Event Coverage Juding @ car shows??

This brings up another poll, ( I won't do it though), and that is should anything not at least 20 years old even be allowed to show, (or what ever years the sponsors decide, but most certainly at least 10 years).
I like some of the new modern muscle cars, but not a car show. I see this as a deep pocket egomaniac needing to feed his/her "me" fix and the show sponsors being either ignorant of the hobby (like the Lions Club and their local celebrity judges, ((city mayor, city council folks, fire chief, local man/woman of the year, etc,)) or for the root of all evil, which is the Love of Money.

Ok off my soap box now and out to the yard for the rest of this day.

 

Heard a story like that just the other day. A local guy was at my place with a piece for my A. he said he was parked in his flatty powered coupe next to a kid with a more door Dart. It was rough but clean and it was his car, the guy told me that the cruise was too uptight for him but he made damned sure to find something he could compliment the kids car for.

We as a group need to lighten the fuck up, pure and simple. Its all about having a good time, not who is better or who is cooler or even who is faster. End of the day if you did not have fun you have wasted a day, pure and simple.

 

When I was in a club that had a night show, club members car's were not judged. We had raffles and gave awards for the longest wheel base, most bugs in the radiator, etc. No more clubs, maybe one show a year. Like the Cruise-ins and "Gatherings".

 

LOL I like my whole world to be in a little yellow pool of light. Put me on a back road away from the decay and noise of the city, let my pipes chortle and my world to be no more than what I can see in my headlights. let me hear the sounds of the night, out in the dark the screeches and squeals. let the bugs loom large and unexpected and let my ride do what it is supposed to do, cruise.

 

Amen Beano,there are a lot of younger guys and gals that own cars that we as a hambers don't get weak kneed over but the owners are enjoying a older car and having fun.

I too try and find something nice to say to encourage them,after all they are the future.

My grandson is as proud of his American made mustang as I am my deuce sedan. HRP

 

Damn, that ought to be in a book of hot rod poetry!

 

Well, now we have switched from chasing trophy's, to discussing which cars are allowed to get into a show.

Here in Southern New England, there are a few "traditional Rod and Custom" shows that your 34 would not be allowed in. You'd be parked outside the gate. That's life.

 

If I were just a pinch more narcissistic I would be the book.

 

I didn't vote. For a couple of reasons, first, I have no idea what Juding is
For the second part I could care less.
I typically don't like car shows. I don't like the snobbiness of some of the attendees and the stupidity displayed by some of the spectators.
The trophies are useless dust collecting baubles.
I'm building my RPU for my own pleasure and enjoyment.
If I attend any "shows" it will be for a very brief visit and then I will be doing what I am building it for, driving it.

 

simple answer to the op's poll: the trophy is for the finished car, not the owner or builder or guy who preserved it. why? because the condition the car started out as, would have to be proved. should a hot rod that was built from a pile of garbage and come out perfect be judged different than one that was perfect to begin with? maybe. should a car restored perfect after years of abuse compete against one that was moth balled. too hard to do.

 

The guy that used to put on 'Fifties Nite' in San Jose hired me to rebuild his Track T. (famous old nose job from 1950)
He went to most swap meets, but wasn't coming home with any useable goods.
He was going there to buy trophies. For his living room, den, bedrooms, garage...
I finally packed his unfinished T in my F100 and delivered it to his house.
He hired another guy to come and assemble what he had in the living room.
Wannabe Trophy Winner/Gear head.

 

I sure do like (not really) all of you who verbally shit on awards. I don't care if it's a 7 figure classic or a $7,000 hot rod, everybody likes to be recognized for their efforts, taste, accomplishments. Those who croon the loudest against are most likely in denial or maybe never challenged themselves to hit the mark. Sure it's all good, do what you will. But to think those who do consider the accolades of their peers worth something aren't all trophy whores. One of my dearest friends received several top awards for the car I finished for him. He also drives it to select events for the sheer pleasure of it. It was driven when it was new 82 years ago, so why not now, right? It doesn't mean dirt roads, mud, or any other of the abuses our daily drivers get. What does that make him? Should he leave it outside unattended at the grocery store? Sure, then come out and find the radiator mascot missing, a key job from some hater, a car parked so close it bashed the running board trim. Maybe nearly 45 years of shows and events has given me a different outlook. I never did like the "no show for me" snob that feels as if he has to insult the ones who do compete. I think it shows a lack of character that borders on envy, or something else I can't really put into words. When I'd hear those disparaging comments around my work I knew who (more like what) it was. "This is ok, but I DRIVE my car..." Go have some more Haterade...

 

My grandson (now 19) was promised a car after he reach his " Eagle Scout" rank. He choose a 79 Ranchero he found with a reasonable price. My son and I added a Gaylord Lid on the back that I painted to match. I promised new upholstery so when he was in Marine boot camp I had it done. He'd love to hop it up some but Cali don't allow it yet but getting close. He has some strange ideas but but I'm all for it... Don't give up on the youth...

 

In response to the Highlanders post, it is way off base to judge someone who expresses a distaste for car shows.
There are other ways to get accolades or ata boys from your peers that don't involve the sometimes ridiculous things we refer to as car shows.

To be recognized does not necessarily mean a trophy or things like that.
It can be as simple as a thumbs up as you drive by or a gathering with friends at their place just bench racing and looking at each others rides. Fun and simple.

As far as shows go, I prefer to wander around and look at what I like, and then leave when that is done.
I've only once found a show that I was able to attend for days and still be interested and that was way back in Columbus Ohio in 1993.

Sheer pleasure is something I will get when I finally drive my RPU. And enjoyment right now is what I experience every time I go into the garage to work on it or even just to look at it or sit in it making funny noises when no one can see me

So, to label me (or others with the same sentiment ) as snobs or to imply that we are envious, or have a lack of character, or even that we might be haters is a whole lot of bullshit.

And we all know where that belongs.

 

You live in a very different world with ultra high end classics. I believe this discussion is about typical mix and match "shows" where it never really was about "serious judging".

Many of these shows have stuff going on with the staff vs "known owners" and favoritism gets involved, too.

The first time I was selected to get "1st in class" trophy 30 years ago, I turned it down. My point was that it was a class for "Open bodied 1930-1932 Non-Ford" and there were only two cars in the class. Mine was stock and the other was kind of a lower buck fun type rod. Why would I have been proud of that trophy...it meant nothing, in a way. (my car was slightly better in overall details, but they preferred stock cars there! )

Highlander, as an aside, not all "fully funded" heavy Classic owners are without faults, IN MY opinion. I am sure you know/have seen the late Tom Lester's 32/33 Nash conv sedan. I personally saw that car in a pole barn in survivor condition, here in the northeast in the 70s. So, I do know what that car had when new, and what it didn't. I very much dislike what he did to it. Was it done to wow the judges, or maybe not...

 

Spent some time in your area and know only to well the stuffy attitude of people there.
Wouldn't even waste my time trying to show my 34 or showing up just to support the show, I have way better things to do than get involved with the Boston, New York way that engrains the Southern New England, and in general just the New England way.

 

I think you hit on something that maybe we have sort of danced around on this thread. There is a lot of politican that goes on at a lot of the shows that we attend or have attended in the past. No venue is totally void of it high end concourses to local cruises.

It is a fact of life, we don't appreciate it but its there none the less.

 

You started this thread looking for some advantage to get a better chance of getting an award, by discriminating the pro-built cars, and much later you brought up the fact that you would like "car age discrimination", 20 years or older, only.

My point was that some people that want to exclude certain cars, get VERY offended when their own car gets excluded. And you have proved that point.

 

I'm not into awards or trophy's or judging other cars (they are probably better than mine anyways)....I get the feeling I am supposed to pat myself on the back or something. Might be some peoples idea of satisfaction, but...I'm just not into it. I like to know I can drive my cars, and have fun in them, and let my wife drive them now and then, and watch 'her smile', with a few dents and dings added for the reality sake. I suppose I get the satisfaction of a smile or a thumbs up from other drivers in 'modern' cars, ... I smile back and wave at the kids, and slow down even more....it doesn't get much better than that for me

 

Shame it takes a trinket like a trophy to get some owners to bring their rides out. Been full circle in car clubs & seen that you can't even come close to understanding why the allure of the "look at me" getting a plastic gold plated trophy or plaque is even important. A hundred years from now they'll probably be talking about these same observations. It's far more enjoyable for me to park as a "for display only" & let a little kid or young person get the high of winning a prize. In the mid 90s I pushed for an open "antique & classic" agenda in our little club that a way it's 25 years & older & all venues of modified vehicles are welcome, with 1st, 2nd & 3rd places for entries & no class structure to fight over. Judged on condition of vehicle with slack aimed at driven rides. It worked ok & I eventually burnt out. Every facet of auto competition weither racing or displaying for a prize will always have big money win out simple fact of life & one should grow up & realize that. Just look around & it applies to all areas of Automobilia. Go for display only or pay to enter like I do at NSRA & buzz around ,have fun & go home. Yet cruise in's & drives are the best. As I told a person or 2 scared to blemish their nice rides , enjoy them cause when your gone I bet the next owner will. Flux

 

Car shows are a lot like the HAMB if you think about it... A bunch of people celebrating and discussing specific vehicles and relevant (mostly) topics. Instead of looking for trophies, we look for a 5-star build thread.

A car show is a collection of people, and anytime you have a group of people, you're bound to find people who think differently than you. I enjoy car shows, I enjoy the HAMB. I take the good and ignore the bad.

 

I like to go to the local car "Show & Shines". To me it's a time to BS with my old friends and meet some new car people. The best "Trophies" I can get, is when I come back to my car, and there is people looking at my car with positive comments. I leave with a smile and the interest to go to the next show.

 

I'm glad to see the reactions to the last reply. Maybe I am in a different world, maybe not. Let's not forget that the Detroit Autorama is in my backyard. I'm not all high end classics but it is the majority of my daily task. It's also one I'm both proud and honored to be doing. Is it better when "my guy" wins? I can shamelessly say yes it is. When I see them or aid them in showing a car for the 1st time it's like watching your kid do their 1st piano recital or star in the school play opening night. I'm not saying that anyone who doesn't care for awards has a lack of character, it is indeed the snob that has to call them names, make childish remarks or references, or generally shit all over that particular venue of exposition. If I seem like the "snob" because I find it insulting and childish, fuckin eh, a snob I am. Yet at the same time I'm the guy who keeps it to himself or within quiet respectful discussion among friends when I see things way off or simply in bad taste. Yes, there is such a thing even in hot rods. I was looking at a very serious car at a concours meet last year. It was painted a late 70s GM color, and in big bold metallic at that. It was a hue not even available in the mid 30s. My friends and I discussed it in private, well away from anyone's ears not invited to our break. What is that? I call it respect whether I like the car or not. I call it proper protocol so as not to openly offend their choice, because it is after his car and he can paint it titty pink if he wants. I'm certain I'll never get through to the haters and they exist in different ways. Some hate the cost of those things. I've told the story before when asked how long a car took and his reply was, "...wouldn't that pay for a few college educations?" meaning that the owner may have done something else with the money. I replied without hesitation, "Fuck yeah, it paid for mine!" Just proves I can also be a dick if provoked enough, but I find it more fun to treat everyone like I've known them forever. Honey instead of vinegar...

 

Best trophy story I saw was when I went to a large local show with my girlfriends Father with his 46 Lincoln Continental and his 60 Lincoln Convertible. He took 2nd place in his class with the 46, was so happy, first
trophy he won in 20 years of working on the car. I did not have the heart to mention there was no 3rd place given
cause there was only 2 cars in his class.....

 

nothing wrong with competition.
nothing wrong with a guy proud that a car he built/paid for is recognized as "tops".
nothing wrong with not wanting to compete for a trophy, or for that matter going to a show.
nothing wrong with juding different classes.

 

This thread reminds me of my Grandpa as we worked on our cars in his garage before we went to the drag strip. I'll never forget him saying "you kids are crazy, you spend hundreds of dollars to win a 59 cent trophy". He was right. Today it would be thousands of dollars not hundreds.
Car show trophies SUCK. As do most car shows. Trophies are given mostly to someone who never even built the car they are showing. At least at the track you've done something to earn a trophy.

Gary

 

I've judged a small show here in central jersey for the past 2 years. I have a clip board and walk the show, don't usually talk to the owners, just check the cars. I'm a rabid AMC guy but while judging if there's one there and it's not the quality of other cars in the class he/she gets nothing. I appreciate workmanship and eye appeal. I can pick out the "big $$$ owner just spent money" cars from the ones that were owner built. One of my prejudices is Dub wheeled rubber band tires on early cars. They get nada. There was a club that showed up the first year and the show organizer asked me to shoot a few trophies their way. They got two, the ones that did were border line deserving. One doof had a "67 Impala big block with two four barrels who swore the car was factory. You gotta love guys who live in an alternative world. In the end most of the participants leave just happy that they got to show their cars.
Almost forgot. One family had a '70 Torino that I gave two trophies to (class and best engine) . This car was remarkable, and it gets driven about 2.000 miles per year. He also got peoples choice which was an indication of the appeal the car had.
I used to take my Gremlin to an occasional show when I had time between races. Only got a trophy once but the car was always surrounded by people who liked it. I'd spend most of my time when I was by the car answering questions about it. Much more satisfying than another dust collector.

 

I won a trophy once, "Ladies Choice", that was a keeper.

 

To me, the best trophys are the thumbs-up when out driving around, the compliments from the general public and the grins on the faces of the little, [and the big], kids when they're sitting in the front seat!

 

Maybe, maybe not? there's another thread on here about "Cheatin Stories".