Litchfield

I found Litchfield to be a very good show in most respects, with great folks running it. And everyone I spoke with seemed to be enjoying it every bit as much as I. But it was not without problems.

Please bear in mind - more often than not, problems are brought to my attention by others, so these experiences were not mine, alone.

On the minor side, the one and only concession stand kept running out of everything. Not a big problem, but after doing this for 14 years I would think they would have a better handle on what kind of inventory should be on hand.

The other problems are not so minor, and I am in hopes they will be worked on and dealt with for next season. Here are the issues, some mine, and some from others who spoke with me:

1) It seems a lot of car owners - a LOT - do not know which class their vehicle belongs in. Either that, or they were simply fishing for a better chance at a trophy, even if it meant grabbing someone else's.

2) The organizers apparently did not understand class definitions, or did not care. Don't know which.

3) Judges did not seem particularly well-trained in either the class definitions or the use of a point system. I am certain they did their best, but some apparently did not even know when a car was out of class. And in a judged show, it is nearly unheard of for a vehicle with hood down to win over a vehicle with hood up. But it happened.

Folks brought to my attention that a couple of nice vehicles with ordinary flaws and road wear were entered in Works in Progress. Upon looking them over, I agreed that they should have been entered elsewhere.

And of the (5) vehicles in Special Interest (Zimmer, 51 "Merc", Lincoln, an unrestored ordinary wagon and a 70's Nova), only two belonged there - the Zimmer and 51 "Merc". Yet two of the others took home the bacon. I still question how it is that a vehicle that is not, by definition, Special Interest can win in Special Interest. After all, a '57 Chevy can't win in Mustangs.

This show was good. Really good, in most respects. But they really need to get a better handle on class structure, learning class definitions, enforcing classes, and training their judges to first look at whether the vehicle even belongs in the class, and then to leave bias at home. For example, in the 2000's, there were two new Chargers (and at least one of them belonged in MUSCLE, with its HEMI, and BOTH should have been in Mopar, at the very least). One took 1st, one took 2nd. And I suspect had there been a third Charger, it would have taken 3rd. Yes, it could be coincidence, but out of a dozen immaculate vehicles, with several at least as good or better, it appeared bias was at work, intentional or not.

Aside from those notable exceptions, it seemed most judging was spot on.

I reiterate - the Litchfield Firefighters put on a very good show that was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Just because a show is not perfect does not mean it was not good. And this one was a fine show, all in all.

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