October 10, 2026
Last night, I did something I haven’t done in years. I went to the Family Fright Night car show, hosted by Vixenz at Boardwalk Bowl here in Orlando, and just walked around. No booth setup, no selling, just checking out what was happening.
I did wear my AMSOIL Dealer shirt, so if you are reading this, were there, and saw a guy wearing one, that was me!
I’ve been intending to visit more shows this way, and this was my first one. It was just down the block from where I live, and it didn’t disappoint.
A Different Kind of Car Show
This was very different from my usual shows. I don’t think my AMSOIL booth would have drawn much attention, but the cars certainly drew mine. Which was why I was there!
Most of the shows I attend feature classic cars or muscle cars. A majority of the vehicles here were imports, a scene I haven’t really been involved in since my DSM days. Even then, the scene was different, with most of us focused on performance.
At Family Fright Night, the emphasis was on details and appearance. You could tell a lot of love—and money—had gone into these vehicles. In the past, I’ve seen cars that might not be “my cup of tea,” but I could still admire the dedication and passion an owner put into making a vehicle their dream. At this show, though, I can’t really say the vehicles didn’t entice me in one way or another. While not everything was my style, I came away with plenty of ideas worth exploring for my own vehicles. I think that’s probably part of the fun of shows: getting ideas and letting someone else’s dream inspire your own.
There was a wide variety of eye-catching cars, from imports to muscle cars, trucks and Jeeps. Several Corvettes were lined up. I hoped to see a DSM, remembering the rivalry we had between DSMs and Hondas. But I guess the Hondas outlasted us with a few here as well as Integras from my import era.
Halloween Takes Over
With Halloween as the theme, many of the vehicles were decorated for the occasion. Some had simple cobwebs and road hazard signs, while others featured gravestones and skeletons behind the wheel.
A few of my favorites were the decorated trunks. These weren’t just places to store things; they had become miniature horror scenes. I especially liked one that looked like a cemetery with a skeleton trapped in a cage, trying to get out.
Since this was a family event, there were plenty of kids running around to the various trunk-or-treat displays. Each owner was supposed to bring candy for them, so the cars were part of the entertainment for the younger crowd, too.
I saw a few adults in custom outfits, but the cars were the stars.
Music, Superheroes and a Very Loud Corvette Scene
The music had a Latin theme, and one car in particular provided enough sound to fill the event and then some.
I worry about watching TV overnight in my van and draining my lithium batteries. This guy must have had a direct tap into the power grid!
Two Corvettes caught my attention because of their comic-book themes. One was decorated around Deadpool, and the other featured Dr. Doom.
I guess there’s something about Corvettes and comic-book characters. At a previous show, my old boss had his Iron Man-themed Corvette. Before that, his previous ‘Vette had a Punisher theme. I probably looked like Mr. Magoo pulling up in my van in comparison!
Seeing some of the interior lighting gave me ideas. Maybe it’s time to add some lighting of my own to the van and a few of my other vehicles. Or maybe I should just get my Mustang back on the road….
The Best Part Was Just Walking Around
One of the best things about attending a show without a booth is that I never have to look over my shoulder wondering if I need to race back to my AMSOIL display.
I could take my time, walk around, look at every car twice, focus on the details that caught my eye, and talk to people without having to excuse myself and hurry back to the booth hoping I didn’t miss the guy wanting that 55 gallon drum!
That freedom alone made the evening worthwhile.
I may start taking in more shows this way. I’ll get to see different kinds of vehicles, pick up ideas for my own cars and van, and maybe even get one of them into a show someday.
An Idea for Next Halloween?
One idea that came out of this show is to turn the inside of my van into a haunted house for Halloween next year.
Imagine decorating the interior, opening it up for visitors, and entering it in a show. It would be a fun change from the usual vehicle displays—and a good excuse to do something different with the van.
Family Fright Night turned out to be a great way to spend an evening. Now I’m wondering whether next Halloween I’ll be the one opening up a van full of skeletons and spooky surprises!
