23 replies to this topic

[silva_mini]

Sorry to stray slightly off topic, but, why is it, in the mini scene that cars that are returned to factory condition can be chucked in the same concours class as cars that have shiney crap on them that was never intended for the car??

My parents have owned classic MG's for years and my Dad told me a story of how he saw an entrant and concours judge having a full blown argument about the fact the entrant had brushed underseal, yes, underseal(!) somewhere on the car and the judges response was "they never left the factory like that, sorry i'll have to mark you down" Why arent the mini concours like this?? Instead we see all of this (ironic) cheap looking chrome plated stuff being chucked on the cars, especially the engine bays. I know lots of people individualise their minis, but where is the promotion of originality in these competitions? I guess its just a mini thing.

As for the trailering, I cant relate to it. How people can spend that much money just to watch it roll on and off a trailer is beyond me and all for what? a trophy? The smiles and stares from people as you drive past everyday is worth a million trophies in my book. But as they say, whatever floats your boat!

[millermilla]

Agreed it really annoys me to see a car pushed on and off a trailer to win a trophy. At a recent show I even saw the owner changing the wheels before moving the car on and off the trailer to make sure no mud or grass got into the cleats of the tyres. I can sympathise a little with the very rare cars that are one off and priceless but sadly you see more and more normal mini's with thousands of pounds spent on chrome bits and bobs that are historically nothing special.

Another point to add is that I always thought a Show and Shine was meant to be a less formal affair i.e drive to the show in the wind, rain, through mud ect. then wash / polish the car on the day yet I see more and more cars turning up to Show and Shines that have won before they have even rolled off the trailer. There is meant to be a difference between a Show and Shine and a Concours event so trailer queens at least give us mere mortals a chance at winning something

[leaky]

Me and someone from my mini club were talking about this. She was saying she put her mini into the concource and didnt win. I think her oldest car if 48 and she still drives it. She drove it all the way from Basingstoke to Beaulieu she didnt win but she followed the winning car out of Beaulieu on the back for a trailer. I dont see the point. The point of a car is to be driven. Its like those covos about people saying is using a mini as an everyday car a good idea. Well it was made as a car to be driven everyday so why not do it.

[sidney]

i think it was the vinyards about 10 years ago that i went to that had a daily driver cataogry, it was nice as i just came in with my not so clean mini and entered for the hell of it, got a 2nd place in the clubman class as there was only 2 of us lol.

but for the show cars i think there should be a small cruise around the local area with all the entrants as part of it so they have to prove the cars get used.

[Jackman]

My parents have owned classic MG's for years and my Dad told me a story of how he saw an entrant and concours judge having a full blown argument about the fact the entrant had brushed underseal, yes, underseal(!) somewhere on the car and the judges response was "they never left the factory like that, sorry i'll have to mark you down" Why arent the mini concours like this??

They are like this, my next door neighbour enters his mini into concourse, driven to the shows and occasinally in winter so its fully waxoiled and undersealed underneath to stop it rusting, every concourse event he enters he gets marked down for having the waxoil underneath even though its entered into the working class section. He complains saying its because he doesnt want it to rust away and they have none of it saying it shouldnt be there.


IMO concourse is stupid, id much rather have a nice drive to a mini show park it up and let people look at her with the odd splash of water on her showing that she has been driven there. If its a weekend show i will wash and polish her to show her off. Im not going to jack each wheel up, clean the tyres with a toothbrush making sure all the tread is clean before putting her on metal stands... thats too far IMO.

[silva_mini]

My parents have owned classic MG's for years and my Dad told me a story of how he saw an entrant and concours judge having a full blown argument about the fact the entrant had brushed underseal, yes, underseal(!) somewhere on the car and the judges response was "they never left the factory like that, sorry i'll have to mark you down" Why arent the mini concours like this??

They are like this, my next door neighbour enters his mini into concourse, driven to the shows and occasinally in winter so its fully waxoiled and undersealed underneath to stop it rusting, every concourse event he enters he gets marked down for having the waxoil underneath even though its entered into the working class section. He complains saying its because he doesnt want it to rust away and they have none of it saying it shouldnt be there.

This is what I dont understand, if waxoyl isnt ok surely chrome wheels shouldnt be either?? or chrome in the engine bay?? There doesnt seem to be any consistancy to it at all? As someones said above though its probably the difference between Show and Shine and Concours. I've seen chromed up cars win at concours though

[Pauly]

I remember at himley this year, I competed in the concours for a bit of fun and I was parked next to the red meguires car (completly immaculate, all mirrors round it, on mirrored stands) and I thought straight away "best in class" WRONG the standard red sportspack behind me which he just drove in and polished won the class, no mirrors or mats just the grass underneath, and fair play to him as it was a nice car it was also exactly the same as the meguires one (red sportpack).

All the meguires car won at Himley was best presented .

Paul.

Edited by Pauly, 05 August 2009 - 04:11 PM.

[meetthespeakers]

I have to chime in here, while I understand everyone's gripe and I used to think the same way up until last summer here is my thoughts. Last year I participated in a "Turkey Run." Drove from my house to destination which took 3 hours. The following morning we set off at 8am on the Mini Cruise through 5 cities. At 3pm we broke off to head home. Arrived at our house at 9pm due to hitting horrid traffic. So a total of driving 13 hours in the Mini. The last 2 hours my legs cramped pretty bad and I had to pull over and stretch out. Stop and go traffic for 5 hours in the Mini, not cool.

While it was fun and a great experience, I wouldn't want to do it again. However 3 hours away is where the club meets. I have a big van I am fitting a hitch to next weekend so I can tow it down there and participate in there Dyno Tune Sessions, Classic Auto Cross events, and shows. Who wouldn't enjoy A/C, more comfort and room in getting the car there? I drive my Mini almost every day, but nothing makes me more nervous than being on a 5 lane highway with 18 wheelers and worrying about a drive flange, bearing, or any number of things that could go wrong. Trying to find a place with parts often means you have to wait for the part to ship... which can take a week.

So thats where I stand. Been there done that. I would however not be happy to see a car that's been rolled from their garage to the trailer, and then to the parking spot at the show. That's the difference.