It isn't any different for Corvettes, Harleys, Porsches, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc
Some clubs, chapters, groups, show their enthusiasm in different ways.
For every one that races/autocrosses, there is one that only does fun runs, and another that only does show+shines and dinners.
When I first joined the Mercedes Club in 1990, it was all super-old guys polishing their cars and deciding which scenic drive to take to which lazy lunch at a high-end restaraunt.
Now there are drag strip days to see whose modded E55 can break into the 11's

Had a group of Vette guys show up to one of our Autocrosses. They pulled in the paddock lined up perfectly popped their hoods and posed for pics. I greeted them handed a course map pointed to registration etc. Hooked them up with my right hand man to make sure they were taken care of.
Course was chalked and near ready to go when they complained of things being tight and slow. I jumped in my lifted F-150 that towes the club trailer blazed through the course not touching a cone. "any questions" ? They all drove like granny, till we put an instructor in with them. They still attend events every once in awhile Like when there are no car shows in town. gave one of them a ride in my 914, he nearly filled his pants.

i get both proud and embarassed when someone complements my car so i don't begrudge anyone else enjoying showing off theirs. but darn if i'm gonna upholster my trunk and put cutesy little teddy bears in it and attendance plaques from other 'shows'. i really just can't comprehend that.

i bet a lot of the wax and show guys would be huge fans of ax if they would just try it a few times. they'd see that polishing and waxing nice cars is just a display of money or priorities. but turning a great time at an ax (or track event...but this is a much bigger committment) is something you can't buy and, as such, is worthy of much greater pride.

And then there are those who have "been there done that" with all of it...shows, autocross, rallys, track days...all of it.

These days, I'm satisfied to just have a fun driver without the clubs thing.

I guess my message here is it's all good. However one wishes to enjoy whatever car...

One should renew stereotypes every once in a while by attending a marque car show, e.g. Corvettes in this topic.

Compare with Porsche, Ferrari, Austin Healey, MB and Honda Civic car gatherings too.

If you observe yourself being a negative stereotype (e.g. excessive animal skin, gold accessories, branded merchandise, attitude, etc., perform some self-assessment.

Sherwood

That's true about the gold chains.

However, a very high percentage of Corvette owners have moustaches.

We went to a car show recently, and my 10 year old son noticed that.

Now whenever we pass a Corvette (for some reason Corvettes tend to be going 5-10 mph slower than every one in the fast lane), he checks and points out all the hairy lipped Corvette drivers.

I can't do a really beefy 'stache, so I feel I could never be accepted into the higher eschelons of Corvette ownership.

Are blonde trophy wives more doable?

S

Call me weird but I don't have anything against middle-aged guys with pot bellies and gold chains. I'm into personal freedom.