Narrative

     Car Show

     It was a muggy July day, the sun was at its highest point in the sky, beating down on me making sweat run down my forehead.  Most people were staying indoors to avoid the intense heat radiating from the earth and I was outside taking it all in.  None of these things bothered me because I knew I was going to see engineering masterpieces for the entire day.
     A car show is an excellent way to bring together a lot of people with the same hobby, show off their automobiles, and discuss the history of them.  Cars are one of my hobbies and car shows are the best places to go get my fix.  Once all of the burbling engines have made their last "putt" sound and have taken a parking place, people make their way around the gigantic lot, peering into them, gazing at the shimmering paint jobs, and gawking at the high horse- power engines fitted under their hoods.  Many owners stand next to their fast rides and talk to spectators about how they came to own the car, how much blood, sweat, and tears they shed while restoring their car, or maybe how the same automobile has been in their family its entire life so far.  
    The old buckets of steel that usually get the most attention are those that are fastest or hold many records on drag strips or tracks.  These monster cars are usually bred like this from birth, with a big American V8 under the hood, a high performance exhaust fitted under the chassey, and a lot of rubber wrapped around the wheels for maximum traction.  Some of these wild rides even have custom paint jobs from a two-tone color, to a solid with racing stripes, or even on some occasions, characters or icons painted on the car to represents the cars heritage and how it came to be.
     Not all classic cars are about lap times and big motors, some get their popularity purely from its history in the automotive world, and the impact it has had on regular people.  These kinds of cars have a specific group of collectors who are very passionate about these cars and know just about everything there is to know about them.  Since the cars aren't performance based, they generally have smaller engines and are mostly based on comfort, luxury, and class.  For example: Rolls Royce is an automotive legend not because of their quarter-mile times, but from their impeccable attention to detail, and everlasting quality all around their cars.  These kinds of classics are more often more valuable than any other type of car because of the passion and vision the original owner had for the company that still rests with it today.
     After seeing as many cars as I could get to, the shows organizers start the awards.  There are many different categories that contenders can place in and possibly win that gives everyone an area they might prosper in so it doesn't favor just one class of car.  Different trophy's are handed out to owners cars that have the most power, the most

collectible, the cleanest interior/engine, best restoration, and even the most creative customization. 
     As the day goes on, more cars move in and out of the show giving me a few new cool rides to check out.  One very special car that caught my eye as I was walking down a row was a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda with a custom paint job.  This car is a personal favorite of mine which led me to ask the owner "How did you find this car?"  He replied to my question by telling me how he bought it brand new in '69, raced it for a number of years but wrecked it once.  After restoring his 'cuda in the 80's he said "My racing days were over."  He concluded his high speed era, put a beautiful black paint job on the car with a sparkle finish and kept it a road car.  I was astounded at the fact the muscle car also still had its original engine from the factory.
     Nearing the end of the car show, I indulged in a food stand hamburger that contained too much grease, had a mediocre taste, but fitted in well with the American theme that was very consistent through the day.  A hobby like cars has such a vast community of people because of how common, necessary, and fascinating cars are and my first car show on that blazing hot day in July made me love them even more.