Dwindling memebership

[Dave F.]

Re: to add to my post

"people now days that put $50/60K into a corvette want to drive it not let it set because driving it will lower it value like a restored one. there are only so many people out there that can afford to own 2 or more corvettes at one time,a NCRS corvette and a driver,and those are the people who join NCRS...

the NCRS has too many "check book collectors" that buy a car,drop it of at some restorers,write a check and trailer it to a NCRS meet to collect a award. then you have a corvette enthusist who works on his own car in his 2 car garage at home,doing most all the work himself for 4 to 5 years and is DQ because the door hinge is loose. this does not set well and you will loose members like this. JMHO"

Clem,

Pardon my frankness, but I think this is all b.s. and sounds like someone who is somewhat bitter or jealous.

Where would someone like me fit in your way of thinking? I paid quite a bit of money to get a nice car because I do not have the knowledge (yet) to restore one and would rather be out driving it anyway. I only own one Corvette (a '59) and I plan to get it judged someday. Hopefully Top-Flighted. I also plan to drive the hell out of it.

I signed up an NCRS member long before I had a car. I think this club is great. The only thing that would keep me out of it would be a condescending attitude from others in the club. I appreciate any beautiful Corvette, no matter how it got that way. I hope others do as well.

-Dave

[John Walker]

Re: to add to my post

Dave; sorry to burst your bubble but there is alot of unhappy people that think the trailer cars should be judged seperatly, I understand some people complete their cars with funds because they have intelectual(sp) skills and some people complete their cars with sweat because they have physical skills. I have no beef with people who pay to have nice cars but maybe they should be judged against other "proffesional" cars and the "do it yourself" cars in their own class. I built one for my wife mostly with my own hands and we drive it as much as possible, but it will not compete with a "trailer" car and we do not win trophies because of this. However I will trade the trophies for the contentment of driving/riding in it and the looks we get from the public in general.

I am 50 and been into cars since I was about 14, I have a 20 year old son who did ALL the work(with some guidance from me) on a 1972 SNB Chev p.u. and it turned out nice. Most of his generation however doesnot tolerate wind noise, warm cabins, 10 mpg, no airconditioning etc., I think you get the picture. He has many friends with "rice burners" and they think they are doining the same thing he is doing only with a car their peers recognize. The public in general in the USA has moved forward in time and some things have gone away that used to be very common, vcr's, drive in movies, drive in resturants etc. This car fetish may get smaller and smaller until it is almost obscure, I hope not but change is constant and enevitable. John

[Gary #41345]

Re: to add to my post

I think, if I may that there is a blend of many that make up the population of corvette owners/lovers and it should not matter whether check book writing or elbow grease produced a beautiful classic...the end result ends up being the car itself. Pride in ones work should never be taken for granted whether you jumped in with sleeves rolled up or directed a restoration with check book in hand....both require knowledge and an intense desire to better what you have...with the end result being a better Corvette for you or someone else to enjoy for years to come.

[Tom B.]

Re: to add to my post

There are a lot of younger people discovering what a bargain the C4 Corvette is. As interest in the original condition C4 grows many of these people will be drawn to the restoration and preservation side of the hobby, weather it's for the higher value of a restored car or the fun of belonging to something really special, NCRS. These people will also become the ones ready to snap up our cars when we finally have to admitt that we can't bend the right way to get in the darn things anymore. I think that the future of the NCRS and the hobby is in good hands.

In this thread are 4 '59 owners. 2 of those are young men in their 30s with obvious good taste. I have owned my '59 for as long as they have been alive. I'm excited to see them excited about the cars of my youth.

Jim Brady,

Welcome to the NCRS. It's about time.
Jim is doing a fantastic job with the '59 Registry. I was one of the first to sign up and have come to know Jim pretty well. If he is an example of the future younger NCRS member we are going to be just fine.

Tom

[Tom R.]

Re: Myrtle Beach...a non NCRS type club

I'm a member of the Myrtle Beach Corvette Club...a non NCRS club that has an aversion to NCRS affiliation. It's essentially a C4/C5 monthly supperclub that drives to all the show and shines in the region,gather up the hardware and raves about the trip. I've watched their membership decline because all the NCRS types are dropping their membership...offers them nothing!

Their aversion is essentially all those bullet points outlined above. The one show they host each year pits all C5s together rather than have factory production types in one class vs to decaled/paint jobbed types in another. Same with C3s...all for one...one for all. My 35k 78 Anniversary Bowtie competes againt C3 with blowers and paint jobs, mirrors underneath, motors painted yellow...that's their idea of a trailer queen...but drivable on the street. But that's what they are into...you could plop in dogs and it would have same effect...I believe for this type group its more about the social aspects than the fact that its a Corvette.

I suspect our strategic plan will be exploring these types issues(membership)...well that's what strategic plans do but suspect an NCRS strategic plan will fall short.

From my perspective which is a late model C3 owner, judge,etc. the organization caters in several respects to essentially a C1 thru early C3 restoration, preservation group...it has failed to institionalize what each Corvette generation seeks, needs or wants. Yeah...we judge these late models but do we cater to these owners beyond judging their cars, selling tech manuals? And yeah...its those years that get restored. But that should be the challenge addressed in a strategic plan.

Case in point...look at a national convention and related seminars...how many sessions move beyond 1972 in their focus? How about chapter nuts and bolt seminars move beyond 1972? I would speculate few. What about the Corvette Restorer...is its publication equally balanced? I've never studied it in terms of corvette generations but does it reflect where the organization is headed as outlined in its strategic vision? I would suspect it reflects the mission which shouldn't be a surprise but if we are turning out new initiatives to interest the likes of a Myrtle Beach type member...is it reflected in its publications? My point is while we market to the late model Corvette owner...what exactly are we offering them that meets their needs and that they find of value? How well have we done shaping our seminar agenda to the late model Corvette owner now that we have tweaked their interest? Or, will run programs to pique their interest only to lose them later? We best have someone of that mindset helping to create these new initiatives otherwise we will be visiting the topic again next (or five years from now).

[Dick W.]

Re: Take a look around at the next function.

I seem to remember one NCRS President (Bill Clupper) many years ago talking about the graying of NCRS. This was about 15 years ago. It appears that it has not gotten any better. The present Board of Directors is working to improve that situation. They recognize that the C-4, C-5, and C-6 owners also have interests, maybe not what a C-1 owner has, but nevertheless has needs that are not being met by NCRS. Those of you with ideas should contact your Regional Director. Their addresses and phone numbers can be found in the front of the Restorer.

[Barbara S.]

You just made my day!

If I can still be considered a "youngster" because I'm still in my 40's, then you just made my day!!

Tony

[John M.]

Re: to add to my post

You struck a cord with me Clem. I'm an NCRS member, had a top flight 66 and it was great fun having it judged, etc. I sold the car and bought a bucket of bolts 67 convertible, yellow, black small block for next to nothing. It is now a black, red big block. The work took two years, 2000 hours and was really a lot of fun, rewarding etc. The only negative part of the project is the few comments that I get from a few NCRS guys about how I could do such a thing. (it was a one owner documented car) I have no intention of quitting NCRS but some guys are just tooo ...

[Rob M.]

Re: Take a look around at the next function.

I'm 38 and have a 59, 69 and 99 so you are not alone here in 2025...

greetings,
Rob.

[Dave F.]

Re: to add to my post

John,

You did not burst my bubble. I too do not believe in "trailer queens" (because I think all cars were meant to be rolling), but I am not bothered by someone who chooses to display their car. That is their choice. I also don't mind if they wrote a check to make it beautiful. It's still beautiful.

If it's true what you say, then I feel bad that there are lots of people out there who are made unhappy by someone else's car, rather than receiving satisfaction from their own. Hopefully they an find a way to happy again.

I will be out on the road enjoying mine, and hopefully getting a chance to see and enjoy other members car also.

Happy motoring!

-Dave

[Steve Pettit]

Re: Take a look around at the next function.

I'm never going to sell my 66 so I wish the price would crash.

[Steve Pettit]

Re: to add to my post

The problem I see with the c-4 corvettes being the entry point for new blood is that they do not have the visual appeal of either the older or the newer versions. Hardly anyone that I know (this may be a function of my age) walked a couple of blocks out of their way going home from school to see a c-4 like many of us did with the beautiful late 50-60 corvettes.
Steve

[mike cobine]

Re: Take a look around at the next function.

I used to think that, but then you have to face another reality - parts become scarce.

As long as the value of Corvettes stay high, then people make every part needed (almost) for your car so you can keep it driving for a long time.

If your car suddenly became worth $2500, the parts market would dry up, and one day you would have a car that needed parts you couldn't get readily and cheaply.

[mike cobine]

Re: to add to my post

Part of that is when that first 1963 Corvette was built, there had only been about 69,000 Corvettes ever built. They were very rare.

When that first 1984 Corvette came out, there were nearly 730,000 Corvette built.

In 1963, most kids probably didn't know anyone that owned one, but did know of someone who did. (A few blocks from school, the factory owner's kid, etc.) They MAY have seen one at the dealer.

In 1984, most kids probably knew several people who owned one. There were a dozen at the dealer.

Today, there are even more. Corvettes are unfortunately about as rare as clouds. The reason people THINK they are rare is that they know seeing a '66 Corvette on the street is rare. But really, it is no more rare than seeing a 1966 anything. Last '66 Chevy Impala you saw was when? Last 66 Ford Galaxie? Last '66 Buick? There were hundreds of thousands of those cars built, yet you see very, very few today. So the implication is they are rare.

So in 1963, you walked those extra blocks to see a rare car. Today, a 2005 Corvette may be rare in it being a 2005, but it is not rare as a Corvette because there are dozens of Corvettes running up and down the streets.

[Steve Pettit]

Re: to add to my post

You are right. I went to town the other day, (Calistoga California) and saw two or three old impalas and two nice but not stock c-2's. There was a car show going on and folk were stopping at the local restraunts and the tourists were surrounding the old cars. I ended up parking at the video store and there was a very nice 66 Chevelle and a 68 GTO in the parking lot with my not cherry 66 convertible. No other cars in the parking lot and the three of us drivers ogling each others cars. Pretty soon we gathered a crowd and had a blast talking to people. "I had one of them in...., and we went..." stories came out of the woodwork. People do love these old cars, and I think it is the inherent beauty of them. I feel the same way about an XK-E that I see at the local store every now and then, it is not restored, but damn it is one of the most beautiful cars ever made in my opinion.

Steve