Concours Naming Survey Q

[Joseph S.]

What's this thread about again?

They always go sideways, don't they?

[Kevin G.]

They always go sideways, don't they?

"Non technical" threads are discouraged here, I believe for that very reason. But I will say that all to often the best conversations and information is learned from the sideway posts. You didn't miss my point!

Here's a redirect! Joe your off to a great start and I for one applaud your online presence!

[Joseph S.]

"Non technical" threads are discouraged here, I believe for that very reason. But I will say that all to often the best conversations and information is learned from the sideway posts. You didn't miss my point!

Here's a redirect! Joe your off to a great start and I for one applaud your online presence!

Thanks Kevin! It is just the start. Hopefully, lots of great things to come.

[Gary J.]

Went to the local car show today. Saw several Corvettes and wondering what new class name we could give them. My son suggested Modified Street. One was C3 with blower motor, second was a C1 with wheel change, add on A/C. The third on was a ‘67 that would second flight due to side pipes, and a lot of small original parts missing, horn relay, voltage regulator, etc.
The name does need to be change as these cars as not Concourse Cars in a sense to Amelia Island or Pebble Beach. The question is how do we get these owner inspired cars to bring them out for judging when the cost is well above $200.00 now.
I know the ‘67 could be Flight Judge but if it had a bad trim tag flight judging is out, so now it goes into our Concourse class.
I appreciate all that are trying to make this work for everyone.
IMG_0321.jpg

[Reba W.]

Gary, I like Sterling's name suggestion for the class. These cars are mostly street driven and modified.

[Richard M.]

I suggest to Kickstart the new category, whatever it's called....

Consider a 50% discount to join NCRS for the first year. Also discount the entry fee 50% for first time entered, either for existing members or for new members.

This could be a challenge for the IT Group to automate this entry process change though.

Just thinking of ways to help get more folks to be attracted to NCRS. Discounts may be a feasible method.

Rich

[Bob W.]

Richard, That is a great idea but we have change their mind set and let know we accept ALL CORVETTES. Drivers-custom & resto mods.

[Richard M.]

Richard, That is a great idea but we have change their mind set and let know we accept ALL CORVETTES. Drivers-custom & resto mods.

Bob, I agree, and adding a $perk may help increase interest.

[Duke W.]

I don't think many guys with "modified" Corvettes would be interested in driving out of their local area and paying the cost of a regional or even chapter event to have their car "judged". Most just go to informal "cars and coffee" events, which have no entry fees. They may also occasionally enter a local "concours" event that requires a fee, often with the proceeds going to charity or a local booster club like a chamber of commerce. These events are often "judged", usually by the common "clean and shiny" criteria, and there is often a "peoples' choice" award.

So we have to look at what value we can provide for the cost of an annual membership and maybe a local chapter membership, and the cost of entering events that are all primarily focused on judging Corvettes to the as-built standard.

It takes more than a name, but how about "Exhibition Flight" with awards including a "peoples' choice". It should be tried on an experimental basis by a chapter (with expense support from the national) to see what kind of response. Don't charge a fee. Ask attendees if they would be willing to pay a nominal fee (and how much) in the future, but how do you get the word out i. e. advertise the opportunity.

There many NCRS members who may or may not also belong to a chapter, don't attend events in person, or only rarely, and perhaps never even had their vintage Corvette judged who justify the cost based on The Corvette Restorer, local chapter newsletters, and the TDB. But all these are focused on "factory original".

Most currently registered vintage Corvettes are probably beyond economical restoration back to NCRS Top Flight standards, but they may look nice, drive well, and the owner is likely quite happy. They are not interested in a bunch of strangers nitpicking their car to death, but may need technical help in solving problems, finding parts, or advice on how to make performance or cosmetic improvements.

I'm sure NCRS has many members with professional marketing experience, like marketing a new product or rejuvenating an existing product that has declining sales. First thing is to understand the target customer and come up with something that appeals to them rather that trying to convert them to something that does not currently appeal to them. (Think of the recent ill-fated Bud Light marketing campaign that caused their sales to tank.)

One thing that many need, especially new owners is good technical advice. There are several "free" Corvette-specific internet forums, and The Corvette Forum is probably the most popular. In years passed it offered generally good technical device, but most of the old hands are gone... passed away, or maybe "aged out" and found other ways to spend their time. Today there are many new owners, many of whom seem to have little working knowledge of cars in general. Many are probably younger than most of us and didn't grow up working on cars like the baby boomers, especially the early ones.

I see many new guys on the CF C1/C2 forum, and there are now only a handful or two of guys who respond to real "how do I fix" questions. I'm sure they all have good intentions, but their advice is often poor, and others jump in and offer outright bad advice. The questions are most often vague, but guys jump in to offer advice when more specific information is needed. In the first 24 hours there are two dozen posts offering a dozen or more solutions, and by that time the thread has devolved into a furball that's of little use to the OP or others.

So maybe NCRS could expand its appeal by coming up with a forum strictly for trouble shooting, either Flight type or modified cars. Allow any NCRS member to respond, but designate specific "technical advisers" for specific model year generations to address either any problems or specific system problems, like electrical, fuel system, engine, transmission....

Real, quality technical advice might be one thing to attract the new, younger vintage Corvette owners, that have limited technical knowledge, but might be able to turn wrenches to solve a problem once it's been identified.

In past chapter level judging I've often found safety or reliability issues with installed parts or repairs, like copper oil pressure signal lines rather than copper plated STEEL . In some cases I didn't even take a deduction, but the owners appreciated my comments on the problem during the debriefing, and I'm sure they later corrected the issue.

Also, at one chapter meeting I put together a 15-20 minute safety inspection with another member who read off the checklist (military style) list while I conducted the test like checking for deteriorated suspension bushings, excess Positraction clutch/side yoke wear, U-joint grounding, and excess wheel bearing play. It was very well received. Of course, we had a car up on a lift, but this could be done at Regional and national events that have a lift for Bowtie judging. I've also driven other member cars, at their request, to provide my opinion of their ride and performance characteristics and suggest areas that might need work.

Perhaps NCRS could offer such advice and inspections by an "expert" as an incentive to attend an NCRS event and perhaps joint the organization.

Duke

[Michael G.]

When I saw "Mary Barra" I thought to myself... WTF? What the hell has she ever done for the the vintage Corvette community? I don't think she's a particularly good CEO, but I don't think much of any of the other automotive CEOs, either. They all pissed away waaaaay too much money on electric cars, which has cost the shareholders a fortune! At least Barra appears to have left the Corvette in the hands of real car guys.

Now if the name was something like Harley Earl, Ed Cole, or Bill Mitchell I would have completed the survey. Dave Hill should be considered, too. HIs C5 set a new standard for structural stiffness in a lightweight package, and that unique architecture carried through to the C7.

It's good that management is surveying the members, but list some choices that make sense. I recall one choice was "other", but you couldn't make an actual suggestion.

I didn't complete the survey and just deleted the email.

Hey... how about Roger Smith?

Duke

“Roger Smith”, now there’s a guy who almost single-handedly destroyed the brand distinction at GM. Perhaps the dumbest move ever made in the automotive industry. Makes the Edsel look like a stroke of genius…

[Michael J.]

I don't know, if you wanted a modified Corvette prize name, I would vote for the Knudsen Award , after all he commissioned some pretty wild Corvettes........https://www.corvsport.com/1963-chevr...-knudsen-wife/

Or: https://www.supercars.net/blog/1963-...n-convertible/

[Mark E.]

* ...A forum strictly for trouble shooting, either Flight type or modified cars. Allow any NCRS member to respond, but designate specific "technical advisers" for specific model year generations to address either any problems or specific system problems, like electrical, fuel system, engine, transmission...

[Mark's note: Add this to the Team Lead's job description.]

* Real, quality technical advice...to attract the new, younger vintage Corvette owners...

* [...At] chapter meetings [offer] a 15-20 minute safety inspection...

* Offer such advice and inspections by an "expert" as an incentive to attend an NCRS event and perhaps join the organization.

Duke

These are great ideas the board should consider!

I took the liberty of editing Duke's post down to 4 key ideas.

Bottom line: pivot from nit-pic judging to how-to advice both on-line and during events. Young enthusiasts would value (and needs) the help and knowledge.

This is off topic for this thread; maybe an admin can open a separate thread for this important topic.