I have used the repro batteries in all of my Chevy's with visable batteries and have had NO PROBLEMS, ever! They last 6-7 years as long as they are maintained, and the charging system is in proper working order.
The problem is "as delivered" is not "as delivered" and that issue just gets dropped. I do not buy the excuse that the judges do not know what the correct T-3 is supposed to be used, they should know it is not a GE or a Westinghouse, same with the battery.
John,
I am afraid that you and I are in a minority on this point. My fear is that it has become a slippery slope in an organization that is striving to evaluate an antique vehicle in the same state as it was received by the dealer from the factory.
We now allow era correct, any brand, batteries, headlights, belts, tires, hoses, and clamps. The argument that it became this way because repops didn't exist and originals were "impossible" to find is pure fabrication and nonsense. My concern is that this current logic will gradually lead to AACA permitting era correct, any brand, wipers and wiper arms, radios, radiators, wheel and wheel covers, glass, spark plugs, wires, wire terminals, horns, fenders, steering wheels, etc, etc, etc.
It is the dumbing down of judging and judges under the guise of "it would be too difficult to educate" that bothers me the most. This is one situation in the world where there can be a clear right and wrong yet we have intentionally grayed the reality of how the vehicle came from the factory.
Yes, AACA should be fun. But fun shouldn't penalize a correctly maintained or restored vehicle to the correct condition as it came from the factory. Folks that prefer modern replacements can simply weight the cost/effort vs point argument to decide whether they want to invest in their vehicle in that manner. Instead we have simply lowered the standards under the pretense that doing it correctly and in concert with the AACA stated objective would be too difficult.
Last weekend I spent over $1,000 taking my correctly restored vehicle (with correct tires, battery, headlights, etc) to Charlotte to earn its Senior Award. I am beginning to re-evaluate if this will continue to be a good investment if we are evolving our judging into the world of generics.
I personally believe that there are many many ways of educating judges toward being more expert instead of just changing the rules to make it easier to judge. There are thousands of parts for cars that are no longer manufactured, repoped, or available as used, especially in the antique and classic car classes. Try to find an original body panel for a Duesenberg, early Cadillac, or Stutz. Or an original or repoped (
) 8 cylinder motor for a Wills Ste. Claire. Should we allow era correct, non brand specifics in these cases? The slope gets more and more slippery. If we continue to do this, you will see an exodus of the correct examples of these vehicles at AACA meets and will be left with the near street rodded versions thereof.
As a member of the Wills Ste. Claire Club, Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Cameo & GMC Truck Club, MCA, Model T Club, Model A Club, CCCA, SACC, and NCRS this logic befuddles me. This logic flies in the face of attracting Marque specific members which was discussed at the Roundtable meeting at length in Charlotte.
Prepare yourself for the traditional "write your elected official" response.
April 9th, 2009
Linear Mode
