I am not a big fan of car shows. As the Editor of FordMuscle, I actually feel ashamed to make that statement. Nonetheless, it is true. Give me the choice of spending a Saturday morning at a test and tune, or strolling some makeshift parking lot full of Fords and I'll pack up my slicks and helmet every time.

I haven't always been of this mindset. Before I was truly enrolled in the hobby, and even during my formative years as a Ford muscle enthusiast, I not only enjoyed attending car shows, but also sought them out. They offered me a quick way to get inspired, to see what was possible with my own project, and to meet fellow enthusiasts. However, now that I've been in this hobby for over a decade, I find car shows boring and to some extent pathetic. I cringe at the thought seeing hundreds of cars with propped open hoods and owners obsessively polishing their chrome. I don't understand the whole culture of sitting in a lawn chair behind your car waiting for some passerby to take interest. Cars are machines, and machines are meant to be operated. Seeing them in a parked and static state is like attempting to appreciate wildlife by visiting a taxidermist.

Sure, I appreciate seeing rare vintage vehicles, or something truly unique, but by-and-large car shows are made up of run-of-the-mill cars whose owners take far too much pride in cleaning and showing them off then they do in driving them. So much so that they lose sight of the fact that they can, and should, drive the car. Instead, they opt to trailer it so as not to introduce dirt and dust on their overly polished bumper.

Don't get me wrong though, I do find car shows to be important. When done correctly they can serve a great social purpose - uniting friends, club members and those with common interests. They also can inspire children, and those not yet engaged in the hobby, to take interest in procuring and preserving classic cars. However, I challenge that observing these cars functioning as intended, such as at a dragstrip or autocross would better serve all of these vital values.

Nonetheless, I do try to block out a day or two each year to make it to a local Summer car show. This year a good friend called to let me know that the Mustang Club of America (MCA) was having one of their national shows right in our own back yard of Concord, California. Surprisingly I hadn't heard this news (hint, use the new Event Calendar). So I donned my FordMuscle shirt, grabbed my camera, and headed over. Here's a virtual car show for those of you who weren't able to make it. I've added my comment to most of the pictures which help confirm, or perhaps deny, my opinion of car shows.

I like the new Mustang GT's quite a bit, but come on if you want to see one in pristine condition they are on every Ford dealers lot. They aren't neccesary to display at car shows, in my opinion, even with the matching tool box.		If there is anything I do like seeing at car shows it would be a clean 65-70 fastback which the owner has tastefully brought back to life - with the restoration history displayed in an album for us to appreciate.
Lambo doors part one. It was goof looking when I first saw it 15 years ago, and guess what? It still is.		Lambo doors part two. See previous comment, and one word - backspacing is important.
I saw this 65 fastback resto-mod a decade ago at a car show in Suisun, CA. I liked it then because the owner had driven it to the show, and encountered a blown oil cooler along the way.		Not only does it have a sweet stance with the 16" Torque-Thrusts and flared fenders, but it gets driven hard. I can respect that.
This Boss mustang, and the green one to the right, are good examples of cars that should be displayed as if in a museum.		If I owned a real Boss I admit that I'd probably seldom drive it. I can tolerate owners who tooth brush the emblems on these cars, but definately not on 2001 Mustang V6's.
I applaud guys who are into more than the vehicles appearance. Cars are machines and the engine makes the machine go. This is the engine from the above '65 fastback restomod. It's a Paxton Novi blowing thru a Barry Grant Demon carb.		Here's another example of what should be under your cars hood if you choose to park it with the hood open. This specimen is a twin-turbo 331 in the compartment of a 65 Mustang.
If you can't appreciate the mural on the backside of this 2001 Mustang V6 hood, then perhaps the glitterly green wire loom and chrome "bling" turns you on. Personally, I'd recommend shutting this hood.		You don't see 1978 King Cobra's anymore. Other than their goofball paint scheme, there wasn't much to them. However they are a part of Ford Mustang history and it's kind of cool to see one so clean.
Too bad this wasn't the fashion police, they could have cleaned up some of the earlier infractions. This is a US Air Force military police Mustang. Pretty cool to see these Fox special service coupes.		Most guys that buy ex-CHP Mustang coupes turn them into drag racers. I appreciate seeing them restored to how they'd appear in service.