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I suppose it is nice to see the "museum quality"
restoration. I prefer the type show where they leave the hoods and trunks
shut, and many are in costume for the era of their car, and they bring displays
of period objects like you'd find at a picnic--the toys, the picnic gear,
etc. Get real people, this hobby is about nostalgia. The cars were
not perfect back then, why should they be perfect now? I am a member of a
couple other clubs. One is prominent enought that the General Manager of
the Division shows up annually at the meet, no matter how severe the
recession. 30 years ago, one stated that neither he, nor any of his
predicessors, ever intended to build cars like what we had on the show
field. The prize winning car of 30 years ago probably would not make it through
Tech Inspection today.When that club was considering going from popular vote to
a points system, I listened to 3 people who I would have considered to be
"EXPERTS" argue about what was correct on a specific car, only to have the
owner, who was the original owner, with the papers to prove it, prove all of
them wrong. I decided that Judging was a DUMB IDEA. These are
production machines, made over a relatively long period of time, in many
different locations, with many different suppliers. There is no such thing
as "correct". The dealers had dealer installed options they sold, at great
profit. The base price of the car was a loss leader, it was the options
where the profit came. If you don't believe this, just go to any car
dealer, and see if you can order the basic no options car.
ROTS-O-RUCK!!! If they do take the order, find your own financing, and
don't trade anything, because they'll get even that way.
Leave the judging to the State Fair.
They auction the winners off to Polticians and big corporations. When they
butcher the animals, they find that they are not all that great, but they looked
fine, alive. You come near my car with a jig saw, and you will have a
serious discussion with my associates, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Wesson.
I do not care to look hard enough at
your car to find some fault with it. I'd prefer to look it over, comment
how neat it is, and how I don't know anyone who has one like it, and then
we bend an elbow or something while we shoot the breeze. If you ask me to
help you figure out how to fix a problem, ONLY THEN am I willing to tell
you what I think is wrong. I suppose if I have to jump your battery and I
notice that your terminals are corroded, I'll probably will say something,
but that is about what it would take. I might rag you a little when
I come back with a can of gas, but when your gas gauge says it is empty, maybe
you should believe it.
Let's just enjoy our cars as they are, not as someone else
says they should be. Far too many of THEM know little more than we
do.
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