The judging categories used for the 2008 Monaro Nationals included Concours dElegance, Factory authentic, Factory improved, Street modified, Competition - Custom - Show car and V2-CV8/HSV.

The Concours d'Elegance and Factory authentic categories allows for cars that are either restored or maintained with vehicles in original condition competing in this category. This I consider is not a fair playing field.

To recognize and award owners of vehicles in original condition and encourage people with such vehicles to retain them in the original condition, it would be good see an additional judging categories for the 2010 Monaro Nationals to include the following -

1. Original unrestored for vehicles that are absolutely stock, original unaltered and not modified. Partial reconditioning replacement due to accident damage not covering more than 30% of the vehicle.

2. Original maintained where the intension is to maintain as much of the vehicle original factory condition this may include body repainting, seat retrimming.

What thoughts do others have on this subject

Edited by user Thursday, 16 April 2009 3:48:24 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The Monaro nationals need a serious overhall. I have never attended such a sorry event, drove there walked 2 asiles and went home vowing to never return. I saw people there that owned better cars then were on display that did not want to bring them to such a 2 bit affair.
One Monaro owner that attended left his 6 81837 cars at home 2 of them would have been better than what was on display easily, another owner left the best survivor HG 350 at home that Ive ever seen but took his Phase 3 to the GT nationals in Adelaide this easter and won. I could go on and on but there is a reason they are not bringing their cars.
The sad thing is people that won trophies actually believe their cars are the best. The best were clearly not there.
Get this they call it a Concourse which is great if you are an uneducated VB swilling trackie dack wearing yobo. A concourse can be found in a hotel, the rest of the world knows it as a Concours dElegance. We cannot even get the title correct! or maybe we did as it seemed more like a concourse than a Concours dElegance.
As for the judging Ive no idea who won what but no doubt it was up to the Loxton standard?
I could go on but Ive probably offended too many VB drinkers already so au revoir for now.

Nationals are always interesting events. There have been seveal overhauls of the judging since inception, mainly in the original class.

In 1998 they had peoples choice only.

In 2000 they introduced judging and a new sytem for a single stock class.

In 2002 Ben Stewart introduced Concours, as an abreviation of Concours dElegance.

It has been suggested that now there needs to be a survivor class, which covers the above.

So in 2010 there is likely to be 3 modified classes and 3 original classes. The judging system introduced in 2000 may also be overhauled to reflect three classes instead of the one class in 2000. This system was not used in 2008.

As for the cars that win not being the best, well that would be at each nationals or car show, infact on the nationals front you have to be in a car club to attend nationals, with the exception of the Moanro nationals, so if the owner of the best GT in Australia was not ina club he can not go to the nationals and therefore your friend that won, might think he has the best when he does not.

Personally, as an organiser, I do not care if people do not bring their car tot he nationals, as there is enough cars to take care of, infact there shall be limits in the future, so some that want to come will not be able to, so if someone that owns 6 81837s want to leave them in the shed, so be it. The nationals is about bringing together like minded people, not attracting the best cars, that is what Summernats is about.

So that is why Pete and so many others have such a great time. Judging and trophies are a part of shows and an achknowledgment of the work people have done in modifying, restoring or maintaining their cars, and an time for the public to view a large number of the one type of car in the same spot.

Obviously the cars there were not up to standard for you Noel, I was not there, but have enjoyed viewing the cars at previous events. I would suggest the quality of cars will be about the same, some new cars and a small handfull in better condition at the next event. Being in Queensland the owner of the 6 81837s will not attend but there will be some coming out of the woodwork here that just may or maynot be better than your friends.

My final word on the "bes" is a fellow once told me his dad had the best GTS 327 in Australia. My comment to him was "have you seen every one have you?" It turned out to be the castrol GTS 327, which although a nice car, would never be considered to be the best, either restored or modified.

Warren

I have attended the last 3 nationals in Bathurst, Loxton and Ballarat...

I have enjoyed different aspects of all 3 events... but none the less I have totally enjoyed them all... gettig together with like minded people looking at some great cars are the highlights for me...

I dont give a rats about judging except to say that it should be fair and equitable to all...

people need to get over the petty crap that is still lingering from Ballarat.... its in the past ... get over it... its time to move on dont we think...

that being said.....

I will be driving my coupe from the south coast of NSW to Qld for the next nationals and am already looking forward to it...

any word on a location yet

Al

There is no "constitution" as such, but maybe there should be.

As for the following:

Original unrestored = Survivor
Original Restored = concours
Original maintained = original
Contempory = street modified
Modified Re engineered = Modified
Associate = is for non GTs, so other
Modern Era unrestored = this would be for our V2s/VZ
Modern Era Restored = this would be for our V2s/VZ
Modern Era Modified = this would be for our V2s/VZ
South African Fairmont = we judge the South African cars with their model

They are missing show class.

Warren

quote:

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Originally posted by 74HJLS
Gday Noel, If you want to see "the best survivor HG 350" it is at Peter Champions Brock Museum in Yeppoon. It was bought from the widow of the original owner, who passed away not long after he bought it. She garaged it and Peter Champion tried to buy it for years. She finally relented on the condition that it was never to be registered. Here is a link to it http://www.championsbroc...u/road/70_holden_HG.htm

---

Hello 74HJLS,

The HG GTS 350 owned by Peter Champion is far from a survivor. It is a very nice car but it was much nicer before it was customised.

Things are not always as they appear.

i put my hand up as well, i wanna do "best original" i get me mate reggie the trimmer to do "best original stitching" on the trim, all we need is someone to judge the saginaw numbers, and the genuine air in the tyres..

hahahaha, tell him to get the white XY visors the right color next time they make some...

ewwww nicotine ones

Gday Cannon, another one of the things we liked about Ballarat was meeting up with the Echuca mob.
Shifty, enlighten us on Peter Champions Monaro, I am only going by what he told me.

Cheers,
Pete.
Old Holdens never die, they just go faster.

Edited by user Thursday, 16 April 2009 9:54:11 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified