Colin,
Welcome, and sorry how all this may look to you.
To bring you up to speed, last years United was by far the most incredible
event you could ever have attended.
Norm Miller designed a new judging criteria for that meet, and it was
posted for 6-8 months on the internet, we all retooled and tried to make our
cars meet the expectations, and they were just like the other clubs around,
Volvo, Jaguar, Shelby and so on.
About 2 weeks prior to the event, Norm received enormous pressure to go back
to the original style of judging, we were all shocked, as we had spent hours
and tons of extra $$$ to conform.
The car show ended up as just that a show, not unlike any you might find in
the corner park on a weekend.
That is as to the judging that is, the cars that were there were just
unbelievable, so that certainly made up for that.
After the event, tons of discussion went on , on this page regarding the
united for this year, the Sage's said they were making changes as to the
Concourse, to meet the demands of the 21st Century, and that we have to move
on from the Judging of the past.
We have always known the judging criteria, and have known if there was a
judging team, or just a popular vote type event.
Paul Reiszentz (misspelled sorry Paul) did a super job up in Tahoe, and had
a full Judges team (I still have my official judges hat).
As more and more outstanding restorations come out of the various shops all
over the country, and especially her in So Cal, the demands are increasing
for a better system, these cars I have seen have between $ 25 and $ 40,000
put into a restoration, and these owners certainly expect to have the
challenge of a fair but tough CONCOURSE event, as to have fun and show off
their wares along side there FUNBEAM buddies.
of course we all want to have fun, and we do, our barks are much bigger than
our bites, last years highlight, was joining the caravan with Norm and all
the SUPER people of the United.
The Tiger talk that went on, out in the parking lot at night (the beer) and
the fellowship on the road was the best part.
I do not ever believe that last years event will ever be challenged, unless
Norm decides to do it again, if so I will be the first to send in my
$$$$....(Hear that Norman???).
As before I apologize if I stirred up so much Hoopla over the Show, but as I
said before, all I wanted was to know the parameters surrounding it. I think
that to be fair.
And you know what the events all end up great any way.
You are right though the swap during the SHOW, is difficult, as the owners
of the cars have to stay by their cars, and could not sell during the swap
at the same time, and if not selling, then they might want to buy something,
and the good deals would be gone by the end of the show or worse yet closed
(like in Temecula).
Again welcome, and we will all get together and search for even ground here,
as well as utilize the expertise of the membership for input, like they say-
ask and thou shalt receive.
There are several people with plenty of knowledge, and as far as I
know---none were asked for input ??
Colin, we look forward to seeing you at a future Tiger event, and let me buy
you a refreshment as well.
See Ya' Jan (The ousted troublesome, often misunderstood and taken
to seriously) Harde
-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Cobb <cobmeister@zianet.com>
To: Steve Sage <rootes@ix.netcom.com>
Cc: Tiger List <tigers@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 1998 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: Tigers United
>Hey Gang,
>
>Lord how I hate to contribute to the smoke and fire that is currently
>dominating the list traffic... As an outsider--I've only had my MKI a
>few months, never attended any Tiger function, never met any official or
>member of any Tiger group--I gotta tell you how all this looks from the
>wilds of New Mexico.
>
>Clearly, there are two factions here who have issues with one another
>that will never be known--let alone understood--by the rest of us. Of
>the two factions, the Tiger Technologies lot seems to be the most
>strident and most ready to hurl invective and scurrilous attacks. The
>Sagers seem much more rational but some of the underlying logic is
>wanting...
>
>$35 for a meal! Imagine that... it must be 1998. Sure, that is more
>than the meal would be worth "down in Berdoo," but this ain't down in
>Berdoo, this is up at the lakeside at a "premier" motoring event. It
>sure does not seem like an outrageous amount for dinner.
>
>Yes, a Master's Class is a nice way to spread the wealth of trophies and
>get a wider participation from some of the new blood but the classes
>were announced some time ago and the time to raise the issue was 11 or
>12 months ago when I suspect the first steering group started to work
>toward this event. Why sit around and bitch about it at this late date?
>
>I confess that I do not understand the reluctance to state the judging
>criteria for the concours. It appears that there may not be any formal
>criteria, that the judges will make subjective rankings based on their
>own knowledge and experience... If that is the case, and based on the
>amount of bile being spewed by both sides in this imbroglio, it does not
>appear that the judging can be done fairly. After some of the trash
>that's been talked, it would be awfully tough to make an impartial
>subjective judgment.
>
>It is puzzling that the boot sale is being held at the same time as the
>concours. Maybe there just was no other time available. Maybe it
>really was just poor planning. Why not try to fix the problem, why not
>work the issue instead of screaming rape and prejudice? If there is
>really no way to improve the situation, then work to alleviate the
>problem next year.
>
>And, finally, why not at least try to deal with issues instead of
>personalities? Believe me, from New Mexico both sides in this
>controversy look pretty damned petty and pretty damned vindictive. And
>who started the movement for a counter event? Talk about counter
>productive!
>
>I thought the event was called "Tigers United..." Obviously unbridled
>optimism on someone's part. "Tigers Ignited" would apparently be more
>appropriate.
>
>One good thing has come from all this foolishness. I had been feeling
>really badly about the fact that my wife and I will be unable to attend,
>but now I realize we ain't gonna miss nothin'.
>
>--Colin Cobb, Las Cruces, NM, USA
>'65 MKI
>
>
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