Having your car judged at a PCA Regional Concours Event
What to expect
A
team of judge will come and introduce themselves, and ask for all of your
paperwork. The paperwork should include
several judging sheets, each with your car number and your name completed. Do
this as soon as you get them. You will
be busy enough with all the last minute items.
Generally,
there will be individual judge for each section, or judging sheet. At this event there was a Judge for
Exterior, Interior, Engine, and Storage.
There will also be a timekeeper, who will account, and announce the time
as the Judges do their work. The
Timekeeper or Head Judge will hand out the sheets, and the Inspection will
begin.
They
will do a one to two minute walk around, and do a general inspection of the
presentation of the car. Next they will
request that you open the doors, hood, and trunk of the car. Now for the next five or so minutes, the
real inspection begins.
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Judges going to work on
their section. From a distance, make detailed
notes of what the Judges are inspecting, it will be very useful in the
future. Don’t interrupt the Judges
while they work, or offer any “explanations”, unless approached by a Judge
directly. Sometimes they will ask
about a unique feature or part in your car. |
The Engine, in Full
Judging, is both visually and physically judged. The Judge WILL stick their hands and fingers into anyplace
within reach. Here he is checking the
crevices in the hood. Note: They have request here that you turn the
wheels, hard to the left, so they can inspect the wheel wells. |
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The Interior Judge going
to work on the interior. Note they
will general do their work from outside the car, to prevent any dirt or dust
from being brought into the car. So
inspect your car from this position, prior to the event. . They
will check both of the Front and Back sections of the interior. Including under the seats, the pedals,
headliner, Glove Box, and sunshades. Any crevice or space WILL be inspected. If it is dirty, they will find it. |
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Here the Engine Judge is
making notes. All Judges generally
will make notes as they go along.
Only worry, if he has to clean his hands before he start writing! |
If it is dirty or
corroded, they will find it. Let your
hand by your own guide, while you are preparing your car. |
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Here the Storage judge is
going through the trunk. Note the
Carpeting has been completely removed, and every space is being checked. The Tool Kit, Jack and Compressor (If
applicable) will be inspected. The
Battery will also be checked, if applicable. Anything that normally came with the car from the factory. |
Next Time I will lay out
a towel for these pieces to sit on. |
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Grimace – This Judge must
have found something, or is seemly very serious about their work. Don’t sweat it, they will be happy to explain
anything they found after they are finished judging. |
Here, the Interior Judge
has moved to inspect the other side.
The Exterior Judge is checking the wheels, and wheel wells. They will check the cleanliness of the
INSIDE of the wheels and tires. |
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More notes, and they are
almost finished. At this point you
will most likely have realized what you missed, or what you could do better
next time. Just keep at it. Don’t think you are at a disadvantage if
you are competing against a Judge own car.
Judges tend to be harder on other Judges, as we should know better! |
Final thoughts and notes,
and the Judge are finished. Before
the Judges leave, make sure you thank them.
They are doing this for free, and they are just Porsche owners like
you. They will likely have there own
cars being Judged at the same time by other Judges. They can also give you details on anything you may have missed,
and give you pointers for the future. |
Remember. This for fun, so don’t be upset if they find
many things dirty, missing, etc.
At
this show, I missed to clean my Headlights!
One more item for the checklist.
Hey, we are all human. But most important……………………………………..
