Car Show Classes. . .?

[Blown66]

It is my feeling that one of the most important things at a car show is the chance for everyone to win a trophy or whatever. We are assisting at a car show coming up and keeping in mind it is for charity (can't go broke paying for a million trophies) they have created 18 classes with 3 winners per class. Take a look. . .is there a class not being thought of? (ie Shelby's?)

The classes within each class are 1) Convertible 2) Hard-Top 3) Modified.

The classes are. . .

-- 1964 1/2 to 1968
-- 1969-1970
-- 1971-1973
-- 1974-1993
-- 1994-2004
-- 2005-2008

Lastly. . .in your opinions. . .what makes a car modified vs not? Simply wheels? Or does their need to be 2 or three items added or changed?

[Martimus]

Warning: LONG WNDED RESPONSE...

At the first planning meeting for the Tricked Ponies show we talked about whether or not to create a separate class for SE Mustangs (Foose, Rousch, Shelby, Cragar, PJ, etc.). The challenges I saw (or maybe perceived is a better word) were:

• Do we have one class for both convertibles and hardtops?
• If only one convertible SE in that class shows up do we simply hand them the trophies? or do we fold them into the hardtop class?
• If we fold them into the hardtop class what do we do with the trophies we purchased?

For a judged show its likely irrelevant since the judges would, hopefully, be using a consistent judging criteria. Another possible question to ask using the Open/Closed/Modified format is which class do you enter these SE cars into? Open/Closed? or Modified? After all the SE's may be stock in the eyes of the company that retrofitted them but modified in the eyes of Ford. And how do you handle the SE look-alikes? With the 2005+ Mustangs its easy for someone to buy GT500 bumper covers and hood. And with the older models we have companies like Unique Performance that take stock Mustangs and turn them into GT350's and GT500's. If someone built up their car one piece at a time in their garage people would see this as awesome but what about those who can afford to drop $250k on a Unique Performance GT500E Super Snake?

One of my suggestions at the first meeting had been to have separate GT and V6 classes. The challenge there was cost and timing. Adding a separate V6 class for each grouping would have doubled the number of trophies, the time to hand out awards, and possibly even increased the judging time. Where do you draw the line?

Lastly, in terms of what is modified, I suspect this will be a contested point to many. To me modified is performance modified. Throw a supercharger in a car and its most definitely modified. To others however its all about changes from the car that originally drove off the production line. The challenge, as you pointed out, is how many changes make the car modified? And how significant do the changes need to be? If someone installed a leather steering wheel cover or swapped out the stock floor mats does this constitute a modification? How about something that most people would never see like installing after-market shocks or sway bars?

Car Show planning is enough to give someone a headache!

[Ruckus46gt]

One of the best things i've seen that would classify the car as not modified is 5 or 6 minor mods at most. That would included a couple chrome pieces, etc. If a car has a power adder, body kit, changed out interior, diff motor or tranny, chromed out engine bay then it would be considered modified.

[Blown66]

I agree with both of you. I think in my mind a modification is 1) power. . .and if not power then a combination of X amount of changes. 3-5 sound about right? Restoration people will argue. . .but there has to be a line.

A V-6 vs. V8 should not warrant another class (unless the show can afford it then yes). . .but should a 1965 Shelby or a 1968 California Special really go against a rock stock 1966 Coupe??? Should their be a specialty class that includes ALL SHELBY's ALL YEARS and other specialty mustangs?

[AZSonicSnake]

power mods normally can't even be seen though. take my cobra, when its out at the shows it look bone friggen stock. less you look under the car and take a gander at the suspension mods. i think a mod class should include stuff more like stereo and video stuff along with body mods and stuff of that nature. as there is a line, a person like myself would never harm the body on my car, nor will i spend the money on in car entertainment. and i think its none to fair to stick guys that base thier mods in a more practicle way vs a car the most times is extremely un practicle(otherwise know as a show car..).

[Ruckus46gt]

most car shows have a spot where your supposed to put the motor in the car there, but if most people do who knows. Also exhaust etc not really sure i'd consider that a mod. An intake as bad as it sounds i would consider as 1 of the mod. Guess if it changes the appearance it should be considered a mod, if it doesnt it shouldnt be