Judged a Car Show Today - Lateral-g Forums

**Ummgawa** · #1 12-04-2004, 11:20 PM

I judged a car show today, It was beautiful, 60 degrees, sunny. Three catagories, "Oldies- IE 32-34 Fords, Fatbodies up to 54", 55-57 ford/chevies, 60's-early 70's muscle, cut off at 1974 (I don't make up the catagories). Understand that I am the sole judge here. I have done it for the past 10 years and really enjoy it. Just wanted to tell you about the winner and some conversation I had with 4 first Generation (67-69) owners.

First the first place winner. It was a 63 split window Vette, fuelie, big tank/Brake car, rare as can be. It was sitting by itself, Red RED RED . Clean as a fire truck. I was checking out the engine compartment and the documentation (I wish I had my Digital camera), When this Old Gray haired man ON A CANE came strolling over. Old nice southern guy named "Bingo". Just as Nice a fella as you would like to meet, engaging , funny, true car lover. After we talked for about 30 minutes about everything but the car, I asked who he had bought the car from and was it local. He said he had bought it from General Motors in 1963 from Timmers in Atlanta, "If anyone can Tim can" was their slogan. Said he had raced the car all over the country and had restored it back to its original condition a few years back. This guy fought in WWII!! He is 79 and will turn 80 next week. He took me for a white knuckle ride in it before he took it home!! When we got back, his wife he had been married to for 55 years asked me if he tried to scare me with his driving, she said and I quote, "I told his old dried up A$$ to replace the drums with disc's on that Plastic car he likes so much" LOL!!! When they left, SHE was driving, she got a second and a third (Barked the tires). Needless to say, they were very worthy winners.

I drove my 69 Z and it always attracts attention. 4 guys aged from 34-50 came over to talk Turkey, mostly about their First Gen projects under construction. When I told them about the cars we are building here half didn't believe it and the other two were speechless. I gave them the web site, hope they show up. You guys out there?
One of the Older guys said,"Let me get this strait, you are going to have an 800 horsepower street driven twin turbo 69 Camaro with Air Conditioning, that your are driving on the Power tour that is Street Legal? Come On, Man." I told him to follow me to my house, which he did, and he was stunned. I showed him the site and all of the builds here. He said he felt "Unworthy and Out of touch, Haha!!"

Sorry for the long post, Guys.

**camcojb** · #2 12-05-2004, 12:02 AM

Cool Jim, sounds like a lot of fun. I hope they do make their way over here, the more the merrier.

Jody

zbugger · #3 12-05-2004, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ummgawa

One of the Older guys said,"Let me get this strait, you are going to have an 800 horsepower street driven twin turbo 69 Camaro with Air Conditioning, that your are driving on the Power tour that is Street Legal? Come On, Man." I told him to follow me to my house, which he did, and he was stunned. I showed him the site and all of the builds here. He said he felt "Unworthy and Out of touch, Haha!!"

Heh.... They'll learn....

Keith · #4 12-05-2004, 12:36 AM

That's awesome!!! I got the chance to judge two car shows this year and it was just a lot of fun. That's an awesome story about the 63 split window!(only year for that right?)

**Hydratech®** · #5 12-05-2004, 10:01 AM

WAY COOL! The old timer shows us all how its done! I love it! :p

What with the cane and all...

**Ummgawa** · #6 12-05-2004, 01:01 PM

I asked him about the Cane and he said he'd like to say it was a war wound, but he was digging holes for posts and turned around and stepped into one of the holes he had dug. Old fella had a great attitude. I found out today that the Old Dude has Cancer.

Ya know, when Tom Brokaw called them "The Greatest Generation", I find that the more that I interact with those from that Era, he is right. Tough Ombres that did tremendous things with nothing.

hotwheels · #7 12-06-2004, 08:45 AM

i have yet to judge a contest, but i did enter my twinturbo mustang in a contest this past summer and won 3rd place in the hotrod section........not a that great a spot, but i was very excited......i have put countless hours into my mustang and have yet to even come close to the kind of look you guys have on your cars................hotwheels of turborides

**Steve Chryssos** · #8 12-06-2004, 08:05 PM

Great story. In my former life, I spent all my time in front of a computer and on the phone speaking with the other side of the country. Presently, I'm in a sales job. I get to travel around the country and meet a wide range of individuals--including the occasional racing legend.

Meeting and spending time with new people--especially those with wisdom and character--is one of my favorite pastimes. Sounds like you got lucky that day.