WORST:
*The stuffed dolls in coveralls leaning against the bumper as if it is sleeping or crying...What the Heck, man ??? Of all the things a man can do, this looks totally unrelated to the car and dumb as ****.
*Trophies...I get it, the guy is proud of the car but as stated, it smacks of insecurity...Look at all the praise and acceptance I have received! You must join in since so many others already have!
*Car show owner couples dressed in shirts the same color as the car: A guy I knew had a 70 'Cuda in SubLime green and at every show, he and his Wife wore Sublime shirts. Their fold out chairs were SubLime as well. In fact, couples should never dress alike because it looks either dorky or creepy.
*Pop up canopies: They intrude on space and become a problem when the wind picks up a bit.
*FOR SALE signs with no price: I see "For Sale" signs often at the Fall Fling in Van Nuys, CA. For some reason the cars at the Spring show rarely have signs in them.
BEST:
*Photo albums of the car from purchase to completion: I love these! We all can appreciate the time, expense and dedication it takes to resurrect these cars so the photos are a great thing to see.
* Sign displays: Nice touch but I often see them with typos, numerical errors, etc. Proofread and get it right. There are no 3.55 Dana axles, no "Posi" differentials, no 3/4 race cams, etc.
*Coyote displays: These are great but only for Road Runner cars! This was the classic "Tortoise and Hare" rivalry at play. Wile E Coyote was always trying to outsmart the Road Runner but lost every time. The Coyote and a Charger? It makes as much sense as an armadillo and a Camaro.
*Fuzzy dice, drive-in restaurant trays on the drivers window, etc: GREAT stuff for classic cars from the 50s through the mid 70s. That was the era when people really frequented those places so it just fits the theme.
*Mirrors to showcase the undercarraige: Fine at indoor car shows like the AutoRama series.
THE FOLLOWING CAN GO EITHER WAY WITH ME:
*Gas cans, Oil jugs, antifreeze jugs : I see these at the multi-make car shows. I'm okay with it but would not miss anything if they were not there.
*Velvet ropes around the car: Some cars are super rare or extremely valuable and the owners are still willing to bring them out for others to see. I get it but it is annoying to feel restrained from getting a closer look.
All in all, I enjoy car shows. The worst part of them though? The know-it-all spectators that have seen it all, know it all and feel the need to critique everything despite never owning anything cool.