For all of us north easterners, (and a healthy part of the rest of the country as well,) November signals the tail end of the last hurrah of the most optimistic car show efforts. The season is over. It is well past over. Even stalwart and true car enthusiasts have been forced to put their convertible tops up on the drive home. The sun has set at an hour earlier than any decent car cruise would even start.
It’s a general car show malaise, brought on by the gusts of seasonal wind, the onslaught of leaves, the darkness that doesn’t descend like a summer twilight, but makes an enormous clunking sound, as the sun drops below the horizon.
So, what do we car enthusiasts, who have the grand misfortune to live where there are seasons, do when the summer is over? Here are a few ideas to help get you through the bleak, show-less winter months.
Binge Watch the Classics: Certain movies have weathered the times, despite CG, technical advances, and the quality of films today. They have become staples of the automotive hobby, known for their runs at the drive-ins, for their classic, if remarkably creative, car crashes, races, chase scenes and, of course, cars. It may not be the same as spotting a beautiful 1968 Ford Mustang in the parking lot of your local diner, but keeping warm and watching Steve McQueen best the baddies, doesn’t seem a bad way to go. There’s an infinite number of great car classic films out there, and plenty of new ones, so butter the popcorn and forget about the snow outside. (It’s not snowing yet, but New Jersey has not yet run out of ways to torture us, so I’m not holding my breath for a dry winter…)
Visit Museums: Car Museums are awesome, and I’m not just saying that because I spent three years in Boston working for one. Each museum is a unique treasure, a piece of history, but also geography – who did these cars belong to? What is the significance of the building in which they’re stored? Onward and upward. It’s a great way to view cars, all kinds of cars, from the mom and pop museums in small garages, to the Petersen Museum, that leather and mothball scent doesn’t need to be lost to the summer months. Often times, museums host great off-season events as well, so be sure to check locally, or maybe even help them plan a showing of Bullit. (Looking for your local car museum? Check out our full list of car museums across America, at our Auto Museum Alley!)
Get into Motorsports: Maybe you are into motorsports, or maybe it’s the off season for your particular type of racing and performance, but why not try something new while you’re waiting for spring forward? Indoor motorsports make for a great adventure, and offer something new and different on the dark days of winter. They’re often broadcasted, along with the more temperate-weathered ones, and with no way to work on your classic until April, now seems as good a time as any to become an expert on unique or different forms of racing.
Join a Car Club: So you can’t work on your car. Maybe you can’t even look at your car, wrapped up tight as they are for the winter months. But there’s one thing you can do, one thing every car enthusiast loves to do – you can talk about your car. There are thousands of great car clubs across America, everything from Ford owners (Mustangs, welcome, Broncos, welcome, T-Birds, welcome! Camaros – get out!) to the Borgward Owners Club. There’s something for every car enthusiast, a place to enjoy the hobby together, even if it the weather tries to keep it at bay. Plus, many clubs have great events even through the winter months – you’ll never know unless you try. (Don’t forget to add your car club to our list, at Car Club Station!)
Keep Up With News and Releases: You’d be amazed at how easy it is to get automotive related news straight to your desktop or mobile device. On any given day, I get dozens of press release emails, and several mobile updates from Road and Track, Car and Driver, Auto Blog and Top Gear Magazine, just to name a few. Many, many of them are free, and the news is up to the minute on car releases, concepts and designs, and so much more. I also check out conglomerating sites, such as News Now, which brings together all automotive news from all factions of the web. You may not get the same thrill as riding top down through the winding country roads, but at least you don’t have to suffer the whole season without seeing some horsepower.
Check out Periscope: I confess myself obsessed with this tech. I’m a millenial, born and raised as the first generation to know more about internet and technology than those that came before us. I had a computer at the age when my parents would have had cub scout and brownie manuals, a phone when they would have had library cards, (I am a frequent patron of my local library, just making a particular point.) The fact is, technology doesn’t always amaze me, but Periscope does. It’s a free app for mobile devices that allows you to either tune in, or personally live stream anywhere and anywhen. We’ve been on Periscope since this summer, and brought you live video feeds from car shows, events, and the passenger seat of cars going 110 down the track at Monticello. Enough fangirling, though. Periscope is a great way to vicariously visit car shows and press events across America. Follow any of the thousands of car streamers, (*cough* like Car Show Safari) as they watch races, releases and more, all live!
Become an Auction Junkie: To be candid, I have a pretty big background in the world of art history, (and I find there to be many similarities between that and cars, but it’s an argument for another day.) The reason I bring it up is because there’s something wonderfully voyeuristic and totally satisfying about hearing of rare or famous paintings on sale, and following as they go to auction, seeing if they’ll make the minimum, guessing who they might go home with. It’s even more fun with cars. From barn finds to beauties, pick your favorites, (or just follow everyone!) and see if they get what you think they’re worth in the auction houses, and do your own research to determine their value. It’s a great slice of history, and exciting to watch.
Plan Your Fantasy Road Trip: Okay, no way no how are we getting into the classic in thirty degree weather and making a break for the coast, but it’s fun to pull out the old map and use a little creativity. Why not plan a classic trip following the cross-country rally racers, or try and hit every museum along your path? Maybe you could find every American landmark related to classic Volkswagen Camper Vans, or amphibious cars. Keep it as a wintertime fantasy, or tack it on the wall with a countdown until summer!
These are just a handful of suggestions – we’re interested in hearing how you keep the winter blues at bay with your favorite car themed activities. We may not be out in the garage, or watching racing down at the track, but there’s no reason we can’t be car lovers all year around!
Think you have a great car-themed winter activity that you want to see featured? Send an email to RubyRae@CarShowSafari.com! 
Image Top Right by Born1945 via Flickr.
Image Center Left by ZhengZhou via Wikipedia Commons.
Image Center Right by
Image Bottom Right via Pixabay.
Image Bottom Left by That Hartford Guy via Flickr.