I ask the owner to tell me about their vehicle and listen for things like who built the vehicle, what the owner contributed to the build, and what the special features are on the vehicle. 

Judging can be informative, educational and an enjoyable experience.  You learn more about cars and trucks with each judging experience.  Judging vehicles is not an exact science, however.  There are a lot of variables to consider, and you want to be prepared.  We are not perfect all-knowing human beings.  So, we need to work hard, be thorough, and develop a good format so you can do a good job and be fair.  Think about how you want your vehicle to be judged and be respectful of the vehicle owner.

Judging at a concourse event usually has more stringent guidelines than a regular car and truck show. Concourse judging is more formal and usually has two or three judges for each category and written guidelines with a format to follow.  We are referring in this article to most local and regional car shows which have one judge who covers one or more categories.  I start by asking the owner if I can judge their vehicle. If there is time, I ask the owner to tell me about their vehicle and listen for things like who built the vehicle, what the owner contributed to the build, and what the special features are on the vehicle. If it is registered in a stock class or restoration class, I ask the owner if it is stock of if there are any modifications.  If there are modifications, such as upgrades, a newer model Hemi engine, etc. then it is not stock, and you should take off points to be fair to those whose vehicle is stock.

When Judging vehicles, I look at the quality of the build, engine compartment, the interior, trunk or truck bed, and the quality of the exterior and the paint.  I then look at the overall composition and appearance of the vehicle.  If the show is extremely competitive, I will even look under the vehicle.  If I am judging a class by myself, I sometimes ask one of the local car owners to help me by looking under vehicles and rating the condition for me (the locals respect that).  The combination of colors of the vehicle is also important and it is helpful to understand the color wheel.  If two finalist vehicles are tied, you may want to look at color combinations (such as: green exterior with as red interior) or a dirty under-carriage to break a tie (There is only 1 first place trophy).  It is always best to look at both vehicles a second time and/or ask another judge to evaluate both vehicles.

We all have our biases; however, you need to set those biases aside while judging.  If the class is custom for example, you should remove any biases you have about a different engine in a vehicle, or wheels you do not like, or a model of vehicle you would never have, or louvers on the hood, etc.  Concentrate on the overall composition of the vehicle and the overall quality of the build.  Some judges I have met openly discuss their biases as though they have some mysterious reason for judging the way they do.  If it is a custom class then any combination of parts, engines, wheels, flames, or louvers, etc. are acceptable.  However, you are still looking at the quality of the build, paint, interior, engine compartment & the overall composition & condition.

Some people are more mechanical while others feel more comfortable with body work, paint, and design. In the restoring and customizing of cars and trucks most enthusiast have talents in one or two areas but through observation and education we acquire an appreciation of the whole vehicle.  Do not feel that limits your ability to be a judge.  It is always better to have at least two people judging each vehicle when possible.

You should never judge your own vehicle and if you feel uncomfortable about judging a personal friend’s vehicle, ask one of the other judges to judge that vehicle. Again, it is important to be unbiased as possible when judging.  Have fun and make well thought out decisions.

I hope this inspires you to use your talents and become a judge.

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