Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

[Rob Maertz]

I hope this is the right place to ask this question.

At a recent car show, an NCRS member was looking at my '66 coupe and told me I should have it qualified as a Survivor since its an original paint, knockoffs, interior, teak wheel, numbers matching, 40K mile car. I've always thought that I wouldn't do so well as the car has 6 tail lights (a common thing to do in '68), and I added the factory side exhaust in '68. He felt that for the point infractions involved, the car would still have no trouble qualifying.

How do you go about getting a car judged (is that the correct word?) or registered, and where is this done? Do you have to attend Bloomington or Carlisle or are there other meets throughout the country?

[Reba Whittington]

Re: Requirements for Star/Bowtie, not Survivor

The NCRS class for unrestored cars is called Star/Bowtie judging, not Survivior. This is only done at the National Convention every summer. To qualify, a car must be at least twenty years old and have attended a Regional meet within the past year. At that meet, the owner can have the car fully evaluated in Flight judging or he/she may opt to have the car judged on originality only. The team leader confers with the eight judges, and if the car passes, the team leader signs a form that qualifies the car to be judged next summer.

To qualify, the interior and exterior must be 85% orginal; mechanical and chassis must be 80% original. Complete details are in THE JUDGING REFERENCE MANUAL and Roy Sinor's column in the spring 2003 CORVETTE RESTORER.

[Jack H.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Adding on to what Reba told you about the NCRS program for unrestored Corvettes (Star/Bowtie), here's a smidgeon about the NCCB program that many mistakenly believe is the same thing.

NCCB (Bloomington Gold-a privately owned, for profit, company) has an award they call 'Suvivor' (a registered trademark of NCCB). The award is aimed at unrestored Corvettes and judging is done once a year at Bloomington Gold. Their motto is 'worn in but not worn out'.

In addition to originality (not condition) being the yardstick for judging, the car is expected to sucessfully make a road trip (think it's around 40-miles) that is NOT a contest of speed/precision. So, in addition to the Corvette having to appear unmolested in terms of exterior, interior, mechanical and chassis, it must ALSO FUNCTION! Operation is NOT a consideration in the NCRS Star/Bowtie program.

Since these survivor cars are expected to complete a highway circuit, the judging criteria for originality is somewhat lower than the NCRS Star/Bowtie program (in the 65% range). This may be why the fella who suggested you visit Bloomington did so....

They have a 'big Kahuna' award called Benchmark (another trademark of NCCB). This is for cars that are SO GOOD they can cut the muster as a Survivor (unrestored car) then turn around and garner a Gold Certificate (95% or better) in NCCB's restored Corvette judging. NCRS has no similar award/recognition.

Obviously to qualify as a Benchmark car, you're talking about a VERY limited number of Corvettes that saw little/no actual use after their original sale. While this IS a rare commodity, such Corvettes DO surface from time to time and deserve the recognition for their educational value to judges and restorers!

[Dave S.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Similiar to a Bloomington Benchmark in the NCRS would be a a car that achieves a Bowtie Award(4 star) and either a Top flight or Duntov award.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Dave,

Can cars do that?

Patrick

[Dave S.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Patrick,
Some corvettes can do anything, especially yellow ones.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Oh.

I thought they had to be Steel Cities Gray.

See you next week.

Patrick

[Dennis C.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Trying to compare Bloomington "Survivor" cars to NCRS "Bowtie" cars (depending on the car) can be like comparing apples to oranges. As suggested, study the definition and judging parameters of each organization. To put it another way, an NCRS Bowtie car that can be driven 40 miles will, I believe, be a Bloomington Survivor car without a doubt. A Bloomington Survivor car may not assume the opposite will be true. Again, just my opinion. Dennis

[Roy S.]

[Jack H.]

Yes, they can & do....

obtain BOTH Mark of Excellence/Top Flight in our restored class judging as well as Star/Bowtie in our unrestored class judging. One Rocky Mtn Chapter member had a 'wierd' car. A 1977 Corvette he purchased new, drove off the delivery trailer at the dealership, kept every piece of paperwork on, then drove home. YUK! What a dog!

He was used to driving '65 L78 cars (had owned six of 'em) and was disappointed in the performance/handling characteristics of his brand new '77. So, he basically 'locked' it up in the garage for umpteen years. When we encouraged him to bring it out and have it judged (Steamboat '97 Regional), the judges went nuts. Here was a time capsule with 2900 original miles on 'er, repleat with just about any/all factory paperwork you might want!

The car went on to achieve NCRS Mark of Excellence AND Bowtie awards. Then went to Bloomington where it achieved Survivor, Gold Certification and Benchmark status. Only real difference between NCRS and NCCB is we (NCRS) don't have a buzzword/handle for a car that takes top honors in BOTH the restored and unrestored categories....

[Jack H.]

Roy/Dennis...

Thanks for clearing up some of the details I left out or mis-stated! Also, pay attention to what Dennis said about an NCRS Star/Bowtie car having a better chance at Survivor than vice versa. There's a lesson there.

If you happen to stumble across or obtain that rare, elusive, 'untouched' Corvette, you're much better off NOT TO TOUCH it and campaign it at NCRS for the Star/Bowtie award first. Then, you can consider 'fixing' this/that to make it a road worthy driver and go on to NCCB/Bloomington.

If you do things in reverse order (dive in to fix this/that to make the car roadworthy for the NCCB road course test), you JUST MIGHT injure your chances in obtaining Star/Bowtie status! Of course, this is my personal opinion on the subject....

[Patrick H.]

Re: Yes, they can & do....

Jack,

It was a joke.

I saw Dave's wonderful 71 LT-1 convertible get a Bowtie and a Duntov at Hershey, so I was having some fun with him.

I was fully well aware that both were possible, and have seen other cars make it, too.

Patrick

[Rob Maertz]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Thanks to everyone for your answers. I didn't realize NCRS and Bloomington were different, I thought they were tied together as both deal with originality in Corvettes.

Since I'm located in Wisconsin, is there an NCRS meet that takes place near me? I'd like to see how my car does in an NCRS evaluation.

[Karl #35089]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Hi Rob: Come on down to EVS Chevrolet in Random Lake on Sunday! Corvette show sponsored by the WI NCRS chapter. Also, check out www.ncrs-wi.org - great site and gives contact info on the group.

Whatever you do, get that car out and let's see it! Nothing better than looking at unrestored cars as far as I'm concerned. We learn so much from them.

Best regards,
-Karl

[Dennis C.]

Re: Requirements for Survivor/Benchmark Car

Karl - Best post I've read all day - and there have been some good ones. Dennis