SHIFTIN’ GEARS

By Ben Notaro • red63vetnj@comcast.net

f you have been in this hobby long enough, you recall a time when one of the unspoken “rules” of car show gatherings was the distribution of the goodie

Often, this bag and its contents were free to the show promoters — courtesy of classic car insurance companies and, in some cases, parts suppliers or reproduction parts suppliers. For starters, they were free for the asking and many of them were great for advertising a particular manufacturer and their products. Most were plastic bags; today many are the cloth-type carriers.

The bags always contained a good assortment of goodies — from key fobs to stickers to whatever promotional item a company was willing to donate. I recall when I staged my all-Camaro show some years ago, writing 35 to 40 letters (no e-mail back then) to companies explaining my event and asking for everything from samples to literature. I had companies send large supplies of sample car care products, from wax to window cleaning pads. The goal of most goodie bags at a car show is to give the participant as much free stuff as possible. This is a great “’gift” to the participant as well as a promotional opportunity for products available in the classic car hobby.

Today the goodie bag is not as common a gift to the show participants. Times and COVID (3 stale years) have altered the generosity of the companies. Today’s strained economy has weakened some opportunities for event promoters to be able to procure free items for the goodie bags they may have to give out. Also, the dynamics of the car shows have changed a bit with the times and the good ol’ goodie bag is not as popular as it used to be.

It was always fun to have a goodie bag party and get friends or club members to come out and have a bag stuffing night. I recall one year that I had a sizable bag to hand out to my show participants and it was nice to hear their comments on the bag’s contents.

Well, our hobby is a hobby of change and sometimes that change sees a decline or a discontinuation of a part of the show, cruise or gathering scene.

It is still a fond memory to think about the good ol’ days when one registered their car and was given a bag of neat promotional items to check out while relaxing at a show.

Department of Information: Get your show and cruise info to Cruising Magazine ASAP. Cruisers plan and you want them to be aware early on!

Department of Health: It’s summertime. You know the drill — dress for the weather, stay hydrated and check your car’s cooling system.

Department of Interior: Hot vinyl + wearing shorts = toasted thighs and buns.