Attention Show Judges, looking for input

Haha! I got an "All Flash no Cash!" trophy sittin on my bookcase. Probably the only trophy I'll ever see!

 

We just held a benifit car show at my nephews school, the awards were simple "club pick" kind of awards. There were no judging sheets or any of that kind of stuff. It was a small family oriented get together so we tried to keep it laid back. One other suggestion I would offer is to invite the local clubs to do a "club pic" award and ask if they would make a trophy. Our club has done this a few times with great results, the winner of the award almost always commented on how neat it was to get a handmade award rather than an off the shelf trophy. As a bonus that save you the money of having to buy awards so there is more money for your cause!

 

"The categories I'm looking at would be best pre-49, post 50, truck, stock/resto, and motorcycle. "

Maybe you could add a "1949 and 1950" class also.........

 

I've been a judge for muscle car show, rod shows, open shows, and shows that had very defined criteria. If you are going to have judges, the KISS principle is best. Personally, I like a "Top 20" or such, where all of the cars are judged equally for detail, workmanship, and overall impact. The Top 20 get awards. Makes it easy, and EVERY vehicle is considered with equal standards. A car-in-progress could win an award, if it meets the judging criteria appropriately.

I do not like "People's Choice", because that is nearly always rigged somehow. we had one guy with a beat-to-hell '77 Camaro enter, and he stuffed the box with his entry number. It was obvious, because ALL of the votes for him were in the same writing! He did not win, but it was funny watching him start to the stand when that award was announced, because he figured he'd stuffed the box enough. We weren't born yesterday, and he had the look of stunned amazement that we'd caught on to his little stunt. The clubs I know do not do a "People's Choice" for that very reason.

Participant judging is bullshit, too. When I go to a show, it is NOT to walk around and judge. I'm there to hang out and shoot the shit with my friends that also brought their cars out. At those shows, I do not "vote" on cars, period. I pay my money to show, hang out, and have fun. Let the others vote. They look pretty miserable as they walk around with paper and pencil in hand. No one has fun at a participant judging show, IMO.

The best shows are the NON-judged shows. No pressure, no trophies, everyone actually gets to enjoy the cars and the day, and no one bitches about being in the wrong class or any of that shit. Have a giant buttload of door prizes available! Have games for the kids. Stage driving games where the show participants actually DO something with their cars, besides sit in a damn lawn chair and look at their own trunks! They are not getting judged, so getting their cars a little dusty or dirty means they, and the spectators, might actually have some FUN at the show! Give away dash plaques, some sort of other commemorative token, or free lunch/BBQ for their participation. Make things easier on YOU as the show promoter!

 

make it fun and real
most bugs
dirtiest undercarriage
rustiest wheels
most likely to break down
etc etc
don't announce the categories until the awards are ready to be presented..it is always a hoot and guys come back for more


no trophy whore can complain about the fun of bullshit funny trophies..it's for charity

 

Let me rephrase myself, 1949 and older, 1950 and newer.

Actually it's for an elementary school. I was thinking I could engrave the mugs myself, and it's a usable unique trophy.

 

No, you're missing my point. There were no other classes. We had people upset that their 70's Vette lost to an 80's Vette because they believed the Vettes should be jusdged against each other. We had people upset that their truck lost to a car, that their stocker lost to a modified, etc, etc.

 

A couple of neat ideas coming out here.

I like not even announcing categories until the awards are handed out and then having some off the wall awards as mentioned above. Great idea.

I also hear what is being said about ballot stuffing and other BS that goes on. We did have a couple of %$@* boxes that won awards over and above a few nice cars because some of the nice cars didn't have enough buddies at the show. That will change next year one way or another.

Perhaps, next year we will just pick out the top 20 ourselves. We would not JUDGE anything, but would simply pick out 20 cool vehicles we would like to stuff in our garage for whatever reason.

Seems a common thread here at least, is to keep it SIMPLE.

Having a bunch of categories will end up being just the opposite of simple.

Just my opinion.

 

Just thought I'd post an update.
Show date: April 17, 2010 Saturday
Picked up several local sponsors to help out.
This thing is really starting to take shape.
Thanks for all the great input so far, everything has been greatly appreciated.
Anymore ideas would be welcome.

 

WE are doing our second annual "Just for the Hell Of It" Show at the shop and we made the trophy's and had the participants vote on the cars . each was given a ballot with best custom, best rod, best project , best engine, best interior ,best paint , best wheels etc. we only pick one car as our pick , a car all the employees that work here vote on . this worked great last year and the turnout looks like it will be double what it was last year . everyone that participated last year said they will be back , along with their buddies . everyone was happy and you won't be accused of picking the wrong cars lol

 

What ever you do, do not award a '57 Chevy with only blue dots in the tail lights "Best Kustom" that has a tenancy to tick off the real kustom guys..Just Saying!