We’re a car show, and we do have trophies – and basically, well, it’s a bottle of ketchup. And Volkswgen of America based an entire marketing campaign around it being at the show. So let us explain.
In the Volkswagen factories in Germany, there is a special sauce that’s poured over the Volkswagen brand sausages. It’s the condiment from a car band – the Gewürz Ketchup – and it’s served by being poured over the sausages and fries, with a little curry powder added on top.
So each year, we bring several dozen of these glass bottles over in our suitcases, and they form the center of our awards. It’s something that’s unique and fun, without taking it all too seriously – it’s been an inside joke, that if you don’t win, you can go to any diner or fast food place in town, and get tomato ketchup for free yourself..
The Top 20 awards are chosen by a select group of friends and atendees who nominate the cars that caught their attention the most – and the 20 cars that receive the most nomiations win an award. Many are the cleanest, or the most well modified, or original, while often there will be some that have driven extra far, or have a great story from their owners, so as you can tell, it’s not a concours style score sheet – it’s the personal choices of many people, combined to choose the 20.
There’s also other ways to get the trophy, which in total are:
- TOP 20 CARS – The cars will the most nominations by the judges.
- MOST VALUED JOURNEY * – The car that has maybe driven the furthest, or traveled the furthest (totally at our discretion) or had the most arduous journey. This is our choice for car that we just feels like it deserves it – not necessarily the further travelled as many cars come by ship from Europe – but maybe it’s driven directly really far, or broke down on the way and got repaired, or went out of their way to help another car on their route.
- DYNO – Highest HP – The car that records the highest horsepower on the Dyno at during the show weekend.
- DYNO- Miller Mountain Choice – The car that the folks at Miller Mountain High Performance choose as their personal pick – be it most surprising, most fun, nicest story – it’s their choice! (we personally hope it’s a 1950s VW Beetle making 38hp, or a period correct Callaway Turbo VW Rabbit just for the sheer fun of it)..
- BEST WHEELS – The best wheels chosen by an individual judge, based enritely on their discretion.
- BEST ENGINE – The best engine bay chosen by an individual judge, based enritely on their discretion.
Want to see a category added? Want to help select the Top 20? Want to provide some extra prizes for the winners? Please let us know <3