Greetings Pinto fans,
I just attended the 30th Annual Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet in Tulsa OK. This is a four day event involving a road course event, 1/4 mile drags and winding up with a car show on Sunday.
It is mostly Shelby Mustangs and Cobra's, but open to all Ford powered cars. I was in a class called '1966 and up Special Interest'. There were 19 cars in the class including Pantera's, new Thunderbirds, Panoz, Shogun (V6, rear transverse mounted, modified Festiva, this was the production prototype for six, yes, six production units, one of which is owned by Jay Leno), needless to say I was outclassed, but not in my mind!
I will post a few pics tonight.
Dave
Original74
Here is a pic of my Pinto with the Festiva SHOgun and 2 Pantera's, tough competition.
Excellent!
I posted your picture on the front page in keeping with FordPinto.com's goal to keep car show pictures on the front page featuring Pintos.
I also put a link to your great website...
Scott,
You are too good man. Thanks a million for your support of Pinto's in car shows. I am reposting my picture (made it a little lighter, as it is showing up a bit dark). I don't know how you have it linked to the home page, but you might point to this one if you can.
On another note, where did we ever get with a Pinto registry? I should probably go search down that thread before asking here, my bad.
I have been in several local car shows in the past 18 months and still haven't been judged the way I want to be judged. I want to be judged with similar 30 year old, original, unrestored cars. Haven't found that locally yet. I would also like to know how many Pinto's there are, still in original unrestored condition to compare mine to. I may find out I am being too anal about keeping mine original.
Any pointers would be appreciated. I have even entertained the thought of trailering it to you to let you see it and help me understand what I have. Heck, there may be 5000 Pinto's in better condition than mine, but I am soul searching to try to find out!
Thanks a bunch,
Dave
You're not being anal; it's the way the competitions are set up. The '70s weren't very good for the American automotive industry in many aspects. Shifting from muscle to economy, safety, duribility, etc., etc. I think it's silly to put 1966 - present cars in the same category. At most they should have maybe a 15-year category span (1966-1980, 1981-1995, 1996-present). I also find it odd that a Pinto would be classified "special interest." To me, special interest *would* include a Pantera, but *would not* include a "5 million sold" production vehicle such as a Pinto.
My vote is keep it original if you're happy with an original car. It's still a sweet ride whether others recognize it as such or not.
Looking at it as an entire outsider (not having attended any of your local shows), you may have a tough time convincing people that Pintos belong at car shows. It's an educational factor. I don't see *any* Pintos around the towns I live or work in. The major salvage yard has 0 Pintos...I bought the only one they had gotten in years. The fact you have a show-worthy one *without* having to restore it is a testament in itself. Unfortunately, popular press has made certain vehicles popular and other vehicles are mostly ignored.
Thanks for the reply Poison,
The show I was just in is mostly for Mustangs and Cobras and I think they just tolerate any Ford powered car, thus no attention to giving me a respectable class in which to enter.
The only other large (1200 cars) show in Tulsa only has a class called "Restored/Original" for me. I guess I am pretty much out of luck getting placed and judged as I wish, at least locally.
If anyone has an idea of where I might have to go to find equitable judging for my car, please advise.
I understand what you mean about what we think about a Pinto and what the general public thinks about a Pinto. Although I truly think that the disconnect is in the show promoters and judges, because the general public has an absolute fascination and connection with the Pinto. Everyone has a Pinto story, they either owned one, their parents owned one, or they rode in one of a friends. I can think of no other car in the past 30-40 years that has touched the lives of so many people, and that is what drives my enthusiasm for the little car.
Long live the Ford Pinto!
Dave