Local Car Shows

Lee ODell
Lee ODell Senior Contributor
edited May 2013 in HUDSON
It is interesting how the local car show judging results turns out. Not alway but often the winner is a popular GM brand. I guess alot has to do with Judges auto preference. One show I attended for daily drivers, there was a flawlessly detailed car. Not a ripple on the body. Beautiful paint job, interrier with no visible flaws, straightes body anyone would desire on their car. It was a 50 Rambler. The winner, a 20 footer 66 Pontiac Lemans nice interrior and paint but it had the waviest side pannels of any car there.
Another time I drove my AMX and paid the extra fee for judging just because it was closer than waking a quarter mile from the other parking area. After looking the cars over I got into my car to leave when a judge asked me not to go yet. He told me I won. His reason for my winning was he was tire of seeing the more popular cars win. Sometimes having something different makes a difference. Perhaps I'll take the Hornet next time.
Lee O'Dell

Comments

  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    There is no true judging around my area. It is all "sponsor" or Judges choice stuff. I do some judging at a local show that brings in about 1000 cars. We give away some 150 plaques each year. I judge in the 49-53 Original class and the 31 to 33 Original class. Our standard is pick the car you would want to drive home and love. Have not picked one of the top three in a number of years. The year that was a tough choice was the 51 Hudson coupe vs the 50 Packard coupe...... I am not a big fan of Judging or any kind...
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    edited May 2013
    IMO, the best judging, aside from Marque club judging, which can be over the top, is the AACA. All cars are judged against themselves starting with 400 points, then points are subtracted by trained 5 person team of judges based on what was not originally delivered by the Dealer as new. So, in reality a lowly priced base Ford Falcon has the same shot at a first "Junior" as a Ferrari right up to a Grand National. Example, Ford never offered Radial tires until 1976. So radials on a 1960 is a 10 pt reduction, just like a 302 vs the 144, would be a big hit in points.1960 Falcon : only engine was the 144ci. So, Mod conversions have a big disadvantage. For more info go to the Antique Automobile Club of Americas website and check it out. I always wondered why HET doesn't judge? Many clubs have two divisions one for Original as factory delivered and another for modified ( touring class). HET, IMO, should judge just, at least, to officially reward an owner for a job well done.
  • MikeWA
    MikeWA Senior Contributor
    Best judging I have seen is at the annual "Scotty B's Car Show" at Scotty B's '50's Diner in Tenino, Washington. No entry fee, but he likes it if you have a burger while you're there. Lots more people than tables in the diner, so you are encouraged to eat with someone you don't know.

    I drove The Mighty Hornet a couple years ago (well, its not exactly a Hornet, but it does have a Hornet engine, and that rolls off the tongue better than "The Mighty Super 6". Besides, isn't EVERY stepdown a Hornet? LOL). A guy directed me into a spot, and as I got out, he said "Aaaaand, we have a winner." My car carries a certain amount of "patina", to be charitable, so I thought he was being a smart azz, but held my tongue and asked him what he meant. He said "Scotty loves these cars (early 50's "survivor" custom, with all the warts and barnacles acquired in the 60 years since). You'll get a plaque, I guarantee." I asked how they do the do the judging- he said Scotty walks around and looks at the cars, accompanied by a guy with a clipboard. When he sees one he likes, he says "this one", and the clipboard guy writes down the info. When he's done, he adjusts the list to 20, because he has 20 plaques. And that's it.

    And sure enough, I got a plaque.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    RonS ,You know if the H.E.T. did do judging at our events it would be quite problematic due to the overall lack of solid data. And the factory & dealer's policy of optioning a car however the customer asked (for a price of course). Plus their habit of using up last years parts on current models.
    I myself like the no judging atmosphere of the H.E.T. meets but everyone has their own ideas I'm sure,
    Roger
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    edited May 2013
    I myself like the no judging atmosphere of the H.E.T. meets. Roger

    I'm with you Roger. I prefer the family atmospher being around H.E.T. meets. I love to see well done restorations and like to tell owner how much I like their car as well as the potential that arrives on a trailer. I like them all. I believe some may feel their car is not nice enough to bring to meets. We need to be better at incourageing everyone to bring their car to meets to be admired no matter the condition. More and more H.E.T.s are being left at home while they drive to meets in their new Brand X. Therefore we don't get to enjoy all what we go to the meets to see. Our friends are there but fewer cars are showing up even for local chapter and regional meets.

    I hope to see a increase number of H.E.T.s showing up at the National this year and year after year. According to the 2008-2010 H.E.T. Roster my home state of California has 596 H.E.T.s listed.

    Condition
    1- 75
    2- 166
    3- 163
    4- 144
    5- 22
    condition unknown listed - 26
    There is additional 10 cars not listed among George Lauders 15 Hudsons that were sold. And two of those I know have plans to drive to the National this year. Believe me they were straight cars but none ran and were in need of some parts and alot of clean up.

    Lets all try to drive our H.E.T. more offen and especially to our meets regardless of condition to be seen and enjoyed.
    Lee O'Dell

  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    The best way to get the msg out that Hudsons exist - get the "garage and back yard" meets out of your head and get your car to any meets within reasonable distance of where you live. If you can make time to go to an all Hudson meet you can find the time to go to a Brand X meet.
    And, if you're in the New England area here's a start (notice the FREE ADMISSION::

    SATURDAY, MAY 18TH 9AM - 3PM
    AT THE WELLESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER
    219 WASHINGTON STREET
    WELLESLY, MA
    FREE ADMISSION
    If you're interested in attending the show, please contact Stephen Beach (organizer) by Friday, May 10 to let him know so he knows how many cars to expect (for parking setup).

    You can reach him at:

    email: stephen@wellesleycommunitycenter.org
    telephone: 781-235-4172

    Notice - FREE ADMISSION - FREE FREE FREE. Means no charges. OK.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN

  • HornetSpecial
    HornetSpecial Expert Adviser
    I have to agree people are tired of seeing brand X car's at these local car shows. I just restored a 54 Hornet Special and entered it in some local car show's. The result was amazing. The Hudson kicked butt !! I know Hudson folks don't compete, but I WANTED TO SEE HOW IT WOULD HOLD UP TO BRAND XX I was truly surprized. Many of the awards are Best In Show.
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    About 35 members of Northern West Virginia Panhandle AACA chapter with about 35 people and17 mixed make antique cars stopped by stopped by our garage on Saturday to see our cars. Ken and I lined them up in front.
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    Yes Roger it is a lot of work. I just helped the Plymouth Owners Club set up a judging standard. What judging does is to study and confirm the history of HET. I feel that judging raises the value of our cars not just in cash value but knowledge value. Example: it takes much research to restore a car as Hudson built it. When complete and recognized by a marque club the cash value goes up to collectors on the prowl for verifiable quality. When someone sees that a Corvette for sale is a Bloomington Gold or AACA Senior or Mafca Blue Ribbon etc., the buyer can be mostly assured the car isn't a humpty before he even sees it. Of course there must be recognition for cars that are less likely to win a 1st place, therefore Driver Participation Awards are a must. We have a bi weekly cruise show here in Tucson called Little Anthony Diner, a 50s style diner. I bring my Hornet there every other week. Every little 4 year old kid spots Doc. I get a kick out of letting them sit (actually stand) behind the wheel. Cars can only win an award once a year. Not to put a pall on things, but some day old timers that remember these cars won't be here anymore to advise us younger guys what was original or what wasn't. That's why we need standards to refer to and appreciate. My opinion.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    edited May 2013
    Car shows that give trophy's - HET club doesn't. So take you Hudson to a Brand-x car show and maybe get the best of both worlds by getting a trophy - and maybe even a new club member or two. for most all the years I've been in the club I've been beating this drum to get our cars out of back yard meets and out where people can get to see and enjoy them.

    I've been an HET member for over 40 years and I truly think the no judging rule is what has made this club what it is and, hopefully, always will be. I've attended many other car meets over the years and those that have judging do not, IMHO, have the friendships and comradery I see at every HET meet I attend. I don't see club members in some of those "elite" clubs spending half the meet under another members car helping get it fixed. I have never seen a meet outside of the HET club where things, from cracked heads to transmissions were literally overhauled in the meet parking lot.

    My soapbox for today.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 2013
    I've had fun showing my AMX in the AACA. When I won my first Junior at a nearby AACA national meet, I was enthused and kept showing at the yearly AACA Eastern National meets. I am now going for my Senior Grand National this June. It's great having people looking and commenting "you don't see many of those around".... and I'm almost always the sole entry in the AACA AMC muscle class, lol...
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    If approved, we here in the Tucson Region will host the Grand National in 2015. Best of luck in June.
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