Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

**Rob M.** · January 1, 2006, 12:53 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

I'm in favor!

greetings,
Rob.

**Patrick H.** · January 1, 2006, 01:22 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

I think the questionnaire sent out a few years ago (2002?) was flawed. I believe the oft-quoted question was something akin to "Do you use the internet to assist in restoring your Corvette." (I'm at work and can't access my old issues to accurately quote it) When only a small percent of our membership said yes, (10%? 15%?) the BOD took this to mean only 10-15% had internet access and/or had a computer. That is incorrect.

Ask how many have a computer. Ask how many have internet access. Ask how many watch/buy/sell on ebay. Even ask how many have ever visited this site, or how many WOULD if the Driveline were on line. Don't ask a nebulous question about how much research one can do on the internet regarding correctly restoring a Corvette.

"The internet" in general is a very poor place to research anything regarding restoring our Corvettes (and many other topics), so the low percentage number is likely accurate. Shy of this site, there is really nothing useful out there to help you restore a vintage Corvette. So why WOULD we use the internet to research for our Corvette?

Unfortunately we must think of the NCRS as a business, not a club. The club days are long gone. Until someone "shows them the money" it's not going to happen.

Patrick

**Kent K.** · January 1, 2006, 02:54 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

Patrick --- I couldn't agree more. Suffering from NCRS, I don't remember a survey in 2002 from NCRS. If a survey is published, it should tell the whole, correct, story.
E-Bay? From all the horror stories about fraudelent practices and people getting shafted, I look very seldom, usually only when referred by a TDB entry, but never buy/sell using E-Bay.
Hope to meet you in Kissimmee.
Regards, Kent #6201

**Patrick H.** · January 1, 2006, 03:00 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

Kent,

The survey was a GM/NCRS combined survey. I think it went out in one of the plastic wrapped combinations with the Driveline and Restorer, but don't quote me on that.

I've done OK on ebay. Just purchased some items for Christmas and came out ahead. I've also had problems on car parts and have learned to be careful.

No Kissimmee this year. The calendar on this site had the wrong dates, so I took off for the worng weekend. By the time I discovered the error, it was too late to change dates on my end.
Maybe next year. Then again, I say that every year. This was the first time I had things line up so I actualy could have gone to the meet.

Patrick

**Mark Milner** · January 1, 2006, 03:31 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

Actually, the dates were right, it was the Chapter than had the wrong dates. The weekend has always been the third weekend, not the last. The last weekend is the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Between changing weekends and the auction going off 15 miles away, I expect the turnout to be much lower than normal.

Anyone remember Bloomington back around '82 or '84 or whatever when they split the event and the dates? You don't move from established dates if you want to be a success.

**Mark Milner** · January 1, 2006, 03:33 PM

Has this ever been a club?

I thought NCRS went out as a non-profit business a LONG time ago. I don't ever remember "club" being part of the name or the charter.

**Patrick T.** · January 1, 2006, 03:57 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

A case in point...I carefully took off the old front clip of my '67 to install a new, correct clip. The old clip was still great for a driver. I thought about selling it on the NCRS Driveline, but didn't want to wait 2-3 months to get a buyer, since I was asking $1000 and I needed the money for the new clip.

So I put a picture ad on the Corvette Forum in the C-2 Parts for sale/wanted section...free of charge. I'm sure no one looking at the Driveline ads for a used front clip would buy sight unseen. They would want me to email them photos, so they must have a computer, right? So what's the beef? Anyone paying big bucks for a NOS part on the Driveline is going to want to see pictures, via email.

The first day I posted the clip on the CF, I got a bite from a guy in North Carolina, it was just what he was looking for and he saw all the pictures I posted and he drove 350 miles to pick it up and I had $1000 cash in my hand in a week.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to out figure that we need an on line Restorer or Cars for sale/wanted, even if it's in addition to the Printed version that is sent out, that will make everyone happy. If the NCRS has a spare $40,000 to give to charity with our dues, (which they gave away a couple months ago) then they have the means to make a small addition to this site. Nuff said.

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**bruce11495** · January 1, 2006, 04:08 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

It's time to move into the "computer age" and the 21st century. Everyone has acess to a pc at this time, just look at the number of members listed on this site, this is the nucleus of NCRS. These are the members that use the website for their specific reason and these are the members that want the electronic driveline. I don't begrudge donating money to needy, worthy causes, but lets look after the membership first, otherwise there won't be money to donate.....
My .02 cents worth.............

**Terry M.** · January 1, 2006, 04:28 PM

GM/NCRS survey

Patrick,
IIRC the questions on that survey were dictated and tabulated by GM. NCRS only provided the delivery to the membership. The questions were designed for what GM wanted to know.

**Patrick H.** · January 1, 2006, 04:36 PM

Re: Has this ever been a club?

Mark,

I suspect that many of us think of it as a "club" just like the local Corvette club we might belong to.

It is nothing like the local club, even though my own club here is nonprofit as well.

Patrick

**Patrick H.** · January 1, 2006, 04:37 PM

Re: GM/NCRS survey

Terry,

I believe you are correct. No matter, as it is still "the" survey that gets quoted by the Board.

We have poor studies in medicine, too. Some of those also get quoted for years before we figure things out.

Patrick

**Patrick H.** · January 1, 2006, 04:42 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

And I just purchased a 1971 body from a seller on the same site (CF). One post (free) requesting anyone with a 1971 front clip for sale, and the same day I had a contact. A few weeks later, I have a body.

Patrick

**Donald M.** · January 1, 2006, 04:52 PM

Re: Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

Patrick, Your comments re: the changed dates and far-flung auction of this year's Winter Meet are right on! If I didn't have to look for parts, I would definatly NOT be going this year. Maybe the Florida Chapter had a very good reason for changing the dates from the third weekend to the last weekend, but I know I'm going to miss a major car event down here in SW Florida on that weekend because of the change.I always enjoyed checking out the cars in the auction lot before the auction, but I doubt I'll make the 15 mile drive in Disney traffic this year. The FL Chapter should make every effort to return the Winter Meet to the third weekend and move the auction closer, too.

**Michael H.** · January 1, 2006, 05:05 PM

Re: Has this ever been a club?

I don't have an opinion one way or the other on this but I don't think I understand why the members have so much trouble trying to make changes on this, or any other NCRS issue for that matter. Maybe it should be up to the members in the form of a vote. It is, after all, your organization. Without the members, there is no organization, no NCRS. Seems to me that, by far, the majority want a separate on line buy/sell section. I'd like to hear back from some of the people that do make the decisions. Maybe there's a valid reason why it's not practical to have an on line buy/sell page but I don't know why it wouldn't work.

Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

Electronic Driveline - The case for/against it

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