[dretceterini]

As with any club, it's the people that become the most involved and do the work that make the decisions.

I think what is ultimately done in any case is in part a backlash at the refusal for others to actually get involved in the process. Like with anything else, it's much easier just to follow than to try and lead. Followers will always suffer the consiquences of their inactions.

Paul has already admitted that he is far from an expert when it comes to the ins and outs of cars as rare and obscure as 2600s. Unfortunately, it is often only the owner of a particular model that knows and/or cares enough to make it correct, and this can be a long and expensive process.

The Alfa community is so small that those who actually know the older cars are few and far between, and that's why clean and shiny cars that are incorrect and have been modified often recieve awards above cars that are a little scruffy but substantially more period correct.

I believe the problem is more a lack of knowledge than any real bias. In 1992 I was vice-president of the club, and had been on the board of directors for over 10 years. I entered my 2600 coupe, which was scruffy but TOTALLY correct, except for the fact that a previous owner had replaced the gas door with an outside racing type filler. I had the lowest score in the concours, in spite of the fact that my car was substantially more correct than many others.