Saturday, August 15, 2009

Almost Funny

First, a bit of background - these are the two vehicles that were in Special Interest at Telstar to which I referred as having jumped class. Most folks looking at this picture will see what is apparently a Chevy SSR, and a '46 Street Rod.

The fellow who owns the SSR commented that he was "offended" that I said he was cheating because he says his vehicle is a Roadster, and the vehicle beside was a dragster, so they "belonged" in SI.

Wrong! The problem is - IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE! Neither is Special Interest. SI is not a roadster or dragster class. If they cannot comprehend the simple and clear definition of Special Interest, then they are beyond help. Makes no difference if his truck is a "roadster", or if the street rod is used for drag racing (most street rods used to be built specifically for dragging, in case anyone missed that - apparently this guy did).

But for his benefit, I will put it out there once more as to exactly why neither vehicle should EVER be in Special Interest:

1) Neither is uniquely distinguishable from others of its kind. In fact, at the show the fellow stated there were 1200 of them. That's a LONG way from being "uniquely distinguishable."

2) Neither one follows a specific and unusual theme - and if you do not know what a theme is, look it up, because I am tired of going over this in an attempt to educate people who simply find it easier to cheat than to get educated.

Since those are the ONLY two instances in which a vehicle qualifies for Special Interest, it is clear that neither should have been there. The other (4) vehicles did belong - 2 had themes, and the other two were kits, which were included in SI at this show.

So, either these gentlemen need to look up the definitions of UNIQUE and THEME, or they simply do not care and have no problem with cheating. But ignorance is no excuse - SI has been defined and analyzed, word-by-word, more often than the word "change" has passed President Obama's lips.

But now they know. Wanna bet they will STILL enter Special Interest when the opportunity arises?

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Surprise!

"Surprise" is not really the right word to describe Telstar. Disappointment, shock & disgust would be more appropriate.

There were three good points:

1) The donuts were homemade, hot and delicious
2) Food was very reasonably priced, and
3) The school students who ran the concession booth were absolutely stupendous

As for the show, itself...

First, let me say that when Fred approached me at Oxford, he led me to believe he was one of the organizers, and he solicited me to attend "his" show and critique it so they could discover any short-comings and fix them.

That, in itself, was a bad joke. Fred was not an organizer of the show - only a parking volunteer. And the organizers have no interest in fixing any of the huge errors at today's "show". And here is where everything went wrong - and stayed wrong.

First thing, several folks complained to the organizer, Grayson, that many were jumping class - there were Sport Compacts in Imports, and Street Rods and pickup trucks in Special interest, and a street rod in Trucks, to name just a few. There were others. But it seems the organizer just was not interested, as long as he had everyone's $5.00. So, six of those folks came to me to ask "what's up with this crap?" Others asked why they should have to compete with the sponsor of the class, or the vehicles of the organizers.

I then went to speak with Grayson (and several others did the same). I asked point blank if they had any intention of fixing the problems. He said, flatly, "NO!" I then asked why not - doesn't he care about the integrity of his show? The honesty? His response was, "We're not concerned with that. We don't care. We just like cars." In other words, "We got everyone's $5.00, and that's all that matters."

I then asked if he even knew the definition of a Street Rod, or a Custom, or any other class. Nope. Didn't care about that, either.

According to the organizer, anyone could register anywhere. A 4x4 Custom truck could register with Mustangs, and take the trophy for all he cared.

Now, for most of us, that attitude, alone, is a huge transgression deserving of taking our money elsewhere next year. But as I was soon to discover, it got worse - MUCH worse!

The sponsors of classes were allowed to enter into the very classes they sponsored! Talk about being rigged! And it came as no surprise when sponsors walked away with trophies.

No, that was not the worst, either. It gets even worse...

The organizers, themselves, entered their vehicles, and walked away with trophies.

And then there were the vehicles of Alumni, highlighted by balloons, and entitled to an additional trophy. It seems alumni are more special than non-alumni, and deserve more shots at a trophy.

So, if you were fortunate enough to be in a class that did not include a sponsor, alumni or an organizer, the voting was likely legitimate. Otherwise, you could kiss any semblance of an honest vote goodbye, as the multitude of organizers all voted for each others vehicles, ensuring easy wins. And, of course, Grayson, the chief organizer, took first place. Will wonders never cease? The rest of us threw our money away just to watch them give themselves trophies.

And no, I am not talking about the $5.00 entry fee, although that was lost, too. Most of us came from a distance. Gas & oil, our time, the entry fee, and some even came the night before and paid for a motel. All that was forfeited for those unfortunate enough to be caught between sponsors, alumni and organizers.

As a side note, I spoke with several of the class jumpers and let them know they were out of class. Every single one admitted they knew that, but they did not care, as long as they had a better chance of winning. It never ceases to amaze me that some people are so OK with being dishonest, and do not even think there is anything wrong with cheating. It reminds me of politicians.

Folks, it you want honesty in your shows; if you want only Mustangs in the Mustang class; if you want to not have to compete with the people putting on the show, then you need to take a stand and refuse to vote for any clown that is either out of class, or is connected with the show (unless their vehicles are in a separate class of their own, as they should be).

Fortunately, the word is getting around - the street rod and pickup truck in Special Interest received almost no votes - both would have fared much better in their own classes.

As for Telstar, since they seem to encourage cheating in order to rake in the bucks, or simply "do not care", as the organizer so bluntly put it, I will not waste a drop of gas or a minute of my time returning to their pathetic excuse for a show. And from what I heard from about two dozen others, they won't, either. And it was because of the obvious cheating that HotKarz declined to have the BEST OF THE BEST line-up at this show. Although many winners deserved their wins, others did not, and HotKarz was not going to reward cheats.

Don't misunderstand - we won a trophy, so this is not "sour grapes". It's simply how things were.

As screwed up as the Sanford Elks show was last year, at least they were not blatantly dishonest.

If you screw the folks, don't expect a second chance at screwing them again.

On the other hand, I am very pleased to hear how well the show at the East Auburn Baptist Church went. For their first ever, it sounds like a winner.

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Friday, August 14, 2009

Dirt

We all know the many hours of back-breaking work it takes to continuously clean and polish our rides. Ugh!

But did you know there are two kinds of dirt?

There is the light kind, that is attracted to light-colored cars, and the dark kind, which is attracted to dark-colored cars.

And if you are taking that seriously, you need a vacation. :o)

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Groovin' At The Beach

I have been approached by several good folks who have expressed they will not return to the Kiwanis Standish show next year, due to the things they observed this year.

I hope you will not judge too quickly, or act in haste. I have it on good authority that appropriate changes will be made for next year, and next year's show is likely to be as fine as the beach location, itself. The Kiwanis club has picked up a copy of "The Complete Car Show", and several folks have been invited to input ideas at one of their upcoming meetings this fall.

The short take - Kiwanis is sincerely interested in offering the folks a really good show next year. We all may want to be there to see that happen.

As for this coming weekend, we had already made a committment to Steve Sherer, the organizer of Telstar, to attend his show to help critique it, as it is his first, and he wants to make sure that any short-comings are dealt with quickly and effectively. That sounds like the makin's of a show that will just get better each year.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Leprechaun Garden

OK, so I told some of you about the strange garden that is the result of all the rain and cold weather. And part of my lawn, which I have been mowing for years, is now growing a crop of cattails. And some of you thought I was exaggerating.

So, for the skeptics, I have provided pictures of some corn, just picked from my garden - stalk and all. You decide...


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Not Gettin' It

Just received a nasty, somewhat incoherent and rambling email from a woman who attended the Kiwanis show last Saturday. Although she did identify herself (which shows she has more courage than some), I will not identify her here because I do not wish to humiliate her. I am responding here because she used an invalid email address that cannot be delivered to. Anyone who thinks they can attack me or HotKarz and not get a response is not thinking right. And, though a letter like hers would normally have no effect on me, personally, this one does have an effect because she is related to someone I have come to honor and respect, and love like a dad. But in spite of that, I still cannot play favorites. She is so very wrong on so many levels, and I have to speak my piece.

Here are the highlights - I am leaving out all the personal attacks and insults that were in her letter:

1) She said we had identified her friends as individuals who were stuffing the ballot box. We did not. We simply said it happened, and it did. I have no clue where this lady is coming from, because we did not name anyone. It therefore sounds like a guilty conscience speaking.

2) She states that shows have one purpose - to raise money for some "cause", and no one should be concerned with whether or not they are honest. Apparently she does not understand that if folks feel cheated, they won't return. If they don't return, there is no show. No show means NO MONEY for any "good cause". So, just how would that be a good thing?

3) She said the money raised was for handicap accessibility. However, the organizer stated the fundraising was for scholarships.

4) She thought it perfectly fine that a bicycle took first place in the MOTORcycle class. She sees nothing wrong with that, even though integrity would require the trophy go to someone who actually belongs in the class. It has nothing to do with the child or his bike. It has everything to do with the integrity of the show, and not shooting themselves in the foot. Several folks have already expressed that they will not return to any show that so blatantly ignores their own classes.

5) She said the kid should have won simply because he put so much effort into his bike. So, by her standards, if I put enough effort into my GMC pick-up, or even a skateboard, I can enter it into a Mustang class and take the trophy. I think she would do well to remember why shows even have classes in the first place - it is so folks can FAIRLY compete against other vehicles in the SAME CLASS.

6) She asked what have I got to do with it, anyway, so much as to say that no one else has any right to stand up and be counted when something is wrong. I guess she believes that if you see someone robbing a bank, you have no business saying anything if it is not YOUR bank being robbed. NEWSFLASH: when I see something wrong, I'll speak out. If that bothers her, then perhaps she should be less concerned with me and more concerned with her own values.

7) In spite of my breaking down the national standard for Special Interest, word by word, she still says that almost ANY vehicle can be classed Special Interest. She should beef up her comprehension skills before attacking me on that. Very few vehicles fit Special Interest.

8) She complains that we always spin the tires on our PT Cruiser. Gee, I almost hate to say this, but anyone who knows the early PT knows it CAN'T spin tires, unless it's in soft sand or on ice. No, we do not spin the tires or do smokeshows, either. As Sarah Palin would say, she should "stop making stuff up."

9) She says she will "boycott" HotKarz. Not sure how well that will work for her, since HotKarz is not a commercial enterprise and does not have any customers - just readers. And most of our readers seem to be onboard with the honesty thing. The ones that aren't - well, they just don't matter.

She then rambled about me trying to win a "Hemmings Trophy" or some such. Sorry, lady - we never said any such thing; we never tried to win any Hemmings trophy, and we never will. Never even showed a car at a Hemmings show. Never will.

I got the impression from her incoherent letter that she reads 5 words of a post, then inserts a few dozen of her own, perhaps by assumption or letting her imagination go nuts, so that she ends up reading things that just are not there.

In any case, if I thought she could understand, I would explain to her that...

1) Part of my job is to review shows honestly, even if it hurts, and to report what others bring to me to report. I will not stop doing that just so a few dishonest people can continue cheating everyone. I like the Kiwanis. I am friends with some of them and their supporters. And I have supported them myself. But that makes no difference in how I report. I don't play favorites. If I did, HotKarz would have no value to anyone, and no one would be reading this.

2) In several instances, show organizers have ASKED me to review their show, and offer constructive criticism. They understand what this lady does not - that only by finding what is wrong, and making improvements, can they survive in the world of car shows, and make even MORE money for their good cause. There are multiple shows every weekend - only the better shows will survive, and they know it. In fact, the organizer of an upcoming show this weekend has asked me to attend, to LOOK for things that need improvement, and help him figure ways to fix whatever might be wrong so he'll have a better show next year. And more and more show organizers are requesting their free copy of "The Complete Car Show". So, it seems that many of them actually want to put on better shows. One organizer told me this evening that they may go with the books' suggestion of a Split Ballot next year, to help break up the block voting that they, themselves, discovered at their show this year.

3) I do not believe there is ever a legitimate excuse for cheating, nor do I believe there is any such thing as a "little, harmless" cheating. It's like being a little bit pregnant. Whether a person steals one dollar or a million, it is still stealing, and stealing is wrong. Period. Same with cheating. You can dress it up and take it to the dance if you want, but as they say, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's STILL a pig.

The lady made one other error. She said that folks who complain about the cheating are "sucking the life" out of the hobby. I hate to break this to her, but it is the cheaters who are doing that, and have been for decades. They have been feeding on the shows at the expense of the honest folks, like a vampire feeds on the living. That is the entire DEFINITION of poaching - to take something you are not entitled to, depriving everyone else. And poaching, dear lady, was around LONG before HotKarz.

She also said she wants to raise her 4 year old son to be a "good ol' boy". And that is too bad. Most parents want their children to grow up to be independent, to think for themselves and stand up for what is right. That is not the definition of "good ol' boy".

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

FYI & Update

UPDATE: The grapevine says the Newport show on the 15th has been canceled.

Several folks, and even a couple of show organizers have asked me how, exactly, they can decide which class is most appropriate for their vehicle at any given show. It can be confusing, particularly if the organizers seem to be choosing classes by pulling them out of a hat. HotKarz is trying to get show organizers to do a better job of choosing classes in ways that avoid many problems. Progress is slow, but there is progress. If they do not use careful thought and planning in their classing, then it becomes the responsibility of the entrant to choose the most appropriate class.

So I will share with you the system that many professional car shows use in determining class, and you can use it for your own vehicle(s) if you wish.

Get out pencil and paper, and start by describing your vehicle according to its genre, type, make,model, year etc. As an example only (chosen at random), let's say you have the following vehicle:

1980 Chevrolet 4x4 Custom/Modified Truck

That is what you would put at the top of your paper. In a perfect world, that is your "most appropriate class", but it is far too specific to ever be found in any show. So now you will need to narrow it down, in descending order, by logical classes.

Using that same example, you would start your list with the GENRE/TYPE, as follows: Custom (modified) Truck, 4x4. This would be the most appropriate class, but only if available at the show. If not available, descend to the next level - note we are descending not only in order of importance, but also in level of specifics - the classes become more general as you descend. So, the next most appropriate class might be something like Custom Truck. Lacking a custom truck class, you might then descend to 4x4 truck. Following that might be Chevy Trucks or Trucks 1980's (or whatever era fits, such as Trucks, 1965-1985)). If still no class,then your class would descend into its most general term - Trucks.

You can do this in reverse, if it is easier for you. Start by the most general term that fits your vehicle. In this case, TRUCK. Then as you rise to each new level, you become more specific, from Truck, to Chevy Truck, to Chevy Truck 1980's, to 4x4 Truck and continue up from there. In either case, your class should be the most specific class you can choose at the show.

Looking closely it is easy to spot the system used - you would begin at the most specific (and therefore most appropriate) class, and gradually move toward the most general class, in descending order. Each entrant should strive to enter in the most specific class, as that would be the most appropriate.

So, if you have such a vehicle, your list in descending order of specifics will look like this:

1980 Chevrolet Custom/Modified 4x4 Truck

1) Custom/Modified Chevy Truck, 4x4, 1980's (not likely to find such specific class)
2) Custom/Modified Truck, 4x4, 1980's (not likely to find such specific class)
3) Custom/Modified Truck, 4x4
4) 4x4 Chevy Truck 1980's (not likely to find such specific class)
5) 4x4 Chevy Truck (not likely to find such specific class)
6) 4x4 truck, 1980's (not likely to find such specific class)
7) 4x4 Truck
8) Chevy Truck 1980's (not likely to find such specific class)
9) Chevy Truck
10) Truck

Armed with this list, study it and learn it. Bring it with you, and use it to compare against the classes at a show. In this example, numbers 3, 7, 9 & 10 are the most likely classes you will find at a show. Then, beginning with the most specific class at the top, go down the list until you find the first class that fits a class at the show. And that should be the most appropriate class for your particular vehicle.

In the above example, if a show has a Custom 4x4 Truck class and a 4x4 Truck class, the vehicle belongs in the Custom 4x4 Truck class - the most specific class that fits.

In certain instances, your vehicle may very well fit into two classes, equally. In such cases, make two lists, and you may choose to use either. For example, a custom truck that is also a legal street rod could enter in either class, provided the owner opts for the most specific class available.

NOTE: In some cases, the most appropriate class may not permit much in the way of specifics. Two such classes are WORK IN PROGRESS and SPECIAL INTEREST. Because these two classes can harbor vehicles of almost any make/model/year, you would simply compare your vehicle to the actual definition of the class, and then compare it to any other class in which you could fit.

Example: I have a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Surf Woody. It is not customized, as there are no structural or performance changes, so CUSTOMS is out. No Maine show we know of has a PT Cruiser class, so that is out. Mopar is generally associated with muscle, so that is out. Though titled by Chrysler as a truck, that is also out, as many people would not understand, and we do not want to spend the entire show pulling out the title to explain. But our woody does have a specific theme, so it can enter in Special Interest. However, it is also a 2002 that is not custom, so it can also go in 2000's, or 1990's-present. That leaves a choice to make.

In most instances, 2000's, and 1990's-Present is not very specific - in fact, a vehicle's year is usually the least specific criterion for classing. So, in most cases, Special Interest is most appropriate for us because it is the most specific. It does not seem fair to put a dressed up woody in competition with stock vehicles of the 2000's. It just seems out of place. However, if the show organizers prefer us in the 2000's, that is fine. It fits. And we tend to win more often in that class. Which is why we often avoid it. Not that we don't like winning, but because it just seems unfair to put a dresser up against a stock vehicle. We do not like to have an unfair advantage over others. When we enter 2000's, it is usually at the discretion of the show organizers.

I hope this helps. The real secret to classing is 1) knowing your vehicle, 2) know the class definitions that apply to your vehicle, and 3) work in descending order from most specific to least specific.

This system will also help you to determine whether or not someone else is out of class. If so, do everyone, including yourself, a favor and do not vote for anyone that is obviously out of class. If it is a Mustang in the Firebird class, don't vote for it, no matter how nice it might be. You are not voting for the nicest car registered in the class - you are voting for the nicest car that actually belongs in that class. By choosing to ignore those who are out of class, they cannot win, and eventually will learn their best and only chance is in their own class. This, all by itself, will put an end to class jumping without saying a word.

It would be a huge help if organizers would learn the actual classes and definitions, then choose them wisely, to avoid over-lapping. And where classes overlap, they should include qualifiers, such as "EXCEPT TRUCKS", or "EXCEPT VW" By doing this, over-lapping, and the confusion it creates, can be eliminated. So, the next time you talk to an organizer, please feel free to tactfully pass it on. Better still, have them email ptwoodycrew@aol.com and request a free copy of "The Complete Car Show Book".

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Monday, August 10, 2009

Sebago Brewing

We added Sebago Brewing's (behind Hannaford's in Gorham ME) cruise-in a couple weeks ago. And we finally got to go. It is an awesome cruise, but awfully crowded. They even serve brew outside - but please don't overdo it.

If you get a chance, this cruise is worth the jaunt.

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Short Notice Show

Many of you already know about this, but I'll post it anyway.

There will be the "1st Annual East Auburn Shine It And Show It" held this coming Saturday at the East Auburn Baptist Church grounds at 560 Park Avenue in Auburn. Show cars can arrive from 6am, with registration from 7-10am

Gates open to public at 8am.

Entry fee: $5.00, spectators free

To pre-reg, contact Thom Bell @ 207-577-4157

Classes: Antique - 39, Street Rods, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, Special Interest, 4x4 truck, 4x2 Truck, motorcycles.

Peer judged, three trophies per class + Best of show

Food, live music

This show is closer for many than the one being held at Telstar in Bethel on the same day. It's a tough choice, but choose we must. And although there have been shows at Telstar in previous years, this years' show is being done by new folks, so it, too, is a first show.

Tossing the coin...

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For The Newcomers - Welcome

First off, the rest of the galleries (the show pix & Winner's Circle) are up for Litchfield. And I would be sorely remiss if I did not send KUDOS to Norm Gray for his exceptional showing yesterday at Litchfield. Norm not only took 1st place in his class, but also took Best Chrome and Best Paint. Congrats, Norm! Well done.

And thanx (?) to Dale Chasse and Bob Sanborn, I will now proceed to work on pages for the many pix they submitted of yet another Vermont car show...

I have received a ton of emails lately from new readers of HotKarz because we are extending our reach to new areas to the north and northeast. And we welcome each of you.

The vast majority have expressed their thanks for our fight to end the lack of integrity in our hobby, but they often ask why we bother. Rather than even try to respond to each email individually, I will use this post to explain exactly what it is we do at HotKarz, and exactly why. With any luck, you will come to know us better by the time you finish reading this. Even some of our closest friends do not know the whole story, so here it is.

I organized my first car show in the 60's, for my school and again for New England College in Henniker, NH when I was about 16. It was quite by accident, and I really had no experience. But I was good at organizing, and the college needed to beat out Nathaniel Hawthorne College in Antrim, their elitist ROTC rival. So, I got "elected", thanks to a couple of college girls I happened to know.

I have organized, judged, or participated in several hundred show since then, in about half the states in the US, and even a couple of shows in Canada. I can finally say I do have some small amount of experience, even though I am not really a "car guy". I can't make 'em run, like some of you can. And I am not a great body man. But I know shows. And I have studied the various rules, point systems, and learned class definitions. I have at least a modicum of organizational ability (which I rarely use at home). So I know, without a doubt, when there is a problem, and I know how to fix it.

I am not a "know-it-all". I do not know how to rebuild a carb, and I do not know much about clutches, glass blowing or grooming dogs. No, I am not a know-it-all. But the few things I do know, I know well. And one of those things is car shows. I even helped write a rather comprehensive book on the subject.

That background brings us to the day we moved to Maine, and began hitting the shows here. And I immediately discovered two things:

1) there was no single source for getting info on shows and cruises, so knowing where to go, and when, was an uphill battle, and

2) the shows hereabouts seem to be run more by an Old Boys Network than by the show organizers, and it made for a lot of cheating. Shows were more a personality contest than a competition for vehicles

I knew right off that I would try to help alleviate both problems if I could. That's just the way I am. And I knew it would be an uphill battle.

First, let me say in all sincerity that I don't mind losing, when I deserve to, but when I deserve to win, I would like to do so. The trophy is not important, but I do like to compete. Competition is the main purpose of car shows. But in order to be deemed competition, it must be fair and honest. If a person cheats, it destroys the competition, itself, because it is no longer a level playing field, and is "rigged". Having a cheat in a car show is not unlike having a weasel in the henhouse - the chickens simply cannot compete against the weasel.

I decided to start by investing my own time, money and effort into building the website HotKarz.com, to provide a singular source of much needed info on the shows and cruises, so EVERYONE would find everything easily. And to make it more enjoyable and beneficial, I added a lot of other features. And everything is free.

Once HotKarz was up, to serve the first purpose, it was time to start tackling the second one - the problems. For that, I started a BLOG on a separate server. The purpose of the BLOG is to provide more pertinent information, instant updates on changes to the calendar, reviews of shows and cruises, the latest news, and a place where you, the folks, to chime in if you do so respectfully. But the underlying purpose is to discover the problems, expose them to the daylight regardless of who it angers, and suggest ways to improve the shows for all.

Now for an important piece of this story: anyone who thinks I do all of this just for kicks has got another think coming. I spend many hours each week building and updating web pages, seeking out the relevant info on shows and cruises, meeting people, making phonecalls, taking thousands of pictures, writing the posts and doing the homework. And I do it alone. Without pay. I am often found posting at 2 or 3 in the morning. All of the funding comes out of my personal pocket, because everything on HotKarz is free. We give away great trophies in contests I dream up, give away T-shirts, plaques, jackets and more. At cruises we even give away free, fresh veggies from our garden. Sometimes we sponsor a class, or even a show. We provide free copies of "The Complete Car Show" to every organizer who requests it. Frankly, without tooting my own horn unnecessarily, I think we give a lot, and have some small right to say so because we ask for nothing in return. Nothing except a little respect. Most of you offer it. Those who do not are generally the same people whose respect we do not want.

Now, I do not expect, or even want everyone to agree with me. And I understand that the "Good Ol' Boys" don't like this one little bit, and will do anything to damage and shut down HotKarz, or find some way to minimalize it. I understand all that, and it really doesn't bother me, personally. Their insults, slights and vile attacks mean nothing to me, except as fodder to turn it into a learning experience for you, the readers, so you can get a better look at the dirty underbelly of the cheating; to see it for what it really is, in the hope that YOU will also stand up against it.
But I do believe I have earned respect.

Do I make mistakes? Everyone does. But when I make one, I fix it. And I do not make mistakes in the reporting of what is going on. If I write that a certain thing is happening, you can take it to the bank.

Go ahead and post, anonymously if you must, even if you disagree. Just be civil. Big Mike often disagrees with me, but his comments have been thoughtful, respectful and polite, so he has earned respect in return. But if anyone chooses to be insulting, crass, or uses other tactics designed to spread hate and discontent, forget it - they will never be posted.

So that's about it. I am a bit of a renegade, and have always been a rebel of sorts. Outspoken, to be sure. Willing to fight for what I believe is right. Willing to put my money, time and work where my mouth is. Willing to take the punches from those who fear change, because they will no longer be able to poach trophies if we win this fight.

But I am not a fool, either. I will put my resources into this, freely, as long as there is a chance that you, the folks, want it and will benefit from it. And if it turns out that the folks are unwilling to stand and fight with me, then the day will come when I will just say there is no longer any point, and walk away. And the Ol' Boy Network will just keep on putting the screws to the honest folks.

Because when push comes to shove, Thomas Jefferson said it right - every person gets what they deserve. If the folks are not willing to fight for what is right, then right cannot prevail. Or John Dickenson, who said in 1768 "United we stand, divided we fall." Or even the Good Book, "What you do not use will be taken from thee."

You, the folks, have to decide just what it is you want - the old way where certain dishonest folks run things and you simply accept it because "that's the way it was always done", or shows that are run fairly that make it better for us all.

The choice is not mine to make. It never has been.

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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Oops!

Had to get back up - I had promised two folks to put their show info in the events page today. Both shows are scheduled for August 23rd.

NOW I can go back to bed...

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Best Of

The Litchfield BEST OF have been posted, and, yes, the link actually points to Litchfield now instead of Standish - thanks for bringing that to my attention, Bob. Unfortunately, some of the winners did not line up for their photo, so only 14 winners are listed today.

I doubt I will get the other galleries up before tomorrow - sorry, but when I haven't been at shows this weekend, I have spent over 20 hours building pages (the Concours show of 180 pix, plus two Maine shows, the galleries, Featured Vehicle, funnies, blog etc.), so I really need to take a break. I have not been to bed since Friday. So please understand.

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A Misinformed Person

Another commenter states that he thinks I am engaging in personal attacks, IN SPITE OF a blog a couple of days ago that defines what is, and is not, a "personal attack".

I made no personal attacks whatever. I DID point out those who continually cheat us all, as I said I would do. And I DO point out when some anonymous poster decides to misrepresent the truth. So, if John Doe cheats, and I write that John Doe cheats, that is not a personal attack - that is merely a statement of what has happened.

However, if I were to write that John Doe is an evil and wretched person because he cheated, and he sleeps with dogs, then THAT would be a personal attack.

If you cheat, and you know you are cheating, and you get caught, I will not be afraid to call you out into the light of day for all to see. And if you don't like it, then don't cheat.

And if you are so bent on trying to get me riled up by making your stupid, senseless comments, forget it. You are wasting your time. And if you continue trying to bait me just so you can tear down HotKarz, forget that, too - I will just delete your comments and ignore you, as you deserve.

As an anonymous person who won't even stand by what you write by signing it, you simply have no credibility whatsoever. Don't even THINK that you can use anonymity to wreak havoc in order to protect yourself and your ol' boys network.

If you have something unpleasant to say and want to cast insults, and you believe in it, and it is worth anything to you, then be man enough to own it and sign it. Otherwise, that just tells all of us everything we need to know about your "opinion". But somehow I doubt you will ever own up to the things you write. Just like you will never give up the ol' boys network.

But know this - you may be anonymous to the readers, and I will keep it that way unless you CHOOSE to identify yourself. But know that every time you visit, and every time you post, the server tracks you, and identifies you, right down to the computer you are using. Ask any internet-savvy person - it is automatic and it is called "server web logs". So yes, I know who you are.

As a side note, I have heard from some folks who attended the Kingston (NH) show. Judging from what they have been telling me, it would appear block voting by a group of people is alive and well. They should be oh, so proud of those trophies.

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Someone Is Going Off The Deep End

Some anonymous poster complained that the vehicle I was "bashing" in the earlier blog post belongs to "some 80 year-old guy who doesn't have a computer".

Some people just can't help themselves, and complain about something that isn't even there.

So let me be clear:

The ONLY vehicle owners I was bashing was a 70's Nova owned by someone around 35-ish, I think; a Lincoln owned by someone perhaps near 50-60; Red Sled, owned by someone I'd say is around 45-55. I don't know who owns the two vehicles in Works In Progress that did not belong there. And the fellow who owns the VW Truck - I don't have any idea of his age, but he has been told more than once, in person, that he belongs in Foreign or VW, not Special Interest.

Now, if that offends any of them, I really cannot be concerned with that, because each of them already knows my take. And if it offends you, that, too, is too bad, but does not concern me because you are only "anonymous". When you sign your comments, I will take them more seriously.

However, in all fairness, I THINK you jumped to conclusions. As a simple example, chosen at random, I used a 70's Chevelle Muscle car, and the poster may have thought I was referencing Norm (but for all you know, I may have been thinking of Russ). That is a stretch. I could have chosen any specific type of car, and SOMEONE would have one. And I did not say anything - nothing at all - derogatory about Chevelles, or their owners either.

So, for the benefit of he or she who jumped to a wrong conclusion, let me say that when I mentioned trucks, I was not referencing Bob S, Bob R or Rob R, or anyone else. And when I mentioned Mustangs, I was not referencing Rob, Chris or any other Mustang owner. An example is just that - a randomly chosen example.

Stop trying to look for, or create trouble that does not exist, and stop making unfounded assumptions.

I chose a 70's Muscle Chevelle only because it is a perfect example of multiple possibilities in classing. I believe it is the same example or similar to the one used in "The Complete Car Show", written LONG before today's show! Had I chosen Ford Model A's, the example simply could not work.

But some folks just need to try and pick me and HotKarz apart, in the hopes that if they minimalize me, they can keep their same "good ol' boys" network up and running.

Not gonna happen.

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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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Comment- Fire One

Someone commented that it does not matter what class a vehicle registers in, as long as there is some sort of "loose" interpretation. He specifically mentioned a stock foreign vehicle that registered in Special Interest.

WRONG!

First, every entrant is supposed to register in the MOST APPROPRIATE class for their vehicle, regardless of how many others he may loosely fit into. A foreign car belongs in Foreign if the show has that class. GENRE COMES FIRST.

Next comes make and model, if there is no appropriate genre. Then comes year. As detailed in the "Complete Car Show" book, and also mentioned in many of the national sites, there really is a methodology to classing, and every class has a very distinct definition.

So, one more time for those who simply have a hard time with this:

If a show has your GENRE (Muscle, Custom, Foreign etc.), that is supposed to be the class you register in. If your car does not have a genre (as in a stock vehicle of the 80's, for example) or the show does not have your genre as a class, then you are supposed to register in the class that mirrors your make and model (i.e. Nova, Chevelle, Mopar etc.). And if the show has no class for your make and model, then your final choice should be YEAR (i.e. Best of 70's).

In the event your vehicle fits two GENRE classes (i.e. Muscle and Custom), then you may take your choice.

So, if you have a Muscle Car (by definition) and it is a 70's Chevelle, the most appropriate class is Muscle, followed by Chevelle class, followed by 70's class, in that order. The reason? Think about it - if the show has both a Muscle and Chevelle class, they are obviously trying to separate MUSCLE Chevelles from other Chevelles, in the spirit of fairness.

However, for some reason, folks in this neck of the woods buck the system and feel that GENRE and MAKE/MODEL are interchangeable. So be it. A Muscle Mopar can register in either, although Muscle SHOULD take precedence. This is because many organizers in this neck of the woods do not give enough thought to their class structure, and often overlap. And that makes it difficult for the car owners to choose.

In many of the big shows, they are more thoughtful of classing, and if there is overlap, they specify. For example, if they have both a Foreign class and a VW class, their registration might say something like "All Foreign EXCEPT VW", and "All VW's MUST enter VW". The organizers are supposed to be setting the classing structure in a way that removes the guesswork. But here, they do not. So, it seems acceptable to mix and match classes.

HOWEVER... regardless of what the organizers do or do not do, NEVER, EVER should a rather stock VW truck be in Special Interest. It is neither uniquely distinguishable from others of its kind, nor does it have a theme. It should never have been allowed in Special Interest. Not ever. And most especially when the show had a Foreign Class.

Show organizers need to stop shirking their responsibility for the classing of vehicles. If the organizers do not know the class definitions, they need to learn them. And enforce them. They need to use some thought in choosing classes for their show, and eliminate overlapping wherever possible.

Yes, some vehicles can legitimately register in more than one class. But there are rules to this. Rule number one, it actually needs to fit the definition of the class - a Mustang cannot register in Camaros. So, a rather stock Nova with a nice paint job does not belong in Special Interest, nor does the VW truck.

The second rule has already been made clear - each entry should be registered in the MOST APPROPRIATE class, not just ANY appropriate class. A custom 2x4 truck, at a show where there are Custom Trucks and 2x4 Truck classes should register in the CUSTOM division. Genre comes before anything else. NOTE: The objective is FAIR PLAY. There is nothing fair about a custom truck competing against stock trucks, for example. and that is precisely why each entrant should make an effort to show in his or her most appropriate class. Because it is not about winning at any cost. It is about winning fairly.

The poster also seems to believe that poaching trophies is fine, that it is OK to take trophies in a class you should not even be in. That is positively, absolutely wrong. If you cannot win in the most appropriate class for your vehicle, then you simply do not deserve to win. Either make your vehicle more deserving of winning in your class, or prepare for defeat. But don't steal trophies, or votes, from vehicles in another class simply because you think it might be easier to compete there.

You cannot register a Mustang in with Foreigns. So don't register your foreign in another class it does not belong in. The VW did not, and never will, belong in Special Interest, because - and here's a clue - it does not fit the definition! The definition of a class is not a matter of opinion, as some believe. If you have to stretch the imagination to get it to fit, it doesn't fit. Period.

But some people will just never get it. Mostly because they do not want to get it. They like being able to cheat others out of their rightful win, and get angry with me because I catch them at cheating and shame them for it. Too bad. But as my Daddy used to say, stealing a dollar or stealing a million makes no difference, as a thief is still a thief. In that vein, a cheat is still a cheat.

And it never ceases to amaze me what lengths they will go to in order to try and excuse bad behavior.

So, let me make it plain: according to the standards (bear in mind, I did not write the standards), a VW truck belongs FIRST in Foreign (or VW if there is a VW class), SECOND in Trucks, and THIRD in the year class. But it never belongs, under any circumstances, in Special Interest.

And for the record, the same is true of a particular Nova that is not unique and has no theme, and a certain Lincoln Street Rod that muscles its way into Special Interest when it should be in Street Rods, and a certain custom 51 red Ford led sled that often registers in Special Interest. And it goes for a certain 65 Buick Riviera that registers in with the '40's. And a very nice Pontiac with minor blemishes really should not be poaching in Works In Progress. If that is Work In progress, then so is every vehicle on the field. He just saw it as an easy win.

None of them belong in those classes.

Yes, the 51 "Merc" led sled does belong in Special Interest, because it actually is unique - it is not really a 51 Merc, and it is not a Buick, either. But even so, it only belongs in Special Interest when the show does not have a class for Customs, which is what it is, first and foremost.

And, yes, I fully realize that a lot of "old timers" of Maine's shows have their own way of doing things, what with the "Good Ol' Boys" network of voting, and making shows into a personality contest instead of a competition between the vehicles. But that is not how it is done in real shows - the shows that make the news and we would all LOVE to be able to go to, and we sometimes do (Hemmings would be appalled at what goes on in many of our shows). In those shows, the organizers know exactly where your vehicle belongs, and that is exactly where it will go if you want to participate. This is because they want the trophies that they give out to actually be worth something. They know that people come to their shows because their trophies are coveted exactly for that reason.

Maybe some folks around here don't want that sort of legitimacy, and would rather keep shows a "hit or miss" sort of thing where winning depends upon who cheats better, or who knows more people. If so, do nothing, because that is what we have.

But if you want shows that have some value, and awards that actually mean something, then it is time to stand up and MAKE it happen. Because sure as God made little green apples, it ain't gonna happen by itself.

And, yes, you could say that you only go to shows for the "gathering of friends", but you can gather with friends almost anywhere. The purpose of shows is competition. And competition needs to be fair and honest if it is to have a penny's worth of value.

For the record: yesterday I lost, and that is OK because I lost to better vehicles in my class that deserved to be in my class. Today, again, I lost. And again it was OK because I lost to better vehicles that deserved to be in the class (2000's).

But the fellow who owned the Zimmer in Special Interest today has every right to be angry and feel cheated, because he was cheated. He was cheated by vehicles that did not belong in his class (Special Interest), and he was cheated by judges who apparently do not understand that a vehicle out of its class is not supposed to even be considered - they were judging SPECIAL INTEREST - any vehicle in that class that did not fit the definition should not have received any consideration or points. Yet, the judges awarded trophies to TWO vehicles that were not even supposed to be there. In other words, the judges awarded trophies to people who cheated.

And that is why people cheat - they are allowed to get away with it, and can even be rewarded for cheating.

If the people selected as judges do not understand the judging process, do not understand a standard points system, and have not even bothered to learn the definitions of classes, then they have no business being a judge. And if they have personal bias, it must be kept out of their judging.

And for those few "anonymous" folks who always try to turn it around and make it sound like my opinions don't matter because I threaten their cheating, take a note: it is not my opinon. It is fact. If you do not believe it, look it up yourself. Start with looking up the definition of "JUDGE". Any judge, from the little old guy judging pies at the fair, all the way to Supreme Court justices is by definition supposed to 1) understand the process, 2) leave their bias at home, and 3) learn the subject (i.e. the law, car show rules, or whatever they are judging). Not opinion. Fact.

Which raises a question: how does a person with a BICYCLE win first place in the MOTORCYCLE class? A motorcycle, by definition, must have a motor. This was yet another case of improper enforcement of classes, and poor judging. What's next - some old man's walker winning in Customs?

I would take this time to also apologize for a web error on one of my other websites, which included a link to an incorrect page. I do not know who spotted this, but I am glad they brought it to my attention. It seems I had a link that was supposed to go to HotKarz but instead went to someone's Super Garage in HotKarz. That's what happens when too much is done with "copy & paste" in creating HTML. I am always hearing from folks telling me a link doesn't work, or goes to the wrong place, or pix are not coming up. My only excuse is that it takes a lot of time and work to build and update hundreds of web pages, and mistakes get made. Especially at 2 am. I apologize for them all, and any that I am certain will occur in the future. And I apologize for earlier complaints about the link to the Litchfield Best of going, instead, to the Standish Best of. This, too, has been fixed.

Although the owner of that garage wishes anonymity, I will apologize to him personally when next I see him.


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