The PRIMARY reason for this National is to have FUN and at the same time encourage the preservation and restoration of Oldsmobiles.

A compliment goes a long way and the participant has not only invested a considerable sum in their vehicle but has also paid to have you Judge it. An Olds in any condition is better than one in the junkyard.

You are instructed to treat these vehicles with respect and wherever possible ASK THE OWNER to operate components, doors etc. or request permission for you to do it. Under no circumstances do you just jump in the vehicle and start to Judge it.

Judges should be looking for Showroom Condition as the standard. Ask yourself “how would this vehicle have looked on the showroom floor”? PLEASE REMEMBER that these vehicles have been driven hundreds / thousands of miles from their “showroom.”   ( Modified and Street Stock. )

ONLY ONE TEAM OF JUDGES will be assigned to each class. That team will appoint a  Team Captain and he / she will elect to Judge as a team together or may elect to split a specific part of the Judging form. The SAME JUDGE must Judge the SAME AREA of the form and only one set of forms per vehicle shall be submitted to the Tabulators. The Judges MUST ENTER COMMENTS in the area provided when they have made deductions as no comment would count as no deduction if the sheet is contested after the National by the participant.

The Team Captain is to oversee the Judging sheets paying particular attention to whether the right sheet is being used (i.e. Stock/Restored vs. Modified/ Street Stock/ Race Car) for the class you are Judging and that comments are written where necessary. The Team Captain must also decide if the class to be Judged is too large to do fairly in a reasonable amount of time. If the decision is that the class is too large he/she must inform the Head Judge immediately and this situation will be rectified. The Team Captain will affix a sticker to the window card or the headlight of the vehicle to indicate it has been Judged.

Make maximum effort to have the owner or representative present for Judging. If they are not there (with the exception of a Judge owner who will be indicated at the vehicle) and/ or you do not have the access to some areas of the vehicle, deduct the maximum penalty for that category.

Following your class assignment, proceed to that class to Judge and ascertain the number of vehicles in the class, and at this time, make sure all vehicles in the class belong there. The MAXIMUM TIME to be spent on a vehicle is 15 MINUTES. This time can be reasonably shortened after considering the number of vehicles in the class. Keep in mind the first instruction to the Judges……….. we are all here to have fun and look at great Oldsmobiles.

Converse with the owner, discuss uncertain areas with fellow Judges and, when in doubt, the owner is to be given the benefit of that doubt. IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN DO NOT DEDUCT.

OVER RESTORATION is cause for deduction, inappropriate gloss finish, extra chrome etc. ( Modified/ Street Stock/ Race Car excluded )

DO NOT DEDUCT for OCA or Chapter related items displayed.(Spirit Items)

When Judging a Stock/ Restored Stock vehicle, deduct for non-era added accessories. (Supportive Literature)

When Judging a Convertible, permit the owner to display the vehicle as they see fit. However, when you commence Judging this area, the top, boot, rear window and the operating mechanism must be Judged.

Make sure to look for the fire extinguisher at the left front tire. (It must be serviceable)

Following are EXAMPLES of point deductions. Each team will deduct as they see fit but it MUST BE CONSISTENT. (Deductions will reflect a percentage of the whole area Judged )

       Inappropriate interior for the year / era

       Today’s electronics e.g. Stereo, CD player etc. in an older vehicle

       Aftermarket “boom box” types in newer vehicles

       Vehicle converted to 12 volt-system

       Wrong year hub caps/ discs/ trim rings

       Wrong exhaust tips

       Wrong head lights

       Small paint chips ( 2 or 3 or so )

       Radial Tire substitution (MANDATORY)

       RADIAL TIRES were a Toronado option (Rayon) in 1966 and could be ordered on other models from then on.

OEM, NOS and reproduction items are Judged solely on their authenticity and appearance ( except Modified and Street Stock). A worn original should NOT be deducted more than a non-original replacement. A replacement should NOT be deducted more than a missing item.

DO NOT permit an owner to sway your judgement,  e.g. “she’s all original”, driven to work every day” etc.

It is NOT MANDATORY that a vehicles operation be scrutinized. However, if you choose to have the vehicles operation tested then EVERY VEHICLE in the class MUST be done. In the event of a tie in the class at the end of Judging that class you may consider “component operation” as a tie breaker.

When you volunteer to Judge a class you MAY NOT have a vehicle in that class nor have PARTICIPATED in its restoration.

THE PRINCIPAL RULE IS REASONABLENESS…………….DO NOT BE OVER CRITICAL………………..REMEMBER WE ARE PROUD OF OUR VEHICLES NO MATTER HOW SOMEONE ELSE VIEW IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL COMPLAINTS shall be directed to the Head Judge and his/her decision is final.

When Judging the underside of the vehicle use the “one knee rule” which simply means you will Judge whatever is in your sight while looking under from one knee

Class 18 is not Judged but will scrutinized by an OCA Chief Judge appointee.

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