Car show judging

[WileE]

Most people go to car shows for the socialization, the camaraderie, to enjoy the nice cars, have a good time, etc. If you go to a show strictly for a trophy award ? I've seen those types. Serious personality issues. I've got plenty of trophies, but it doesn't come close to when somebody compliments the car. My point is simple: go to a car show to enjoy it... don't take it seriously ! The experience with other people with similar interests is far more important. And, I go out of my way to compliment those who've done their resto work themselves, as I do. Even if the results aren't "award-winning" !

 

[kiwigtx]

 

[Kern Dog]

My point was that you wrote that if one takes the show seriously that they shouldn't go.
Taking that at face value, it can be seen as an insult to those that want recognition for their work.
Do you stand up for what you believe in or just let others make fun of it?
If you have read anything that I have posted here before, you'd see that winning trophies isn't my goal in life.

I won a trophy!

I agree that being around other enthusiasts and seeing other cars there is the main thing for me.
It is ironic though that the people that say money isn't important sometimes have a lot of money. Guys that say that trophies aren't important already have a few. I'm guilty of that...I've won a few so maybe the desire to hit first place has been satisfied already? Maybe it is the same for you?
Again, I don't know who you are, what you own or how many trophies you have won. I see you comment in political topics most of the time so I have no idea what you own or do. Your statement about whether or not one should attend car shows felt like an attack on those that wanted recognition for their hard work. Maybe you could have explained yourself in greater detail.

 

[Kern Dog]

Most people go to car shows for the socialization, the camaraderie, to enjoy the nice cars, have a good time, etc.

I agree to a point, in theory it would be better if this were the case.

If you go to a show strictly for a trophy award ? I've seen those types. Serious personality issues.

Many times, yes..I agree.

I've got plenty of trophies, but it doesn't come close to when somebody compliments the car.

Absolutely.

My point is simple: go to a car show to enjoy it... don't take it seriously ! The experience with other people with similar interests is far more important. And, I go out of my way to compliment those who've done their resto work themselves, as I do. Even if the results aren't "award-winning" !

This was well written and sensible. Who could argue with this?

 

[WileE]

My point was that you wrote that if one takes the show seriously that they shouldn't go.
Taking that at face value, it can be seen as an insult to those that want recognition for their work.
Do you stand up for what you believe in or just let others make fun of it?
If you have read anything that I have posted here before, you'd see that winning trophies isn't my goal in life.

I won a trophy!

I agree that being around other enthusiasts and seeing other cars there is the main thing for me.
It is ironic though that the people that say money isn't important sometimes have a lot of money. Guys that say that trophies aren't important already have a few. I'm guilty of that...I've won a few so maybe the desire to hit first place has been satisfied already? Maybe it is the same for you?
Again, I don't know who you are, what you own or how many trophies you have won. I see you comment in political topics most of the time so I have no idea what you own or do. Your statement about whether or not one should attend car shows felt like an attack on those that wanted recognition for their hard work. Maybe you could have explained yourself in greater detail.

Ok, I understand how you 'may' have interpreted it. No insult intended whatsoever. Recognition definitely should be awarded. But not to the extent that it is the "end all be all" reason to attend a show. Sorry if it came across harshly. You're right, perhaps I should have elaborated ( sometimes I pop in to make a "quickie" comment or pun ). My intent was for one to attend a show for the fun, entertainment, and socialization value... not a serious "competition". If you are awarded, that's a plus ! Just... have fun !

 

[Kern Dog]

Absolutely.
Only an idiot would argue what you just wrote. I took my pills today so we are safe.

 

[Budnicks]

Car judging by selected judges at anything other than specific high profile type events needs to die a fiery death and have it's ashes pissed on.

 

[WileE]

Absolutely.
Only an idiot would argue what you just wrote. I took my pills today so we are safe.

 

[Budnicks]

Another tech school trophy, show was judged by the students. Surprised when the GTX won the antique class. Car long gone, trophy is being re-purposed as a door prize at the FBBO tent this week at Carlisle.

View attachment 1692305

I like them hand made style of trophies
I don't really do car show
I did in my past when my racecars were new
got a lot of worthless plastic or a plaque
usually gave them to a kid in a wheel chair,
or a lil' girl that visited my car

had a future fan of cars for life that way

 

[Budnicks]

My GTX was a better looking car in the OE sense....but it doesn't matter now.

Westie skanks don't do it for me.

Best part of that show was the ride home.

We both got halfway around the corner, and we were both going sideways parallel to each other - barely half a lane separating us, and we're doing something 30 mph smoking the tires......in unison. It was awesome. My wife loved it, and I could see Mark had a big cheesy grin also. I'll never forget that one.

Fun times.

Love those lines...

 

[68BabyBlue]

I like them hand made style of trophies
I don't really do car show
I did in my past when my racecars were new
got a lot of worthless plastic or a plaque
usually gave them to a kid in a wheel chair,
or a lil' girl that visited my car

had a future fan of cars for life that way

Thanks Bud, takes me back to when Julie Clark handed the keys to me in 1970. Looks like the Demonstrator will make the pilgrimage to Carlisle this year. Wish you were there.

 

[Budnicks]

Thanks Bud, takes me back to when Julie Clark handed the keys to me in 1970. Looks like the Demonstrator will make the pilgrimage to Carlisle this year. Wish you were there.

I wish I could be there too,
it's too far, *too freaken' hot/humid too this time of year out there...
July 12th is my Birthday, if it's that time of year,
it would be a cool gift to myself, someday...

That *feeling comes from a guy who's lived in 105* hot "***" Calif.
most all my life... ( yes I used *** in a phrase ol' kernboy)

It will be a while before I can travel again,
my old dad & getting old dog takes precedent now
can't leave them alone for long, don't trust anyone else...

someday
I will be there & hope to meet many of you
I'll have to fly in, not driving that far anymore,
I don't get my jolly that way, sweaty uncomfortable cars
& issues I don't need
been there done that like 15+ to 20 time for racing over 35 years
going back & forth across the country (Calif. to where ever)
especially now at $5 gas
(I know it's cheaper elsewhere, but why waste my car $$)

 

[Coelacanth]

basically a challenge between the Ricer's and the best of American Muscle ...and Mustangs as well.

I see what you did there...and I like it!

 

[Detective D]

I dislike trophies for shows. Seems to encourage the moneybags types to show up and turn their nose up at the local car club stuff. The comaraderie gets blown out of the water as people don't want to talk about the cars for fear some D-bag that entered his 2018 Shelby Mustang in a classic car show might overhear them and step up to make some inane comments.
I mean for small time local shows. That is most of what is around here. Iola is a different story, but I don't see/kow/hear anything about judging on that show because of how big it is, which is fine because I don't care anyway lol.

Closest to me show in small town where I work has the audience vote. Holy "vote for your buddy" batman. Last time, a guy that was part of the circle of friends of the volunteer fire department won best truck with his basically stock looking, buffed out southern paint 1996 Chevy half ton. No rust, he got it from Texas. Wow, qualified it for best truck in the show. Felt bad for the guy that did up a 70's F250 to mint condition or, as long as we wre all excited about 90's trucks, the guy with a 94 F150 with a a full blown huge suspension lift worthy of BAJA with swampers, chromed triple roll bar with KC lights, moon visor, wild paint job, etc. Nope, burgundy 1996 Chevy wins the day.

And so on and so forth.

Judging is for the birds IMO

 

[Budnicks]

Lots of checkbook builders/funders too, that love car shows
that do trophies, no matter how cheap the trophy is...

If that blows you skirt up, makes you happy, by all mean do it...

Just not for me...

Doing them for charities is a bit different if it helps to draw a crowd...
I'm more so in ,in that scenario...

No give me an event, cars & coffee, hamburger/shakes
or a drag race, autocross or something to do with the car
(now we lost another track, it's 200+ miles to any track now)
or cruise locally or nearby
I'm all ears...

 

[Jeff Peterson]

This is why I like an evening cruise in..........

 

[Kern Dog]

View attachment 1692429

 

[Dave6T4]

Some local young guys are starting up a car club and organising some shows. I heard they were looking for trophies to recycle from some of us old guys. I took about a dozen to a show and donated them to these guys. They were quite appreciative. One of them suggested that maybe I could win one of them back, if I came to their show. I said, Thanks, but I don't want to see them again. Nice to see younger guys getting together to start up a car club.

 

[Cranky]

To throw out an opinion like yours on a car forum is to invite criticism to it.
I don't care who you are or what you've done or owned. If you don't like something, you have that right but to denigrate activities that many find to be worthwhile? That isn't reasonable. If there were no competitions for any awards, there would probably never be these high levels of quality. Ego and pride do lead to making yours better than theirs. Why is that a bad thing?
I don't care for stamp collecting or building model ships in a bottle but some people really like it enough for it to have a following.
It is common that people that have neither the skill nor the guts to compete will talk trash about those that do. THAT isn't right.

Man, I saw Robby's post as a joke. And yes, there are way too many that take the show for a trophy as serious stuff with some going way overboard. I found that out when I judged the Houston Mopar Show and Race for 2 years running. Some guys wanted to fight ya if they saw a judge marking points off. It was nice to see so many cars up close but it wasn't worth the BS that some gave you. It's kinda hard to judge a car while keeping an eye on the pissed off idiot! I didn't know there were so many Mopar heads that were like that. Anyways, so yeah, Robby's post made me chuckle. Two years was enough for me plus having to do it when the temps were still too high even in the fall of the year.

 

[Kern Dog]

I have judged at many local shows. It sucks when the participants are so jazzed about winning, they follow the judges around talking UP their car and stating the obvious. I get it. You are proud of your car! Sometimes when I see a car, something immediately disqualifies it but with the owner following me around, I have to pretend to give it a full inspection.
I do not claim to be an expert but there are a few things that I see at shows that drastically reduce chances of winning. I've made it a habit of putting my own preferences aside and focusing on build quality. If I walk up and see trash inside the dirty car, it is a turn off. Beautiful paint does not make up for poorly fitting body panels. I've shaken my head at JC Whitney quality "upgrades" that clutter the look of the car too. I'll stop here since I'm at risk of offending some members. Build your car to meet your desired outcome and let the others obsess about the trophy anyway.
For the record, My own car has been glanced at and passed over because the majority of people see these cars as Street machine drag racers, not Pro Touring resto-mods or whatever you'd call it....

I don't care if a judge picks the pink Duster next to me. The drive to and from were fun, hanging out with friends is great and walking the show is a step back in time for me. THAT is why I am there.