President Teddy Roosevelt and Model Car Contests

[FloridaBoy]

I am no longer entering model car contests, but I always attend them and spend a lot of time there, mostly displaying my stuff, not because I shy away from competition, but because I've had my "day in the sun" for twenty years many years back, and now I enjoy the total environment of a contest. Every once in awhile my competitive urges overcome me, and I want to enter and get into the thick of it, but I would rather learn and build, and build and improve. You get your best ideas on this forum and during a contest. Even this forum has a contest online "America's Most Beautiful Roadster", as I believe contests and competition improve the overall lot and quality building of the hobby.

After participating as a table vendor at this past weekend's model car contest held at the baggage room and train club room of at the train station a quarter mile away, I got a chance to be there from the start to the end.

The level of models was nothing short of incredible, and I would be the first to guess that many build but fewer enter, and there is much more to any contest than winning. For example. this contest was judged by ballots for people attending the contest, except for some special categories which were judged. One friend of mine didn't win, but had probably the best engine compartment in his MoPar's, they actually LOOKED like a real underhood compartment of a car. I sat for hours just looking at them as did others, but his cars were factory stock and weren't flashy enough for the win, so he didn't. But he displayed them and was in his highest joy telling others what he used and how he detailed his models. Same with others for paint, for me with body work and hinged doors and trunks. The key is in the competing and displaying, and mostly the communicating.

Then on Sunday when the contest was over, several guys dropped by to put their models on the table, including some stunning cars, and none of them wanted to enter or display on the "big day" Saturday. One even said he didn't want to get criticized for his cars. I sure hope we can change that and I personally want to invite people to their next regional contest, IPMS contest, online contest, and get into the fray. Over 100 years ago, President Teddy Roosevelt had the following statement:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt, "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910

26th president of US (1858 - 1919)

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[LoneWolf15]

I am no longer entering model car contests, but I always attend them and spend a lot of time there, mostly displaying my stuff, not because I shy away from competition, but because I've had my "day in the sun" for twenty years many years back, and now I enjoy the total environment of a contest. Every once in awhile my competitive urges overcome me, and I want to enter and get into the thick of it, but I would rather learn and build, and build and improve. You get your best ideas on this forum and during a contest. Even this forum has a contest online "America's Most Beautiful Roadster", as I believe contests and competition improve the overall lot and quality building of the hobby.

After participating as a table vendor at this past weekend's model car contest held at the baggage room and train club room of at the train station a quarter mile away, I got a chance to be there from the start to the end.

The level of models was nothing short of incredible, and I would be the first to guess that many build but fewer enter, and there is much more to any contest than winning. For example. this contest was judged by ballots for people attending the contest, except for some special categories which were judged. One friend of mine didn't win, but had probably the best engine compartment in his MoPar's, they actually LOOKED like a real underhood compartment of a car. I sat for hours just looking at them as did others, but his cars were factory stock and weren't flashy enough for the win, so he didn't. But he displayed them and was in his highest joy telling others what he used and how he detailed his models. Same with others for paint, for me with body work and hinged doors and trunks. The key is in the competing and displaying, and mostly the communicating.

Then on Sunday when the contest was over, several guys dropped by to put their models on the table, including some stunning cars, and none of them wanted to enter or display on the "big day" Saturday. One even said he didn't want to get criticized for his cars. I sure hope we can change that and I personally want to invite people to their next regional contest, IPMS contest, online contest, and get into the fray. Over 100 years ago, President Teddy Roosevelt had the following statement:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt, "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910

26th president of US (1858 - 1919)

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

My , My , My, I have'nt seen this quote in many a year , but I have always tried to live by it! You are a man after my own heart. Strange that within the same family , his cousin , decades later stated , " We have nothing to fear , but fear itself " Those who do not follow history are doomed to repeat it . These are strong words and advice which never seem to go out of vogue , regardless of the times . Bring it to the tables , win , lose , or draw , it is all about an education and having fun , regardless of the outcome ! Thanks for reminding me !

Donn Yost

Lone Wolf Custom Painting