SF Bay Area - Event
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Don't get me wrong: It's not that I don't accept the verdict - it's that I don't understand it. Wheel well liners are not even an issue here, it was just an example of how far I went overall. I'd like to know what cost me points, so I can do better next time (or, if I can't win, not waste 20 hours preparing).
I certainly won't leave the windows open, and as Bill suggested, I might find some greasy stuff that makes the tires look wet.
Oh well, after a night of sleep it's all water under the bridge...
I certainly won't leave the windows open, and as Bill suggested, I might find some greasy stuff that makes the tires look wet.
Oh well, after a night of sleep it's all water under the bridge...
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Hey, if I'm wrong I'm wrong. I wasn't there, and I don't know all of the criteria for judging. I guess that "wash & shine" implies, to me, that you clean up your car as much as you can and submit it to the judging panel. Based on that assumption, I don't see how someone who has probably NEVER washed the car(just bought the previous day) could win it. If someone would care to point me to the judging guidelines I'll be happy to study them before I open my trap about it again. 
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I've been browsing the PCA website, but could not find the guidelines. Maybe they are a secret of the organization? Just kidding...
I did a closer inspection of the car this afternoon, after my last post, and realized two things: I had collected quite a bit of tree sap from where the car was parked. That might already have been there when the judge saw the car, and I might have lost points for that. The winner and thrid place were not parked under trees.
Also, my rear brakes create excessive dust, and there might have been a hint of it on the rims when the exterior was judged. I failed to remember and clean this up right then and there.
This and the little piece of a leaf along with a small piece of lint in the interior might have been enough dedutions to keep me out of the top three.
The car was clean when it came out of my garage, but having been driven there, parked under the trees with the windows open, it might no longer have appeared like that to the judges.
So I guess I DID learn something.
BTW: The guy who bought the $1500 928 DID wash the car.
I did a closer inspection of the car this afternoon, after my last post, and realized two things: I had collected quite a bit of tree sap from where the car was parked. That might already have been there when the judge saw the car, and I might have lost points for that. The winner and thrid place were not parked under trees.
Also, my rear brakes create excessive dust, and there might have been a hint of it on the rims when the exterior was judged. I failed to remember and clean this up right then and there.
This and the little piece of a leaf along with a small piece of lint in the interior might have been enough dedutions to keep me out of the top three.
The car was clean when it came out of my garage, but having been driven there, parked under the trees with the windows open, it might no longer have appeared like that to the judges.
So I guess I DID learn something.
BTW: The guy who bought the $1500 928 DID wash the car.
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Nicole:
If you want a copy of the PCA Ccncours Rules, I have one or two.
For those of you who have not experienced a PCA Parade Concours d'Elegance, you have not experienced fanaticism. As we speak, entrants are not preparing for this year's Parade in Ft. Worth; it is too late for that. They are preparing for next year's Parade in Philadelphia. If you don't have TWO years to prepare, watch and enter the next one. The ENTIRE car must be white glove clean, including the tire treads. The fun part is to arrive a few days early and watch entrants doing last minute clean ups using boxes and boxes of Q tips well into the night. And then it rains the day of the judging. Some cars have previously never been wet. I have literally been attacked while approaching a car on display by an overzealous entrant who feared I might get too close. Sick!! Pebble Beach is nice but a warm up to the Parade Concours. I have heard of an entrant who nicked his paint putting the finishing touches on a 911 he had painted; probably just a tiny out of the way grain of sand size of a nick. This was a few days before the Parade. They disassembled the entire car and re-painted it the week before the Parade. He won the Manhattan Trophy, which is no longer offered. There are entrants that buy a new car, truck it home, disassemble it and re-build it, then enter it with nothing but the factory test miles on it. Better than new. And then there are issues with originality; in full concours, the more original the more points....sometimes. And, yes, there are issues with judges' methods and decisions. But there is a People's Choice which is exempt from the formal judges' opinions. An ordeal I have not chosen to endure yet. I prefer to retain my sanity.
If you want a copy of the PCA Ccncours Rules, I have one or two.
For those of you who have not experienced a PCA Parade Concours d'Elegance, you have not experienced fanaticism. As we speak, entrants are not preparing for this year's Parade in Ft. Worth; it is too late for that. They are preparing for next year's Parade in Philadelphia. If you don't have TWO years to prepare, watch and enter the next one. The ENTIRE car must be white glove clean, including the tire treads. The fun part is to arrive a few days early and watch entrants doing last minute clean ups using boxes and boxes of Q tips well into the night. And then it rains the day of the judging. Some cars have previously never been wet. I have literally been attacked while approaching a car on display by an overzealous entrant who feared I might get too close. Sick!! Pebble Beach is nice but a warm up to the Parade Concours. I have heard of an entrant who nicked his paint putting the finishing touches on a 911 he had painted; probably just a tiny out of the way grain of sand size of a nick. This was a few days before the Parade. They disassembled the entire car and re-painted it the week before the Parade. He won the Manhattan Trophy, which is no longer offered. There are entrants that buy a new car, truck it home, disassemble it and re-build it, then enter it with nothing but the factory test miles on it. Better than new. And then there are issues with originality; in full concours, the more original the more points....sometimes. And, yes, there are issues with judges' methods and decisions. But there is a People's Choice which is exempt from the formal judges' opinions. An ordeal I have not chosen to endure yet. I prefer to retain my sanity.
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All the power to them but in my book some of those folks are certifiable!
I sat from a far and just studied one guy and his actions last year at one of these events. Quite entertaining and absolutely bizarre the way he went about things.
I just wanted to go over with a small brown paper bag full of a little flour and pop it in front of him
I sat from a far and just studied one guy and his actions last year at one of these events. Quite entertaining and absolutely bizarre the way he went about things.
I just wanted to go over with a small brown paper bag full of a little flour and pop it in front of him
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Ron:
I'd love to read about the street level concurs. But the full enchilada would be way too much for me. I DO want to drive my car - not every day, but whenever I feel like. If it's too perfect, or if I'd have to win a full concours, then how could I enjoy its capabilities?
Maybe THAT was the purpose of the Yugo: Not to be driven, just sitting there and be cleaned. It was probably the only way to preserve these things and avoid car trouble...
I'd love to read about the street level concurs. But the full enchilada would be way too much for me. I DO want to drive my car - not every day, but whenever I feel like. If it's too perfect, or if I'd have to win a full concours, then how could I enjoy its capabilities?
Maybe THAT was the purpose of the Yugo: Not to be driven, just sitting there and be cleaned. It was probably the only way to preserve these things and avoid car trouble...
Last edited by Nicole; Jun 1, 2004 at 03:48 AM.
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I doubt I'll ever have any car ready for that extreme level of concours... Nor do I want to. That's a game for bored rich men IMHO, and if I ever become one of those I'll get the full-on race trailer/motorhome and go racing. Nope, cars are meant to be driven. 
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There is a car that has been driven to several past parades, a 912. In fact it was driven from Colorado to Montreal and back. It was driven to Idaho and back. It was driven to Florida and back. It is as original as any 912 except for some period correct sport seats. It has original paint except for touch up work on the hood and front bumper using an ....airbrush!! to repair stone chips. It is black, the most challenging of all difficult colors. At the Idaho Parade it was chosen by the Porsche family representative, Peter Porsche, as the best car in the concours and signed by him. Some of you know the car. It is not spectacular. It is well maintained. But it is driven daily and to and from Parades anywhere in the country. If you saw it you would say it was 6 months old. He has other Porsches, but drives this one around. It takes care and preparation to win a concours, but especially so with a car like this one. It can be done. 
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Want to see a car being prepped for the Porsche Parade?? Go to the 356 Forum and click on "Getting Max Ready For The Porsche Parade". Especially the last photo of the undercarriage.
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Originally posted by Ron_H
Want to see a car being prepped for the Porsche Parade?? Go to the 356 Forum and click on "Getting Max Ready For The Porsche Parade". Especially the last photo of the undercarriage.
Want to see a car being prepped for the Porsche Parade?? Go to the 356 Forum and click on "Getting Max Ready For The Porsche Parade". Especially the last photo of the undercarriage.
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I wonder, if he has a life.... Well, seriously, you have to admire that kind of dedication. I certaiinly could not do it. It's bad enough that the house keeps getting dirty...
