should I get judged when car is no where close...

[Todd Pollock]

I was just curious I have a chapter meet coming up and wonder the benefits of getting a car judged that is far from any type flight. I dont expect any good comments but will it create such a base to start from that will be beneficial? Is just having a judging done to know what it is all about good in the long run I figure at least expectations are low so I wont be dissappointed. Just curious on any opinions. I think I might start the restoration next year at the earliest.

Thanks for any comments

Todd

[Peter J.]

Re: should I get judged when car is no where close

Tod,If you have enough judges, I'd go for it. Everybody gets to learn from experience (you and the judges). I have seen a chapter meet when there were too many cars for the number of judges. You don't want to be judging cars two hours after judging was supposed to be over. That kinda takes the fun out of it. Check and see what the ratio is.

[Dick C.]

Re: should I get judged when car is no where close

Getting your car judged at the chapter level is an excellant way to begin to learn about the condition of your. It will give you alot of information and when the judging is over you can seek out the judges and ask them "where do I go from here". You can choose to leave your car as is or start correcting the items that need to be addressed. I purchased a judging manual and other books from the NCRS libary and did alot of reading. It was a big help in understanding what a car needs to be taken to top flight. I found that the most important thing to do is speak to as NCRS members or other owners about purchasing parts. Its a "jungle out there" and it will help in making the right purchases.
What ever you do think long and hard about what you may be letting yourself for. Good Luck

[Juliet P.]

Re: should I get judged when car is no where close

I'd say go for it. I did exactly that a few months after I got my '70. I was even pleasantly surprised with a second flight! I consider that my 'pre-restoration benchmark.' Now I'm a few years into the restoration process. I frequently consult my judging sheets as I'm working on a particular area to understand what I do need to change to conform to the standard. I also received a lot of very useful advice from the judges about which things were original (but might not be intuitively so, like overspray on hinges and rivets, harness wrapping etc...) and I've been carefuly not to screw those things up as I go along. Bring asprin to the meet. You head will be spinning with massive brain overload by the time it's over! I loved every minute of it though. I posted a really long post in Feb/Mar 2000 after my chapter meet describing my experience. My story ended up being published in the Restorer a few months later. ~Juliet

http://corvetteforum.net/c3/1970registry/

[Art B.]

Re: should I get judged when car is no where close

Back in 1990, a few years after I had purchased my '61, I decided to have it judged at a chapter meet. It did not even make 3rd flight. But the information I received in the process helped me greatly in bringing the car up to the correct level. It received Top Flight at a regional meet a few years ago after being judged at least half a dozen times. Another point: the judging at NCRS meets has gotten much better since 1990, and the comments you receive are more likely to be accurate. Yes, have your Corvette judged regardless of your expected results. It will be worth it for you.

[George J.]

C'mon everyone

Really, if the car is not even close, by the owners admission, why have it judged? I think a much better approach would be to go through the judging guide and fix the things that are easy and replace the components known to be wrong and then have it judged. It can take two to three times the amount of time to judge a car that has a multitude of things wrong with it than a car that has had an honest effort applied to it. The times I have judged there never seems to be enough time and coming to a car that is a mess when you have 4 more to go at 3:00 in the afternoon is frustrating to say the least.

George #31887

[Art B.]

Re: C'mon everyone

George:
Your point is well taken. Before I had my '61 judged the first time, I went through the 61-62 judging manual and corrected as many things as time and budget would reasonably allow. The manual did not have the latest two revisions
and failed to provide much detail in many areas. That first meet gave ma a wealth of information that I could not have received anywhere else. If only Top Flight Corvettes are brought to judging meets, the other owners will be a little reluctant to even register their cars. I think chapter judging meets are an excellent place to bring cars that have just been purchased or have never been through the judging process before.

[Todd Pollock]

Re: C'mon everyone

That's kinda how I feel and why I asked. I have whole list of what is wrong but wanted to see if the judges found some other things like I assume they will. I just don't want to waste some one's time and be totally out of place, I have never been to a judging before. I will contact the person organinzing the judging for this event to get their opinion. Worst case I still get to talk to the judges and get some more opinions.

Thanks for the advice!

Todd.

[George J.]

Volunteering is the best...

Volunteering as an observer judge or an actual judge is the best way to learn. In my opinion, you will learn more (as a beginner) doing these activities than having your car judged because you are not only listening to what the judge remembers after he is done, you are listening through the whole process. Good luck,

George #31887