I do not understand car shows...

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I entered my Z in another big local car show with 300+ cars. And like most TEXAS car shows, it had over 40 categories with which to enter However, for imports you have to settle one of two categories. Old import or New import. Then they are 38+ categories for AMerican cars. Every possible combination of American car has its own class. 1967-1968 Custom Camaro non race car. 1967-1968 camaro original restomod. ETC it goes on and on.

I do not know how these judges quantify the ratings. I have finished 2nd in old import 3 times. I have lost all three times to a 60's VW beetle that has been built from the ground up as a show car. Now I knew once I arrived I was going to lose to this VW. It had perfect paint, perfect seats, you get the picture. However, the amount of traffic between my Z and the VW was 50:1 in my favor. Yes this sounds like sour grapes, and honestly it is. I am whining a bit here!!!

Getting beat by a car that the vast majority of people never stopped to look at is heart wrenching...

Now having said that... let me vent a bit. I have a buddy that has completely rebuilt his 1986 944 turbo. I mean completely, every part straight from Germany. Has 40k original miles and you could eat off the undercarriage. He was in NEW import of course. As that was the only class available for him. Last year he lost to 2011 M6 with dealer plates. Today he came in second to a brand new FRS.

How is it that a car that is 26 years old that has been painstakingly restored to near perfection gets beat by a new car that just pulled up and popped the hood? It would mean that all they look for is cleanliness, and NOTHING else. Hardly fair.

The level of work to prepare that 944 was exponentially greater than just buying an new car and running a duster over it.

THe solution is to have more classes so that a 26 year old car does not have to compete against a brand new car that is completely stock with 35 miles on it.

Besides 'quit whining'

Any advice?

[conedodger]

I quit entering car shows. It worked for me.

But, I feel your pain. Arbitrary. The only 'class' I ever care about is People's Choice...

[Walter Moore]

I entered my Z in another big local car show ... It would mean that all they look for is cleanliness, and NOTHING else. Hardly fair.

Congratulations! You have just discovered the dark secret of car show judging! Have a nice day.

[EScanlon]

It isn't just the Texas shows, it happens everywhere, in just about every state and in just about every category/classification/customization differentiatior you can imagine.

It's depressing to lose to what is obviously a "check-book" car. That obvious "bought for show" car that the guy just received from California in a covered trailer and he's putting it up against cars that were not only driven to the show, but that also see use miles during the year. It then really grates when he gets up on stage and "brags" about the car and it's features as being the most desireable bar none; when it's obvious the guy couldn't let the air out of the tires, let alone effect a restoration.

The show judges may have categories and most importantly trophies for putting cars into, but when you only have a few imports show up, it can be plainly obvious that every one is getting a trophy when your award reads "Japanese Car in Red paint manufactured in the first 6 months of 1971".

Then you have the other extreme, where you simply call your award category "70's Import Sports Cars", and you now have someone complain that a De Tomaso Pantera should NOT be considered in the same vein as a Z because of their original MSRP, even though they're both "Sports Cars" from the 70's.

Show organizers are constantly fighting that battle: Do we have a LOT of awards, so that everyone (or the majority) wins one? or Do we only have a few trophies and that way those who win it will have won a really contested award?

The first will get you branded as a "shoo-in" show (everyone gets a trophy), and the second has them grumbling that only "those in the know" or who are "connected" win.

But the award you obviously won today was People's Choice. And that award is one of the more contentious for the promoter.

So, welcome to the Show world, where you are surprised at what people will do for a cheap tube of plastic with flashy metallic highlights. I'm not putting down the awards that are given for well deserved and dedicated effort (you don't get a gold medallion just for showing up), but more for the shows that hand out cryptic "Top Winner" awards to just about every car that enters. Typically these are your newer shows who have to give out a lot in order to get participants to register.

Both my cars have received enough awards that I could probably donate them to a new and starting show and sponsoring their complete first year hand out of. But anymore I go for the camarederie between the owners, and register only when I have to in order to be in the same area. If I don't, I'm comfortable parking in the "riff-raff" area and drawing people there.

FWIW

E

PS: One of the sayings the ISCA judges like to bandy back and forth is: "If you got into the car shows for the trophies, then save yourself a LOT of mental grief and money expensed and go to your local trophy shop and have your own trophy custom made. You'll be happier."

[gnosez]

As a judge, the question I always ask folks that are so concerned about winning a car show trophy is this - how much does the trophy cost? I then offer to hand them the price of a trophy and tell them to go buy one if it's that important to them. Cruel? Yes. Honest? Yes. If you need someone else to vindicate your own opinion that your vehicle is the best one there, you're just asking to be hurt.

As to a dark secret that the best car doesn't always win is and can be true in more cases than most, I would have to say that for the past 12 years at the annual Z conventions, the best cars actually won. So if you want to win at car shows that aren't Z-centric you going to have to have the best dam resto or a wildly modified Z to garnish attention and interest. Other that that, either stop entering your Z or stop whining cause it's at best a $50. fuzking trophy.

And last year my 240 took second place to a 1956 VW Bug, original owner's son, that was totally un-restored and had all the wear marks of a well used and loved vehicle. I voted for the VW and it turns out he voted for mine. That VW wasn't pretty or clean but it was a wonderful survivor that was still driven and enjoyed.

[72 OJ]

It never cross my mind to sit beside a car and have people asking questions , but it did. I came to the hobby some 5 yrs ago, 510's , had a super nice 4 dr , for a while till I blew the motor and sold it . Got a time capsule Orange 510 2 dr with period mods and the Z bug bit me. Hunted for a Cali Z for close to a year, then traded two cars for my current Z. She is a "SUPER CAR'' the work done is worth showing her. So I have entered her in local established car shows. My advice, go there with a humble attitude , lost of trailer queens there and cars detailed to the max , yours is just one more. My experience this past spring/ summer was great. yes I washed and wax her for the event but in no way to the level as most in the show. Went to 3 events and Z-VETTE got the attention from the judging panels in these categories : TOP 50 in a show with over 300 cars, Best Import Modified, and Nicest Foreign..............

Edited October 21, 2012 by 72 OJ

[tlorber]

"Ya know what really grinds my gears...?"

The statements above are testimonials to why these cars are for driving. I love my Z but it Is just not that exotic. One's validation should come from the feel of the car on the road, not from the accolades of others.

[Bonzi Lon]

As a teenager I would pit crew for a small town drag racer where the winner got some cash and trophies to the runners up. He always had a saying about that, "It takes he++ of a lot of salt & pepper to make those trophies taste good." I've never forgot it. I know car shows do not give out cash, but the statement still holds true. Its all for fun and the love of being there. Sometimes you meet someone famous which makes it all that more special than winning something that sits on the shelf and collects dust. My drag racer's wife HATED all those trophies because OF the dust. The 2 trophies I have won so far are now covered in dust, no wife to complain though. hehe

Bonzi Lon

[grannyknot]

I still go to cars shows because they are a lot of fun, but I don't enter into the contest anymore. Too frustrating and ultimately self-defeating. I have my own windshield card I made up, it doesn't have my name on it just a few facts about the car for anyone that might be interested. I get to check out all the hard work other guys have done and chat, have a hotdog and leave when I've seen everything. It works for me.

Chris

[240260280z]

Stephen, time to make a trailer queen!

Since your street car looks so great, I can imagine what your show car would look like.

Fight fire with fire! Maybe do a purpose built 2000 roadster as it has the "cute" factor that can do battle with the cuteness of a beetle.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

You guys are absolutely right.

I was having the best day talking Z cars for hours and I should focus on that next time.

Gosh I hate trailer queen VW bugs.

It could have been worse.

There was such a nice little guy who painstakingly restored his grandmas late 70's Ford Granada four door fown to the chassis

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder

[72 OJ]

Here another trophy..............