First this post is not about the people that run the NIA, just too me anyways was the comradery or lack thereof, and could easily be changed, (NOW this is my opinion)
Needless to say, the people that ran the program were excellent, went more than out of their way to accommodate you if you filled your paperwork out wrong, extremely nice and kind people, I honestly believe Don and Ann were overwhelmed with the hospitality and welcoming to the NIA, because it was evident! With that being said ….
The Judging part I did not get at all, my vision was completely different and thought it was very strange, cars to be Judged were Judged by a small group, you did not know (at least I didn’t) but maybe one, hidden in a building where nobody could see, or no interaction between owners and Judges after the cars had been Judged and then to get a score sheets 6 months later is un-excusable, now this is “my opinion”, I could see a couple of weeks.
Since I have been in many clubs, have never seen it done this way, and maybe should keep my opinions to myself as I usually do, but I am used to knowing (if in a scoring category) leaving the show with a score, and at awards in front of my pears let the chips fall where they may, (I personally did not have my car Judged), first because it is not worthy, and second, the signup sheet was not clear to me, so again, this is “my opinion.”
I had this all written when the mailman came with the new NIA Newsletter a sign? which somewhat lays out the categories, and limiting the cars to 25?
Let the members judge with an “expert” of that year of car then they can learn as well as taking that “Change Tool” back home with you and feel as if you apart of the week, and not just a spectator.
After 2 weeks later getting your score sheet, you can see why you scored how you did and have time to correct it if you choose. Not sure what qualifies one to be a Judge of every year of car, but one small groups opinion is different than a team or 3-5 guys assigned to 2-5 cars, and at least one being knowledgeable in that year, then before you turn your score cards in, talk to the others that that scored the cars with each other so they can learn, 6 months later kind of fell short to me, not kind of, it did, this is not an attack on the NIA, Just me looking in from the outside, I hope that is clear.
Improvements that could be made again “in my opinion” is assigned parking, so your car needed to be in that spot every day, just driving around the motel looking at scattered cars was un-orthodox-ed to me, I understand that the trailered cars, they want to keep their cars under wraps, but could bring them to the show field to their assigned spot when they could, we all want to talk cars, and when you are looking at cars here and there till show and shine the day before most are leaving, it defeats the purpose, why not have one every day when they want to talk shop, the show field was your assigned place for the 5-6 days you were there, then a security team could keep an eye on the cars that were left outside at night, there are always night owls.
Instead of one day after the “hidden Judged” cars were done, having a show and shine, not sure what qualifies one to be a Judge of every year of car, but one small group’s opinion is different than a team of 3-5 guys assigned to 3-5 cars, and at least one being knowledgeable in that year, then before you turn your score cards in, talk to the others that that scored the cars with each other to, set it up as if you don’t want to Judge, it will cost you $25.00, that forces people to interact use that “Change Tool”, and when you fill out your application, check the years you would be comfortable judging, you wouldn’t have to have your car Judged, but why not, I learned so much the first time I seen that format I was hooked, give each Judge a card, and keep tabs on who Judged what, and maybe stamp a card , so the committee knows when ALL cars come in for a safety check and cowl tag checked, get their assigned spot, they can show they were a past Judge, does not mean they are experts, it means they want to learn more, so what if you do not leave with a rating or ‘trophy”, you found out how other people fixed things or what problems they ran into and how to improve.
Instead of one day after the “hidden Judged” car were done, (not sure what qualifies one to be a Judge of every year of car), but one small groups opinion is different than a team or 3-5 guys assigned to 3-5 cars, and at least one being knowledgeable in that year, then before you turn your score cards in, talk to the others that that scored the cars with each other for a consensus before turning in the score sheet, take out the lowest and maybe the highest ?, but the most seasoned guy or maybe leader of the 3-5 guys could ask how the scores were so different and are we really looking at perfection or cars built for transportation?
I live close to a lot of retired people here in Arizona, when I do go to car shows, sometimes one guy will come up and ask where my car was built, because they worked for GM when these cars were built, a month ago in Sun City West’s car show I spoke with a guy that started in Janesville at the beginning of the 1967 model year, asked him as much as I could, (his wife was in tow) and I even got his number, since 67 was his first year, he said it was probably his most memorable, and how constantly things were changed or improvise on the line so they did not have to stop the line, and how cars were test beat before getting on the transports or trains, a lot of engines got replaced in that test, so proof is in the pudding that anything could have been added that was not on the build sheet or missed, they were just building transportation, 2 shifts of it.
Again, this is “my opinion”, it is not meant in any way to point anyone out, or to offend, Vern’s article is good “The Change Tool” we are all uncomfortable with, I feel allot of people feel the way I do, but do not want to rock the boat, unfortunately we are in a very expensive hobby, I believe the younger generation likes are cars, but way out of their price range, when a “date coded” voltage regulator can cost $400-$500 dollars.
My first car my Dad bought me when I was 15 in 1975, 64 Impala SS, he paid $50.00 for it, gave me a year to fix it up.
You almost cannot fill your car up for that, so why do we wonder why the younger kids are into tuners? We have out priced them.
I better stop before foot gets any further in my mouth, just ask to read with an open mind.
My 2 cents 
Thank You
Bill Hickle
Surprise AZ
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