I am nervous about shows in big cities now because I hate driving the car on the freeway.
I drove my Beeskow the 400 mile round trip to the Treffen a few years ago... and narrowly missed it being totalled. I was caught in the middle of a huge multi car wreck on the 101 freeway near Los Angeles and only made it through because I tucked in behind a huge Chevy Suburban that plowed through the cars in front of us. My car was not even touched but hubcaps and bits from other cars were flying all around me!
When you are driving in a rare car... on the freeway... there is ALWAYS somebody sitting right in your blind spot... taking a picture... or pointing... if you are in a middle lane on a multi lane freeway usually there are two cars... one in each blind spot! and so you really need to pay attention when you change lanes. Also... people are looking at your car... and not at the cars ahead... I can't tell you how many times I have seen people almost crash into the car in front of them while looking at my car. It is SCARY! also... they hit the brakes when they see your car... and the people behind them don't understand... and almost crash into them or swerve to go around them and almost hit you
I suppose I could buy an enclosed trailer... and a truck to tow it with... and go that route. But I made a vow to myself to never trailer the car... to always drive it. If I did have a trailer... I think it would be easier to get to through LA without such a "scene"... but it seems kind of sad.
I prefer the smaller shows... where I can drive on single lane roads... in the country. Like Solvang... or the local shows... or even the 356 Porsche shows... always in a small town. (like Bad Camberg or Hessich Oldendorf) Much more fun than driving to a show in the middle of a huge city... and much safer for the cars.
At the BIG vw shows... I have had people who don't understand Rometsch cars... sit on the fenders... to have their picture taken. I know they don't mean to be rude... they just don't understand that it is an aluminum car... but this doesn't happen at the vintage shows. I have had people dent the car when their big 35mm camera swings off of their neck as they bend over the car.... the camera crashing into the fender. I have had people open the door...put their kids in the car so they can take their picture... and the kid pulls the Rosenthal porcelain but vase off the dash and throws it on the floor... mom and dad just laugh while I am running back to the car from a few cars away... crazy! I have had a petri horn button stolen (and accessories)... at major VW shows in Southern CA.
These are the reasons rare cars don't show up at shows. I don't think it is the value of the cars. When I drive my double cab to a show... I never have a problem. Nobody cares about it... nobody really notices it. Nobody wants a picture of their 4 year old kid in it. Nobody is trying to open the hood. I can relax and have a nice time at the show and see my friends and go to the swap meet.
It is really nice to take a regular vw to a show... much more fun...much easier and mellower. You are not a circus on the freeway... or at the show.
I do still think it is important for the cars to be at the shows.... so I others can enjoy it... but I can understand why the rarer and more valuable cars are not always at shows. I hesitate to yell at people for not bringing their rare treasures out. It is sad... but I understand.
protect me from what I want