[Healeys] Fwd: concours judging

[Chris Dimmock [Healey]]

This is just a personal opinion.
Firstly, I totally support the concept of a "unified" world standard for
Healey concours judging, and have championed that end for over 12 years here
in NSW Australia - despite not actually owning a bog standard original car.
I truly believe that having a consistent global standard, with consistent
judging guidelines, administed by passionate people, with published
guidelines, and accepting newly uncovered evidence, and discussing it, and
modifying the published guielines,is the ABSOLUTE best outcome for our
Marque globally.
And once again - a sincere thank you to all those involved in the US, and
anyone else - who has conributed to the wonderful resource of concours
originality guidelines from the US club. Thank you all.
Our friends in the US have provided that framework.
In answer to Josef's question, I've thought long and hard about his question
for 30 years. And I'd like to rephrase it, if that's ok Josef.
Let's go back to 1953 and talk concours.
Imagine it is one or two months after the delivery of the first 100's to
your country, in 1953, wherever in the world you are...
Imagine that say 2 or 5 or 20 or 50 guys turned up to your 'first' club
meeting, in their brand new BN1's, and it was a concours.... And the oldest
BN1 was now 30 days old....
In my personal opinion, given that almost every car was "original", I think
the "best" car would have theoretically been the one which was driven home
from the showroom, and "put together properly" by the owner. And cleaned and
scrubbed and polished all over.
The guy that fixed and adjusted the door gaps, bonnet gaps, etc, and cleaned
off the overspray, and adjusted the bumpers, door openers,  etc. And fixed
the oil leaks.... And cleaned it until it shone all over
The car that actually was 'best built' , or "best put together" amounst a
whole pile of brand new cars..
Think about which would have been the "best" car when they were new.
Bog standard cars, judged by their peers..... Back in the day.
Just my opinion.
Me? I'd rather have triple webers, all original numbers, with minilites and
heaps of negative camber; yet .... I still run a Lucas generator, Lucas
starter motor, and Armstrong lever arm shocks (cause they are original....
And you just don't change things like that!!!)
Thanks for the opportunity for my few cents M.J.B, and this resource that
allows us to discuss this stuff!
Chris
www.myaustinhealey.com

On 04/08/2010, at 5:16 PM, <Josef.Eckert at t-systems.com> wrote:

> Frederich,
> Don't be confused. I am speaking now for Concours on the European side of
> the
> pond. Members of the US Concours Committee may have a different view.
> Our today's standards are much higher than they were when the Austin-Healey
> cars were produced. Or let me say it differently........
>
> I am confused about this concours judging.