an enjoyable and successful Mustang Club of America show
I have been fortunate to have attended several MCA shows, including four of the "anniversary" shows and, most recently, the "regular" shows in Mustang, OK (2010) and Mesquite, TX (2011). This weekend I attended the show in Pensacola, FL.
For the Mustang and Mesquite shows I volunteered to help judge. As a novice, my job was to be the 'scribe' as the head judge did his work. Specifically at the Mesquite show, I requested to help judge Fox Body cars. I ended up working with Chuck, the Assistant National Head Judge for 3rd-5th Generation Cars. Practically speaking, he is a walking encyclopedia of Fox Body info. I got to see the standards against which cars are judged, when to take off points (and how much), etc. This got me to thinking.....
I had previously been entering my car in the Occasional Driven category. In this category, the primary criteria is simply cleanliness. Having watched the judging for the more stringent Concours and Unrestored categories, I realized my car was 'not bad' but certainly had some deficiencies. The largest deficiency was the fact that the undercarriage had not been detailed. I had cleaned and painted the front and rear suspensions in 2004, but they were in need of a rework. And the area between them had not been touched.
So, as a winter project (winter is a relative term here in Houston) I began working the undercarriage. Could not have done it without my new Race Ramps which Santa (aka my wife) bought me for Xmas.
I'm about 70% done with this project but things are looking better.
My friend Ray and I set out for Florida last Thursday. Ray has a nearly perfect, unrestored 92 Feature Car. We drive three hours in the rain, so we must spend several hours detailing our cars after the weather clears midday Friday.
Now it is time to get our cars classified for the show. As it turns out, Chuck the judge is in charge of classifying my car. We exchange pleasantries and I explain my situation: might I be 'worthy' to move up to the Concours-Driven category, such that I might be judged against the rule book and such that I could obtain a shopping list of deficiencies and improvements? He takes a look at the car, quickly notes a couple issues, but says 'I think that would be a good idea.' So I'm set.
Saturday dawns bright and clear--- a beautiful day for a show. Ray and I both volunteer to help judge. Turns out there are only four of us available to judge Fox Body cars, so we pair up such that I'm helping judge his car and he is helping judge my car. And Chuck is the head judge for my car, which is exactly what I want to happen.
Here is my car on the show field.
I help judge 9 cars in the Unrestored category, 8 Fox Bodies and 1 Mustang II. It takes us almost five hours to do this. Very tiring work, but also very educational.
Finally it is Sunday afternoon, time for trophies. My category comes up, my name is called, and I am completely floored to have received a Gold award!!!
Having now helped judge about 15 Fox Bodies, I know my car has plenty of room for improvement. I will send off for my judging sheet, but my suspicion is that what brought up my score is all the bonus points I earned for my array of paperwork: window sticker, owner's manual, dealer bill of sale, etc.
I'm very proud of this accomplishment, but it does push me to go out there and keep improving the car.
PS I hope KCoker chimes in with his experiences at the show...
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Weather was perfect on Sat/Sun though.
Originally Posted by bluemax
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