<VV> Re: Concours vs. Car Display

[Gary Swiatowy]

Jeff, the vent window has been the downfall of many a Concours participant 
for many a year. Especially when replacement vent window handles were not 
available. In any event it is a fraction of a point, the finger wagging was 
uncalled for, but maybe he assumed you knew the old inside joke that like 
90% of us get dinged for that. Mine are now new, but I more than made up for 
that this year by forgetting to plug in my electric clock! (I leave it 
unplugged so it works for concours).
We all miss a bug or 2, or 50. Either on the antenna, or on a wiper arm or 
under a bumper.
The thing about Concours is that everyone is judged on the same criteria, so 
it is a great equalizer...........
Back when my car was fresh, I scored in the 93's, not quite gold, but 
obtainable, but I drive mine and it is now a Bronze car and I am happy with 
the fact I still maintain that ranking.
It's not something for me to obsess about, I enjoy participating, and 
reading my judging sheets to see where I have done well, and where not so 
well.
You should have stuck with it at least once, just for the 
score...............It really is worth the time. And to me, even a bronze is 
an honor...................
Gary Swiatowy


> From: Jeff Clark <markii56 at yahoo.com>
> Okay, I've been biting my tongue for THREE YEARS on
> this one:
>
> There's been a lot of talk about people avoiding
> concours because they may be "intimidated by the
> work."  I don't think it's the work or the effort that
> scares them, but the level of "nit-picking" that
> concours has risen (or sunk) to.  I know someone that
> lost out on gold last week because there was a bug on
> their antenna.  Someone at Lexington lost points
> because their radio, perfectly operational, wasn't
> tuned to a local radio station.  I backed my car right
> out of my first concours (at Carlisle) because the
> judged wagged his finger at me during the mechanical
> inspection due to a loose vent-window handle (only
> when the window was open, otherwise it was nice and
> tight when closed).
>
> I'm very proud of my car, and I have enough plaques
> and trophies from numerous local shows to prove its
> quality.  I don't need a 3-decimal-point "score" to
> tell me what I already know.  Hey, if having the right
> torque on your muffler-clamp bolts is what floats your
> boat, great.  But PLEASE- don't look down your nose at
> me when I look at this level of "picayuneness" and
> ask, "what the BLEEP!"  For me, concours would be a
> burden; it would provide me no joy whatsoever.  And
> the number 1 reason I have a Corvair, and take it to
> shows, is to have FUN!!  The day I stop enjoying
> Corvair ownership is the day I put the car up for
> sale.
>
> Jeff Clark
>