's and 16's kinda turn me on. It's not such a bad deal though (I'm estimating here) c1's and 2's only represent about 10% or less of total Corvette production. And then understand that MOST of these do not even exist anymore when you consider how we drove the cars in the 50's 60's and 70's. Take a look at the production graph on page 16 of the Corvette Black Book....

Personally....I think driving my '59 around and seeing all the people turn their heads, sit up in their seats and point towards my car gives me a feeling that I can't quite describe. It simply makes me feel good that I am driving a machine down the road that I have personally touched every single nut and bolt on the car. In a way, I kinda feel sorry for folks that don't experience the same. I've put about 1500 miles on my car over the past couple years and when I stop to take a break literally EVERYONE comes up to me and starts a conversation....I NEVER get tired of it. That's why I will continue to drive it until I go to my grave.

I and a non-Corvette owner friend are planning to take a Route 66 tour next spring starting in Chicago and going as far west as we can stand it in order to check off another item on our bucket list. I'm currently in the process of pulling out my 270hp dual four engine and replace it with a base 230 hp unit to be able to get better gas mileage. Most of my Corvette owning friends think I'm crazy.....but it is GOING to happen!

[Wally A.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

thanks for all the replies and input on the corvette car show issues, dont make out like im the bad guy for bringing up
such a touchy subject. great to see such concern and interest on the subject.. by the way, having owned a 15, great car
lots of fun, awesome power, but still just another C7. love my C1 and 2 and i drive em like i stole em. would be great to see
someone come up with a way to have early year corvette shows , and late year corvette shows, guess it would help
make everyone happier.or get use to it and live in todays world. whatever yr.enjoy your corvette.

[Michael W.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

would be great to see
someone come up with a way to have early year corvette shows , and late year corvette shows, guess it would help
make everyone happier

I guess I'm not quite clear as to why someone would be 'unhappy' that newer generation Corvettes attend a show. If you don't like them don't look.

[Michael J.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

I guess I'm not quite clear as to why someone would be 'unhappy' that newer generation Corvettes attend a show. If you don't like them don't look.

I'm not sure people are "unhappy", just that it used to be a typical car "show" was about the older cars, not ones that were one to ten years old, you can see those all the time on the roads or on the car lots, not that special compared to the older ones.

[David R.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

I do agree that I wish there were more C1's, C2's and C3's at the shows . . . but I understand why some owners are reluctant to bring them out. I will continue to show my '62 as much as possible during the warm weather months. And I don't mind all the late-model Corvettes at the shows. After all, these are mainly marque shows, so all Corvettes are (and should be) welcome. A lot of the younger crowd identifies much more with those cars, and that's what they really came to see. Most of them are in no position to buy, restore, maintain and store an early car - they have young kids, student loans, mortgages and life in general to contend with. I think that getting them to the show, and exposing them to even a few of the earlier Corvettes may plant the seed for future generations of our hobby.

At least I hope so.

I know I've had more than a few twentysomethings spend a long time looking over my 1962 at a show. They circle around and around, taking cell-phone photos by the dozens, and a few even ask questions, which I always try to answer if I can. As they walk away, more than once the last thing I heard them say was - "Someday . . . " And there walks the future of our hobby, folks. In the largest sense, we are not the owners of our cars. We are curators, preserving them for future generations. If you own an early Corvette, be a good ambassador for the hobby and all the rest of us - get your car out there, even just once in a while, so others can see, enjoy and appreciate it. You'll be glad you did.

[William F.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

I agree with you, Wally. Drive what you like, but the C2'a and to some degree the C1's are the only ones regarded and only ones that will be regarded as classics. C3's with L88's and ZL1's are valuable but for engine, a different story. Most of rest are or will become just used cars-check the prices. But, as I said, drive them if you like them.

[Walter F.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

Its not just Corvettes. Go to any classic car show and about 20% of the cars are new Challengers and Camaros. I don't get it. If I wanted to see new cars I could go to the dealer, even sit in them and maybe even get a free test drive.I just wonder how many are leased and not even owned.

[Christina O.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

We are just starting our adventure of car shows and drive ins.. for us the C4 is garaged kept and used most often for driving. Our C2 is being kept at an off residence (we need more garage space) so we plan our events, any hint of icky weather - the C2 stays tucked in and we try to head out in the C4. Our plan is to be able to bring both to shows whenever possible. Both are stock and to us striking in appearance..and we hope the general public enjoy them as much as we do. I understand the comments of wanting to see more classics at shows, but someone that is taking pride in what they have, which they have worked hard for, should be appreciated by the folks that they are sharing with. Seasoned owners and members - I believe should be cultivating a new generation of enthusiast. It may be one of us that may become the caretaker of your classic. That is my 2cents.

[Michael W.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

Back in the '70s and '60s, how old were the Corvettes that came to shows?

[Richard M.]

Re: when is a CORVETTE show a corvette show???????

Going on 30 years, I take my '59 out often. I've had it so long and I drive it anywhere. I take it to local cruise nights, car shows, and even took it to Kissimmee in '08 and proudly got a 3rd Flight for the fun of the NCRS judging experience. Just missed 2nd Flight but OPs kicked me in the butt due to my own errors.

It's a nice driver, and I'm going to keep it that way. It has it's checkered crow's foot paint, dirty frame, dusty engine bay but a pretty nice interior after changing carpeting 2 or 3 times since I've owned it. I do not EVER want to restore it completely. If I do, I won't want to drive it as often, sometimes in the rain as often done here in "The Florida Rain Car Wash" territory.

Coincidentally, I spent the afternoon yesterday wet-sanding and buffing the 45 year old paint(traced ALL owners back to 1970 and discovered that was the last time painted) in preparation for some fun at the yearly Corvette show in my area today. There will be many late model Corvettes I'm sure.

I believe today's Corvette shows will have mostly late model cars. The owners are Corvette enthusiasts, but not as nimble as years ago when they owned their C1's, C2's, C3's & C4's. But they/we are keeping the Marque alive. Last Sunday wifey drove my white/red C6 Coupe and I drove my white/red C1 "Coupe", to a local car show. Both attracted attention side by side. Lots of fun.

I'm out here in the garage right now doing the final touches to make it look presentable for the show today. No matter which Corvette attends today's shows, we're all keeping the tradition going. Some just a tad older than others. It is what it is.

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