A note on Challenge build books...

When we registered for the $2016 Challenge this year, there was a clear requirement that cars HAD to have a build book, and that they HAD to be displayed on the hood of the car at the Concours.

My build book was collected at registration, and I never saw it again (so it was not on the hood of the car).

I don't really care, but there is no opportunity for competitors to review and/or protest a build if the build books are not available. If we question a budget, we actually CAN'T file a protest.

I know the staff doesn't need any additional burden. I just figured this might help take a little load off of you.

I believe it was stated that you had to request a build book from the GRM staff table if you wanted to take a look. I'd rather they were just displayed with the cars for casual perusal. If I have to ask, I'm unlikely to bother.

We did collect the build books, and they were available at the booth for the duration of the concours. Any competitor was welcome to check one out and look through it, and we put a sign up to that effect. Sorry about the slight change—we wanted to make sure we received them all to write the story.

We (well, I) decided to keep the books behind the counter. We posted a sign at our booth saying that books were available for viewing.

Why not leave them out during the concours? Because if one should walk away, suddenly it becomes very hard to write about that car.

And, for the record, a competitor had a question about another team's budget. They simply mentioned it to me--no formal process, no big scene. Saturday morning two of us snuck away and went through their build book. Their build book contained all of the documentation, so it all checked out to us.

The revised rules will follow this procedure.

And speaking of build books, someone had their title in theirs! Yes, it's being returned.

I didn't have one for the trailerparkcet. I wrote the budget on a sheet of yellow notebook paper. Oops!

Funny my build book was two photo albums. I was told to keep them and display them on the car which I did. Want them? I promise not to slip in any nudies of me.

David S. Wallens wrote: And speaking of build books, someone had their title in theirs! Yes, it's being returned.

Don't bother if it was me, i put a copy of the donor van's title in mine to validate my 400k+ mile claim

I left my complete build book at home. I had to hastily assemble one from recode I could access online through my email (including my original list of expenses in Ludington exempt items). I did have a few of the last minute receipts with me that I had added to my expense sheet. Sorry it was sloppily done but it captured all but the original condition of the car when purchased.

It might be a good idea to require a duplicate copy of the pertinent elements of the build book with each car on display

In reply to Tom Suddard:

Not a problem, I just missed the memo.

The last 2 years I have tried to have an electronic presentation of the build at the car (PowerPoint).

The "sign out" concept might never get utilized (as n8 has noted). Maybe leave the books on the hoods?

Another suggestion...

How about a standardized budget sheet? Wouldn't that make the staff review just a little easier?

I started using an Excel sheet a long time ago, which everyone seems to be happy with. I'd be happy to donate it.

I would like to see your sheet Paul. I might also suggest that challengers consider placing their build sheet in Google Sheets so you can access it from anywhere. I did this and it was really easy to get it all put together Friday morning.

I had this issue last year, wanted to display build book on car, but GRM had to keep it behind the desk.

This year I printed two identical books, and had one on the car during concours.

I'd love to see an example of a good budget book. As a hopeful future competitor, that is one of the big unknowns for me.

Burrito wrote: I'd love to see an example of a good budget book. As a hopeful future competitor, that is one of the big unknowns for me.

Mine a spreadsheet of my purcases and sales, along with copies of every receipt or price tag. I haven't had any complaints. I find the oldest crappiest binder in the house and use that, as i know its not coming home. Plus, you know, grassroots. Reuse, reduce, recycle.

Spreadsheet has a line for every purchase. Then columns for item, where/who it is from/to, one column for purchase price, one for sale price with negatives in red, and the last column is net budget effect. Easy to read, even though my spreadsheet was 3 pages long

I meant to have better documentation with me at the event. Realized I left everything in my desk at work so I printed out my receipt to hand in with my build sheet at the hotel. Yes, just one receipt. Didn't even use any of the exempt budget items on my car.

Still seems very coincidental that I found a complete Q45 race car under budget when I was working on building a Q45 race car. Although I did link to the Craigslist add two weeks before purchasing the car and posted photos asking about the cage before my purchase.

I have tried to show as much as possible using build threads over the past two years trying not to raise eyebrows. Not that my builds are anything special.