My NCRS Experience

[Jack H.]

Excellent, George!!!

Superb advice. Now, let's go a bit further and dispell that belief that compromises made here/there automatically bar taking home a Top Flight ribbon -- rubbish!!!


Meet your husband another half-way. Jump in the car and DRIVE it to the meet. Take a nice leisurely relaxing drive and pump, say, 609 miles en route. NCRS recognizes the value of USING these vehicles and awards milage driven bonus credits.


While is is an oversimplification (full details in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual), you divide the ACTUAL miles driven to the meet (not as the crow flies -- feel free to go to Orlando from Miami by way of Los Angeles!) by 100, then concantenate at one decimal place. Your 609 miles driven will translate to a 6.0% bonus against your raw Flight score.


Let's see, our system is based on 4500 points, so every 1% equals 45 judging points. Now, presuming you can use the full bonus (see Judging Reference Manual for caveats), that's 6.0 x 45 = 270 judging points.... What's the standard deduction for a full wipe on paint because you've intentionally 2-step clear coated it? I think you see how we MEAN we want members/owners to put their cars on the road AND have them judged! Unwittingly (or wittingly) you and your husband came to exactly the right place in Corvettedom for your 'compromised' classic driver. Welcome!

[Alex Gilmour]

Re: Different drummer....

Jack,


I totally agree with you about the different avenues in the NCRS world, that's why I've remained an NCRS member through the years as I've come in and out of Corvette ownership (with some detours to the Shelby and Porsche (ack!) world). I love looking at well done restorations, but I think that the event that turned it for me was when I was looking at a beautiful '67 427/435 roadster that the owner proudly announced didn't even have a drop of any fluid in the car!!! In essence, he has the world's most expensive paperweight.


I just can't help thinking about who is having more fun with their car as I blast past guys like this driving their Suburbans, with the car enclosed in a trailer. Something downright un-American about a Corvette having to be the A## end of an SUV caravan...


Hee Hee,


Alex '66 A/C Coupe NCRS #22298

[Dick C.]

Re: What is there to worry about?.......

After reading all the posts about this subject, I feel compelled to voice my two cents. I have owned a few corvettes (62, 80, 87, & 67) and at the present time I have a "67" coupe. I have educated my self by knowing the value of a car and it makeup thus I was able to purchase my "67" coupe at a good value. Its matching #s and it came with a tank sticker and a book 3" thick with restoration slips. I know what I have and I take great pride in owning it. But I also understand that it value is limited because of what the market dictates these days. I have added side exhaust and bolt-on wheels because I like the sound and looks. I am in the process of new interior, paint and detailing the engine compartment and the underside of the car. I am looking forward to spring so I can show it off. NCRS has given me the information on the history of these cars, restoration data, and sources of people who enjoy these cars as I do. My car is a weekend driver and thats why I purchased it. Having your car judged at any level in NCRS requires a lot of time reading, asking and observing the process. NCRS offers a step process in judging from 'sportsman" to the "top of the world". Anyone wanting to reach the top should be prepared to deal with judging by using this board to ask questions, pass on information and learning the ins and outs of judging. I have judged at the local level and have learned a lot about different cars and found it a good experience. Anyone who is preparing their car for a judging event should try judging themselves, just for the sake of learning what it takes to do it. My car may not be a L-88, but its my car and I enjoy it. This is a hobby and some my have problems with how its run, get involved and make a difference, but most of all enjoy your ride. Ask me if I will have my car judged, I don't know maybe someday. It just doesn't matter.

[Wayne W.]

Re: My NCRS ExperienceType o Two

I totally agree Previous Knowledge gained at any other event should not be used in judgeing. The Car should stand as presented and all determinations should be done then and there. That being said, would be in favor previous certification of certain items like, engine numbers,trim tags etc. if an appropriate system could be worked out. Maybe a prejudgeing certification or qualification especially for national events.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Wayne, valid point, but there are holes....

George, Thats why I said I understand why the manuals are needed. But if you rely only on someones description and every part on the car is to be described, there will be problems, not the least of which is time. I can walk arround your 68 and identify what is and ain`t very quickly but if I have to justify my every finding by reading it in the book, I won`t be judging I`ll be playing golf. You are right 68`s are a bear, wait till we get to 84`s.

[Bob Booth]

Re: What, me worry?........

No way! I have a '72 coupe that I have made as original as I can afford. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it would be laughed out of an NCRS meet. While at first glance it may look like I just drove it off the showroom floor, (ie: orig. style wheels, interior, storage compt. decals etc., etc.) open the hood and you'll see a modified non-#'s matching engine with many non-conforming chrome and alum. goodies. Open the driv. door and see the reflective yellow state issued vin. (gasp!) sticker on my nice "Dodge truck" dark blue base coat/clear coated door jamb that jumps out and nails you between the eyes like a trooper's lights in your rear view mirror. I'm afraid that almost nothing is orig. on this car but y'know what? I always had a vision of what I thought my ultimate Vette would be and I created it (okay, well maybe a 427/435 out of a 60's car instead of a 350/300 would be THE ultimate, but ya gotta have SOMETHING to look forward to!). It's not perfect by the book but hey, they're only numbers! (albeit valuable numbers). I can't read 'em while I'm blasting down the road anyway. All the people who compliment me on it don't ask about numbers! All they see is a beautiful work of rolling sculpture. That's what I see. Because all those little stamped numbers aren't in accordance doesn't worry me. I like it the way it is. I knew it goin' in and I'm happy. Would it drive any better if the numbers matched? Nah. Would it be worth more? Of course, but I don't care. When my son and me go toolin' around in the beautiful sunshine and soak in all the thumbs up and waves of approval, what's really important? The fun we're having or the numbers. I just joined NCRS today and am looking forward to it. It's going to be what I make it to be. I've been in enough local and national racing organizations to know that no man made club or effort is perfect. There's no way everyone is going to be happy all the time and it's a shame that sometimes people feel slighted, whether intentional or not, but it's gonna happen. The best that you can do is distance yourself from what makes you upset, or find an injustice and try to change it. There's nothing wrong with owning a trailer queen if that makes you happy. I enjoy the driving part of it more. I think both sides have a valid point and each have valuable input to the sport/hobby, whatever you want to call it. If you look at your Corvette as an investment potential or a competitive outlet, then you had better keep a close eye on those numbers. But if you're in it for the fun like I think most are, then sit back, buckle up, select the desired gear and hang on & enjoy!


New Member,


Bob Booth

[Tom B.]

Re: You didn't miss it, You got it Exactly Right.

Bingo, Peter. The love of the hobby is what it's about. TBarr #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: I-n-t-e-g-r-i-t-y

Laureen,


I remember your post. I gave you some of the information for the "purist" outlook. You should be congratulated for building the integrity back into something that some cheap previous schmuck left for you to do. If you have done as good a job on everything else then you should have nothing to worry about. My only other suggestion will be up to you and your husband to compromise again. IF you can put your interest into winning as high an award as possible AND go out and enjoy DRIVING your car, Corvettedom will be all yours. TBarr #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: Maybe you can have them all, Bob.....

.....but just not all at once (like most of the rest of us).


Congratulations New Member. (Hey Bob, what's your number?). It's the hobby that has value, not the numbers (those just cost more dinero). TBarr #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: John F. got his Revenge.

Roy,


Kinda lam-blasting the hobby there. I know you know as well that there's no other Corvette organization that can compare to NCRS and we're bound to be confused with others. And we get bad raps and NOW, postings like this.


I don't see the "John F. post" and his complaint in the sympathetic light as many others do. If it's even half-true then I still think it's a well disguised, poor pitiful me, couldn't even BUY a trophy Gripe. I don't believe this person has any true interest in Corvettes or the hobby and at this point I don't care if this guy got his bowl of Cherrios or not.


I think everyone's spent more time going off on tangents with this topic then it probably even deserved. I can only hope at best that this discussion has accounted for John F's lifetime 15 minutes of fame. TBarr #24014

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Worried about our first NCRS event

I had a friend say he would never have a car judged NCRS again because he was tired of people telling him what was wrong with the car. Personally, I think he missed the point. NCRS Judging actually does tend to be negative in some respect but all we try to do is to tell you where your car varies from standard factory production specifications, etc. Remember that the judges are judging the car, not the owner, hopefully. When you get to Florida, talk to Ray Morrison, 66 Team Leader, and explain that this is your first event. I know in my case if it were, I would take a little extra time and explain more in details about what I was doing and why. Bottom line - have fun - if it is not fun it is not worth it. You could be playing instead. I will one day in Florida myself.

[Jeff]

What are the 3" of 'restoration' slips for if

...the car still needs new paint, interior, detailing, exhaust, wheels and tires?


JP

[Bill Baird]

Re: What is there to worry about?.......

That's a good question.


Bill Baird

[Paul R Ouzts]

Re: 3 Cheers for George & Jack..............

Laureen & husband shouldenjoy the car AND the judging events with great abandon. Have a great time in Orlando and best wishes for your car.

[Jack H.]

Guilty....

Alex, I confess I'm guilty of harboring a trailer queen and tugging it with a Suburban to meets. I did my 396 up 'top drawer' for two reasons: (1) learn the restoration art and preserve a piece of automotive history, (2) create a living memorial to my uncle who owned the car and was a bona fide good guy.


Different strokes for different folks, and not ALL of the nose bleed, trailer queen restorations get sold for a financial killing! Some are done just for the owner's personal satisfaction (and enjoyment of others who view 'em).


On the other hand, my '71 drove to Sun Valley (Founders Award) being carefully exercised (top up, top down, A/C on/off). My '65 DID follow at the tail end of the caravan being tugged courtesy of a fellow chapter member who was 'vette-less' at the moment. My take is if you want the best of both worlds (trailer queen and high end driver), take the easy way out -- go find a nutty old uncle to bequeath more than one car to you (or buy two or more yourself) and do different things with different cars.


Where we typically see the owner 'problem' is in cases where they want a single car to be everything. It can be done! You can buy that Bowtie/Survivor candidate, campaign it, then restore it, then drive it and achieve the 'cycle' through time division multiplexing. But, most get so much of themselves wrapped up in a single effort they can't bring themselves to view the car as simply a physical asset and take another avenue with it. Alas, the human factor!!!