Marin Sonoma Concours - "Japanese Manufacture" - 5/19/13

[bikermike]

I was informed today through ZONC that the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance will have a Japanese Class this year.

From my Inbox:

Attention Japanese vintage car owners with vehicles up through 1985. The prestigious Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance which will take place on Sunday, 19 May 2013, at the Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, is seeking entries for Japanese vintage cars in the judged category "Japanese Manufacture." The reason this is important for all of us vintage Japanese car owners is that this is almost surely the first time that a major Concours car show will have a specific judged category for our cars. This is another important step for our cars to receive the recognition they deserve and to bring about awareness of the collectiability of our vehicles which will increase in value as time goes on. Please go to the Marin Sonoma Concours Web site and for more information and to download an Entry Application. Your car does not have to be totally stock or absolutely perfect.

This show is a lot of fun and has some great perks. http://concours2013.com/2013/

You can download an Entry Application at: http://concours2013.com/2013/wp-content ... cation.pdf

[ACote]

Looks like a great show. and it really close to me. Know how picky they are with entries? Like a daily driver would be accepted?

[bikermike]

All I know is what is quoted above. I can check w/ my ZONC contact.

[petrol]

This is a great show, I make sure to attend it every year. They do have an "unrestored" category, and there have been some great barn find-type cars there in the past...

[Alvin]

ZONC roadster representative reporting for duty!
My apologies for being late on this and the Palo Alto Concours in June.

We have a very exciting and imho extremely important opportunity here to show near-perfect Datsun Roadsters at the Marin event. It seems that our work with David Swig over the past years with a display-only Japanese exhibit has resulted in a full-on Concours judging!

About the event and what they are looking for…a class of 10-12 cars from a variety of manufacturers that will be judged by SCCA rules. The requirements for the show are that the cars be completely stock as they came out of the factory. I suspect that there will be some SCCA judges that are not very familiar with Japanese cars since these cars have very little "Concours " experience. This is key: *Cars that tend to do well in the show are of the highest level of restoration. Correctness, Authenticity, Overall Condition are very important and generally the first in class cars are fresh frame- off restorations*
That being said as long as it's stock anyone is encouraged to apply. A selection committee and the cars will be evaluated prior to acceptance.

My plan and what I encourage all of you is to reach out and make owners of freshly frame-off restored roadsters submit an application to the show. I have asked folks like David Premo, Mike Young, etc. IMHO this our chance to show the public and the judges just how serious our cars are. I can't believe it. I joked that one day this dude would be under the frame of your Datsun…now it's a reality!

[bikermike]

Thanks Alvin.

Here is a quote I received from the organizer:
Unfortunately I am advised that the cars have to be strictly stock to be judged contrary to what I posted earlier.

[Alvin]

yup!
They will be using the Palo Alto Concours guidelines from SCCA judges.
"Under SCCA rules, cars in a sanctioned Concours are judged on the quality of their restoration to original and authentic condition, as well as their preparation. SCCA judges are volunteers who are deemed experts on specific marques. Ideally, automobiles should appear as they did on the showroom floor when new.

In the judging process, each automobile starts with 100 points. Points are then deducted for deviations from originality, imperfections, poor conditions, etc. The three highest finishers in each class are awarded trophies for first, second, and third place. First place winner must score at least 90 points, second place score is 80 points, third place score is 70 points."

I know it doesn't really say exactly how they arrive at there decisions but most of the guys are pretty knowledgable. As I said however it is going to be a bit of an experiment with Japanese cars.

[Alvin]

I posted a reminder for the Concours on the blog:
http://www.zcarblog.com/2013/03/06/even ... urday.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Has anyone entered their roadster or classic japanese car?

[RCMike]

I think I would score about 17 points...

[Ed Mason]

I am seriously considering the Marin Sonoma event. I need to locate or re-chrome my stock hubcaps, and paint or powdercoat the wheels to bring the car to a pure stock form, also will need new tires for the stock wheels. Anybody have a set of stock hubcaps that are nice or suggest a chrome shop for the hubcaps? Tire suggestions?

[Alvin]

Ed, that is great news. Are you sure you want to drive that far for this show?
Can someone help Ed out with his wheels/tires?

[bikermike]

Tire suggestion for stock wheels:

Hankook Mileage Plus II H725 whitewalls in 185/70/14
http://311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f= ... es#p116498

[Bob]

Wondering if they grade on a curve?

That helped get me through college, and couldn't hurt for my car.

[Alvin]

Exciting news... We have one confirmed acceptance/entrance into the show!
woops, forgot to tell you that it is Dave Premo!
Here is his 1967.5 SRL

[Alvin]

get those applications in!