Invited to be a Judge...advice?

[Ash]

I was asked, last minute, to fill in as a judge for a benefit car show this weekend. Vehicles will run the gambit...Modified/Restored Exotics, Euros, Muscle, Luxury JDM, Dedicated Track Cars. Not sure yet what class I'll get saddled with.

I've Never judged in a car show, and am more than a little nervous. I Just want to make sure everyone gets a fair shake, and I keep my personal preferences out of it as best I can. The prospect of digging for a flaw in a grouping of 20 or so equally bad-ass cars is nerve-racking. I mean: A twin turbo viper ACR vs. Noble M400 Vs. 2 Noble M12's Vs. GT40. All top notch, how do you judge? ANY and ALL advise/general judging tips will be much appreciated.

[LeighP]

Keep personal preferences out of your mind...concentrate on the workmanship and cleanliness....does the theme for the car work...etc.
Above all, be fair......I took my custom Kawasaki Vulcan to a charity bike show once...lots of custom stuff on my bike including paint. I parked next to a guy who had hand built a hardtail custom using a 750 Honda engine....everything was hand made on his bike.
We were both disgusted to see the custom bike award go to a friend of the organiser who was riding a new HD with a couple of Screaming Eagle chrome parts on it. For sheer effort, the guy parked next to me should have got an award......that sort of thing really annoys people.

[Jim Nilsen]

Always remember to take a double headed coin with you in case you have to flip it.LOL.

Cleanliness is always a good way to make a final decision as to how much love a guy has into a car but it doesn't mean that a car that was driven 500 miles and is a lot better car shouldn't get credit.

The other thing is the politics that always seems to show up, try not to be a part of it. Twenty cars is not a lot of cars and that makes the job harder.

Last of all remember it is just a car show and for fun for a good cause and if someone doesn't like the way it goes they need to ask why they are there in the 1st place.

Goodluck and just go with your gut.

[rrunner68]

I've judged at several car shows. I always piss off the super custom weirdo guys. I look for cars that are driven, enjoyed, and are honest cars. Everyone and their brother will want to show you their, one off-this, and one off that, but forget to show you the 20k trailer that the car showed up in too. Pick the car YOU like most. That is the fun of being a judge.

[Scott Parkhurst]

I've judged everything from bikini contests to OUSCI.

The bottom line is that you vote for what moves you, and understand you'll be pissing off more people than you're making happy. If you're a good judge, you'll be able to stand behind your choices and be okay with it.

Finally, understand that once it's all said and done, it really isn't that big of a deal. If you did your best and were totally honest, the participants all got a fair shake and the winners were truly deserving. That's what matters.

(...unless one of the bikini contestants offers you something special to win. Then, it's all about you.)

[firebob]

Don't sweat it too much. Half the shows we attend we hear afterwards that the car that the judge picked to win gets changed to another car when the awards are handed out anyway. There's alot of politics going on behind the curtain. Then there's the guys that won't go to a show a second time because they didn't win last year. Not everybody is going to be happy.

Robert

[Ash]

Thank for the advise folks. I Really appreciate it! Turns out it's not till next Saturday. Gives me a little time to brush up.

[MonzaRacer]

If it looks like crap it usually is. I have seen "pro built" cars that I wouldnt drive let alone own. I know what works, I know what doesnt, I also know that odd ball crap might be best out there. There are generally show rules and check sheets, fit, finish, paint, interior, theme, etc.
Just be honest if its a custom, is it all around "right" if its a period car like all decked out 70s style and you see a newer billet shifter,,, hmmm not much period there.
I saw a car that guy built "just like he had in high school" and it was period perfect, air shocks, bolt on ladders, tunnel ram, air brush paint. AWESOME car. trick is he hid FI in it, the trans while a 4 speed had a re-gated 4 speed shifter and hidden controller, even had clover leaf gaurds on chrome side pipes but he had some serious dyno max bullet race mufflers welded in so it wasnt horribly noisy but had electronic cut outs added and hidden.
Turns out in making it work as a driver and making sure the parts didnt screw up its ability to be driven it actually worked with old school parts.
That car got my vote.
If it looks like a paid piece of crap,, it is. A buddy of mine will put $10k in a car to make it run,,,I dont think I have evern spent $10k on ALL my cars I built over the years, or maybe very close to just that.
Let the car and its presence be in your mind, you may have 5 minutes at best to actually take in all that the project is. But be fair, good efforts need compliments too. You can even point out obvious flaws if you have opinions or experience in that area.
As a mechanic and tuner I tend to over correct sometimes, some like it , some dont.
when I see a car thats looking like a big old race engine and its a slobbery over cammed street engine with no compression and way too much came I will nicely tell them they have an unmatched combo, a solid engine with bad cam choice is a bear to drive, change cam, maybe opt in slightly smaller carb and car becomes great driver.
There used to be a guy who built carbs that LOOKED like Dominators, but were simple 600/750s.
Judges use their experience, knowledge AND a set of rules/guidelines maybe 5 may be 50 to judge cars.
If the rules allow best paint even if its primer then the cool primered 20s/30s/40/s hot rod can get a high honor. If you can see sand scratches in color coat but has mirror finish clear its not a good paint job.
Good luck and be honest, but just cause you hate Volvo, dont bash the guy with a clean big block Chevy Volvo. Judge it for its merits.

[Ash]

Bitchin. Thanks again for the advise. Taking everything you guys have said to heart...a big help indeed.

[68Formula]

The easiest way to separate the JDMs is subtract one point for every inch of spoiler height. In some cases this can add up to 50 points or more. :)