One More Time (classes)

Well, it has been at least 12 hours since I ticked people off big time, and I do not want to be seen as "sleeping on the job", so here goes.

Car shows are generally made up of classes. Classes can be virtually anything at all, depending upon what the organizers want to attract and include. But what is all too seldom considered is the ENFORCEMENT of the classes, to insure that the participants will all be treated fairly and with respect.

While the show, itself, should provide for the enjoyment of all, placing vehicles in the appropriate classes should be a matter of integrity. Placement should not be for the express purpose of giving some vehicles an unfair advantage. It may not always make a participant happy by insisting on appropriate placement, but it is always necessary.

No vehicle should be allowed to register in any class that is not specifically suited to the vehicle. And if the show does not have a suitable class for a vehicle, the participant should be offered the choice of either parking, unregistered, in a common area (strictly for viewing), or leaving without participating. For organizers to take their entrance fee then place them unfairly in an inappropriate class just so they can pocket the five bucks is just plain wrong.

In no case should a vehicle be permitted to register in a class that is not suited to the vehicle. Period. If you permit unregulated placement, you will be doing a disservice to every vehicle that is in that class legitimately, as they must now compete not only with vehicles of their own class, but also with vehicles of other classes which have "jumped the fence" in order to gain an advantage.

As an example, let's say you have a 2x2 truck, and you are registered in the 2x2 truck class. I have a PT Cruiser, but there is no class for cars newer than 1990, and there is no class for PT's or even Special Interest. So, I decide to register in the 2x2 truck class.

You would be angry, to say the least! And if my PT should win a trophy over your vehicle, you would be livid. And rightfully so. Registering my PT in your class, inappropriately, cheats everyone in your class, even if I don't win anything. Why? Because even if I lose, chances are excellent that I would have taken at least one or two votes away from the legitimate vehicles in that class. And that affects the outcome. It could make the difference between someone else winning or losing. What if those two votes would have gone to you?

We are not talking about trophies here. We are talking about FAIRNESS. We are talking about RESPECT for other participants.

The most sorely abused class is "Special Interest". Altogether too many organizers AND participants look upon that as a bastard class. A non-class. A grouping of misfits, or miscellaneous vehicles. Or a place to go if you cannot compete in your own class. But that is NOT what "Special Interest" is. Special Interest is a legitimate class, like any other. And like any other class, only those vehicles that are appropriate for that class should be allowed to register in that class. A Mustang is not allowed to enter the Camaro class, so any vehicle that is not have a distinct Special Interest should not be allowed in Special Interest.

And what, pray tell, is appropriate for Special Interest? That's simple - the vehicle must have a special interest. A special, well-defined theme beyond the ordinary. And, no, simply painting a mural on a vehicle does not constitute a theme, nor does adding a blower. Herman Munster's car is a themed vehicle. An antique fire truck is a themed vehicle. A hearse is a themed vehicle. And, yes, a beach wagon that is dressed as such is a themed vehicle.

A new, stock, "right off the showroom floor" Corvette has no special interest, even if it has a mural painted on it and a blower, because there is no theme. A restored M.A.S.H ambulance would, indeed, have a special interest. A nearly stock vehicle from the '40's is not of any "special" interest - it belongs with other cars of the '40's. But an old fire truck would hold a "special interest", as would an amphibian car. "Special Interest" could have (and probably should have) been called "Themed Vehicles". The vehicle should have a specific, well-defiined theme that adds a "special" interest inherent in the vehicle.

Any vehicle owner who registers in any class in which his or her vehicle is not appropriate is cheating everyone else in that class. Just because the show does not have an appropriate class for you does not give you the right to "jump the fence" and register where you do not belong.

In 2006, we attempted to register our 2002 PT Woody in the Old Orchard Beach Car show. They did not have a class for PT's, nor for 1990's or newer. And while we could technically register in 2x2 trucks (the PT Cruiser is listed by Chrysler as a truck), that was not really appropriate, and it would have been unfair to the owners of the 2x2's. We chose not to participate in that year's show, but we did suggest to the organizers that they include "90's - Present" for their next show. And they did. In 2007, we participated in the "90's - present" class, and we won.

Yes, it is sometimes a tough decision to make, going home rather than participating. Or parking in a common area without registering. But if a show does not have a class that suits your vehicle, that is the choice you should be making. Suggest a class for next year, and hope they add it. If not, go to shows that do. But muscling in on another class is inappropriate and grossly unfair, and shows a lack of respect for others.

In short: check ahead of time, to find out what classes are included in a show. If none of them are a GOOD fit for your vehicle, choose another show. And if you get to a show and they do not have an appropriate class, refrain from the urge to "jump the fence" by entering a class that is not appropriate. And if there are too many shows that exclude any legitimate class for you, encourage the organizers to create a new class - one in which all the "orphans" can go and compete with one another. But that should NOT be the purpose of Special Interest. Such a class could be called the OPEN class - it is open to any variety of vehicles, which may have nothing in common except that the show does not have a specific class for them. And that class could be voted on as is done in "open field" judging - the vehicles are judged on what pleases the voters the most, and not on make, model or year.

Such a class is going to become necessary (and already is) as each passing year provides a host of new vehicles that will eventually end up in shows, creating a need for more and more classes - or more and more orphans.

And what is even worse? Vehicle owners who arrive at a show, discover that the competition in their class is too stiff, so they opt for registering in a less appropriate class, just to gain an unfair advantage at the expense of others. I have seen owners register in a class, and when better cars arrive in that class, they re-registered in a different class. Talk about NO class! If you have a Corvette, for example, and there are too many in the Corvette class, do not use that as an excuse to enter into "Special Interest", or any class other than Corvettes. If you cannot compete with your peers, tough. Maybe you need to work on your vehicle to improve its chances next time. But you do not have any right to muscle in where you really do not belong, just so you can increase your chances of winning. If you cannot win in YOUR class, then you simply do not deserve to win in someone else's.

Each participant should be choosing the most appropriate class, and not just any class they could technically squeeze into. Every Camaro, regardless of how custom, should register in Camaros, if there is a Camaro class. If there is a '50's custom class, every 50's Custom should be registered there, and not in Special Interest or some other inappropriate class.

I know I have mentioned this before, but true "kit cars" - replicas - do not belong in the same class as their original counterparts. A 1929 Mercedes, with all the imperfections inherent in an 80 year old car made of steel, should not have to compete with a replica of the '29 Mercedes that was built with modern technology and fiberglass in 2006. Besides, the replica is NOT a '29 Mercedes. It is a 2006 REPLICA of a '29 Mercedes.

At the fair today, a '54 Austin Healy took first in its class, and rightfully so. But if it had been up against a flawless, brand new REPLICA of an Austin Healy, it would probably have lost - and that would have been unjust. Personally, I think all kit cars (new replicas built from the ground up, and not restored cars using new parts) should either register in KIT CARS, or should be required to sport a bold sign that says REPLICA, so at least the voters will not be fooled into thinking it is an original.

Us car folks cannot depend upon show staff to monitor classes, or to insure appropriate placement. That leaves it up to us. We need to monitor ourselves. We need to take responsibility for fair play, and for respecting others. It is up to each of us to look objectively at the class we choose, and not choose one that is not the BEST fit. It is far better to simply turn around and leave, with honor, than to dishonor yourself and disrespect others by registering in a class where you really do not belong.

If a person feels a need to gain an unfair advantage, or to register in an inappropriate class just because there is no class for him or her, then the last thing he or she deserves is a trophy. What that person deserves is the disdain of all. Because that is right up there with cutting in line at the market or theater, or not yielding the right of way at an intersection, or buying a term paper to get a good grade, or dealing cards off the bottom of the deck. It is CHEATING, plain and simple.

It is fine to gain an advantage by hard work and effort. It is not alright to gain an UNFAIR advantage by cheating in the classes. If a person wants a trophy badly enough to be unscrupulous and unfair, he should let me know - I'll tell him where he can buy all he wants. But don't cheat others out of what they have earned.

As an aside, I personally think shows would benefit from eliminating the term "SPECIAL INTEREST" altogether, and adding "THEMED VEHICLES" and "OPEN" classes. Perhaps then, both car buffs and organizers would have an easier time deciding where vehicles really belong. If a vehicle does not have a specific, unusual theme, it would not be permitted in that class.

OK, so I know I have upset some folks. If so, that's fine - but if you are not doing the right thing, you have no right to complain. If, on the other hand, you would like to offer something constructive that helps solve the problem, I would love to hear from you.

HotKarz is not here to get into a pissin' contest with anyone. We are here to provide solid info and news, and to try to come up with solutions to problems that will benefit everyone.

As my Daddy used to say, "If you are not part of the solution, you ARE the problem."