If "concourse" judging of a SSP restoration or original SSP car is the goal, the first question in my mind would be at what point when the car was put "in service" do you set a judging standard for SSP cars? Delivery from the factory door or the day the car went into police/government service? In my mind a judging standard should be based upon a standard using the appearance and equipment installed in the car upon the day the car was first put in "police" service. Of course that would also include judging the Mustang itself without regard to the additional equipment at the same time of in service use.
Looking at all the states and Federal agencies that used SSP cars, you would probably need 30-40 judging manuals since LOT'S of agencies used these cars. How and who would create these judging manuals/guidlines? Why the enthusiasts and hobbyists of course! Who better to provide the information than the people who have all the knowledge. There is already a great start online for the establishment of initial judging guidlines for Texas, California and Florida cars.
How to "judge" the cars is the same issue that brought about a small group of individual's interested in restoration, preservation and detailed knowledge of early Corvettes to start NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society). That group started with less than 10 people and today has over 15,000 families as members. That's TWICE as large as the Mustang Club of America (MCA)! NCRS is TOTALLY driven by originality of a Corvette on the day is left the factory. That standard would not work with a SSP Mustang but I am sure that some sort of judging standard can be established IF that is the direction that SSP owners wish to go with regard to judging. Or maybe even a bigger question, does the SSP enthusiast really want that level of judging?
I personally question the idea that MCA is the right group with which to "hook up". Yes, a lot of Mustang shows are MCA shows but there are also the SVT groups and other late model groups that are more interested in Fox body cars than the MCA. Have you looked at a lot of the MCA memebership lately. I'll tell you what you see, Fat and 50+ plus years of age! Go to most MCA Mustang shows and that's what you see. Is that inherently bad? Absolutely not! It is just an observation that in general people of the 50+ age group are NOT generally Fox body enthusiasts. It seems to me that you would want to associated with a much younger crowd that is mainly interested in the newer Mustangs not the vintage Mustang crowd. MCA is not unique in this problem of older membership. Many "vintage" car marques will see a lot of their membership die or lose interest in the marque in the next 10 years. This is a natural progression of the hobby.
Having had a long term friendship with a MCA board member and a "little" knowledge of the "polictics" of the MCA, I find that the MCA is not very progressive in their thinking about the future of the club or their membership. I would think the MCA should have 3-5 times the memebership they currently have given the amount of Mustangs sold by Ford since 1964 and in particular the great interest in the new Mustang. MCA may have a big name in the hobby but from my perspective, MCA "appears" to be a much smaller player in the mustang hobby than one would think. In my opinion, the SSP crowd would be better served hooking up with a more progressive group who's interest lies in Fox body and newer Mustangs. Having said that, I am sure there are others far more knowledgeable than I that could make suggestions about the clubs/groups that new Mustang owners join and participate with.
I am sure that my views will "ruffle" a few feathers however that's what great about the hobby and those who participate. We can all have and express our "opinions". Given that the "restoration" interest in SSP cars really is in its infancy, a well thought out plan for the future will benefit all SSP Mustang owners.
Comments or responses?
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