Rules and Regulations and Policies

If you want a new class or category added to the list provided by MSP, please understand that this is a competition. One car in a single category is not what the car show is all about, so please don’t be “That Person”. We love feedback and if you want to lobby for a show category, bring 5 of your friends to commit to entering the new listing and make it a competition! We’re happy to make you happy in the tradition of fun car show experiences. We always want your feedback, but all we ask is that offer it with respect and allow us to have a conversation about the classes.

• Show up On Time!
  We get it. You want your car to look perfect. And you got stuck polishing that one blemish on your chrome. Did you get stuck at every single red light too? The back roads didn’t work out on your GPS? Things happen that can throw you off schedule, but there’s a simple fix. Wake up and get going earlier to fit your plan. Arriving 30-40 minutes after the gates have opened to the public and expecting a premier spot for your car will only entitle you to one thing, which is being labeled a: “That Person.” Be grateful for any spot available and or the one you’re given, and direct that anger to the person who really deserves the penalty of being late, which is the one behind the wheel.

• Notify Event Staff if You Need to Leave Early!
  Things come up. It happens to everyone. 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 being “That Person.” If you know you must 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 or disrupting the event. Leaving a car show packed with spectators looks bad on you and the event organizers. Beside it is never an easy process and sometimes impossible if the show is at full capacity. Not to mention it’s dangerous, particularly with children or pets running about unpredictably.

• Listen to Staff Directions and Requests!
  The staff for your favorite events are almost always volunteers who enjoy being around cars and are performing duties for little pay, if any at all. Try not to lose your head or give them a hard time. While you’re giving them a hard time for simply doing their thankless job, you are probably keeping them from performing their duties. You like performance vehicles, then help performance car show staffers in every way possible. If you think you’re in the wrong spot, park there anyway and then find the show director and ask for help politely! Laying into the guys or girls directing traffic probably won’t end in your favor. Don’t be “That Person”! You’ll most likely meet the show director if you insist on being rude, but instead of him or her lending a hand, they’ll probably be asking you to leave.

• Do Not Take Up 2 Parking Spaces!
  Everyone knows their car is a special little snowflake. We’ve all dumped endless amounts of what we each consider a lot of money into our precious vehicle, wasted many a night lying awake thinking up next steps, and scouring junkyards and swap meets from around the country looking for that special part that defines our rides as the special snowflake to us. Just like everyone else. At every show, you’ll see “That Person” sometimes taking up more than one parking spot. You may think your ride is better than his or hers, but that doesn’t mean you deserve extra room as well! Suck it up and park your snowflake straight like the rest of us.

• Do Not Drive over 5 MPH inside the Show area!  EVER!!
  Navigating in and around a car show event or venue certainly isn’t an easy process. Not to mention it’s dangerous, particularly with children or pets running about unpredictably. Getting into or out of the show quickly while may seem like you are doing everyone a favor, but you could be “That Person” putting everyone around you at risk. More importantly, it puts your own snowflake at risk as well. Be respectful of not only those attending but to your own ride and keep it slow, cool and steady.

• Do Not Kill, Maim, and/or Scream Profanities at Those Who Touch Your Car!
  Yes, it’s true that we are all in agreement that spectators should keep their grubby little hands to themselves, yes? But what happens when they don’t? Yup it happens. We’ve seen it all from leaning up against the car to just rubbing that one vulnerable spot. Killing with kindness goes further than losing it in a blind rage that leads to an out-of-control verbal mud bath and shellacking. Please remember that not every spectator who attends your average car show understands how seriously you take pride in your creation. Politely explaining how much your car means to you is usually all it takes for them to get the picture. This holds especially true for children; teach them, don’t punish them. Helping raise a new generation of enthusiasts that don’t purchase Camrys or think that people who take cars seriously are jerks is an essential to continuing our beloved car culture! You could be the good example of “That Person!”

• Respect Others and Their Rides!
  Everyone has different tastes. Everyone has different budgets. Just because the car next to you doesn’t have perfect paint, is a newer car, or features some discount brand parts, doesn’t make it any less deserving of its owner’s pride. Don’t like his or her style? Din’t be “That Person” who acts like they know everything. Keep it to yourself because there are probably plenty of people who don’t like yours either. And here’s the important thing to remember.  Do you care what they think? Offering real advice or help instead of put downs helps make for a better community. Not everyone has the means or experience to create a show stopper. However, their story might be far more interesting than that of the guy with unlimited funds who just dropped a bare chassis off at the local restoration expert and told them to make it perfect. Either way, BOTH deserve all of respect.

• Respect and Abide by the Judges Decisions!
  The competition at some shows can and more often than not is very fierce as any professional sport out there. Everyone wants to win, and that drive is what makes for some of the most stunning vehicles at any show. With that said, no one is being paid millions to perform. Whether you’re the attendee or the judge, you could feel like you were overlooked or misjudged. Don’t cause a scene during the awards ceremony. Leave that to Kanye West on the Music Awards Show. In other words don’t be “That Person” who displays a bitterness for the injustice of the judges. There will always be another show and most likely less than a few weeks later. If you didn’t take home a top prize, seek out one of the judges after the event and ask what you could do to improve. Don’t lose your cool if you don’t like their suggestions. With the exception of certain concourse level shows which apply strict point systems, most of this stuff is subjective. The judges at the next one might love what you’ve got, and chances are that judge may just look at your car with a better eye because of your inquiry.

• Do Not Burn Out or Drag Race When Leaving!
  Sure, we all love a good burnout. 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 being an “Attention Grabber” aren’t worth the lifetime label of “Certified Dipstick” should something go wrong. This also goes for Drag Racing! Remember, the increased traffic that a car show brings is noted by local police. That guy in the loud Hemi SRT might be asking for it. Racing on the surrounding streets before, during, or after an event brings all the wrong kinds of attention down on you and the rest of us 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. Don’t turn yourself into a statistic, or be “That Person” and ruin it for all the rest of us.

• Engage and Answer questions by both young and old attendees!
  If you brought your car out of the garage to show it off and you don’t want anyone asking you about it, you really should have just stayed at home with your door locked and all the windows bolted up. With that attitude, you must be a blast to have at a cocktail party. People who are interested in your car will want to speak to you. They will ask you all manner of questions and have all manner of personal experiences. Even if you think the inquiry is dumb, have some patience. In today’s “social media fueled hide behind a keyboard day and age” it takes at least some amount of courage to strike up a conversation with a stranger. You’ll come off the bigger person than the gruff, standoffish, ogre acting like even rolling out of bed that morning was barely worth your time. Don’t want to talk about your car? Then don’t show up. Tell your story about how you found that one part and share how much your car means to you. This holds especially true for children. Teach them and share with them. Engage with them and if they are especially curious and polite, let them sit in your car or show them why you love it. You will be doing your part to help raise a new generation of enthusiasts. Maybe someday that future enthusiast will talk about the good version of “That Person” who filled their spirit with the love for beautiful vehicle creations. He or she may tell their children someday at another show 20 years later about the one shared and enriched their love of the automobile.