OP

Quoted from DRDAVE:

You sure about that? I and another restoration guy I know decided not too this time around because of the confusion/stipulation around taking a barn beater and making it into a cream puff. I have too many restorations going on and others waiting in queue to start with that much of a wreck. It's not economically feasible in my book. My restoration time is better spent on starting with a good candidate and bringing it forward making it into a showpiece.
I hope that Gabe and Derek will make the best in show by eras a reality next year. I think this is one of the reasons why they got a lot of great quality shopped out games in the freeplay area their first time out as they put it out there that there that there would be judging (so bring forth your best games to the show). The best in show ribbons (and prize money) is one of the reason why the Texas Pinball Festival has so many games in stellar condition from the many eras represented at that show.
I do think that Gabe and Derek hit it out of the park with their vision for a FUN family pinball event. Kudos to them.
Without them doing the heavy lifting co-ordinating everything for a full year beforehand, this show wouldn't be in the history books as a success. And of course the great volunteers that helped out as well made this a successful TEAM effort as Derek and Gabe have said.
And kudos to them for allowing me to be the unofficial freeplay director. Hard to get each era of game it's own row with owners wanting to keep their games they brought together, but at least I got most of the chime games along the back and side wall.
The freeplay area looked and sounded glorious! =)
Dave (Doc)