I spent all weekend on my FD getting it pretty for a local car show on Sunday. She was absolutely mint, just gorgeous especially with the overcast sky (my FD is black). Lots of people milling about, I believe well over 1500 attended. I got several comments on the car, both good and bad. Typical response after giving it a puzzled look was "Oh, it's just a Mazda." One guy I heard say "I can't believe they have a Mazda here." Highlights were a previous '94 FD owner in his 50's loved the car and we talked for awhile about them, had a gorgeous woman who owned a '82 RX-7 sit in it and chat rotaries for awhile. Also had a little girl (must have been 8 or 9 yrs. old) come up, stand in front of it and say "That is the most beautiful car I have ever seen."

Four cars in my class, one of them was a Caddy Eldorado (sp?) from the 80's and a '80's something Olds 442 in cherry condition. Can you guess who won? I made the mistake of going in thinking I would manhandle my group (although the Mazda comments were starting to make me wonder). I ended up second to the Olds 442, much to the disbelief of myself and a friend who had an old Ford truck at the show. I figured for sure something as "rare" as an RX-7 (99% of the people didn't even know what it was) would be a shoe-in.

Have any of you guys taken your FDs to car shows and been discriminated against because you own a Mazda (non-American vehicle)? Even though I was happy with the great plaque I got I still felt a little disappointed. Either that or the Olds 442 cars are truly a piece of history and I just didn't realize it.

 

I don't think our cars look old enough to be sit at the same car shows as 60's and 70's muscle-cars. Most people who go to those shows are still pretty closed-minded about what they consider a "good car."


This is completely off-topic, but I've always wondered why classic cars' exhaust smells so good. If anyone can explain that, I'd appreciate it a lot.


-s-

 

Take off your catalytic converters and find out!

 

Lots of Americans, esp those in the south, discriminate against 'furrin' cars.' Why would anyone enter a ricemobile in a car show

congrats on the 2nd place finish, that is nothing to be ashamed about. I won Best in Show FD recently at Rotorfest, and that meant a lot because it judged by people who know the car intimately .

 

The Olds 442 goes back to the 70s and I believe it stands for 400 HP, 4 barrel carb, 2 door.

The 442 is a classic with a captial C.

Don't feel bad about losing, cause you lost to a reigning champ!!

 

Nope. Modern cars run without a cat converter, smell much different than a 60's or 70's muscle car. A musclecar has a sweeter smell to the exhaust, while the modern 'catless' car smells like sulfur.

-s-

 

Nope, 442 stands for:

400 ci
4 speed
dual exhaust

from American Muscle Car on SPEED

 

Thanks GoodFella, I guess I was just a little bummed. I shouldn't have gone in thinking I was all that. I'll know better next time, this was my first show.

 

i know EXACTLY what you mean. I go to this meet called East Coast Boost with my fd, and the people there TRY not to look at at it. (85% of the club are SRT-4's) i guess some people are just blind to a great car, or there just to ignorant to know any better

 

Carborated vs. fuel injection?
Leaded vs. Unleaded fuel?
Freshly rebuilt motor vs. motor with milage on it?



Any pictures of the car show?

 

.

 

I go to shows all the time. ALL the time.

In defense of the people that ran the show and judged your car, its honestly about how the car was judged and not about what kind of car you have. Anyone can show their car, but there is a huge difference between tacking on awesome neon lights and cool parts from PepBoys and (in your case, im assuming) restoring an old 80s model car.

Ive been to plenty of shows where my FD got beat out by a buncha riced out hondas. Other shows where I get owned by gold plated lowriders. In the end, they had more crap done. And they had it done well to fit with the theme of the car. Not to mention, you werent in the correct class. I hope the first place car was impressive.

There was probably a little bit of discrimination in the judging of yours and their cars, but I would be pretty pleased with a 2nd place trophie if I showed up at an all american car show...

Well, enough ranting. Im not on their side, just fyi. Hehe, if car shows were decided upon what kind of car you had, there would be a lot more million dollar super cars at those local car shows.

 

Hehe, thanks for the kudos on 2nd place. I'll fill you in a bit more on the show:

My group was '74-2004 so I was in the correct bracket, I was just the only car manufactured after the 80's that registered for my group.

My car is highly modified however nearly stock looking from the outside (just lowered a bit over stock). Here are some photos of my car. Absolutely no rice here, I try and stay away from that stuff as much as possible, ruins the class of these cars IMO.

Honestly for the few people who stopped by (and that woman ...wowza) and asked questions I had a ball talking about the car. I also wrote up a little diddy about the RX-7 and the rotary, then taped it up in the window. It was funny to see the looks on people's face trying to wrap their head around an engine that doesn't have pistons.

 

I get the haters all the time. Muscle cars are HUGE here in the east coast were I live. Most muscle car guys hate me because of my car. It's all good. When I run past them in 3rd gear they usally get the point and shut-up.

 

Don't you just love those people. hehe

I had one guy ask, "So, what kind of motor is in there?"

My response, "Not much. Just a 1.3L rotary."

- "So...that means how many cylinders? Like around 4?"

- "Like around none."

-"That's not possible! I'll bet you $50 that you don't know what ur talking about and that's a 4 cylinder ricer."

-"Ok, deal."

Let's just say I walked with an extra $50 in my pocket, and a big smile on my face because I just cultured another person on the wonderful world of the rotary.

Every now and then, you get the ignorant (sp?) ricer fellow that will ask what kind of cams and headers you have. Need I not say more....

 

Any pics?

 

Pics of car can be seen here.

{EDIT} Host is having some problems, give it a bit before link goes through.

 

Very nice. Did you get any of the show though?

 

Nope, sorry I didn't. I wish I did because there were some sch-weet old cars/trucks there. Forgot the camera when I ran out the door because I was late for registration.

 

Oh, so THAT'S what you were doing in the back with Vosko.

LOL

Dave

 

Any pics?

 

i've only been to one show... and they had a 90's import category, and I won hehehe

 

Car looks clean!

 

Wrong again The 442 has a 455ci engine.

4 speed
4 barrel carb
possi traction or dual exhaust are both acceptable for the "2" and have been debated throughly for both sides. Although dual exhaust is most commonly belived.

 

actually, I'm pretty darn sure the 2 stands for 2-door....I've seen this quoted in some pretty reputible muscle car mags....


-Vwolfi