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Re: Contemplations for a weekend (spridget related)

To: "Biff Jones" <biffjones@erols.com>, <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Contemplations for a weekend (spridget related)
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002 10:09:32 -0800
References: <013601c1ac06$344fa2a0$bb99fea9@ev1.net>
Biff -

For what it's worth, I prefer meets like the Los Angeles Woodley Park meet 
that Rick Fribush puts on.  No "experts", just a peoples choice (although 
he could set up a few more classes such as Spridget project-in-work. ;)).

regards,

Clay L.
'67 Sprite

At 02:05 PM 2/2/2002 -0500, Biff Jones wrote:
>Well let me put my foot in my mouth.
>
>I ass-u-me that this has to do with the question you asked earlier in the
>week and the lack of a good answer.
>
>I have two cars which are in the two different aspects of our hobby, one, a
>bugeye which is my driver and fun car which is being 'modified' but without
>any non-reversal modifications and a original '62 which is my show car.
>
>Just for the 'fun' (sic) of it I entered it in a eastcoast Healey event for
>concours judging.  I said 'fun' because all I really wanted to find out was
>how an unrestored original car, my '62, would score. I wasn't there to 'go
>for the gold', I didn't have a small fortune or massive amount personal time
>and effort 'invested' in the car. At first I resisted having it judged but a
>number of 'Healey' people convinced me that I should.
>
>How does this relate to Leo's contemplation, since then watching more
>'concours' judging, I have found that a 'new' bugeye entered in concours
>judging on the eastcoast for the first time WILL NOT, reguardless of the
>quality of restoration, make GOLD! You will have to bring the car back a
>second year. I know of one car that came back the second year and made gold
>with no changes.  Seems there is an unwritten rule of initation in the
>'sport' (concours) going on.
>
>Now I will insert my foot.  The chief judge on my car just happened to be
>the national keeper of the (concours) standards. While this individual may
>know AN5's, he proved to me that he didn't know (insert your favorite
>expletive) about a AN6. He tried to 'convince' the other judges that my
>seats had the wrong beading (they are original from the factory), that the
>door pockets had the wrong lining that they were 'suppose to be like a AN5'
>(again original from the factory), that the color of the door pocket
>material didn't match the dash/footwells (again original from the factory),
>that my hood was the wrong color and was a cheap aftermarket replacement
>(the 'offical standards book' which he susposedly he 'keeps' says it was the
>correct color and after it was pointed out to him that the factory
>washing/care instructions and the red "Vybak" on the left quarter panel
>window did he conceed) again the hood is original to the car from the
>factory.  I could go on about a few other judging things but I won't.  This
>experience 'cured' me from ever attempting 'concours' again. By the way it
>still scored 933 points.
>
>I can appreciate a 'gold level concours' car.  However, to get to this level
>requires a car that is prepared to better standards and finish than they
>were when they left the factory.  Are these to be used as examples?
>I can also appreciate a 'modified' car too.  Thses are modified to the
>owners wants. I think back to when I owned fairly new british cars (6 of
>them) in the late fiftes and early sixties and I 'modified' - 'personalized'
>all of them to my likes and wants.
>
>Hence, Leo I don't think when it comes to interpretation of 'standards'
>people feel comfortable giving advice beyond what is written in the
>'standards'.  Yes there are a few out there who have checkbook restorations
>and know nothing and there are those that have 'made it' either on their own
>or with $ that aren't going to make it 'easy' for you.  Thankfully, these
>are a minority and often move on after they 'make it'.  I have helped a
>fellow lister get his AN6 to gold level but then again I have a original as
>your going to find one to offer/give/state/measure how it was from the
>factory to give advice and guidance.  But it all comes down to the 'judge'
>and his interpertation of the 'standards'.
>
>Biff Jones
>Pasadena, MD
>'59 Bugeye, 'Kermit'
>'62 Sprite, 'Ole Gray'
>'71 Midget, 'Freebie'
>http://sprites2.homestead.com

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