I am not currently a member of the MCA, so bear with me.
What is the process for establishing judging standards? Do you use the rule "How the factory intended for a car to be built"? or are we using examples of cars found to be authentic?
Getting a bit off thread but we'll see where this goes, but I know someone that can separate this off into a new thread
I guess by "standards" your referring to the "rules". The rules have been established by review, input and improvement for about 30 yrs. Originally MCA set up a set of rules for the early cars and increased the years covered as the years progressed with the newer cars being allow to compete over time. In the late 70's a set of the Vintage Mustang rules from CA were incorporated into the MCA sheets in an effort to improve flow and some of the information, with great success. But since the club was still centered in the Eastern US the rules typically reflected what was done at Dearborn and NJ - ignoring San Jose pretty much but their percentage of the whole, was fairly small except for the Shelby's that were shown.
In the early years all early car classes (65-73) used one set of sheets and they were pretty generic since they had to serve many years and classes. In the 90's MCA choose to create separate sheets for each class - this allow for allot more specific (to the years and models) details to be written into the rules at that point.
As for the past and continuing development of rules - MCA is one of the few national clubs (to my knowledge) that allows participation in an annual judges meeting of any member in good standing - you don't have to be a judge to present findings or opinions. The suggested changes are discussed and evaluated in small groups, then the final changes for the up coming year (rules and procedures) are presented to the national elected board for approval. After that the next years rules are published for members and judges to use in preparation for the next years show season.
MCA has always been an accommodating club - almost IMHO to a fault. Making classes for just about every car and every owners selection of usage. At MCA, currently, entries can choose to present the car as " as it was delivered to the dealership" or "as it could have been delivered to the first customer. "
Are we, as judges, looking for cars built as "how Ford wanted them to be built"? It depends (sorry for the non-direct answer but its not always a simple one) With all the millions of cars built the is a good chance IMHO that many were assembled as Ford want them to be built. At the same time there were many that were built with some flaws. We understand today that many of the cars people start out with (for a restoration) are not really original cars so they lack any or allot details left from how it was originally built. For those owners there is no justification to create or reproduce a flaw since they can't show that their car ever had such a feature while others that start out with a nice original car have the option to recreate or leave what they found on their car if they can provide the documentation for the item. Believe me, the judges that are working to advance the hobby and the club are not looking for cookie cutter cars from it - but the excuse for poor workmanship in some cases found on show cars can not be placed on Ford workers with the simple claim - "you know none of these cars were perfect"
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I know that Jeff is diligent about documenting components by manufacturing date and factory. Is all of this criteria considered for judging standards, or changes to judging standards? Meaning that there are specific rules for each of the 3 Mustang factories and cutoff dates for certain aspects of components. Components provided by suppliers, running changes, etc.
Yes the differences between early and late as well as plant to plant are much more important and considered than any time in the past. Are we at the finish line yet??? No - far from it, but we have a goal and something to work towards. The rules lack enough guidance and details, currently, for specific plant. Having attended the vast majority (think I missed two in the last 27 yrs) allot of concern in changing/improving the rules relates to how the changes will effect current show cars rather than the ones being built at the time. Also some equate adding details to the judging sheets as part of the "being too picky" mindset. So for some - more details as to how the cars were built is a negative
We, IMHO, need to do more but we have to figure out how to communicate this to the judges and builders of the cars in an organized manner outside of the printed judging sheets. One idea that has been discussed is using the judging sheets as a frame work - adding more detail (by plant and time period) as well as pictures. There are other ideas in addition to that one.
I'm always reminded that the organization is volunteer organization and the job is too big. I accept that its a big job but I guess I don't feel its one that can not be accomplished since I can look back and realize that if we had simply started building years ago when I started with MCA and only completed 5% a year, it (what ever we choose to do) would have been completed in 2004 and MCA would currently be working on the revision.
As with all organizations (the bigger the harder it seems to be) it's hard to get things done at times since changes effect more people and typically the people are more entrenched in the status quo. But many here are working towards the goal with the time they donate here and elsewhere, each understanding that its not the individual that accomplishes the work or goal but its the group.
To that I would like to thank all the participate here and elsewhere to advance the hobby and the standard to one that we can be proud of - THANK EACH OF YOU.
PS - sorry for the long soap box speech but I hope this communicates my experiences well enough to be understood. Been a long day