C1 European judging question

[Rob M.]

Hi all,

This time I have a very specific question concerning originality versus local rulling:

In Europe the gas filled headlights are not allowed on the road and should be replaced for lampholders with light bulbs installed in them. This operation is not to hard but requires the lamp harness to be adjusted to fit the needed light bulbs.

When it comes to rulling the T3 head lights are the correct ligths but clearly these aer not permitted in Europe. How should we deal with this since I also understood you are not allowed to mount or dismount any parts to or from your car just for judging purposes. Does local rulling takes presedence above originality ?

All judges out there, please discuss!

greetings,
Rob Musquetier.

[Jack H.]

Re: C1 European judging question

Such issues have come up several times at UK Chapter meets.... Remember, the NCRS policy on judging is to configure the car as it left the factory with then-current dealer preparation services. Also, we judge based on 'typical' factory assembly techniques and place the burden of proof upon the owner for changes in configuration of a given car from known construction norms.

So, if your car has lamps that differ from know factory originals, the burden of proof is upon you to document those changes were, in fact, part of either the GM export criteria in effect at the time of your car's delivery or a part of then current dealer preparation. Few can do this because MOST of the Corvettes in Europe were not actually GM export vehicles; they were obtained subsequent to their US manufacture and imported by a given individual. Hence, the car will be judged according to US standards as that's how the majority of them actually left the factory and were dealer prepared....

You can see this rule in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual (the 'white' book) under Section Two, Rule 2. But, when you look there, also take a glance at Section Two, Rule 25. This provides for alterations to a car, without scoring deduction, in certain isolated areas:

We make exceptions for the inclusion of a battery cut-off switch, fire extinguisher, and NCRS window decal there. We also make exceptions for three other car configuration alterations dealing with theft/safety. One of these allowable changes is:

"State of Federally required safety equipment, State required current inspection and/or registration sticker."

European Corvettes presented for Flight Judging in the UK 'evolve' around this. UK laws prohibit the use of 2-point seat belts as a safety item. Cars are allowed to be registered and pass safety inspection with either NO seat belts (certain years) or a full 3-point seat/shoulder harness assy. This qualifies under the above loop hole as a no-deduction configuration change....

But, most all UK members having their cars judged, opt to change out those local/national modifications required (headlights, seat belts, Etc.) for the 1-2 period that the car is being judged (off public highways, on private property) and show the car in it's US final assy + dealer prep configuration.

If there were an NCRS chapter in the Netherlands, its judging chairman would have to struggle devising a local interpretation of the above rules for Flight Judging in your country. Remember, just because one decided to import an American car in recent years and make it conform to now-current local/National highway ordinance(s), doesn't necessarily obviate overall NCRS club rules regarding 'correct' vehicle configuration for judging!

Consider what position you'd take with a Corvette individually imported to Australia years ago when all cars were required to be converted to RH drive.... That's a MAJOR change to interior/steering that was NEVER supported by GM at the St. Louis factory!

[Michael W.]

Your other option

is to swap the NL-mandated headlights for the correct T3s once you have arrived at the judging meet.

There's no rule (that I know of) that stops you from doing that prior to entering the judging field. Many people swap their 'driving' tires and wheels for their 'show' items.

[Rob M.]

Re: C1 European judging question

Jack,

Thanks thanks for this extensive answer which, I think deserves some serious studying. I guess there is room for interpretation here. I'll come back to you later when this becomes a serious discussion item.

greetings,
Rob.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Your other option

Swap tires??? I wish I'd thought of that!

I'd rig a short section of my own homemade wiring harness (possibly even using connectors found in a junkyard or auto parts srote) to plug into the original harness, and then into the "regulation" light. I'd then swap out the headlight and its respective "pigtail" just before or at a judging event.

Patrick

[Rob M.]

Re: Your other option

Patrick (and others),

I do agree that you could swap whatever part on your car before entering the judging field but it feels a bit like cheating to me. But it would be worthwhile to figure out how Corvette's were delivered in Holland at those good old days. I know one guy having an originally, in Holland delivered 1959 Corvette so I could ask him if he has evidence of any kind of about the delivery of alternative headlights (if this was the case in those days).

Are there in the States also rules which are inforced on these older cars which are forcing you to change it from its initial delivery status to be allowed to drive it onto the public roads ?

thanks,
Rob.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Your other option

Cheating? Hmmmm.

I wouldn't worry about that. It's not like you are changing motors or paint colors out in the parking lot before a meet, or borrowing half the parts from another member's car to get yours judged. In your case you would just be changing the car from today's standards to those of 19XX. Usually, if a car is driven to a meet, easily removable or bolt-on parts are allowed to be changed. Some 30/40/50 years old parts aren't safe or practical to use any more for daily driving, so there is usually some leeway. I don't "know" however of any retroactive standards here in the US. Generally an automobile is only required to meet the standards of the year of its manufacture.

On the flip side, let's say you install T-3's in your car. What are the odds of being caught? Would a police officer give you some leeway if on the way to a judging meet?

The decision will have to be yours.

Patrick

[Rob M.]

Re: Your other option

Patrick,

Thanks for your response. In the Netherlands we have an mandatory annual APK check for every car older than 3 years, what would mean that everytime you should swap your headlights to pass this. Not impossible but still a pain...

greetings,
Rob.

[Jack H.]

Re: Your other option

I'm not sure changing parts to agree with the car's factory original configuration for a short time period to achieve the objective of Flight judging is 'cheating'....

On how cars were configured for export delivery to Holland...wouldn't THAT be a form of cheating UNLESS you can document your car actually was one of those few, if any, bona fide Holland export cars?

On whether particular States require changes to vehicle configuration, the answer is YES (that's why the rules I quoted are in existance), but the number of instances of such leglislation is low. Stateside, we're loath to 'changing history' by making laws retroactive. This is seen primarily as a way of taxing the poor (less wealthy people are generally those who own/operate the older cars as a means of daily transportation). But, there are some States who require things like parking brakes (used to be an option way back) and seat belts as a form of safety....