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2002 IH / Scout Nationals
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TRUCK SHOW PREPARATION
Everyone likes to come home from a truck show with a trophy. We'd
like to help you maximize your chances of doing precisely that -- by offering some tips
and strategies for competing in that type of event.
CHOOSE YOUR CLASS
Make sure you understand the classifications in each show, and that you choose wisely
among them in order to maximize your chances of success. "Wild Modified" in one
show is almost sure to mean something different than the same "Wild Modified"
phrase at another show.
This very phrase, in fact, has quite different meanings at the Scout Nationals in Ohio, on
the one hand, and at the Rocky Mountain IH Rendezvous, on the other. In Ohio, it
encompasses rigs with lifts over 4 inches, non-IH motors, etc., but it's still judged
according to the same basic criteria as the "Stock" & "Mild
Modified" classes. At the RMIHR however, looks, cleanliness and paint quality take a
DISTANT back seat to issues of trail worthiness. Be sure you don't end up in a class where
you won't be competitive, simply because you misinterpreted the TITLE of the class!
UNDERSTAND THE JUDGING CRITERIA
Often you can even get an advance copy of the score sheet that the judges will be using.
If available, by all means make use of this opportunity.
Often you can discover precisely how many points (out of what total number) are awarded to
each aspect of your rig and its presentation. If you only have the time and money to
correct or improve 3 areas on your rig, for example, let them be the three with the
largest "return" in points on the scoring sheet. We've seen a competitor get an
additional 10 points (out of 250) simply by taking the fire extinguisher out of his towing
rig and placing it in his Scout before the judges arrived. Ten points for sixty seconds of
effort and no monetary investment. And this was in a competition where a spread of only 7
points separated First Place from Third Place.
CLEAN IT, CLEAN IT, THEN CLEAN IT AGAIN
Even if cleanliness is NOT a primary judging criterion in the class you've entered, it
surely can't HURT you any. We've never seen a rig get DOCKED for being clean!
Pay special attention to the spots that don't get cleaned by the typical pass through the
coin-op car wash -- places like the underside of the hood, the door jambs (including the
hinge area) and the rocker panels where the door covers them from the outside. A quality
vinyl and rubber conditioning product on the dash, door and trim surfaces goes a long way
toward spiffing up a daily driver.
PRESENTATION
Some shows give special awards for "Best Presentation". This refers to how you
arrange or accessorize the display of your rig. "Presentation" can include
props, a theme, or a carefully positioned mirror to help see details that would otherwise
be overlooked.
Even if "presentation" doesn't contribute any points on the judges' scorecards,
anything you can do to make your rig stand out from the crowd and be more memorable
(within the limits of good taste, of course) will help your chances of being judged
favorably. It can be the small difference that separates two otherwise very comparable
rigs.
HELP THE JUDGES TO SEE WHAT YOU WANT
While no judge likes to have the truck owner constantly over his/her shoulder throughout
the judging process, there are nevertheless things you can do to gently "guide"
the judges toward looking at the areas in which you believe your truck excels. A framed
photo essay on an easel next to your display can show things about your machine that you
feel are important. Trophies from past shows create a favorable first impression as well.
A list or a short "resume", if you will, for your rig and its strengths can
guide the judges as well as the casual observer. It can also save you from answering the
same questions over & over from onlookers, in case that gets tiresome.
The main thing, however, is not to take this type of competition TOO seriously. Most of us
own IH trucks because we love them, they're FUN to work on and to drive, and it's a
fulfilling hobby to restore, care for and maintain a vintage truck. If you let a point or
two here and there on a judging sheet raise your blood pressure, then it's time to find a
new hobby!
Reprinted with permission from the April, 1996 issue of The Binder Bulletin.
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©
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Midnitestar
Productions. All rights reserved.
Last Modified: Saturday, January 26, 2002 09:58 AM
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