DR, does the entry fee get you and a guest in, too, or is that extra?

 

I have found that if you put a vehicle in the show its a pretty cheap way to go. My buddy and I will get into the show and park in the middle of the show for $25 for the both of us for two days. For the National events we get in for $35 for three days. In my book that's pretty cheap entertainment



T900

 

I dont go to them anymore. I went to one in Indy about 2 years ago it was $20 a head and we had to pay to park. So for two guys we spent $50 after parking!
$20 is way too much. Now I just go to the smaller shows or swap meets. They seem more relaxed also. The crowds are much more managable.

 

The Puyallup good guys was $17 each to get in this year, and I'm done with the show. If they are getting that kind of money from the crowds, then the guys putting the cars in the show shouldn't have to pay what they pay. I'll stick with the smaller local shows.

 

My father (Bill Phelan) won "Hot Hauler" at Kansas City, Dallas, and Bowling Green and while they did trailer it to these events it was only because they had it all cleaned up to show, and it is much more comfortable to hual luggage and passengers in a crew cab, and if you had seen the bed wood you would not want to haul anything back there. It is not his truck but the guy he built it for is letting him show it, and they have logged over 2000 miles on it, not alot I know but they just finished it right before the Kansas City event. I just went and looked at the GG site and to enter an auto in the show is $65 for the weekend which includes 2 adults and all the their children under 16 yrs. A spectator weekend pass is $55. Now I could not afford to do the weekend pass with the family, but again the day we spent there was worth it. Watching the old funny cars blast down the track was really cool and like I stated in the other thread I met Tacson and Last Chance 56 while I was there. I guess it all just depends on how you look at it.

 

I looked at the site for the cherokee rod run and it states $40 registration,nothing about 1 or 2 allowed entrance.But spectators get in for $5 so the difference is $5 to see the show or $40 to help put on the show.Now they did say there would be a drawing for $1500 from registered cars.But $35 worth of lotto tickes might be a better chance.

 

I attended the Rinebeck NY show this year. Paid the $17 to get in and yes I do feel it is too much. For me though there are few shows in the area to attend. It's either pay or go without. When I retire I want to plan some trips around attending some other events like those in Carlisle.

 

I had been to plenty of shows as a spectator. BG Goodguys was my first as a show entry. Like Ward I had a great time meeting him and seeing Rodney (Last Chance 56).

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It really is all in you look at it. Show plans next year include this BG Goodguys show cause I had a goot time and the weather was ideal for a show.

 

K I couldn't remember meeting anyone......I think....oh well. How those great goodguy giveaways. My running partner (50 F1) won the chance for the Nova. That was cool.

 

Bruton Smith and others charge big $$ to use their property, so much you'd think they were paved in gold rather than asphalt! 10K a day for the lots outside the speedway is not uncommon, and much more if you want to use the infield or heaven help you actually drive a parade lap around the track.

 

Welcome to the car shows of the 21st century. Goodguys and the high profile shows, Sema, Supernationals etc. are going to charge that extra greenback to make ends meet. When you look at it $17.00 isn't at all too expensive for a show. If you smoke several packets of cigarettes a week, that will cost you more than $17.00. Run several motor vechiles a week when there is no need too, that will cost you more as well, so it is a realistic admission price for the high profile shows. Thats my two bobs worth.

 

No offense,BUT...I know a lot of old truck guys are,shall we say,"thrifty",but c'mon,17 bucks is chump change!A trip down and back to your local fast food restaurant-and I know most all of you wouldn't deprive yourselves of that,or complain about the cost either-is more than that.Again,no offense,but get real!This isn't the 50's or 60's.

 

I went to one GoodGuys show about two years ago when it was in Nashville. It was fun, and worth the admission cost, but I haven't gone to anymore of them. Like anything else, it's a matter of personal preference. I can respect to amount of time and money invested in those vehicles, but they just aren't my thing. It's partially because my interests are fairly specific; I like Fords, specifically trucks, and the bigger the better. There just aren't too many of the larger trucks at a GoodGuys show, or at least not at the one I attended.

The price doesn't really bother me much. For the people into muscle cars, show cars, the type of vehicles GoodGuys seems to attract a lot of, it's a deal. But for me, I'd rather go to the local Truck and Tractor show, and get in for free because I drove the '56. It's not that I'm cheap (though I'll admit I am ), but that type of show interests me more.

If you break down total cost, the most expensive show I've attended was the F100 Run in Pigeon Forge this past year. The entry fee wasn't out of line (I don't recall exactly what it was, but it was reasonable), but between the cost of fuel to drive my truck there, plus a hotel room, food, etc it cost more than any other show I've been to. Absolutely worth every penny, though, and I can't wait for the '09 event. Not only did it focus on my main interest (Ford trucks), but there were several of the larger trucks there and I met a lot of interesting people.

Like anything else in life, car shows are a matter of perspective. If it's what you like, it doesn't seem to cost quite as much for the entertainment value.