Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

[Harry S.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

I've met Dennis many times over the years. A wonderful, knowledgeable, talented, friendly and funny guy. He will be missed by all of us. A true loss to our hobby.

[Reba W.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Another icon gone just as NCRS is set to recognize its golden anniversary. I began my judging career as Dennis was laying out the judging system and sheets, and he was very welcoming to women participating. I recently found a photo of me in my Master Judge hat. As he made the presentation, Dennis kept it hidden inside a brown paper bag, and I feared it was going to be a Minnie-Pearl-style topper, but it wasn't. He truly loved a joke as others have stated in their tributes.

Vinnie, I am glad you made the trip to bring him to Bowling Green last summer. Gina, thanks for caring for him in his last years. I am sure he is enjoying a reunion with Sandra and all his NCRS buddies who have gone on. Rest in peace, old friend.

[Chuck B.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Wow, this is a great loss to NCRS members.
Dennis was such a great individual in all aspects.
R.I.P my friend
God Bless 🙏

[Joseph S.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Sad to hear this. Condolences to his family and all his NCRS friends. I didn't spend a lot of time with Dennis, but the time I did spend with him he treated me like we were friends our whole lives. Along with being a funny guy and a great NCRS member, he was a kind person willing to do more than most to help a friend or acquaintance. RIP my friend!!

[Mark L.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Very Sad. Dennis was the first National Judging Chairman in my NCRS "career". I especially remember his Judge's Meeting in Cypress Gardens when he had to introduce CB radios as an item to be judged in the newest class...totally disgusted with the whole thing! He also could have been a cast member on SNL with his impersonations of Billy Bob (did I get that right?). One of a handful of NCRS members who really moved this organization forward. My condolences to his family.

[David B.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Too many sad things right now, and as Reba said, all during our 50th year. Terry, Roy, Dale and others have properly recognized the evolution that Dennis brought to our club during his term as Judging Chairman. If there is ever a Mount Rushmore for NCRS, Dennis will be up there.

Thank you to Vinnie for your over-the-top efforts to get Dennis to the NCM induction of his close friend John Amgwert...just a few months ago.

Dennis, rest in peace.

Dave

[Ken R.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Sorry to learn of this. Dennis (Dipstick) entertained us on many occasions. This photo is from the LNO on the 2010 road tour to Charolette. Wish I had a video it but this was before the modern cell phone.Scan_20240217.jpg

[Duke W.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

I recall meeting Dennis at the first NCRS event I attended. I think it was a Regional in Scottsdale, circa 2001. Then I recall talking to him again, I think, at the 2002 Convention in Monterey. Then a few years later Dennis volunteered, one of two, to rebuild his '62 327/300 to "Special 300 HP" configuration with the recommended mods (stronger aftermarket con rods, massaged heads, and 10-10.25:1 compression) and the "Special 300 HP Camshaft" that I designed. This configuration was designed to maintain the smooth 500 RPM idle, stump pulling low end torque of the OE configuration while making L-79 top end power and revs and maintaining strict 327/300 external visual appearance.

Not long after I was contacted by the "Maryland Missile" asking what "Dipstick" and I were up too. Their past shenanigans are legendary and reminded me of the Spy vs. Spy cartoons from the old Mad Magazine. Once explained, Mike wanted on board as he was in the process of rebuilding his '57 283/250 FI "Smokey Yunick tribute" engine, but since it has a Powerglide transmission I wanted to use another design I had in mind that would produce even better low end torque, which is way more important with PG than top end power. After a couple of days modeling the design that used OE lobes with Mike's specific head flow data and other engine specs with the Engine Analyzer simulation program, I sent Mike the cam specs along with a contact from Crane and said they could probably get the cam to him in a couple of weeks, and I recall that they did.

The rest of the story (A Tale of Two Camshafts) was published in the Corvette Restorer and is in the sticky section restoration documents thread. Chassis dyno tests showed the second design to be superior across the rev range, so I named it the "McCagh Special Camshaft" since it was Mike and his Powerglide that motivated the second design. I was very flattered and honored that both Dennis, who I did not know well, and Mike, who I don't even think I had met in person at that point had enough faith in me to take the risk that I had come up with something significant and worth pursuing.

With that I knocked off one item on my bucket list, which was to design a camshaft for a Corvette small block that maintained the overall character and visual appearance of the engine, but with better output across the rev range. I tried to improve the LT-1 camshaft, but could not do so without reducing overlap to the point where LT-1 idle behavior could not be maintained.

I'm glad I was able to see and briefly chat with Dennis in his fashionable bib overalls at the 2018 National Convention in Las Vegas!

Duke

[Harry S.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient



That was a great evening, we laughed for days after!

Sorry to learn of this. Dennis (Dipstick) entertained us on many occasions. This photo is from the LNO on the 2010 road tour to Charolette. Wish I had a video it but this was before the modern cell phone.[ATTACH=CONFIG]120879[/ATTACH]

[Dick C.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Sad sad news.
We are going to miss you DIPSTICK
RIP Dennis, thoughts and prayers

[Rick G.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Very sad news. RIP. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[Brian T.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Sad news indeed. Good guy and invaluable asset to our community. RIP.

[John L.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Very sad. Heard the news at our chapter meet yesterday. Great person. One of a kind. I had the opportunity to judge with him as an OJ at a National meet. At a mechanical disagreement between he and his judging partner, he turned to me and said "Well, what do you think?" He was the kind of guy to take time to listen to my opinion. I'll not forget the good guy he was. RIP Dennis.

[Stephen C.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

So sorry to hear that Dennis has passed.
One of the most colorful characters in the NCRS.
We need more like him in this organization.
Condolences to his family.
RIP Dennis

[John W.]

Re: Dennis Clark, Former National Judging Chairman and Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Dennis was an important part of NCRS. His contributions will live on forever. He will be missed by his many many friends in the NCRS.