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Class organization is one of the most difficult things to judge when putting on a show. On the one hand, if you incorrectly anticipate the turnout for a show, you can end up with too many classes and a car can win in that class simply because of a lack of competition. On the other end of the spectrum, too few classes or an unanticipated surge of cars from a particular genre can cause oversized classes where very nice cars get lost in the crowd and can’t compete. If you had to define a list of classes for your ideal show, what would it be and why pick each class? What is a good balance to you between number of classes and representation of car genres?
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Trailer Class would be a good one…
But I was really thinking Unbiased Judges would be better. That will discourage you from attending any shows at least for me it does.
I remember going to Wis Rapids one time for a show. Every car that won was from Rapids..
Oh I have not returned.X 👿
This topic is certainly one that is being and will continue to be discussed on this forum.
It seems that each show must decide for itself (based on previous years participation) how many and what kind of classes to have. This class structure would probably change year to year, based on the number and type of cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc. At some shows, the cost of awards seems to be a driving force. At others (like Pardeeville and Fox Lake), no expense is spared in handing out extremely nice awards. There needs to be a balance between the cost of the awards and the number of classes.
I think that flexibility is the saving grace at most shows. When a club or promoter tallies up the vehicles in attendance at the end of the show and moves awards from a sparsely populated class to an overpopulated class, that seems to make most folks happy.
Coincidentally, at the Oregon Show, there were no “tuners” in the tuner class, so those awards were appropriately shifted to another class.
Marshall
I think it also depends on the size of the show, and if it is a Judged show or participant picked show.
I think a modern retro class could work in some shows. That would be good place for the PT Cruisers, New Beetles, New Mini Coopers, HHRs, Challengers and Camaros and late model Mustangs.
We had a modern muscle class at our show that seemed to work well. Most shows don’t know from year to year what’s going to show up, making organization very difficult.
Shows that are judged really need classes, and sometimes participant judged shows are just easier to have best of’s.
It’s a hard one.
I think there definatly needs to be a modern muscle class, especially as more late model Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, etc. are on the streets. This helps prevent those cars from being judged with original muscle era cars, and separates them from the tuner/import scene.
I also think there needs to be a late model tuner class. And putting years on the class is a must…I have been to too many shows where there are 1950’s super customs competing against late model tuners; they are 2 completely different genres! (both equally valid and cool…but still completely different). And if an organization is concerned about the SPL/AV crowd that has the huge stereos, make it a known rule that stereos must be off during the show.
We’re at a time now where the tuner crowd needs to be included in local car shows. The popularity of the genre (media, video games, film, etc) makes it a stepping stone for young people to get involved in the car scene.
Well put eclipsetuner. When I attend a show with my import, I find it a little frustrating to have my 20 year old car be in a class with store bought cars that are only a few years old, or in some cases a few days old. To me it says one of two things, either that the organizer doesn’t really understand the import scene or that the imports are not really welcome.
Classes is one of the many issues where you have to be detailed as to what is allowed. Modern muscle cars should have there own class, and be present model year to 10 years old – 1999-2009. This also keeps them out of special interest class. I also like muscle cars (64-74) having there own class, as it seperates them from stock vehicles. Modified classes is also a touchy subject, as a car with a few bolt-on mods can’t compete against a full-out modded race car. Blanchardville has a street machine and a major modified class for this reason, and it seems to work well.
Though I’ve been very open about the fact I’m not a tuner guy, I agree with eclipse_tuner that tuners need there own class at shows. Those cars aren’t “special interest” anymore, they are becoming more popular and deserve to be judged against others of the same genre.
Trailered vehicles are just that – trailered, not driven. This bothers me because I hate seeing a car not getting put on the street and “put thru the paces” that it so rightfully deserves :whistle: Like Xman said, show organizers should have a trialer patrol so the queens can’t park and compete against cars that get driven. Happened a couple years ago at Blanchardville, guys parked there trucks in Hollandale and drove the 4 miles over to the show…and got caught! :laugh:
Another class that I see getting diffucult to seperate stock trucks from modified trucks. More and more I see trucks at shows, and this is a genre thats going to need attention in the future for shows.
And while I’m on a roll, why not add an Exotics class? Ferrari’s, Lambo’s, Vipers, Corvettes, Porsches, Mercedes, etc? This would also help limit the Special Interest class to special interest. After reading all of this, you’re probably asking yourself “What does Zac consider Special Interest?” Special Interest should be left for Replica TV/Movie cars like the Starsky & Hutch Torino’s, General Lee’s, KITTs, hand-built cars, Motorcycles with V8’s, and stuff that’s been designed with imagination.
Rat Rods shouldn’t be in special interest, they too should have there own class.
What about convertibles? Should they have their own class too?
I know the Mustang guys like to have their own class, but with some of the bigger shows (Pardeeville, Fox Lake) you could almost have a separate class for Camaros, Chevelles, Mustangs etc…. Where do you draw the line?
Great, great topic!
This is how i see things play out. Every show has an average of people that show up to a judged show. I can break them into two seperate simple groups.
EXAMPLES:
Blanchardville, Pardeeville shows is 200-400 cars- “CAR SHOW ALPHA GROUP”
Road Apples, Spring Green, Verona, Lancaster, Armory, Albany, etc shows is 100-200 cars-“CAR SHOW BETA GROUP”
Alpha group sould have all your standard stock classes broken up by 5 year intervals, modded truck and stock truck even broken up by years, tuner classes(maybe a couple), muscle car class, modern muscle, super street machines (tubbed), street machines broken up by at least 10 year intervals ie 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 89-99, 2000-present. Also in shows this big a convert class is possible. Low rider tucks is another. Corvette, camero, mustangs, chevelle, can be their own and even broken up by years to make it fair. Although the newer mustangs and cameros will be in modern muscle. Also a 2 seater sports car excluding vettes can be a class of its own. VIPERS AND OTHERS WILL GO IN HERE!(COUGH, COUGH!) Or into modern muscle. If you want a great example of a Alpha group show look at the Blanchardvilles line up. Frank gets it right for the amount of cars that show brings in. But even that show does not have modern muscle, which i beleive it should. Ill run it by Frank lol.
Beta group is just condensed into larger stock classes. instead of 5 years you do 10 year grouped classes. you also just have a stock and modded truck class not broken up by year. Always have one tuner class but still keep the modern muscle. Beta shows do not have a need for convert class, mustang, chevelle, or camero. Street machine should stay the 10 year interval. Both Alpha and Beta should have survivor up to 20 years old and rat rods. Both also have a special interest. Great example of a Beta show is Road Apples show. First to have the modern muscle class!!
As the show grows to upwards of 200 cars you start to add the Alpha classes. Pretty simple.
Also, stick judges to a class. Have them compare the cars against eachother. Do not do like in Albany, where you just have judges going down the line all helter skelter not knowing what cars are in what class. Im not against parking where ever in a show but it sure makes it easier to compare cars when they are parked by class. Alpha group should always be parked in classes. Also a judge should over see the cars being put into a class. Looking for trailered cars, maybe asking the owner questions. This may help one compete better if they are in the correct class.
Ok done for now. Im not just on here to P&M about poorly ran shows. I have offered my input to just about every show i attend. Sometimes its like talking to my dog though.
Very nice summary!
ddhemi wrote:
Quote:Great, great topic!This is how i see things play out. Every show has an average of people that show up to a judged show. I can break them into two seperate simple groups.
EXAMPLES:
Blanchardville, Pardeeville shows is 200-400 cars- “CAR SHOW ALPHA GROUP”
Road Apples, Spring Green, Verona, Lancaster, Armory, Albany, etc shows is 100-200 cars-“CAR SHOW BETA GROUP”
Beta…. I’ve been called just about everything but not Beta…
Great examples! We’ve all attended enough shows through the years to know what’s right and wrong, nicely done!
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