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even pushing Concours cars that won't start." There is a waiting list to become a volunteer, even though not all the work, such as ironing ribbons or polishing trophies is glamorous. "This is a great group of people," Pappani enthuses. "It's one of my favorite things to do. I love the cars, but I'm in love with the organization." HERE COMES THE JUDGE Make no mistake: despite all the glitz and glamour, this is a serious competition. The honor of Best of Show at Pebble is the pinnacle of accomplishment in many serious car collector's eyes. There are reputations (and bragging rights) on the line, so judging is taken seriously and those who do it are carefully chosen for experi- ence and automotive knowledge. "This year is my fourth as Chief Judge," says Chris Bock, "but I've been judging for 35 years." A confirmed car nut, Bock has attended every Concours since 1963. Though the physical work of Concours preparation is done in a few weeks prior, plan- ning begins much earlier. Invitations are sent to prospective participants in November, and the process of final selection begins in February. "We get four times the number of prospects than we can accommodate," Bock says. Then, a selection committee of 17 people who have knowledge of all the various classes and cate- gories convenes. "We spend three days analyzing the entries, looking at photos and analyzing submitted infor- A total of 160 judges—all volunteers—evaluate entries in a wide range of criteria. The judges have encyclope- dic knowledge of the world of classic automobiles. 190 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 7 Photo: Courtesy of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance