Car Show Etiquette

I saw a thread on Autocross Etiquette and it reminded me of poor car show etiquette, namely just aimlessly walking in front of someone who is trying to get a picture... seems as if to me that noone really has any sense or class anymore and couldn't care less if you are standing there trying to get a shot....here are some photos I did manage to take over the weekend at a car show here in Cincinnati. Don't get me wrong, nothing against others being in the shot, just don't be blocking the car in anyway, that's all I ask. Here are a few photos that did turn out ok...

My daughter of course is granted a life long exemption, well at least until she's around 10 years old and then she too will be subject to my car show etiquette rants.

She thought the tiger was real...

She wanted to know why this little girl was crying...

Also, when getting within touching distance of a car, clasp your hands behind your back, and make sure your camera can't swing forward and contact the vehicle.

Love the late Merc

Every time I see one of those crying baby dolls I want to punt it. Probably falls under bad etiquette but what the hell is the appeal/point of those things?

Nice pics though. I like that disco vette for some reason.

All the owners always camp around the car (as would I), but I sometimes get a lousy picture of chairs, coolers or dudes...................LOL

triumph5 wrote: Also, when getting within touching distance of a car, clasp your hands behind your back, and make sure your camera can't swing forward and contact the vehicle.

This. Even when I was 12 I knew this was the best way to be allowed to see more.

Another vote against crying baby dolls (although they finally seem to have gone out of style around here), as well as giant stuffed animals in cars...tigers in GTOs, plastic cobras in Mustangs, roadrunners in Roadrunners just aren't necessary.

Taking photos at a car show can be difficult since most people are looking at the cars as they walk, instead of looking out for people with cameras. However, the thing that bugs me most are people who badmouth cars and/or tell the owner of the car what things he's done wrong.

yeah, I don't know- we're there to look at cars... not make 30' of room for someone to get their "perfect" shot. I do my best to be polite, but take the shot and be done with it. You probably aren't Ansel Adams or Anne Geddes, and you can probably get the picture from the internet.

Grumpy, but I've stood waiting too many times. What I DO like: People who have a cool car and ask your son if he wants to sit in it. Kate's Cars and Coffee in Great Falls, VA last Saturday, we're checking out a mini and the guy asks my son. Class Act, man.

Wasn't going to happen with any of the Ferrari's or the new SLR gullwing. Those guys were mostly too busy loving themselves, patting each other on the back for being wealthly (hey, I've got a cigar!), and looking very serious in their Ferrariwear.

That gasser style pickup is kinda awesome.

I always leave the door to my CRX open when I go to shows. Kids climb in and do whatever they want. I'm sparking their interest in racing and little light cars.

PS> The car has a quick release wheel and no horn, which seems to solve numerous headaches.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: yeah, I don't know- we're there to look at cars... not make 30' of room for someone to get their "perfect" shot. I do my best to be polite, but take the shot and be done with it. You probably aren't Ansel Adams or Anne Geddes, and you can probably get the picture from the internet.

Ditto.

I will take pictures of some cars that I think are super bad ass (usually the weird ones that nobody else is taking pictures of), or have a really neat design detail that I'd like to use for inspiration on a project of my own, that's about it anymore. The people who want everybody to stay out of their shot and also take pictures for three minutes of each and every car drive me nuts. Take the picture and move on with it. I have NEVER asked somebody to step out of my shot at a car show. I will wait if I want the shot that bad...they came (and in some cases, paid) to see cars, not to tip toe around guys taking pictures. In my opinion, it's proper etiquette as a photographer to WAIT for people that are looking at the cars to be done, not the other way around.

Definitely keep your hands off when the car says HANDS OFF! I am the hands-behind-the-back guy, I look without touching unless somebody says I can climb in/pop the hood/whatever. I don't understand the people who set up chairs right in front/behind their own car. I don't think there's anything wrong with it (etiquette-wise), I just never understood the appeal of setting a lawn chair up immediately next to my vehicle (which has seats of its own).

One that I think is really important, especially these days, is to NOT do burnouts when you hit the street leaving the show. Breaking the law as you leave will just hurt the image of the whole event. All it takes is one bad apple, and all that. I am happy to see car shows that have signs as you leave specifically requesting that you be respectful and keep the noise down and abide the road laws. There's a time and place for everything, and the exit of a car show is not the time or place.

Bryce

What pisses me off is when you have a nice car and some jackass comes up and tries to pick it apart. Like "hey did you know that scratch is there?" Why no mother berkeleyer I just spent 6 hours polishing this bitch and didn't notice, but thanks for pointing it out.

The last night of a local car show.

I try to stay out of the camera's view, but it's a car show, not a photo shoot. And I take a ton of photos myself. Patience is a virtue.

I sometimes tell whoever's with me about things I notice on a car. That could be mistaken as badmouthing them. It isn't. I'm usually explaining, making mental notes of how it was done, how I like it, etc.

If I ran a car show:

Stuffed animals, dolls, etc. would be banned.

The same for gas and oil can sets, window trays, tools, etc.

If there's any form of voting competition, tribute cars, "In memory of ...", charity-related, or other sympathy generating cars would compete in their own category.

Nashco wrote: ...they came (and in some cases, paid) to see cars, not to tip toe around guys taking pictures. In my opinion, it's proper etiquette as a photographer to WAIT for people that are looking at the cars to be done, not the other way around... Bryce

This is all that really needs to be said.

I also am courteous (generally in life) and am happy to let someone take a photo. But if walk through your shot because I'm looking at cars and not people taking pictures of cars, you'd better just understand the quote above and roll with it.

ClemSparks wrote:

Nashco wrote: ...they came (and in some cases, paid) to see cars, not to tip toe around guys taking pictures. In my opinion, it's proper etiquette as a photographer to WAIT for people that are looking at the cars to be done, not the other way around... Bryce

This is all that really needs to be said. I also am courteous (generally in life) and am happy to let someone take a photo. But if walk through your shot because I'm looking at cars and not people taking pictures of cars, you'd better just understand the quote above and roll with it.

You guys kinda proved my original point. Nobody said you have to wait while someone takes a perfect shot, why exagerate??? If you see someone getting ready to take a photo, and were talking about thinking of someone else's enjoyment for a grand total of a few seconds, simply don't walk in front of them, you wouldn't do it while a guy photographs his family at the Grand Canyon, why do it at a car show? I have never seen a photographer, including myself, take more than a few seconds to snap off a photo at a car show. In my case, I just wait till the goofs move, what else can you do?

Datsun1500 wrote: Those "do not touch" cards are stupid. When I have any of mine at a show I encourage people, especially kids, to look, touch, feel, sit in, etc. I had my 64 at a show a few years ago and a little kid was looking at it. I told him to jump in and have a ball. The Father said he did not want him to break anything, I told him if my 5 year old has not broken it yet, his can't....

I think the etiquette is 'Do Not Touch,' because many "car show people" seem to be type-A to me.

I adopt your attitude about my cars. If people, especially kids, are interested in my hobby, I'm eager to share my toys. Life is short and you can't take them with you. There are at least 3-4 billion idiots on this planet, but car people are generally good folks

Datsun1500 wrote: Those "do not touch" cards are stupid. When I have any of mine at a show I encourage people, especially kids, to look, touch, feel, sit in, etc.

At seven my daughter understands the rules of a car show. Look, don't touch. Twice we have had dudes tell her to get in the car and get a picture.

Do you think this has left an impression?

(my favorite; "If you value your life as much as I value this car; DON'T FxxK with it!"

etiquette is do not touch unless told it is ok.

i get pissed when i see a kid leaning on a car, grabbing things, and the parents do not teach them that it is not cool to touch someone else's car. now - if someone asks me i say go for it, have a seat, whatever. but if some dick just starts messing with my car he's going to get an earful, or worse. i had someone walk off with a vacuum cap once and it took a long time to figure out why my car would not start.

on pictures, i try to stop to let someone else take a pic, but few people stop for me to shoot one.

i dont talk smack about other peoples cars until i'm already gone then we have a laugh about this hackjob or that abortion. but what if the aborter or hack is doing the best they can or just learning, like i was at 16 just learning things and screwing stuff up, and you start laughing or pointing crap out to your buddy and totally deflate the person's dreams and maybe they quit trying because of you being an ass. thats not cool. then you get the dick that calls anything without shiny paint a "rat rod" - i hate that guy.

Saw a green Road Runner tooling down the highway near Grand Rapids last week. Beautiful old car out for a ride!

patgizz wrote: etiquette is do not touch unless told it is ok. i get pissed when i see a kid leaning on a car, grabbing things, and the parents do not teach them that it is not cool to touch someone else's car. now - if someone asks me i say go for it, have a seat, whatever. but if some dick just starts messing with my car he's going to get an earful, or worse. i had someone walk off with a vacuum cap once and it took a long time to figure out why my car would not start. on pictures, i try to stop to let someone else take a pic, but few people stop for me to shoot one. i dont talk smack about other peoples cars until i'm already gone then we have a laugh about this hackjob or that abortion. but what if the aborter or hack is doing the best they can or just learning, like i was at 16 just learning things and screwing stuff up, and you start laughing or pointing crap out to your buddy and totally deflate the person's dreams and maybe they quit trying because of you being an ass. thats not cool. then you get the dick that calls anything without shiny paint a "rat rod" - i hate that guy.

QFT, 100%.

Cotton wrote: What pisses me off is when you have a nice car and some jackass comes up and tries to pick it apart. Like "hey did you know that scratch is there?" Why no mother berkeleyer I just spent 6 hours polishing this bitch and didn't notice, but thanks for pointing it out.

Similar vein:

There was a black early E-body rolled in to a cruise in. Had these big funky-lookin' stripes halfway back on the side of the car, took up near the whole side, and the stripes ended with the word "HEMI".

Yup.

Hood open, and there was two four-barrels riding an Elephant. As I'm drooling, some guy walks up, looks at the serial number on the dash, and proclaims: "It's not a real Hemi - this is a 383 car" and smugly starts to wander off.

I pointed at the car and the engine and said "This is a real Barracuda, that's a real Hemi. That's good enough for me."

Of COURSE it was a clone. For starters, he actually drove it there. On city streets. In traffic. With no armed escort to play dual role of security and collision prevention. (I expect that murderin' is legal if someone hits a highly valuable single-digit-production car)

I often wondered how the Cuda would look with side pipes.......now I'm glad I didn't do it.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Grumpy, but I've stood waiting too many times. What I DO like: People who have a cool car and ask your son if he wants to sit in it. Kate's Cars and Coffee in Great Falls, VA last Saturday, we're checking out a mini and the guy asks my son. Class Act, man. Wasn't going to happen with any of the Ferrari's or the new SLR gullwing. Those guys were mostly too busy loving themselves, patting each other on the back for being wealthly (hey, I've got a cigar!), and looking very serious in their Ferrariwear.

One of the cool things about going to the vintage show at Lime Rock was that a lot of people would let kids in their cars. A few years ago my friends kid sat in pretty much ever old Grands Prix car on display.

Want to hear my wife rant? Put those stupid stuffed kids on your car at a show. "WTF are those supposed to be? This isn't a stuffed toy show!" She cracks me up.

Do Not Touch signs are stupid. That's really something that is a given and you shouldn't need a sign to say it, but I guess with the large numbers of stupid parents out there people feel they are necessary. Conversely, I tend to cross out the "not" on the signs they give me when I take the Mini. It's far from a 'show' car and kids especially dig it. You're fine to sit in it until you start blowing the horn, then it's eviction time.

I read something where a guy was tired of people telling him what was wrong/incorrect/sub-par on his vehicle that he restored himself. So he started doing this when someone would point out a flaw: "Give me your credit card." "What?" "Give me your credit card!" "No! Why?" "Because if that bothers you that much that you have to complain about it you can pay to have someone fix it."