C1 Judging Question - Both Tops

[Brad K.]

I'm having a problem understanding the JM when it comes to having your car judged when it is equiped with both tops (my car is a '59). The car is equipped with both convertible top latches and hardtop bolt-on points. Can I have it judged with only the convertible top up or do I have to have the hardtop with it as well? Or does the car have to have the hardtop installed with the convertible folded up inside it's compartment. I'd like to have it judged with the convertible up with no hardtop available on-site......is this allowable?
Thanks,
Brad

[Jerry C.]

Re: C1 Judging Question - Both Tops

Yes as they judge only the top that is present.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Judging Question - Both Tops

Brad - In addition to the previous post - if you show the car with the hard top, and it has convertible top latches, the judges are supposed to check to see that a soft top is, in fact, present in the car. They don't judge the top, just check (and judge) that it's there. Dennis

[Jack H.]

As this is an owner's choice....

(which configuration to present the car in for judging) you should choose wisely. In standard Flight judging, the top being shown will be inspected for originality/condition in a static situation (soft top up or hard top installed). If the car is being judged for Performance Verification, then the owner is required to demonstrate the dynamic aspect of the top's 'operation'.

This means you'll be required to sucessfully raise/lower a soft top OR remove and re-install a hardtop. Since getting a hard top on/off is typically a 2-man operation, you might want to think through the pro's and con's of which configuration (soft or hard top) you want to use for PV....

The con issues are pretty simple (you'll need a helper with you at the meet to get the hard top on/off). The pro issues are; you should have superior seal to wind/rain with the hard top during your on-the-road test drive of the car.

[Dave S.]

Re: As this is an owner's choice....

Jack et al,
I did a PV with my 1959 and the hardtop was in place during the test. I was not asked to remove the top but only to show the front latches worked. Are you sure removal is required??? The test was done by the 58-60 team leader at the time.

[Dennis C.]

Re: As this is an owner's choice....

Dave - By the letter of the law, removal should have been required. Hardtop removal makes it a lot eaiser to check the convertible top storage compartment lid and latch function. However, the PV judge is pretty much in charge of what he/she deems necessary during that particular PV test. The fact is, there is some minor variation in how this all plays out. If I'm prepping a car, I prep for the most difficult (worst) case scenario - and history has proven (for me) that to be a good choice. Best, Dennis