machittome

I sat in on Eric's CJE on tires at Parsippany. It was on target! Regards, Ken

After the annual meeting in Philadelphia I went through the new Judging guidelines book. In the Judging Guidelines book I observed the following that may need correcting: Class 36k. Trucks...1966-1989. There are no models listed later than 1979. On line 13 there is a subheading, 1966-1989, I believe that should say, GMC. Class 36j. AMC...1970-1980. There are no models listed later than 1976. Class 36i. Ford & Mercury...1970-1980. There are no models listed later than 1974. Class 36h. Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth...1970-1980. There are no models listed later than 1974. Class 36g. Chevrolet & Oldsmobile...1970-1981. There are no models listed later than 1975. Class 36e. ….1960-1969 AMC Should say AMC....1967-1969. There are no models listed earlier than 1967. I don't believe the AMX subheading is needed. Class 36d. …..1957-1969 Ford & Mercury Should say, Ford & Mercury...1957-1970. The 1970 Boss Mustangs are listed here and in class 36i. Class 36c …..Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth. Should say Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth....1955-1969. Line #1 says Chrysler......1955-1969. Chrysler should be moved down one line. Class 36b. Chevrolet & Oldsmobile...1957-1969 There are no models listed earlier than 1961. On line #8 under Chevrolet it says 428cid. I believe that should say 427cid.

Thanks, I found this info on the Tire Rack web site. It is the "P!" What's the difference between the tire sizes of P225/60R16 and 225/60R16? The obvious answer is the "P" in front of the first size, but just what does the "P" stand for and what does it tell us about the tires? P-metric sized tires are the ones with the "P" at the beginning of the tire size, (such as P225/60R16 listed above). They were introduced in the United States in the late 70s and are installed on vehicles primarily used to carry passengers including cars, station wagons, sport utility vehicles and even light duty pickup trucks. Their load capacity is based on an engineering formula which takes into account their physical size (the volume of space for air inside the tire) and the amount of air pressure (how tightly the air molecules are compressed). Since all P-metric sizes are all based on the formula for load, vehicle manufacturers can design their new vehicles (weights and wheelwell dimensions) around either existing or new tire sizes. Metric or Euro metric sized tires are the ones without the "P" at the beginning, (such as 185R14 or the 225/60R16 listed above). Using metric dimensions to reflect a tire's width actually began in Europe in the late 60s. However, since Euro metric sizes have been added over time based on the load and dimensional requirements of new vehicles, the tire manufacturers designed many new tire sizes and load capacities around the needs of new vehicles. Not quite as uniform as creating sizes using a formula, but they got the job done. Euro metric and P-metric tires in the same size (i.e. P225/60R16 & 225/60R16) are equivalent in their dimensions with just slight differences in their load capacity calculations and inflation pressure tables. So if Euro metric and P-metric tires have the same numeric size, the same tire performance category and the same speed rating, the two are considered equivalent and interchangeable if used in axle pairs or sets of four. Simply continue to follow your vehicle manufacturer's recommended inflation pressures provided in the vehicle's owner's manual or on the vehicle tire placard (usually found on the door jamb or on the glovebox or counsel door) for either size tire. I'll see you in class! Ken

Susan, Ask Rick what the difference is between the Metric radials and Low Profile Metric Radials mentioned in the rule book and P-Metric radials. There's got to be more to it than just the prefix "P." Thanks, Ken

Gang, I'm posting this for a friend of the Vintage Auto CLub of Ocean County NJ> Regards, Ken Hi Doug, my name is Jennifer. You may remember my husband, John Fabrizio, who died of a heart attack 4 months ago. He used to frequent your car shows with a 1975 black and yellow citroen 2CV. He was in the midst of restoring a 1955 Citroen DS and had most of the body work less 2 doors and the hood finished. I'm not sure on the mechanics. The reason for my e-mail is that I have to move in three weeks due to financial stress and was wondering if you'd know anyone willing to buy this car as is for the best price they'd give me at this point to get it off my hands. I have to take my husband's prize possession (the 2CV) with me and another Citroen he owned and simply cannot store all three. I am willing to take as low as $2,000 - including all parts he may have bought for the car already. I know he has a new steering wheel, and a lot of lableled extras that were already purchased. Like, I said, the restoration is almost completed and he did a wonderful job at that. The car is black. If you could help me in any way, I'd be grateful. I'd be willing to let anyone look the car over at any time and except the best offer I'm given at this point, I'm sort of desperate. If this is a terrible inconveninece, I apologize for the imposition. 609-242-4340. Sincerely, Jennifer

Thanks Susan and Rick, You are right. That tire company advertises a bias-ply look with square bias-ply style shoulders. They also mention their tires are labeled only on the inside sidewall. They make it hard as possible to tell it's a radial. It's hard to see any markings on the inside sidewall of a tire on a low profile car on a grassy field without a flash light. Wouldn't a correct bias ply tire have visible outside sidewall markings even with a wide whitewall? So we have to look for a size marking, and look at the tread and shoulder. Well then, if it is a metric size radial tire then we must judge it as such. A radial is a radial! Correct me if I am wrong. Regards, Ken

Gang, This may have been discussed before. The rule book is clear under Chassis item number 12 as far as red line radials, letter size tires, metric size radials and low profile metric radials. I've been seeing tires with red lines and wide white wall tires that appear to have a radial tread design and no visible size marking on the out side side wall. Can you declare it a radial from the tread design when no size marking is visible? Documentation may show a red or wide white wall but the tread may not be clear or identical. Regards, Ken

As first-time trailorists we were traumatized when we checked in to the quality inn and were told there was one parking spot per room. A few club members advised us to park the trailer at the Eisenhower. So we ran down there only to find out they had just run out of trailer space. However they were parking overflow at a firehouse down the road. Club members there helped us park our rented open U-Haul trailer. They donated wood and rocks to set our trailer on and block the wheels. They also advised us on what type of lock to get for the trailer. The clerk at the Eisenhower directed us to the local U-Haul dealer and advised us of a vacancy for Saturday. Other club members helped push my Mach 1 out of the mud twice on the show field. To all who helped us we say thank you so much. And thanks to the Gettysburg region for a great show!

"Hey Wayne, that's a funny looking Chevelle you have there......." SHhhhh the judges will never notice because they don't check vins. Thanks guys, there's a lot of good info here on towing.

I'll be towing a 3850 pound 1969 Mustang. The big engine in the Explorer is probably the 4.8 Liter V8 engine.

Is a vehicle the size of a Ford Explorer with a V-8 big enough to tow a car in an enclosed trailer?

>>>what part of WE DON'T JUDGE VIN NUMBERS don't you understand?<<< You didn't help me with my question. Let me rephrase it. I understand that we don't judge vin numbers. My question is will point deductions for engine components mainly be for aftermarket componenents and any other incorrect component on the engine in the vehicle provided that engine was available. If the engine wasn't available then all component points would be deducted, correct? Thanks for your help.

>>>The judging sheet does not have a component deduction for an incorrect motor. The deductions would be taken in the various components that make it up, ie, manifolds, heads, etc etc. It would be a significant amount of points. However, an incorrect color and/or an incorrect motor would not disqualify a vehicle. It may cause deductions significant enough to make the vehicle not place as far as awards go but there would not be any disqualification.<<< If any motor available in that model is ok then there shouldn't be any component deductions if they are the correct components for the motor that's in the car. If you're going to deduct for the components not matching the components that would have come on the correct motor for the car then we're back to having the motor match the vin. If any motor available is ok then component deductions should only be for aftermarket components basically. I'm trying to understand this.

I guess some judges get confused trying to keep the rules from their marque clubs seperate from the AACA. But even with the marque club having the wrong engine would be a major point deduction, not a disqualification. I didn't realize checking the vin on some vehicles was so difficult. I'm used to having it right there on the dash board.

I am an experienced judge. >>>My understanding has always been that AACA allows any combination of factory equipment/colors as long as it can be documented as available. In other words if you had a brown Chevelle with 283, you could present it as a red car with 327, assuming that combination was available.<<< You are partly correct. AACA's position is that the car must be presented as it was when it left the factory. It can have any factory authorized options and accessories applicable to that model. A Brown Chevelle with a 283 could not have left the factory with red paint and a 327. A Chevelle having red paint and a 327 better have the VIN and data plate to match or deductions are in order with a knowledgable judge. Smaller options or accessories that don't affect the VIN or data plate can be added with no deduction. The owner would need factory documentation that the dealer repainted the car and changed the engine before delivery. Documentation is key with AACA.

We just had a 1968 Mustang disqualified at Hershey for having the wrong motor in it. It had a 428 instead of the 302 indicated in the VIN.

It would only take a few seconds to verify that the vin on the registration matches the vin on the vehicle.

I've been judging AACA events for over 10 years now and it just dawned on me that a member's car is registered for an AACA event by it's VIN so it's record and sheet and envelope can be labeled, but the VIN of the vehicle on the show field is never verified by the judging team! This breaks the integrity of the system. Someone could bring a totally different vehicle to the show and no one would know! I would like to recommend that the duties of the Judging Team Captain include verifying that the VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN on the show registration.