What a beautiful day for a show. Seemed strange to get through a day without getting soaked. Tomorrow does not appear to be as promising, but we'll have to wait and see.
The Lions put on a fine show. Considering it was their first one on their own (they used to team with the Deering Lions), they brought forth a pretty good crowd. The high point for my wife and I was when the Awards presenter asked folks how they heard of the show, and some said "HotKarz.com".
Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and no major issues were raised except, once again, the issue of jumping classes. In one instance, one of the Lions asked a fellow to move his vehicle into a more appropriate class, but the man refused. At that point, I think he should have been asked to leave, or at least, not allow him to register.
Other than that, everything seemed to go very well. The shyow was fairly well organized in spite of this being their first year, so they really had no idea what to expect. The hosts were great, and always smiling and friendly. Very helpful.
Since I have been "off my feed" for a couple days, I did not have the energy to get out and around much. But I did get to see all the great cars, and talk with many friends, both old and new.
And we hope to repeat this tomorrow at Mackworth. I must say, I am apprehensive. We have never been to the Island show, and the stories we have heard have made us curious. So I hope the weather holds out long enough to check it out for ourselves. See y'all there!
And remember - every reader may email us with their own comments on shows. Simply send your letters to me at ptwoodycrew@aol.com. If we receive emails on a show, we will create a feedback page for that show and post it here. In the event no letters are received, no page will be created for feedback on that show. All letters will be unedited except that objectionable language will be deleted, and personal attacks will not be allowed. And remember - many show organizers may depend upon your comments to improve the show they host for you, so don't be afraid to write what you feel. All letters will be kept anonymous unless the writer specifically grants permission to be identified. Thank you.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Caring For "Our Own"
HotKarz is going to ask a favor of every reader. We are asking for your prayers for Shirley DiMambro, a member of the car folk community who has been diagnosed as having a brain tumor.
Many of you already know Dan & Shirley DiMambro of the MAVReC Car Club of the Lewiston/Auburn area. Dan is the "Music Man" at several of the cruise night locations in the area, including the Big Dipper (Lisbon Falls) and Roy's Steakburgers (Auburn). Fine folks.
Shirley will be going to the hospital this Oct or Nov to try and have the tumor removed. They would very much appreciate all your prayers. It will be a very hard winter because they do not have insurance to cover this, and will not have her income for about 3 months - that's how long she will be laid up. So the only income will be Dan's disability.
We hope that each of you will keep Shirley and Dan in your thoughts and prayers. Perhaps you could also ask your Pastor, Priest or Rabbi to ask his or her congregation to also pray for her. There is a power to prayer that is not yet fully understood, but at HotKarz, we know from personal experience that prayer is a powerful thing.
Thank you.
Many of you already know Dan & Shirley DiMambro of the MAVReC Car Club of the Lewiston/Auburn area. Dan is the "Music Man" at several of the cruise night locations in the area, including the Big Dipper (Lisbon Falls) and Roy's Steakburgers (Auburn). Fine folks.
Shirley will be going to the hospital this Oct or Nov to try and have the tumor removed. They would very much appreciate all your prayers. It will be a very hard winter because they do not have insurance to cover this, and will not have her income for about 3 months - that's how long she will be laid up. So the only income will be Dan's disability.
We hope that each of you will keep Shirley and Dan in your thoughts and prayers. Perhaps you could also ask your Pastor, Priest or Rabbi to ask his or her congregation to also pray for her. There is a power to prayer that is not yet fully understood, but at HotKarz, we know from personal experience that prayer is a powerful thing.
Thank you.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
They Can't Let It Go
As a side note, it is interesting to note that the two "organizers" of the Belgrade show continue to send insulting and crude emails, and one of them even voted "NO" on having a Letters page - a childish reaction that makes one wonder what they are afraid of - why they don't want people to speak out. But when you read the emails about their show, it's no mystery as to why they are afraid of letting the people speak.
In one of their crude emails (I leave out the crude stuff) they claim that only the best cars won. However, among the emails we have received, two were from people who won at their show, and even they said the judging left a lot to be desired, to put it mildly. So, even some of the winners know the judging was deeply flawed. In another comment from the "organizer", Scott, he states I am fabricating it all - even though everyone can see the comments that others are posting (as administrator of the blog, hosted on GOOGLE, I can accept or reject comments, but cannot edit them. Google does not permit it).
To date, we have received many comments on the blog, and 19 emails from folks who went to their show. Of those, only one was positive - by someone who won at their show. All others were negative. This, in spite of the fact that a) we never asked anyone to send negative reviews, but b) TWICE we asked for folks to send positive ones.
This poor fellow is unhappy about the things folks are saying about his show (and he blames me for that) and insists that I gave his show a "bad rap" just to "get him". Strange, since I have no reason to "get him" - I had never even met him at the time. I really fail to see any reason or purpose for trying to "get him" for anything. I am sorry, but that sounds like paranoia.
He says he is the "better man", because he "gives" to the car folks, while I "take". He does not give any info on just HOW he "gives", except that he puts on a car show in order to raise money for some good cause. But he states he does not do that for the folks, but for the fundraising. Fair enough, but don't say it's "for the folks" when, in fact, it is for the money they bring.
Meanwhile, he ignores what I "give".
He ignores that I pay all the bills for HotKarz out of my own pocket, and I put in about 30 hours a week for free. I don't get paid for this. In fact, HotKarz has already cost me over $1100 this season alone.
He ignores that I have tried to help keep folks going to cruise-ins in spite of the price of gas, by sponsoring (and paying for) the HotKarz Super Cruise. I pay for the trophies. I go to all the cruise-ins within an hour's drive. And I do it to benefit the cruise hosts so they don't shut down (because of gas prices), which benefits the folks. If the folks cut back on the cruises they go to, some cruise hosts may have to stop their cruise nights.
He ignores that I sponsor events and trophies at other shows - out of my own pocket.
He ignores that the folks tell me what they want HotKarz to offer, and I do my best to make it so. I do all the work myself, at my own expense.
He ignores that I make Vehicle Safety cards (Spectator Code of Conduct) available FREE to all show organizers. All the costs come from my own pocket.
He ignores that HotKarz has been known to pay the admission of cars to certain smaller or newer car shows, to help those shows beef up attendance. All from my own pocket.
He ignores that some organizers have properly used the constructive criticism to make their shows better - and more profitable.
But he insists that he is the giver, and all I do is take.
He says all I do is complain. I guess he missed all those posts that praise the good shows, such as Durham, OOB, Dover, Stratham, Casco Bay etc. If his show had been better, maybe he would have noticed those posts. I'll be clear: I do not complain. I simply point out flaws, in the hope they will get corrected next year. And I make suggestions on exactly how that can be accomplished. This is what is known as "constructive criticism".
He says I know nothing about shows, even though I have attended, and even organized shows before he was even born. I was putting the gleam to chrome long before his mother put a gleam in his father's eye. I organized my first show for my Junior class in 1963. I have organized, participated in, or attended thousands of shows in many states over the last 45 years. Yet it is he who is the self-professed expert, and I know nothing at all.
He says I should take up a "different hobby, like BUILDING cars...". I built a '52 Chevy truck "street machine" in 1961. I don't believe he was even born yet. I restored a '65 Mustang just 6 years ago. Perhaps he should take up a new hobby, like getting his facts straight, and facing the truth.
But judging from his emails, I doubt he can handle the truth.
I really do not understand why those fellows want to keep pouring salt on the wound, and making things worse than they need to be. I guess Scott said it all when, just like the guy in Sanford he said, "If you don't like it, don't come." That is precisely the worst possible attitude and reaction to criticism. And to it I say, "Don't worry, Scott - many of us won't."
You and your friend can keep sending your vile comments, but it only proves that you are not worthy of my time in responding. And from this point on, I will not.
In one of their crude emails (I leave out the crude stuff) they claim that only the best cars won. However, among the emails we have received, two were from people who won at their show, and even they said the judging left a lot to be desired, to put it mildly. So, even some of the winners know the judging was deeply flawed. In another comment from the "organizer", Scott, he states I am fabricating it all - even though everyone can see the comments that others are posting (as administrator of the blog, hosted on GOOGLE, I can accept or reject comments, but cannot edit them. Google does not permit it).
To date, we have received many comments on the blog, and 19 emails from folks who went to their show. Of those, only one was positive - by someone who won at their show. All others were negative. This, in spite of the fact that a) we never asked anyone to send negative reviews, but b) TWICE we asked for folks to send positive ones.
This poor fellow is unhappy about the things folks are saying about his show (and he blames me for that) and insists that I gave his show a "bad rap" just to "get him". Strange, since I have no reason to "get him" - I had never even met him at the time. I really fail to see any reason or purpose for trying to "get him" for anything. I am sorry, but that sounds like paranoia.
He says he is the "better man", because he "gives" to the car folks, while I "take". He does not give any info on just HOW he "gives", except that he puts on a car show in order to raise money for some good cause. But he states he does not do that for the folks, but for the fundraising. Fair enough, but don't say it's "for the folks" when, in fact, it is for the money they bring.
Meanwhile, he ignores what I "give".
He ignores that I pay all the bills for HotKarz out of my own pocket, and I put in about 30 hours a week for free. I don't get paid for this. In fact, HotKarz has already cost me over $1100 this season alone.
He ignores that I have tried to help keep folks going to cruise-ins in spite of the price of gas, by sponsoring (and paying for) the HotKarz Super Cruise. I pay for the trophies. I go to all the cruise-ins within an hour's drive. And I do it to benefit the cruise hosts so they don't shut down (because of gas prices), which benefits the folks. If the folks cut back on the cruises they go to, some cruise hosts may have to stop their cruise nights.
He ignores that I sponsor events and trophies at other shows - out of my own pocket.
He ignores that the folks tell me what they want HotKarz to offer, and I do my best to make it so. I do all the work myself, at my own expense.
He ignores that I make Vehicle Safety cards (Spectator Code of Conduct) available FREE to all show organizers. All the costs come from my own pocket.
He ignores that HotKarz has been known to pay the admission of cars to certain smaller or newer car shows, to help those shows beef up attendance. All from my own pocket.
He ignores that some organizers have properly used the constructive criticism to make their shows better - and more profitable.
But he insists that he is the giver, and all I do is take.
He says all I do is complain. I guess he missed all those posts that praise the good shows, such as Durham, OOB, Dover, Stratham, Casco Bay etc. If his show had been better, maybe he would have noticed those posts. I'll be clear: I do not complain. I simply point out flaws, in the hope they will get corrected next year. And I make suggestions on exactly how that can be accomplished. This is what is known as "constructive criticism".
He says I know nothing about shows, even though I have attended, and even organized shows before he was even born. I was putting the gleam to chrome long before his mother put a gleam in his father's eye. I organized my first show for my Junior class in 1963. I have organized, participated in, or attended thousands of shows in many states over the last 45 years. Yet it is he who is the self-professed expert, and I know nothing at all.
He says I should take up a "different hobby, like BUILDING cars...". I built a '52 Chevy truck "street machine" in 1961. I don't believe he was even born yet. I restored a '65 Mustang just 6 years ago. Perhaps he should take up a new hobby, like getting his facts straight, and facing the truth.
But judging from his emails, I doubt he can handle the truth.
I really do not understand why those fellows want to keep pouring salt on the wound, and making things worse than they need to be. I guess Scott said it all when, just like the guy in Sanford he said, "If you don't like it, don't come." That is precisely the worst possible attitude and reaction to criticism. And to it I say, "Don't worry, Scott - many of us won't."
You and your friend can keep sending your vile comments, but it only proves that you are not worthy of my time in responding. And from this point on, I will not.
Robbing Us Blind
Maine has the highest per capita taxes of any state. So, it is hard to understand why our roads and bridges are in such a sorry state. With the taxes we pay, we should have the best roads and bridges in the nation.
To make matters worse - and even more questionable - the legislature is borrowing $210 MILLION dollars for the purpose of repairing roads and bridges. Why? Where have all those excessive taxes gone? Why does Maine have to borrow money to pay for things we already supposedly paid for? In mail received from Senator Jon Courtney, "The repayment of these ($210 million) bonds will come from highway money which had previously been (mis)appropriated for non-highway purposes." Why, we should ask, was highway money used elsewhere? And why should we believe the same will not happen yet again, resulting in having to borrow even more money?
Realize that you and I won't just have to pay even HIGHER taxes to repay that $210 million. We will also have to pay higher taxes to pay the interest on that $210 million. At even 5%, the interest would be over $10 million in just the first year, and a whopping $140+ million over the 20 year term. That works out to a new debt placed on Maine families of $350 million. And that is only for roads and bridges - which we already supposedly paid for!
Unless you like being milked and bled to death, you just may want to consider firing every member of the Maine government come election time, regardless of party. This will send a very clear and strong message to those we do elect - do the job, do it right, or you, too, will be fired.
The only reason you are being taxed so heavily and getting so little in return is simply because Maine voters tend to re-elect incumbents, 95% of the time. They have a stranglehold on the state and its citizens.
It's time to break it. It's time to send a strong message. It is time to take back the power, and once again make it a government of, by and for the people.
If we choose not to make changes, then we have no right to complain when our taxes place our families in jeopardy. Don't blame it on Bush, Baldacci or anyone but ourselves. We are the ones who keep putting these clowns in office. And we are the ones who do not hold them accountable, or fire them, when they mess it up.
No wonder so many folks and businesses are moving across the border to New Hampshire.
To make matters worse - and even more questionable - the legislature is borrowing $210 MILLION dollars for the purpose of repairing roads and bridges. Why? Where have all those excessive taxes gone? Why does Maine have to borrow money to pay for things we already supposedly paid for? In mail received from Senator Jon Courtney, "The repayment of these ($210 million) bonds will come from highway money which had previously been (mis)appropriated for non-highway purposes." Why, we should ask, was highway money used elsewhere? And why should we believe the same will not happen yet again, resulting in having to borrow even more money?
Realize that you and I won't just have to pay even HIGHER taxes to repay that $210 million. We will also have to pay higher taxes to pay the interest on that $210 million. At even 5%, the interest would be over $10 million in just the first year, and a whopping $140+ million over the 20 year term. That works out to a new debt placed on Maine families of $350 million. And that is only for roads and bridges - which we already supposedly paid for!
Unless you like being milked and bled to death, you just may want to consider firing every member of the Maine government come election time, regardless of party. This will send a very clear and strong message to those we do elect - do the job, do it right, or you, too, will be fired.
The only reason you are being taxed so heavily and getting so little in return is simply because Maine voters tend to re-elect incumbents, 95% of the time. They have a stranglehold on the state and its citizens.
It's time to break it. It's time to send a strong message. It is time to take back the power, and once again make it a government of, by and for the people.
If we choose not to make changes, then we have no right to complain when our taxes place our families in jeopardy. Don't blame it on Bush, Baldacci or anyone but ourselves. We are the ones who keep putting these clowns in office. And we are the ones who do not hold them accountable, or fire them, when they mess it up.
No wonder so many folks and businesses are moving across the border to New Hampshire.
The Point of A Car Show
I received the following email from a reader. And while I certainly do appreciate such feedback, I feel there is a need to clarify some things.,
"it seems to me that we have missed the point of having these shows.I have been going to shows for many years,the reason to go is to show my vehicle,meet some really nice people,have a good time and help out a organization raise a little money. if my vehicle get a trophy so be it. you seem to be trying to find the bad things in all the shows you talk about . try to find the good in them for a change.(by the way i was at the Belgrade show and I think they did a fine job) putting it together and pulled off one of the better shows of the year. "
I think perhaps some folks may be missing a bigger point - it's called fairness and respect. When there is impropriety in a show - intentional or not - it robs us all of both. It has nothing to do with trophies. But when a person earns a trophy, they should get it. It is the recognition a person deserves for a job well done. Whether it is a paycheck, a purple heart, a Boy Scout merit badge, a high school diploma or a trophy, people deserve to get what they earn.
At Belgrade, by Scott's own admission, that was not the case - anyone who won a trophy for one thing was pulled out of the running for any other trophy. This means that folks who earned trophies did not get them, and some got trophies who did not earn them. If that is the way it is going to be, what is the point of having trophies at all? They become meaningless, as they no longer represent "the best", nor do they represent recognition for a job well done. Why not just pick names out of a hat and give the trophies that way?
And I received numerous emails from participants who never had judges look over their cars at all.
I do not care about trophies except for what they represent. And if we, the folks, stop caring about honesty, fairness and respect, then there is no point to having a show at all.
I am obviously not trying to only find the bad - you may note my posts about the better shows, like Pine Tree, Durham, Dover etc. What HotKarz is trying to do is help make bad shows good, and good shows better. Ask yourself - if a show gets better because improvements are made, would that not result in more people going to it? And if more people go, would that not result in even more money being made for those good causes?
The point of a car show is two-fold: 1) to raise money for a good cause, and 2) to do so by getting cars to show up in an effort to achieve recognition for a job well done. Trophies are used to help draw the cars. Of course there are other benefits to a show, such as getting together with friends etc. But the point is to make money for a cause through competition. And competition requires a chance to win something. And if you win something, you should get what you won. Otherwise, the competition is meaningless, and so are the awards - you may as well just go out and buy your own.
I am sorry if some disagree, but it is the mission of HotKarz to make things better for all, even if that means hurting some feelings along the way. Progress never comes without change, and change never comes without pain. Either we want to keep the status quo with all the inequities that exist today, or we can make things better. But one thing is certain - if no one points out the problems, no one will ever do anything about them.
As evidence that HotKarz is having a positive effect, I would point out the the Bektash Shiner's show has made some great improvements this year because the people, through HotKarz, pointed out the faults of last years' show. And even though the Pine Tree show was just a few days ago, the organizers have already decided to make improvements based on the issues the people brought up this year, via HotKarz. So, we are accomplishing our mission to make things better. I'm sure they did not like hearing that there were issues with their shows, but they will certainly like the effect their improvements will have. Those improvements will result in bigger and better shows.
And that is the point of HotKarz.
"it seems to me that we have missed the point of having these shows.I have been going to shows for many years,the reason to go is to show my vehicle,meet some really nice people,have a good time and help out a organization raise a little money. if my vehicle get a trophy so be it. you seem to be trying to find the bad things in all the shows you talk about . try to find the good in them for a change.(by the way i was at the Belgrade show and I think they did a fine job) putting it together and pulled off one of the better shows of the year. "
I think perhaps some folks may be missing a bigger point - it's called fairness and respect. When there is impropriety in a show - intentional or not - it robs us all of both. It has nothing to do with trophies. But when a person earns a trophy, they should get it. It is the recognition a person deserves for a job well done. Whether it is a paycheck, a purple heart, a Boy Scout merit badge, a high school diploma or a trophy, people deserve to get what they earn.
At Belgrade, by Scott's own admission, that was not the case - anyone who won a trophy for one thing was pulled out of the running for any other trophy. This means that folks who earned trophies did not get them, and some got trophies who did not earn them. If that is the way it is going to be, what is the point of having trophies at all? They become meaningless, as they no longer represent "the best", nor do they represent recognition for a job well done. Why not just pick names out of a hat and give the trophies that way?
And I received numerous emails from participants who never had judges look over their cars at all.
I do not care about trophies except for what they represent. And if we, the folks, stop caring about honesty, fairness and respect, then there is no point to having a show at all.
I am obviously not trying to only find the bad - you may note my posts about the better shows, like Pine Tree, Durham, Dover etc. What HotKarz is trying to do is help make bad shows good, and good shows better. Ask yourself - if a show gets better because improvements are made, would that not result in more people going to it? And if more people go, would that not result in even more money being made for those good causes?
The point of a car show is two-fold: 1) to raise money for a good cause, and 2) to do so by getting cars to show up in an effort to achieve recognition for a job well done. Trophies are used to help draw the cars. Of course there are other benefits to a show, such as getting together with friends etc. But the point is to make money for a cause through competition. And competition requires a chance to win something. And if you win something, you should get what you won. Otherwise, the competition is meaningless, and so are the awards - you may as well just go out and buy your own.
I am sorry if some disagree, but it is the mission of HotKarz to make things better for all, even if that means hurting some feelings along the way. Progress never comes without change, and change never comes without pain. Either we want to keep the status quo with all the inequities that exist today, or we can make things better. But one thing is certain - if no one points out the problems, no one will ever do anything about them.
As evidence that HotKarz is having a positive effect, I would point out the the Bektash Shiner's show has made some great improvements this year because the people, through HotKarz, pointed out the faults of last years' show. And even though the Pine Tree show was just a few days ago, the organizers have already decided to make improvements based on the issues the people brought up this year, via HotKarz. So, we are accomplishing our mission to make things better. I'm sure they did not like hearing that there were issues with their shows, but they will certainly like the effect their improvements will have. Those improvements will result in bigger and better shows.
And that is the point of HotKarz.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Pine Tree Update
Just to keep y'all informed, I have it on good authority that the two issues with this year's Pine Tree Academy Casco Bay show are being taken care of. Next year's show will include a class for CUSTOMS, and judges will not be permitted to touch vehicles without the owner's consent (which means, if there is something they cannot see, you cannot get points for it). This is how a points show should be, and I am happy to report that this already excellent show will be even better next year.
And I, for one, would like to thank the organizers for providing such a fine show. Kudos! I am already looking forward to losing again next year (my car is not a points car). (^.-)
As an aside, the coordinator of the Belgrade show has sent another comment which, because of its highly insulting and crude nature, I will not publish. Suffice it to say that he claims to have received many emails praising his show, and none that said it was not that good. He offered no evidence of that, so I am prone to be skeptical. All I can say is, if so many people are giving his show praises, why is it that not one of them has responded to our pleas to let US know, so we can tell the world how great the show was? But none has done so, and it begs the question, why not?
If you have emailed Scott with praise for his Belgrade show, please share that praise with us, so we can share it with over 700 readers. And if you have emailed him with criticism, please let us know that, too. HotKarz bends over backward to be fair, and we do want both sides, assuming there are two sides. And, while we really do not wish to pursue this any further than necessary, I think you all have a right to get the whole story. To that end, when all the comments and emails have been collected I will create a page on HotKarz where all the comments will be posted anonymously (so no one can give you a hard time for your opinions). Then you can all make up your own minds. At no point will I add my own comments, nor will I edit any comments except for bad language or personal attacks, both of which are unnecessary.
In fact, HotKarz may decide to create such a page for each show, so that you, the folks, can speak out and be heard, and car show organizers can discover what the folks think about their show, and how they can improve it, if necessary. And your emails and comments will be kept anonymous (unless you request otherwise). It will be like a "Letters to the Editor" page in the newspaper, and HotKarz will not add any of its own comments. Please let me know if you like this idea or not by voting on it at the upper left of this page.
Bill
And I, for one, would like to thank the organizers for providing such a fine show. Kudos! I am already looking forward to losing again next year (my car is not a points car). (^.-)
As an aside, the coordinator of the Belgrade show has sent another comment which, because of its highly insulting and crude nature, I will not publish. Suffice it to say that he claims to have received many emails praising his show, and none that said it was not that good. He offered no evidence of that, so I am prone to be skeptical. All I can say is, if so many people are giving his show praises, why is it that not one of them has responded to our pleas to let US know, so we can tell the world how great the show was? But none has done so, and it begs the question, why not?
If you have emailed Scott with praise for his Belgrade show, please share that praise with us, so we can share it with over 700 readers. And if you have emailed him with criticism, please let us know that, too. HotKarz bends over backward to be fair, and we do want both sides, assuming there are two sides. And, while we really do not wish to pursue this any further than necessary, I think you all have a right to get the whole story. To that end, when all the comments and emails have been collected I will create a page on HotKarz where all the comments will be posted anonymously (so no one can give you a hard time for your opinions). Then you can all make up your own minds. At no point will I add my own comments, nor will I edit any comments except for bad language or personal attacks, both of which are unnecessary.
In fact, HotKarz may decide to create such a page for each show, so that you, the folks, can speak out and be heard, and car show organizers can discover what the folks think about their show, and how they can improve it, if necessary. And your emails and comments will be kept anonymous (unless you request otherwise). It will be like a "Letters to the Editor" page in the newspaper, and HotKarz will not add any of its own comments. Please let me know if you like this idea or not by voting on it at the upper left of this page.
Bill
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Bektash Shrine Show
We went to the Bektash Temple (Shriners) show in Concord, NH last year. To say we were not impressed is putting it mildly, if you recall my post. And it was not merely my opinion - the same opinion was shared by many of the 60 car buffs who showed up.
It really did hurt me to have to write that post. The Bektash Temple has always been special to my family, ever since 1959. They have played an important, personal role in our lives. I consider them to be family. So, writing a less-than-complimentary review was a difficult thing to do. But I had no choice - of what use would this website really be if its integrity were compromised?
So now I am very pleased to say that the show organizers have contacted HotKarz - they listened to the criticism, and chose to make some good changes that will improve their show. Once again, the Shriners have risen to the top by virtue of their willingness to adapt and improve.
They have addressed the judging issues. And they are having classes this year instead of an "open field". These are big changes. But the Shriners are "big" people, so it is not unexpected. I will be happy to attend their show this year if I can.
Now if only the Kora Shriners would give a little more thought to their system of judging...
It really did hurt me to have to write that post. The Bektash Temple has always been special to my family, ever since 1959. They have played an important, personal role in our lives. I consider them to be family. So, writing a less-than-complimentary review was a difficult thing to do. But I had no choice - of what use would this website really be if its integrity were compromised?
So now I am very pleased to say that the show organizers have contacted HotKarz - they listened to the criticism, and chose to make some good changes that will improve their show. Once again, the Shriners have risen to the top by virtue of their willingness to adapt and improve.
They have addressed the judging issues. And they are having classes this year instead of an "open field". These are big changes. But the Shriners are "big" people, so it is not unexpected. I will be happy to attend their show this year if I can.
Now if only the Kora Shriners would give a little more thought to their system of judging...
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Last Word
The coordinator of the Belgrade Show, and his friend, sent comments, and asked me to post them. While I am not willing to debate this further, since it is going nowhere, it is only fair to post their comments. However, interspersed in their comments will be my own response to points that I feel need a response. That said, here are their comments:
MIKE (re: the Pine Tree Academy show): "I noticed that judges had their cars in the show...not a problem in my eyes, but if you folks (HotKarz) are going to BLAST Belgrade folks about this, you should point this out with all shows."
HOTKARZ RESPONSE: HotKarz did NOT "blast Belgrade" about judges having their cars in the show. Our readers did, and we simply posted their comments as we are posting yours. So HotKarz would appreciate it if you refrain from making untrue accusations. My article on judges' cars that was posted earlier states emphatically that we do not have a problem with judges' cars. Our only problem is with poor judges. A poor judge does not become a good judge just because you remove his car. And a good judge does not become a poor judge just because he has a car in the show.
SCOTT (Belgrade Show Coordinator): " We have LOTS of changes planned for next year. First, I am not judging..."
HOTKARZ: Good change.
SCOTT: "...however, I will be overseeing the whole operation since I am the coordinator.But we will be adding 4 more judges, we will hold judges meetings, adding more classes, more activities, also possibly adding some Saturday events, Early Bird specials."
HOTKARZ: Excellent. However, no one complained about the quality of your show - only about the quality of the judging.
SCOTT: "And the judges will be going around in groups of two this time. And the judges cars will be in the show, but in a (separate) class of their own, and judged by the top 3-6 car owners pulled out for outstanding detail, with the same judging sheets the judges use."
HOTKARZ: We do not have a problem with that, though it sounds a little "overdone" and unnecessary. And what qualifies those car owners to be judges? Just because their cars are well detailed? Whatever. But I could bring a new 2009 off the showroom floor, expertly detailed by the car dealer, and win, but that does not qualify me as a judge. Just my thought on this.
SCOTT: "Also in each class we are considering going with 4 trophies per class. As far as the comment someone else put up about pulling out the 4 cars from the rest. Well, that will be different as well. We will do that only after the judging. The point of doing that was to make it so not one person wins all the trophies like 1st in his class, best engine, best of show and peoples choice. This gives more people a chance to win."
HOTKARZ: Now that is where we see a real problem, Scott. Anyone concerned with fairness would not prevent anyone from winning a trophy they rightfully earned. If someone does such a great job as to be WORTHY of more than one trophy, then he/she should win as many as they are entitled to. If he wins 1st in his class, and he ALSO has the best engine, best paint and best car in the show, then he deserves the awards for being the best. To limit the number of trophies an entrant can win does nothing more than cheat a deserving person out of awards they worked for and earned. EXAMPLE: If you get shot saving your entire regiment in a war, and you EARN the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor, should you only receive the Purple Heart? Or, you bust your hump working two jobs. Should you only get paid for one, and the other paycheck given to some welfare guy because he needs it more? As for giving "more people a chance to win", you should reconsider that - if they are not the real winner, they should not win. They would not be "winning" anything. They would simply be getting the trophy that someone else earned - and that is wrong.
SCOTT: "I Think the Belgrade Show is run very much like every other show in this state..."
HOTKARZ: There is no "standard" in Maine - all shows are different. And no one had a problem with your show - they only objected to problems in the judging. And I think the folks would like to have seen you offer changes in the quality and fairness of the judging, since that was the source of their discontent. But that issue seems to be absent in your comment. I hope you give as much thought to choosing/educating GOOD judges as you apparently put into the other aspects of your show.
Again, HotKarz would like for those who attended the Belgrade show to submit their input/suggestions/criticisms to Scott at chevyshowtrucks@yahoo.com. Scott has asked for thoughts and ideas.
And as far as the Belgrade show is concerned, that is the last word. HotKarz is moving on...
Bill
MIKE (re: the Pine Tree Academy show): "I noticed that judges had their cars in the show...not a problem in my eyes, but if you folks (HotKarz) are going to BLAST Belgrade folks about this, you should point this out with all shows."
HOTKARZ RESPONSE: HotKarz did NOT "blast Belgrade" about judges having their cars in the show. Our readers did, and we simply posted their comments as we are posting yours. So HotKarz would appreciate it if you refrain from making untrue accusations. My article on judges' cars that was posted earlier states emphatically that we do not have a problem with judges' cars. Our only problem is with poor judges. A poor judge does not become a good judge just because you remove his car. And a good judge does not become a poor judge just because he has a car in the show.
SCOTT (Belgrade Show Coordinator): " We have LOTS of changes planned for next year. First, I am not judging..."
HOTKARZ: Good change.
SCOTT: "...however, I will be overseeing the whole operation since I am the coordinator.But we will be adding 4 more judges, we will hold judges meetings, adding more classes, more activities, also possibly adding some Saturday events, Early Bird specials."
HOTKARZ: Excellent. However, no one complained about the quality of your show - only about the quality of the judging.
SCOTT: "And the judges will be going around in groups of two this time. And the judges cars will be in the show, but in a (separate) class of their own, and judged by the top 3-6 car owners pulled out for outstanding detail, with the same judging sheets the judges use."
HOTKARZ: We do not have a problem with that, though it sounds a little "overdone" and unnecessary. And what qualifies those car owners to be judges? Just because their cars are well detailed? Whatever. But I could bring a new 2009 off the showroom floor, expertly detailed by the car dealer, and win, but that does not qualify me as a judge. Just my thought on this.
SCOTT: "Also in each class we are considering going with 4 trophies per class. As far as the comment someone else put up about pulling out the 4 cars from the rest. Well, that will be different as well. We will do that only after the judging. The point of doing that was to make it so not one person wins all the trophies like 1st in his class, best engine, best of show and peoples choice. This gives more people a chance to win."
HOTKARZ: Now that is where we see a real problem, Scott. Anyone concerned with fairness would not prevent anyone from winning a trophy they rightfully earned. If someone does such a great job as to be WORTHY of more than one trophy, then he/she should win as many as they are entitled to. If he wins 1st in his class, and he ALSO has the best engine, best paint and best car in the show, then he deserves the awards for being the best. To limit the number of trophies an entrant can win does nothing more than cheat a deserving person out of awards they worked for and earned. EXAMPLE: If you get shot saving your entire regiment in a war, and you EARN the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor, should you only receive the Purple Heart? Or, you bust your hump working two jobs. Should you only get paid for one, and the other paycheck given to some welfare guy because he needs it more? As for giving "more people a chance to win", you should reconsider that - if they are not the real winner, they should not win. They would not be "winning" anything. They would simply be getting the trophy that someone else earned - and that is wrong.
SCOTT: "I Think the Belgrade Show is run very much like every other show in this state..."
HOTKARZ: There is no "standard" in Maine - all shows are different. And no one had a problem with your show - they only objected to problems in the judging. And I think the folks would like to have seen you offer changes in the quality and fairness of the judging, since that was the source of their discontent. But that issue seems to be absent in your comment. I hope you give as much thought to choosing/educating GOOD judges as you apparently put into the other aspects of your show.
Again, HotKarz would like for those who attended the Belgrade show to submit their input/suggestions/criticisms to Scott at chevyshowtrucks@yahoo.com. Scott has asked for thoughts and ideas.
And as far as the Belgrade show is concerned, that is the last word. HotKarz is moving on...
Bill
An Update on Belgrade
I was going to let the Belgrade situation die an ugly death. After all, it is not the intention of HotKarz to do unnecessary harm. And the folks who attended that show lodged numerous complaints about how the judging was conducted (everything else seemed fine). The order of the day was "damage control" - move on. And I decided I would just go to their show next year, to see for myself, and hopefully to see that appropriate changes were made.
But meeting with the organizer of the Belgrade show (Scott) at Pine Tree Academy changed everything. He told me that HotKarz was not telling the truth (we were, of course - we did nothing but post actual, unedited emails). He also said we were unfair, to only post the negatives. But as readers of HotKarz know, I specifically begged people who liked the show to send me their opinions - stand up for the show if you liked it, please! But no one did. Not one person! But I did get several more emails that restated the judging problems.
I could not very well post positive comments if there weren't any. But Scott still insisted that "most folks loved the show and had no problem with it." Fine - if they liked it so much, why were they not willing to stand up and say so? Scott then copped the same attitude as Sanford by saying, "If they didn't like the show, don't come back next year. We don't need them." Nice attitude for someone who says he is trying to make his show bigger.
He then told me that, since some judges did not show up, he asked "Roy" to "follow another judge, but not BE a judge". I thought, "Hm-m-m! Judges who need groupies!" If the guy was not a judge, he had no business "following" a judge around and "helping" him. Either he was a judge, or he should not have been involved. If he was not a judge, then exactly what WAS his purpose - to hold the judges' clipboard??? Nothing against Roy - he's just caught in the middle, after only trying to help.
Then this guy Scott really floored me. First, he said he was the head judge, and there was no "good ol' boys" network. His judging was fair and unbiased. So I asked him how he votes in a peer judged show. He stated that in a peer show, he votes for his buddies, and not the best cars, and he saw nothing wrong with that. Bear in mind that this is the same guy who, in his previous breath, stated he was a fair and unbiased judge.
I asked him to repeat, and he did - in a peer judged show, he said it was OK to forego judging altogether and just vote for his buddies. I guess he does not realize that "peer judged" simply means the peers are the JUDGES, and therefore they are expected to JUDGE.
Now, I know a lot of folks do that, and I don't normally see a huge problem with that, since those folks do not profess to be judges who are experts at judging cars. But THIS guy claims to be a judge! And if he does not have the integrity to be a fair judge in a peer show, how can anyone expect him to be a fair judge in a judged show?
Maybe Scott is a fine man. But he certainly has zero qualifications for judging anything. He does state that one of the judges, named Bo, I believe, is an expert. I'll give him that. Fine. But if any or all of the other judges were not qualified, that taints the entire judging. One good judge does not make for "fair judging". All it takes is for one bad apple to spoil the entire barrel. Since Scott, himself, readily claims to be a "good ol' boy" type judge in peer judging, I would not have much faith in his objectivity when judging any show, or in choosing judges.
Having spoken with Scott face to face, I am tempted to believe the real problem was not the show, itself, but rather the person who arranged the judging. And I am just as certain there was no "evil intent" in the judging. Just poor judgement. I believe Scott is a good man, with honest intentions, but a poor judge who may not even realize it. If Bo is the expert Scott claims, perhaps he should be the person to choose judges, and teach them the basics. And perhaps Scott should stick to organizing the show, which I understand he did quite well. I simply think this is a case of a good banana trying hard to be a good orange. Stick with the part you are good at, and let others do what they are good at.
Scott says that he doesn't plan on making many changes for next year, so I see no point in wasting my time and money going to his show - if he cannot recognize that something is wrong, then he certainly cannot fix it. He also says next year will be "bigger and better." I wish him all the luck. But judging from the many, many negative comments I received from participants, I'm not sure that his show will get bigger.
Here's an idea - if you went to the Belgrade show, Scott encouraged you to email him (in his email that we posted earlier). His address is chevyshowtrucks@yahoo.com. Do him a big favor - if you really liked his show and you do not think any changes are necessary, email him and tell him so - he could use the support. But if you went to his show and were not satisfied, then do him a favor and let him know. If you do not, he will have no reason to make any attempt to improve.
We do not need any show to die. We just need to work at improving the ones we have. Some, like Sanford, refuse to improve. That is their choice. But most organizers are willing to listen when the folks speak. And since you are the people, you can do your part by emailing Scott either with praise, or with constructive criticism - or both.
But please, no matter how you feel, be civil and polite. As for me, I am closing the books on this issue. If I hear that problems are acknowledged, and appropriate changes made, that's fine - I'll do my part to make sure everyone knows the show is improving.
Otherwise, I'll just put this on the same dusty shelf as a certain show in Sanford.
But meeting with the organizer of the Belgrade show (Scott) at Pine Tree Academy changed everything. He told me that HotKarz was not telling the truth (we were, of course - we did nothing but post actual, unedited emails). He also said we were unfair, to only post the negatives. But as readers of HotKarz know, I specifically begged people who liked the show to send me their opinions - stand up for the show if you liked it, please! But no one did. Not one person! But I did get several more emails that restated the judging problems.
I could not very well post positive comments if there weren't any. But Scott still insisted that "most folks loved the show and had no problem with it." Fine - if they liked it so much, why were they not willing to stand up and say so? Scott then copped the same attitude as Sanford by saying, "If they didn't like the show, don't come back next year. We don't need them." Nice attitude for someone who says he is trying to make his show bigger.
He then told me that, since some judges did not show up, he asked "Roy" to "follow another judge, but not BE a judge". I thought, "Hm-m-m! Judges who need groupies!" If the guy was not a judge, he had no business "following" a judge around and "helping" him. Either he was a judge, or he should not have been involved. If he was not a judge, then exactly what WAS his purpose - to hold the judges' clipboard??? Nothing against Roy - he's just caught in the middle, after only trying to help.
Then this guy Scott really floored me. First, he said he was the head judge, and there was no "good ol' boys" network. His judging was fair and unbiased. So I asked him how he votes in a peer judged show. He stated that in a peer show, he votes for his buddies, and not the best cars, and he saw nothing wrong with that. Bear in mind that this is the same guy who, in his previous breath, stated he was a fair and unbiased judge.
I asked him to repeat, and he did - in a peer judged show, he said it was OK to forego judging altogether and just vote for his buddies. I guess he does not realize that "peer judged" simply means the peers are the JUDGES, and therefore they are expected to JUDGE.
Now, I know a lot of folks do that, and I don't normally see a huge problem with that, since those folks do not profess to be judges who are experts at judging cars. But THIS guy claims to be a judge! And if he does not have the integrity to be a fair judge in a peer show, how can anyone expect him to be a fair judge in a judged show?
Maybe Scott is a fine man. But he certainly has zero qualifications for judging anything. He does state that one of the judges, named Bo, I believe, is an expert. I'll give him that. Fine. But if any or all of the other judges were not qualified, that taints the entire judging. One good judge does not make for "fair judging". All it takes is for one bad apple to spoil the entire barrel. Since Scott, himself, readily claims to be a "good ol' boy" type judge in peer judging, I would not have much faith in his objectivity when judging any show, or in choosing judges.
Having spoken with Scott face to face, I am tempted to believe the real problem was not the show, itself, but rather the person who arranged the judging. And I am just as certain there was no "evil intent" in the judging. Just poor judgement. I believe Scott is a good man, with honest intentions, but a poor judge who may not even realize it. If Bo is the expert Scott claims, perhaps he should be the person to choose judges, and teach them the basics. And perhaps Scott should stick to organizing the show, which I understand he did quite well. I simply think this is a case of a good banana trying hard to be a good orange. Stick with the part you are good at, and let others do what they are good at.
Scott says that he doesn't plan on making many changes for next year, so I see no point in wasting my time and money going to his show - if he cannot recognize that something is wrong, then he certainly cannot fix it. He also says next year will be "bigger and better." I wish him all the luck. But judging from the many, many negative comments I received from participants, I'm not sure that his show will get bigger.
Here's an idea - if you went to the Belgrade show, Scott encouraged you to email him (in his email that we posted earlier). His address is chevyshowtrucks@yahoo.com. Do him a big favor - if you really liked his show and you do not think any changes are necessary, email him and tell him so - he could use the support. But if you went to his show and were not satisfied, then do him a favor and let him know. If you do not, he will have no reason to make any attempt to improve.
We do not need any show to die. We just need to work at improving the ones we have. Some, like Sanford, refuse to improve. That is their choice. But most organizers are willing to listen when the folks speak. And since you are the people, you can do your part by emailing Scott either with praise, or with constructive criticism - or both.
But please, no matter how you feel, be civil and polite. As for me, I am closing the books on this issue. If I hear that problems are acknowledged, and appropriate changes made, that's fine - I'll do my part to make sure everyone knows the show is improving.
Otherwise, I'll just put this on the same dusty shelf as a certain show in Sanford.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
An Unplanned Post...
Should a judge have a car in the show? This is a perplexing question with no simple, cut-n-dried answer. If you need a simple answer, it would have to be "NO". But a simple answer is not the best answer.
It is always nice to have judges with no horse in the race. It simplifies things. But it does not make them better, and here's why:
If a judge is so weak as to be biased about his own vehicle, then in the absence of his vehicle, he is weak enough to give points to his buddies, rather than to the best vehicles. In other words, a poor judge is a poor judge, whether he has a car in the show or not.
The corollary, of course, is that a good judge is a good judge, whether he has a car in the show or not.
If a show chooses judges who a) know cars very well, b) have integrity and can be trusted, and c) the judge is not permitted to judge his own class (just to avoid any possible appearance of impropriety), then it should not be a problem if the judge has a car in the show. He cannot vote for himself, and his integrity and qualifications keep him unbiased in other classes. You simply cannot expect anything better. A good judge is a good judge. He is the kind of person who, in a peer judged show, will always vote for the best cars in their class - even if they are not his best buddies. He is trustworthy, and his judgment is sound.
And that's good enough for me! As for my "buddies", they understand that they will only get my vote if they earn it. I vote for cars, not people. They accept that.
(NOTE: One commenter stated, "Look, Bottom line, If you are a judge in a show and you do not want to hear any b.s., forget the trophy for that one day! I mean, one less trophy, is it really that big of a deal?!?I'm sick to death of these judges whining about how they don't want to come off bad! "
With all due respect, I think he is missing the point - once more: a good judge does not become bad by being in the show, and a bad judge does not become good by staying out of the show. If good judges are chosen, there is no legitimate reason why he cannot be in the show, as long as he IS a good judge, and does not judge his own class. Either he is honest, or he isn't. If he isn't, taking his car out will not make him more honest! And, one more time, it is NOT about the trophy. But if he has EARNED it, he should be entitled to try for it, just like anyone else.)
It is always nice to have judges with no horse in the race. It simplifies things. But it does not make them better, and here's why:
If a judge is so weak as to be biased about his own vehicle, then in the absence of his vehicle, he is weak enough to give points to his buddies, rather than to the best vehicles. In other words, a poor judge is a poor judge, whether he has a car in the show or not.
The corollary, of course, is that a good judge is a good judge, whether he has a car in the show or not.
If a show chooses judges who a) know cars very well, b) have integrity and can be trusted, and c) the judge is not permitted to judge his own class (just to avoid any possible appearance of impropriety), then it should not be a problem if the judge has a car in the show. He cannot vote for himself, and his integrity and qualifications keep him unbiased in other classes. You simply cannot expect anything better. A good judge is a good judge. He is the kind of person who, in a peer judged show, will always vote for the best cars in their class - even if they are not his best buddies. He is trustworthy, and his judgment is sound.
And that's good enough for me! As for my "buddies", they understand that they will only get my vote if they earn it. I vote for cars, not people. They accept that.
(NOTE: One commenter stated, "Look, Bottom line, If you are a judge in a show and you do not want to hear any b.s., forget the trophy for that one day! I mean, one less trophy, is it really that big of a deal?!?I'm sick to death of these judges whining about how they don't want to come off bad! "
With all due respect, I think he is missing the point - once more: a good judge does not become bad by being in the show, and a bad judge does not become good by staying out of the show. If good judges are chosen, there is no legitimate reason why he cannot be in the show, as long as he IS a good judge, and does not judge his own class. Either he is honest, or he isn't. If he isn't, taking his car out will not make him more honest! And, one more time, it is NOT about the trophy. But if he has EARNED it, he should be entitled to try for it, just like anyone else.)
Pine Tree Academy
The Casco Bay show at Pine Tree Academy in Freeport was quite different this year. Last year, I was disappointed that we won. Yes, you heard that correctly. It was a judged show, by points, but the judges last year were lax, and in a true points show, my car should never have won. It simply is not a "points" car, and I know it.
This year was greatly improved (though some folks were not happy that it was a strict points show). But as a points show, this one was bordering on exceptional. They were almost too strict. I saw the sheets the judges had to use, and it was even more comprehensive than the standard. If your car was not perfect, you should not be disappointed if you did not win. In a points show, perfection is sought.
The field was well laid out, as usual, and well planned. Organization was the key, and this show was well organized. And the hosts did not intentionally permit any "jumping the fence" - those who tried it were moved to appropriate classes quickly. That, too, was as it should be. The hosts understood the value of class integrity. And the judges were thorough, and if there was any bias, it did not show. (If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were readers of this blog!)
But nothing is perfect, and neither was this show. There was one obvious, and in my opinion serious flaw that is easily corrected for next year - some of the judges were "handlers". I'll be frank (if Frank doesn't mind): judges are not supposed to touch any part of any vehicle at any time. If the judge cannot see something, then he/she is to simply not apply any points in that category. Judge only what you can see without touching. If the doors are not open, then do not give full points for interior - only what you can see. But do not open the doors! And do not climb in and make yourself comfy, as I observed two judges doing. If the hood is not open, do not give any points for the engine compartment. Do not open the hood without the owner's permission.
I saw judges run their hands on the inside of bumpers, where dirt accumulates, then ran those same gritty hands over the rain-soaked finish. A serious no-no.
Judges: do not touch any part of any vehicle at any time, for any reason. You may ask the owner, if present, to open things for you. Otherwise, you do not give points for things you cannot observe.
Other than this one flaw, I found the Pine Tree Academy show to be otherwise nearly flawless. I'll be back next year, even though I do not own a "points worthy" vehicle :o)
P.S. One reader did make a good point: The Academy should seriously consider including a class for CUSTOMS next year. The lack of such a class today caused problems with at least one or two fine vehicles, and resulted in a class "mis-match" that was unfair to some.
This year was greatly improved (though some folks were not happy that it was a strict points show). But as a points show, this one was bordering on exceptional. They were almost too strict. I saw the sheets the judges had to use, and it was even more comprehensive than the standard. If your car was not perfect, you should not be disappointed if you did not win. In a points show, perfection is sought.
The field was well laid out, as usual, and well planned. Organization was the key, and this show was well organized. And the hosts did not intentionally permit any "jumping the fence" - those who tried it were moved to appropriate classes quickly. That, too, was as it should be. The hosts understood the value of class integrity. And the judges were thorough, and if there was any bias, it did not show. (If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were readers of this blog!)
But nothing is perfect, and neither was this show. There was one obvious, and in my opinion serious flaw that is easily corrected for next year - some of the judges were "handlers". I'll be frank (if Frank doesn't mind): judges are not supposed to touch any part of any vehicle at any time. If the judge cannot see something, then he/she is to simply not apply any points in that category. Judge only what you can see without touching. If the doors are not open, then do not give full points for interior - only what you can see. But do not open the doors! And do not climb in and make yourself comfy, as I observed two judges doing. If the hood is not open, do not give any points for the engine compartment. Do not open the hood without the owner's permission.
I saw judges run their hands on the inside of bumpers, where dirt accumulates, then ran those same gritty hands over the rain-soaked finish. A serious no-no.
Judges: do not touch any part of any vehicle at any time, for any reason. You may ask the owner, if present, to open things for you. Otherwise, you do not give points for things you cannot observe.
Other than this one flaw, I found the Pine Tree Academy show to be otherwise nearly flawless. I'll be back next year, even though I do not own a "points worthy" vehicle :o)
P.S. One reader did make a good point: The Academy should seriously consider including a class for CUSTOMS next year. The lack of such a class today caused problems with at least one or two fine vehicles, and resulted in a class "mis-match" that was unfair to some.
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