Previous Question about Miles/ Bowtie Judging

[Everett Ogilvie]

A question was asked below about buying a potential Bowtie car and the mileage on these types of cars.

The mileage (or LOW miles) can certainly affect the outcome of Bowtie Judging. Take two identical cars as examples; one with low miles, say 10 to 20 K, and the other with 50 to 60 K, or even 100 K.

They are the same age, so they both get the same "add" of points for the age factor. But there are possibly big differences in repairs or replacement of "consumable" type parts between these two cars. The high mileage car could have had other consumable parts repaired or replaced in addition to the belts, hoses, battery, tires, that are expected to be replaced, such as water pumps, fan clutches, alternators, suspension items, clutches, etc. If enough maintenance (read that maintenance, not restoration) has been done to the high mile car, it could fail to earn the Star for a category.

Now, the question for debate; Doesn't NCRS encourage driving our cars? If an owner bought a mid year car brand new, and put it away, it can earn 5 stars without a problem 30 years later. How about the owners that enjoyed and drove their car, keeping it as original as possible over the years, without restoring it, but doing regular maintenance, so that it could still be driven and enjoyed? As these cars continue to age, and as they come up for Bowtie judging in the future, the ones that are still being driven today could become less and less likely to earn stars, if mileage is not considered.

Is the heart of the matter "Non-restored" or "Non-maintained"? Why couldn't there also be a mileage add to cover the situation where an unrestored, highly original car has been driven and enjoyed over the years, as NCRS encourages?

Humbly submitted for thought, Everett

[Bill Baird]

Re: Previous Question about Miles/ Bowtie Judging

Seems to me, a car is either "original", "restored", or "none of the above". While I've seen and heard much discussion about what each of these terms actually means, I'm not convinced that mileage matters. It all comes down to how close is the car to what it was like when it came out of the factory.

I'm not trying to come across as a fanatical pinhead with this. I firmly believe in driving these cars. I purchased my '75 coupe in 1988 with 153,000 miles on it, and it now has over 256,000 miles on it. I've had a lot of fun with it, but I recognize that it is neither original nor restored, and I would not want my car to be able to receive any kind of recognition from an organization like the N.C.R.S. My car is a nice Corvette, and I'm proud of it, but it deserves no awards from a restoration society.

The N.C.R.S. does indeed encourage its members to drive their cars, but it is important to remember that the purpose of our organization is to act as a focal point for those who are interested in the preservation and restoration of Corvettes. It's main intent is not to come up with reasons to glorify every Corvette that was ever built. Some Corvettes are nicely preserved or restored, most are not.

I know this subject can get kind of touchy, and none of this is meant as an "attack" on any particular way of enjoying Corvettes.

Bill Baird

[Bill Baird]

Re: Previous Question about Miles/ Bowtie Judging

Seems to me, a car is either "original", "restored", or "none of the above". While I've seen and heard much discussion about what each of these terms actually means, I'm not convinced that mileage matters. It all comes down to how close is the car to what it was like when it came out of the factory.

I'm not trying to come across as a fanatical pinhead with this. I firmly believe in driving these cars. I purchased my '75 coupe in 1988 with 153,000 miles on it, and it now has over 256,000 miles on it. I've had a lot of fun with it, but I recognize that it is neither original nor restored, and I would not want my car to be able to receive any kind of recognition from an organization like the N.C.R.S. My car is a nice Corvette, and I'm proud of it, but it deserves no awards from a restoration society.

The N.C.R.S. does indeed encourage its members to drive their cars, but it is important to remember that the purpose of our organization is to act as a focal point for those who are interested in the preservation and restoration of Corvettes. It's main intent is not to come up with reasons to glorify every Corvette that was ever built. Some Corvettes are nicely preserved or restored, most are not.

I know this subject can get kind of touchy, and none of this is meant as an "attack" on any particular way of enjoying Corvettes.

Bill Baird

[Wayne M.]

Re: I.C.P.R.E.S.

Bill --- I agree; not only is N.C.R.S. expanding its scope to include the PRESERVATION and ENJOYMENT of Corvettes (and a good thing, too), but the membership reflects more INTERNATIONAL interest in these activities. Hence, I humbly suggest the above change to our acronym.

[Wayne M.]

Re: I.C.P.R.E.S.

Bill --- I agree; not only is N.C.R.S. expanding its scope to include the PRESERVATION and ENJOYMENT of Corvettes (and a good thing, too), but the membership reflects more INTERNATIONAL interest in these activities. Hence, I humbly suggest the above change to our acronym.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Previous Question about Miles/ Bowtie Judging

In my opinion, you and your car are what the new "SPORTSMAN AWARD" are about in the NCRS system. Drive it untill the wheels fall of, then weld them on and keep driving. I am driving a 1960 about 5500 miles to get to Sun Valley in August. Cars are useless unless they are driven.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Previous Question about Miles/ Bowtie Judging

In my opinion, you and your car are what the new "SPORTSMAN AWARD" are about in the NCRS system. Drive it untill the wheels fall of, then weld them on and keep driving. I am driving a 1960 about 5500 miles to get to Sun Valley in August. Cars are useless unless they are driven.