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I have a highly original 1988 blue convertible corvette. Everything except the tires and the Magnaflow exhaust is original. It has sat in a barn since 2008. The tires are barely used and dated 2007. All sets of keys, manuals, cassette tapes from GM, window sticker and GMC tags (if lost mail to).
I have changed all the fluids plugs etc. spent 55 hours on the paint, frame clean up, 37 years of hardened grease. Original Bilstein shocks ( I’m going to get rebuilt)
the owner added a K40 built in radar detector, car alarm and car phone (yes it has the old style antenna for mounting on the glass) DO I REMOVE OR KEEP THESE ITEMS IN THE CAR?
what category should I consider for judging?
Last edited by c3c7vette@proton.me; Apr 13, 2025 at 06:12 PM.
Reason: Typo
It should do well in NCRS Flight Judging. I have no idea how familiar you are with NCRS judging, but what makes NCRS unique is that the car is judged against a Standard, not against other cars. You start the day with 4,500 points, and when deviations to the standard are found, deductions are taken. The net score is divided by 45, and the result is a percentage, which if 94.0 or above is a Top Flight. You can find more at ncrs.org.
Original "finish" on both the body paint and other components is important, although most C4 judges aren't very picky about this. Just don't polish any suspension or aluminum under the hood. It's not a cleanliness contest, the Standard is "Does it appear as it did when it left Bowling Green, having gone through then-current dealership pre-delivery preparation, exclusive of any dealer or owner inspired modifications, deletions, or additions?"
Tires in the OEM size are an 18 point deduction. No biggie. Very few C4 in NCRS (other than no-mile ZR-1 and GS) are presented with their born-with tires.
The exhaust system is 50 points possible. If the modifications are only from the OEm Catalytic Converter back, it will be 20 points for the mufflers and pipes. In C2, the Operations judges take deductions for the "sound" of a non-typical exhaust. I've never heard of this (or done it myself) in C4, but it is possible and allowable, under the guidlines.
As far as the extra equipment modifications go, you should, (if the judges know what they're doing, many don't) receive very modest (1 or 2 points) deductions for holes drilled to mount the equipment. The presence of the equipment is ignored, only the "damage" to the car from the installation is considered.
Be sure everything works. There are 37 line items in Operations, 20 points per line. Most lines have multiple items, like "Headlights high/low beam" so 5 points if only one doesn't work. The 20-pointers in Ops are windshield washers, power antenna, cig lighter. Back up lights have 4 bulbs, so 5 points per bulb if one is out, but if the switch is bad (really common on the ZF) you loose all 20 because none of them come on. Operations can add up quickly, but a perfect score in Ops is pretty common for a well prepared car presented by a knowledgeable owner.
If you don't have the Judging Reference Manual and the Technical Judging Reference Manual and Guide for your year, I encourage you to obtain these from the NCRS Store (online) and read-up. The first has the "rules" and guidelines regarding the process. The second is specific to the year model of Corvette. The 87-89 JRM is still in its first edition, it has not been revised for 20 years. There are lots of errors and omissions in it, but it is what the judges use if they use the book. Most don't.
The above pertains to the C4 Division, which I have participated in for 20 years. Things have changed. NCRS participation took a huge hit during Covid, hasn't recovered, and I don't think it is going to. 20 years ago there were 10-15 C4 at every Regional and National event (7 per year.) Now there are perhaps 15 C4 a year. 1, 2, maybe 3 cars per event. The judges no longert see enough cars to be proficient or remember what they are supposed to be looking for or seeing. They don't take deductions where they should. C4s in NCRS are not restored cars. They are usually well-preserved examples that have survived time under caring ownership and are mostly "original" but have "condition" issues. These cars are 40-ish years old, they do not appear as-new any longer. The current group of C4 judges don't seem to get this. Every piece of aluminum under the hood and chassis was on the car when built and can be corroded from 40 years of exposure, but there won't be any deductions for condition. There should be. There are very, very, very few 84-89 any longer. since 2020, I only recall 1, a 1988 Z01 a couple of years ago.
That's enough. Enter it in flight. Read the books and prepare yourself and make sure everything on the car works. You will have a blast. I have with 3 different C4 in NCRS. Cheers.
It should do well in NCRS Flight Judging. I have no idea how familiar you are with NCRS judging, but what makes NCRS unique is that the car is judged against a Standard, not against other cars. You start the day with 4,500 points, and when deviations to the standard are found, deductions are taken. The net score is divided by 45, and the result is a percentage, which if 94.0 or above is a Top Flight. You can find more at ncrs.org.
Original "finish" on both the body paint and other components is important, although most C4 judges aren't very picky about this. Just don't polish any suspension or aluminum under the hood. It's not a cleanliness contest, the Standard is "Does it appear as it did when it left Bowling Green, having gone through then-current dealership pre-delivery preparation, exclusive of any dealer or owner inspired modifications, deletions, or additions?"
Tires in the OEM size are an 18 point deduction. No biggie. Very few C4 in NCRS (other than no-mile ZR-1 and GS) are presented with their born-with tires.
The exhaust system is 50 points possible. If the modifications are only from the OEm Catalytic Converter back, it will be 20 points for the mufflers and pipes. In C2, the Operations judges take deductions for the "sound" of a non-typical exhaust. I've never heard of this (or done it myself) in C4, but it is possible and allowable, under the guidlines.
As far as the extra equipment modifications go, you should, (if the judges know what they're doing, many don't) receive very modest (1 or 2 points) deductions for holes drilled to mount the equipment. The presence of the equipment is ignored, only the "damage" to the car from the installation is considered.
Be sure everything works. There are 37 line items in Operations, 20 points per line. Most lines have multiple items, like "Headlights high/low beam" so 5 points if only one doesn't work. The 20-pointers in Ops are windshield washers, power antenna, cig lighter. Back up lights have 4 bulbs, so 5 points per bulb if one is out, but if the switch is bad (really common on the ZF) you loose all 20 because none of them come on. Operations can add up quickly, but a perfect score in Ops is pretty common for a well prepared car presented by a knowledgeable owner.
If you don't have the Judging Reference Manual and the Technical Judging Reference Manual and Guide for your year, I encourage you to obtain these from the NCRS Store (online) and read-up. The first has the "rules" and guidelines regarding the process. The second is specific to the year model of Corvette. The 87-89 JRM is still in its first edition, it has not been revised for 20 years. There are lots of errors and omissions in it, but it is what the judges use if they use the book. Most don't.
The above pertains to the C4 Division, which I have participated in for 20 years. Things have changed. NCRS participation took a huge hit during Covid, hasn't recovered, and I don't think it is going to. 20 years ago there were 10-15 C4 at every Regional and National event (7 per year.) Now there are perhaps 15 C4 a year. 1, 2, maybe 3 cars per event. The judges no longert see enough cars to be proficient or remember what they are supposed to be looking for or seeing. They don't take deductions where they should. C4s in NCRS are not restored cars. They are usually well-preserved examples that have survived time under caring ownership and are mostly "original" but have "condition" issues. These cars are 40-ish years old, they do not appear as-new any longer. The current group of C4 judges don't seem to get this. Every piece of aluminum under the hood and chassis was on the car when built and can be corroded from 40 years of exposure, but there won't be any deductions for condition. There should be. There are very, very, very few 84-89 any longer. since 2020, I only recall 1, a 1988 Z01 a couple of years ago.
That's enough. Enter it in flight. Read the books and prepare yourself and make sure everything on the car works. You will have a blast. I have with 3 different C4 in NCRS. Cheers.
thank you for the amazing guidance. I will be entering this at the NCRS Dallas Regional show this year. As I go through this car and clean it, it is amazing the stuff I find. An old Sam club membership, half cut credit cards, money.
The Radiohead did not work so I sent that out with the rear speakers to be rebuilt. I did order a copy of the Manual and the parts manual.
I will be entering this at the NCRS Dallas Regional show this year.
The Texas Regional is the best regional of the year. Well established and run by an experienced team of Texas Chapter members. The Texas Regional has been my favorite for many years. Because of work commitments I haven't been to any events so far this year, but have been planning on attending Texas in October, which I almost always attend. I'll likely be judging Interior or Operations, possibly Chassis. See you there.
NCRS Judging
