Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

**John S.** · January 25, 2007, 01:24 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Kirk,

Buy a 1967 Judging Guide Manual from the NCRS store. Also, contact Roy Sinor (see contacts above) for a copy of 1967 Judging Sheets that will show you points allocation for various judging items. With these two items you should be able to make a good assessment of you car and where to concentrate your restoration efforts.

**Kirk McHugh** · January 25, 2007, 01:32 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

John,

I have done that, and that is currently what I am using to restore my car. However, my question is more philosophical than pragmatic.

How are cars judged? Are there separate levels/grades, or is it an all or nothing process? Is top flight the only level there is?

In other words, even I never attain top flight status because the car is a driver, can I at least say as a driver that I received a "bronze medal" at an NCRS event?

How does the NCRS judging compare with Bloomington Gold?

Remember, I am a newbie to this, so I know nothing about any of these topics. Thanks for the help!

**Dick C.** · January 25, 2007, 01:56 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Purchase the NCRS "Corvette Judging Reference Manual"
It will help answer most of your questions.
Every member should have one.

**Debra P.** · January 25, 2007, 01:56 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Hi John,
Get in touch with the NCRS chapter in your area. They will give you all you need ,books,dvds,& their expertise. You can second flight your car if you join your local chapter, they will tell you what it needs to win a Top Flight. It's the cheapest & best way to go. NCRS awards do help in the appreciation of your car & it is a 67. I think that 67s are going to be the most valuable. If it's original, wow, they are only original once & if you have a survivor, you have a potentially valuable Vette. I know, I had 3 BB mid years & it could even get a Survivor award, good for validating she's the real deal. Restorations are a dime a dozen.If I can help you, you can email me & I will send you my email & help you where I can.
Good Luck, she sounds like a winner to me, just take out the big speakers. I have a Top Flight 58 & she gets driven regularly. Engines are meant to run, my Dad had Gas Stations my whole life.

Welcome aboard,
Deb,
NCRS # 42699

**John H.** · January 25, 2007, 02:11 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Kirk -

Certainly there's a place for your car! Definitely have it judged and see how it does - you'll meet lots of great people, learn more about your car, and the score sheets will be a "worklist" for you if you choose to improve the car. Flight Awards are Top Flight, Second Flight, and Third Flight - I think you'll be surprised how well the car does. Get the "Corvette Judging Reference Manual" (blue cover) from the on-line store, and it will answer all your questions about judging and awards - the "Owner's Advisory" section at the front should be your first read.

**Tim E.** · January 25, 2007, 02:23 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

It was suggested earlier to get a copy of the Judges Reference Manual which provides the details on the many different awards that you could pursue with your car. In addition to the Flight Awards, check out the Sportsman Award.

There are 3 levels of Flight Awards: Top Flight (94% or better), Second Flight (85% or better), and Third Flight (75% or better). You car starts with 4510 points as it enters judging. There are 5 categories: operations, interior, exterior, mechanical, and chassis. Except for operations (generally pass/fail), each component of the car is evaluated for originality and condition with appropriate deductions made for any deviation noted.

A maximum of 280 points deducted will still earn a Top Flight, 685 points deducted for Second Flight, and 1135 points deducted for Third Flight. Bonus points can be earned for driving (based on mileage), battery disconnect, NCRS sticker, and fire extinguisher.

The judging sheets are returned to you. The judges are required to make a note for each deduction taken. Give it a try!

Tim

**Don S.** · January 25, 2007, 02:42 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Do your resto and get it judged. I asked the same thing on this board and everyone said I should get it judged and then I would know what I had. I did not think my car was that good.

Guees what . I got a top flight last week at the florida regionals. That really floored me . If does not pay to belittle your car. I learned a lot and met some great people. I still have some work to do on the car but now I know what it needs.

**Ken Edmunds** · January 25, 2007, 03:21 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

John, you are 100% correct. I had a vendor spot at Kissimmee last weekend and spoke with a lot of non NCRS members. Most seemed to think this organization exists just as a vehicle to have cars judged. When I joined back in 1978 it seemed as though we were more concerned about driving and preserving our cars. Sam Folz drove his black 54 to the meet in Flint. I used to drive my 67 conv from Miami to Bloomington and back almost every year in the late seventies and throughout the eighties. Sitting at my swap spot I noticed how old everybody looked, me included. It used to be mostly younger people driving these cars. We are losing members due to attrition but it does not seem as if we are inviting other Corvette owners from other facets of our hobby to join us and pump some new blood into our club. This hobby has morphed into a value driven trophy car situation. Somehow NCRS needs to reach out to guys like Kirk and the guys over at Corvette Forum and embrace them and their needs as well as the Restorers and even bring the racers into the fold. Just venting.
Ken Edmunds
#1020

**Dick W.** · January 25, 2007, 03:39 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Ken, there are a few that focus on the judging only, but I have a little different view. A lot of the members use the meets to renew old friendships and to make new ones. I go to meets to see my Corvette "family". The meets are like a big family renunion.

NCRS is continually trying to add new members to the fold. There have been several "brainstorming" sessions addressing this. And there will be more. If you were to attend the Board of Directors meeting in March, I believe that this very subject will be on the agenda.

**David K.** · January 25, 2007, 03:49 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Kirk,

As others have already stated there are 3 Flight awards a car receive when judged. However, there is an award that would seem perfect for you to try to acheive with your car. It is the NCRS Founders Award. Again you can learn about it on this website or in the Reference Manual but basically you have your car judged at the chapter level, have it Ops checked at a Regional, become a level one judge (10 judging pts), submit an article into the Restorer and Drive your car to the national meet on the road tour and have it Ops checked again. The award is given at the national convention and is a very high honor in my opinion for both the owner and the car. You should look into it.

**Kirk McHugh** · January 25, 2007, 03:52 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Thanks everyone. That's the kind of answer I was looking for.

I agree with Ken. I sense at the Corvette Forum that there is sometimes an "old" guy versus "new" guy attitude. I was 7 when my car was built, so I couldn't have owned one. But at 16, I knew what an older corvette looked like and always dreamed of having one. YES - today there is a reality that I had to work until I was 46 to be able to afford one, and I went out and bought a nice car paying a lot of money for it. That doesn't make me a money grubbing youngster (as I've seen it referred to). It's just the reality of what it cost me to own a '67 vette in 2007. I LOVE these cars as much as someone who owned one in the 60's, and I am as concerned about continuing to preserve them as the next guy (or I wouldn't be spending so much money on parts!!!). This really should be about the cars, and doing the best we can to preserve their memory and history. Here's my personal creed:

1) I LOVE trailer queens, they're awesome and represent the best of the best. Many will probably end up in museum and non-driving garages. Great! At least there will always be super quality cars to view.

2) I LOVE drivers (including my own). All I want to do is drive that car every warm day of the year, listening to tunes from the 60's! Just isn't anything better for me!

3) I LOVE modified cars. I grew up with a Trans Am that I modified the heck out of. Dual Holley carb, Edlebrock manifold, shift kit, L79 racing exhaust. That thing smoked, burning rubber between every gear and topping out around 165!!!!! Man, there was nothing finer. Guess what, that is exactly what every teenage boy who bought a vette in the 60's did, and why we have to spend so much money returning their cars to original. Frankly, of the three types, I would more likely lean this direction than #1. I definitely have stared at that small block and wondered, what can I get away with to get just a bit more horsepower!

The point is, they're ALL VETTES!!!!! We all love them for different reasons, but we all still love them. We should definitely find a way to be more inclusive. I will definitely proceed with my restoration and give it a shot in the near future.

The last thing I would like to add is this. After using these sites (NCRS and Corvette Forum), I've noticed a few things. People complain bitterly when they're driving about not getting the wave and how rude people can be! The same should hold true here!!!! Remember, just because this is a website and you may never see me face to face - you still should treat people when responding to messages the same way you would like to be treated - with respect. A little kindness and courtesy would sure go a long way.

Thanks for all your help, and love that vette!

**Kirk McHugh** · January 25, 2007, 03:55 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

That actually sounds great! So far, I have focused on the Manual in trying to restore the car, and have paid little attention to the judging manual. Guess it's time to shift my focus a bit. Thanks.

**Kevin M.** · January 25, 2007, 04:39 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Drivers get Top Flighted at about every event.

Kevin

**Ken Edmunds** · January 25, 2007, 04:39 PM

Re: Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Dick, I agree- I go to meets for the exact same reason. I have not have one of my own cars judged in years-just a social event for me.

Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

Getting My Car Judged for the First Time

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