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Dang Mike, you are right about that too, maybe I should just hush. Really though, I do hate to see the prices go through the ceiling. One question though, where do you get the parts "cheaply"?
Dave; I am not against either type of project, my point was some people acomplish things with their check book and some with their sweat, I have done both and I still appreciate both. I hope nobody took offense, what I said was not my opinion just what I thought was an observation. Like I said, my wife and I are in this for one thing and others are in it for something else. This board has provided so many people with so much information it is worthwhile in itself. It sometimes make me laugh at the coments on here about over restoring etc. when the true restoration should be factory assembly line completion finish, no more, no less. I will continue to enjoy each and every line I read on this board and some others as well. John
You must give the young guys some credit as Corvettes are so darn expensive these days. You can't effort one just by collecting empty bottles. And don't forget that gas prices here in Amsterdam are about 4 times as high as in the US plus costs of insurance etc.
I own a 68 L71 Coupe and a 2002 Z06 and I am 33 - joined NCRS while I was 31.
We are catching up with you more experienced guys but is not easy. This weekend by the way we have a nice NCRS judging session scheduled organized by Rob and Sander so the word will spread, around the world and amongst a new generation.
I have been a member for some time now and I have noticed two distinctly different types of NCRS members.
I own an L88 basket case - all there but apart since 1978 - Chuck Berge (team leader) and some friends wanted to see it. They were all very nice and looked it over for their own info and spent a lot of time talking with me and filling me in on a lot of the small details of the car. I also own an L89 unrestored crusty 49000 mile original - Tery McManmon saw it at the Orlando meet (sportsman class) and made me feel glad that I brought it to the meet by pointing out several details on my car and spending some time talking with me.
On the other hand,I have also been to other events where I was essentially ignored by the "good ole boys" who are chatting with their old friends but won't give anyone else the time of day.
The Kansas City chapter of the NCRS goes out of their way to make everybody feel welcome and a part of the group, even on their first time to a meeting.
We all need to follow the good examples - when you see somebody you DON'T recognize who owns a car you are interested in, go over and introduce yourself and rather than talk about what isn't original, try to point out what's original or interesting about their car. Even my old L89 has the original carpet with the IMCO logo and correct heel pad ("see, the original carpet's IMCO logo is actually pretty hard to see, not like the repro"). It only takes 10 seconds and the owner remembers it for years. I remember a president's letter in the Restorer a few years back about rudeness (a member's comment about a "stupid sticker" on a car). What struck me was his emphasis that we are ALL embassadors for the NCRS EVERY time we go to any meet or show. Rather than just fulfill our own adgenda, we need to also make people WANT to join our ranks.
Don't fret the trailer queens. In twenty five years, all Corvettes left in the U.S. will be trailer queens, because only fuel cell cars will be allowed on the road, and you will only be able to buy hydrogen at the station down the street. So we will have to go down to Mexico to drive our cars, if we are still around. But the good news is that restored Corvettes will be real cheap and you won't feel bad about driving the hell out of them down there. So I'm hoping to retire in Mexico with about five big block 98% drivers.
I went to a local Corvette and car show here yesterday. It wasn't good planning on their part as to date, heads up against Super Chevy at Gainesville and the Florida Chapter meet at Howey-in-the-Hills. Still, they had a good turnout and it was for the Humane Society and Animal Shelter. The Corvette club in Citrus County came over and there must have been about 25 Corvettes or more. The street rods and muscle cars were another 40 cars I think.
While there, I had a NCM t-shirt on with a '63 Corvette on the back. I talked to a few guys, asked if that was their car, etc., and not one bothered to ask if I had a Corvette or was interested. Basically, they said relatively little to me. You'd think that Corvettes bored them.
The guy who talked the most was a guy with a DeLorean.
After a couple of hours looking at all the cars and having a hot dog, I climbed in my Corvette, which I had parked right next to the show in plain view, and drove home.
A lot of groups complain they are not getting members or are losing members, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm at getting members.
I'm a comparatively new member of the NCRS (about three years), and I agree with many of your observations. I was surprised to find that for the first few NCRS events I attended, I was treated pretty much as though I was invisible. Some NCRS circles really do appear to be groups of "good ole boys" who are primarily interested in talking with each other. It can be pretty hard for a newcomer to feel welcome.
In most cases, I don't think that the insiders are intentionally doing this. It's just that most people are more comfortable hanging out with people they already know.
After three years in the NCRS, I'm still not one of the "good ole boys" even within my own chapter, but I have been around long enough and made enough friends that I no longer feel quite so isolated when I go to NCRS events.
I think it takes an intentional effort on the part of all existing members to be welcoming to new members and/or visitors. If it became a priority for the NCRS to recruit new members, I think we could do a much better job than we presently do. I like the notion that each of us should view ourselves as ambassadors for the NCRS.
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