<VV> Concours-

[Mark Corbin]

Kent,

I think you nailed it. By definition the use of "improved" implies that
there is something inferior about leaving (or showing) a car in stock
condition. And THAT is why it is objectionable to some (like myself and
Bill). It is why the term was discarded way back over 35 years ago.

So I'd like to see them answer the questions I just asked in that post
copied below.....

-Mark

> [Original Message]
> From: Kent Sullivan <kentsu at corvairkid.com>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Concours-
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> As you know, I own a factory-stock restored Corvair. Took a lot of time
and
> money to do that. I also own a highly-modified coupe. I love them both for
> different reasons.
>
> Words do matter. Words can hurt. I am perhaps not as put off as Bill and
> Mark are by the class wording change, and I in some ways gave up my right
to
> complain when I bowed out of the concours committee some months ago. So
> rather than complain, I will offer the four definitions of "improved" from
> www.websters.com and an observation:
>
> 1. to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition: He took vitamins
> to improve his health. 
> 2. to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure,
> cultivation, etc. 
> 3. to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the
> construction of buildings and sewers. 
> 4. to make good use of; turn to account: He improved the stopover by
seeing
> a client with offices there.
>
> I do think it's worth considering what these definitions are saying. It
> appears to me that a comparison is built into the use of the word
> "improved", and if two things are compared, one is going to be judged
> superior. That leaves the other camp not feeling great.
>
> --Kent
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: Re: <VV> Concours-
>
> All,
>
> The problem stems from the fact that the ORIGINAL class designation was
> "Modified" and it was changed to "Improved". Semantics is everything to a
> number of concours people. It had been "Modified" for probably 35 years,
> with no problems. And YES the name "Improved" was kicked around way back
> then (as I have previously posted).
>
> The BIG question is WHY was it changed at last year's convention? Why,
> after some 35 years of successfully using "Modified" was it changed? Why
> mess with such success? Answer those questions, and you'll probably
stumble
> over the REAL motivations of those who pushed the change.
>
> Pretty suspecious, I'd say. All in all, it stinks to high heaven, IMHO.
>
> -Mark
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: BBRT <chsadek at comcast.net>
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Concours-
> >
> > There is an important point here about the power of words.  "Improved".
> What 
> > else could be used? Why not?
> >
> > [Original Message]
> > From: J R Read_HML <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net>
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Concours-
> >
> > How about STOCK and NON-STOCK.  Would that make everyone happy?  Oh, I
> KNOW
> > better than that.
> > Later, JR
> >
>