Hello

I have just finished reading an article published in the May/June 2008 issue of Antique Automobile Vol. 72 Numb 3. On page 32 there is an article that references another article in the January/February 2008 issue that states, "GENERALLY wood bed floors SHOULD be painted body color or flat black." My first question is how to interpret such a NON-definitive statement or ruling with the wording as supplied. My second question is why a SAFETY concern such as having the required fire extinguisher has been granted a one-year grace period and there appears to be no grace period for truck beds, something everyone looks at, admires and appreciates. My point is my restoration is 98% complete as I get ready for the Hershey show, the bed being finished summer of 2007...and now find out I am going to receive a deduction unless I make my truck uglier than the ones that have come before me. More importantly if required to finish the bed as per factory plain and simple the wood won't last. I am appealing to AACA and Judges everywhere to reconsider this ruling or at minimum grant a grace period.
Thanks
Jeff

Jeff, This is an issue that is being looked at. If you have factory documentation showing that your truck bed is correct, then leave it the way it is, and bring the documentation to the meet with your truck when you bring it out. When it comes time for the judging team to judge your truck, tell the team captain and show them the information.

I wish that you had brought this question up a couple of weeks ago. Last Saturday we had the Eastern Division Spring Meet in Cumblerland, Maryland. You could've gone to Judging School last Friday, taken the pickup truck CJE, gotten some judging time in and left Cumberland knowing what had to be done to win an award with your vehicle.

As fate would have it, I happened to judge the exact class that your truck would've been in, had your truck arrived at the showfield last week.

Before you bring the truck out, or before you do any more to your vehicle, please do the following:
1. Download and read the rulebook off of this website. There are a lot of things pertaining to the judging proceedures that will answer many of your questions.
2. Contact the AACA Library and Research Center and obtain as much of the factory documentation on your vehicle as you can. If you have the time to drive to Hershey and do it yourself, you should receive your answers much faster and much cheaper.
3. Purchase the latest copy of AACA list of National Award winners. These books are around $10, and it'll list every vehicle in your class that has won an award through AACA, as well as list their name. By locating fellow owners who have similar vehicles to yours that have won top awards in AACA will give you a tremendous network of information and technical assistance that will help you become a success with your project.
4. Get involved with your local AACA Region. Many times you will most likely find someone in the local region who has had judging experience, or has successfully won AACA awards with their vehicle, or has done both. These people are close to your home and are a tremendous resource that can also help you with your restoration.
5. If your truck isn't done in time, get involved in AACA Judging to learn the system, understand the policies, attend the CJE's (Continuing Judge's Education). The information that you will learn will prove to be a valuable reference in assisting you to properly restore your vehicle.

Bear in mind the following issues with your truck should be addressed.
1. Colors - proper colors of the body (including truck bed), frame, engine, interior.
2. Light bulbs - correct light bulbs (no halogen).
3. Tires - correct type and size of tires (no radials) to include correct wheels, wheel covers, valve stems and valve stems caps.
4. Fit and Finish - proper materials used in your vehicle with proper fit and finish.
5. Clamps, fasters and fittings - correct grease fittings, bolts, hoses, hose clamps that are also clean and properly installed.
6. Wires - proper materials, colors and installation of all the wiring in your vehicle.

Understand that this is a brief overview. As you research further, more of the specifics will come out.

Bear in mind that the very last restoration project that my father and I did was a Ford fire truck. Everything that I mentioned, we did, and we became very successfull with our vehicles in AACA. Prior to the fire truck restoration, I was able to locate another Ford fire truck that was 12 numbers ahead of our truck and it happened to be a Senior Grand National Winner. I took over 100 photos of that vehicle and got a great deal of research material needed to assist us in our restoration.

Please don't take this as being critical of anything that you want to do. If you plan on bringing your pickup to Hershey, Hershey is a great place to bring your truck out, but being one of the biggest shows in AACA, if you bring the truck out, you very well may have a lot of competition. If your truck bed finish is not correct, you will automatically lose a mandatory 10 point deduction. With a mandatory 10 point deduction, your truck will have to be completely perfect in order to avoid losing an award.

I for one don't want to see you or anyone else lose out on getting an award, but no one can give an award out for a vehicle that doesn't score the minimum number of points or is outside of the point spread with the best vehicle in its' class.

I recently was involved in an incident in Melbourne where my vehicle was not properly judged, and the vehicle did not win the award that it should've won. Instead of getting mad, quitting and then bashing AACA, I have made an attempt to resolve the issue with the Vice President of class judging. The issue is being worked on, and the final outcome is yet to be decided. As a person who has been through that, I am trying to educate others so that what happened to me does not happen to you. I don't want to see you or anyone else have a bad attitude towards AACA, or their administration and judging system.

How do you know your vehicle was "improperly judged"?

improperly judged is a simpler term for got screwed...

My point was the AACA judging is now making an exception to a SAFETY rule ie correct fire extinguisher by giving a grace period why no grace period for the truck beds???