Monterey reflections

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corsachili

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First of all, thanks to eveyone in the GGCBMWCCA who worked so hard to make the events of Saturday and Sunday a success. Thanks also to our own Wayne Wundram and his team for their work in making Coupe Corral at the Concorso Italiano a good time for all who attended.

Now I've already busted his chops over this so I don't mean to pillory him in public, and it's not even his unilateral decision so please don't take this as a public flogging but..................please allow me to rant for a moment.

Does anyone else here think it odd that Clean Car Awards should be granted to 2006, 2005, hell, even 2000 year model cars? I just don't get it..............of course it's clean...............it hasn't been driven. Perhaps I'm mistaken, or maybe I just don't "get it" because I've never owned a car that would any sort of Concours or Clean Car Award. To me, even a "perfect survivor", let's say a 1972 BMW 3.0 CS with 5000 miles on the clock should not be a candidate for a clean car award.

When I think of a car that would win such an award I imagine a car that was restored after having been driven some amount of miles which originally led to it being in a state that required rebuilding, replacing, restoring, etc. To me this is a car with tens of thousands of miles on it over many years.

I guess I'd be willing to allow for special categories, so you'd be judging one 2005 model car against another 2005 model, but to measure a 2005 against a 1972 seems ridiculous.

Am I missing something other than a few brain cells caused by repeated blunt trauma to my head?
 
I agree.

Clean car contests and concours are really only relevant when clean-ness and originality are unusual.

To parphrase Shannon's theorem..Information content is directly related to the improbability of the informed event. A 2006 car SHOULD be clean, so seeing one clean conveys no particular information. On the other hand, seeing a clean 1972 car (like mine!.. ha hah) conveys quite an unexpected situation, and this is noteworthy.

If I had my 'druthers, I would like to see classes for original cars and restored cars, and the clea car contest would terminate at anything less than 15 years old.

Concours is a whole other doamin, and I don't pretent to understand why anyone would get off on 100% original perfection, but, to each their own...

S
 
huh?!........what did I say?!
y'all makin' sense to me.


;-) :wink:

-shanon (with one 'n' )
Candidate for the "Humorously Manipulated/Interpreted Resto-Mod Class"
 
I see the same type of classification system (see: my coupe judged against a under 5k mile Z3 coupe or E46 M3) employed at a local BMWCCA concours event here in the New York City area.

I have chosen to ignore their ignorance or perhaps laziness and not get excited about it. I continue to show my coupe, at this event, in order to fly the E9 flag and expose the model to people who have never seen one. I can tell you this, there always a larger crowd standing around the coupes and 2002's than the Z3's and E46 M3's. To me that is a better reward than the crappy trophy.
 
Clean Car

One only has to review the Blumax and realize the potential and results of many years of caring. I'd put Murray's work up against anyone, and his illustrates what we would all like to have. Comparing new vs. old? JMTs
 
They're Are Drivers and They're Are Concours

I agree TJ. Why isn't this obvious to anyone else who defines the category. Sometimes I feel like 50 percent of the population are complete idiots. But then I have to wonder, if so, then why am I not living in a castle looking down on these dolts.

As far as which car gets more compliments CS Coupe vs. M3 -
I can tell you, I get plenty more comments with my unrestored '73 coupe then my clean '04 M3. I also enjoy and put more miles on the coupe then the M.

Michael P (from NY) are you going to attend the Lime Rock Labor Day weekend event? Let me know if you or anyone else from the forum will be attending so we can meet up.

Also, off topic, does anyone own a newer Triumph motorcycle? I am contemplating trading in my Suzuki GRSX 600 for either a Bonneville or the Thruxton. Does anyone have any experience with either bike? TJ you're a biker, any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

John Raho
Westport, Connecticut
 
Rant on TJ, I agree. I know the owner of a local BMW dealership in NorCal so next year, instead of spending all morning (3 hours) of Concorso detailing my 1972 3.5csi so you can eat off of every surface to proudly show a nice example of an HISTORIC BMW (I think they all forgot the flavor of the weekend), I am going to opt to trailer a 2007 M6 (with window sticker and dealer paper plates of course) and go for the F*&^%ing full concours award.
Just wrong I tell you, just wrong.

Thanks for listening.

Shawn
 
One way to level the playing field is to award points for milage on the clock.
 
Trade in a Gixxer 600 for a Triumph? Are you nuts? Don't do it mate........don't do it. The new 675 is supposed to be pretty good.........but I'd rather have the Gixxer any day. I've ridden a lot of the new Triumphs.............frankly I'm not a big fan. What I pine for now is a new R6 or Gixxer 600. = )
 
Perhaps they should have a 70s-80s-90s 2000+ clean car award or how about this for an idea ,we as a group all get our cars sparkly clean and judge our own cars. Its not like their award is mega cool anyway.

We can piss and moan about stuff all day long or we can take care of it!

I will donate the award

PJ
 
Triumphs vs. Suzuki

Thanks TJ for your input on the bikes. I will certainly consider it. I plan on checking them out on Saturday (if it doesn't rain).

So you really don't like the way the Triumphs ride.

Part of the reason for me to trade bikes, I was hoping to slow down a bit. Plus it's always cool to get something different.

Take care, John Raho
 
It's not just that I don't like the way they ride.................the parallel twins are just such a design compromise. It makes no sense to build an engine that way. Compared to your Gixxer they're positively primitive. They look ok, but if you want primitive and good looks you could save money and buy the original, which will only increase in value and make your CS seem like "the dog's bollocks" in terms of reliability. If you've got really good taste you'll get a Norton. And if you've got good taste AND money, you'll buy a Vincent. Now there's a Britbike I can get behind (or on top of).
 
Brief comment on Bikes

Ditto on the Norton comment and go rent The World's Fastest Indian (Anthony Hopkins at his best) if you haven't already. Try not to get a ticket the next time you're out on two wheels afterwards.
 
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