A couple of us were invited to a show that used to be an "all Corvette" show.  The sponsor wanted to open up the show for other classes, obviously to increase the number of participants, this the amount of revenue brought in.  Unfortunately, they did a really poor job of promoting the show as such.  So, a couple of us went.  We got there early, like a good participant should.  The spectator turn-out was good considering they thought they were going to see a lot of Corvettes.  As it turned out, just about all of the trophies were "predetermined".  Certain people, friends of the people that worked at the sponsoring dealership, were told to show up and get a trophy.  Some of the winners even showed up after the end of registration.

This is a big tip for judges; if you are going to show favoritism, if you are going to "predetermine" the winners, don't be obvious about it.  The legitimate participants don't mind it quite as much when the "fix" just appears to happen.  Don't rub their noses in it by "socializing" with the one to whom you are going to award a prize.  When it becomes that obvious, you might as well write-off any future shows.

Judges also need to forget the 'old school' shows they used to judge.  If a show is open to all years, makes, and models, they have an obligation,  the absolute responsibility to consider all of the cars in the field.  If newer cars are invited to participate then some recognition needs to be given.  I went to a church car show last year where I overheard a judge's wife ask him, pointing at one of the newer cars, "What's that doing here?  Isn't that too new?"  Naturally, nothing newer than a 1978 won anything.   That church didn't even have the show this year.  I guess God likes some of the newer cars.  Judges need to remember something, the newer cars are the future of car shows.  If the owners of these cars decide there is no reason to show their cars, they may decide not to and may never enter shows again.  Worse, they may start their own associations and clubs thus having their own shows, further separating car collectors.

This past year, I heard many members of the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) complain about the association's decision to allow cars up to 1980 to participate in their events.  The association obviously had one thing in mind; "The more members, the more money."  From what I understand, the members that decided to drop their membership far exceeded those that joined with the newer cars. 

Unless a show is sanctioned by one of the associations or clubs that limit their memberships to cars of a certain age, all cars need to be considered for awards.  If classes or categories are created in such a way to selectively eliminate certain cars from receiving awards, the judges and promoters of the show are being unfair and should be boycotted. 

The same goes for participants that come to the show from great distances.  The judges need to be aware that if they give the impression that only local residents are getting the awards, those doing any traveling to support the show are going to disappear.  Part of the fun of having a show and the big 'draw' for the show is to see cars that aren't seen at every show in that area.  If spectators ( and some participants ) keep seeing the same cars at shows, they will get bored and stop coming.  If the word gets out that only locals win the awards at certain shows, those shows will sooner than later fail and go the way of so many other shows.

I was recently at a show that has been a successful local show for the past 17 years.  It had numerous classes of cars.  The show drew approximately 1,000 vehicles.  I'd have to consider it one of the best shows except for the classes and judging.  It was so obvious to me that there was a Chevy dealership and a Ford dealership involved in sponsoring the show because of the way the awards were stacked.  Naturally, there is no Chrysler or Dodge dealer in the community so the classes that pertained to the Mopar community was thin.  There was a 1st and 2nd place award for each generation Corvette.  There was 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for GM muscle cars of the 1950's, 60's, and 70's.  There was 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for each decade of Mustang from the 60's to the present.  Fords also had awards for the best of the 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's.  Yet, there were only 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for Mopars.  And I wondered why people along the cruise route were holding up signs that said "WE LOVE MOPARS".  Do you think the hosts made it obvious they didn't like Mopars?  Whether or not it was intentional is irrelevent.  The impression it left with me, and obviously others, was very destructive.  It's a shame that this was my first and last trip to this show because the show itself seemed very well organized and the cruise was a blast.  But I'm not spending the time and money (a three hour trip each way) to support a fundraiser that gives that much of an appearance of being unfair.

I was at another show this year that was an excellent show in a terrific setting.  The show actually took over the streets of the downtown historic district on a Saturday afternoon and evening.  Quite literally, all of the awards went to the locals, many of whom win the same award year after year.  And none of the newer cars received any of the awards even though there were many new Camaros, Mustang Shelby GT500s, and Challengers.  Actually, the newest car to win an award was a 1971, except for a flame paintjob awarded by the town's fire department to a 1997 Corvette.  This is one show that I may go to as a spectator because of the number of unusual cars, but they'll never get another cent from me as a participant.  Once again, if the host invites newer cars than they should be prepared to recognize them.

Judges need to be fair, impartial, and objective.  Especially at benefit car shows where the majority of the income generated comes from the show participants, the judges have an obligation to the hosts to make the show successful.  That means that the show can be held the next year and the year after that.