screwed at a car show

[chargerdon]

I brought my 74 Challenger to a car show held for the benefit of a local high school band.    My grandsons are in the middle school band and will be moving up to the high school next year so what the heck.   They bragged 25 total prizes including best Dodge as one of the categories.   

There were a total of 65 cars registered and mine was not only the only Dodge, but the only Mopar to enter, so i rightfully felt i was guaranteed a trophy.

They didn't bother to put together goodie bags, or dash plaques.   

Then the awards program gave out 1-2-3 trophies for best import (all three went to 90's erea rice burner Hondas...ignoring a mint original 67 VW bug, 1-2-3 trophies for best Camaros,  1-2-3 trophies to best Chevy,  1-2-3 for best Mustang, 1-2-3 for best Ford, 1-2-3 for best Jeep, 1-2-3 for best truck (all Chevy) and then lastly 1-2-3 for best Olds/Pontiac/Buick/Dodge.   That's right they lumped my Dodge in with the full sized old GM's and the only Buick there got one, the only Pontiac  Firebird got one and an the only Oldsmobile Cutlass (not 442) got one.   Best in show then went to a 57 Chevy.   So, GM/trucks cars got 13 of the trophies and Mopar zero !!!    I have never ever before seen a show lump OLDS, Pontiac, Buick and Dodge together and ignore the fact that their website listed best Dodge!!!   

Needless to say next year there will be one less Mopar there !!!

[71vert340]

 That sucks. I've never seen all Mopars lumped with a GM line of vehicles. When I take my car to a car show and register, I blot out the entry number so no one can vote for my car. I don't want the hassle of dealing with the awards part. I understand that an award is important for the hard work an individual has put into their car but I've seen too many times where a car gets an award based upon how many friends vote for it even if it's not the nicest car in the category. If my car still gets an award, I tell the show sponsors to recycle it to someone else. Just my way of not having any problems with the awards at a show. I go and enjoy the cars. Just my way of doing things.
Terry W.

[torredcuda]

I never go to a show expecting or caring about getting a cheap plastic trophy awarded by some random person they call a "judge" (yes there are exceptions - very qualified and fair judges at some shows).. They do sometimes combine categories if there are not enough of one type entered, sounds like what happened here. Go to shows to admire the vehicles, hang out with old friends and make new ones.

[anlauto]

I feel for ya...I was a trophy hog in my early years, nothing beats the feeling of winning something to show for all your hard work...I remember my Mom used to be so proud when I got home.....

HOWEVER in todays society where our kids are being coddle with the "everybody gets a trophy" mindset...do you really want to walk away with a trophy for "best Dodge" when you're the ONLY one there ? Not much of a win really....  

I went to  Main Street show last year with 200+ cars and I won "Best 70's" which I thought was cool....there were a lot of 1970's cars there....my wife couldn't give a shit when I got home ...

[tparker]

Ah man that sucks. I think it is the state that car shows are going, especially smaller car shows. It can be hard to get the appropriate Judges. There are a lot of people who criticize the judging process but few people spending the time to be a judge. Some of our local clubs need judges and our club volunteered to give them a hand. I feel bad because I am no expert in that club cars, let alone mopars. Our Judging probably could be criticized, but we judged the best we could with the criteria we were given. I doubt a school would have serious gear heads available to do proper judging. And as class participants dwindle we will see more and more classes squeezed together. All though that mashup class does seem odd. LOL. I know we take judging serious at our club and we have lots of constraints we have to deal with and do our best to get things judged in the best manner possible.

Tom

[Duodec]

You drove your trophy there, and then drove it home again.  And a much nicer trophy it was.

[HP2]

I brought my 74 Challenger to a car show held for the benefit of a local high school band.    My grandsons are in the middle school band and will be moving up to the high school next year so what the heck.   They bragged 25 total prizes including best Dodge as one of the categories.   

There were a total of 65 cars registered and mine was not only the only Dodge, but the only Mopar to enter, so i rightfully felt i was guaranteed a trophy.

They didn't bother to put together goodie bags, or dash plaques.   

Then the awards program gave out 1-2-3 trophies for best import (all three went to 90's erea rice burner Hondas...ignoring a mint original 67 VW bug, 1-2-3 trophies for best Camaros,  1-2-3 trophies to best Chevy,  1-2-3 for best Mustang, 1-2-3 for best Ford, 1-2-3 for best Jeep, 1-2-3 for best truck (all Chevy) and then lastly 1-2-3 for best Olds/Pontiac/Buick/Dodge.   That's right they lumped my Dodge in with the full sized old GM's and the only Buick there got one, the only Pontiac  Firebird got one and an the only Oldsmobile Cutlass (not 442) got one.   Best in show then went to a 57 Chevy.   So, GM/trucks cars got 13 of the trophies and Mopar zero !!!    I have never ever before seen a show lump OLDS, Pontiac, Buick and Dodge together and ignore the fact that their website listed best Dodge!!!   

Needless to say next year there will be one less Mopar there !!!

Bolded adds up to 25 trophies per their pre-show bragging. As the only Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Desoto, they did not have enough in your category to tier the scoring so they lumped you in with a bunch of other cars that also had single car turn outs. Yea, that's not what you were told, but I'm not surprised judging by the those car counts in the BPO and now D category with one of each make being present.

This was a show supporting a high school band. You paid your fee, had a fair time there looking at other cars and had a chance to talk to car guys, all while supporting the band program. That was the goal and it sounds like it was achieved. The kids likely had to beg, borrow, and cajole sponsors to provide the trophies they handed out and if the band did had to pay for them, you being bunched in a larger group saved them some money, thus benefiting the band some more.

Overall win for the band kids. Next year, leave your car at home and write a check for your entry fee and hand it directly to the band director.

[MoparLeo]

Go buy yourself a trophy.

[Spikedog08]

I have my first place award from Carlisle and one other award I won at a show and I only kept it because it was a cool looking trophy.  I have won dozens of trophies and as soon as I get it, I look for the first small kid I can find and tell him since he did such a good job being careful around all the cars, he deserves it.  Makes his or her day!  I used to collect bowling and billiards trophies and now they sit in a box in the basement.  Certainly don't need any trophies . . .   

[anlauto]

I have my first place award from Carlisle and one other award I won at a show and I only kept it because it was a cool looking trophy.  I have won dozens of trophies and as soon as I get it, I look for the first small kid I can find and tell him since he did such a good job being careful around all the cars, he deserves it.  Makes his or her day!  I used to collect bowling and billiards trophies and now they sit in a box in the basement.  Certainly don't need any trophies . . . 

.....maybe a trophy wife 

[chargerdon]

Go buy yourself a trophy.

I think you completely missed the point.   Certainly i could go buy myself a trophy for less than the $20 registration fee....DUH.    That is not why we drive our classics to a car show and enter.   I don't do it often as i have three trophies for my Challenger sitting on top of my book case.   I did it to support the Marching BAND.   However, if your going to do a yearly car show as a fund raiser, do it right !!! The point is that when a show advertises trophies for best Dodge then they should award one...end of story.   To change it at the last minute during the show to best BPOand Dodge is utter bullshit.   I don't care if i was the only Dodge or one of 50.
I guess i should have known they don't know what they are doing when they even listed best Dodge instead of best Mopar as that left out any Plymouths or Chryslers that might have entered.    Hmmm   maybe that was the reason there werent any Roadrunners or Chrysler 300's there.   Stupid on their part.

Tomorrow Saturday the 19'th my car club Piedmontccc is having our annual car show.   See Piedmontccc.org     There you will notice best Mopar and best Chevy but not best Mustang or Camaro.   Instead in addition to car brands there is also best paint job, best interior, best other.   Also notice that it is an AMERICAN car show...Rice burners are not welcome.  Also, notice that it says While it doesn't say it our trophies are different...instead of plastic trophies our trophies are made by one of our members throughout the year by taking old car parts and mounting them on the plaques making them unique...   the people love them !!   Also, everybody gets something for their effort...We advertised first 150 for picture plaques, but, we gave out over 200 of them...beautiful plaques about 8x12 with wood base and an embossed picture of their car taken as they entered on it, and everyone got a goodie bag.   

Our judges are ourselves..  last year we had a member with a 66 chevy convertible judging the best chevy award, and a Mustang owner judging best Ford, and a Roadrunner owner the best Mopar.   Their instructions were simple...judge based on the look and desirability...no point system whatsoever !!   Not one of the awards went to "trailor queens" but instead to people who enjoy their cars and don't care about the resale value.   

Lastly, its for a great Charity...  The Hilltop Home for children.   Now the economics.   It costs money to put on a large show, last year we had over 300 cars enter and all of them were 25 year or older American cars.   We rented a local 1/2 mile racetrack.   The $20 entry fee didn't even cover the cost of the track, insurance, and other expenses.   The money we raise comes from the sponsorships from the local businesses.    We raised about $6,000 from the show.    The 50/50 drawing went for $525 to the winner, which the winner immediately gave it back to us !!   In addition our club yearly works the Good Guys show and we get a share of the proceeds which this year was another $2,800.    You will see on the website that we donated $10,000 to the Hilltop Home for Children.   I went with several of our members to the home to present them with the cheque.   

This is how to put on a car show !!

[Racer57]

ME PERSONALLY    

I would get more satisfaction getting a trophy competing against other people than I would being the only one in my class and getting a "participation" trophy.

[torredcuda]

I understand your point that if they had advertised a trophy for a certain class that they should follow thru with it, unless the fine print said they would combine classes if there are not enough cars for a class - I have seen that before at some shows. Still, bottom line is that you go to a show and pay an entrance fee to either support the ones putting it on like a school or proceeds go to a charity - I wouldn`t complain about that if it helps them out, they are probably not "professional" event promotors and most if not all  of them are doing it for free . If it was a "for profit" business such as a Cars and Coffee event I can see your issue - I won`t go or an pay entrance fee at a for profit event and if I did I would expect anything that was advertised.

[JH27N0B]

Having been actively participating in car shows for over 25 years, I've grown tired of trophies myself.
I like plaques a bit better as I can still find a place on the garage wall for another one rather than using up valuable shelf space!
One of our local Mopar shows gives out medals, what do you do with that, wear it to work or at car events so everyone can appreciate you? 
But in all seriousness I really don't need anymore trophies or plaques.  I pared down the trophies I have in my garage to some cool looking ones, that look like old gas pumps and such.
Others are stored and should be tossed. We used to have a big all makes show series here that had 3 or 4 shows a year on holiday weekends, and was judged by judges, not participants. My convertible would usually place in the Mopar class which was nice. After a while I had a number of trophies from that show.  I was redecorating my garage and decided I didn't want any of them there, as they all were the same design with a generic car model on top that looked like an 80s vintage Camaro! I guess I could say it's an 86 Daytona....
Even though I don't need more trophies or plaques, I still feel slighted when my car doesn't win over lesser cars. Participant judging is like that, guys vote for their friends, or vote for a perfumed pig that's a bright color with stripes and spoilers over a much better but less flashy car. Some local small shows were notorious for the same guys winning every time, as they were friends with many there and always voted for each other. Car owners who weren't in that clique got jaded about those shows knowing they'd never win, and thus the shows participations deservedly dropped.
Several shows left me with a bad taste in my mouth with judging. I took my 71 to a small, 70 or 80 car, local Lions club show that happened on my birthday. My car was certainly one of the best there, so I looked forward to getting a trophy with my birthday etched on the plaque.  Judging came and I got nothing. A guy came up to me and said "I don't get it, you should have got best of show"! I certainly should have won something.
Next year came and I didn't bother taking a car as I didn't feel motivated.
Then a few years ago I drove that car to our big Mopar show in Belvidere, 60 miles away, and not a fun drive on a hot day driving down the highway with 4:10 gears.
They even added a few awards to the E body class, 4 or 5 plaques for the 10 or 11 cars in my class. But I didn't place.
It was participant judged and best reason I could figure was 2 fold. When they announced you can come pick up ballots for participant judging, the guy next to me volunteered to get mine knowing I have bad feet, which was nice of him. He took my dash card so the show organizers knew he was authorized to get my ballot. Of course he disappeared for over a half hour, and during that time I saw people walking around with ballots and of course none could vote for my car as the dash card with my number was not there. And my car is brown so that puts me at a disadvantage in participant voting against high impact painted cars.
Other Challengers that were clones beat me, so that ended an otherwise good day on a sour note.
So trophies end being a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I don't need more trophies or plaques, yet also feel screwed sometimes if I don't win one.
Honestly the best solution I can think of is that with the exception of big shows with qualified judging, the organizers should have raffles and such that any entrant can win. And maybe a few fun trophies like kids choice, sponsors choice, and maybe a dignatory like the mayors choice if it's a town sponsored event, or company president if on private property. That would take away much of the bad feelings about not winning trophies.
But not all. At MCACN last year I had the honor of hosting the Malaise Muscle display. One of the Mopars in the display was owned by a woman. After the show was over, both of the Ashton's contacted me saying the woman's husband was calling and emailing them constantly furious his wife didn't win one of a show sponsor chosen "woman owned" awards at the show. He demanded their entry money back even!
I was told the guy said he'd "deal with me" next time he sees me, so I have that to look forward to this year!
Gives me some insight as to the BS car show organizers have to deal with often.

[tparker]

And I am beginning to hate car shows.