During the custom-truck shows I attend, it never fails, a couple competitors will whine about the distribution of the awards. Sure, people have the right to be proud of their rides, but don't get your BVDs in a bunch if you didn't get a trophy. We must remember, most of the shows are judged by the members of the host club, or by volunteers. There are some shows where the media, builders, or a celebrity will judge for specific awards-think Truckin' Editor's Pick or Boyd's Pros Pick. The judges are only human; no two judges are the same. They all view customso, retro, and stock trucks differently. We all see things differently.
I might be showing my age here, but I can remember growing up as a kid, not everybody made the team. Even if you did, sometimes not everybody got to play. Not every team that participated in the tournament received a trophy. There were just winners and everybody else. We learned to accept that and to move on to other things. Maybe it was a different time and a different world.
The main reason we build custom early-model trucks is for the self-satisfaction and appreciation of our accomplishments. The reward should be the experience during the journey of the build and the friends we meet along the way. The real enjoyment is getting out on an open road for a lengthy cruise, or rollin' into a show and absorbing the reactions of the show-goers as they acknowledge you with a thumbs up, a nod of the head, or a big smile; those are the best rewards.
Sure, it's nice to take home a trophy to show your friends and to admire it on the mantle. But, don't be a jerk at a show if you don't get the shiny object. If it will make you feel better, go down to your local trophy shop and have one made.
Enjoy our hobby for what it is: building, rolling, and showing.