Judging question for the guys who have been there.

[Tom H.]

Hi All:
I'd really like to make an attempt to have my 63 judged. I'm wondering what the best way to go about it would be. I don't have any experience with having a car judged. I'm just wondering what the experience is like for someone like myself who hasn't done it before. I think my car is good enough, but not sure. I guess my biggest fear is failing, but I know it's not the end of the world if I do. Are there often times when a car doesn't top flight during judging ? Do judges feel that you have wasted their time if your car fails, or do they treat it like a learning experience for the owner ? I guess my question is, do any of you veterans have any advise for a first timer that would like to participate in the judging experience ?? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Get a copy of the '63 NCRS Judging Manual, which you can buy here online. If your car meets the criteria set forth in the Manual, you will have no fears when you get it judged. PT

[Tom H.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Thanks Patrick !

I do have the manual. Cars seems to be in order other than a couple of small detail issues/items.

[Terry M.]

[Rick S.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Tom,
I am also going to have my car judged for the first time next spring and have read that it is a great way to learn about your car. That is the way I am going to approach it and if I don't get top flight, that will give me the areas I would have to work on for future judging and to improve the car. I feel it will be a positive experience, top flight or not.
Rick

[Harmon C.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Tom

The judges look at your car and take deductions for any part that is different than the day the first owner picked it up at the dealer. Their is no real failure of any car you get an award for how close it is to that day it was picked up at the dealer. With the judging sheets you can then decide if you would like to improve your score. If you try to impove your score you can pick the items where deductions were made and repair or replace as needed. The fun of the award of Top flight is in the journey to get their not the end result.

Lyle

[Dennis C.]

Tons of great insight through this whole thread. *NM*

[Tom H.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Thanks terry, and the rest of you. That is whay I wanted to know. I want to have a good learning experience. It doesn't sound like it is humiliating to not score a Top Flight after all. I'll be looking forward to a great experience. Thanks guys !! I feel much better about this already.

Tom

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

A lot of point are wasted on operations by a lot of new members. I recommend you purchase the 1963 - 1967 Operations Manual and make sure everything works as it is suppose to. Easy fixes usuall for some big point gains!!!!!

Join a local Chapter and have the group over for a BBQ and adult beverages one Saturday in exchange for a pre-judging seminar on your car. Works wonders!!!

[Rick S.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Jimmy,
Thanks for the tip on buying the 63-67 Operations manual. I have the JM and thought that it would cover what I needed to know,
Regards,
Rick

[Duke W.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

You should also have the Corvette Judging Reference Manual.

Read all these books, then judge your own car. Also, get involved in the judging process as an observer judge and from there you will earn points and increase your judging level (and experience) with every event.

Keep is mind that the manuals are "guidelines". Nothing is cast in concrete. Some manuals have errors and some judges know information that is not in the manuals.

Don't try to fix everthing that you find might be "wrong" unless it's utterly obvious - like something doesn't work.

The purpose of judging is to educate owners and Corvette enthusiasts of how Corvettes were when they were built. You will get a baseline at your first event, and whether is is Top Flight or no flight, is not important. What IS important is that you will have a list of things that are not "correct" and you can begin the process of bringing your car back to more original configuration, and eventually you will have a more "original" car.

That is the whole point of the process.

Duke

[Roy B.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

99% of judges are great people , but like anything you can get a jerk, and not all Corvettes make top flight the first time out, Negative remarks usely come from others not the judges it's people that think they know it all that don't even have the year Corvette you have. There is good and bad in every organization , luckily most NCRS members are good people.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Tom,

Join a chapter and do it at a Chapter meet. You will meet some great people and learn a lot about your car. I went for the first time with my 67 not expecting anything, and was completely surprised to make Second Flight. Never even thought I'd make Third.

After the judging, you get some 16 pages(for a C2) of score sheets on which to work on. Some seven months later, I then made Top Flight at a Regional. Now I'm one of those fanatics

Just relax and enjoy the judging.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Chuck G.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

As many have said, take it to a local Chapter meet. Join your local Chapter too.

Have your car judged. You'll get a "laundry list" of items showing where deductions occurred.

Have fun. When I first bought the 69, I had it judged. Took a Second Flight. I corrected/worked, etc on the car. Have had it judged subsequently and it's scored 97% + at National meets.

Had my 63 judged the first time a decade + ago. Took a Second Flight. It had side exhausts, etc. Have had it judged several times since, AFTER many corrections, etc., and got a Top Flight with it too.

Take SOME of the deductions with a grain of salt, however. Some little minor "picky" items might be subject to debate.

Chuck

[Jay G.]

Re: Judging question for the guys who have been th

Went through the process about 10 yrs ago with my then 63 L-76. Couldn't have been a more informative and postive exp. Hell I didn't even make 3rd Flight with that car. But I gained invaluable info so the other cars I've owned since might measure up. Go, no such as can't or fail. Just lack of trying is failing. Good Luck.