Noland Adams Digital Collection

**Jim L.** · December 18, 2010, 07:57 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

I'm certainly disappointed at this turn of events. Having seen a sampling of Noland's images and documents on your web page, Russ, I was eagerly, and perhaps selfishly, looking forward to having my own copy of the Digital Collection.

Jim

**Russ U.** · December 18, 2010, 08:21 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

Thanks Jim.

I am very disappointed that I fell short of the goal line on this project. Noland and I worked out an arrangement, however, where I will be able to use a small amount of the items from his collection in my websites. Thus, in the near future, I will probably expand my websites to include some pretty interesting material. I have also picked up some really cool stuff on ebay, so I have a lot of great material to work with.

For now, I think I am just going to enjoy my cars for a bit. Today, my furry pal (Tucker) and I went for drives in both the 53 and the FI 59, in a light rain. While I greatly enjoyed going thru Noland's collection, I would still rather be behind the wheel of an old Corvette.

Russ

**Chris E.** · December 28, 2010, 06:56 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

So, for those of us coming to this party late, what's the executive summary?

What is going to be contained on the N.A. webpage?

**Russ U.** · December 28, 2010, 07:24 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

The driver of the N.A. website is the same gal who is behind the CorvetteTroubleShooting.com website, which focuses on answering technical questions related to C4s. I think she envisions the N.A. website as a one-stop place for answering technical questions related to C1s and C2s. I suspect her game plan will evolve over time. Hopefully she will at some point offer the collection for sale in its entirety, as I had planned to do.

For what it is worth, after seeing Jim's post on the NCRS forum, I visited Jim and let him play around for a few hours with the final-shipping version that I had put together. Jim - if you see this post, please feel free to post any comments you have about the final - shipping version of the Digital Collection.

Russ

**Jim D.** · December 28, 2010, 07:47 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

I was looking forward to buying the collection. Sounds like someone "back doored" you and talked NA into something else with the promise of mega bucks. Very unfortunate. No way will I pay a subscription fee to receive info. that's free all over the internet. I hope you got fairly compensated for your 2 1/2 years of work.

**Terry D.** · December 29, 2010, 08:07 AM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

Ditto what Jim said. It is a shame but money usually screws up the best laid plans. You are awfully calm over this situation, if it was me and I had spent that much time only to have the rug yanked out from under me I would be more than a bit P----- OFF

**Jim L.** · December 29, 2010, 09:57 AM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

What I glimpsed of the Noland Adams Digital Collection was waaaay beyond anything I had been expecting it to be.

Here are some numbers....

The collection takes up in excess of 100 gigabytes of disc space.

There are something like 3000 GM engineering drawings.

Remember those Sting Ray survey forms Noland sent out when he was writing his second book? They are all there (with personal information removed). So are year by year summaries that Noland generated from the raw data.

Photographs you've seen in Noland's books are there, in stunning high resolution.

Photographs you've never seen are there, too. Some are from GM archives and some are Noland's original work.

Ever seen a '53 AIM? It's there, too.

I'm just scratching the surface because of the limited amount of time that was available to explore what Russ compiled. How Russ had the time to scan, organize, and edit all of this material and still keep his day job is a mystery.

While Russ was putting all this together, he would occasionally send me pictures he had found. He may not have realized that I kept everything he sent. In any event, here are a few samples from The Collection:

From GM material about fuel injection:

I'm sure everyone recognizes this legendary lady:

It's amazing what turns up in junque yarddes:

One of the thousands of engineering drawings:

One of my favorites, a copy of the survey form regarding my '63 coupe that I returned to Noland:

I think it is a shame that Russ's effort on Noland's behalf was halted. In my opinion, everyone loses.

Jim

**Russ U.** · December 29, 2010, 10:39 AM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

Originally posted by Terry Deusterman (11486)

Ditto what Jim said. It is a shame but money usually screws up the best laid plans. You are awfully calm over this situation, if it was me and I had spent that much time only to have the rug yanked out from under me I would be more than a bit P----- OFF

I've had moments, trust me. But, as my wife reminded me, this is just a hobby, and I either need to have fun with it or get out of it. So instead of being angry, I've been spending a lot more time driving and working on my cars. I've even started driving my 59 on rainy days.

I had two important goals during the digitization project - to put the collection into the public domain and raise some money for Noland. I still want to see those goals satisfied. If the new gal builds a better mousetrap than I did - great. You won't hear a peep from me IF she delivers on the financial projections she made to Noland.

Russ

**Ridge K.** · December 29, 2010, 04:20 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

Thank you for the follow-up news Russ, and without beating the horse to death .... sorry your tremendous time expenditure was primarily in vain.
I remember the excitement and interest when you annouced your plan earlier this year. I went back to your initial posting and reread this paragraph:

Two years ago I approached Noland about building a website based on his collection of Corvette related materials. Noland readily agreed, as he has dedicated his entire adult life to learning about Corvettes and then sharing that information with others. Noland requested only one thing in return – he simply asked me to encourage people to join the NCRS and the Solid Axle Corvette Club.

How things can change. I assume that is what makes life so interesting.
Thank you again for your efforts, and follow-up reporting.
As we close out this year I would like to extend my extreme thanks to those who so generously offer their kind help day, after day, after day on the TDB, without asking for anything in return.
I'm certain that I had well over one hundred fellow members kindly help me over these past four to five years. Far too many to name here. While thinking of them a few moments ago, I looked and four veteran members near the top of my list had posted messages counts of 25,410, 12,486, 8,006, and 5,829. These members, and hundreds more ... have never asked for one cent of remuneration for their time and helpful knowledge. I thank all the helpful members from the bottom of my heart. I can only hope that I've been able to repay their kindness, by helping one or two myself.
God bless you, and wishing all a Great New Year.

Ridge Kayser

**Alexander C.** · December 29, 2010, 04:43 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

Very disappointing! But thank you for trying!

I was waiting by money in hand to buy everything available and I have joined NCRS and SACC.

I sure hope the archive gets released in some form or another!

**Henry S.** · December 29, 2010, 08:47 PM

Re: Noland Adams Digital Collection

Originally posted by Ridge Kayser (45955)

Thank you for the follow-up news Russ, and without beating the horse to death .... sorry your tremendous time expenditure was primarily in vain.
I remember the excitement and interest when you annouced your plan earlier this year. I went back to your initial posting and reread this paragraph:

How things can change. I assume that is what makes life so interesting.
Thank you again for your efforts, and follow-up reporting.
As we close out this year I would like to extend my extreme thanks to those who so generously offer their kind help day, after day, after day on the TDB, without asking for anything in return.
I'm certain that I had well over one hundred fellow members kindly help me over these past four to five years. Far too many to name here. While thinking of them a few moments ago, I looked and four veteran members near the top of my list had posted messages counts of 25,410, 12,486, 8,006, and 5,829. These members, and hundreds more ... have never asked for one cent of remuneration for their time and helpful knowledge. I thank all the helpful members from the bottom of my heart. I can only hope that I've been able to repay their kindness, by helping one or two myself.
God bless you, and wishing all a Great New Year.

Ridge Kayser

Ridge,
No one could say it better than you just did.
Take care, Shooter

Noland Adams Digital Collection

Noland Adams Digital Collection

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