Could this happen again, PCA Concours Judging Screwup Options

[Pat Garvey]

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Have a day off & doing some 914 cleaning & tinkering. Removed my hubcaps to see if anything needed a going over & it brought to mind a judging incident at (I think) the Traverse City Parade in '89.

I eventually lost out to the class winner by 1 3/4 points (yeah, I keep records of this stuff too) & pretty much figured I couldn't win because I had my chrome wheels & Yoko tires on for the auto-x. But I missed 2nd place by a .2 point. Why, because one of the judges decided he wanted to see under one of my hubcaps! Bear in mind that the 1st & eventually 2nd place cars had alloys. Though I'd detailed everything under all the caps the prior afternoon, I felt it unfair since other cars were not assked to do so. Reluctantly pulled off a cap. Dew from the early morning had condensed on the inside of the hubcap & I was gigged a half point. Fell to third - the only time I've ever finished less than second at a Parade, or anywhere. Bitter pill to me.

So, what's your opinion? I don't ever protest, because I've always felt I was fairly beaten. It's like getting a speeding ticket - I've never gotten one I didn't deserve. But what would you do in a similar situation?

I'd forgotten about this incident for many years until today, when I pulled off the first hubcap.