I can take a hint.
When I bought the 82 2 1/2 years ago, I found this organization called the NCRS on the internet, and found there was a chapter meet in Maine in a few weeks. I emailed the judging chairman (Mark Lincoln) and he CALLED me 5 minutes later. After a few minutes Mark said, "Sounds like you have a Bowtie car. Why don't you have the 82 judged?" OK, I'm in - I joined the NCRS real quick! The day of judging the local chapter members and I met at a rest area on I-95 in NH. I was first and then came about 20 cars rolling in one by one from all generations. We were quite the site in the rest area.
The meet was at a member's home in Wells, Me. First up some more introductions, a quick owner's meeting and on to judging. Five teams of two judges each went over my car for several hours. Now at this point I've never read a judging manual so I was too stupid to be nervous. Oh, the Fram air & oil filters are not correct - oops. Same with the battery and I get brownie points for an NCRS sticker, battery quick-disconnect and fire extinguisher? Before the day was out, the 82 took Top Flight. Even better was the education I received on not only what was wrong, but why many thigs were correct - my 82 is supposed to have that green dipstick? You bet.
The following year it was on to the Northeast Regional outside of Montreal where again the 82 took Top Flight. I'll spare you the details since that has already been posted. But I will say it was a great time!
Now I have the 82 registered for both Flight and Bowtie judging at the National NCRS convention coming up this summer in Hershey, Pa. I'm waiting for that envelope from the NCRS which will tell me if the 82 is in or not. There are only so many slots available and I'm just one of SO many who want to do the same. If I don't get into both categories, I hope to get into Bowtie since Bowtie can only be achieved at a national convention.
So there you have it. Quite long I'm sorry to say, but I must add that my experience has been a great education. Although I'm very proud of my 82, my hat's off the those folks with the C1's, C2's and early C3's - the folks who put a lot of sweat, time and money into this hobby. I was lucky enough to find an original 82. There have been a few correct parts to hunt down, but that also was fun.
It's Sunday and tomorrow I leave for Florida and my first Winter Regional. The 82 is ready to fly but due to my co-pilot's medical problems, the 82 stays home. We had to make the final call yesterday. As many of you know, my pal has been fighting cancer for over a year now. The chemo treatments aggravate an older back problem and the passenger seat in the Vette is not adjustable but we'll be there.
Thanks for reading.
Guy
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