[SCG] Annual Stock Corvair Event - needs to become a real event

[lynndee at cwo.com]

I would support Bill's proposal to have a new Annual Stock Corvair Event.
I realize that this is a small number of Corvair owners, but there has
long been a need for this unique recognition. The Stock Corvair Group has
laid the groundwork for this important preservation and recognition of
Corvair
history.

Dave Palmer
CORSA Western Director




> Ten years ago we founded the Stock Corvair Group (SCG) as a Special
> Interest Group chapter of CORSA.  We had grand plans at that time to add a
> special event to the CORSA annual convention to address the ongoing lack
> of recognition for stock vehicles.  Our Mission statement, our goals, and
> our detailed plans were all written and approved as part of our Chapter
> application and approval, and have been publicly displayed on our website
> ever since - http://stock.corvair.org.
>
> Unfortunately, we have never managed to fully realize our goal to have a
> formal event to showcase, evaluate, and recognize original and restored
> Stock cars and their owners.  Early on we had to fight to just to get on
> the convention schedule, and then we were relegated to parking lot
> meetings and half-hearted inspections.  The first year we had to do our
> inspections in a dark garage, out of the public eye, and in subsequent
> years it never got much better.  Eventually many of us got discouraged and
> lost interest.
>
> This year we were once again relegated to a parking garage, and due to
> poor communication, most of us did not even know where we were meeting
> until an hour after we were supposed to start.
>
> In the meantime, we have once again missed an excellent opportunity to
> showcase and recognize a wonderful original Corvair.  The white '63
> Lambrecht Corvair, purchased by Pete Borchert, made an appearance at our
> convention.  I first learned of it after it went through Concours
> Classification.  I was upset to learn it had been classified "Modified"
> due to non-stock Tires, shocks, and a few other consumable items.  I have
> to concede that Concours was simply following their rules, whether I agree
> with them or not.
>
> The more significant lesson we should take away from this experience,
> however, is that CORSA does not presently have a proper venue for
> showcasing a car such as this at our international convention.  Concours
> is not the proper venue, as it is primarily a beauty contest, with reward
> for achievement in the elusive goal of perfection of fit and finish.  The
> goal of preserving originality, however, emphasizes the maintenance of fit
> and finish as produced by the factory.  Where Concours emphasizes shine
> and perfection, stock judging emphasizes the imperfections of paint
> overspray, factory dings, etc.
>
> Not to take anything away from Concours, but CORSA should also have an
> event to promote and recognize achievement in preserving originality, or
> in researching and duplicating it where preservation is not possible.
>
> That event should be the Annual Stock Corvair Event (ASCE) as originally
> conceived and detailed in our Chapter Application or something of a
> similar nature.
>
> To make this event a reality, the ASCE must be elevated in importance from
> a chapter-sponsored event to a regular Convention event, promoted and
> sanctioned by CORSA as an integral part of the convention schedule.
>
> I propose that the event be held concurrent with the Car Display (People's
> Choice) event, held on the same field but in a separate, designated area,
> open to viewing by the public. We would follow the plan already outlined
> in the SCG Policy for the ASCE, which includes awarding certificates of
> participation.
>
> I should note that other car clubs already have in place similar events,
> including:
>
> AACA's HPOF (Historic Preservation of Original Features) class:
> http://aacanorthernchapter.com/?p=51
>
> Corvette USA's "Bloomington Gold" program:
> http://www.bloomingtongold.com/index.php/classic-events/judging/survivor-corvette
>
>
> Also, many prestigious Car shows have added survivor or preservation
> classes, including Pebble Beach, and Amelia Island:
>
> http://classiccars.about.com/od/whatmakesitaclassic/fl/Survivor-and-Preservation-Class-Cars.htm
>
> To pull this off, I would ask CORSA to support and promote the event in
> official convention planning and publications, and to begin recruiting
> members to commit to running the event for each convention.  The SCG will
> assist this process to the best of our ability.  However, this should
> become a CORSA event, not simply an SCG event.
>
> This event is not meant to compete in any way with Concours and nothing
> should preclude cars from participating in both events, should their
> owners so choose.
>
> However, to ease the burden of adding a new event to the already busy
> CORSA schedule, I propose initially limiting registration for the ASCE to
> the first 10 cars the first year, gradually increasing the number as we
> gain experience and confidence in the procedure.
>
> Please note that I have reviewed the above proposal with all current SCG
> officers and presented it this week to the members attending our annual
> SCG meeting held last night.  We are all in agreement that this is
> something that should happen and would be beneficial to CORSA.
>
> Now, we need your help.  I ask the CORSA BOD to take this to the next step
> - discuss it amongst yourselves, make and pass a motion to make it a
> reality.  I and the others included on this mailing are available to
> assist and answer questions to the best of our ability.
>
> Bill Hubbell
> President, Stock Corvair Group.
>
> Link to ASCE policy:
>
> http://stock.corvair.org/wordpress/about-scg/policies-2/policy-for-annual-stock-corvair-event-asce/
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