Received the following email from Norm, of the Gorham Lions Club, concerning their great little show:
"Good morning Bill ,read with great interest your blog on yesterday show , couple of changes were made this year to reduce classes but I guess that just complicated the works, last year there was little or no interest in trucks both mini and full size so we grouped them together reducing the classes by two but there was a request to add commercial units and they were to be behind the school but none showed that was the second group you mention. We also grouped the camaros and firebirds together for same reason and dropped restoration in progress as there were little or no interest last year, sooner or later we may get it right. As for the block voting we were advised of that but there is little we can do about that. We did discover some class jumping but it was after the voting had started so it was two late to do anything about it except cause some commotions which we did not need...As for the old stock cars the owners had inquired if they could be there but we had no spot for them they made a issue of paying since they were not in the running I am guessing they were not above board with our registration folks and I believe those vehicle came in a trailer so could not be seen by our spotters. Please be easy with us we are Lions not cars owners and our purpose is raise fund for our local community projects. We trust those who attend many of these events to be honest with us but I guess we need to be on guard. Thanks for you comments we will try to address those items if we can."
Thank you for the clarification, Norm. We all realize this is a bit new to you, and that there are some things out of anyone's control. You did a fine job overall. A lot of shows that have been around for years could learn a thing or two from you guys.
/
Sunday, July 26, 2009
A Nemesis Defeated
Having a large piece of land in the great state of Maine, we are plagued every summer with hordes of voracious deerflies and horseflies. It always made outdoor work a real pain, literally.
Out of desperation, I tried a product called TRED-NOT, a sticky patch that you affix to the back of your hat.
Here is the result of a short test walking out to our first field and back - about a 10 minute walk.
If you are pestered with biting flies, I highly recommend these inexpensive patches. I found them online at http://www.biconet.com/traps/deerflyPatch.html
Bill
/
Out of desperation, I tried a product called TRED-NOT, a sticky patch that you affix to the back of your hat.
Here is the result of a short test walking out to our first field and back - about a 10 minute walk.
If you are pestered with biting flies, I highly recommend these inexpensive patches. I found them online at http://www.biconet.com/traps/deerflyPatch.html
Bill
/
Mackworth Island
Pix of the Mackworth show & winners are up in the Gallery, Winner's Circle and the Best Of... areas of HotKarz.
When we awoke this morning, we debated whether or not we would trek out to the Island - the rain was coming down hard in Limington (of course it was - it ALWAYS is).
But we took a chance and headed out. To our surprise, the weather at the Island was not that bad - a few sprinkles here and there, but only immediately after drying off the cars. When we stopped trying to dry the cars, the rain stopped altogether.
But the weather did keep a lot of folks away, unfortunately. But those intrepid souls who did attend were treated to the customary hospitality of the good folks who host the show to benefit Baxter School for the Deaf.
Ah-h-h, a fresh cup-a-joe first thing. And homemade apple pies.
Like last year, we strolled around the island trail, along the coast - a real treat for us landlubbers.
Although there were only 12 classes, they were well-defined, and every vehicle was able to find its proper place.
All in all, the show was rather flawless. We'll be back next year!
/
When we awoke this morning, we debated whether or not we would trek out to the Island - the rain was coming down hard in Limington (of course it was - it ALWAYS is).
But we took a chance and headed out. To our surprise, the weather at the Island was not that bad - a few sprinkles here and there, but only immediately after drying off the cars. When we stopped trying to dry the cars, the rain stopped altogether.
But the weather did keep a lot of folks away, unfortunately. But those intrepid souls who did attend were treated to the customary hospitality of the good folks who host the show to benefit Baxter School for the Deaf.
Ah-h-h, a fresh cup-a-joe first thing. And homemade apple pies.
Like last year, we strolled around the island trail, along the coast - a real treat for us landlubbers.
Although there were only 12 classes, they were well-defined, and every vehicle was able to find its proper place.
All in all, the show was rather flawless. We'll be back next year!
/
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Galleries - Gorham
All the picture galleries of the Gorham Show are now posted on HotKarz - Winner's Circle, the Show Gallery and the Best of...
Enjoy!
/
Enjoy!
/
Gorham Lions Show
Another good show by the Gorham Lions Club. But not without some discrepancies and disappointments.
The weather held - actually got hot. And everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Of the disappointments, only two can be laid at the feet of the hosts:
1) they failed to enforce the classes, and
2) at least one class was way over-stuffed
As for the former, they had a "foreign class" and a "VW class", yet a mini cooper and a VW were not to be found in either - they headed, instead, to Special Interest, as did a nearly stock '59 Chevy and a nearly stock (but my-t-fine) Nova. In the case of the Mini Cooper, he knew better - at first, he drove down to the foreign class, but when he saw how tough the competition was in that class, he jumped class to Special Interest, where he was able to literally steal 1st place. The Lions should not have permitted that. As for the owner of that car, he showed a lack of honesty, integrity and self-respect. If the trophy meant so much to him that he was willing to cheat to get it, then I hope he enjoys it. But he must know that he certainly did not earn it.
Altogether, there were 4 vehicles in Special Interest that did not belong there - and even worse, people voted for them, and two of them won. One TRUE special interest was a home-built electric car. He would have been the legitimate winner in a fair vote. But he did not even place, because cheaters took the awards home. And I find that reprehensible. We can only hope that sometime in the near future "the folks" will get the message that a vehicle out of its class does not deserve any votes at all. Only then will we achieve a place where the classes will be honest and respected. Until then, we will have something less. Here's a tip - if voting on the best doughnut, don't vote for a cookie. If it is out of its legitimate class, ignore it!
The latter problem - overstuffed class - was TRUCKS. There was only one class for all 2X and 4X trucks. That resulted in a huge class, where people were trying to compete with others that simply were not even in the same class. And that is as unfortunate as allowing class-jumping.
As an aside, a couple of classes were split - there we Special Interest vehicles in the Special Interest area and others in the area behind the trucks, a couple hundred feet away. And the mini-trucks were also split in different areas. This makes it difficult to vote in classes that are not "together".
With any luck, the Lions, who were perfect hosts, will divide the trucks up a bit next year, and will take a more active role in enforcing the classes. Then, instead of having a very good show, they would have a near perfect one.
There was one other great disappointment, but one over which the Lions had no control: "Buddy System" block voting. I noticed that a certain large group of participants used their collective power as a group to sway the results for their buddies in certain classes by voting as a block. That is just as reprehensible and dishonest as class jumping. It amounts to "rigging" the results. They know who they are. And now they know that I know. And like the class jumpers, if they want trophies that badly, then may they enjoy them - but they did not EARN them.
There is nothing anyone can do about abuse of the "buddy system" of voting. But we do not have to do anything about it, because eventually each of us ends up answering for everything we have ever done. And they will get their just desserts. Until then, we can find some solice in the fact that most of us are better than that. And when we see it happening, we can let them know that we disapprove.
/
The weather held - actually got hot. And everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Of the disappointments, only two can be laid at the feet of the hosts:
1) they failed to enforce the classes, and
2) at least one class was way over-stuffed
As for the former, they had a "foreign class" and a "VW class", yet a mini cooper and a VW were not to be found in either - they headed, instead, to Special Interest, as did a nearly stock '59 Chevy and a nearly stock (but my-t-fine) Nova. In the case of the Mini Cooper, he knew better - at first, he drove down to the foreign class, but when he saw how tough the competition was in that class, he jumped class to Special Interest, where he was able to literally steal 1st place. The Lions should not have permitted that. As for the owner of that car, he showed a lack of honesty, integrity and self-respect. If the trophy meant so much to him that he was willing to cheat to get it, then I hope he enjoys it. But he must know that he certainly did not earn it.
Altogether, there were 4 vehicles in Special Interest that did not belong there - and even worse, people voted for them, and two of them won. One TRUE special interest was a home-built electric car. He would have been the legitimate winner in a fair vote. But he did not even place, because cheaters took the awards home. And I find that reprehensible. We can only hope that sometime in the near future "the folks" will get the message that a vehicle out of its class does not deserve any votes at all. Only then will we achieve a place where the classes will be honest and respected. Until then, we will have something less. Here's a tip - if voting on the best doughnut, don't vote for a cookie. If it is out of its legitimate class, ignore it!
The latter problem - overstuffed class - was TRUCKS. There was only one class for all 2X and 4X trucks. That resulted in a huge class, where people were trying to compete with others that simply were not even in the same class. And that is as unfortunate as allowing class-jumping.
As an aside, a couple of classes were split - there we Special Interest vehicles in the Special Interest area and others in the area behind the trucks, a couple hundred feet away. And the mini-trucks were also split in different areas. This makes it difficult to vote in classes that are not "together".
With any luck, the Lions, who were perfect hosts, will divide the trucks up a bit next year, and will take a more active role in enforcing the classes. Then, instead of having a very good show, they would have a near perfect one.
There was one other great disappointment, but one over which the Lions had no control: "Buddy System" block voting. I noticed that a certain large group of participants used their collective power as a group to sway the results for their buddies in certain classes by voting as a block. That is just as reprehensible and dishonest as class jumping. It amounts to "rigging" the results. They know who they are. And now they know that I know. And like the class jumpers, if they want trophies that badly, then may they enjoy them - but they did not EARN them.
There is nothing anyone can do about abuse of the "buddy system" of voting. But we do not have to do anything about it, because eventually each of us ends up answering for everything we have ever done. And they will get their just desserts. Until then, we can find some solice in the fact that most of us are better than that. And when we see it happening, we can let them know that we disapprove.
/
Thursday, July 23, 2009
More on Acton
Received another letter concerning the Acton "Show":
"Sir Bill , I went over to the acton show , no it was a big cruise-in , Yes a guy ran by me and my car with a piece of paper with # s on it, never gave a look, these were the cars who would receive a door prize. They could just draw #s out of a hat and save all that running around . I hope they leave the gate open to the big apple so I can get a coffee and a hot dog with onions, that would be a good. They should hay or mow the feild , lots of bugs and fire risk,
ya it was a cruise-in. What happened to posting letters about show like you did last year? I liked that. Thanks Alan"
The LETTERS pages take a lot of time to do, and I have been busy this year. I hope to return to that format next season. For now, readers can either post their own in the COMMENTS link under each post, or send me an email and I will post it in the blog.
Bill
/
"Sir Bill , I went over to the acton show , no it was a big cruise-in , Yes a guy ran by me and my car with a piece of paper with # s on it, never gave a look, these were the cars who would receive a door prize. They could just draw #s out of a hat and save all that running around . I hope they leave the gate open to the big apple so I can get a coffee and a hot dog with onions, that would be a good. They should hay or mow the feild , lots of bugs and fire risk,
ya it was a cruise-in. What happened to posting letters about show like you did last year? I liked that. Thanks Alan"
The LETTERS pages take a lot of time to do, and I have been busy this year. I hope to return to that format next season. For now, readers can either post their own in the COMMENTS link under each post, or send me an email and I will post it in the blog.
Bill
/
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Standish Kiwanis Show; Panera Bread
The 3rd Annual Standish Kiwanis Beach Car Show is scheduled for August 8. We have posted all the info on the Events page along with the list of classes. Everyone had a great time last year, and I do not doubt it will be more of the same this year. And bring the family - the beach is open FREE all day.
And Charles Scribner reports that beginning August 5th, the cruise-in at Panera Bread (Biddeford Crossing Mall, Alfred Road) will be EVERY Wednesday instead of every other.
/
And Charles Scribner reports that beginning August 5th, the cruise-in at Panera Bread (Biddeford Crossing Mall, Alfred Road) will be EVERY Wednesday instead of every other.
/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)