Unpopular opinion. I'm so frustrated I hate car shows/cruises.
I have only entered a "professionally judged" show once. It was a regional Mustang and Ford event, I put my 84 Mustang GT350 convertible in the modified class, and it took first place. I have won a few first and second place plaques or trophies with my 1970 Dart in the first few years after I finished it, and one for Best Pontiac with my 76 Ventura about 8 years ago, the last time I entered any show.
Any shows that are put on by clubs should not have any member's cars eligible for awards. When I was in a club several years ago that was always the rule, but some clubs don't seem to realize how much credibility they lose by allowing their own members to win awards.
Mainly I just got tired of hanging around all day in the heat, seeing so many of the same cars every time. I am sure that it is probably different in a place where the population is much larger than where we live now, only around 100,000 people here, but 2 hours north where my brother lives is well over 2 million people. I have been to a couple of cruise nights there, but it isn't easy to get there on a Wednesday or Friday after work.