TheSamba.com :: View topic - VW Concours level show

Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:21 pm

Is there a concours level show for VWs in the United States? I certainly would love to attend one as my knowledge of early VWs continues to grow but has a long way to travel!

It appears there are several high end shows in Europe, but all the shows I see in the USA are more or less "come any come all" at the end of the day that draw a regional crowd.

I have nothing against these regional VW shows (they are great in their own way), but I think every car hobby benefits from a high end show / event that pulls the best across the country to one location. These shows are not measured by the number of cars they draw but by the quality of cars. Often they rotate east to west year over year and are sponsored by a national club and other sponsors. I really feel all VW fans appreciate such shows (even if you cannot place a car in such an event - the opportunity to see a great collection of higher end cars is awesome). It is not a call to become "snobby" and separate the cars... it is just an opportunity appreciate the best examples in the hobby everyone enjoys.

I feel such events bring out the best in the hobby and inspire those restoring these early cars to finish their projects and learn more about their cars. They also provide a proper stage for projects that have taken years to complete.

It appears to be that the restorations I see every week on this site in the USA deserve such a show but I have yet to see one that rises to this level! Maybe I am missing it?

Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:37 pm

Sadly, the best in the hobby ain't anywhere near Indiana.

Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:19 pm

spookymulder wrote: Sadly, the best in the hobby ain't anywhere near Indiana.

No kidding! We are lucky to find a legible VW logo in the pile of rust of most of our early examples.

Of course, that is why traveling to a national show would be valuable. I sent this idea to the VVCA as well. I think it is time for a national VW show to emerge much like Europe as major shows in Germany and the UK (amongst others) that pull from multiple countries.

If we are willing to travel to a museum to see perhaps one or two good early examples, how many would make the trip to see 30-50 great examples? I know some are willing to travel to Europe for such a show (at a crazy cost)... I think a lot more would travel a few states away.

Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:36 pm

rwmindy wrote: Of course, that is why traveling to a national show would be valuable. I sent this idea to the VVCA as well. I think it is time for a national VW show to emerge much like Europe as major shows in Germany and the UK (amongst others) that pull from multiple countries.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495267

i think the classic weekend is as near as the USA will ever get to a big draw, internationally reputable, "national" show that comes anywhere even close to a "concours" event. the vast distances to cover in the USA, and the ever increasing costs of that travel will make the real chances of a centralized "national concours" show nothing more than a pipe dream.

Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:33 pm

[quote="hazetguy"] rwmindy wrote: i think the classic weekend is as near as the USA will ever get to a big draw, internationally reputable, "national" show that comes anywhere even close to a "concours" event. the vast distances to cover in the USA, and the ever increasing costs of that travel will make the real chances of a centralized "national concours" show nothing more than a pipe dream.

Fair enough. It is clear this comes up often.

However, from prior threads, I believe people get stuck on qty not quality (i.e. how can we get the largest group of VWs together in a national show). A concours event, however, should not try and be the biggest VW event, it should try and be the best. I think that is counter intuitive to the VW community that might perceive that to be "snobby" (why is my VW not welcome? sort of thing). Oh well. I think it advances the hobby for everyone to have such an event while there are plenty of other regional events that are all inclusive.

I also belong to the ATHS (antique truck historical society) where people travel across the country to show big rigs every year at our national show (try moving something 15,000 lbs for a show!). Most of these guys are ex-truckers. So I believe people will travel to a show to display a high end VW if the venue justifies it.

Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:44 pm

hazetguy wrote: i think the classic weekend is as near as the USA will ever get to a big draw, internationally reputable, "national" show that comes anywhere even close to a "concours" event.

And by anywhere close to a "concours" event you mean like 8 million LIGHT years... cause thats how close the Classic is to a concours event. The Classic is the home to butchery, ugliness and horror on wheels.. (ahhh orange metalflake...) The Vintage section is like 1/2 row worth of cars.. while the lowered on earlies camber-challenged vehicles reign supreme.

The "CLOSEST" in the USA is the Vintage Treffen held every two years at the Phoenix club in OC.. of course even that has been infiltrated by the lowrider crowd.. heres to the next Treffen being 100% Vintage STOCK and OLD SPEED ONLY! (feel free to double my entry fee to see that it happens) :)

Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:04 pm

Can`t wait to fill out my entry form!

Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:16 pm

52HoffmanSplit wrote: hazetguy wrote: i think the classic weekend is as near as the USA will ever get to a big draw, internationally reputable, "national" show that comes anywhere even close to a "concours" event.

And by anywhere close to a "concours" event you mean like 8 million LIGHT years... cause thats how close the Classic is to a concours event. The Classic is the home to butchery, ugliness and horror on wheels.. (ahhh orange metalflake...) The Vintage section is like 1/2 row worth of cars.. while the lowered on earlies camber-challenged vehicles reign supreme.

The "CLOSEST" in the USA is the Vintage Treffen held every two years at the Phoenix club in OC.. of course even that has been infiltrated by the lowrider crowd.. heres to the next Treffen being 100% Vintage STOCK and OLD SPEED ONLY! (feel free to double my entry fee to see that it happens) :)

Well said... and so true...

Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:25 pm

The Classic in Irvine is probably where you can see the greatest number of quality vintage VW's. Sure it's not exclusive to vintage stock, but the number of cars and people is what makes it a great show. Didn't they have the most Rometsch cars showing together in one place few years back? May be only one was in concours condition, but who cares ;)

Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:43 pm

twinwindows wrote: Can`t wait to fill out my entry form!

X2!!! :lol:

Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:32 am

52HoffmanSplit wrote:
And by anywhere close to a "concours" event you mean like 8 million LIGHT years... cause thats how close the Classic is to a concours event. The Classic is the home to butchery, ugliness and horror on wheels.. (ahhh orange metalflake...) The Vintage section is like 1/2 row worth of cars.. while the lowered on earlies camber-challenged vehicles reign supreme.

I was actually browsing the split window gallery on here last night while I should have been doing a bunch of other important things and was saddened to see the amount of really early cars with narrowed beams, etc. It just seems so... wrong!

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:33 am

You really need to get a life if you saddened by a car bro :lol: :lol: :lol:

Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:28 pm

twinwindows wrote: Can`t wait to fill out my entry form!

You sure you don't mean your "voting" form.......? :wink: