Usual suspects

[Jantrix]

I helped judge a model contest this past weekend and there is a builder that shows up (no names, but he's not a member here, so far as I know), and for years now he's bringing the same dozen or so builds, adding a new one occasionally. He's a very good builder and a serious compeditor but his builds are starting to get road weary if you know what I mean. Afterward he's got to grab a judge and ask why this build or that didn't win over this one or that. He can be a disgruntled handful and a bit of a drama queen. And we tell him the same things we said the year before, show him the same issues we showed him the year before. Last year he got the show organizer (who had better things to do) involved in his ego trip.

I was tempted to take him aside and advise him to set these old champions out to pasture. But I didn't feel it was my place to do so. I was afraid of pissing this guy off to a point where he complains about me. I'm not a member of the club that was putting on the show, just a compeditor looking to help out. I have a good rep with the club and didn't want to change that.

What's your opinion? Should I have said something?

For myself, I NEVER bring a model (win or lose) to the same contest twice. If it won;it did it's job, time to move on. If it didn't win;it didn't deserve to, time to move on. In either case I start building for next year.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Jantrix

[DRG]

Your words to this person would have done no good.

He has been told many times the reasons and problems with his builds and obviously does not want to correct them or does not agree with what he is being told.

Either way you handled that correctly in my opinion.

[crazyjim]

I know who you're talking about, Rob. The guy did have some very nice builds. But since this was my first show since the mid to late 70's, I had no idea the guy keeps bringing the same builds all the time.

I talked with him a couple of times during the day and picked up some tips from him.

Whatever the case, I don't think I'd be comfortable bringing the same builds all the time. I would hope my skills would improve and that I'd be able to build something better for the next year.

Congratulations to you and the trailer.

It was terrific being able to meet you and your wife. Hopefully we'll meet again at the Gainesville show on April 9.

[Matt LeBlanc]

I think you did the right thing.

[SuperStockAndy]

Karma. One of these days the model will end up breaking, who knows?

[Jantrix]

It was terrific being able to meet you and your wife. Hopefully we'll meet again at the Gainesville show on April 9.

Back atcha Jim. I only do Mags in Tampa (SESR Nats) and Jaxcon every year, so you'll have to find another wingman for Gainesville. Good luck.

Karma. One of these days the model will end up breaking, who knows?

That's what I meant about road weary. A lot of the faults that we find are a result of all the travel and handling that these builds get. He does some spectacular paint jobs, and he seems to think that his finish will entice us to ignore a missing tail light or a gap between the firewall and the body. That may be the case in other shows, but not at this one.

[ian ashton]

Who gets angry about a model car contest? After about age 16 that's unacceptable. This is a hobby, I don't build models to win a trophy, I build models because ts fun for me. Going to shows or contests is just an excuse for to mingle with like minded people. I suspect that is why the NNL events are so successful.

[Aaronw]

I could see bringing the same models to multiple contests within a period of a year or so, one can only build models so fast. Year after year of the same models does seem excessive though, it would make me wonder if he ever builds anything new.

[Jon Cole]

I knew this guy who brought the same model ‘Country Time’ Pontiac Nascar to the same contest for five years in a row. He built it as a wreck; body damage, etc. It was OK, but it was never going to be magazine feature material. Year after year, he never placed in the top 3 in category. After about the fifth year, he finally won! We joked that they just wanted him to be done with it already. So, he got his trophy, and in spite of us notifying him of future contest schedules, he never went back. We think he just gave up building.

[oldscool]

Who gets angry about a model car contest? After about age 16 that's unacceptable. This is a hobby, I don't build models to win a trophy, I build models because ts fun for me. Going to shows or contests is just an excuse for to mingle with like minded people. I suspect that is why the NNL events are so successful.

Absolutely right Ian. I've never entered a contest and never will. Life is full enough of conflict and ill will without including it in my hobby. I have a job dealing with the public every day and I get my fill of people like that already.

Like you, I have gone to shows just to look and mingle.

oldscool

[Joe Handley]

Who gets angry about a model car contest? After about age 16 that's unacceptable. This is a hobby, I don't build models to win a trophy, I build models because ts fun for me. Going to shows or contests is just an excuse for to mingle with like minded people. I suspect that is why the NNL events are so successful.

Absolutely right Ian. I've never entered a contest and never will. Life is full enough of conflict and ill will without including it in my hobby. I have a job dealing with the public every day and I get my fill of people like that already.

Like you, I have gone to shows just to look and mingle.

oldscool

I've worked retail for long enough to realize that the older way too many people get, the more immature they become, then I've seen way too many adult RC racers who don't seem to have the levels of maturity their pre-teen competitors show

[1320wayne]

Hey Rob, it was nice seeing you again yesterday and also meeting Jim for the first time. I know of the builds you are speaking about and even though the builder is a qualified builder you are right about the fact that he has issues within some of his builds that will prevent him from being a first place finisher most times. And, this isn't the only show that he brings this same fleet of models to year after year. I've seen him in Atlanta for the past three years and get to see them all over again at that show.

It's his own choice to continuously bring the same pieces year after year but he should not get angry with anyone if his models don't place where he thinks they should. And unfortunately, I don't think it would matter if anyone mustered the courage to go to this person and flat out tell him to start bringing new models because I don't think he would listen.

Regardless, it was another good show put on by the IPMS group in Jacksonville. I took 445 pictures so it might take a couple of days to get them all posted. Keep track in the contest section for an update on the contest album.

Also, your weathered trailer was really cool. Now you need something to hook it up to.

[roadhawg]

Years ago, the ISCA had a rule in 1:1 car shows that you couldn't enter the same car after one year, without radical changes. Maybe model clubs should think about a rule similar to that? Or wait....I have a better idea.....create a new award for "Model That Has Been Entered In The Same Contest The Most Times".

[roadhawg]

.... then I've seen way too many adult RC racers who don't seem to have the levels of maturity their pre-teen competitors show

Lol...I heard that! Back in the late 80s I raced R/C dirt oval, and I've seen 45 year olds jump off the stand and start cussing out 15 year olds for not getting out of the way! Crazy!

[Jantrix]

Hey Rob, it was nice seeing you again yesterday and also meeting Jim for the first time. Also, your weathered trailer was really cool. Now you need something to hook it up to.

Back atcha Wayne. The shop truck is planned for this year with my Cannonballer, and it will be a mildly weathered vintage AMT 34 Ford, using the duallie and stake bed optional parts. You'll likely see it next Jaxcon in the light commercial catagory. I'll fill it and the trailer with random junk and weatherd parts.

I wonder if I should mention this fella to the contest organizer? Maybe we can get a no repeats rule added.

[sjordan2]

Maybe entry forms should have boxes for something like the following:

Has this model been entered in this contest before? Yes__ No__

If so, when? Year:___

Did it win an award? If so, please state what award. (Previous winners are not eligible)__________

PREVIOUS WINNERS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR COMPETITION

Edited February 6, 2011 by sjordan2

[Harry P.]

If it's causing a commotion at the contest, they should just make a rule about it. But as long as there's no rule against it, I say leave the guy alone. If he wants to enter the same models over and over again, that's his call. It may be "bad form" or whatever in some people's eyes... but if it's not against the rules and it makes him happy, who's to say otherwise?

[SuperStockAndy]

Yup. It makes HIM look bad. Those are the kind of things that make the judges overlook him.

[ra7c7er]

Their should be a rule one year and done. I have seen people blow up all the time about things though. Seen it in RC, slot cars, county fair contest, etc. It's not like we are doing these things for cash or anything it's just crazy how people flip out.

[sjordan2]

That's what I was alluding to above. If the contestants and organizers don't like repeated entries of the same model, make rules, and make the entrants officially agree to it on the entry forms.

[ian ashton]

With the cost of trophies and generally decreasing interest in the hobby I'd say most promoters will take all the paying entries they can get, regardless of how many times they've been at the show.

Also, the ISCA rule was a maximum of 2 consecutive winning points seasons, with a third year allowed, but no points counted. Not like it matters, I'm sure most individual 1:1 car shows (on the ISCA circuit and not) try to avoid consecutive year repeats.

[seeker589]

When someone acts poorly in public repeatedly - they only make themselves look quite foolish.

As far as entering a car multiple times in multiple years and expecting a different outcome is a very good illustration of insanity.

So - your just dealing with an insane fool. God bless him!

[MILD]

I've only ever been to one model show and the amount of automotive enteries was very, very small. I'm wonder if a one and done rule might actually make this even worse.

Having said that, I would like to see a one and done rule in place. It seems only fair and given it's expected in a real car show where the costs both monetary and in man hours are so much higher that a car have numerous new features before re-entry I can't see a problem at a model contest. I would also like to see an 'exhibition' class where people are not submitted models for judging due to previously winning or the builder having no interest, which still means there are a lot of subjects on offer for the viewer and the builder gets the opportunity to show off his builds and share knowledge.

Just an idea.

[Draggon]

Well, I argued with a jerk of a judge about a 69 Camaro that I knew was better than the competition, it was just a case of him not understanding my building style, or maybe he just didnt like Camaros, or fought with the old lady that morning. Oh, yeah, by the way, I was 15........

[Jantrix]

Not to poke @ the hornet's nest that I see brewing here, But what about entering in different categories for the sole purpose of garnering an award?

The fella I'm talking about, regularly does this very thing. In fact the show organizer had to speak to him about it this year. He has an El Camino street machine he insists on putting in light commercial because he thinks it's a truck. He puts some into the box stock catagory this year and street machine, next year. I really think this fella has a huge self image issue and requires the awards and attention to maintain it. I didn't mention all this in the original post because I didn't want this to become a bash thread, just to bring up a particular point and discuss it.