What is the flashlight rule?
The motion was made and passed by those in attendance last year. Basically it allowed for the first time judges to use flashlights for shows/cars that were shown inside buildings at a National show. The idea behind this was it put the cars (those inside and out) on different levels making it difficult for the judges inside to see all the details they could if the car was outside.
One of the concerns IMHO ( I made the motion
was that an owner shows his/her car inside a couple of times and since many of the details are missed the car could possibly be rewarded a Gold for example. Then the following show the car is judges outside - short comings are discovered and the car is awarded a Bronze. Its easy to see how that would reflect on the judging team, the awards and the organization. Instead it made sense to head off these possible issues by allow the use of flashlights in those situations like many other organizations do in those and other situations.
This really all developed out of a Shelby Tim and I judged a number of times. At one point the owner provided a CD of pictures taken of the car in good light (in an effort to improve the car off season) and we discovered some major issues that had remained hidden due to the poor or lack of light at indoor shows - the only ones this car had participated in up to that point.
Motion was made for indoor use only - but somehow it got changed to judges could used them any time and in any conditions. Not the original intent nor vote. Should be quick and easy to fix IMHO
