The Point of A Car Show

I received the following email from a reader. And while I certainly do appreciate such feedback, I feel there is a need to clarify some things.,

"it seems to me that we have missed the point of having these shows.I have been going to shows for many years,the reason to go is to show my vehicle,meet some really nice people,have a good time and help out a organization raise a little money. if my vehicle get a trophy so be it. you seem to be trying to find the bad things in all the shows you talk about . try to find the good in them for a change.(by the way i was at the Belgrade show and I think they did a fine job) putting it together and pulled off one of the better shows of the year. "

I think perhaps some folks may be missing a bigger point - it's called fairness and respect. When there is impropriety in a show - intentional or not - it robs us all of both. It has nothing to do with trophies. But when a person earns a trophy, they should get it. It is the recognition a person deserves for a job well done. Whether it is a paycheck, a purple heart, a Boy Scout merit badge, a high school diploma or a trophy, people deserve to get what they earn.

At Belgrade, by Scott's own admission, that was not the case - anyone who won a trophy for one thing was pulled out of the running for any other trophy. This means that folks who earned trophies did not get them, and some got trophies who did not earn them. If that is the way it is going to be, what is the point of having trophies at all? They become meaningless, as they no longer represent "the best", nor do they represent recognition for a job well done. Why not just pick names out of a hat and give the trophies that way?

And I received numerous emails from participants who never had judges look over their cars at all.

I do not care about trophies except for what they represent. And if we, the folks, stop caring about honesty, fairness and respect, then there is no point to having a show at all.

I am obviously not trying to only find the bad - you may note my posts about the better shows, like Pine Tree, Durham, Dover etc. What HotKarz is trying to do is help make bad shows good, and good shows better. Ask yourself - if a show gets better because improvements are made, would that not result in more people going to it? And if more people go, would that not result in even more money being made for those good causes?

The point of a car show is two-fold: 1) to raise money for a good cause, and 2) to do so by getting cars to show up in an effort to achieve recognition for a job well done. Trophies are used to help draw the cars. Of course there are other benefits to a show, such as getting together with friends etc. But the point is to make money for a cause through competition. And competition requires a chance to win something. And if you win something, you should get what you won. Otherwise, the competition is meaningless, and so are the awards - you may as well just go out and buy your own.

I am sorry if some disagree, but it is the mission of HotKarz to make things better for all, even if that means hurting some feelings along the way. Progress never comes without change, and change never comes without pain. Either we want to keep the status quo with all the inequities that exist today, or we can make things better. But one thing is certain - if no one points out the problems, no one will ever do anything about them.

As evidence that HotKarz is having a positive effect, I would point out the the Bektash Shiner's show has made some great improvements this year because the people, through HotKarz, pointed out the faults of last years' show. And even though the Pine Tree show was just a few days ago, the organizers have already decided to make improvements based on the issues the people brought up this year, via HotKarz. So, we are accomplishing our mission to make things better. I'm sure they did not like hearing that there were issues with their shows, but they will certainly like the effect their improvements will have. Those improvements will result in bigger and better shows.

And that is the point of HotKarz.