Concours South Africa 2018 Participants’ Judging Workshop on 24 February in Sandton
Concours South Africa will be hosting a Participants’ Judging Workshop at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton on Saturday, 24, from 01:00 pm.
The workshop will be hosted by Concours South Africa Chief Judge Wayne Harley, and Senior Judge Marius Malherbe. Both judges have a wealth of experience in the classic car fields. Harley is the Curator of the Franschhoek Motor Museum, while Malherbe is the former Managing Director of Lamborghini in South Africa and is an arch classic car and motorcycle collector.
“The need for such a workshop has arisen as the standard of the cars and judging has become higher at Concours South Africa,” says Harley.
“Essentially we are going to highlight points that may have been overlooked by entrants in the previous Concours events. We also want to put the entrants’ minds at ease regarding many aspects of the judging process, which can only help them while preparing for this year’s Concours South Africa.”
This year’s Concours South Africa event will again be held at Sun City on 10-12 August, 2018.
“We also want to stress the human factor in an event like this. We will be emphasising the importance of final preparation and also the importance of car knowledge, and interaction with the judges, on the part of the owners.”
Other points to be touched upon will be how the car is physically presented on the day, what Concours judges call “the presence on the lawn.”
Marius Malherbe says that he has noticed that some entrants in the past have overlooked some of the basics.
“For instance, one particular entry last year was a fine car yet, when we opened up the engine compartment there was visible dirt. So, cleanliness is of vital importance. Originality is also of the essence in a Concours competition.
“In the inaugural event a couple of years ago, there was an absolutely original car that was spoiled by using aftermarket valve caps, with garish little logos on them, for some reason. Of course, the car never came out with those little valve caps. The competition is tight, and it’s a small point like that which could see you lose out to another car.”
Harley and Malherbe will also stress the importance of not over-restoring a car.
“If you have a common car from the 1950’s, you have to bear in mind that the paint shouldn’t be too glossy. And in some cases, often in the more expensive or exotic cars, engine parts are polished that shouldn’t be polished, because it affects the originality”, says Malherbe.
Harley agrees on this point.
“You must do your homework on your car, to ensure that every detail on the car is restored correctly and prepped properly. The tendency today to over-restore and to over-paint is one that needs watching. This also applies to interiors; owners should take care not to go over the top, and give their car a non-period look. If you have a vehicle with beautifully-chromed Borrani wire wheels that look too wide compared to the next contestant’s standard wheels, which may not appear as dramatic, he will gain more points for originality.
“The same goes to the finer points of presentation, which may range from having the correct, period wheel jack, to having the original owner’s handbook as opposed to a photocopied example.”
The Concours South Africa Judging Workshop is open all entrants of this year’s Concours South Africa, or indeed anyone wishing to find out more about participation.
For more information, and to confirm attendance at the event, entrants should contact Sabrina Morris by e-mail at sabrina@eventoptions.co.za by February 20.
