Top flight

[Lyndon S.]

I need some tips on getting the 89 to the next level and top flight. At the chapter meet the car the first time out scored a 91.3. any advice on using the judging sheets and how to attack the low score?

[Tim E.]

Re: Top flight

Lyndon - What I do first is to transfer all the line item deductions to a spreadsheet so that I can sort the deductions from highest to least. That gives me a list of the biggest hits and the most likely items to consider correcting. I usually add a column to the spreadsheet that contains the cost to correct the item. Dividing the cost by the number of points deducted provides an estimated cost-per-point.

Now you have the data needed to start making decisions.

I recommend a goal of zero operations deductions. Operations deductions tend to be routinely fixable items that get significant deductions.....20 or 25 points per line item. These are good items to tackle first. Next, go through the list and pick off "the low hanging fruit". These are easily corrected items for little or no cost...the items in your spreadsheet that have the lowest cost-per-point.

Then, look at the really major deductions. Did you get deductions for engine, paint, tires, or interior? If so, you'll have to plan for and probably budget to correct those. Chances are there are some large deductions that can be readily corrected.

Tim

[Ed N.]

Re: Top flight

Lyndon, I used a very similar process that Tim outlined and I was able to pick up almost a 90 points from one year to another. I think my first Top Flight was a 95.5 (raw score at Regional) and my second Top Flight improved to 98.1.(raw score at Regional). After reviewing my second outing, I think I can still cost-effectively improve my score to 98.6 or so. Most of my points deductions consisted of over-cleaning/polishing of some engine components (I can live with the latter).

If you follow Tim's plan of attack, you should be able to improve significantly.

Good Luck!

[Jeff P.]

Re: Top flight

I need some tips on getting the 89 to the next level and top flight. At the chapter meet the car the first time out scored a 91.3. any advice on using the judging sheets and how to attack the low score?

The devil is in the details so they say.....make sure ALL your bulbs light..ie: tub light for spare....BOTH interior lights behind driver and passenger...things like correct cigarette lighter....make sure spare is clean as well as tub and jack....correct wipers...etc....many correctable items don't cost much but they add up points wise.

[William C.]

Re: Top flight

OPS-OPS-OPS should be FREE points and they are a big hit when something doesn't work. Best place to start then work down the list on a $/Point basis. Should not be too difficult on a C-4.

[Reba W.]

Re: Top flight

Amen to the comments on ops. Those points are hard to make up. Two weeks ago we judged a car with less than 100 miles that lost 125 points on operations.

[Ed N.]

Re: Top flight

Amen to the comments on ops. Those points are hard to make up. Two weeks ago we judged a car with less than 100 miles that lost 125 points on operations.

One hundred mile car and loss a 125 points? Now that makes for a good case study discussion.

[Reba W.]

Re: Top flight

A case for checking things after a car has been in storage for 25 years, Ed. The owner did not do his homework.

[Ed N.]

Re: Top flight

A case for checking things after a car has been in storage for 25 years, Ed. The owner did not do his homework.

Oh, I didn't know that important detail (that it was in storage for 25 years). Under the totality of the circumstances, it still would be somewhat interesting to hear about what did and did not work during ops.