First Annual British V8 Photo Contest Results

as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume XV Issue 2, September 2007

by: Robert and Dreama Milks, Official Contest Judges

And the winners are...

People Having Fun With Performance-Modified British Sports Cars

"To be a winner or runner-up in this class, photos must include both people and cars. No exceptions. It must be possible for a reasonably knowledgeable enthusiast to spot some detail of the car that's modified from 'original'. Points will be given for composition and craft... and also for how much fun the people are having and for how cool the performance mods are. Judges will give preference to photos that look good when re-sized or cropped to 600 pixels wide by 450 pixels tall."

Winner : Martyn Harvey (photo of Jim Blackwood on the way to British V8 2006)

Judges' Comments
A reasonably knowledgeable enthusiast just might notice that this car is modified. Do ya think? That wing - a la Superbird - is just so cool, nobody else dares to rip it. The fact that this car, and Jim himself, has always scared the judges, has indeed swayed our ruling. We honor the photographer who has indeed captured the most wicked street MGB, its pilot and his grin, implying something like "so you think you're gonna pass me?"

1st Runner-Up Bob English (9.65 second quarter miles in an MGA!?!)

1st Runner-Up Bob English (9.65 second quarter miles in an MGA!?!)

1st Runner-Up : Bob English (Nostalgia Drag Races in Reading PA... 9.65s qtr mile!)

Judges' Comments
The judges are relatively sure the subject of this photo is having fun. They also think that the subject has heard a comment something like "Why did he ruin a classic car like that?", for which all modifiers should share in the award for enduring those dismal folks that lack creativity when holding a plasma cutter. The photo also addresses all those emails questioning whether one can really apply all that horsepower of a modified LBC to the ground anyway; apparently the answer is yes.

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Photographers Having Fun With Performance-Modified British Sports Cars

"To be a winner or runner-up in this class, photos must show the modification in a glamorous way. Showing a badge, decal or painted logo that indicates or suggests the existence of a modification counts too. The photo doesn't need to contain people. Points will be given for the photographer's creativity, composition and craftsmanship. Photos should look great when cropped or resized to 700 pixels wide by about 200 pixels tall. The photos may be cropped before submission, or the actual cropping may be left to the judges' imagination."

Winner Susan Milner (Robert and Aunt Bea along Rt.66)

Winner : Susan Milner (Robert and "Aunt Bea" along Rt.66)

Judges' Comments
The composition of this photo is what's so cool about it. It's perfect for a banner and it's got this whole Americana / road-trip / British-Cool car thing going. And the mod... this time the subtlety reins. The Jag-u-ar wheels might get someone asking questions... the kind of questions that take all day to answer.

1st Runner-Up Mark Trosper (nostalgia for the gas prices of yesteryear)

1st Runner-Up : Mark Trosper (nostalgia for the gas prices of yesteryear)

Judges' Comments
You can almost hear the car rumble. The flares, the exhaust, the wheels and tires all say this car has muscle. With it juxtaposed against the defunct gas station, the irony of eras is clear; why didn't they build it like that in the first place?

Judges' Closing Remarks
The attached photo would've been our entry, captioned "The aging alter ego of Buddy Palumbo borrows another race car..." We'd yak some more about each photo, but it's a beautiful Sunday afternoon and we're going for a drive.

"The aging alter ego of Buddy Palumbo borrows another race car."

To Everyone Who Entered Our Contest: THANK YOU!

General Class Honorable Mentions (arranged in random order)

Tom DiCenzo: Oh shit!

Tom DiCenzo: "Oh shit!"

Bill Young: late night work on the MGA-I6

David Petrikas: out for a drive with Miriam

Carol Harvey: Libby driving Martyn's MGB-V8

Carol Harvey: Libby driving Martyn's MGB-V8

Alexis Keech: Greg and The Beast (Land Rover 101 retired military ambulance)

Alexis Keech: Greg and "The Beast" (Land Rover 101 sporty retired military ambulance)

Carol Harvey: Martyn and Graeme out for a drive in matching MGB-V8s

Susan Milner: reflection in a Freightliner hub cap

Banner Class Honorable Mentions (arranged in random order)

Bob Elwin: MG's Roaring Raindrop (EX181) at the Goodwood Revival

Bob Elwin: MG's "Roaring Raindrop" (EX181) at the Goodwood Revival

Martyn Harvey: Barrie and Anne Robinson on their way to British V8 2006

Jonathan Lamson: MGA leather bonnet straps

Mark Trosper: washing clothes?

Jonathan Lamson: RX-MGA

Jonathan Lamson: modified MGA dashboard

Susan Milner: Bill and Jan Guzman, near Townsend TN during British V8 2006

Disclaimer: This contest was judged by Robert and Dreama Milks. Views expressed are those of the authors, and are provided without warrantee or guarantee. Apply at your own risk.

Copyright 2007 by The British V8 Newsletter. All rights reserved. Respective photography credits are as listed above.