Flight Judging and PV?

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Michael...you also have to remember that you really should have a back-up plan in place if you don't get thru the PV the first or second time around...

[Michael J.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Right. But after two tries, I think it would be just to give up.

[Reba W.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

A PV can be done at any Regional.

[Michael J.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Right, thanks, that is probably the way to go since they are more frequent and usually closer.

[Terry M.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Right. But after two tries, I think it would be just to give up.

Aww, come on Mike. The record for PVs is, I think, 7 -- or at least that was what it was back when I was NTL. Someone may have exceeded that number recently, but I think I would have heard about it. On the other hand, I know a number of people who have aced it on the first try. The successful ones know the meaning of the term preparation. A communication to the NTL asking the question “What is the most common failure?” is a good thing to do. Another useful exercise is to get the PV Manual (most don't even know there is one) and the PV Forms from this web site (same location as the judging sheets), and practice,

[Pat M.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Mike,
Years ago when the PV was first started you were able to PV on one day and flight judge on the other.

Sure wish we could still do this, would save some members a lot of money, time and effort.

[Michael J.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Thanks for the "encouragement" Terry, and the tips. I do have the PV manual, and also have lots of chapter buds who have been through it. A very scary undertaking for sure, and their stories don't help. The one I dread the most is the 90% of redline runout. One friend put a rod through the head during that test. As both of my cars are solid lifter types with high redlines (L71 and L76), I will need to get pretty high on the tach, and thus need nerves of steel. And the window washer squirter in that exact place and no wide spray will be hard. I still have not found a nozzle that shots a straight stream, after a dozen tries, so guess I will be spending some time ordering more parts. The rest is fine, I always have passed the flight Ops check without any deducts, but PV is a whole different animal. But, I will do my best and have nothing but time now for the next three years to "prepare".

[Dick W.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Sure wish we could still do this, would save some members a lot of money, time and effort.

Zora told me it was way to easy to get the award. He was not very happy

I think another reason was that you could do two meets, get your award, and then flip the car in 90 days

[Pat M.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Zora told me it was way to easy to get the award. He was not very happy

Because he thought the testing was too easy, and/or he didn't like allowing Flight and PV judging for the same car at the same meet?

I think another reason was that you could do two meets, get your award, and then flip the car in 90 days

Why does it matter how soon an owner might sell his car with the award? Just curious.

[Dick W.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Because he thought the testing was too easy, and/or he didn't like allowing Flight and PV judging for the same car at the same meet?

Why does it matter how soon an owner might sell his car with the award? Just curious.

Early on certain dealers were seeing convoy loads of cars to meets, getting awards, and then using them to market the cars. And not the first dealers you would first think of

[Terry M.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Thanks for the "encouragement" Terry, and the tips. I do have the PV manual, and also have lots of chapter buds who have been through it. A very scary undertaking for sure, and their stories don't help. The one I dread the most is the 90% of redline runout. One friend put a rod through the head during that test. As both of my cars are solid lifter types with high redlines (L71 and L76), I will need to get pretty high on the tach, and thus need nerves of steel. And the window washer squirter in that exact place and no wide spray will be hard. I still have not found a nozzle that shots a straight stream, after a dozen tries, so guess I will be spending some time ordering more parts. The rest is fine, I always have passed the flight Ops check without any deducts, but PV is a whole different animal. But, I will do my best and have nothing but time now for the next three years to "prepare".

Then I guess I shouldn't tell you about the PV I was doing (NTL) and at 90% of red-line (hydraulic base motor at that) I began to smell coolant and the engine exhibited a slight vibration. I told the owner/driver to quickly shut it down and asked him what that smell was. He tried to bluff it by asking "what smell?" Opening the hood revealed the fan and water pump shaft dangling from the water pump and a growing pool of green on the ground. The owner/driver walked back for his trailer and tow vehicle. I stayed with the car to guard it. He wanted to drive it back to the parking area. Even though it was less than a mile I advised against it as we had no tools with us and I recommended he get the fan belts (AC car) out of there before operating the engine again. Good thing his trailer had a winch.

Set the squirters with the engine running; wiper travel with engine running as well, and windshield wet. Both of those operations are sensitive to the system voltage and wiper travel to windshield friction. Think of it this way: one wouldn't use the wipers on a dry windshield in normal operation, nor are you likely to need the wipers or washers when the engine is off.

If one drives a Corvette as they were/are built to be driven the 90% of red line ought to be no issue. Don't be timid. Get right to it. Nothing in the test requires you to bring it up slowly, nor do you have to hold it there forever. Before you start the drive ask the TL to let you know where he recommends that test and when he is satisfied with the RPM.

Oh and be careful out there. One of the PV owner/drivers at the Texas Regional was required to make a donation to the town/city of Frisco due to a school zone on the PV route. And he wasn't trying for the 90% at that time. In some cars 90% of red-line is illegal almost anywhere you are, so some discretion regarding location is worth while. You and the TL should have a discussion about the proper location for that blast; and hope you are not his first PV of the day. Some of the better managed events take the TLs for a ride on the PV route in a Suburban to familiarize them with the route. I always found that to be a good thing, but I frequently got lost anyway.

Oh, have enough gasoline in the tank. Running out of gas is a FAIL. And yes, it has happened. You should have been at the bar after that experience. No names to protect the guilty. All I will say is I wasn't the TL in that class.

Run through it many times with your buds. A TL can tell if the owner/driver has done his homework and prepared for it. Do it often enough that you know what is coming next on the list.

Don't forget the parking brake operation.

[Michael J.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Early on certain dealers were seeing convoy loads of cars to meets, getting awards, and then using them to market the cars. And not the first dealers you would first think of

[Michael J.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Then I guess I shouldn't tell you about the PV I was doing (NTL) and at 90% of red-line (hydraulic base motor at that) I began to smell coolant and the engine exhibited a slight vibration. I told the owner/driver to quickly shut it down and asked him what that smell was. He tried to bluff it by asking "what smell?" Opening the hood revealed the fan and water pump shaft dangling from the water pump and a growing pool of green on the ground. The owner/driver walked back for his trailer and tow vehicle. I stayed with the car to guard it. He wanted to drive it back to the parking area. Even though it was less than a mile I advised against it as we had no tools with us and I recommended he get the fan belts (AC car) out of there before operating the engine again. Good thing his trailer had a winch.

Set the squirters with the engine running; wiper travel with engine running as well, and windshield wet. Both of those operations are sensitive to the system voltage and wiper travel to windshield friction. Think of it this way: one wouldn't use the wipers on a dry windshield in normal operation, nor are you likely to need the wipers or washers when the engine is off.

If one drives a Corvette as they were/are built to be driven the 90% of red line ought to be no issue. Don't be timid. Get right to it. Nothing in the test requires you to bring it up slowly, nor do you have to hold it there forever. Before you start the drive ask the TL to let you know where he recommends that test and when he is satisfied with the RPM.

Oh and be careful out there. One of the PV owner/drivers at the Texas Regional was required to make a donation to the town/city of Frisco due to a school zone on the PV route. And he wasn't trying for the 90% at that time. In some cars 90% of red-line is illegal almost anywhere you are, so some discretion regarding location is worth while. You and the TL should have a discussion about the proper location for that blast; and hope you are not his first PV of the day. Some of the better managed events take the TLs for a ride on the PV route in a Suburban to familiarize them with the route. I always found that to be a good thing, but I frequently got lost anyway.

Oh, have enough gasoline in the tank. Running out of gas is a FAIL. And yes, it has happened. You should have been at the bar after that experience. No names to protect the guilty. All I will say is I wasn't the TL in that class.

Run through it many times with your buds. A TL can tell if the owner/driver has done his homework and prepared for it. Do it often enough that you know what is coming next on the list.

Don't forget the parking brake operation.

Wow! Terry thanks for that info dump, very helpful and now committed to my tiny brain's memory for sure! I owe you a cold one someplace in the future. You going to be at the Rocky Mountain regional?

[Terry M.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

Wow! Terry thanks for that info dump, very helpful and now committed to my tiny brain's memory for sure! I owe you a cold one someplace in the future. You going to be at the Rocky Mountain regional?

I plan to. Higher Power needs to be willing, and rising rivers, tornadoes and all that. I will take you up on your offer when you pass.

[Michael J.]

Re: Flight Judging and PV?

OK, and be careful with those twisters, when that mess came through here it was scary. Sure you don't want a short one if I make 97+?