[SCG] SCG- concours rules

[Bill Hubbell]

The element of chance is still present in the so-called Preservation Award (highest scoring car in Factory Stock classes.  I was always "unlucky" enough to have other cars in that class that were better than mine whenever I competed.  Ironically, the cars that beat me also won the Mitchell award (Best in Show).   Even when my car had the third highest score on the field (Chicago), it was bested by another Factory Stock Restored car (Rich Thompson's 1964 Spyder). 

So yeah, there is still a place where the old way of scoring is still king. 

Of course, many years there has only been one car in that class so they won the "Preservation Award" by default.  I was never so "lucky" but I was still happy to show my car. 

The reason I put Preservation Award in quotes is because I think it is the wrong name for that award.  In AACA they use that term for cars that have been elevated to senior status (and therefore no longer eligible to compete) as recognition for continuing participation.  I'd prefer to use the term to award the person who made the greatest contribution to preserving (not restoring) a Corvair, Corvair history, etc.  

Bill

On Jun 24, 2014, at 7:35 PM, "Kent Sullivan" <kentsu at corvairkid.com> wrote:

One thing to consider is that the "old" system depends heavily on who (which cars) show up. So although there is a clear first, second, third, etc. place, it's among those who were present. As to whether that element of chance is good or bad--I think it can be argued both ways.

-----Original Message-----
From: SCG-list [mailto:scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com] On Behalf Of Mark Corbin
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2014 5:50 PM
To: P.H. Raker; scg-list at tiger.skiblack.com; corsabod at corvair.org; whubbell at verizon.net; virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: [SCG] SCG- concours rules

Hi Phil,

I think what you’re seeing is what I expected would be the inevitable result of a change in the rules that happened way back at the convention in Lake Placid, NY. The organizers decided that they could give the concours an Olympic flavor by changing the awards to a “gold, silver, brass, er bronze” award system, using set points levels instead of first, second, third, etc. This is something that CORSA has adopted ever since, and it’s something with which I have always had an issue. 

The “gold, silver, bronze” system is essentially an arbitrary line drawn in the sand. You’re not competing against anyone, but rather just someone’s idea of where to draw the line. IMHO it does several things. The “good” thing (that which makes it popular) is that it makes for a lot of “top” honors trophies to be handed out. Recent conventions seem to prove that, with almost everyone entered getting a trophy. Which is why the points have been changed for this year (to answer your question). This leads me into the bad things.

The bad things it does are the following: First, it devalues the trophy, as you haven’t proven anything, like you’re the best by having beaten somebody else out for the top honors. Second, it’s arbitrary, and nothing in concours should be arbitrary. It means that you can either get top honors, or lose them, depending all on somebody’s line-drawing ability, as the line can be set or moved at the whim of whomever is putting on the event, or maybe someone at the national level and in some place far away. And they may be clueless. Or you could be unlucky. And finally, it eliminates the need for classes.

So the question should be;