Frankie the Fink

Apparently this years Florida Regional will provide the first "test judging" for the new Concourse class - that'll be interesting for sure... It'll include full blown restomods to somewhat modified original cars...

rfn026

I'm either getting old or this group is really young.

Not a single person has mentioned Cypress Gardens.

Not a single person has mentioned the year at Disney.

Not a single person has mentioned that we used to have an auction attached with this show.

If NCRS ties in with Mecum we will be the flea stomped by the elephant. NCRS has worked hard to build integrity within the hobby. Getting involved with an auction house will destroy all of that.

Remember when Mecum owned and ran Bloomington Gold? How much did we enjoy that?

Richard Newton
Historical Racing Images

vettebuyer6369

Dana Mecum saved Bloomington Gold from folding when he bought it.

What was so awful about BG's time with Mecum?

Frankie the Fink

Sorry I'm a youngster....I was doing Mustangs/Camaros up until 10 years ago. Cypress Gardens is now Legoland - a REALLY different theme park. I'll defer on the Mecum question - I DO know that that auction is now a media circus and money machine.....it is a different culture than the "social club" (IRS non-profit definition) of NCRS. Not that the two can't mix...I'm just having hard time envisioning the cross-pollination aspect.

roberts427

Osceola sounds interesting,for sure would get me to come back.

gbvette62

You forgot the 3 (or 4) years after Disney Sports and before Old Town, when we were at the Kissimmee Hyatt convention center (or was it a Marriott?). It was around 2001 at the Hyatt, when we had the record low temperature of 24 degrees one morning. A friend of mine came up from the Keys to hang out with me. My Silverado had heated leather seats and I couldn't get him to get out of the truck till about noon that day. When the next issue of Vette Vues came out, his picture was in it, standing in the middle of my tables wearing a hooded sweat shirt, a leather coat, a wind breaker, a hat, scarf and gloves.

It's funny that you mentioned Cyprus, because an old friend of mine was just saying last week, how much he missed when the show was there. It's been at least 18 years since the last Cyprus show, and there are still people that miss it. I liked Cyprus, but from what I remember, the choice of hotels and restaurants was very limited.

Disney was expensive after being at Cyprus, and a bit of a pain to get around.

The Winter Regional auctions were never very big. It seems to me that they started around 5 at night, and were over by 8. I know they still had the auctions at the Hyatt, and maybe the first couple years at Old Town? There were a few years when we were at Old Town, the same weekend that Barrett-Jackson was in Arizona. I knew a group of guys who would walk across 192 to the Bennigans, to watch Barrett-Jackson on the big screens.

C2 Hot Cam Guy

There are plenty of hotel rooms near Lakeland show . had no problem for all club members that wanted to go last year . Old Town has different owners now . Parking close to the show is impossible. They would have to rent a Shopping center parking lot & have security. I enjoyed it there back then for years. Our club drove the cars thru the auction for mecum when they were at Old Town

C2 Hot Cam Guy

But driving a Corvette is so much fun

Chuck Gongloff

I remember the "twin tower" hotels, the Hyatt and the Radisson IIRC on Irlo Bronson Hwy, where the meet was held for several years after the Disney Speedway and before Old Town. The judged cars were indoors in the parking garage between both hotels. The swap meet was there too.

AND, IIRC, one of those hotels went belly up without much notice, leaving the Florida Chapter scrambling.. finally landing at Old Town.

Both hotels are still there... and one of them is still closed/shut down last I checked.

Frankie the Fink

All the whimsical reminiscing is fine...folks should understand however that the "new" Old Town is not the "old" Old Town.

There is a different atmosphere at the place, the visitors are different, the area is more congested and urban, and, the logistics have changed. Even if it gets worked into future plans, some aspects may offset the advantage of being closer to Mecum.

I'm just sayin'...

SBR

Exactly! There would be no Bloomington Gold today without Dana Mecum.

Chuck Gongloff

100% true.

7-11vette

I remember cypress 1989 there for a few years hyatt hotel there for a couple years disney a couple of years all before old town.. lake land is ok very big and spread out but will be going anyway.. down here now I winter in florida anyway from the snow and cold up north been doing this for over 20 years

Chuck Gongloff

I heard a couple of rumors today.

First, I heard they were judging only 4 cars.... all midyears. All were invited.

Then, I heard that these midyears were all 67's.

Then, I heard that 8 cars were invited, again, all 67's.

There will be no open registration at the meet for the new "concourse" class.

NOTE that this will be "test judging".


Not sure of the accuracy of my source

Frankie the Fink

The 'test judging' aspect was announced in the latest NCRS Restorer IIRC and is currently announced on the Florida chapter's Facebook page, so that's no secret....

As to the rest of the 'rumors'...I guess we'll find out...

Chuck Gongloff

Not sure what judging criteria will be used, Frank.

Cleanliness? Fabrication skills? Beauty contest?

IMHO, judging will be just like any other "general" car show one might attend. In other words, judging will be "subjective" not "objective".

Chuck

Frankie the Fink

I think the criteria was vaguely (very vaguely) brought up in the Restorer but its my gut feeling (I have no real idea) that the 'test judging' is to work such things out...

I certainly hope it turns out to be more than another "Show and Shine" gig with a big plasticized trophy.

This event could be a good venue for cars like mine with tastefully done mods such as aftermarket A/C and Detroit Speed headlight motors, since, the Flight Judging folks can't seem to figure it out...

It would be great if some 'prestige' could get accrued to Concourse Judging so a disenfranchised area of the hobby - e.g. restomods/modified could come into their own as a respected aspect of NCRS....

64roadster

Although I live just north of Atlanta I've never made it to the Florida Winter event. This year I happen to be spending the month of January in Florida and I hope to make it one day this year.

Bajaholic

Most Concourse Judging events I have been to, are based on Fit and Finish and cleanliness. The Fabrication of the mods, the detail in the paint, motor compartment and areas not easily seen are where you would need to concentrate.

It really does not matter what the mods have been or even how outrageous the car is, it comes down to the quality of work that was performed. and how well it is detailed to show.

So basically stating, a car that does not match numbers in any way or is WAY over restored, will be a great candidate for a Concourse Judging. (Over-spray does not apply!)

In My opinion, The ones Judging need to be a completely different set of judges, because it is a different mind set than Top Flight Judging. This new "Concourse Judging" would be a great way to introduce the show car guys to the restorer guys and "mend" fences so that each understand the goals of what they are doing.

I agree though, you need to keep the integrity of the NCRS judging side as the emphasis of the event, that is.... What it is all about.

SBR

I just heard that there are 28 cars registered for flight judging. That seems really low, hopefully that is not the case.