2021 NCRS Texas Regional

With the restoration complete, it was off to the NCRS Texas Regional in Frisco Texas to see if we could get a Top Flight award.

A Top Flight award is given to a car judged to be within 94% of the originality and condition it was in when it rolled off the assembly line the day it was built.

The car is judged in five areas: Operations, Chassis, Interior, Exterior, and Mechanical. Each area is judged for two categories: Originality and Condition. The originality of the various component is judged for Configuration, Date (for parts with dates, they must be up to at most six months prior to the car's build date), Completeness (all parts present), Installation (correctly), and Finish (gloss, texture, color, tint, and type).

The Operations Check took place in the Hotel Parking Garage, checking cold start, running, and all lights, gauges, etc. During the check, we discovered the dimming function for the interior gauge lighting was not working (interior gauge lights either on or off.) I lost 5 points for that.

Here were the 2 pages of judging sheets for the Operations Check.

Next, I drove the car from the parking garage into the Convention Center!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/ef7244_42f5e76783224b18983e8120e407eeaf/720p/mp4/file.mp4

The rest of the judging took place on Friday. In these next two pictures, the judges were going over the chassis components.

Here were the 4 pages of judging sheets on Chassis. Note that I lost 5 configuration points for an incorrect oil filter (not white AC Delco)!

On the judging sheets, you'll note some abbreviations used when scoring: NT = Not Typical (wrong); SB = Should Be; SN = Should Not; WRA = Wear/Rust/Age.

Next came the interior judging. This car's interior was in outstanding condition despite being stashed away in a storage unit for 48 years. We replaced the wood grain center console trim (took a deduction for it being too shiny and not typical). In addition, I took a total deduction (4 points) for not having the key knockouts for the original keys. Beyond that, it scored well. Here are the interior judging sheets.

Next came the Exterior judging. The judges were extremely impressed with the original paint and condition. Under the florescent lights of the convention hall, they could clearly see the imperfections in the application of the metallic acrylic paint they used in 1970 (Car color is Cortez Silver.)

Here are the 4 scoresheets from the exterior judges. Note that almost all of the deductions were on condition (1970 era paint didn't hold up really well over the long haul.)

Last of all was judging the Mechanical section. Note that I lost a full deduction (20 points) for an incorrect fuel pump. Sadly, the car's original fuel pump was sent off for refurbishment and was lost. The company that received it is still looking for it. AC Delco replacement parts were all on backorder and I had to install an aftermarket fuel pump from Auto Zone just to get the car running.

After the judging was completed, the scores were tabulated.

A Top Flight car starts out with a maximum score of 4510 points.

My point totals were:

Operations 755 out of 760

Chassis 553 out of 574

Interior 732 out of 750

Exterior 1048 out of 1075

Mechanical 1303 out of 1351

Total Score 4391 out of 4510 Resulting in a 97.5% Score.

Needing 94% or better, I did indeed achieve that and earned a TOP FLIGHT!

It's been a great ride to this point, taking an abandoned classic, parked for 48 years, and returning her to this condition.

Next, I'll decide whether to attempt an NCRS Performance Verification award (PV), which is four pages of operations checks and a 10-mile road course, where 100% of the items must work. A single item failure is a Failure on the PV.

Achieving that, I'll take the car to the NCRS National Convention in July of 2022 for a National Top Flight judging event. If I achieve a Top Flight Score there and score over 97% again, I'll win a highly coveted DUNTOV Award, which only ~1100 Corvettes have ever received.

"NCRS DUNTOV Mark of Excellence Award®

This award was created by the National Corvette Restorers Society in 1985, in honor of Mr. Zora Arkus-Duntov, long-time Chief Engineer for the Chevrolet Corvette, who retired from General Motors in 1975. The Duntov Award recognizes individuals for the restoration and preservation of 1953 -1974 Corvettes. To achieve this coveted award, an owner must attain a judging score of at least 97% out of 100 % based on an original "as manufactured" standard at a National or Regional NCRS event; as well as present the car for a rigorous performance test of all vehicle mechanical components and functions, all of which must operate as those of a new car, without a single failure. Finally, the car must again score at least 97%, at a National NCRS Convention, to receive the Duntov Award. The process of achieving the Duntov Award requires attendance at a minimum of three events and must be completed within a three-year period. Only 1,116 Corvettes have achieved the NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award."

On to the next event!