Top Flight

[Keith N.]

Hi Folks;

I'm a recently joined member (12/06) and haven't sent away for the flight judging regulations yet. I wonder if someone can give me a quick overview/ summary of the flight judging hierarchy; ie; Are their different top flights for the chapter level, regional level and national level, and do you have to secure one before you can move onto the next? For example, what would I have to do before I can recieve flight judging at a regional meet (ie; in NJ this May)? Incidently, the car won a Regional Top Flight in Joplin, Missouri in 1988. Would this have any bearing on it's eligablilty for regional flight judging now, without first being flight-judged @ the local (chapter) level?

[Dick W.]

Re: Top Flight

Basically there are no "eligibility" requirements to have the car judged. You have to be a NCRS member, register the car for the meet, have a valid liability insurance policy in effect and have the proof with you, show up at the appointed time to place your car in the show, and be with your car while it is being judged.

At the top of this web site is a link titled NCRS Judging Awards. Follow this link and it will explain the basics of the Judging process. I would suggest that you add the NCRS Judging Reference Manual/b] and the appropiate Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide for your car.

Be forwarned that the knowledge as to how the cars were assembled has increased quite a bit since 1988 and the new judging standards reflect this increase.

With all that said, you will meet some of the nicest and most knowledgeable folks around. Take the judging comments constructively and use these to make your car better. Just sit back and HAVE FUN.

[Roy B.]

Re: Top Flight

Be forwarned that the knowledge as to how the cars were assembled has increased quite a bit since 1988 and the new judging standards reflect this increase.

With all that said, you will meet some of the nicest and most knowledgeable folks around. Take the judging comments constructively and use these to make your car better. Just sit back and HAVE FUN

And at any location you have your vett judged it may receive a different score because different people will do the judging . Top flight at one meet may be a second flight at an other meet and so on.
Many people can read the same book and come to different decisions.

[Brad K.]

Re: Top Flight

I would recommend that you take your car to a Chapter meet first. Typically there are fewer cars there and the judges can spend more time with you. No matter how skilled you think you are in the "ways" of a Corvette Owner, you still can learn a heckuva lot. As you ascend the ranks (Regional then National) you will run into judges that have more experience and more clout. The whole thing is intended to be an ever-growing, ever-increasing learning experience. So.....be very patient and whatever you do, don't get upset at all the deducts and at all the different opinions and all the stuff that comes up that's simply NOT in the judging manual. New manuals are almost always promised "in the next few months". If you are in it for "instant gratification"....you probably shouldn't be in it at all.

[David W.]

Re: Top Flight

Keith,
You can start directly at the regional or national level if you'd like. A local chapter meet can be a good start. A regional top flight will have more 'credibility' than a local top flight as generally the level of the judges increases as you progress up the ladder. My first meet ever was a Regional and it was a great experience. When you get the judging sheets, you'll be surprised at how close you can guesstimate your final score yourself. Hope this answers your question.

[Terry M.]

[Tom S.]

Re: Top Flight

I agree start at the Chapter level and then move up.Take it as a learning experience, then move to regional. You will learn more than you can imagine.And remember the judges are volunteers,they donate thier time to this hobby so don't take any frustations you might have out on them. If you take a positive learning attitude to the meet with you that is what you will get in return.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Top Flight

My 72 was first judged at a Chapter Meet in 2000. It was owned by the previous owner at the time but as I'd help to prepare the car for judging I did not expect any surprises. It was judged at that time by the newly-former 70-72 TL (who might have posted above...) whom I had actually invited to our event. It scored 96.9%

I purchased the car just over 2 years later and improved upon a few of the obvious items to try and better the score when I took it to a Regional in 2003. It's the first time I'd ever had a car judged as an owner. It received 94.2%. Note the drop from Chapter to Regional despite "correcting" some deficiencies.

I tweaked a few more things and received 95.2% at the National in Hershey, PA in 2003.

So, be careful when you wonder how much a score can go up or down from one event to another. The drop from Chapter to Regional surprised me, that's for sure.

Patrick