American Legion Naples Show

OK, so about 120 of you already know - we got wet. And the sun shone brightly as we prepared to leave after the award ceremoney. It figures!

But the hospitality was top-notch, and the chow was pretty fair. And despite a rather unimpressive past history, this show went fairly well, with few glitches.

I did hear a couple of complaints, not all of which concerned the show. They are as follows:

1) There were two vehicles in the OPEN/ORPHAN class, but only one trophy was awarded. Seems the judges just did not SEE the second car.

2) Only one Mustang class. Since the newer Stangs cannot fairly compete with their classic ancestors, there were more Stangs in the 90's - Present class than there were in the Mustang class.

The other complaint heard was rather unusual, though not completely unexpected. Six different individuals approached me to inform me that members of a certain club that professes "No BS and No Politics" was deeply involved in both, as they made the rounds complaining about HotKarz, and how we are "trying to run all the shows". I guess some folks find it difficult to differentiate between trying to run something, and simply standing up for what is right and fair.

HotKarz is not interested in running things. But whenever we find unfairness or disparity, you can count on hearing about it, loud, clear, and often. And anyone who is not interested in fairness for all has no right to complain about us, or anyone else.

It is especially ironic that one of those individuals who seems to have a problem with HotKarz making an issue of respecting all classes, even Special Interest, himself approached me last year to complain that someone registered in HIS class that he did not believe should have been in his class. Seems it's OK to complain when he is being treated unfairly, but perfectly fine when it is someone else that is getting shafted.

Sadly, it also seems that those individuals may have lost stature today in the eyes of many they spoke with, since so many they spoke with came to me about it. And two of those who came to me thought it was rather lacking in moral courage for those others to say these things behind my back.

And that is why I said it was not truly unexpected. Whenever anyone stands up and tries to right a wrong, there will always be those who make him a target. That is why so few people stand up against the tide. And that is why injustice will often prevail, as it has been doing in car shows for over three decades - too many folks simply ACCEPT the dispartity. But folks should never accept a wrong simply because it is the path of least resistance. Imagine if Washington, Lincoln, M.L.K, Jesus or any of those other "rebels" had chosen the easy way, and not stood up against the way things were...

No one likes being a target - not even an incendiary SOB such as myself. Does this mean I will stop trying to make things better, and more fair for all?

Not a chance!

Meanwhile...

I would like to thank the American Legion of Naples, and Al & Robin of Alyssas Motel for their warm hospitality. We'll be back next year.

And to that dear man, Al L. - I often kid you, but you are one of the BIGGEST men I know. And I am damned proud to know ya!

/