Flight Judging Requirements

[John A.]

Hello, I am a new member and have questions regarding Flight requirements to participate at a national event. Are you required to participate in a regional event and place First, Second or Third Flight before you can participate in the national event?

A question about cleanliness of the vehicle chassis. What do judges look for on an unrestored car?

My car is in need of a front suspension rebuild. Which vendors would you recommend for period correct rebuilt kits for 68-82 Vettes that would pass NCRS judging standards? I see quite a few generic kits out there.

Any input is helpful. Thanks,

John

[John H.]

Re: Flight Judging Requirements

Hello, I am a new member and have questions regarding Flight requirements to participate at a national event. Are you required to participate in a regional event and place First, Second or Third Flight before you can participate in the national event?John

Welcome aboard, John! In order to apply for Flight Judging at the National Convention, a car must have achieved at least a Third Flight award at either a Chapter or Regional event within the previous three years with its current owner. Having the car judged first at a Chapter Meet, then at a Regional Meet, gives you two shots at improving the car before having it judged at the National.

Along with the Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide for your car, the other book you need is the "Corvette Judging Reference Manual", which explains the judging process and how to prepare for it in great detail. Both are available from the NCRS on-line store on this site (see the top of the page).

[Jack H.]

Re: Flight Judging Requirements

Cleanliness amounts to only 2-4% of the overall Flight score. So, that's not the main focus of our factory concours judging. The yardstick is the same for all cars being Flight judged: as originally delivered from the factory with then current dealer prep.

So, if your car is a driver, expect to lose some points here on cleanliness and think about what the car WOULD have looked like the day it was delivered to the original owner new. Now, relax a bit because at NCRS we encourage owners to drive/use their cars and we give mileage driven bonus credit(s) to those who risk wear/tear by putting the car on the highway and actually driving it to a meet. That credit can raise your car's raw score by as much as 10 PERCENT! That's a LOT of individual judging points....

Last, while cleanliness is not our primary focus, there's a limit to how far you can go. It just wouldn't be right NOT to deduct for cars where the owner has either sprayed undercoating or 'gunk' EVERYWHERE on his chassis to obscure the items judges are trying to assess....

That's things like inspection marks, decals/stickers, the condition of component surfaces that were originally natural in finish, Etc. So, IF the dirt is EXCESSIVE, expect judges to rightfully assess more judging point deductions when they can't see the item(s) they're trying to judge. While we aren't a concours d'elegance, there IS the word "concours" in the term factory concours...