An Open Letter...

[Richard Bartrop]

Something I saw while browsing the Hemmings Blog.  It about full sized car shows, but I've seen their kind at model shows too. 

http://www.stanceiseverything.com/2016/05/an-open-letter-to-car-show-trophy-hunters/

[Earl Marischal]

The joys of competition...

steve 

[Ace-Garageguy]

There are petty, immature little babies everywhere dressed up as grown men...it ain't just car-show competitions.

[ranma]

Lightning McQueen : Look at all those trophies

Doc Hudson: You look, All I see are empty cups.

In the end that's all they really are, Just things gathering dust.

[bob29579]

I could not tell you how long it's been since I've been to a model show.  Mostly for just these reasons.  I build for me and I build for what I'm paid to build and not judges.  I like it and that's what counts.    I have to agree, that article is well said.

[gtx6970]

After reading this ,,,  the 1st thing I thought of is chances are the one complaining is the one car with  trunk full of trophies at a car show . Neither of which I have any use for.

 

The 1/1 stuff I do is for paying clients, the models I build for me and me alone

[kitbash1]

There are petty, immature little babies everywhere dressed up as grown men...it ain't just car-show competitions.

Too true. Hockey parents, Soccer parents, Go-Karting parents. 

[martinfan5]

There are petty, immature little babies everywhere dressed up as grown men...it ain't just car-show competitions.

Oh yeah,  but I think its better if I keep my reply to myself on this one

Edited May 28, 2016 by martinfan5

[aurfalien]

Too true. Hockey parents, Soccer parents, Go-Karting parents. 

I've seen em all but THE WORST are parents whose kids compete in surfing.  OMG they shout and yell and berate there kids for missing waves or doing turns that don't score high.

I actually turned to a pair of these outta shape bafoons and asked; "can you catch any waves or do any turns?"

And yea, most of em have rubber bands for arms.

Edited May 28, 2016 by aurfalien

[MrObsessive]

And yea, most of em have rubber bands for arms.

[Toner283]

IMO, whether at a full sized car show or a model car show, if you are there with the intent to win a trophy...... you are missing the point entirely.

[CometMan]

I've been involved in many different types of competitions over many years, there is the one constant in all of them. Some people's sense of entitlement did not end at the end of their teens!

[Johnt671]

I go to a lot of full size car shows and always see people like that. I go to see other cars and talk to the owners. I also enjoy talking to others about my car, an 84 Pontiac Fiero with 233,000 miles on it.

My car is a nice car and I win my share of trophys, I was once totally embarrassed by a guy I knew that won a trophy for his car, and went after the judges because I didn't get one. I overheard him told him that I didn't need anyone to speak for me and told the judge I was sorry for his actions. There were so cars there that were much nicer than mine. I haven't gone back to that show since then.

[MrObsessive]

 

Now John, that is one NICE Fiero! I can remember when these were new, and they were literally EVERYWHERE during the '80's and '90's. Now I can't remember the last time I've seen one, and yours with that many miles is the very rare exception!

 

[MrObsessive]

I won't mention names, but there was a certain individual that made a very rude remark one year at the Mid-Atlantic NNL because all he "got" was a plaque for his model that won. Needless to say short of tossing him out on his ear, he was never invited back to the show, and if he did show up------more than likely he'd be chased back out.

[Petetrucker07]

IMO, whether at a full sized car show or a model car show, if you are there with the intent to win a trophy...... you are missing the point entirely.

X2

[Skip]

I haven't entered any of my models in contest/shows in years, but I do enter a couple (2 - 4) car shows a year.  My '73 Mini Cooper has won awards at each, including one at a West Coast all Mini event.  At this point I really don't care if I win another  piece of hardware. They're  gathering dust on the wall of the den they'll go with the car when eventually sold.  They belong to the car not me, I was never in it to win anyway.  Winning is just a bonus for a nice car.  

One thing I've noticed though, the shows that I let the "little kid who was overheard to tell his Dad or Mom they could drive that car, it's my size!" then I ask the child if they'd like to sit in the driver's seat for a picture?  Then allow a happy Mom and Dad to click away, that brings a bigger smile than any win ever did!  The times I let kids do that, when they left sticky little handprints on the near perfect paint and crystal clear glass, were the times I won something!!  

Last year at one show, I heard my class winner announced, we were tired from the long day and left!  Only to get home, get car in the garage and hear the phone ring.  My "show buddy" on the other end, hey you too good to pick up a trophy?  Our Mini won "Most Unique" award, I did hop back in and pick it up.  It was a local Church "fun show" where the awards are random at times and shared amoung previous winners who deserve to win, usually to car old or new to the show that deserves to win its class.  They told me I won because I loved sharing my car with the kiddos and their parents, that's my most treasured trophy to date!

[Richard Bartrop]

There are petty, immature little babies everywhere dressed up as grown men...it ain't just car-show competitions.

There certainly are, which is why I thought it was relevant here.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Short of the AMBR or the Riddler, I don't really see any car-show trophies worth getting wadded up panties about anyway. 

[Daddyfink]

How most typical contest end up.....

[Ace-Garageguy]

So much for being voted Miss Congeniality.

[Harry P.]

Seems to me, the whole point of entering a contest is to put your stuff up against all the others to be judged, and then find out who the "winners" are.

I wonder, then, why there so many people who enter contests, yet claim they don't care if they win.

If you don't care about winning... why do you enter contests? It's almost as if they are embarrassed by the fact that they like to compete against others.

[1930fordpickup]

Harry not everyone is that competitive. Some people just want to see for themselves if they are doing well.  They do not need to be the center of attention all the time. 

 Been to more than one show with a sign on said hobby project that says do not judge. From models shows, to full size car shows. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Seems to me, the whole point of entering a contest is to put your stuff up against all the others to be judged, and then find out who the "winners" are.

I wonder, then, why there so many people who enter contests, yet claim they don't care if they win.

If you don't care about winning... why do you enter contests? It's almost as if they are embarrassed by the fact that they like to compete against others.

Just a guess, but I imagine fairly recently it has a little to do with the "everyone's a winner" attitude so prevalent in public schools. Perhaps an attempt, in part, to stem the bad-loser behavior, and surely easier than trying to instill a little adult character in competitors so they might lose gracefully.

But competition IS ABOUT COMPETING. Duh.

There's also the unnecessarily macho attitude of "show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser" that some kids get saddled with by idiot parents. Unfortunately, some of them believe it.

Set your own standards, do your best because IT MATTERS TO YOU. If you win, that's icing on the cake. If not, be a man about it, and look at losing as an opportunity to grow, to do even better work.

AS LONG AS YOU REALLY DID YOUR BEST, that's all that should matter. Not everyone is going to love you all the time...no matter how good your work is.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Daddyfink]

Quite honestly, I enter local contest to help fill the tables. Not looking to win a thing and if there is a display only type of table, i place my stuff there. 

So no, not everyone is trying to win 

And with that said! Come on down to the San Diego IPMS Model Expo on June 4th at the Gillespie Field Aerospace Museum Annex!! And yes, there will be a display only table!!