learn me car show etiquette .... specifically Concours d'LeMons

Ain't never participated in a car show before, been to plenty but never paid attention to the what the folks displaying cars do.

Anywho, I registered for the Michigan Concours d'LeMons (this Saturday, July 25 in Plymouth Mi). I figured the B3 Miata somehow falls in the hooptie, misfit, mistake or whatever category.

The car was daily driver dirty but I washed and polished it and it's looking a lot better. Prolly spit-shine it when I get to the show.

Got some lawn chairs and a cooler, what else do I need?

Oh, and what's the deal with bribing the judges... hookers and blow, cash or ?

Dont forget your creepy car show doll.

Hopefully I see you there.

Lol, creepy car show dolls...I totally don't get that. Oh, I've seen 'em, I just don't understand. Perhaps this time around I'll leave my dolls at home.
Looking forward to meeting any GRM'ers at the show!

I think I have a GRM bumper sticker in stock, should I represent?

The B3 Miata

Tim and I will be there :)

Margie

I was in the show at Road Atlanta. In fact, my truck won the Boris Said trophy, because he liked the wing on the back. Sucks that I saw him and spoke to him once, but then when I came up with the thought of having him sign the truck, I couldn't catch up with him again.

Anyway, no real etiquette, it's a LeMons show. Your packing list sounds about right. As for bribes, pretty much anything goes. I'd just encourage you to remember there are lots of kids walking around, so if the bribe is rated R, try to be more discrete about it.

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:

Your latest piles of debris should do well.

Wally wrote: In reply to Marjorie Suddard: Your latest piles of debris should do well.

And show registration may be cheaper than parking and get you a better spot.

In reply to Klayfish:
Awesome, thanks for the insight! Bribery stuff will more than likely be rated G.

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:
I'll look forward to meeting you folks. Ian's got a good point... free parking!

logdog wrote: Dont forget your creepy car show doll.

All dolls are creepy. At least anything at approximately human scale.

Last car show I passed through, a guy had a pair of stuffed pants legs with sneakers sticking out under the rocking panel, but no weird kid-type dolls in evidence.

Someone at my office has one of those creepy kid dolls... in the freakin office aisle. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

That said, Concours d'LeMons is one of my favorites at Road Atlanta events. I've had fun at the past couple of Mitty showings. Great way to meet some of your track heroes and poke around some hilarious/terrible/awesome machinery. So much more interesting than yet-another-cobra-replica.

Klayfish - I'm pretty sure I saw you at this past Mitty, but didn't make the connection. My best friend and I were cracking up over the truck graphics.

Wally wrote: In reply to Marjorie Suddard: Your latest piles of debris should do well.

I LOL'd. Then Tim said he has every intention of putting the Elan on the field.

Margie

Looking forward to the show(s) tomorrow. Sounds like GRM will be well represented. Any GRMers showing cars at the Italian Happening?

Marjorie Suddard wrote:

Wally wrote: In reply to Marjorie Suddard: Your latest piles of debris should do well.

I LOL'd. Then Tim said he has every intention of putting the Elan on the field. Margie

and this is why we love this place and you folks. :)

logdog wrote: Dont forget your creepy car show doll. Hopefully I see you there.

I sincerely hope they have a kicking contest for those at the LeMons show. They are just creepy as berkeley and there's no connection to a car show other than perhaps to give bored people with access to a sewing machine something to do?

Matt B wrote: Klayfish - I'm pretty sure I saw you at this past Mitty, but didn't make the connection. My best friend and I were cracking up over the truck graphics.

I was the half bald dude at the truck, the other guy is my friend and co-owner of the truck. We'll be there next year, so we can be sure to meet up.

Marjorie Suddard wrote:

Wally wrote: In reply to Marjorie Suddard: Your latest piles of debris should do well.

I LOL'd. Then Tim said he has every intention of putting the Elan on the field. Margie

Nice! I look forward to FB picture/posts.

I wouldn't unload it, just put some hay bales on front of the trailer so it looks like some poor British knock off of the Dukes of Hazzard.

Wow, a show I can enter my well rusted and well used Miata.

Rust, pitted paint, foggy lights, small dent's, tears, oily engine compartment. Fit right in. Won't win, but won't be out of place. I've been meaning to take it for a spin one of these days.

But that's an early start for a day we need to stay home (for the first weekend in just over a month).

I would love to see the new CM collection of... well... stuff.

As a judge tomorrow, I can tell you not to take it too seriously. I would add beer to your cooler, if you are so inclined. We usually are. I have actually seen some cool, funky cars at theses avents and these events are one of my favorite parts of Monterey and Mitty weekends. This will be my first trip to this event. And heck yeah I am entering... It gets me better parking and I am a guaranteed winner of worst car at the show. Actually, I am kidding, as our entry will not be official, as we are a sponsor with Hagerty on this event. Please say hi!

Ideally you should put the beer in the rust holes littered throughout the unibody, in order to direct the judges' attention to those areas.

After enough rust, the judges will slurringly remark on the "fine lines" of your vehicle and have a sit-down. That's when you borrow one of their clipboards and just fill out "10" across the board.

At least, that's how I won Pebble. I still have the signed death threat from Jay Leno hanging in my office.

The car is loaded up and I'm heading out the door. See 'ya at the show.

I was gonna go this year but my daughter is sick.

It was pretty small last year but the Corvair contingent really turned out. Hope there is lots more this year.

turboswede wrote: I sincerely hope they have a kicking contest for those at the LeMons show. They are just creepy as berkeley and there's no connection to a car show other than perhaps to give bored people with access to a sewing machine something to do?

Maybe an impromptu autocross with the dolls replacing some (but only some) of the cones. Instead of a penalty, you get bonus time for hitting them.

A few pictures from the show... Got to meet Tim and or course bribed him and another judge with ice cold beer.Lots of cool cars and cool folks. A good time was had and it was an day well spent.

Tim's Lotus... This camera angle is the most flattering. Although the car is rough.. Its fixable... I think.

This '58 Edsel was my favorite. It sounded great and had the right look.

Edsel interior. This makes the car just that much more awesome.

B3 Miata... Props..

Hey you're parked next to Keith. He horse traded for my Volvo 145 and subsequently bought that 444 off eBay from California.