The way I see it, there are car meets, and car shows, and then there are
concourse events. They are all very different in how things get judged. At
meets, people choose cars they like. There really are no rules to judge by,
and it is up to event organizers to make class distinctions so that a
pristine, trailered $100,000 restoration isn't "competing" with a home
restored and personalized car. At meets, it is the interaction with other
participants that bring the enjoyment, talking, sharing, and looking at
another persons interpretation of a particular car, or solution to an
inherent design flaw.
At shows, people are displaying vehicles more for the enjoyment of
non-enthusiasts. Judging is probably by panel, instead of by participants.
Again, if well organized, a driven car won't be competing directly with a
trailered car. It is much like popular choice, except a panel decides based
on subjective criteria, which cars are better than others.
Finally, IMHO, a concourse event is not the place for a driven car. The
cars displayed are competing based on perfection and originality. Efforts
are made to duplicate factory markings with chalk, scratches from the
assembly line, even known paint and body flaws should be duplicated in the
restoration. Judges for each marque should have reference books available
to adequately judge the cars in a given class. Pre-registration, and even
submission of historical information insure that the judges can accurately
evaluate the vehicles equally. Sweat equity has no place here, as these
cars should appear as if they have been frozen in a time capsule.
I have a very unique 1963 Ford Falcon Squire Wagon. Very rarely will
someone take the effort to restore a Station Wagon, but the Woodie, with
it's faux siding struck me as a very unique and historically significant
car. I take this car to "Meets", where it does quite well, mostly because
it is unique, and owner restored to origional specifications (1st place at
the Falcon Club Nationals in 1998 and featured on "My Classic Car TV Show")
I also take it to "Shows", where I never win anything. The cool cars with
the Chrome, and fat wheels win these, but plenty of people comment on how
they used to have a Falcon at one time or another. Finally, I participated
in a "Concourse" where the car scored 77 points, and did not place. The
Judging seemed very detailed and fair, and I learned a lot about what it
would take to bring the car up to Concourse standards. I do drive the car
some, and the cost and effort it would take to get another 20 points would
more than double the amount of money already spent on the car, without
increasing my enjoyment level at all. In fact, the nicer the car got, the
less I wanted to drive it for fear I would damage something that was
becoming irreplaceable.
David Riker
74 Midget
78 Midget
63 Falcon
----- Original Message -----
From: <Ajhsys@aol.com>
To: <macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu>; <mgs@autox.team.net>;
<spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 1999 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: Car show judging
> In a message dated 9/22/99 8:25:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu writes:
>
> << Flame sheilds not needed. I vote for your interpretations. Drivers and
> DIY are big scores in my book. >>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> Y'know, we haven't heard from any trailer queen owners. Everybody on
these
> lists does most of their own repair, and drives their LBC for fun.
>
> Anybody out there have a different view of why an immaculate, never driven
> car should win a concours over a driver?
>
> Allen Hefner
> '77 Midget
> '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
>
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