Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

[Clark K.]

Oh, the things we do to get a chance at that "coveted blue rosette". This list does not include the complete restoration of the car's A/C system back to factory correct.

Here is a list of the things I have done just in the last month in order to prepare my '65 Sting Ray for Flight judging at the National meet:
Replace both rubber belts with correctly marked units (NCRS Mech. Sec. #13);
Repair upper right-side hood hinge bolt hole (unable to get bolt/screw to go in straight);
Dull door jambs, front & rear valance panels, and other areas that are NTFP;
Refinish seat bolts to eliminate rusty condition;
Replace failing coil to eliminate misfire condition;
Refinish rusted hood hinge screws;
Replace rusted hood release springs with new black springs;
Replace missing screw under the steering column where it meets the dash;
Move headlight switch from incorrect outboard location to the inboard location, correct for an A/C car;
Repair cause of left front parking lamp/fixture failure;
Replace plastic grommet around floor-mounted headlight dimmer switch with correct rubber unit;
Replace split foam air cleaner element with new, oiled unit;
Install missing coil capacitor and mounting screw on ignition bracket next to coil.
Replace heat-damaged left rear taillight lens with correct lens;
Replace faulty knob-style battery-cutout switch and install lever-style switch;
Correct engine oil leak causing dirty condition of frame and bell housing (NCRS Chassis Sec. #14);
Replace oil pan drain plug with a correct plug and paint engine orange; (NCRS Chassis Sec. #9);
Replace scratched hood release handle with correct unit and attach without incorrect existing clip (NCRS Interior Sec. #8);

[Dick W.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Just make sure that everything operates as it should. Those 25 point deductions for inoperative components are hard to overcome during judging. Remember your fire extinguisher, NCRS decal, and battery cut off. Those bonus points come in handy

[Clark K.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Just make sure that everything operates as it should. Those 25 point deductions for inoperative components are hard to overcome during judging. Remember your fire extinguisher, NCRS decal, and battery cut off. Those bonus points come in handy

Dick, thanks for the advice. I take the ops judging VERY seriously, as anyone should. One of those items is is a big deduction. In three previous Flight-judgings, I have aced two the ops section, including having the decal, battery cut-off, and extinguisher. The other time, an idiot former owner had installed the door locks upside down and I was clueless until the judge told me how it should be. Note that the front parking light was fixed to save me a 25 point deduction at San Diego.

Also, thanks for the advice on how to dull my door jambs, etc. I used the rubbing compound and after a few hours of work, I think that I might have saved my car from suffering another total (85 point) deduction on exterior paint. If you will be in San Diego, please look me and my car up in the judging area.
-Clark

[Tim E.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Clark - Looking forward to seeing you in San Diego....I'll be close by with my '66.

Add the following to your travel bag: wrenches for ignition shielding & spare tire tub, your spare tire lock, extra set of keys, fender covers, and your glove box components. Those are often left behind!

I don't remember what your wheel weights looked like when we looked at your car at TMS. If you have the modern ones that have a metric designation on one side and the ounce designation on the other, carefully remove the debossed metric numbers leaving the ounce numbers intact (at least on your spare). Even better...if you can replace the spare tire weight with a correct one, that will please the judges.

Tim

[Dick W.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Dick, thanks for the advice. I take the ops judging VERY seriously, as anyone should. One of those items is is a big deduction. In three previous Flight-judgings, I have aced two the ops section, including having the decal, battery cut-off, and extinguisher. The other time, an idiot former owner had installed the door locks upside down and I was clueless until the judge told me how it should be. Note that the front parking light was fixed to save me a 25 point deduction at San Diego.

Also, thanks for the advice on how to dull my door jambs, etc. I used the rubbing compound and after a few hours of work, I think that I might have saved my car from suffering another total (85 point) deduction on exterior paint. If you will be in San Diego, please look me and my car up in the judging area.
-Clark

I will be there. Just look for an old, phat, ugly, short, balding, old phart. That be me.

[Clark K.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Clark - I don't remember what your wheel weights looked like when we looked at your car at TMS. If you have the modern ones that have a metric designation on one side and the ounce designation on the other, carefully remove the debossed metric numbers leaving the ounce numbers intact (at least on your spare). Even better...if you can replace the spare tire weight with a correct one, that will please the judges. Tim

Tim, I looked in the 1965 JG and there is clear definition of the wheel weights' attachment to the inside outer edge of the steel wheel. There was no mention of any markings on the weights. There is clear indication for judges to look for DOT markings on tires but I saw nothing on the configuration of wheel weight markings. In three previous Flight judging meets, I have never had a deduction for NTP wheel weights or marking of same. Can you clarify?
-Clark

[Tim E.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Clark - Up until sometime in the 70's, the wheel weights had an ounce designation on each side of the manufacturer's symbol...for example: 1.0 MICRO 1.0

Current weights (and reproductions) have both an ounce and a metric designation...for example: 1.0 MICRO 28

The judges at the national level will no doubt be looking for the original configuration. By removing the "28", that does at least eliminate the metric designation. I would still expect a deduction, just less severe than if the metric number was still visible.

It's the spare tire/wheel that will get the most scrutiny. If you can locate a correct weight, put it on the spare. Members find correct weights at old car salvage yards, the bottom of the bucket of weights at tire shops that have been in business for decades, swap meets, etc.

Search the archives for "wheel weights" for photos and more.

Tim

[Donald H.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

If you want original type weights ( the Micro and marked ounces on both ends), check Driveline. It was either the most recent or the prior edition. There is an ad for .5 and 1 OZ weights. I bought some from the guy.

[Clark K.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

The judges at the national level will no doubt be looking for the original configuration. By removing the "28", that does at least eliminate the metric designation. I would still expect a deduction, just less severe than if the metric number was still visible. Tim

Not one judge in three Flight judgings of my car, including the '09 Texas Regional, deducted anything for wheel weight configuration. I looked at all three sets of judging sheets. I don't remember whether my spare had weights in Oct. '09 (regional). If they deduct at San Diego, I plan on protesting it since it is not an item covered in the '65 JG.
-Clark

[Pat M.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

If they deduct at San Diego, I plan on protesting it since it is not an item covered in the '65 JG.
-Clark

Clark, judges can and do deduct for things not covered in the Judging Guide. Been there. I'd contact your Team Leader and/or lead judge for this meet and simply ask them what they expect to see. I did this several times, which essentially makes the meet an "open book" exam. Why take a chance when your judge will simply tell you what you need to have?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

If they deduct at San Diego, I plan on protesting it since it is not an item covered in the '65 JG.
-Clark

Good luck with that.
As Pat M notes, presence or absence in a Judging Guide doesn't mean that an item will or will not be judged or deducted.
That's covered in the Rules, BTW.

Patrick

[John H.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

If they deduct at San Diego, I plan on protesting it since it is not an item covered in the '65 JG.
-Clark

Clark -

If everything we look for was in the JG, you'd need a handle to carry it; JG content doesn't describe the scope of judging.

[Chuck M.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

If you want original type weights ( the Micro and marked ounces on both ends), check Driveline. It was either the most recent or the prior edition. There is an ad for .5 and 1 OZ weights. I bought some from the guy.

Hi Donald,
do you remember if the ad that you saw was just a general ad in the driveline or if it was a feature ad? I am looking through the most recent driveline and have yet to come across it.
Thanks for the help!
chuck

[Russ S.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

Hi Donald,
do you remember if the ad that you saw was just a general ad in the driveline or if it was a feature ad? I am looking through the most recent driveline and have yet to come across it.
Thanks for the help!
chuck

Charles, It is a general ad.

[Donald H.]

Re: Things Done in Preparation for National Judging Meet

The ad is in the March / April 2012 driveline. I don't remember his name, but his numbe is 563-599-1480