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?
/
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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.
/
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.
/
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)
/
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)
/
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.
/
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.
/
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...
/
So, for the skeptics, I have provided pictures of some corn, just picked from my garden - stalk and all. You decide...
/
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".
/
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".
/
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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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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