I have entered my 69' Buick Electra into a few local car shows and i'm rather dissappointed in the way the judges judge the cars. I don't mind that i don't win anything cause i just like to show the car off. I had to judge the 1941'-1950' Class Cars, i was rather impressed with the fact that there was a 1950 Dodge there that was 90% original right down to the paint. The other one was a 1947 Plymouth with painted bumpers and poor paint job along with poor body work so in my mind the 1950 was the better car No contest! Boy was i wrong when they handed out the trophies the 47' had won that class. Now what i'm asking you is if you were a judge, would you base your descision on the quality of the car ? or the fact that they put there time and effort into restoring the car to it's present condition being poor or excellent ? o No: What do you think ?
My experience is that many local car shows put on by local car clubs are very political. Friends giving friends trophies. Perhaps the guy with the painted bumpers was "in" the clique? The only truly impartial judge is one without any friends in the show, and we all know the chances of that. Don't feel bad, you aren't the first and only guy with that gripe! :spank:
Car show Judging I agree with you the quality of the car and the workmenship,and originality is what the car should be judged on. I was a Judge at our Big car show last year and it is not an easy job we had over 547 cars and most of them are trailed show cars very hard to judge somtimes you even have to judge on the detailing of the car, just plain dirt seen anywhere can be the only thing you can use to determine one car being better than another. Hope this helps Jim guess I should brag a little My 1972 Buick skylark Finally got a !st Place in Street Machine Class this weekend.
In this neck of the woods there are a lot of cars that come out of Montreal Canada and when there around the people flock to these cars due to the fact that they like to put loads of money into there cars. There was a Black 55'Pontiac that was incredible when it came to an all around car and he didn't even get a trophy. The frame alone was better than any car at the show. I'm going to detail the engine bay in my Electra before next year just to see if it'll atract any attention. Nothing but "BLING" "BLING" Sunglass material. Waste of time really, Engine bay already looks good. I'll get pix's tommorrow and post them.
Jarrod, I'm telling you from experience that the only a Buick can compete out there is with an exceptionally detailed engine compartment.........I'm talking detailing everything. I didn't win much at all until I did that and still I'm at a disadvantage when the Hemi's and the GTO's are in my class. They can be less than perfect and still win but a Buick can not. Keep it all completely stock, all the chrome in the world won't do you any good unless you drive a Chevy. If you don't have a blasting cabinet, get one and detail each part one at a time. Be careful with the grit, the best way to do it is to dissassemble the part first that way you can be sure no grit gets inside.........the wiper motor is the most difficult. I found this great paint in Pep Boys called "steel wheels"........it looks like bare steel and works great on hose couplings and looks so much like bare steel when you spray it on bare steel you can't tell the difference. It is urethane based so it is gas resistant. You can use brush rust oleum flat black on your firewall. I don't know how far you are so far, but I can give you more suggestions if you need them. :bglasses:
The only car show you have a fair chance on are the ones organized by "brand" rather than "cruisin'" clubs. Those two cars you mentioned shouldn't have even been in the same class. Painted bumpers is a "modified" to me, the other sounds stock....
my line of selection is as jim states . i look for detailing and originality under the hood . chrome under the hood & aftermarket breathers and high gloss black paint on firewalls & fender lines do not cut it with me unless u are judging modified classes . i have no problem with upgraded brakes or tires . i want to see original wheels and rechromed bumpers . i want detail in passenger compartment - cleanliness & originality , no rips or tears . i have no problem with the addition of gauges & tachs (i believe them to be a necessity) , if they are tastefully installed . what it really boils down to is common sense !
I believe many car show participants have the wrong expectations when they go to a particular local car show. Many shows are nothing more than a "show and shine" with local judges. Local judges "usually" have little or no knowlege of any car other than what they own. Sure, they may know "clean and pretty" however that is it! Therefore, that is how the judges rate the cars. I believe the above problem is brought about by the show's promoter who rarely, if ever, make any mention of the "parameter" under which judging will be conducted. If it's the prettiest car wins, so be it. Do not expect to bring a GS Nationals concours correct 60's Buick and leave with anything but satisfaction that you were at the show! This type of show is not the place for you if winning is important. If winning at local shows is important, then chrome and shine is where it's at. If restored "correct" is your bag, look for "marque specific" show that is unique to your car's brand and model type. I personally find "unrestored original" cars of any make/model to be of great interest since this type of vehicle is so rare today. I will pass most everything else at a show to look at this type of car. Restored or custom cars are everywhere! Let's face it, how many restored Camaro's, Corvettes or Chevelle's have you seen? My personal favorite at a recent local show was a superb, unrestored RAMBLER! It was a 69 Rambler Scrambler! Unique, rare and in superb condition. Needless to say, it won NOTHING!
Sorry about the confusion when i was talking "BLING" i was refering to shine "glossy" i guess i kinda got the "BLING" thing screwed up. I personally don't like chrome under the hood of a car unless i'm trying to sell it to some teenanger. Mike winning is furthest thing from my mind when it comes to these shows i only enter my car so i can judge the cars in another class. In hopes to let a true show winner shine through. But my efforts go unnoticed. I'm just glad to show off my Unrestored 69' Buick.
Jarrod, I think Mike has a good point on the cars. Some of it is political and some of it is just what people like. I have been judging with the BCA for over 25 years and everything goes. They went with a really strict 400 point judging system which they are still modifying but the one point is that they have people judge cars that they don't know. That is a problem. A piece of paper on telling you what to look for will never replace knowledge of a personal car but that is what they went to. I have judged 100 point CCCA and original BCA systems and the 400 point system I will go with the experienced people any day of the week. I have a 64 Riviera with 56K and only one a trophy once. Original does not mean folks know what they are looking at. There are a lot of cars out there that are suppose to be original but are not. Your car is probably like my 64... original, nice and correct but with some wear won't win the big award... who cares! Enjoy the car and shiny does not mean correct. I do have a original 1950 Dodge Wayfarer 2 dr with 50k, my grandmothers car with the original everything... never won an award... but I don't care. It is really neat. Just my 2 cents. Best Regards, Ed Gunyo, BCA 7155, ROA 101 GMCCA 4, with a 1950 Dodge in the stable.
Sometimes the most deserving cars just never win anything. Just remember, you have won.........you own it. :bglasses:
Hi Ed!! It's Steve from the Riv board.. Glad to see you here at v8Buick!! Hey, Jarrod, how ya been? Guys, don't sweat it. Today I lost to a 66 falcon 4 dr/ 6 cyl. with a big...and I mean BIG dent in the rear quarter!! 1 whitewall and 3 blackwalls!! I was apprehensive about parking next to it. Go figure...
Looks like you got some great detail going on there, Steve! Is that your car in the picture? Looks great!:TU:
There's a local car show every Memorial weekend in the small town I live in. I didn't hang around for the judging this year, but last year they awarded a Dodge Neon as "best import." I think those were the same judges that are now assigned to Olympic gymnastics. Seriously though, here's what really gets me: people from the Seattle area that trailer their cars into a small town in central Washington to grab up trophies for their high-dollar cars. The local kids who work all year on their cars in anticipation of the car show don't stand a chance.
Yes, it's amazing what some people will do for a trophy. Go to an average car show and just observe: The High-Pressure salesman that "sells' his car to the judge with force and pressure. The gimmick freak with dolls, moving gee-gaws The guy that puts every other car down so his car looks better to im or somebody else Notice the people that are willing to drive for miles and pay registration to "win" a trophy. Some of these events the person could buy a nicer trophy with their registration fee. My pet peeve: having to pay to be in a show that offers nothing in return except maybe some cheezy trophy. No entertainment (family or otherwise) or anything. Something rubs me wrong when I pay to park my car on the street so others can either enjoy it or criticize it. Many of these events just aren't about people enjoying something they have in common anymore. Anybody remember the days of sparkplug changing contests and such, or other events for young and old kids? I grew up in those days.
430-4 engine bay Here's a picture of my engine bay in my 69' Electra. I had to touch up a few things, but looks good in my book. I was suprised how the paint looked after taking off all that grease and sludge.
Geez, looks real good jarrod...What is that chrome tube running alongside the drivers V cover?? Steve
