As an assist to our memebers and visitors to the web site, we asked our RVSR member Al Erickson to give us an overview to presenting a winning display as seen from the judges perspective. Al”s experience includes vintage, classics, stocks, rods, customs, race and pedal cars. We hope you will find the folowing information helpful and encourage your questions and feedback.
I have been judging car shows and Concours D` Elegance shows since the 1960s. I judge pre war and best in show classifications at the concours level. When I judge at the Grand National Roadster show, Sacramento, Seattle or Portland shows I`m usually in the stock or custom classification.
I have been a judge at Pebble Beach, Forest Grove, Silverado and many more concours over the years. Enough of my background, now what does the judge usually look for? To start with, judges are people like you and I with car experience in many areas. Most concours judging is made up of three man groups. One will judge the interior, one the motor and undercarriage and the third will judge the exterior. They judge only on originality or as they left the show room floor.You can add original equipment of that year but no new options.
At rod and custom car shows they judge in three or four men judging teams. They judge the cars together not in particular areas as in concours shows. You base your results on the amount of work done and the quality of workmanship. Every judge has a few things that he could be a stickler on. Some pay particular attention to paint under the doors while others go inside the gas doors for dirt. We do use small pencil mirrors for those hard to see places.
Many judges will take the time to check out the owner`s judges book. This will help the judges with many little extra items done that could have been overlooked if not pointed out. Cars may appear to be stock in some areas but may have very subtle changes that could have been missed if not pointed out. The fenders might have been extended, top slightly chopped so it is vital to read their signs or look over their judges book. It could be the difference between first and third place.
I have seen cars win over a car twice the investment because it was not cleaned up or detailed to its fullest. Do your homework and critique your own car and just be honest in your evaluation. Never think to yourself that the judges will never notice that. Don`t take the chance, take the time to look at every place the judge might look. Judges will be looking for that valve stem to be lined up with the shoe on your Good Year tire. Whitewalls must be clean and shiny as well as blackwalls. If the hubcaps say Ford make sure the writing is parallel to the ground. Make sure the tread of the tires are clean. Never let your display over shadow your car. Safety belts straight or crossed. Find out when your automobile will be judged and make sure it is clean.
ALWAYS, but always make sure your hood is up and your trunk is open when your car is to be judged. If this is not done you will loose all the points available for the trunk and hood. At the big indoor car shows we judge from 11:00PM till 5:00AM. We will judge on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We don`t want to have owners or spectators around when the judging takes place. Lights under your hood and in your trunk can help or sometimes will show flaws.
Always have a sign showing what has been done to your car. Judges are human beings and they do make mistakes so call their attention to every item you have done so they are not overlooked. Even though you have taken trophies in all the little shows that does not mean you will be a winner at the inside show level.
It is always a good idea to show pictures of before and after and during the construction of your car. Do not bring your trophies for your car, that distracts from your display. Think of yourself as a judge and be critical of your car and never think that the judges wont see the problem. Don`t take the chance, it could be very costly. Remember, judges look under your car as much as the rest of your car. Get out the polish. tooth brush, rug, jack, stanchions, display and everything needed to make your car the best possible.
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