Author Topic: Tough show debut today... (Read 850 times)

BobV · « **on:** June, 25, 2011, 05:53:00 PM »

After all the cleaning I did yesterday, I awoke to check radar at 6AM today... Rain on the way! I left at 6:30 for the 30 minute ride there on dry pavement. By the time they were ready to open registration at 8 AM, it POURED for an hour plus... I didn't mind, as I'd much rather sit & watch rain than drive in it.

Had the Saleen class all to myself, until 11:55 - 5 minutes before regstration closed, in rolls a 2,400 mile 2006 Saleen. Never driven in rain, stored in a climate-controlled garage. Oh well.............

I ended up last, or 2nd depending on how you look at it. (MCA sticks all Saleens together in one class, regardless of year).

A few pics:

Parked with Lorne (aka 67shelby)

The 06 (it WAS f'n NICE...)

He rolled in together with a GT500 and Roush 427R

Gigantopithecus · « **Reply #1 on:** June, 25, 2011, 06:06:13 PM »

I've never understood the point in a trailer queen. Cars were meant to be driven. While the 06 is nice, I like fox body more.

silverblueBP · « **Reply #2 on:** June, 25, 2011, 06:16:14 PM »

I wonder if that's the same 427R that's been to the Touring Club track days?

I bet the 06 owner hasn't busted his a$$ near as much as you did to the Say-leen....looking good!

danno66gt · « **Reply #3 on:** June, 25, 2011, 06:47:42 PM »

Well, my kids and I thought you were the winner! It was good to chat with you for awhile and do something car related for a change

Ponyman66 · « **Reply #4 on:** June, 25, 2011, 07:28:18 PM »

Bob, we've all seen the hard work you put into making your car as nice as it is via your progress pics. Heck, I'd give you first just because of that!!!

KBMWRS · « **Reply #5 on:** June, 26, 2011, 07:31:42 AM »

I think there should be a deduction for lack of miles or more points for miles. This would hold back those queens.

Mach1ne · « **Reply #6 on:** June, 26, 2011, 08:03:03 AM »

Good job Bob. I hope you got your first trophy with this car for 2nd.

Thanks for coming out to the track on Wednesday. Hopefully you will catch the bug, give up on car shows, and come out and play with the rest of us.

BobV · « **Reply #7 on:** June, 26, 2011, 08:03:59 AM »

Looking at the pics above, I'm pretty pleased with how well the 91 cleaned up. The shine and reflection look good (IMNSHO!)

I've still got plenty of work to do on it. To this point, it's just been about getting it drive-able and presentable. Now I can start to work on making it better, and while I continue collecting parts for a "blow it apart" restoration...

It was good just getting out to a show. First one I've actually brought a car to in almost 5 years.

Fun seeing some old friends and making a few new ones too!

Jonk67 · « **Reply #8 on:** June, 26, 2011, 08:17:20 AM »

I would have been crawling all over your car more than the '06 just for the fact that it is closer to the inception of these custom versions to spot the mods and the fact that you would have had to put work into the car to get it back to that condition.

Do you think it had anything to do with the white 'french flag' that you were flying from the hood prop?

Jon

tarafied1 · « **Reply #9 on:** June, 26, 2011, 08:20:32 AM »

I think there is a certain pride knowing you brought your car back from a beaten track car while the 06 was just "bought" and preserved. I like to see them too but I couldn't own something like that and not drive it! Yours is more interesting as well because I can't go the the Ford dealer and see one on the showroom floor. I know I might not see an 06 either but you know what I mean.
Nice job!

BobV · « **Reply #10 on:** June, 26, 2011, 11:54:01 AM »

Quote from: Jonk67 on June, 26, 2011, 08:17:20 AM

Do you think it had anything to do with the white 'french flag' that you were flying from the hood prop?

There were quite a few of us with those.... The wind kicked up for a couple hours, and I saw the hood moving around. I stuffed a rag in the hood prop slot to keep the prop rod from falling out.

A late model on the next row did not. I watched in slow motion as the hood lifted up, the prop road fell onto the fender, and the hood slammed closed. Guy was PISSED. (at himself?

)

Laurie S. · « **Reply #11 on:** June, 26, 2011, 12:11:00 PM »

Quote from: KBMWRS on June, 26, 2011, 07:31:42 AM

I think there should be a deduction for lack of miles or more points for miles. This would hold back those queens.

Hmmmm, I have 99,890+ miles on my "trailer queen."

Midlife · « **Reply #12 on:** June, 26, 2011, 12:50:23 PM »

Quote from: Laurie S. on June, 26, 2011, 12:11:00 PM

Hmmmm, I have 99,890+ miles on my "trailer queen."

Just drive 200 miles and you'll have a 90 original mile Mustang!

BobV · « **Reply #13 on:** June, 26, 2011, 06:48:43 PM »

My Saleen is currently at 129,600 miles.
Seems "fair" to put it in the same judging class as a 2,400 mile car that's 15 years newer?

Realistically, though, the host club really had no choice - that's how the class is set up, and until more people bring similar cars out, there's no reason to split the class.

(FWIW, that's NOT a gripe, but maybe something to think about in the future)

BTW, I'd guesstimate that less than 1/3 of the cars present were "vintage". Probably close to 1/2 was 05 & up.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #14 on:** June, 27, 2011, 06:37:43 AM »

Sorry I missed you Saturday evening Bob... but I had to go to a sweet 16 birthday party for Bonnies's niece...

Quote from: BobV on June, 26, 2011, 06:48:43 PM

BTW, I'd guesstimate that less than 1/3 of the cars present were "vintage". Probably close to 1/2 was 05 & up.

I saw that. I drove by Saturday on a feverish trip to get some plastic for painting. No offense to anyone with the late models, but I don't like going to a car show and seeing brand new cars.

Dan called me as well, said he couldn't see my car. LoL. I called him back but he didn't answer.

Laurie S. · « **Reply #15 on:** June, 27, 2011, 08:53:56 AM »

Just for the record, MCA only establishes the class breakdown requirements at MCA National and Grand National shows. Regional MCA clubs are free to use whatever class structure they wish. If you had been at my club's annual show, I would have broken the Saleen class into two classes because of the age disparity between the two cars.

BobV · « **Reply #16 on:** June, 27, 2011, 09:08:04 AM »

When we're dealing with a specialty model, and limited turnout, there's really no easy solution, as they would have ended up with 2 1-car classes...

I'm sure this has come up before with a regional "Shelby" class - ending up with 1 vintage, and one "new" car in the same class. It happens, no big deal - the real solution is to get enough CARS there to justify the split. Until people start bringing their cars out, it's not going to happen.

(For the record, I hate single-car classes) - "Winning" a 1-car class is kinda like kissing your sister (or brother).

BobV · « **Reply #17 on:** June, 27, 2011, 09:15:28 AM »

Replying to my own reply........

Just to throw an idea out there... For local /regional shows, wouldn't it be more appropriate to combine the specialty makes together into year groups, than by model? Yes, each is different, but we're all battling the same age, mileage, and parts availability problems...

Instead of these classes:
Saleen 84-2009
Roush 94-2009
Cobra 93-2004
SVO 84-86
Shelby 06(?)-09

Do something like:
84-93 SVO, Saleen, Cobra
94-04 Saleen, Roush, Cobra
05-up Saleen, Roush, Shelby, Foose, etc...

(FWIW, I think I still would have ended up in a 1-car class, unless you also add SSP cars...)

silverblueBP · « **Reply #18 on:** June, 27, 2011, 09:16:51 AM »

Quote from: BobV on June, 27, 2011, 09:08:04 AM

"Winning" a 1-car class is kinda like kissing your sister (or brother).

TMI brutha

joesgt281 · « **Reply #19 on:** June, 27, 2011, 09:29:01 AM »

Great to see you getting the Saleen out (suh-LEEN).
It looks great.

I also have a problem with new cars competing against older ones.
There's alot of guys that do little more than buy a new car, put some billet $hit on it and enter it into a show.
They're not daily drivers or have not been exposed to the ravages of time and multiple owners.
It's that kind of thing that makes me have little interest in the competitive side of car shows.
I know my cars faults and I don't need somebody else judging them.

I DO enjoy car shows for the camaraderie of getting together with people of similar interest and so that's why we in our area have alot of SCOA attended shows.

jims6t6 · « **Reply #20 on:** June, 27, 2011, 12:27:52 PM »

Quote from: BobV on June, 27, 2011, 09:15:28 AM

Replying to my own reply........

Just to throw an idea out there... For local /regional shows, wouldn't it be more appropriate to combine the specialty makes together into year groups, than by model? Yes, each is different, but we're all battling the same age, mileage, and parts availability problems...

Instead of these classes:
Saleen 84-2009
Roush 94-2009
Cobra 93-2004
SVO 84-86
Shelby 06(?)-09

Do something like:
84-93 SVO, Saleen, Cobra
94-04 Saleen, Roush, Cobra
05-up Saleen, Roush, Shelby, Foose, etc...

(FWIW, I think I still would have ended up in a 1-car class, unless you also add SSP cars...)

That's what we do for our regional shows.

Laurie S. · « **Reply #21 on:** June, 27, 2011, 01:45:27 PM »

We combine and split as necessary, depending on the cars entered. I've been the chair of our show for more than 10 years now, and still can't predict what will show up in even in much of the vintage classes. One year we were inunduated with modifieds, and the next we had more concours than we almost knew what to do with. The trick is to be flexible. The only non-flexible rule is that all day of show drive-ins go in the participant's choice classes. If you want to be judged, you have to be pre-registered a week ahead of time or plead your case with me before the day of the show.

Ponyman66 · « **Reply #22 on:** June, 27, 2011, 05:24:59 PM »

While it may be getting a little off topic, I've noticed that a lot of local level shows are now dominated by newer cars. It's unfortunate that they either aren't attracting the older cars, or that people just aren't bringing them out. While I owned a brand new '86 GT (the first new car I ever bought!), I have to keep reminding myself, yes, many younger people consider IT and old car! After all, my car would be almost 26 years old now (I picked it up Dec. 23, 1985)! That's older than the "classic" year Mustangs I was drooling over at shows in the mid to late 70's! Damn I feel old every time I think that way! LOL

When you look at it from that point, it takes on a whole new perspective. I also concede that most of the "newer" cars at the shows are from the mid 90's up to less than a year old. I know the popularity of the Fox and SN95 platform cars has grown significantly since their introduction. Because of their availability though, it does help account for their dominance at shows. Bear in mind also, it's that very popularity which has helped continuously keep our beloved breed alive all these years. The only other American car model that can claim a longer continuous run, AFAIK, is the 'vette!

As an ironic side note, I helped organize and run the first few shows of a then fledgling club in the early 90's. Since we hadn't yet become an MCA chapter (and most members had never even BEEN to an MCA show!), we had no judges. In all fairness to entrants it was decided to make the show an entrant popular vote. The guys that showed up with the Fox body cars didn't win anything, all of the classics took the honors! The late model crowd was furious and swore they'd never be back!! The show is now heavily populated by late models, though now judged. My how times change!!

RustyRed · « **Reply #23 on:** June, 28, 2011, 12:20:08 PM »

I like your car better than the '06.

I am not really impressed with someone going to the dealer and buying a car...lame.

Feel your pain though. I put my '66 in it's first show last November. It didn't take me long to figure out that nothing with a blue oval was going to win anything that day. The local Camaro club showed up in large numbers.....I can't think of a single Ford that one in any class. The classes at that show were "60's", "70's", etc, etc.