About Judging Classic Cars

When judging at cars shows, it can sometimes feel like a search for flaws rather than a celebration of beauty and style. 1-point off for the wrong spark-plug wire. Another half-point for a blemish in the mirror finish. The car with the least flaws and most original components wins. Yet there’s also those un-measurable qualities I wonder about. Did the owner buy the car as is, hoping to buy a trophy or did they actually do some of the restoration work themselves? Did the patina come from the owner using the car or has it been kept hidden in the temperature controlled dark until annual show time. OK, there’s no place on the check list of a judge for these romantic attributes, but maybe there could be a judging class for the most unique story behind the car. Or the most unlikely journey to get the vehicle back into condition and returned to the public view. Regardless, I appreciate the discipline of judging, how looking intensely at 10-15 cars is more informative and enjoyable than giving a passive glance to 400. Seems that relates to people too.