Gettin' It

I am uncertain how it is that some folks have so much difficulty understanding a simple concept.

As I was enjoying the company of friends at C.H.O.P. this evening, a man approached and told me he owned one of the cars that was wrongly in Special Interest at the Windham show on Sunday. He went on to say that he registered in Special Interest because they did not have a class for him.

With all due respect, this person, and others like him just aren't getting it. If a show does not have a class for you, DON'T GO! It is wrong, and dishonest, to register in a class you do not belong in, regardless of what reason you think you may have. When show organizers choose classes, whether they realize it or not they are creating their "invitation list". If there is not a class for you, then you are not invited.

So, they did not have a class for this fellow. So why didn't he register his stock Firebird with the Mustangs? Or the Corvettes? Or the 2WD Trucks? Of course, the reason is obvious - his car did not belong in those classes. And that is my point - it did not belong in Special Interest, either! There is nothing of SPECIAL Interest in a stock Firebird. So it did not belong in the class. Period!

If you would not register a stock Fbird in with Mustangs or Camaros, don't register it in Special Interest, either.

The ONLY vehicles that belong in Special Interest - EVER - are those vehicles that have a SPECIAL INTEREST. And just because you may have a special interest in your vehicle, that does not mean it has a special interest. The special interest must be for the general public.

If your vehicle does not have a special theme (firetruck, military jeep, surf wagon, VW Hippie Bus, or a model A that has a built-in popcorn machine), or if it is not unique (SnoCat, tank, or the "One Piece At A Time" Caddy), then it does not belong in special interest.

So, to this gentleman I would ask: if the show had a Firebird class, but not a Special Interest class, do you think it would be appropriate for me to register my PT Woody in your Firebird class? After all, if they do not have a class for me, shouldn't I be able to register in your class?

At the risk of repeating myself about 2,531 times: no one should register in ANY class that is not a good and appropriate fit for their vehicle. If they do, they are cheating everyone who is in that class legitimately.

Like the saying goes: I don't swim in your toilet, so don't piss in my pool.