Monterey meet questions

[Edward McComas]

Are there any Monterey event officials monitoring this board? A question has come up (yet again) about whether an NCRS member can attend the event without having to register for the event. This person only wants to spend part of a day looking at the cars, and has no interest in participating in the NCRS specific things (judging, tech seminars, etc.)

Is a "visitors" pass available for a nominal fee to non registered NCRS members? Also, is a "visitors" pass available to Non-NCRS members? If so, what is the nominal fee?

[Kevin M.]

Re: Monterey meet questions

Good question. I have planned on going up to Monterey for a year. Due to finances this year I'm not a member. Should I stay home, if there is nothing for non-members to do or see?

[Edward McComas]

Re: Monterey meet questions

I got the following response from Vinnie Peters via email:

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To answer your question, yes an NCRS member can come in for ONE day only and pay the "gate fee". I think it's $5.00. This will get the person into the convention center and the outside secure display area, nothing else. They can not attend any seminars, receptions etc. If the member returns for a second time during the convention and attempts to do the same, the member will be required to pay the full registration fee and the late fee.

A non member can be admitted for one day for the same gate fee.
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[Kevin M.]

Re: Monterey meet questions

Guess I won't be attending if all I'm allowed is a one day pass. It's to bad, I had hoped to meet NCRS members and see exactly what goes on in judging and displaying at an NCRS event. And I'll miss seeing all the cars. I planned on attending the Historics but now have to work. Two strikes I'm out.

[Edward McComas]

Re: Monterey meet questions

Kevin;

I would be happy to loan you my "Pedro" disguise. It used this very successfully at the national meet in Galveston a few years ago. No one knew I was really there.

Seriously though, I highly encourage everyone to try and get to Monterey this year. This really seems like a "once in a lifetime" event, given the NCRS meet, the solid axle club meet, the historic races, and the concours event. I am so disappointed that I can't make it. My health just isn't good enough yet.

I am looking forward to hearing all about it, and seeing pictures.

[Joe R.]

Re: Monterey meet questions

I am confused. I am new to NCRS and my 66 Convertable is a long way from being ready for judging. My wife and I were planning to go just to look at the cars, take pictures, better understand the judging process, etc. I do not have a car to enter (yet), but can I come, pay the full registration fee and have access to all the cars, etc? Second, my wife is not a member, but I wanted her to come with to get a better appreciation of why I spend my time in the garage... Can she ge the same access as me without joining? Finally will there be a vendor area, swap meet type area, etc, where I might be able to find some parts for my car? The web site does not seem to have any info on that type of stuff. Thanks - Joe

[Reba Whittington]

Re: Monterey meet questions

Joe, your wife is included with your membership. Just be sure to list her on the registration and get a badge for her. This will admit her to all areas. ALL NCRS members must register to attend any meet be it chapter, regional, or national.

As Vinnie told Ed, there is a one-day only pass for members who cannot attend the entire meet. Non-members may buy a one-day pass.

However, if you want the true experience of the convention, register and attend all the technical sessions and judging schools. It will be worth it.

[ronnie robertson # 36786]

Re: Monterey meet questions

Joe,
I, like you, was new to the NCRS (my corvette was not ready) and was looking for what you are seeking- cars to examine, some insight into the judging process, talk to car owners, etc. I went to the North Carolina Regional Meet- 300 miles. I got there Saturday morning, it officially started Thursday. My wife and I went to the registeration room and inquired about how to get involved. The lady ask if I was a NCRS member? I said Yes. She said that any NCRS member attending an NCRS event was required to pay the $40 registeration fee, and since I had not preregistered I would be required to pay an additional $15 late fee.

No swap meet, no vendors. We left and went sightseeing.

It seems to me that there is "something missing"! There are a lot of NCRS members who do not have cars (ready), but would like to fellowship with other owners. Something like the this discussion board. In the business world of conferences, we called these get togethers "birds of the feather sessions". No formal agenda just a time and a topic with guys (sorry, Gals too) looking at cars and discussing how to's, why's, and I wish I had. The current format seems to leave out people who can attend for only one day or someone who has not brought a car.

Just my first (and not so impressive) impression of NCRS!
Thanks

[Robert C.]

Re: What's the problem?

Ronnie,
People have made this registration fee a problem for many years.It shouldn't be a problem. Look at it as an opportunity.
If you are a member and you want to learn something, register and get involved! You can be an Observer Judge and really learn stuff. Your wife can be one also if she wishes. Your membership and the registration fee gets your whole family in to everything, judging, party's& tours(additional fee), seminars,displays,and judging schools. All members have a chance, at these meets, to support the club firsthand and get involved. Getting involved for the first time is a great experiance. We ALL had to do it the first time.Believe me EVERYONE will wecome you. The last but not leist reason is to get to meet some great people. The "friends of my life" were found in the NCRS!
Bob Cook, Texas Chapter VP

[Patrick H.]

NCRS Meets and Membership

Ronnie,

Believe it or not, I joined in 1990 because I didn't even own a Corvette! I had worked on them and adored them, but in grad school was not in any position to buy one. NCRS is one of the few Corvette clubs/organizations that lets you be a part WIHTOUT a Corvette.

I've been attending events and judging since 1992. I purchased my Corvette in 1994 but never yet had it judged. This group is about a whole lot more than the judging. My projected date of completion for my Corvette is in about 2021 for its 50th birthday. Until then I just drive it daily and take good care of it while accumulating parts.

The late fee has a reason, and in fact I've tried to make sure our local chapter makes it known, even if a nominal fee. Why? Who wants to plan for 3 cars to be judged and 10 people attending, then be surprised by 12 cars and 40 people!

Personally, I think the Chapter/Regional/National members who DON'T attend a meet every two years or so should pay extra, but I haven't convinced anyone else yet.

Don't be afraid to attend and even to pay. Any of us who owns a Corvette can spare the cash to pay for meet attendance, and you'll learn far more than what you'd think. I think anyone who owns a classic Corvette and says they can't afford the $35/year for NCRS membership either should sell the car.

See you in Monterey!

Patrick

[Bill W.]

Re: Monterey meet questions

If you have never helped put on an N.C.R.S. national or regional you have no idea of what it cost to rent a convention center , hire securty guards , feed judges,etc. your registration fee pays for this .In the 70s and early 80s all nationals were held in hotel parking lots in the heat , sun ,& rain registration was cheaper . I would rather lay under a car in the a.c. of a convention center than on a hot blacktop parking lot. N.C.R.S is a first class operation . pay the money, meet some really nice people,look at some of the nicest Corvettes in the country, and have fun.If you spend a few days at a national & attend the classes ,judging, & teck sessions you will not only decide it was money well spent but you will start planning for the next years show. Bill

[Kevin M.]

Re: Monterey meet questions

I have no doubt that all the above reasons are legitimate ones. All I'm really interested in is to get in and look at the cars. That would be enough for me, I am currently not interested in judging, technical seminars or work shops. I just want to look at some correct cars, put faces on the names and take pictures that will aid me in maintaining my car. I don't want to cause trouble or get kicked out, and $5 a day for non-members to do this is fair.

[Scott Myers]

Re: Monterey meet questions

Let's not forget about this WEB site and its host John Waggoner!
the benefits of this alone and how much its technical info have
helped me as an NCRS member is worth 10 times the cost of the conference!!!!