ClassicCar

Back in the 80's I had a non running electric car(no batteries) on a trailer that I hauled 6 miles to a local car show. Never had entered a show before. Didnt know any rules, and just a few of the guys.

On this particular show, there were less than 150 cars entered. The closing time to enter was 12 noon I think, so since I hadnt registered yet, I waited until the last 20 minutes, one of the unlimited classes didnt have but one or two in the class. So I registered in the fewest amount entered class and won a trophy. My first. Had to take the car off the trailer to register it, but they accepted it, only electric car to enter. Still have my first trophy. thanks, Bob

To coin an old phrase from country music: "This is not the first time this old cowboy has been throwed.." I have been around the old car hobby for better than 45 years. I remember my first trophy, my first magazine cover and my first calander cover and being featured on a "T" shirt. I moonlighted for a builder who had two of his cars win the Peble Beach Concours, Had one of my personal cars win at a national competition and have trophies and dash plaques that date back into the late 50's. However, the best trophies are always the first one that you win with a car. There is no way to know how a car will be accepted. I have had great (-high point-cars) never win competition and I have had others win every time that I took them out. Acceptance form our family, firends and those who go to car shows is fun, even if there is sometimes a "good old boy" club functioning. However, the self satisfaction of building a car outways a trophy given by those who sponsor the shows. I think this recognition is important, but not as important as the build. With that said, congradulations on your first trophy. Great car and a great job with the build.....

billjharris wrote:

my .02 worth:



I've hobbied in old cars over 50 years and this I find true for me:



the car hobby is a lot more enjoyable when you can put trying to win trophies behind you.

I agree. I was in a club at one time that gave trophies even at local meets where only 10 cars usually showed up and usually it was the same 10 so you were bound to get one at some point but you stopped caring. What trophies represent is recognition and appreciation for all the hard work you did to preserve a car. I appreciate the recognition but I don't feel I need a shiny object collecting dust on my shelf to know I did the best job I could and I'm past needing them at all.



Now if the inclusion of trophies are the reason registration fees go up to attend a mixed make show I can definately do without them!

Last year I headed out to a local car show and my car broke down. I was close enough to home I walked home and picked up my trailer. Since I had it loaded, I said "what the heck" and took it to the car show anyway. They gave me a "gag" trophy titled: shortest distance trailered to a show. It was less than two miles. It was a lot of fun and I still get a rub every now and then as I drive to the local cruize in's. By the way, helped on a restoration of a 1917 American LaFrance for the local city. It was at "Logan's Run" today and Pumper took best of show comerical. Those of us who worked on the truck got a big chuckle as we ate breakfast at the show. There were 1400 hot rods there today..... did not see a Hudson--Oh Well??

I didn't mean to rain on anybody's parade either. The more Hudson owners get their cars out into brand x car shows, the more exposure we get. And if trophy's go with it then that's even better.



My point was I've been in clubs that award trophy's and I didn't like the attitude that went with it. The Hudson club does not have that attitude, ie, "My cars better than your car!!!" I've seen cars brought to National meets in a condition that would have left people in other clubs cringing in a corner crying their eyes out - more for the fact that "somebody actually had the nerve to bring that thing to our show!!!!"



Well, here we are 41 years later - I'm still in the club agitating people. Those other clubs I joined have long been forgotten. I intend to be a proud Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club member until they carry me out the door.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN