While I have never been to any Acton show, based on the letters I have been receiving I doubt I ever will. Here is just one example of the letters that have come in:
"This was my first trip to the Acton Car Show. As far as a first impression, it was very confusing. There was no rime of reason for the parking of show cars. There were no classes and as far as trophies, well that seemed a story all of it's own. Seems they had some folks walking around and picking out cars to get a trophy. No first, second, or third place in any class, just a call out on the mic of your name and what you had for a car and for you to come get a trophy???"
While the Acton folks can certainly run their show any way they choose, it really does not sound like the sort of event that would be of any interest to me, as far as the show, itself, is concerned. I like a little organization.
One commenter states that the Acton show simply used an Open Field judging system that many folks do not understand - all vehicles on the field compete with every other vehicle. That is all well and good, and most seasoned show-goers understand that. But it leaves the door open to the question of the judging - are the judges actually qualified, and what makes them qualified? Did they check out ALL the vehicles, or just gravitate toward the styles they personally like? Are they locals, voting mostly for locals? From the sound of the letters I have received, these are valid questions that are as yet unanswered.
I don't have a problem with an open field system - it is what I am used to, having lived in the larger metro areas of Atlanta, New York (White Plains), Phoenix (actually, Sedona) and Long Beach. However, the system should never, ever be used except when truly qualified, unbiased judges are available, and they use a valid points system and give every vehicle a thorough going over. Otherwise, it is just a sham.
I do not know the answers to those questions as far as Acton is concerned - it is for the attendees, themselves, to determine.
If you attended the Acton show and wish to post an opposing view, feel free to send the details and I would be happy to post.
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
OOB registration
Someone who sounds like they are with the OOB show, presumably, commented that the OOB price increase is because of increased costs, and is indicative of other shows. While I do not doubt the increase in costs associated with shows, it seems well out-of-line with most shows in the area - most do well enough with a mere $5 fee - some stretch it to $10. But $15 is absurd - I know of no other similar show that charges that much. It reminds me of the government's method of dealing with income vs expenses. In Government, their answer is never to find ways to cut costs, but to increase revenues.
A businessman does the opposite. Over the last 18 years of running my own business, I have never once had to increase prices because I look for ways to become more efficient and cut costs. I think OOB could do the same if the desire was there. For example, they are old enough and big enough to not have to advertise as much anymore, and much of their advertising can be done free, as it is on HotKarz.com, which reaches most of the car buffs in the area. And they can develop other income streams by incorporating things like a silent auction. There is no need to milk the very people who make the show possible - the car folks.
But more to the point is the simple fact that OOB has chosen to increase its fees substantially AND reduce the number of trophies by 33%. Together, I find that to be nothing more than greed, making more money on both ends. If they keep that up, their show will become a lesser show and maybe even eventually die out, as the folks will begin to feel "used" and choose not to attend. I, myself, am having second thoughts about attending. And I have heard the same from several others.
I understand that folks can still get in for $10 if they pre-register. But many will not, because in years past they paid to pre-register, and OOB refused to give back the money when the show got rained out and some participants could not attend on the rain date. So, OOB cut their own throat on that issue. Other shows will either let you pre-register without pre-paying, or will reimburse you if the show gets canceled or postponed and you cannot attend on the new date.
I think OOB should give serious thought to the unintended consequences before they do things that will make their show less relevant, and less "participant friendly". Certainly, they need to cover costs. But you cannot cover costs if the folks stop coming.
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A businessman does the opposite. Over the last 18 years of running my own business, I have never once had to increase prices because I look for ways to become more efficient and cut costs. I think OOB could do the same if the desire was there. For example, they are old enough and big enough to not have to advertise as much anymore, and much of their advertising can be done free, as it is on HotKarz.com, which reaches most of the car buffs in the area. And they can develop other income streams by incorporating things like a silent auction. There is no need to milk the very people who make the show possible - the car folks.
But more to the point is the simple fact that OOB has chosen to increase its fees substantially AND reduce the number of trophies by 33%. Together, I find that to be nothing more than greed, making more money on both ends. If they keep that up, their show will become a lesser show and maybe even eventually die out, as the folks will begin to feel "used" and choose not to attend. I, myself, am having second thoughts about attending. And I have heard the same from several others.
I understand that folks can still get in for $10 if they pre-register. But many will not, because in years past they paid to pre-register, and OOB refused to give back the money when the show got rained out and some participants could not attend on the rain date. So, OOB cut their own throat on that issue. Other shows will either let you pre-register without pre-paying, or will reimburse you if the show gets canceled or postponed and you cannot attend on the new date.
I think OOB should give serious thought to the unintended consequences before they do things that will make their show less relevant, and less "participant friendly". Certainly, they need to cover costs. But you cannot cover costs if the folks stop coming.
/
Monday, July 20, 2009
Let Us Pray...
We have a really fun weekend coming up, provided the weather cooperates, so let's all hope and pray for fair weather.
On Saturday, the Gorham Lion's Club show, which received a lot of letters of praise last year. This is only their second show, but we expect it to be at least as good as their first.
On Sunday, we are looking forward to the Mackworth Island show. Had a great time there last year, and enjoyed walking the coastline along the wooded trails.
For those of you who are a bit further north, the Belgrade show is also this weekend, as are shows in Bucksport, Calais and Corinth. While it is true they got slammed by many last year, the organizer assures me they have taken steps to improve, and I trust things may go better this year. For those of you who do attend Belgrade, please let us all know your comments on it.
Meanwhile, I'm planning on Gorham and Mackworth because they are reasonably close to home and both are great little shows.
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On Saturday, the Gorham Lion's Club show, which received a lot of letters of praise last year. This is only their second show, but we expect it to be at least as good as their first.
On Sunday, we are looking forward to the Mackworth Island show. Had a great time there last year, and enjoyed walking the coastline along the wooded trails.
For those of you who are a bit further north, the Belgrade show is also this weekend, as are shows in Bucksport, Calais and Corinth. While it is true they got slammed by many last year, the organizer assures me they have taken steps to improve, and I trust things may go better this year. For those of you who do attend Belgrade, please let us all know your comments on it.
Meanwhile, I'm planning on Gorham and Mackworth because they are reasonably close to home and both are great little shows.
/
Best of the Best
I got a call today from an individual who took a 1st place at a show, but we are not allowing anyone to cast votes for him.
So, for the benefit of all, I will explain.
He did not stick around to have his picture taken with his vehicle and provide us with his name & info. So, his pic could not be included in the "Best Of" line-up for that show. If his vehicle does not appear in the line-up, people cannot legitimately vote for his car.
I explained to him that this is not a personality contest, where people vote for the person. Instead, it is a contest of the VEHICLES - which ones are the best. People should be voting for the vehicles, and that is why it is essential to have your picture (with your vehicle) entered in the line-up.
If your vehicle does not appear in the line-up, and someone votes for you, anyway, they are not voting for the vehicle - they are voting for the person. And that is not what this is about.
I realize that there will always be those who vote the "buddy system", regardless (and I find that disturbing, since it is dishonest). That cannot be stopped. But we CAN reduce it as much as possible, and one way to do so is to disqualify any winner who does not stick around to get into the line-up.
So, as we have been saying at every show we have attended, if you are a 1st place winner and want to be eligible for the "Best of the Best" awards, stick around after the awards and get in the line-up for your pic to be taken. If you choose not to, that is fine, but you then become ineligible for votes (for that show).
Any questions - just ask.
Now, someone else asked if they could provide pix & info of 1st place winners at shows HotKarz does NOT attend, if they would be eligible. The answer to that is "YES", provided you provide the pix (winner & vehicle) and info (owner's name & make/model/year of vehicle) even if you are not among the winners, and provided you get the MC to let you advertise it, as you have seen me do, over the PA system. If you give every 1st place winner the opportunity to join the line-up, and provide the pix and info, I will post them and folks can vote. Just make absolutely certain that you provide the names & info in the SAME ORDER as the pictures you took, so the correct info can be posted with each vehicle.
/
So, for the benefit of all, I will explain.
He did not stick around to have his picture taken with his vehicle and provide us with his name & info. So, his pic could not be included in the "Best Of" line-up for that show. If his vehicle does not appear in the line-up, people cannot legitimately vote for his car.
I explained to him that this is not a personality contest, where people vote for the person. Instead, it is a contest of the VEHICLES - which ones are the best. People should be voting for the vehicles, and that is why it is essential to have your picture (with your vehicle) entered in the line-up.
If your vehicle does not appear in the line-up, and someone votes for you, anyway, they are not voting for the vehicle - they are voting for the person. And that is not what this is about.
I realize that there will always be those who vote the "buddy system", regardless (and I find that disturbing, since it is dishonest). That cannot be stopped. But we CAN reduce it as much as possible, and one way to do so is to disqualify any winner who does not stick around to get into the line-up.
So, as we have been saying at every show we have attended, if you are a 1st place winner and want to be eligible for the "Best of the Best" awards, stick around after the awards and get in the line-up for your pic to be taken. If you choose not to, that is fine, but you then become ineligible for votes (for that show).
Any questions - just ask.
Now, someone else asked if they could provide pix & info of 1st place winners at shows HotKarz does NOT attend, if they would be eligible. The answer to that is "YES", provided you provide the pix (winner & vehicle) and info (owner's name & make/model/year of vehicle) even if you are not among the winners, and provided you get the MC to let you advertise it, as you have seen me do, over the PA system. If you give every 1st place winner the opportunity to join the line-up, and provide the pix and info, I will post them and folks can vote. Just make absolutely certain that you provide the names & info in the SAME ORDER as the pictures you took, so the correct info can be posted with each vehicle.
/
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Mo' Stuff
Darned if I didn't again miss the Bahre Collection. Somethin' always comes up.
Got a few pix of the Searsport Show up in the gallery, courtesy of Connie Peacock.
Well, at least I finally got that woodchuck - I gave him a choice: either a trap from Hav-a-Hart or bullet from Remington. He chose the trap. Lord, he weighed a lot - must have been all those good veggies he got from my garden.
Put him in the truck and carted him a long ways away.
Where did I drop him off? At your place, of course.
Actually, I took him to a secluded spot out in the hinterlands where I go blueberry pickin'. Used the opportunity to pick a gallon, and I made enough blueberry jam to get us through the winter. Or so I thought - the way Robin is wolfing it down on buttered toast, it may not last to Labor Day!
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Got a few pix of the Searsport Show up in the gallery, courtesy of Connie Peacock.
Well, at least I finally got that woodchuck - I gave him a choice: either a trap from Hav-a-Hart or bullet from Remington. He chose the trap. Lord, he weighed a lot - must have been all those good veggies he got from my garden.
Put him in the truck and carted him a long ways away.
Where did I drop him off? At your place, of course.
Actually, I took him to a secluded spot out in the hinterlands where I go blueberry pickin'. Used the opportunity to pick a gallon, and I made enough blueberry jam to get us through the winter. Or so I thought - the way Robin is wolfing it down on buttered toast, it may not last to Labor Day!
/
New Cruise-In (NH)
Broken Spoke Saloon, every Thursday starting July 23rd, 6-8pm. Location: Weirs Beach (at the crossroads, rte 3, near Funspot). All cars, trucks, motorcycles welcome. Food & drink at the saloon.
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Stuff
Fred Gordon has a 350 LT1 engine for sale, from a police cruiser. Check it out (with pic) in the HotKarz classifieds.
We have a new "Featured Vehicle" - it's a fine '58 Chevy Fleetside owned by Ron Cobb. Check it out.
The Acton show ans Swap Meet is on Sunday, and the weather looks like it will accommodate. Unfortunately, prior committments will not allow me to attend :o(
Don't forget the Gorham Lion's Club show in Gorham next weekend - they did a super job on their first show last year, so don't miss it. It's a nice show.
I'll be posting pix of the Searsport Antique Vehicle Show shortly, courtesy of Connie Peacock - stay tuned.
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We have a new "Featured Vehicle" - it's a fine '58 Chevy Fleetside owned by Ron Cobb. Check it out.
The Acton show ans Swap Meet is on Sunday, and the weather looks like it will accommodate. Unfortunately, prior committments will not allow me to attend :o(
Don't forget the Gorham Lion's Club show in Gorham next weekend - they did a super job on their first show last year, so don't miss it. It's a nice show.
I'll be posting pix of the Searsport Antique Vehicle Show shortly, courtesy of Connie Peacock - stay tuned.
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