Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General I sent this email to "Cars at Carlisle"

Moderators, if you think this is important enough to be stickeyed, I'd appreciate it.

I recently sent this email to Cars at Carlisle:

-----Original Message-----
From: wa2tuffataol.com [mailto:wa2tuffataol.com]
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 6:06 PM
To: info@carsatcarlisle.com
Subject: Contest categories question


I recently attended the Ford Nationals for the second time. I drive a 2000 Ford Contour SVT and was entered into the Fun Field voting. I didn't win last year but this year, I was fortunate to achieve 2nd place.

My question is this: I notice that each model has their own class, and the same category almost always has an additional class for modified. The Contour/Mystique was made from 1995 to 2000 with 2 distinct models, i.e., 95 to 97 and 98 to 2000. The SVT was introduced from 1998 to 2000. Each section should also have a modified class. If you follow this with the Contour as you have the other models from Ford, there would be at least 6 classes instead of just the two you currently have. With the representation that the CEG (Contour Enthusiasts Group) had for 2005, there could have been winners in each group. It only seems fair that a model with a following the Contour has should be able to compete in more than just 2 classes. Many of us take pride in restoring our cars, while others (such as myself) take pride in the mods we are able to do to our cars in order to make them stand out. I would hope that Cars at Carlisle will consider my request and honor our cars in the same manner that other Ford models are honored. Thank you for your time and I eagerly await a positive response. Thomas Hoyt

The 6 classes mentioned above would be:

1. Contour/Mystique 1995/1997
2. Contour/Mystique 1995/1997 Modified
3. Contour/Mystique 1998/2000
4. Contour/Mystique 1998/2000 Modified
5. Contour SVT 1998/2000
6. Contour SVT 1998/2000 Modified


This is the response that I just received:

I will keep this information for the 2006 year. But one thing you must keep in mind there must be enough cars participating to justify the number of classes. I don't think the Contour participation has reached that level.
lisa
-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 6:20 PM
Subject: FW: Contest categories question


IIRC, we had maybe 20 cars show up. I'd like to know what kind of participation we really had and maybe we can convince them to show us abit more respect next year. If each of us who went this year would put themselves by their respective class, perhaps we can show some strength in numbers. Just copy and paste. To get started:


1. Contour/Mystique 1995/1997
2. Contour/Mystique 1995/1997 Modified
3. Contour/Mystique 1998/2000
4. Contour/Mystique 1998/2000 Modified
5. Contour SVT 1998/2000
6. Contour SVT 1998/2000 Modified


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 2000 CSVT-wa2tuff

I wonder if that would narrow the field too much? I mean mustangs probably have to compete against hundreds in each class, while the contours if divided into 6 groups would maybe compete against 3-4 cars?

Not trying to be critical, but just wondering... I've never been to a carlisle car show so maybe i have no idea what im talking about

i would think anything other than stock would be 'modded'

Maybe just try to get one or two contour classes.

I have attended a Ford show in Florida the past two years and get grouped with all 1948+ Fords. That means any non-mustang, cougar/thunderbird, and some others are all in that class.

ok while I see your point, its possible that they didnt have the funds to have extra trophies to set up the extra classes this year. Not sure just guessing. I can tell you from a judges standpoint(i judge IndyTruckBash) that you never know until the day of awards how many cars you have of each class. Also shows will not break down every little aspect of a model of a car until they see that this particular vehicle has been to shows more and more. For example, when are show comes around this year, i guarentee that at least 3-5 Dodge Magnums will roll thru, but they will not have a separate class due to the fact that they are so new and you just dont see many of them around for car shows(i've only seen two this year and i've been to at least a dozen shows around the midwest and south this year). now if the magnums start to increase in numbers, we will create a class for it. some shows like to keep a smaller group of classes for some odd reason, i find alot of times my Acura Integra is in the same class as Honda Civics, but Honda Preludes and Accords are together in another class, doesnt make sense when Integras have been around alot for along time and it still happens. Give it time, the class could be broken down more as time goes on, just need a strong showing every year. hope that sheds some light on this.

Wa2Tuff, I've been a part of helping organize our local mustang clubs annual car show for the past few years. We're not a huge show by any means, but we draw 150+ cars on average.

The organizer is right with the fact that there mosre than likely aren't enough cars to support 6 classes. We usually strive to have an average of 5+ cars in a class from year to year or it usually gets merged with another class. On the other hand if we get more than 15 cars in a single class we then try to further break out that class into more segments where possible.

So, by that logic if there were 20 contours at Carlisle it would stand to reason there would be 2 classes minimum as there currently is, but there could be room to add a 3rd class. I would say you'd have more luck suggesting 95-97, 98-00, and a 95-00 modified class. Basically once you get to modifying the car, it doesn't matter the base car nearly as much. If you want to respond to Lisa, I'd suggest this line of reasoning as it would be a lot easier for her to accept as 1 additional class in lieu of 3 additional classes.

Rick

I have to completely disagree with your thinking.

6 classes x 3 places = 18 awards

20 Contours were there. 18 out of 20 get awards? That's pretty lame IMHO.

In addition, IIRC, the first year I went there were over 30 Contours. Each year our attendance has dropped. So let's say 2006 thre might be less than 20. There might be more awards than cars. Makes no sense whatsoever.

There should be three classes:
95-97
98-00
SVT
9 awards = almost 1/2 get awards

What we need to do is make sure that everyone parks in the appropriate section for judging purposes.