Long Weekend

Just got back from Medomak School in Waldoboro - I thought it was a very well run show. Well organized by a lot of dedicated, pleasant folks. Yesterday we attended the 1st Annual Messiah Church Show in Wells. And that was another very well run show, particularly since it was their first - and hopefully not their last. It was especially wonderful to once again nob around with old friends we have missed over the long winter months. That is the best part of car shows!

The one comment I heard at Medomak was disappointment that there was only one class for all three styles and 45 years of Mustangs. Perhaps if y'all ask nicely, maybe next year they will give Mustangs the same consideration they give the Corvettes and Motorcycles.

The one problem that plagued both shows was uncontrolled spectators, manhandling vehicles, and kids running amok. At Wells, for example, one kid picked up a handful of dirt and threw it on a 1938 Plymouth. This is precisely why car show organizers should pass out Code of Conduct cards for spectators. And if they do not have any, I will gladly send some. There simply is no need nor excuse for spectators disrespecting our rides because they are not fully aware of the rules.

Lastly, a problem that is not the fault of the show, but of the contestants, and irked a lot of folks, especially at Medomak are those contestants who come, register, slop up votes, then leave before the awards. At Medomak, the show rules clearly stated that you must be present to win. In such a case, any contestant who garners votes, then leaves, has dealt every other contestant in his/her class a legitimate opportunity to win. And it leaves the show organizers with a bunch of uncollected trophies - wasted money.

Folks, if you are not going to stay for the awards, at least have enough class to not register, and collect votes that will only get tossed out. It is no different from crashing a party, eating the food, and not even bothering to thank the host. It is rude and crude. And a number of folks did that at both shows this weekend.

Last year, HotKarz made a LETTERS page for each show, where you, the readers, could post your comments. I will be doing the same again this year, so you, the folks, can have a voice. So, feel free to email me at ptwoodycrew@aol.com at any time with your letters concerning any show that you attend. Just be sure there are no personal insults to anyone, and no foul language.

At the Wells show I had to do WAY too much running around, getting pix of the 1st place vehicles for inclusion in the HotKarz Best of the Best Contest. So today, we did things different - we asked all 1st place winners to drive up and have their pic taken. Aaah-h-h. MUCH better! And that is how it shall be done in the future - after the award presentation is over, any 1st place winner who wants to vie for the Best of the Best Awards should get their vehicle, drive it to a designated spot to have their picture and name taken.

Those pix, show by show will be posted on HotKarz (the link will be on the Home Page at http://www.hotkarz.com/ ). Anyone from anywhere in the world may click on the email link at the bottom of the page and email their vote for the vehicle they think is best - ONE from each show. At the end of the summer, the three vehicles that receive the most votes will win.

MEANWHILE, there is a new FUNNY up on the Funnies page. Check it out at www.HotKarz.com, Especially those of you who know Robbie Russell...

I have a lot of picture pages to start building - pix of the shows, the winners, and the HotKarz contestants. I won't get them ALL done tonight, but I'll get some finished. Check in at the homepage and check on the links for the galleries to keep up-to-date on the pix.

Bill

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