An At Home Car Show
For most of us, the last few weeks have required an upheaval of the routine and a quick-think change of our regular schedule. Work has mostly been relegated to the home, schools have closed, and entertainment and food facilities are shuttered until further notice. In times of personal or collective stress, we often turn to our favorite hobbies to distract and entertain us, but when our favorite hobbies require group gatherings outside of the home, that can be difficult to do. Here are a few ways to get your automotive fix without leaving the safety of your home.
Explore Museums
Many art and sculpture museums have opened up virtual tours to the public on their websites and it’s a great way for people from around the world to check out collections they might otherwise never get to see. Luckly, some automotive museums are doing the same thing, with virtual gallery exhibits and walk-throughs available for free (though we recommend donating as a thank you, if you can.) Even if your favorite museums don’t have walk-through tours, many of them have full photo and history galleries available right online for you to explore at your leisure.
Check out all the automotive museums across America at Auto Museum Alley. Don’t forget to share your favorite online galleries!
Learn Something New
Have you always wanted to dive into the history of the Chevrolet Impala or learn about how supercars are made? There’s no better time to enroll in an open-source or private class through a program like Coursera or Udemy. Explore the future of self-driving technology, learn about basic maintenance, or find out about the business side of flipping cars. The classes start at free and range in cost and length, but you’re sure to find something that fits your interests.
Check Out an Automotive Documentary
We all love a good action movie, but if you’re in the mood for something a little more rooted in fact, why not explore available automotive documentaries on your favorite streaming networks. Automotive history may not be very long, but it is very involved and there are lots of great threads to pull on from racing to innovation to designers. If you’re looking to share the experience with a friend, check out Netflix Party, an extension that allows you to have long distance movie parties.
Read a Car Book
If you haven’t downloaded the Overdrive app from your local library, you’re missing out. It’s a free program that allows you access to all of the ebook and audiobooks available through your library’s system, delivered right to your phone, tablet, or ereader. (You will need a valid library card to use it.) Even if you don’t have Overdrive, you can still download ebooks from Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble, and there’s no better time to check out the wide library of automotive stories in the world. Here at Car Show Safari, we’ve read and reviewed a lot of titles. We look forward to hearing your favorites.
YouTube It
If you’re on the search for something more bite-sized or specific than a full-length documentary or book, you might want to check out the wide collection of channels and videos on YouTube for gearheads. You can find anything from automotive history to great race scenes to car reviews and more. Check out the wide variety of exciting car themed media to fit your interests
Work On It
Is there any better time to work on your vehicle than when you’re stuck at home? We don’t recommend starting a project that needs specific parts or requires help from a friend, since Car Show Safari is dedicated to social distancing at this time, but if you have the parts and tools you need to get that one project done, now is the time to do it.
Teach Someone
With kids home from school and parents required to immediately start the homeschooling process, now is a good time to add a little real world expertise to the mix. Consider throwing in vocational skills, like cooking, sewing, and gardening and, of course, automotive repair and maintenance. You may not have all the tools you need, but if you want to begin the process of showing your little ones how to change tires or oil, recognize a bad battery, or even detail a car, it’s a skill they’re likely to appreciate down the line.
Create Your Own Content
If you want to take it a step further, consider creating lessons, videos, or even articles of your own. YouTube is an easy platform for anyone to get started on and Udemy is a place to make a little money if you’re willing to put together a comprehensive class. You may even want to take the time now to write about that one awesome auto event or experience from your life, just to have it down. And if you’re looking for a place to share, Car Show Safari is always open to submissions.
Times may be hard, but we don’t have to give up on everything we enjoy doing. All it takes is a little creativity and hope for the future—and hand soap. Car Show Safari is wishing you and your family health, hope, and happiness during these days, as we look forward to the next great car show to come.