70-72 driver

[lyndon Sharpton]

How do you feel about a driver that would use service replacement parts, such as tires battery ect.. than the reproduction parts? an it is driven to flight judging, any thoughts?

[John H.]

Re: 70-72 driver

Lyndon -

You should buy the NCRS "Corvette Judging Reference Manual" (a/k/a the "White Book") from the on-line store on this site; it describes the judging process and scoring system in great detail, including all the standard deductions for various types of service replacement parts, and it can answer most of your judging-related questions. It's just a click away!

[Michael W.]

Re: 70-72 driver

I'm very much favour of drivers. Every car should have at least one. Thoughts? It's half past beer time, thanks for asking.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70-72 driver

Lyndon, when you hear the term "driver", the speaker is generally not talking about a judged car that is driven. Typically, "drivers" are reliable cars that are driven and enjoyed regularly with less concern for wear and tear on the interior, body, chassis, and engine/drivetrain. Service replacement parts and/or repro parts are the perfect answer to keep the car reliable and looking close to original.

NCRS encourages owners to drive their cars, including those that are judged. I doubt most NCRS members will drive a judged car as much as they would a "driver" because they will try to preserve the newly-built look as long as possible. If you use service replacement parts or repro parts on a judged car, you may be found out on every non-original part and will receive deducts according to the TIM&JG and the JRM. How you fare in flight judging will depend on sum of the deducts, and nobody will know the impact unless you "pre-judge" the car yourself.

In some cases, you may have no recourse to using service replacement parts or repros...there may be nothing else available. However, if you adopt of policy of using service replacement or even repro parts at every opportunity on a judged car, I have a feeling you will need a thick skin and an optimistic attitude to deal with your feelings post-judging. JMHO

[Chas Henderson #28127]

Re: 70-72 driver

Lyndon,

Thats pretty much what my Top Flight 71 sb is. I drive it to the judging shows on radial tires, and a lot of my parts are repo. I did spring for the W89 battery and she is a clean car and very number matching which helps her score really well - even with out the drive to points. I drive her year round, usually to work (40 miles round trip). Drove her five times in Jan, and twice so far this month. (Indy) I do keep her very clean and that means a lot of time under her as well as in side the engine area. So, it can be done, just a lot of extra work. Good luck! Just do it!

Chasman

[lyndon Sharpton]

Re: 70-72 driver

I want to enjoy the car on some trips to have it flight judged, dont think I could live with the non radial tires. I dont know how reliable a repo battery would be, just wanted some thoughts from guys who have done that are driving them. And I am sure some people do the whole thing with the tires an drive the car 1000 miles to an from a meet! so thanks to all that posted. lyndon

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70-72 driver

Lyndon,

My 72 has 60,700 miles on it at this time, give or take a couple.
I bought it in October of 2002 from a friend of mine with 58871 miles.
I drove it 535 miles each way to the Seven Springs, PA Regional in June of 2003, and got my Top Flight.
I had to trailer it to the Nationals in Hershey as I took my family along and the Corvette only holds 2...but still got a Top Flight w/o mileage credit. I really wanted to drive it the last couple of hundred miles in Pennsylvania, but my wife refused to drive the truck with trailer through the "cattle gate" cement barriers used in the construction zone. She won that one.
I drove it 180+ miles each way to receive its Bowtie at the Nationals this past July in Windsor.
I hope to drive it to Boston in 2007 to receive its 5th Star and likely my Founders Award. I might try for a Duntov by then too.
All driving was done on my radial BFG tires.
My repro battery is working fine and spends its sparre time on a Battery MINDer.

It drives wonderfully. It's not the Corvette I drive to work in the summer (that would be my 71) but I'm not afraid to jump in it and drive it at any time.

So, drive it.

Patrick

[Chuck R.]

Re: Don't forget the "Shot Gun" Mike

Every driver always needs someone riding "Shot Gun"

Thata way when people look at the car and see you with that silly blissfull euphoric grin on your face, they'll think that the person riding "Shot Gun" said a funny and won't worry about you

Think I'll go sit on my milk crate and day dream for a little while.

Chuck