A Problem Of Class

What does a 50's custom Ford, an 80's stock AMC, an 80's Olds Cutlass, a '37 street rod, a 50's pickup and a Hot Rod have in common?

I don't know, either, except that they all ended up in the same class - Special Interest. And none of them belonged there. It was not fair to them, and it certainly was not fair to those who really were Special Interest.

It seems that many organizers suffer from two problems - they do not think Special Interest is a class in its own right, and they do not monitor what class a car enters.

But Special Interest is a class, and deserves the same respect as any other class. It is not "Miscellaneous", nor is it "Catch-All". But that is the insulting way it - and the folks who truly belong there - are treated.

A Mustang owner would be rightfully upset if a custom 50's Chevy were to enter in the Mustang class. But organizers don't think twice about letting either of those enter Special Interest. And in some cases, they promote the abuse by putting cars in Special Interest because they never took the time to choose adequate classes for the cars that come. At Shawnee Peak, for example, there were no classes for 80's, 90's, 2000's etc., so organizers put all those cars in Special Interest. And how do folks who truly have a Special Interest vehicle feel about being crowded out of their own class - the only class they fit into? And how should they feel when all the Special Interest trophies go to those that are not Special Interest?

In reality, I would prefer to enter our '02 PT Woody into "90's or newer", because that is the most appropriate class. But when there is no such class, we are relegated to Special Interest, because it is the only other class we fit into. And I can tell you it is incredibly frustrating to be muscled out of that class by vehicles that have no business being there. A custom '50's Ford should be in with Customs, or with 50's Fords. Not Special Interest.

This abuse of classes is usually created because organizers do not plan classes well, but sometimes the participants abuse the class structure in order to position themselves better for a trophy. While that is understandable, it is also unfair and disrespectful. The owner of that 50's Custom Ford would be the first to complain if we entered our PT Cruiser in his Custom 50's Ford class. And he would have every right to, because we would not belong there.

Some organizers say that they have no choice, because they only have a few classes. To that I say they should either add classes and build their show, or choose classes more wisely. If chosen properly, 8 classes COULD include everyone. But when organizers leave 30 years of vehicles of every type without any class, they certainly have not chosen classes wisely.

The first thing organizers need to do is realize that, while they do have to consider their own needs, that those needs cannot be met if they are not just as interested in considering the needs of the participants. After all, if they cannot make us happy, we don't return and their show suffers. They need to put a little thought and effort into making sure all the participants want to return next year, and bring their friends.

The second thing organizers need to do is take control of their show - and take responsibility for it. If an entrant drives up in a 50's Ford and says "Special Interest", the organizers should say, "Sorry, Bub - you gotta go in with the 50's Fords."

And organizers need to take responsibility by having people on hand who know the difference between a '40 Ford Coupe and a PT Cruiser, so they can assign appropriate classes.
Organizers take note: Special Interest is NOT a "miscellaneous" class, nor a catch-all bin for left-overs. We do not appreciate being treated as the "also rans", or second-class citizens. If you keep treating us this way, you will lose a lot of entrants. We will go to shows that treat us properly, and those shows will grow, while yours shrivels.

And Special Interest is not the only class that gets abused - but it is the class that gets abused the most, and almost without exception.

Just because an organizer does not offer a class for a certain vehicle does NOT mean it should be put in Special Interest. The only vehicles in Special Interest should be those with a SPECIAL INTEREST. Special Interest is a class. Please start treating it like one. And while you are at it, how about remembering there are also cars that were made AFTER 1990? Sure, if you want to stick to old cars, that's fine. But if you do that, stick to it, and do not admit the newer cars just to take their money.

And have an appropriate class for each type of vehicle you invite, or don't invite them. It is wrong to invite someone, take their money, and not have a class for them in which they can fairly compete! We, and other cars later than 1980 were personally invited to Shawnee, by the organizers. But they did not have any classes for cars after 1980. That is patently wrong.

As one woman relegated to Special Interest put it, "It was like they were saying 'we don't care about you or your car enough to have a class for you, but we'll take your money anyway, and stick you in Special Interest where you can't win because you are not Special Interest. But we don't care, as long as we get your money. Wanna buy some 50/50's?'"

HotKarz will not promote any show that treats people like that.

That said, it seems the "youngun" at the Sacopee Valley show that I spoke to about the drink on the hood of my car took exception to my post. He emailed that I never made mention of any tazer (he is correct), and that my honesty is in somehow in question. Apparently the young man has difficulty recognizing humor and the need for poetic license in order to entertain. I think he needs to get a grip, and not take everything so seriously. After all, if I took things that seriously, I probably would have shot him. And if that young man is reading this, once again that is called "humor". So, to the young people in question, I apologize if I have hurt your feelings. But I think you need to lighten up :o)

It also appears that some show organizers whose shows do not get a great review get angry with me. I am sorry, but I am not the one you should be angry with - I am not responsible for the shortcomings of your show. I just call 'em like I see them, and report what other participants tell me. But if you want to blame me for the shortcomings of your show, then I must insist you also give me credit for all the things that were good about your show.

Sorry, but I am not responsible for things that go wrong, but all the readers can trust me to post an unbiased accounting. If you want to be reviewed as a great show, then you need to put on a great show. It's that simple.

And if you do not know what a really good show is like, attend the shows at Durham, Dover, OOB, or the Concord (NH) Kiwanis etc. and see for yourself. All it requires is considering the needs of the participants as much as you consider your need to raise funds. It needs to be a symbiotic relationship - each needs the other.