[SCG] Factory Stock Corvair Entries and Stock Preservation Awardhistory in CORSA Concours 1997-2009

[airvair at earthlink.net]

All,

My first point that I'd like to make it this. I've been concerned for some
time about this situation, and of a larger associated issue of
classification. Part of the reason, I believe, for a low turnout in stock
cars in concours is the fact that classes have been made rather
meaningless, with the now-current awards system of "gold/silver/bronze"
rather than "first/second/third" as was the original system. There is now
little incentive to pursue a "stock" classification, other than for the
somewhat obscure "Preservation" award. I say "obscure" because there is not
enough prestige attached to this award to highlight it sufficiently.

As I see it, our choices are to either return to the original awards
system, or modify the "classification" process to reflect the current
system. Since the majority seem to prefer the current system, the latter
should be pursued. It's also possible that eliminating most classes would
re-emphasize the remaining "stock" classes. 

I have previously sent to Duanne Luckow a detailed proposal to eliminate
all classes except the one(s) that would be affected by the Preservation
Award. After all, classification other than for these elegible classes for
that award is really a study in futility, and a waste of time and effort.
It's a usless effort that we could just as well do without, as long as we
have the present awards system. We could then begin a program to emphasize
stock cars.

A second point I would like to make is that while I would be the last to
want modified cars to be allowed into stock classes, I also feel that we
are possibly being a bit too strict with potential stock class cars. The
original rules that I wrote were intended to disqualify cars that didn't
"appear just as they could have left the factory" due to intentional and
noticable modifications, but I never intended for the rules to be so strict
as to all but eliminate the stock classes due to lack of "perfect"
participants. If you note the word "appear" in my quote above - the intent
was to only comply with a cosmetic appearance, rather than a "perfect"
representation of "pure stock". While the latter is a great ideal to shoot
for, the original intent was to allow the points system to penalize
infractions to the "perfect" state on a stock class car that was less than
"perfectly" factory stock.

The question we should be asking ourselves is whether we are being too
critical, and should we "cut some slack" with those who are not "letter
perfect"? I think that we could find some way to preserve our high
standards, yet encourage entrants rather than frustrate them. Perhaps a
points penalization system, rather than an outright disqualification?
Something to think about...

-Mark Corbin


> [Original Message]
> From: Bill Hubbell <whubbell at cox.net>
> To: Larry Claypool <vairshop at sbcglobal.net>; Duanne Luckow
<daluckow at aol.com>; CORSA/CPF BoD <corsabod at corvair.org>; Stock Corvair
Group <scg-list at tiger.skiblack.com>
> Date: 9/3/2009 12:05:53 AM
> Subject: [SCG] Factory Stock Corvair Entries and Stock Preservation
Awardhistory in CORSA Concours 1997-2009
>
> To:
>
> Larry Claypool, CORSA Concours Classification Chairman
>
> Duanne Luckow, CORSA Concours Chair
>
> CORSA Board of Directors
>
> Stock Corvair Group
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Gentleman,
>
>  
>
> Attached is a summary of all cars entered into the two CORSA Concours
> Factory Stock classes since the development of the Stock Preservation
Award
> in 1997.  Although we have had some great success with recent Factory
Stock
> Restored entries also winning the Mitchell Award, the fact remains that
> participation in the Factory Stock Classes remains very low.  Please
review
> this information with an eye towards answering the question of what, if
> anything, we can do to encourage and improve Factory Stock participation
at
> the Concours level.
>
>  
>
> Thank you
>
>  
>
> Bill Hubbell
>
> President, Stock Corvair Group
>
>  
>
>  
>