Chrissss
Viper Owner
This past weekend I took my Viper, through an invitation, to a car show. It was a good show, great people, great cars with over 150 entries. There were five categories, the last being cars newer than 1980. There were 50 trophies, ten per each category. To be honest, the vast majority of the great cars were in the 30's to the 70's, but there were some nice cars in the 80's. I did however feel I was a shoe in for a least a trophy in my category as the 80's and above cars were kind of limited and not many great ones. There were 6 judges and one head judge. The judges submitted their recommendations to the head judge and he made the final decision.
I, like I'm sure the rest of you, have been to plenty shows/cruise in's in the past couple of years. At this one however I had more photos taken of my car, more inquiries and more discussions about it than ever before. There was hardly a time where there wasn't some sort of group around my car.
At the time of awards, once again ten per category, my car didn't win a trophy. One of the cars that did win in my category, was a 1984 Pontiac Fiero. It was in good shape, nothing special and I hadn't even seen any one even looking at it but so be it. I was okay with it as I was there for the event and it was for a good cause. I was still ok even with several other car owners coming to me saying they couldn't believe I came away with nothing. One of the other winners, actually went to one of the judges and asked what they were thinking. I didn't want that as once again, I had a good time and I didn't want to appear to be sour grapes and think my car is the end all be all. There were some great cars there.
Then, one of the judges, not the head judge, came up to me and was making small talk. He said he loved my car and that he had recommended it win best of class. He said so did three of the other judges. I asked why it didn't and in fact, didn't even win a trophy and he said the head judge overruled the recommendations. Apparently the head judge said he didn't think in was classic enough, not enough personal work done on the car and didn't like the fact the someone would just buy the car and put in a show. I have had quite a bit changed on the car but whatever. The one judge told me however the head judge just "doesn't like Vipers" and yes, he had a corvette entered in the show. It was not judged however. He said there were actually words between one of the judges and the head judge about my car. I told him it was okay that I was there for the event and it just wasn't all that important.
Thinking about it though I was truly amazed at the dislike/envy, whatever you want to call it, over a car and or its owner. There are cars that I like, not crazy about, prefer and not prefer. There were cars there I personally wouldn't own but were great in their own right. As a judge I would judge them on that, not whether I personally liked that type or brand of car.
Once again, I was there for the event, had a great time and met some great people and made some great contacts. I will say though that I amazed at a negative response to a car just because of what kind of car it is.
Anyone else ever experience this? I hope not.
I, like I'm sure the rest of you, have been to plenty shows/cruise in's in the past couple of years. At this one however I had more photos taken of my car, more inquiries and more discussions about it than ever before. There was hardly a time where there wasn't some sort of group around my car.
At the time of awards, once again ten per category, my car didn't win a trophy. One of the cars that did win in my category, was a 1984 Pontiac Fiero. It was in good shape, nothing special and I hadn't even seen any one even looking at it but so be it. I was okay with it as I was there for the event and it was for a good cause. I was still ok even with several other car owners coming to me saying they couldn't believe I came away with nothing. One of the other winners, actually went to one of the judges and asked what they were thinking. I didn't want that as once again, I had a good time and I didn't want to appear to be sour grapes and think my car is the end all be all. There were some great cars there.
Then, one of the judges, not the head judge, came up to me and was making small talk. He said he loved my car and that he had recommended it win best of class. He said so did three of the other judges. I asked why it didn't and in fact, didn't even win a trophy and he said the head judge overruled the recommendations. Apparently the head judge said he didn't think in was classic enough, not enough personal work done on the car and didn't like the fact the someone would just buy the car and put in a show. I have had quite a bit changed on the car but whatever. The one judge told me however the head judge just "doesn't like Vipers" and yes, he had a corvette entered in the show. It was not judged however. He said there were actually words between one of the judges and the head judge about my car. I told him it was okay that I was there for the event and it just wasn't all that important.
Thinking about it though I was truly amazed at the dislike/envy, whatever you want to call it, over a car and or its owner. There are cars that I like, not crazy about, prefer and not prefer. There were cars there I personally wouldn't own but were great in their own right. As a judge I would judge them on that, not whether I personally liked that type or brand of car.
Once again, I was there for the event, had a great time and met some great people and made some great contacts. I will say though that I amazed at a negative response to a car just because of what kind of car it is.
Anyone else ever experience this? I hope not.
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