As NFL Hall of Fame Barry Sanders once said, "When you get to the end zone, act like you've been there before". Although local classic and collector car shows and cruises aren't the NFL, our polices for participant and guest conduct definelty mirror the principals set forth in the quote shared above, "act like you've been there before".
Indeed, many of us have been in or around the car show scene for a VERY LONG time now, and we believe we know how to act. However, as the ever changing Colorado weather begins to settle into more stable and warm event weather and overjoyed enthusiasts take to the streets, we begin to bear witness to just what can happen when things get out of hand. With that said, your friends at the Littleton Cruise thought this would be the PERFECT opportunity to share a few universal car show and cruise rules to follow at the next local get-together that will help make the event more enjoyable and SAFE for everyone involved: 1. BURNOUTS will get you THROWN OUT quicker than your car can run the quarter mile. Most of us LOVE a good burn out! It delights every sense; the sound of a roaring engine, the acrid smell of rubber, the exciting sight of a barely-restrained 2-ton missile…and therein lies the problem. The only thing keeping your car from rocketing into a classic Bel-Air – or worse, a spectator – are your front brakes. Please keep the showing-off contained in a controlled environment, with nothing but open space in front of you. Those 20 seconds of attention aren’t worth the lifetime label of “Certified Jackass” or even worse should something go wrong. Plain and simple, DON'T do burnouts at shows or cruises. 2. Arrive On Time, Then Shine. Each of us knows things happen that can throw you off schedule while heading to an event of any kind – but there’s a simple fix: Wake up and get going earlier. Plan for it. Arriving after the gates have opened to the public and expecting a premier spot for your car will only entitle you to one thing; being “That Guy.” If the lot is already filled by those polite enough to arrive on time, save your temper tantrum. Be grateful for any spot you’re given, and direct that anger to the person that really deserves it – the one behind the wheel. 3. Cutting Out Early. Things come up – we get that. But if you show up to an event at 10:00 AM, nab one of the prime spaces right in the middle of the show, knowing full well you have to leave by 1:00, you’re a jerk. Leaving a car show as it is packed with spectators looks bad – and it certainly isn’t an easy process. Not to mention it’s dangerous, particularly with children or pets running about unpredictably. If you know you’ll need to leave early, let the staff know to keep you near an exit. It might not be the perfect place to show your ride, but it’ll help keep you from running late, or inconveniencing the rest of the attendees. 4. Listen To The Event Staff The staff that man your favorite event are usually volunteers who enjoy being around cars, and perform these duties for little or no pay. They’re thankless jobs can sometimes get a little hectic, especially at larger venues. Don’t lose your head or give them a hard time if they point you to a space that you think "isn’t good enough". They’re just doing their jobs as they’re told – you certainly wouldn’t appreciate it if the roles were reversed, right?If you think you’re in the wrong spot, park there anyway and then go find the show director to hash it out. Laying into the guys or girls directing traffic probably won’t end up in your favor. You’ll most likely eventually meet the show director – but instead of him or her lending a hand, they’ll probably be asking you to leave. 5. Drag Racing At Or Near Event Venues ... NO! We're pretty you can agree that none of us are criminal masterminds… and that’s a good thing! But this can mean that if one of us SHOULD decide to fudge the line of the law a little bit, we aren’t very good at it. The increased traffic that a car show or cruise brings is continually being noted by local police. That guy with the loud 454 might be asking for it, but racing on the surrounding streets before, during, or after an event brings all the wrong kinds of attention down on you, your fellow enthusiasts; not to mention the show organizers! It’s a quick way to get what should be a celebration of our passion nixed, and yourself a big, fat ticket, or even worse injuring another person or even jail. YES. We know it's fast, but if you want to race, check with local race organizers to obtain infor on specific events for street-driven vehicles to come show each other up. Don’t turn yourself or someone else into a statistic, and ruin it for all the rest of us. 6. Keep Your Cool When They Don't Keep Their Hands To Themselves. We are all in agreement that those spectating our rides should keep their hands to themselves, yes? In the case of some unwanted fingerprints on your freshly waxed paint, I’m here to tell you that a policy of politeness will get you much farther than blind rage and a verbal berating. Step back for a moment and remember that not all spectators who attend your average car show understand how seriously we take our vehicles. They probably rolled up in a 15+ year-old Accord that they see as an appliance – not something to be cherished and enjoyed. Politely explaining how much your car means to you is usually all it takes for them to wise up. This holds especially true for children; teach them, don’t scream at them. Helping to raise a new generation of enthusiasts that don’t purchase throw away vehicles – or think that people who take cars too seriously are jerks – is essential to continuing our culture! 7. BE RESPECTFUL. Everyone has opinions ... and you know what they're like, right? Just because the car next to you doesn’t have perfect paint, or features some discount brand or non-OEM parts doesn’t make it any less deserving of its owner’s pride. Don’t like his style? Keep it to yourself – because there are probably plenty of people who think yours stinks too. Really? Do you care what they think? Pretty sure you're not up for considering it. This is especially true when it comes to Newbies. Offering real advice or help instead of a put down helps make for a better community. Not everyone has the means or experience to create a 100-point show-winner. However, their story might be far more interesting than that of the guy with unlimited funds who just shipped a bare chassis off to America's top resto expert and told them to make it perfect. Either way, BOTH deserve respect. There's no question that Colorado collector car shows and cruises can be quite a wonderful experience for everyone involved as we've enjoyed over the years. Just remember that our passion is a joint effort between those who take part by donating their time, money, streets and cars to the event, and individuals who show up to admire their vehicles to make sure we continue to preserve the events we've all come to know and love so much! Here's to a safe, enjoyable 2017 Colorado Car Show & Cruise season! Let's roll!
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AuthorLIttleton Cruise Archives
May 2018
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