Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

[Russ U.]

Jim and Diane Lockwood and I invited ourselves over to Noland Adam's house today. What a blast. I am always amazed at how much Noland knows about these early cars. Spending a half a day with a Corvette Hall of Famer and the Lockwoods is just about as good as this hobby gets in my opinion.

We chatted about the upcoming NCRS National Convention. I gather that Noland and John Hinckley pay regular admission fees to attend NCRS events just like the rest of us mere mortals. Something seems wrong about that. Having people like Noland and John attend events make the events much more special. We should reward those who have given so much to the hobby with free attendance.

What do you think??

We had an all C1 day at Noland's. I drove 280 miles roundtrip in 53 #276. Jim Lockwood drove his unrestored 54 #3300, while Diane Lockwood drove her restored 59. Noland refused to say whether he thought my 53 or Jim's 54 was the ugliest car in the group.

Russ

[Terry M.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

I am glad you enjoyed yourself at Noland's. Next time you see him tell him I said: "Hi." It has been a while since I have seen him.

My vote is that the Hall of Famers should pay their way at NCRS events like the mere mortals that we ALL are. I go to most NCRS events to work (if one can call it that). I go to judge or to put on the Advanced Judging Seminars. I pay my own way just the same as everyone else who attends the event. That is the way it has been in NCRS since before Noland joined, and the way it ought to be in my not so humble opinion.

Thanks for the thought, though.

[Rick G.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

Hi Russ,

Thank you for the great photo's. Noland, Jim, Diane and yourself are some of the nicest people in our hobby. No one has done more to promote the restoration and preservation of corvettes than Noland. It is great to see you all driving your cars. Just a bit of information on Diane's 59, she restored her car over 20 years ago. As you know, Diane and Jim also both vintage race Gran Sport replica's. There are few driver's who can match their driving skills. Quality people and beautiful cars, it just doesn't get much better.

I personally would support honoring Hall of Famer's and NCRS Members of the Year with free admission to NCRS events.

[Terry B.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

I have always been told that everyone pays to attend Chapter, Regional and National events, everyone! If you start letting a certain group in free, where do you draw the line? The rule of only NCRS HOF would blur and before you know it, a large number would feel they were also entitled to the same discount. I appreciate what these people have done for the hobby but I think the NCRS administration has it correct now. JMO

[Joe C.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike M.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

i favor keeping the admissions policy as its been since 1974. mike

[Tom H.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

I would think MOST of the HOF guys would expect to pay to get in. They support the hobby and have for years. They know it takes $$ to keep events running.

Many of the HOF guys are regular guys like us who get dirt under their nails, and wouldn't hesitate to help anybody anytime. They would probably not even like the idea of free admission.

I don't think I'll ever make the hall of fame, but I will always gladly pay to participate in an event. Money well spent !

[Terry M.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

We chatted about the upcoming NCRS National Convention. I gather that Noland and John Hinckley pay regular admission fees to attend NCRS events just like the rest of us mere mortals. Something seems wrong about that. Having people like Noland and John attend events make the events much more special. We should reward those who have given so much to the hobby with free attendance.

What do you think??

Russ,
I posted way too late last night, and failed to point out:
The award is The Corvette Hall of Fame and NOT the NCRS Hall of Fame. In fact it is The Corvette Museum Board of Directors who vote on admission to the Hall of Fame. While many, perhaps even most, of the Hall of Fame members are NCRS members, others are not. Why should NCRS underwrite costs over which they have no control?

[James G.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

i favor keeping the admissions policy as its been since 1974. mike

I agree with the policy, but believe NCRS has priced themselves 'out' of the market. This years National Convention is an excellent example.
$125 registration fee to just attend and walk around is pretty stiff. Now add $30 late fee after June 1 and we are up to $155. Hotel rooms this year are over $200 per night.

I live 440 miles away in Southern California, so three tanks of gas ($135 at $3.00 per gallon thank you Arnold), two nights lodging($440 with taxes), registration fee($155), 4 days food (2 travel, 2 at event) $260 and all of a sudden I have spent $990 and I don't even own a Corvette any more due to my MS Handicap. And the Board of Directors wonder why the Tahoe Regional had higher attendance.

There needs to be a SENIOR VISTOR fee established, where old geezers like me, Noland, Mike McCagh, Lundberg, John Hinkley, John Amgwert and others like us who have long paid our dues can at least stop by , say helllo, look at cars and visit with old friends. Then we can go hide at the Ramada or Motel 6 down the street, where all the other fixed income retirees are sitting on the porch.

[Michael W.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

James,

Any NCRS member can visit the site for one day as a 'regular citizen' to see the cars and visit with old friends but cannot attend the seminars.

Irrespective of whether you are registered or not, you are free to stay in whatever hotel you like and choose any mode of transport to and from the host site.

[James G.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

James,

Any NCRS member can visit the site for one day as a 'regular citizen' to see the cars and visit with old friends but cannot attend the seminars.

Irrespective of whether you are registered or not, you are free to stay in whatever hotel you like and choose any mode of transport to and from the host site.

I will 'test' your statement this July.

Last time I showed up this way in 2002 in Monterey I was very involved with the Historic Races at Laguna Seca. On Tuesday I and some race friends (Joe Freitas, Dick Guldstrand, Paul Reinhart) drove over to the Doubletree to see the cars. The race heros walked right in, but because I was a 'MEMBER' I had to pay entry fee. I am not bitchin, just stating some facts that are not consistant nationwide.

NCRS used to be friendly, today it is like a big 'rich' corporation with an attitude.

[Bob D.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

I will 'test' your statement this July.

Last time I showed up this way in 2002 in Monterey I was very involved with the Historic Races at Laguna Seca. On Tuesday I and some race friends (Joe Freitas, Dick Guldstrand, Paul Reinhart) drove over to the Doubletree to see the cars. The race heros walked right in, but because I was a 'MEMBER' I had to pay entry fee. I am not bitchin, just stating some facts that are not consistant nationwide.

NCRS used to be friendly, today it is like a big 'rich' corporation with an attitude.

James

Having hosted 2 nationals down here in Texas, I can tell you that anyone can come in to view the cars. There is a standard $5 or $10 fee to get in if you are not registered. That fee is normally charged to anyone from members who did not register for the event to the general public. Not sure why the race heros got in for free. It takes a lot of money to stage a National or Regional event and most of them lose money or barely break event. I haven't been around as long as some folks, but every National and Regional I have attended or been part of has charged a daily admission fee for those not registered.

Bob

[Russ U.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

Thanks for all the replies. A very good discussion, with contrasting viewpoints.

I believe in the pay to play system. So I generally think everybody should pay their own freight. In addition, just about everybody who attends an NCRS regional or national event has put many long hours into this hobby. So why should the NCRS give a special fee break to a select group of individuals - like Corvette Hall of Famers? Here are my thoughts:

I suspect the NCRS has granted special fee breaks in the past to luminaries. Did Zora pay the admissions fee? Did the other GM guys? If Zora and others attended without paying a fee, as a policy matter we already have a system that permits "people of merit" to attend the events for free. The real issue becomes - where do you draw the line between who pays and who gets in free?

Let's say that NCRS has allowed just GM guys and retired GM guys so far to attend events for free. What about John Hinckley? John wears many hats, including time spent working and supervising the production of cars. If we have a policy that permits certain GM guys or retired GM guys to attend for free, I have a hard time charging John.

I suspect the real rationale for giving freebies to Zora and the other GM guys was this - we really wanted these guys to attend the events. I think the same rationale applies to John Hinckley and Noland Adams. We should want and encourage guys like John and Noland to attend. Maybe some of the more seasoned NCRS members have had sufficient face time with John and Noland, so that seeing John and Noland at an event is no big deal. But this hobby is transitioning to a younger generation. A generation that never met Zora. But we can still meet Hall of Famers like John and Noland. To me, it is a pretty big deal if John and Noland show up at an event, for example.

I think we should do everything we can to encourage the hobby's elder statesmen to attend our events. Drawing a line is hard. But the Corvette Hall of Fame line is an easy line to draw. Very few people qualify. And it is a fitting way to honor these people for all they have done for the hobby.

Russ

[Russ U.]

Re: Should Corvette Hall of Famers Attend NCRS Events for Free?

James

Having hosted 2 nationals down here in Texas, I can tell you that anyone can come in to view the cars. There is a standard $5 or $10 fee to get in if you are not registered. That fee is normally charged to anyone from members who did not register for the event to the general public. Not sure why the race heros got in for free. It takes a lot of money to stage a National or Regional event and most of them lose money or barely break event. I haven't been around as long as some folks, but every National and Regional I have attended or been part of has charged a daily admission fee for those not registered.

Bob

I suspect that each chapter does it differently, and it is a very informal process. I attended a West Region for free on a walk-in basis a few years ago, and had a blast. That really sold me on the NCRS.

But the San Jose National Meet registration forms contain no mention of a free pass or discounted pass. I looked pretty carefully at the form - I was not sure how much time I was going to have for the San Jose Convention. I might have missed something on the form. But after looking at the registration materials I concluded that paying the $125 registration fee was the only option. That was an easy decision for me. But somebody on the fence about attending could quite easily make a no-go decision based on the apparent $125 price tag, plus all the other extras.

Russ

[Terry M.]