Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

[Sean S.]

[Michael J.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

It is curious there are almost zero postings about Bloomington anywhere on the various Corvette sites. Maybe it is raining?

[Don H.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

It misted / rained after 10 AM on Friday, I don't know about Saturday. Here is the judged cars, good turn out of NCRS Judges.
Don H
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[Michael J.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

... good turn out of NCRS Judges.
Don H

Good to see NCRS continuing to prop up Bloomington.

[Jon H.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Here is a post I started before the show on the corvette forum and others have posted pictures and updates from the show: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-illinois.html

[Mark S.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Thanks for the pictures!

[Jon H.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

I had the chance to take my 69 L89 to Bloomington Gold for Benchmark judging this year with my family. They had a great time and looking forward to taking the car to future NCRS events and MCACN. IMG_1987.jpg

[Mike E.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Saturday weather was ideal. Gold collection was outstanding, with a line of people waiting to get in on Thursday evening for the advance showing. Attendance on Saturday seemed to be pretty good. All in all, it was worth it to go, and a throwback to 30+ years ago.

[Terry M.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Good to see NCRS continuing to prop up Bloomington.

Mike,
Bloomington Gold has next to no product knowledge training program(s), so where is one to get that training? Hmmm???. Think about that some. Yes, Bloomington will judge new Corvettes and over the years those judges will get product knowledge unavailable from NCRS, but as "new" Corvettes become "old" Corvettes and more of that model year come for judging and more judges are needed -- well I think you can see the picture here.

NCRS is the training ground for Bloomington Gold judges, as you suggest. No propping up. There is no reason for competition between the organizations. Not only can we co-exist, but each can help the other. We should all succeed together. Something like "The rising tide lifts all ships."

[Mark D.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

I had a great time at Bloomington, this year. The small town environment is nice and there are plenty of hotel and restaurant choices. The crowds seemed much larger than previous years. There were, I think, around 80 judged cars. The Special Collection turned out great and the Bone Student Center brought back fond memories.
I'm looking forward to next year. Long live Bloomington and NCRS!

[Michael J.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

I agree Terry, NCRS is not the same, and we shouldn't be in competition with Bloomington, but sometimes it seems like we are, I'm not sure why. They are very different from NCRS of course. I would like to go someday and see what it is like. I don't need any judging done there, but it looks like they do have lots of nice Corvettes on display and of course many of the same people as at an NCRS meet. Even a convertible tanker........

[Terry M.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

I agree Terry, NCRS is not the same, and we shouldn't be in competition with Bloomington, but sometimes it seems like we are, I'm not sure why. They are very different from NCRS of course. I would like to go someday and see what it is like. I don't need any judging done there, but it looks like they do have lots of nice Corvettes on display and of course many of the same people as at an NCRS meet. Even a convertible tanker........

In some ways there isn't that much difference Mike. In other ways there is.

I like to describe the judging as if one were taking a trip from point A to B. Both are going to the same place. One takes the expressway and the other the scenic route. However both get to the same place.

The Special Collection is just that. There is usually a theme to that, and often there are some really striking cars there. That is different than NCRS does. The Road Tour at Bloomington is also different than our Road Tour. Those are Bloomington's ways of making something for everyone.

NCRS doesn't usually publicize their events and the public is usually sparse if any. That might be one of the reasons our membership is what it is. That, however, is not new. Even back in the late 1970s I had to struggle to find NCRS in order to join, but it might bring us younger members if we were better at making our presence and mission known.

[Michael J.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Well speaking as a late comer to the vintage Corvette world, I had a '70 in '75 as my first Corvette and an '81 as the next and first new one, and owning neither of which was involved with any judging, organizations, etc., (just driving them as regular cars) I never heard of any vintage Corvette group until much later after I retired and became interested in C2s, in 2008. When I bought my first old Corvette, a '66, the local Corvette Club had many members familiar with NCRS, and in NM (way out in the middle of nowhere for someone in the midwest), no one ever mentioned Bloomington. The local chapter was very active, chapter, regional, and nationals followed until I then heard of Bloomington many years later at an NCRS National in Virginia. But many of my NCRS friends said Bloomington was not very organized for judging and were well below the standards of NCRS judging, they described it as a once a year car show, not a vintage Corvette organization. So I guess I am not a good example of what you speak of here.

[Terry M.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Well speaking as a late comer to the vintage Corvette world, I had a '70 in '75 as my first Corvette and an '81 as the next and first new one, and owning neither of which was involved with any judging, organizations, etc., (just driving them as regular cars) I never heard of any vintage Corvette group until much later after I retired and became interested in C2s, in 2008. When I bought my first old Corvette, a '66, the local Corvette Club had many members familiar with NCRS, and in NM (way out in the middle of nowhere for someone in the midwest), no one ever mentioned Bloomington. The local chapter was very active, chapter, regional, and nationals followed until I then heard of Bloomington many years later at an NCRS National in Virginia. But many of my NCRS friends said Bloomington was not very organized for judging and were well below the standards of NCRS judging, they described it as a once a year car show, not a vintage Corvette organization. So I guess I am not a good example of what you speak of here.

Yes, Mike, it used to be once a year In central Illinois. Now twice a year with the other event in Charlotte NC.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but mine is that the standards are the same for both groups. There is a "point B" difference in that Bloomington doesn't include the Dealer new car preparation as their point of reference, but as a practical matter that only means Bloomington asks for a window sticker to be displayed in those cars that had one. I haven't seen the plastic seat covers or floor cardboard required in the C1 to C3 cars. I can count on one hand the number of times i have seen trim rings in their original packaging also. Technically that all should be the standard, but practically it just doesn't happen. So in practice the standards are the same. Only the judging methods are different.

I can understand the geographic challenges you speak of. With the scattered events NCRS can now be more accessible to most, if you are already a member. If you are on the outside looking in we are hard to find still. If you are not already a member how do you know where and when the events are held?

I could introduce you to people who think us NCRS people are nit picking nerds -- but all of us know that isn't true. It is probably wisest to investigate for yourself and determine your own reality rather than rely on other's opinions.

[Michael J.]

Re: Bloomington Gold 2022 and 24 Hours of Le Mans

Thanks for the info Terry, and points well taken. I guess I was just lucky to have encountered NCRS people as I was getting into the hobby. In our chapter today we struggle to find any new members, the local Corvette club is mostly into cruises, breakfasts, and car shows, not judging or technical schools on older ones, and most own new C7 or C8 Corvettes, so not much in common. We do have one new member (in his late 40s) who just bought a '63 SWC fuelie, and is very interested in getting it through judging. He found NCRS because the restorer of his car is a well known NCRS member and judge who educated him on the club and the process. There needs to be a way to reach more people like him.