Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

[Patrick T.]

It was a Mason-Dixon Chapter meet last Sunday at Ron Adam's Chevrolet in Havre de Grace, Md. I've been an NCRS judge for four years now but this is the first time I've had my Sunfire Yellow '67 judged. I drove it 110 miles one way to get those driving points, it's like cheap insurance.

Everyone was gracious and had a good time, the weather was perfect. I admit that I was a little nervous but had to help judge exterior on the two other cars, so I had to concentrate on that.

In the end though, I did receive numerous minor deducts for this and that. I don't know what my exact score is yet since I haven't gotten back the judging sheets but it was enough to get a TF. Many thanks goes out to our judging chairman, Rick Aleshire and all the knowledgeable judges who made the day very pleasant for me. Pics below. PT

[Lynn H.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Congratulations!!

[Stuart F.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Congratulations Pat. Thanks for posting the pics too. Ah! The fun and comraderie of a chapter judging. Hard to beat.

Stu Fox

[Mike G.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

good job!!! if everyone only knew what it takes to get that award. it does make you nervous but well worth the effort. i hope to have my 70 lt1 done next year so i can get it judged. i always try to build a 100 point car but all i really need is a 97. like my 57 i will try to make it a tripple crown car.

[Tom H.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Nice job !! Looks awesome.

[Kirk M.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Congratulations on your award.

[Jeff G.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Nice car(s), nice award, and I'm jealous.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Thanks guys. Without a doubt, being a judge for four years helped me with the restoration of my car. You learn a lot from the Senior Judges... what they like to see and not see, those little nuances that can make or break the car's scoring.

I sort of learned to think like they think and we would discuss many details on a particular car and I would put this in my memory banks and apply them to my car. Don't think being a judge is a waste of time, it's not. It helps for you to learn the system and how to apply it to your car, so when you get your car judged, you will have a different perspective. Just my two cents. PT

[Jim C.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Nice going Patrick!!!! Good call on the driving points, even if you didn't need them. I still think people like to see old Corvettes driving down the highway. A few years ago I had my 66 judged and drove 167 miles to the event for the same reason. "Cheap insurance" is right. I must have hit EVERY single bug between my house and the event, which was held in mid August. The windshield, nose, radiator and grill were caked with bug parts/guts. It took me about an hour just to pick the bug carcasses out of the radiator with a pair of tweezers. The few bugs that I missed hitting on the way there were certainly plastered all over the front of my car on the drive home. I didn't end up needing the driving points, but as my car was going through the judging process, I kept thinking that the driving points would cover a good portion of the inevitable deductions. I'm glad to hear that you took your Corvette out for a long ride, and received the Top Flight Award too. Keep it original and keep driving!!!

[Jack H.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

You learn a lot from the Senior Judges... what they like to see and not see, those little nuances that can make or break the car's scoring.

That's a GREAT comment! In the 'good ole days' (before widespread use of the internet + the creation of this Discussion Board), that was how most learned to get their resto job done...

They'd get out of the house, travel to a meet or two, and learn by doing Observer Judge (or Team Judge) services. You got two things that way:

(1) Familiarity with the judging process (it helps to walk a mile in the other guy's shoes)...

(2) Actual observation of cars similar to yours + what's looked for and what the most common opps items are.

But, today, we want it immediately via electronic communication with posts and pictures. While that's healthy and a time/cost saving, it lacks the actual 1:1 visibility as well as the group encounter aspects of rubbing shoulders with your fellow club members...

[Ridge K.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Congratulations Patrick!
Gorgeous car,....and thank you for posting the pics.
Ridge

[Terry M.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Nice pictures, and some real good looking cars. I have been to that meet years ago. The Mason-Dixon Chapter does a great job with their meet. Lots of familiar faces in those pictures.

[Alan S.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Hi Patrick,
Congratulations on your AWARD! I enjoyed seeing your car.
One of the best things about a small chapter meet is that there really is time for some conversation between the judges and the owners (and other onlookers) about the car and what the judges are and aren't seeing.
Regards,
Alan

PS: It was announced that Rick Aleshire was the Chapter's Member of the Year for 2008. BOY does he deserve it!
I found that I knew the owner of the the blue 66. John Nash and his brother Bill Nash (great mustache) and I were in the service together and hadn't seen each other since 1972 although we live only a few miles from each other.
John and I both had new 71s (his an LT-! convertible!!!) and we still have them. IT is the cars BUT it's REALLY about the people!

[Henry S.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

Congratulations Patrick!! Sounds like you had plenty of "irons in the fire" with helping judge AND having one judged. Did it require you to wear 2 different hats for the day?? Guys like you are what make this hobby the enjoyment it is. Behind ANY successful organization is a group of volunteers willing to do more than their fair share. Special thanks to all of those judges and volunteers!! Take care, Shooter

[Patrick T.]

Re: Got a Top Flight Award Sunday...

PS: It was announced that Rick Aleshire was the Chapter's Member of the Year for 2008. BOY does he deserve it!
I found that I knew the owner of the the blue 66. John Nash and his brother Bill Nash (great mustache) and I were in the service together and hadn't seen each other since 1972 although we live only a few miles from each other.
John and I both had new 71s (his an LT-! convertible!!!) and we still have them. IT is the cars BUT it's REALLY about the people!

Thanks Alan...so I take it that you were there on Sunday? Some member didn't have their name tags on, so I don't remember who they were. You're right, John Nash's blue '66 was a knockout right down to the last nut and bolt. Pete Anastas? and myself were judging exterior on it and the '60.

We were so busy since we had to judge two cars instead of the scheduled one, we didn't get much time to kibbutz with the other members. I don't consider myself to be a hard azzed judge, so if we see a questionable item on a car, we would seek the advice of the Team Leader John St. Peter (moderator here). If that item was still fuzzy or iffy, we would give the benefit of the doubt to the owner. I never go in to judge a car saying..."today I'm going to kick some butt on that car". Other judges may disagree with this credo but I've never been told to do otherwise. This is supposed to be fun, right? PT