Oh, Gee..........Here we go again.
Just as there is room for those who wish to make their cars go as fast as
possible, express their individuality or to civilize their cars, there too
should be room for people who want to try to recreate examples that represent
the cars as new.
The problem seems to arise when you get down to judging. It is easy to
determine which car(s) are fastest. -The expressions of individuality need
only satisfy the owner. -But concours requires a set of standards, if one
cares to claim that the car is "as original", at least with broadly accepted
validity.
I think it is important to remember that these are hobbies and clubs, not
corporations or law offices. There are a multitude of British car shows and
competitions. I have seen many many Healeys come away with trophies even
though the owner had chosen condition and flash over strict originality. There
is "popular choice" also, even at the most finicky club-sponsored events. With
all that, there is, and should be, a place to compete where it matters if your
heat shield is held on by the correct brass rivets. - And SOMEONE needs to be
the arbiter of what the cars looked like originally. Otherwise, this fraction
of the car hobby makes no sense. I have seen the standards evolve and change
over the last 20 years to attempt to be realistic, and to be true to the
current understanding of what the new cars were like. The standards and the
record keeping will never satisfy everyone. -And they will never satisfy those
who also wish to express their individuality through the cars, as that is not
what concours competition was created to judge.
One of the problems with the whole concours thing seems to be the terminology.
"Not original" or worse, "not correct" carry with them negative connotations.
Not correct = not right = wrong = bad = not as good. Which seems superior and
judgemental. ----Which is not the intent at all. -A lot of modified cars are
actually BETTER CARS, but they are just different than "as new", and pursue a
different standard of excellence than concours does.
By it's nature, concours judging is a thankless job. Hardly anyone is likely
to be entirely happy at the end. Standards will always be contested, and
subjective aspects will always be argued. ( My friend judges VWs and Ghias,
and he encounters the same thing). -It used to be that only one of two
pristine cars could win, determined by some miniscule point. Be glad that
multiple cars can now receive the recognition that they deserve. Further, no
one should be able to claim various concours achievements without question,
when you consider the work and investment that goes into actually winning,
whether it be a gold silver or bronze. -Any more than you'd take it on faith
that a car/driver had won a major racing event. -And then there are those who
wouldn't care in either case. Each to his own. -And as someone already said,
if current events/functions/judgings don't satisfy the way you enjoy your car,
then work in a civil way to improve them or create your own!
David W. Jones
'62 Mk II BT7 tricarb
Cumberland, RI USA
Check out the new British Cars Forum:
http://www.team.net/the-local/tiki-view_forum.php?forumId=8
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