An Unplanned Post...

Should a judge have a car in the show? This is a perplexing question with no simple, cut-n-dried answer. If you need a simple answer, it would have to be "NO". But a simple answer is not the best answer.

It is always nice to have judges with no horse in the race. It simplifies things. But it does not make them better, and here's why:

If a judge is so weak as to be biased about his own vehicle, then in the absence of his vehicle, he is weak enough to give points to his buddies, rather than to the best vehicles. In other words, a poor judge is a poor judge, whether he has a car in the show or not.

The corollary, of course, is that a good judge is a good judge, whether he has a car in the show or not.

If a show chooses judges who a) know cars very well, b) have integrity and can be trusted, and c) the judge is not permitted to judge his own class (just to avoid any possible appearance of impropriety), then it should not be a problem if the judge has a car in the show. He cannot vote for himself, and his integrity and qualifications keep him unbiased in other classes. You simply cannot expect anything better. A good judge is a good judge. He is the kind of person who, in a peer judged show, will always vote for the best cars in their class - even if they are not his best buddies. He is trustworthy, and his judgment is sound.

And that's good enough for me! As for my "buddies", they understand that they will only get my vote if they earn it. I vote for cars, not people. They accept that.

(NOTE: One commenter stated, "Look, Bottom line, If you are a judge in a show and you do not want to hear any b.s., forget the trophy for that one day! I mean, one less trophy, is it really that big of a deal?!?I'm sick to death of these judges whining about how they don't want to come off bad! "

With all due respect, I think he is missing the point - once more: a good judge does not become bad by being in the show, and a bad judge does not become good by staying out of the show. If good judges are chosen, there is no legitimate reason why he cannot be in the show, as long as he IS a good judge, and does not judge his own class. Either he is honest, or he isn't. If he isn't, taking his car out will not make him more honest! And, one more time, it is NOT about the trophy. But if he has EARNED it, he should be entitled to try for it, just like anyone else.)