Is judging worth the outcome

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Shenango

Shenango

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I am planning on a MOPAR show this June and there is a small fee if I want my car to be judged. I was told the car was original with the exception of radio and 2 stage paint when I bought it. I don't have any great expectations of awards or any acknowledgement but I would like to know how complete my Swinger H code car actually is. What is the general opinion on judged shows.
Thanks, Jerry
 
I don't like them.
I don't care to have my car picked apart by strangers that don't know the blood, sweat, and tears it took to get my car the way it is.
On the other hand, it's very satisfying to do well at a show. A lot of shows don't judge on correctness or originality, but rather on how cool or pretty a car looks. The judges might not know an H code swinger from a damn camaro!
 
Shenango said:
I am planning on a MOPAR show this June and there is a small fee if I want my car to be judged. I was told the car was original with the exception of radio and 2 stage paint when I bought it. I don't have any great expectations of awards or any acknowledgement but I would like to know how complete my Swinger H code car actually is. What is the general opinion on judged shows.
Thanks, Jerry
Click to expand...
Tough one to answer and I'm sure you'll get the full range of opinions.
Nothing like a trophy to recognize someones hard work and effort but judging can be so subjective. Depends on how legitimate the show is too.
I'm not a big show fan and since my car is not original it is very subjective to the judging.
I did one local town show and it seemed if you were from the town, you won something.
Did another show and it seemed almost everyone won something, had more award classes than I'd ever heard of.
Last year did an all Mopar show, figured I'd see how mine stacked up with other Mopar's. Come judging time it was obvious that if you were in the club that sponsored it, you were winning. Not every club member won, but the cars that did win, belonged to members. THe only non-club member that won was a guy that brought a Daytona in from out of state and there were a lot of cars from non- club members that were nicer than the ones that did win.
 
It depends. If the guy doing the judging actually knows what he's looking at, and knows the brand then it may be worth it if you want to see how close to original it really is. But they will be up the tailpipe looking at things you won't even consider. Like hose clamps. Date codes on hoses and crap like that. Correct bolts in the correct places. Correct stickers in the correct location. It can get draining.

If you can deal with that...maybe you should do it.

If you don't have thick skin, don't do it.

Also, if it's a bunch of bubblegummers just out there grading cars on what they like then I wouldn't give a single crap what they think.

Since they are charging a fee I suspect the former and not the latter.
 
In my case, "I don't care." Had lots of folks who I encounter (before I decided to rebuilt my Dart) with like, "nice car."

But others, "why doncha..............xxxxxx" whatever different wheels, paint it, fix this

I JUST DON'T CARE. I bought this to have fun FOR ME and nobody else
 
It's worth it if you still need to get over the I want a trophy phase. (they are worthless as is the judging and peoples choice, etc)

YOu want a trophy that means something get one at the drag strip. You'll earn that one and it's 100% fair.
 
The one and only reason I will pay to enter a show is for the close parking spot, and I always leave before trophy time anyway.:D
No one knows what they are actually seeing or what has been done to the car if it isn't paint, interior or what they can see with the hood up.
 
First off, all shows are not created equal. In other words, one show might judge on cleanliness and condition only, while another show may judge on original condition. For example, a small town, local car show won't have the same judging criteria The Nats or Carlisle Chrysler Classic would have. You would have to know what the judging criteria is before assuming you will get the outcome you're expecting.
 
Why not get it judged. Unless it's some major 1000 point judged show you'll be fine.
I've entered many times. As long as your original looking, clean, and polished you'll do fine.
Shows I go to that are judged are usually a couple people paid to judge.
Except getting "home towned" once I find them to be very fair and impartial.
 
I entered this car in a judged show once. It was a 50,000 mile original 340 Formula S car with one repaint. Interior and engine compartment was mint. Lost to a 68 barracuda 318 convertible which was full of bondo but had a fresh resale red paint job. I never entered anything judged again.

68 S.jpg
 
Some show say “judged”. That way you have a chance at a trophy but they don’t actually verify authentic parts and OEM. Just basically best paint, best interior, best engine compartment and so on. When I went to the MATS I enterered in modified. The one with the most mods wins, basically. At the nationals you can pay more and have them judged by enthusiasts who know what to look for and knowledge which might be with it to see exactly what you have. Do it if it’s your first show. I will if the proceeds go to charity, but not to a club.
 
personally i couldn't care less about an award so if i had a choice i wouldn't pay to have it judged...


if that was my thing i'd want to know who was judging it. if its just some jackass small show with some chevy guy looking at it then no its not worth it
 
Shenango said:
I also belong to a Corvette C3 forum and if you don't have a chrome bumper car you better have plenty of blood pressure Meds on hand.
Click to expand...
So true vetts are down to the wire, every bolt better be factory.
I just gave them hell with my rubber bumper supercharger out of the hood.
All black one, peoples choice, but not head in the *** judges.
I had a lot of fun with that mechanical pos, my Mopar buddy said what are you doing building that Chevy?
I said just to piss the original guys off.
 
There are a couple of organizations near me that do car shows. The shows turn out pretty nicely but the awards are all over the place. People's choice is probably pretty good but beyond that, not so much.... when the organization needs judges they turn to the guys that they know who know cars, members of the local Mustang club. Even as hard as those guys try, how much do you think they know about Mopars, Studebakers, Chevy pickups etc? If you have a Mustang you could get a pretty accurate review on your car but available judges just don't have broad enough knowledge to do anything else justice. I'm guessing it's a similar situation in most places.
 
Thanks for your thoughts everyone. My intent is to see how my ride stacks up in someone else's world. I don't care about trophies or any awards. I have never had a car judged before so this process will probably be a 1 and done.
 
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