folks, i think you're really over-reacting to this.
1. This is a judging format. It's being used to provide an objective evaluation that is quick and easy to apply. It's being used so that we don't have a repeat of last year's "marathon" judging exercise.
2. We're not looking for and don't expect to be judging 'concours' show cars! That's not the intent of the judging format. To repeat: The judging format that's being used is intended to provide an objective evaluation that is quick and easy to apply. If all the cars being shown have some scratches or swirls, or other cosmetic items, they'll all be in the same relative scoring range, much like our teachers used to do when they graded tests "on a curve."
3. If your car isn't 100% spotless in some areas, that doesn't mean you're out of contention. Not hardly. Nobody is going to be able to max out on the score sheets, nor do we expect them to. With the exception of two guys, everybody's going to be driving at least 100 miles to attend, and as far as i know, we all drive our cars on a regular basis; that means we're all going to be judged under the same conditions. I'm not aware of any "trailer queens" that are coming in specifically for the car show, so what's the worry?
4. Anybody that's competed in past mv car shows knows the routine as far as cleaning and detailing, and the same holds true for this year. Like any other show, attention to detail is important; and we're using a judging format that enables judges to objectively evaluate that attention to detail. Look at it this way: Would you prefer a judge evaulating you car as "really clean" or one that can assign points to quantify how clean it really is?
5. There is a people's choice award, as in the past. The attendees will get to vote on their favorite car, just as we've done at past events. Also, there will be a "best display" category, so those folks that have a great overall presentation will have that taken into consideration, just as we've done in the past.
6. One last thing (then i will get off my soap box). Mv car shows used to be about getting together, showing off your car, meeting and talking to fellow marauder owners. Are we now getting to the point that all that stuff is no longer important, and it's only the awards that we attend for? If that's where we've really gone, then imo, it's a pretty sad statement for the mm community.