Texas Lone Star Regional

[Mike D.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Your numbers are improving. Bob is doing a good job. That is an impressive number of C 3s. We need more 67s.....Thanks for the update.

[Michael J.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

I would rather see more C5s and C6s, they are the future of NCRS.

[Tim G.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

I did get a commitment for two more 1967 427 convertibles yesterday. We hope to have four original paint Marina Blue '67 427 convertibles all lined up in a row. One will be a PV car.

[Mike D.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Good news! We didn't want to get beat by all those 1969s.....

[Dave P.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

. We hope to have four original paint Marina Blue '67 427 convertibles all lined up in a row.

You did say "original paint" but still "lined up in a row" may not be a great idea from the owners' perspective.

One of my early events was the 2006 Regional in Vancouver WA. I attended to PV my 85, and of course for the "points". But I digress.

There were three Goodwood Green 67's, parked side by side. The comment of the event became "Will the real Goodwood Green please stand up." The three cars were three very different shades of Goodwood Green. In the ensuing almost 20 years, I've very seldom seen two cars of the same color parked side by side. Probably a good practice to minimize owner angst when his car is a different shade than the same color car next to him.

[Dave P.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

We need more 67s.....

"We" need more of any years. Going forward, 20-25 car Regionals are not sustainable economically. Expenses are enormous especially after factoring in the NTL stipends and travel expense reimbursement for eligible NCRS officers and employees. I've never seen (or asked to see) a spreadsheet for a Regional such as Texas or another similar indoor event, but I suspect that "profitability" depends heavily on monetary donations from individuals and businesses in the hobby.

You're a Director, Mike. This is not a membership issue, it is a participation issue. NCRS has 10,000 members, but 6 weeks out, only 21 of them have entered a car for Flight in Texas; the premier, most well-established event of the year. (The 102 Flight cars at Hampton also seems light for an East Coast Nats.) Are you guys (BOD) discussing ways to increase participation?

[Leif A.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

"We" need more of any years. Going forward, 20-25 car Regionals are not sustainable economically. Expenses are enormous especially after factoring in the NTL stipends and travel expense reimbursement for eligible NCRS officers and employees. I've never seen (or asked to see) a spreadsheet for a Regional such as Texas or another similar indoor event, but I suspect that "profitability" depends heavily on monetary donations from individuals and businesses in the hobby.

You're a Director, Mike. This is not a membership issue, it is a participation issue. NCRS has 10,000 members, but 6 weeks out, only 21 of them have entered a car for Flight in Texas; the premier, most well-established event of the year. (The 102 Flight cars at Hampton also seems light for an East Coast Nats.) Are you guys (BOD) discussing ways to increase participation?

Dave,
I'm sure I'll catch some grief from this statement I'm about to make but, from my perspective, I'll share why I believe participation is waning.
Between October 2014 and October 2018, I had my '67 judged at the Lone Star Regional four different times. Each time was a learning experience and I would take the judging sheets home, study them and attempt to fix the things that were not NTFP...including many, many NOS dated parts...not an inexpensive journey.

In October 2014 I was having my car judged, for the first time, just to set a benchmark for myself. The car achieved a Second Flight. In 2015 the car was judged again and I received a Top Flight. I still used the judging sheets to "improve" my car. I didn't participate in 2016 thinking "why bother" as I had attained what I set out to do. But, again in October of 2017 I decided "what the heck" and had her judged again. She Top Flighted, again, but with a score lower than she had achieved in 2015 yet with many improvements. Once again, I took the judging sheets to heart, improved several items the judges found to be NTFP. In October of 2018 I decided to give the judging one more shot. This time I received a score of 93.8%...not quite Top Flight.

My point to all of this is it's quite discouraging to have a car judged four times in five years, improving it after each event and, ultimately, go backwards with your score. I, for one, will never have my car judged again. I enjoy the ownership and the ability to drive her whenever I please without being judged. I will continue to support NCRS and appreciate many aspects of the organization...this TDB being one of them.
Just my .02 cents.

[Mark E.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Dave,
I'm sure I'll catch some grief from this statement I'm about to make but, from my perspective, I'll share why I believe participation is waning.
Between October 2014 and October 2018, I had my '67 judged at the Lone Star Regional four different times. Each time was a learning experience and I would take the judging sheets home, study them and attempt to fix the things that were not NTFP...including many, many NOS dated parts...not an inexpensive journey.

In October 2014 I was having my car judged, for the first time, just to set a benchmark for myself. The car achieved a Second Flight. In 2015 the car was judged again and I received a Top Flight. I still used the judging sheets to "improve" my car. I didn't participate in 2016 thinking "why bother" as I had attained what I set out to do. But, again in October of 2017 I decided "what the heck" and had her judged again. She Top Flighted, again, but with a score lower than she had achieved in 2015 yet with many improvements. Once again, I took the judging sheets to heart, improved several items the judges found to be NTFP. In October of 2018 I decided to give the judging one more shot. This time I received a score of 93.8%...not quite Top Flight.

My point to all of this is it's quite discouraging to have a car judged four times in five years, improving it after each event and, ultimately, go backwards with your score. I, for one, will never have my car judged again. I enjoy the ownership and the ability to drive her whenever I please without being judged. I will continue to support NCRS and appreciate many aspects of the organization...this TDB being one of them.
Just my .02 cents.

Leif,

If it's any consolation, I remember your car at Regional and it was a favorite of mine. Beautiful and optioned just the way I would have ordered one in the day (if I was old enough). And think how much those NOS parts have appreciated for you.

We'll see more consistency and repeatability after NCRS rolls out AI humanless judging.

[Michael J.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

IMO, smaller numbers of cars for judging in any regional or national is going to be the norm. We should feel lucky we can get 20+ or so for a regional not on the east coast, and 100+ or so for a national back east. I'm sure 'Vegas will be much smaller. I don't know about finances, but I like smaller events. Just not as many members interested in getting cars judged these days. I will put the 12th different car in for judging in Frisco that I have done since I joined in 2009. But it gets harder and harder every year to get excited about doing all this, age does that to you, and we are really not replacing the active members interested in judging that are aging out.

[Mike D.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Dave, this is a membership issue and a participation issue. We will participate next weekend at the largest corvette event in the Northwest. We are demonstrating flight judging and modified judging, we have NCRS new member application forms and chapter new membership application forms that will be on our NCRS table. We will bring various ribbons and other awards to let the hobby know we are not just about head markings in our judging. The leader of corvette sales at McCurley Chevrolet and leader of the COTC weekend did not know we judge C6s or corvettes modified after they left the factory assembly line. The 250 corvette owners will know after next weekend what the NCRS is about and hopefully some will join up. I am listening to feedback from NCRS members all over the country as well as my region. If you have ideas to make us better, contact your director. The NCRS should not be the best kept secret in the hobby.

[Tom D.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Dave, this is a membership issue and a participation issue. We will participate next weekend at the largest corvette event in the Northwest. We are demonstrating flight judging and modified judging, we have NCRS new member application forms and chapter new membership application forms that will be on our NCRS table. We will bring various ribbons and other awards to let the hobby know we are not just about head markings in our judging. The leader of corvette sales at McCurley Chevrolet and leader of the COTC weekend did not know we judge C6s or corvettes modified after they left the factory assembly line. The 250 corvette owners will know after next weekend what the NCRS is about and hopefully some will join up. I am listening to feedback from NCRS members all over the country as well as my region. If you have ideas to make us better, contact your director. The NCRS should not be the best kept secret in the hobby.

Sounds like a very good effort!

[Dave B.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Is there room for another C2 in flight? From previous posts it looks like there may be at least 7 registered for flight judging as of 9 days ago. My car is a 66. The Judging Reference Manual, section 2(6) states: "No Flight division shall have more than eight (8) cars at any NCRS event." Do we know how the divisions are defined for Frisco? I don't want to register and drive 750 miles unless my car is assured of being judged.

[Don H.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

Dave- I'm sure there is room for you in the event.. None of the Divisions are maxed out.. Registration closes on Oct 1.. Click on the on line registration form in Coming Events and see the contact information near the bottom of the page, if you want to verify first, otherwise complete the registration and get it in.. It is a great Regional, not to be missed.

[Mike D.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

David, they only show 1 1966 car on the list. The 1966 division will not fill up. I am sure Tim would accept your car with open arms. Get your registration in and you should receive an acceptance email shortly after.

[Tim G.]

Re: Texas Lone Star Regional

David, we welcome your car. Registration is still open for all cars. Please sign up.

Tim