stars and stripes, tatton park this weekend
Discussion
It's not bad. Basically, it's a car show purely for American cars. If you're into muscle cars and land yachts it's heaven.
I quite like it - went there last year. However, once you get bored of the Cadillacs and Mustangs, you can laugh at the really bad-taste Yank Tanks - like the Plymouths with fins made bigger than everyone else's for the sake of it, or the cars you can tell were restyled just to make sure everyone knew it was new, or the 'luxury' cars with the sort of wood veneer you saw on '70s record decks, and instruments 'by Cartier' (as if).
The one major offputting thing is all the sad 'Americana'. There are some people there who can't drive a Cadillac without dressing up as Elvis. There will be people in cowboy boots and stetsons. There will be people trying to persuade you to join their line-dancing club. And no matter where you are, you will be able to hear the sound of "Good ol' Country Joe's Hillbilly Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Lynching band" or something, being wailed in a dreadful British interpretation of a Southern drawl.
A good afternoon out, but don't expect Goodwood!
I quite like it - went there last year. However, once you get bored of the Cadillacs and Mustangs, you can laugh at the really bad-taste Yank Tanks - like the Plymouths with fins made bigger than everyone else's for the sake of it, or the cars you can tell were restyled just to make sure everyone knew it was new, or the 'luxury' cars with the sort of wood veneer you saw on '70s record decks, and instruments 'by Cartier' (as if).
The one major offputting thing is all the sad 'Americana'. There are some people there who can't drive a Cadillac without dressing up as Elvis. There will be people in cowboy boots and stetsons. There will be people trying to persuade you to join their line-dancing club. And no matter where you are, you will be able to hear the sound of "Good ol' Country Joe's Hillbilly Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Lynching band" or something, being wailed in a dreadful British interpretation of a Southern drawl.
A good afternoon out, but don't expect Goodwood!
I love classic American cars, but couldnt stomach this show because of all the lifestyle baggage that goes with it. Car shows in the US itself though have none of this muppetry. Weird huh? There is also no link between fifties American cars and Rock & Roll, when these cars were new, their owners would have hated Rock & Roll with a burning passion.
If you go to a Porsche meet, is it all Lederhosen and Oompah bands? Nope.
If you go to a Ferrari meet, do they all go on about Mama's pasta? nope.
If you go to a Jap meet, is everyone dressed up like a Samurai or a Geisha? nope.
I just dont get the American car scene in the UK, I would like to see that cars, but at the 1st sound of Country & Western, I cant hit the off button fast enough
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 30th June 13:30
If you go to a Porsche meet, is it all Lederhosen and Oompah bands? Nope.
If you go to a Ferrari meet, do they all go on about Mama's pasta? nope.
If you go to a Jap meet, is everyone dressed up like a Samurai or a Geisha? nope.
I just dont get the American car scene in the UK, I would like to see that cars, but at the 1st sound of Country & Western, I cant hit the off button fast enough
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 30th June 13:30
Balmoral Green said:
I love classic American cars, but couldnt stomach this show because of all the lifestyle baggage that goes with it. Car shows in the US itself though have none of this muppetry. Weird huh? There is also no link between fifties American cars and Rock & Roll, when these cars were new, their owners would have hated Rock & Roll with a burning passion.
If you go to a Porsche meet, is it all Lederhosen and Oompah bands? Nope.
If you go to a Ferrari meet, do they all go on about Mama's pasta? nope.
If you go to a Jap meet, is everyone dressed up like a Samurai or a Geisha? nope.
I just dont get the American car scene in the UK, I would like to see that cars, but at the 1st sound of Country & Western, I cant hit the off button fast enough
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 30th June 13:30
It's so true! I for one thought the muscle car scene was going to be more biased towards heavy metal and shredded rear tyres, but no, they've all got quiffs, lambchop sideburns and tassled jackets as well
I even buy Classic American from time to time, but I still have to fathom why they review Elvis tribute acts and really naff rock 'n' roll CDs as well.
I mean, put it this way - if you drive, say, an MGB, does that immediately mean you do Morris dancing and live in a little cottage with a name, and have a name like Arthur or Doris? No.
So why do people with American cars like to live out this strange late-'50s American 'dream' in Britain? Even if they drive a car that was made after Elvis died?
Actually, I like the idea of turning up at an American car show using their cars in a different way - what about a Mafia detachment in a big, sinister blacked-out Lincoln, or some shifty Latinos in an Oldsmobile lowrider, or a South American dictator in the back of a '59 Eldorado
I'm not especially into American cars, just a bit of a car geek in general so love to see rare/different cars so I'll probably end up going and having a look...slightly worried about getting accosted by a line-dancing hill-billy now though 
I agree about all the lifestyle stuff, not my thing at all but each to their own I suppose. The adverts in the local press/autotrader are talking about the top Elvis tribute act who will be performing so I can't say I haven't been warned 
Paul
I agree about all the lifestyle stuff, not my thing at all but each to their own I suppose. The adverts in the local press/autotrader are talking about the top Elvis tribute act who will be performing so I can't say I haven't been warned Paul
Balmoral Green said:
I love classic American cars, but couldnt stomach this show because of all the lifestyle baggage that goes with it. Car shows in the US itself though have none of this muppetry. Weird huh? There is also no link between fifties American cars and Rock & Roll, when these cars were new, their owners would have hated Rock & Roll with a burning passion.
If you go to a Porsche meet, is it all Lederhosen and Oompah bands? Nope.
If you go to a Ferrari meet, do they all go on about Mama's pasta? nope.
If you go to a Jap meet, is everyone dressed up like a Samurai or a Geisha? nope.
I just dont get the American car scene in the UK, I would like to see that cars, but at the 1st sound of Country & Western, I cant hit the off button fast enough
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 30th June 13:30
And if one goes to a Bentley meet does one take ones picnic basket and drink champagne? Yep
nonegreen said:
I love classic American cars, but couldnt stomach this show because of all the lifestyle baggage that goes with it. Car shows in the US itself though have none of this muppetry. Weird huh? There is also no link between fifties American cars and Rock & Roll, when these cars were new, their owners would have hated Rock & Roll with a burning passion.
If you go to a Porsche meet, is it all Lederhosen and Oompah bands? Nope.
If you go to a Ferrari meet, do they all go on about Mama's pasta? nope.
If you go to a Jap meet, is everyone dressed up like a Samurai or a Geisha? nope.
I just dont get the American car scene in the UK, I would like to see that cars, but at the 1st sound of Country & Western, I cant hit the off button fast enough
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 30th June 13:30
And if one goes to a Bentley meet does one take ones picnic basket and drink champagne? Yep
but of course DARHHHHHLINC !!!!!
oerrrr |! I turned reet posh then .Must be mixing in the wrong circles..Bentley owners honestly....
Hiya Woz. Beaut of a car buddy.....
76vette said:
Got to admit, "Elvis" was very blinkin good. And my car was on show, so it was fantastic value for money too....
Yeah, they were good weren’t they!
,some nice cars too…didn’t see yours though, I’m assuming you were there Sunday only? I only spotted a couple of dodgy looking Elvis types all the time I was there, there were no line-dancers and no country music either just to clear that up!
carconnoisseur said:Damn, just goes to show, my bigoted prejudiced preconceptions made me miss a good show...but then again, better safe than sorry
I only spotted a couple of dodgy looking Elvis types all the time I was there, there were no line-dancers and no country music either just to clear that up!
I've just seen it advertised in Autotrader today. Had a look on www.classicshows.org (from the ad). Not much detail on there but it's an "MG and Sports Car Show". I imagine it'll probably be fairly small but may have a blast over anyway to check it out...not sure yet.
edited to add...not to show, just to have a look/get some pics
>> Edited by carconnoisseur on Friday 8th July 14:41
edited to add...not to show, just to have a look/get some pics
>> Edited by carconnoisseur on Friday 8th July 14:41
Balmoral Green said:
I only spotted a couple of dodgy looking Elvis types all the time I was there, there were no line-dancers and no country music either just to clear that up!
Damn, just goes to show, my bigoted prejudiced preconceptions made me miss a good show...but then again, better safe than sorry
Don't believe him, it's all lies! Carry on with your bigoted, prejudiced preconceptions as they were bang on the money. Bigots are often right I find.
I went there with my American girlfriend (who thought it was hilarious) and we have pictures of both the country music one-man-band and the line dancing! If anyone can suggest a suitable upload site to link to I'm happy to show them on here.
In fact, carconnoisseur's denials make me wonder whether the guy we saw was in fact him....
carconnoisseur said:
"MG Show".
Oh God.
[stereotypes]
Lots of bearded men in stained woollen wear standing next to row after row of identical cars. They all know each others cars as well, by the chassis number, they have 'polishing-off' competitions to see who can get the shiniest bonnet, their cars are all fitted with 'badge bars' featuring a '60s AA badge, a '60s RAC badge, an owner's club crest, their city's coat of arms, their family's coat of arms and an enamel badge from their local dog-walker's club.
The rows of Bs and Midgets will all have a ring binder on the bonnet, featuring a photographic account of the car's restoration, a little board with all the polishing awards they've won, and a mirror so you can look at the waxoyled chassis.
If you go anywhere near the car or express the slightest bit of interest, the owner will explain that it's a fascinating, unique treasure of a car because it has the one-off trunnions and track rod ends from...zzzzzzzzzzz
[/stereotype]
Enjoy
roadsweeper said:
I went there with my American girlfriend (who thought it was hilarious) and we have pictures of both the country music one-man-band and the line dancing! If anyone can suggest a suitable upload site to link to I'm happy to show them on here.
..really? I was there on the Saturday until about 2pm and honestly didn't catch any of these strange goings on. I wish I had stuck around a bit longer though now . I cant help you with the uploading but would be interested to see your "evidence" roadsweeper said:
In fact, carconnoisseur's denials make me wonder whether the guy we saw was in fact him....
nnnnooooooooo....my secrets out!
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