JEH03Vette

91LSMAN

I usually do a couple shows each summer.

Personally, when it's people's choice, I look for the clean, cared for cars-mods or not-doesn't matter to me. I don't look for the car that still has the temporary tag on it.

Now, that being said. I didn't place in a show until more "stuff" was done to mine. LOL

blackmachdown

Unfortunately the way the NCCC clubs are, the cleaner the car the more points you get, thus a newer stock corvette is easier to win in than an older one.

This is a big reason why I don't do corvette clubs, its all boring, the meetings, and dues, and the 4:30 dinners so you can get home in time for Matlock

terryg

I agree. All shows will be judged differently. Last summer I took my stock and very clean 2000 FRC to a local show where I received nothing but a guy with a 54' Olds convertible with broken windows, rusted steel wheels, a trashed interior, oh; and lots of "patina" took home a trophy? He put zero effort into his car and I spent hours cleaning and detailing mine! If you are going to a show just go to enjoy seeing the cars and talking with car guys; anything else is a bonus.

R1 Rider

I'd hate myself if I bought a Corvette only to PARK it in grass 3 times a year.. Only car I know where the owners pride themselves with not actually driving it .. Blows my mind

TTShab

I have to be honest most if not all people have good points. My 95 was so show quality I was afraid to even enjoy it. Always worried about a nick or chip just driving it to a show. I think I will keep it stock for now and not be as stressed and just enjoy the fact that I have been blessed to own 2 in my past and may be able to purchase one of these cars once again. ��

Black 02

I'd rather see a modified and highly enjoyed example than a "showroom condition" car with 12 year old original tires.

Forcedvert

Ya but in three more years those tires are classics!

Chopnspray

I used to do shows with my all original 66 coupe with 30,000 miles ,one of the last shows I did they grouped all mid years together stock,custom so it's was kinda hard to compete against a 65 with a blower and custom paint. I would rather go for a drive instead of cooking like a lobster anymore .

NVTHIS

I used to go to alot of car shows, but now mainly do local cruise inns. I have seen many stock c5 and c6 cars at the car shows that would win trophies over modified ones. A car that someone has tastefully modded and made it unique and still never place in the top 3. If i wanted to go see a stock car (unless a antique or special edition), I would go to the dealership.

Toque

Beautiful car !

Toque

blackmachdown

I agree!

NVTHIS

Thanks Toque. The same can be said about yours!

MSG C5

Congratulations on your new (to you) C5. Everyone has a different opinion on this topic and everyone who owns a Corvette owns it for their own reason.

Personally, I like to personalize all cars I own. I know there are many Corvette owners who want to keep their cars 100% stock and although I respect that, I would hope they also respect that other people want to personalize, improve, customize, modify, etc. the car they purchased using their money. I don't think any one is "better" than the other one, just a different direction and ownership dynamic.

When I purchased my C5 vert new in the summer of 2014, outside of the Lloyds floor mats and trunk mat, it was pretty much bone stock for close to three years. Once the car was out of warranty, I started to personalize mine, mostly in terms of cosmetics, creature comforts and handling performance, i.e. brakes, wheels, shocks, sway bars, HID/LED lighting exhaust, and CAI. Nothing major in terms of the powertrain, however I did have a tune performed to dial into the new Honker CAI and Corsa exhaust.

For me, I have personalized the car to my liking and enjoy driving it, especially due to the interior improvements I've made; (1) real Vette Essentials leather seat covers/trim and (2) Double Din Mods NAV head unit and custom stereo. Improvements I enjoy every time I get behind the wheel.

When I first started showing my car in 2008 after moving from Chicago to Florida, I noticed that most show participants are divided into two camps; (1) bone stock and (2) customized/modified, with many participants somewhere in between. What I found surprising is how opinionated they are towards each other.

I feel I am somewhat in the middle, however what I can't stand is talking to some opinionated blow hard from either side who thinks "their way" is the "only way". News alert...the 1997-2004 Corvette is not a classic and will not be a classic any time soon. A bone stock C5 may fetch a little more than a modified C5 in resale, however there are other factors including mileage (or lack of mileage), types of modifications, and overall taste in color combinations, etc. that come into play and have a larger impact on the car's value.

It was after a couple of seasons of Corvette shows that I developed my itch to personalize my C5 vert after seeing so many beautiful and tasteful upgrades over the years. I enjoyed talking with the owners, getting their tips and vendor recommendations for my interests and goals. Now, I feel I am in the position to give back to similar owners looking to personalize their C5s.

When I enter shows, I simply list C5 and let the show hosts or coordinators determine if I am in stock or the modified class. I really don't care as I'm there to meet new people and look at the cars. What is amazing to me is how many other bone stock and modified owners flip out over the classifications. I had one stock owner pull a judge over to my car so that she could point out all the "modifications" I had made. After I introduced myself with a friendly hello, she walked off in a huff upset that the judge didn't move my car into a different class.

I've also witnessed one guy who appeared to have spent over $10K in stick-on chrome and stainless steel components throw a literal tantrum (knocking over display boards, prizes, etc.) when he didn't place in the best of class awards.

Point is, even though I can respect anyone who maintains a bone-stock C5 that is only driven to shows, I find the customized and modified cars more interesting. Plus, I have found that more people want to say hello and talk about the car when they notice the custom components. I was parked next to a beautiful bone stock Torch Red C5 coupe and although the owner received many "nice car" comments, I had a crowd around mine asking about the mods I performed.

Again, that doesn't make the car better, perhaps just more interesting.

Good luck with your car, however if you go into the shows with the goal of enjoying yourself and meeting new people/friends and not on the $25 plastic trophy, plaque, or crystal, you will never go home disappointed. The C5 herd has become a lot thinner over the past few years due to the C6 and now C7 upgrades so your odds of winning are good if your C5 is in great shape.

Fast Cop

MSG C5 that's a very nice looking vette.

Toque

Modified... Tastefully done ... Yet not over the top.
Looks like it could have come from GM like that....
To folks that don't know better... most think its stock.

That's how tasteful/clean mods should be done...

Always been a fan of your car !

Toque

Fast Cars & Horses

I grew up in a car show family. My dad showed Model A Fords that I helped detail...we sat on the grass...we went to parades...and any other time, those beautiful cars sat in the garage and nobody could touch them. Never one time did we ever just go out for a ride. When I had my C3, it was a show car and I worried about the miles, the paint, the dust, you name it. I had enough and sold it to a car show guy to buy the C5 I have now. At first, I went to a couple shows and fell into the same mindset, but it didn't take long to decide I'd rather be driving it and enjoying it, screw the miles. I'm having so much fun going places and racking up the miles. I enjoy detailing, so I do keep it buffed and super clean (it's black...lol), but as for staying stock, I'm bored with it and I'm in the process of murdering it out. I'm ready for the sinister look. I figure, you drive a bad car, it might as well look like one. (yikes, my dad is rolling over in his grave for sure).

grantv

Stock = yawn. No, nothing wrong with stock, but unless it's a very rare old collectors car (C1, C2 for example) I don't see why one could win any awards.
Last year I went to a car show and a guy had a '67 Mustang there. Aluminum CNC machined parts right down to hood hinges. Looked amazing. I'd have walked right by a stock same car.

MSG C5

Coming from you Toque, that is definitely a compliment. Funny about the GM reference because the year I upgraded my interior, I had a C5 owner approach me at a show almost crying that he didn't choose my interior option.

TTShab

MSG,

Great response and great looking car!!!!