308 Best in Show at Citrus Classic Balloon Festival Glow n Show

This past Saturday (July 27th, 2013) I took my 1983 308 GTS to the Santa Paula Citrus Classic Balloon Festival and Car show and won "Best in Class Sports Car / Exotic".

As always there was an ocean of Corvettes, some super clean MG's and a mix of other Sports Cars in my class along with a total of 200+ hot rods and classic's.

I was very shocked when I won "Best Sports Car". When I rolled in, the guy helping organize and park the cars had me park right in front of the MC booth where the DJ's from the Horsepower for an Hour radio show were hosting. The 308 was mobbed with people all day long. It drew some serious attention.

It was interesting to stand there and hear some of the things people had to say. Things like "I never see these on the street" and "These are much smaller than I thought they were". Of course they loved the classic looks. People really tripped out on all the switches on the center console and the transverse mounted V8. Allot of people were just surprised that a car this small even came with a V8! Then there were the "Dreamers". The guys, that were like we used to be, dreaming that one day they too could have one. All day long I watched guys drag their wives over, baby stroller in tow to explain "Why" this would be a great thing to have. Ha Ha! Oh I remember making that pitch to the wife!

I did spend the entire week detailing the car. I guess that hard work paid off!

I also won a T-Shirt and a Coffee Mug from the Horsepower for an Hour radio show.

Pictures of the car at the show and the massive trophy I won are here: 2013 Citrus Classic Balloon Festival And Car Show Photos by chriscronkrite | Photobucket

 

Thanks Guys. I think your right...going to a show that was mostly American Hot Rods and a mix of other, these cars do well. People don't get to see them up close very often.

Lots of fun...Now I got to build me a trophy shelf! lol

 

That's a good question!

I might be hitting up another car show in September in Port Hueneme if your interested.

 

Like many on this site, I'm more into the driving experience than I am showing the car. But, like you, seeing a Ferrari...any Ferrari is a rarity. In Los Angeles, we are blessed to have many more driving around than other places in the world...but they are still rare.

In the last few days I have thought about this car show and winning a trophy. There were plenty of other really nice, really clean sports cars there. Car's that are full time show cars. So it really comes down to car design and when you park a 308 next to a Corvette...or 30 Corvettes as it was....the 308 just stands out!

I really love this car...The thrill still hasn't worn off. Even after 6 years of ownership. I still look for any excuse to get behind the wheel.

 

Thanks man....I have a whole ROOM full of vintage Boomboxes...The Boom Room! its my other passion!

1980's all the way!

 

Thank Tex, I have one other trophy / plaque for 2nd place in a Slalom Race in my old 1978 MG Midget.

Good times!

 

I don't get out to many car shows because they always say "Pre 1972". And if they do accept all years and makes then is a Tuner Car Fest and I don't want to hang out with a bunch of kids with drifting cars and booming sound systems.

I did meet a cool older gentleman, we was 86, that had just retired from top end speed racing at Bonneville. He was doing 300+ in a streamliner well into his 80's! That's pretty cool....he was at the show in a 1921 Ford