Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

[Joe C.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

The last real Corvette was the 1970 model.

[Dick W.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Hmmmmm......me glad me can no spell C-4, or C-5, or C-6.

[Mark H.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

I also find it interesting that IIRC NCRS was formed in part because the previous organization refused to allow cars after the C1, and now NCRS seems to be the one excluding certain gens.

I don't think they're being excluded per se. I remember when Stingrays were added and it was because there was enough interest from membership to take part in the logistics, creating judging manuals, etc. Those things don't just fall out of a tree. If not enough members that own C-5's step up to the plate and participate it's probably not going to happen.

[Gary C.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Guys,

Lighten up a bit. No car year is being discriminated against.

There are a lot of elements to consider before taking on new years to judge; Safety, Cost (1 car can cost a Chapter just as much as 8 cars to judge), Judges, Judging Manual, training and test Judging. I can tell you from experience when C4's & C5's came on line, we struggled to get cars to Judge. Then there was the cost of 10 Judges breakfast, lunches, Judges shirts vs 1 car entry fee.

JMTCW,

Gary
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[Terry M.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

same happened when we updated the previous version of the TDB (when we migrated from a cgi based app to VBulletin).

Yep, change is unsetteling. At work in the 1980s when we merged, with another utility, we had classes on 'change' so that we would not have this kind of natural reaction. Now that we have merged with another three or four companies we no longer have those classes. Change seems to be the norm.

[Gary C.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Terry,

Not sure there's another change that compared to the break up of the old Bell System (phone) in 1984. It was an undertaking that was not for he faint hearted. Millions of workers not to mention hundreds of millions of customers impacted.

Gary
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[Terry M.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Thank you sir. I applaud your vision. I'm willing to stay a member (just not as involved) in NCRS pending a positive outcome from your discussions at the upper levels.

Jack,
I will share with you what I did, but I want to make it clear that no one has to do the same things I have done. What I did worked for me at the time.

My join date says September 1980. I think that is wrong, but I can't find the cancelled check. I think I joined in 1978, but all that aside -- I joined NCRS participated in chapter events, but never felt motivated to travel far. At the time NCRS had just began to judge midyears and I knew (and still know) squat about them. I made it clear to the folks in the Illinois Chapter that my interest was in C3s and drove my 1970 to most of their meets. I did not judge (it was a different judging system back then, but that too is another story). Other folks were driving their 1968-1972 Corvettes to the meets (they were just used cars) and I spent time in the parking lot examining their cars and comparing them to mine.

I also spent time on the judging field at Bloomington Gold where they did judge 1968-1972 Corvettes. They have judged Corvettes right up to the current year for a long time. I got to know the early C3 owners and judges where and when I could.

I went to Bowling Green for the ‘Homecoming’ because both Bloomington Gold and the Homecoming had large parking lots full of Corvettes to examine. Eventually both of those groups had 25th Anniversary displays of any cars driven to the event of that year. Can you picture a whole field full of a single year of Corvette? I was in tall clover.

I knew that among the people I had made friends with there was the knowledge base to write a judging manual for these cars - judging manuals were a lot simpler back then. In 1984 I went to the National Convention, and at the members meeting made the pitch to judge 1968-1972 Corvettes. As usually happens when someone makes a suggestion that carries a lot of work with it; I got the work. I drafted my friends, some of whom didn't even belong to NCRS at the time, and we put a manual together and began to judge 1968-1972 Corvettes in 1985. I think it was about 25 or 30 pages. After a couple of years the guy who was Team Leader couldn't travel to the meets. He was a veterinarian and couldn’t get away from his office. We all had jobs and kids -- I just had a job with more time flexibility than most -- so I got the job of Team Leader. Then there was another Judging Manual of about 150 pages, and the tide of details grew to a flood that hasn’t yet stopped.

I could go on and on; but the point I want to make is: If you want to have C5s judged get ahold of Alan Termain -- his contact information in on the "CONTACTS" tab above and offer to help with the C5 Judging Manual. Alan is the C4 & C5 Judging Manual Coordinator. They (the C5 Team) have a JM under way, but I am sure they could use help. The game plan here is to pitch in and help to the benefit of yourself and all other C5 owners. It worked for the early C3 folks and I am sure it will work for the C5 group(s) as well.

I hope to live long enough to bring my C6 for judging alongside my 1970, so you have to open that C5 door so I can see the C6 door and run through it when it cracks open a little. I am counting on you, and so are a lot of other folks.

Sorry this is so long, and I really have left a lot out. Just go for it.

[Terry M.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Terry,

Not sure there's another change that compared to the break up of the old Bell System (phone) in 1984. It was an undertaking that was not for he faint hearted. Millions of workers not to mention hundreds of millions of customers impacted.

Gary
....

[Jack U.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Terry,

There in lies the problem if you are suggesting that I volunteer and carve out time now to help Alan with the C5 manual. As I stated in my opening post to start this thread... I'm getting pulled in a number of directions at the present time taking care of my father and my job has added additional demands upon me. (That's the reason I sold my '63.) I just don't have time until I can retire (2018 timeframe) to help on the C5 team. I would love to do that when I retire but now is not a good time to get me pulled in a third direction. If I can't concentrate to 100% of my ability on this effort, I"m not going to do it. It doesn't serve Alan or the NCRS to do this half-a$$ed.

[Walter G.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

I am the original owner of my 26,000 mile May '83 delivered 1984 coupe. I've owned 10 'Vettes since '74, the first being a used '69 big block. In addition to the '84 I currently own an '05 and a '14 Stingray. When the '84 was first eligible for NCRS judging I bought the manuals and entered several events with Top Flight results. There were few C4's being judged and it appears this is still the case. I don't see this group (or C5's to address the original question) catching on anytime soon as it is getting hard to find some parts and the cost of a restoration would certainly exceed the price one would hope to get if it was sold. (As much as it is a hobby of passion, there is still a practical financial side that requires common sense.) The pampered/preserved C4-C5 cars will likely be the ones judged in the future and the basket cases will be mechanically and cosmetically refreshed without concern for any 'correctness'. As other posts have suggested, the hobby has changed. My sons are both interested in cars, but not the 'old stuff' as they refer to it. If they are representative of their ages, 24 & 27, there will be limited interest in the C1-C3 cars 10+ years from now, just as I have no real identification/infatuation with Packards or other cars of the '40's and early '50's. I have remained an NCRS member as I thoroughly enjoy the publications and have been able to acquire some spare parts for the '84 through ads. I have dropped my membership in our local chapter, however, as the focus is on C1-C3 and not owning one, or planning to, there is not sufficient interest to keep me active. A great group of people, no doubt, but just have different interests. If the C5's do make it to NCRS eligibility there will definitely be some interesting cars to judge, with the limited production of 'hardtops', first year Z06's, Pace Cars, and some of the others built during this time. I wish I had kept my low VIN '97...

[Terry M.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

Terry,

There in lies the problem if you are suggesting that I volunteer and carve out time now to help Alan with the C5 manual. As I stated in my opening post to start this thread... I'm getting pulled in a number of directions at the present time taking care of my father and my job has added additional demands upon me. (That's the reason I sold my '63.) I just don't have time until I can retire (2018 timeframe) to help on the C5 team. I would love to do that when I retire but now is not a good time to get me pulled in a third direction. If I can't concentrate to 100% of my ability on this effort, I"m not going to do it. It doesn't serve Alan or the NCRS to do this half-a$$ed.

Yes Jack, that was my point. I failed to remember or review your original post. Those kinds of responsibilities are what caused me to write: "What I did worked for me at the time." There are other times in my life when for various reasons I would not have been able to devote the time or resources to that endeavor. If you cannot do it at this time we will have to hope someone else with the enthusiasm comes forward.

[Ian G.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

I'm a "younger" member, now 41. I joined when I was 36 in 2007 when I bought my corvette, a 59 fuelie. So I can testify that younger people don't think the older corvettes suck and are disinteresting. I've shown my car to lots of people in their 20's and 30's who think it is really cool (unless they're just humoring me), though they make a point of teasing me that I'll never finish restoring it. I used to see them on TV shows and occasionally on the road in the 80's. Anyway, long after we're dead people will be interested in the old C1 and C2 and probably also early C3 corvettes. There is something timeless about them and those models are classic, in the same way cars from the 20's and 30's still create a lot of passion in people. I imagine as the cars get older and more valuable, the demographics of the club will change. Frankly for my part, I don't think C4 and C5 cars are all that great. I think we will see much improved interest in the C6 and C7 cars, when they are eligible many years down the road and could lure in a "younger generation" with smaller pocketbooks who are currently watching them from their parents' car windows and dreaming.

[Dick W.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

I am one of the older members and find fault with the comment that the older cars will fall out of favor as us old pharts age out. I have restored, owned vintage cars for all over fifty years, have seen the older cars drop out of desirability only a few years to come back in favor with a younger generation. The good care will always have a following, the edgy old cars maybe not so much.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

I think that's a good point. I also find it interesting that IIRC NCRS was formed in part because the previous organization refused to allow cars after the C1, and now NCRS seems to be the one excluding certain gens. Not passing judgment, just seems a bit ironic.

I think you have it wrong. NCRS was formed for the preservation & restoration of C-1 Corvettes, NO c-2'S WERE ALOWED. When the C-2'S came in there was a big blowup in NCRS. Many members quit & formed SACC because they didn't want the C-2'S in

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Need an approximate year for C5 judging availability

I am one of the older members and find fault with the comment that the older cars will fall out of favor as us old pharts age out. I have restored, owned vintage cars for all over fifty years, have seen the older cars drop out of desirability only a few years to come back in favor with a younger generation. The good care will always have a following, the edgy old cars maybe not so much.

I agree Dick. I belong to the ACD Club & had a 36 Cord phaeton. I am 69 now & never saw the old cars on the road but still wanted one. Some cars will always be admired & owned with Corvettes being one of them.