Question on trophy classifications

[Jon37]

Like many regions, our local AACA has seen a change in the number of cars entered in various trophy classes over the years. Some classes grow; some shrink. We constantly re-juggle the classes in order to get an adequate number of cars in each class, so that we don't end up with a lot of spare trophies.

It's always a guess though, as to which classes to combine and which to leave separate. Will we have enough to justify this particular class? Should we combine those two classes? Every year we have to guess what kind of cars the following year's show will attract.

I'd be curious to know how other regions have approached this problem. Even though our shows may be of different sizes (ours runs about 160 vehicles), it might be that the same proportion of model years or car types show up from show to show, no matter where. Possibly we might be able to adopt a certain standardization of categories from region to region. Then we'd be spared this repetitive exercise of re-engineering the classes, every year! Plus, those who enter their cars in several shows do not become confused by the bewildering variety of classes they have to register in, from show to show.

Here are our 2011 classes. What are your local AACA's classifications (and, do they "work" for you)? I'd be curious.

A Ford Model T through 1927 (includes T-trucks)

B Ford Model A 1928-1931 (includes A-trucks)

C Other Antique Cars through 1933

D Chevrolet Corvette 1953-1986

E Ford Thunderbird 1955-1986

F Ford Mustang 1964-1986

G Production Cars 1934-1949

H Production Cars 1950-1956

I Production Cars 1957-1959

J Production Cars 1960-1963

K Production Cars 1964-1967

L Production Cars 1968-1969

M Production Cars 1970-1986

N All Trucks & Commercial Vehicles through 1986

(excludes “T” and “A” Fords)

O Motorcycles, Motorbikes & Scooters thru 1986

P Military Vehicles through 1986

Q Foreign Vehicles through 1967

R Foreign Vehicles 1968-1986

S ‘HPOF’ Vehicles through 1976 (original, unrestored

vehicles) and ‘SGCV’ (recreations of collector

vehicles) as certified by AACA. Not judged.

We also have a couple non-judged classes including streetrods & modified, and special interest cars. These tend to attract certain people --like teenagers--- who would otherwise not darken the doors of an antique car show. Who knows?--they might be potential old car enthusiasts but we'll never know til we get them into our show.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[MCHinson]

The NC Region uses AACA National Classes. Our local Cape Fear Chapter uses AACA National Classes, plus the addition of a Modified Class for cars that we welcome to our local chapter show even though they would not be eligible for inclusion in AACA National Events.

The judging system is a little more lenient at our local Chapter show, but we still use the National Classes plus the Modified classes. This probably means we end up awarding more trophies then we would if we had fewer classes, but it works well for our local show.