Just to play devil's advocate..
We've lost some good men lately, at work.
The company doesn't want to pay but wants top notch operator's, laborer's, etc.. They want us to get there for free, eat free, travel from the office (which is out of the way) then to the job. Like gas is free..
To the point where it actually costs money to simply go to work!
So ppl get fired, quit, or do a horrible job.
2 sides of this...
1. We want good, consistent, judging. By someone that is happy to do it and compensated for it..
2. We spend boat loads on rigs, tickets, travel, food, etc, etc, etc..
Now we are talking about paying for judging..
It costs money to put on the event, cost money to do what we love, costs money to travel, cost, costs, costs..
Don't we pay enough to play with toy trucks?
Now we are talking about paying the judges, out of the drivers pockets..
What happen to the ticket idea?
Everyone gets 5 tickets, per class (or a ticket per course in said class)
If you put the time in and judge, you have tickets at the end of the day.
If you don't judge, you have no tickets..
Then the tickets can be handed in for, money, choice of prize/giveaway, compensation(for the work of judging).... That doesn't continue to come out of the competitor's pocket...
I don't go to a wedding to pay the catering service employees..
I pay for my food ticket and the catering service pays them.
I don't mind judging nor do I mind keeping time, while I stand in line.
It's a Great way to learn the course while you wait!
Judge 5 guys and cut in line for that course.
All good ideas that have been mentioned this year or last..
Some guys don't want to feel forced into judging or spend a grand or 2, just to pay to drive each course (above already paying for the class)