[dalef62]

I agree most body shops want the Wow factor, but the poor guy that does it himself and has a job that comes out looking like the factory did, it looses out because the judges take points off for every little flaw. Not picking on you Shop Rat, but do you get what I am saying? I have seen some very nice home done restorations that don't win because of over restored cars.

[DizzyDale]

Hey,Research,research and did i mention research.Massage EVERY part,piece,nut and bolt so it looks like it's supposed to and you KNOW all this cause you did your research.Put ALL those perfectly restored parts and pieces together CORRECTLY cause you did your research,mix in MUCHO PATIENCE and you will have a 400 point car.Don't forget it's supposed to be FUN.diz

[msmazcol]

Wow, great posts! Here the first thing I thought was MONEY. Lots and lots of money.
IMHO

[Shop Rat]

Originally Posted by dalef62

I agree most body shops want the Wow factor, but the poor guy that does it himself and has a job that comes out looking like the factory did, it looses out because the judges take points off for every little flaw. Not picking on you Shop Rat, but do you get what I am saying? I have seen some very nice home done restorations that don't win because of over restored cars.

I know you are not picking on me. And I do get what you are saying. But I can only tell you how I judge. I do not give over restoration any extra credit even mentally. If I see a good original car it gets the credit it deserves. Same for a home done restoration that someone took great care with.

We are told at EVERY judges breakfast....."don't nitpick the vehicles". Some may do that, it is hard to stop it totally. But Team Captains are supposed to keep an eye out for it and stop it if they pick up on it.

Sad to say, one thing that can happen is when a judge is very knowledgeable about a certain make/model/year of vehicle. They can wreck certain vehicles with the extreme way they judge. The truth is, to be fair to all, they should not be judging in classes where there are vehicles they know that well. That level of judging should be reserved for marque club shows where nitpicking is the rule rather than the exception.

[Restorer32]

It drives me wild when people suggest that the amateur cannot compete with the "high dollar professional restorations". The fact is the amateur restorer has a BIG advantage over the professional. The pro must account and bill for every hour he spends on a restoration whereas the amateur can spent as much time as it takes to do the job perfectly. The amateur can learn whatever skills the pro may have but the pro cannot spend an infinite number of hours getting something "just right". Customers who will allow a shop to bill an unlimited number of hours on a project are few and far between. Sure, pros have experience and tools not readily available to the amateur but what customers are really paying for is PATIENCE, a commodity that is free to the amateur restorer.

[ex98thdrill]

Originally Posted by Restorer32

It drives me wild when people suggest that the amateur cannot compete with the "high dollar professional restorations".

DITTO!!!

With enough time, and determination, you can do it. If you don't like the results, do it over.

We (my dad and I) have done it with four different vehicles, three of which were orphan vehicles. If you don't have the means, use the barter system. If you don't have the talent to do something yourself, find someone who has the talent, that can reap the benefit of a talent that you might possess.

Steve Moskowitz is right, every car is a 400 point car, and the deductions are made based on what's wrong. An over restored car doesn't get additional points, and the unrestored car doesn't lose points.

Of course there are always a shortage of judges, and you can ensure for the betterment of the club that other car owners aren't penalized.

[billybird]

The last post by Restorer32 is my exact philosophy. Thats the reason I chose to do my own car. Even did my own painting. The car has SEVEN Grand National Senior awards. Like I always say; "If it's right its right regardless of who did it".

[Seldenguy]

Restorer'32 has it RIGHT!! There are many, many cars at all shows that have outstanding restorations done by the owner himself. Why, because the owner will take the time to research and correctly restore the given component. If he does all the areas himself when he is done there will be a outstanding restoration worthy of the "400 point" (nasty word)award. Also remember the car was basically built with manpower and can be rebuilt with the basic tools available to the restorer today.Enjoy the work, it is much more rewarding then the pile of money thrown at it.