Divided

Today we attended the show in Oxford, put on by Uptown Cruisahs. But writing this post will not be easy, as I am a bit divided.

On the one hand, in a general sense (as seen through the eyes of a spectator) the show was quite good. It was the first show for Uptown Cruisahs, and from that view they did well. The food layout was exceptional - cafeteria style "walk along and choose", with tables under a tent to enhance your dining pleasure. The music was also very good, and the staff (the Cruisahs) were among the friendliest and most helpful I have seen this season - they made the rounds, asking the folks their thoughts, and when you left, you were greeted with a smile, a wave, and "Thank you for coming". I applaud them, as we all should.

In fact, if not for a few things wrong - two of which were very wrong - this show could have ranked among the best of the season. And, if they pay attention to what folks were telling them, and they correct these things for next year, they will likely be among the best in the future. But not this year.

One area of concern was the disparity in the classes - in several classes there were only 4 or 5 vehicles while in others there were as many as 25 or more. There was only one class for the multitude of Street Rods, and their Antique class spanned 50 years - all the way to 1949, creating a huge class for those vehicles. So, the first issue they should consider revamping for next year is a better class structure.

Another problem was one of space. They ran short of space, so two classes ended up way out back, behind a bunch of tractor-trailers, and out of view of the main show. In speaking with many spectators, most expressed surprise to learn there were more cars beyond the trailers - they had not even seen them.

And there was no class for Customs, which is a huge mistake. How many stock, original vehicles can compete fairly against customs? Not many. Customs must always be a class worth including.

But the kicker was that infernal class-jumping and the poaching of trophies. The following example is chosen because it was the most blatant case, and many, many people remarked on it. And the most shameful aspect of it was when, after being brought to the Cruisahs attention, it only resulted in a shrug of the shoulders, with nothing done about it. That was the wrong attitude.

A custom '62 Ford Galaxie registered into Special Interest. A beautiful car, certainly, but it is not even close to fitting the description of Special Interest and should never, ever be allowed in that class. Yet, he took the 2nd place trophy for Special Interest even though he was not even Special Interest. To put it in perspective, it would be like having a Camaro win in the Mustang division. In this instance, the owner may have simply not understood the class definition - perhaps an honest mistake. But not so with two others, both of whom do know the definition, but choose to ignore it:

Once again, a very dishonest person with a mini cooper checked out his class (import compacts) and once again, as he did at the Gorham show, decided to retreat into Special Interest. A stock mini cooper has ZERO business ever being in Special Interest. But this fellow does it every time there is any competition in his own class. And that is as reprehensible as it gets. He is a trophy poacher of the worst kind.

And then there was the '51 Ford Led Sled that belonged in the '50's, but chose, instead, to move into Special Interest to poach an easy 1st place. Here is a newsflash for led sleds - there are millions of them, and none of them are, or ever have been, Special Interest. They are customs, for the year of their manufacture. I have yet to see a led sled that fits the description of Special Interest. Yet, this particular individual will often register in Special Interest whenever the competition in his own class is too tough.

Three trophy poachers (two intentional, and one perhaps an honest mistake). And two of them won.

Anyone who votes for a vehicle that does not belong in the class is cheating just as much as the class-jumper.

Major League Ball Players get disqualified and tossed out of the league for cheating with steroid use. Kids get kicked out of college for cheating on exams. CHEATING IS WRONG, no matter who does it, or why. But for some reason that eludes me, a lot of car folks will simply accept it as the "norm", and not do anything to clean up their own sport. And until we all do the work to clean it up, those trophies you bring home will be meaningless, because there is no way to tell if you actually earned it, or if you benefitted from the cheating of someone else (if that '62 Galaxie had been in the 60's class, would the same people have won in that class? Maybe - maybe not. There is a good chance HE would have won).

In every other sport in America, cheaters are thrown out. But not in car shows. Why? Because we, the people, sit back and let the cheaters have their way. And that makes we, the people, just as guilty as the cheats, themselves.

The Good Book says we must stand up for what is right, even if we are persecuted for it. And we need to begin doing that, folks. We need to stand up against class-jumping and block voting, or the infection will one day destroy our sport.

Don't believe it? In the last few weeks I have heard no fewer than two dozen folks say, "I won't be going back to THAT show again - the cheating was terrible." I heard it about Kora, Gorham, Oxford and Parsems, to mention but a few. And if it keeps up, only the cheaters will be left to pat themselves on the back for being such a bunch of moral losers.

And it is not just because a few people cheat. It is because we have not done anything to stop it, so it is getting worse each year. By not trying to stop it, you are saying, "OK, go ahead and cheat. I don't care." And that gives more folks "permission" to cheat. And most people will do anything they have permission to do.

Folks, some of you will be pissed at me for saying all this - so be it. I believe in the teachings of the Good Book, so I feel obligated to at least make a stab at following them, and I really don't care if the cheaters dislike me or not. But we have got to start taking control of this. We, the folks, must stand and be counted. Folks who knowingly cheat should be disqualified and sent packing, their registrations pulled. Folks who unknowingly enter the wrong class should be told to go to their own class - yes, by you, the folks, if the organizers are too weak to do it. Cheats should NOT be accepted.

And if the person is your friend, and you do not want to shame him, then perhaps you need better friends - we are all judged by the company we keep. If he is your friend, then BE a friend and straighten him out! Speak up. Stand for what is right.

Yes, Red Sled is a beautiful car, as is the '62 Galaxie. But neither one is, or ever will be, Special Interest, and neither should ever be allowed in that class. And no ordinary, stock vehicle like a mini cooper should ever be allowed, either. If we allow a mini cooper, led sled or '62 Galaxie into Special Interest, then we should also allow a Camaro in with Mustangs, and '55 Chevys in with 4x4 Trucks. Because there is NO difference. Out of class is out of class. Period.

And although it happens mostly in Special Interest, do not think you are immune. At Andover, a '65 Buick Riviera registered with the 40's, only because there was only one other car in the 40's, so he was obviously poaching an undeserved trophy. If it can happen in 40's, with a '65 Riviera, it can - and eventually will - happen to you.

ORGANIZERS: Start enforcing classes, or risk losing the folks.

PARTICIPANTS: Begin policing yourselves, or risk losing your sport to cheaters, not to mention risking your self-respect.

OK, so it is no secret where I stand on these issues. And I know the cheaters will be pissed because I am outing them, and they will cry like a bunch of scalded dogs. But I have given them two years to clean up their acts, and they are still cheating, so the gloves are off. From here on in, if you get caught cheating, don't be surprised if I begin naming names...

If you are a cheat, you have nothing to say that I will find value in EXCEPT an apology and a promise to the folks to do better in the future, so don't waste your time posting - no one wants to hear your BS. Nor am I interested in your lame excuses, like "They didn't have a Customs class". So what? They had a '50's class. And if a show has NO legitimate class for you - DON'T GO! Either stop cheating, or buzz off.

Now, for those of you who may not know the national definition of Special Interest, here it is once again:

"a vehicle uniquely distinguishable from the usual, and/or designed for a particular purpose, such as a race car, military vehicle or bus, or built to a specific and/or unusual theme, either of which would generate interest because of its uniqueness or specialty function."

There is no "special, unique purpose" to a led sled, '62 Galaxie or mini cooper. Nor do they have a specific or unusual theme. There is no uniqueness with specialty function.

Can we make shows better and fair to all? Yes, but only if we stand together and make it so. At Kora, Dan stood up like a man, asked for fairness, was rebuffed, and subsequently left in a show of protest. Unfortunately, ONE person standing up does not get the show organizers' attention. Imagine if 50 or 100 people were to leave together, in the middle of the show, protesting the unfairness. THAT would get the attention of Kora, would it not?

Yes, we can fix it. But only if the honest folks take a stand against the dishonest ones, and those who just are not aware. Put an end to block voting and class-jumping. Stop judged shows from using unfair methods of judging, or ignoring vehicles.

No one can do it EXCEPT you. I don't mind helping. I obviously do not mind speaking up. But like Dan, I am only one person. Let's do this. Together.

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