COMMANDER'S LOG
Stardate 200908.03
Envy Frenzy, Kingston, NY
This was the third year of attending Envy Frenzy, and since it was the first car show I had ever attended, it marks my second anniversary at this. Because of last year's experience, there was something at stake. I knew I could do better than the display that won best display last year, which meant that one of the hand-crafted metal trophies that are the top prizes at Envy Frenzy was within my reach.
I had an idea. The idea became a plan. The plan became a project. The project became an obsession. I designed and collected stuff for a year, and spent the last two weeks before the show constructing a two part display. The theme was to be Envy Frenzy 2010 seen via a time machine from Star Trek.
Part I was the time machine, a model of the Guardian of Forever from the Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever." I carved the Guardian out of a styrofoam block taken from the scenery department of Star Trek Phase Two (with permission), added the figures of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy from the recent movie, made the pillars by buying cheap "survival kits" and breaking them up to the proper configuration. I created a control panel that set the date and place for next year's car show. I put blinking Christmas tree lights inside the Guardian, and made a loop of its voice that I put onto an iPod shuffle plugged into a boom box. The result has net with general approval from the Trekkies who have seen it or pictures.
Part II was Envy Frenzy, a model of the car show made from 1/34 scale (about 4 inches long) cars that I collected over the year.
I added signs, canopies and even tiny showboards that were correct for the cars that had them.
I arranged them in the same pattern they were parked in the street, added the car crush event and my own version of spectator parking, c. 2010.
I thought it was rather impressive when it was set up. The only problem was the the lights did not show up in the bright sunlight, and the dramatic effect was lost. On later reflection, it did not look that good at first sight.
Liz helped me set up, which took an additional hour over my usual one our set up time, even with her help. She went around the show, came back an told me there was one display that might offer some competition. I went and took a look at it, and figured I was done for.
I was not gonna match that. Like most generals I was fighting the last war. I might have won last year, but not this. Car people are not Trekkies. In fact, most have no clue. This included the judges, so Part I of this display was completely lost on them. Several others did comment on the car show part of the display, and appreciated the detail.
In the end, I took first place for my category.
There were only two entries, so if Liz had parked her Camry in the show and paid the fee, she could have won third place.
The winner of the trophy for Best Display went to . . . the Matrix with the Explosive Theme. This was clearly something closer to gearheads' hearts, and I knew when I saw it that it would be the winner. Well, I have a Guardian of Forever display, which I will use for at least a couple other occasions. The car display I will do again next year. I have another idea.
Stardate 200908.10
AHRC, Campbell Hall, NY
The following week I went to a local show in support of the Association to Help Retarded Children. I won first place in the Special Interest category, beating another fire engine. Then went out to dinner with friends Tom and Helen, discovering a wonderful new Indian restaurant.
Stardate 200908.16
The Hippie Shop's Summer of Love, Fairfield, NJ
The next show I was really looking forward to. The Summer of Love Car Show sponsored by the Hippie Shop in Fairfield, NJ. Being the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, and since Star Trek was airing its original broadcasts in the SoL (1967), it seemed to be another event for the Zhang Heng to shine. Plus they had cool trophies. I was a little torn as to wear tie-die, or my Trekkie stuff, but I figured there would be plenty of tie-dye, and I would keep to my theme. Also being in (semi) uniform would serve recruiting purposes better. On the way there, about a mile from the place, I saw this pull up beside me.
Duh. Just follow it. Took me right there. I later got a closer look.
This was half a regular car show with the usual assortment of classics, muscle cars, hot rods, etc. but a large collection of VWs and vans.
The vans were a little disappointing, short of what I thought a hippiemobile should be.
Some things looked out of place, like this collection of monster trucks.
Lots more pictures of this interesting show at Hot Rod Hotline.
Winning one of the trophies seemed uncertain. There were 6 categories for spectators to vote on:
| Best Classic | Best Volkswagen | |
| Best Truck | Best Van | |
| Best Motorcycle | Best of Show |
But there were 50+ trophies to be given out, but it was not clear what the criteria were. As the day went on, it was clear Best of Show was out of the picture (I figured the Don the Hippie's car was a shoo-in). By early afternoon, someone mentioned that the staff had put stickers on the placards of those vehicles that won something. I checked mine, and there was a sticker! I was in a good mood for the rest of the day.
It turns out that the spectators were voting on one vehicle for each of the categories to win. The remaining 50 trophies were chosen by the judges, one of whom was quite taken with the Zhang Heng, and influential enough to secure me a hippie trophy.
