I'm continually upgrading the restoration process of our 67 Coupe. Never intended to chase a "Top Flight" but the car is getting really nice. How many of you attained a "Top Flight" while continuing to drive your car? Thanks, Al W.
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Allan, I say the driven car often has a unique...
...advantage over the trailered car when it comes to judging.
Two areas for sure:
One: Mileage points added to your score.
Two: You actually know how to operate your car - you know, you can start it, make all the stuff work - ace the ops check.
Three: You know when something goes wrong with the car that can be fixed, often times before judging. Often the trailered car is clueless.
Four: Added bonus - Judges usually "really like" driven cars.
Go for it at your first opportunity - Best, Dennis -
Re: Allan, I say the driven car often has a unique
Allan, you have mail.
CharlieComment
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Re: Top Flight Driver
Hi Allan:
I have a "driver" that I have been slowly upgrading for the last four years. It started out as a Second Flight and has now achieved Top Flight at the chapter and regional levels. It's signed up to be judged at the National in a couple weeks.
On the plus side, there is no doubt in my mind that you can have a nice driver that also scores Top Flight. I know several people who have done exactly that and they continue to drive their cars and enjoy them.
On the minus side, I must admit that as each major judging event approaches, I become reluctant to drive my car as much as I would otherwise do. There are so many things, especially on the chassis and in the engine compartment, that tend to deteriorate, rust, or just get dirty from driving. Sometimes I think maybe I have made my car "too nice," and I find myself slightly envious of the guys with non-NCRS cars that they just drive the heck out of for fun.
Based on what I have seen some others do, I think an interesting concept would be to pursue what I would call a "robust Top Flight Driver." The idea would be to consciously deviate from NCRS correctness in certain areas so that the car can be driven anywhere, even in rain, without qualms yet still clear the 94% threshold for Top Flight.
This would involve putting protective paint on ALL chassis components, including those that according to the JG should be natural. It turns out that the total point loss for doing this is comparatively small. There are probably many other driver-versus-show tradeoffs that can be considered, such as the choice of an aluminized or stainless exhaust system and painted/coated exhaust manifolds.
I'm quite certain that a suitable balance can be achieved to have a nice, robust driver that also scores above 94% for Top Flight. The key is to have a conscious plan and make the tradeoff choices accordingly.Comment
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Re: Top Flight Driver
I just had my '65 roadster judged for the second time. Even with a one piece front clip, stainless exhaust, and complete lost points for reproduction hubcaps I received a raw score of 91.8. With 1.4 added for driving points my total score was 93.2. 8/10th's from a Top Flight. And I lost 45 points for incorrect battery and fuel pump !
Drive the car !Comment
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Re: Top Flight Driver
Earlier this evening I sent Allan an email message telling him of my car and that he should drive his to any event that he participates in.
My '64 327/300 is a driver that is driven within the limits of my insurance policy (Grundy), e.g., no commute time, no errands, etc, It has been driven to/from all events in which it has been entered...two Lone Star Regionals in Waco, one Rocky Mountain Regional in Breckenridge, one Western Consortium Regional in Vegas and the Park City National. At Park City the car was awarded one of the two Sam Folz Memorial Awards presented that year. I will drive it to Boston via Denver this week on the Western Road Tour and will drive it to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Regional in the Spring.
The car has seen rain storms, sand storms, snow storms and even tumble weed "storms". With the addition of the judging points awarded for driving to the meet, the car has Top Flighted at four events where it was Flight Judged. I reckon that without the driving points, the car is a solid Second Flight car.
I am not convinced there needs to be an NCRS Flight Judging class for a "robust driver" although I would say that my car qualifies as such. The driven miles points compensate for normal/usual wear and tear on a driven car.
Just my opinion.
Best regards,
CharlieComment
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Re: Top Flight Driver
"The car has seen rain storms, sand storms, snow storms and even tumble weed "storms"."
Say it ain't so...
GMComment
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Come on...They're just old Chevy's...
...It's easy, you just get in and drive them - stop thinking up new reasons why you can't do that or why you need another special award for doing it.Comment
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Re: Come on...They're just old Chevy's...
"...It's easy, you just get in and drive them -"
Did you say drr...drive...?!?! Blaspheme...
GMComment
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It does them more harm to let them sit *NM*
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7806 to 7505 - Yeah, drive them... *NM*
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Re: Top Flight Driver
I have owned my 1967 convertible since 2002, bought it from a Corvette restoration shop owner in Macon, Ga who drove it regularly. I have driven the car regularly other than Michigan winters. I have made minor improvements to the car since 2002 and received a Top Flight this year at the Chapter level. I bought the car for the enjoyment of driving it,not looking at it in the garage.Comment
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Re: Top Flight Driver
Hi Charlie:
Just to make sure I'm not being misunderstood, my term "robust Top Flight driver" was not a suggestion for another Flight judging class. Rather, it represents a restoration philosophy that could be applied to create a Top Flight car that can still be driven anywhere without qualms.
In pursuit of NCRS judging points while restoring my car, I have made some choices that have, in fact, made me reluctant to drive my car as much as I would like to. In hindsight, I think I could have made some different choices that would have made the car hold up better (mostly, rust less) while still achieving Top Flight. If I had it to do over again, I think that is what I what I would do.Comment
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Re: Top Flight Driver
Hi Allan,
I Top Flighted a 1971 conv in 1992 after doing all the work myself including replacing most body panels and paint. I have driven this car since and last year decided to chase the Founders award. I had to have the car refight judged. After driving this car for 14 years and not redoing the car over I missed a Top Flight by 3/10 of a percentage point. Drive the car and enjoy and If work is done properly you will still score high enough to Top Flight.
GaryComment
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Drove my '57 from WA state to VA National...
...scored a Top Flight without mileage points - 7,000 mile round trip. Friend,Wendall Hans of CA, drove his car along side us, achieved the Duntov Award for his efforts... So, just what is the issue here about driving these cars...??? Come on, get a grip - quit whining...Comment
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