<VV> Re: Car Show Judging

[Gary Swiatowy]

I've been involved with shows both as a participant and a promoter.
Yes, I was a participant in concours in Buffalo, and was thrilled to 
maintain my "Bronze" status. Nothing wrong with winning, and nothing wrong 
with a competitive spirit.
But..................as both a participant and promotor I have seen the bad 
in people. I have seen ballot boxes stuffed, I have seen the vote for your 
buddy system, I also once watched a guy smash his second place award on the 
ground because he was PO'd he didn't get first. I have seen a guy spin his 
tires in the grass throwing up mud and stones as he tried to leave because 
he was upset he didn't win. I next watched that guy dragged from his car and 
beaten.......fairly well while his girfriend screamed and cried. Yeah, it 
can get ugly.
I know people, who are trophy hunters and will nit-pick a car show to pieces 
on the internet, failing to realize that most people running small shows do 
not have a clue and are running them and learning as they go............

And as a promotor, I have had people get in my face complaining about their 
class, or another car that is in their class, or some silly thing I really 
do not have much control over. And I have under extreme circumstances, told 
people to leave, and sometimes in not very kind terms. threatening if 
needed, damage to their cars, or having them towed and them arrested for 
trespassing. Poor public realations..........sure! Sometimes it is needed. 
If I ever caught someone, cheating, or doing something in bad faith, it 
would not take much to black ball them from future shows, or let everyone 
else know what they did.

Gary Swiatowy


 Car Show Judging (Mike Jacobi)
> From: "Mike Jacobi" <mvjacobi at comcast.net>
> Subject: <VV> Car Show Judging
> Hi
>
> This "win or die" mentality is not unique to the vair community.  I see it 
> in most of the shows and judged cruise in I've attended.
>
> I got totally grossed out by the unabashed greed of some car owners, for a 
> three dollar trophy that says they're the best, when they know they really 
> arn't.
>
> Kind of like someone pinning on heroism medals when they never left the 
> country.
>
> But there is really no cure for it, because there is no way to examine 
> someone's heart.  So I go for the fellowship and the fun, and don't even 
> enter the judging.  I still get to drive my favorite car and to talk about 
> it and to visit with others who love my hobby as much as I do.....and I 
> can just ignore all the frustration brought on by unsportsmanlike conduct.
>
> After all, no one is drawing a wage for this, right?  I mean its all for 
> fun.
>
> Just thinking out loud.
>
> Mike J