[Doug I]

I can see where this email author is coming from.

First - I don't own a car yet.

Second - I wouldn't enter any show with the sole goal of getting a trophy. It wouldn't even be a goal really at all. As Gary said it's about the people you meet. Several years ago I won a trophy for my plane, but I didn't even know it was entered in the competition. The judges couldn't find me to ask if I wanted it judged - so they did it anyway.

Now .... competition is about a level playing field. I'd be a little put out if I'd entered in a street driven class and there were brand new cars in the same class. Personally I think the Judges attitude, as portrayed in the email, came across to me as somewhat condescending.

I had this same situation in judging aircraft at shows. In that situation we had a class for new planes and a class for flown planes. It was always an issue as to where the line was drawn between the two.

It's always a sticky issue - and one I'm sure will be kicked around for as long as there are shows.