20 OCF Participant Info
Special Event - Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 7 p.m. – Look for evening programing and event details on
the website (https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/old-car-festival/) closer to Old Car
Festival weekend.
Other Activities - Please check your program for times and locations of other fun activities for the whole
family.
Popular Choice - Guests and vehicle owners cast their vote for their favorite vehicle by filling in the ballot
using the participant number shown on the Dashcard displayed on your vehicle. One overall 1
st
, 2
nd
, and 3
rd
place awards will be presented on Sunday at approximately 4:30pm.
Curator’s Choice - In the spirit of this museum-oriented approach to collecting and preserving our
automotive culture, we present the "Curators Choice" award. This award will be presented to the car, truck, or
motorcycle which, in the opinion of The Henry Ford’s transportation conservation and curatorial staff, is the
most original (unrestored) and in the finest state of preservation considering the age of the vehicle. This
review has no bearing on whether a vehicle is accepted or denied participation in the event. Two Curator’s
Choice awards will be presented on Sunday.
Vehicle Class Judging - Judging during Old Car Festival uses a 400-point system. The winners in the
judging competitions are almost always "restored" vehicles. Professional museums that collect vehicles,
however, prefer to collect un-restored vehicles. The ultimate standard for museum collecting would be a
vehicle with all of its original, un-restored surfaces and components in "as-new" condition. Although the
standard is seldom obtainable, vehicles that approach it are the best expression of the standard against which
cars are judged is the way they appeared and functioned when sold new from the dealer to the original owner.
They are also an expression of the "material culture" of the time in which they were created, and, hence,
provide the best permanent documentation of that period. Therefore, such vehicles are much sought after by
museum curators. Judges examine the authenticity of the vehicle, the workmanship of all the restoration
work, and the quality of maintenance performed by the owner. Then, using a 400-point judging system, they
determine a first, second, and third place winner in each of the eleven (11) judging classes. From these
winners, one (1) Grand Champion is chosen on each day of the Festival.
Judging starts at 10:00am and ends at approximately 2:00pm each day. You, or an authorized
representative, must be at your vehicle when it is being judged in order to assist with opening hoods,
etc. and to answer any questions the judges may have about the vehicle.
Tentative Schedule: Saturday – Vehicles dating 1919-1932
Sunday – Vehicles dating 1896-1918 & Commercial Vehicles
All awards and ribbons will be presented on Sunday at approximately 4:30pm. Presentation will take place at
the Pass-in-Review stand. If you believe you are in the running for an award, please be at your vehicle at
4:00pm. This will make it easier for our staff to locate you and give you the good news. Winners will be
asked to drive their vehicles to the Pass-in-Review stand to receive the award.
As a participant, you occupy an unusual position during this program. Not only are you a guest with respect
due, you are also a representative of The Henry Ford with responsibilities to the guests. You can help make
our guests' visit memorable by showing a genuine interest in them, sharing in their excitement, and engaging
in some friendly conversation. We understand that we may ask more of you at our program than at other
events, but we need your help to present a successful program.
There may be weddings on Friday or Saturday evenings in the Martha-Mary Chapel with receptions in Eagle
Tavern and/or Lovett Hall. Although Old Car Festival is the primary event taking place in Greenfield Village,
there may be of other uses of The Henry Ford’s venues. We ask all our participants to be conscious and
courteous with each other.