2025 Show Me Regional Springfield Expo Center Springfield, MO July 17-19, 2025

NCRS Kansas City
NCRS Kansas City
  • Upcoming
  • Show Me Regional
  • All GM & Corvette Show
  • Director's Corner
  • Newsletters 2025
  • Newsletters Archive
  • Chapter Meeting Minutes
  • Chapter Judging Events
  • Our Pics
  • Vids/Media
  • Greater NCRS
  • Judging
  • Me Judge?
  • Join/Contact
  • More
    • Upcoming
    • Show Me Regional
    • All GM & Corvette Show
    • Director's Corner
    • Newsletters 2025
    • Newsletters Archive
    • Chapter Meeting Minutes
    • Chapter Judging Events
    • Our Pics
    • Vids/Media
    • Greater NCRS
    • Judging
    • Me Judge?
    • Join/Contact
  • Upcoming
  • Show Me Regional
  • All GM & Corvette Show
  • Director's Corner
  • Newsletters 2025
  • Newsletters Archive
  • Chapter Meeting Minutes
  • Chapter Judging Events
  • Our Pics
  • Vids/Media
  • Greater NCRS
  • Judging
  • Me Judge?
  • Join/Contact

NCRS Judging Programs: Flight

Flight Judging-Explained Perfectly!

Photo Gallery

    Flight Judging: A 1969 Corvette

    Chassis

    Mechanical

    Mechanical

    Hundreds of items within the chassis including cooling systems, horn and behind the grill, oil pan area and on and on all the way to the spare tire & lock and wrapping up at the rear bumpers  

    Mechanical

    Mechanical

    Mechanical

    Hundreds of items within the engine area include engine numbers and casting, stamp pad, heads, air cleaner, intake, carb, distributor exhaust manifolds and much much more...  

    Interior

    Mechanical

    Interior

    Hundreds of items exist in the interior including upholstery and belts, carpets, door panels, dash area, steering area, instruments, radio, console, transmission and we are just getting started...    

    Exterior

    Interior

    Exterior includes thousands of square inches of the car and include paint color, flake, definition of image, gaps, glass, mirrors and much more...

    Operations

    Operations

    Operations is a significant Score component to the Judging Process. During Operations, elements of the functionality of the car are verified operational. Judges check many, many items including "Cold" Starting and verifying choke functionality, high and low beam headlights, wipers, turn signals, parking lights, interior lights, brake lights, radio, heater and AC, cigarette lighter, vents, plus much much more!  Stuff needs to be working at purchase, right?  

    Total...

    Operations

    For this 1969 Corvette, Available Points:

    Chassis=574 Points

    Mechanical=1351 Points

    Interior 750 Points

    Exterior 1075 Points

    Operations 760 Points

    Achievable Total=4510 Points (100%)

    Top Flight 94%-100% 

    Second Flight 85%-93.9% 

    Third Flight 75%-84.9%

    JUDGING SHEETS

    What's the C.D.C.I.F. of Originality?

    Originality via CDCIF!

    Originality via CDCIF!

    Originality via CDCIF!

    Originality points of a judged part is determined based on how an authentic "Original" is described using the 5 categories of Originality, abbreviated as C.D.C.I.F.. Let's apply it to this 12 point 1969 Master Cylinder. 12 Total Points / these 5 Categories = 2.4 points per CDCIF. 

    C: Configuration

    Originality via CDCIF!

    Originality via CDCIF!

    A GM factory Master Cylinder for this Corvette would have this exact shape, size, decal, part number & date code (on the bottom of the unit seen with a mirror and flashlight). Bleeder and bails are typical of a factory unit also. All of  Configuration's 2.4 points are realized. 

    D: Date

    Originality via CDCIF!

    C: Completeness

    The date code on the bottom of the unit can be 6 months prior to the manufacturing date of the actual vehicle. The vehicle was made in April of 1969 and the date code on the car is December of 1968 so within the acceptable date range. No portion of Date's 2.4 points are lost.

    C: Completeness

    C: Completeness

    C: Completeness

    Every single component including bails, bleeder, nut, attached hardware, decal etc typical of a factory Master Cylinder is present so no portion of 2.4 points is deducted for Completeness.   

    I: Installation

    C: Completeness

    I: Installation

    The Master Cylinder is installed appropriately. Bails are clicked typically. Teflon tape or cross threading is not observed. Label on as typically installed. None of the 2.4 points deducted. 

    F: Finish

    C: Completeness

    I: Installation

    This black finish is typical. Finish should not be powder coated, high gloss or flat black. The bail and hardware finishs are typical, realizing all 2.4 points realized. (The Cap is judged on its own).

    Flight Judging Originality vs Concours Judging

    Flight Judging

    This Judging program offers your Corvette points in two categories, ORIGINALITY & CONDITION weighted slightly toward originality. Actual % weighting is determined by your Corvette year. Honors include "Top Flight" and runners up "Second Flight" and "Third Flight".

    Originality

    53% (varies)

    You car has oodles of parts big and small such as the body and frame down to the gas cap and brake lines. Use C,D,C,I,F to judge originality 

    Condition

    47% (varies)

    What condition is the item? Is it perfect, or not quite perfect? What % is it off of a brand new 100% perfect condition part?

    Standard Deductions

    Not an Originality or Condition issue

    However, not all items on a Corvette are judged on Originality and Condition. These few items, such as batteries and tires are always judged on a standardized % deduction basis. Repeat: When Standard Deduction applies to an item, the items are not judged on Originality and Condition.  


    Concourse Judging: Stock or Modified?

    "Concours" judging recognizes Corvettes that differ from their original factory builds under two categories: Concours "Stock" Corvettes manifest personal choices but these characteristics are not very obvious from 20' away (other than wheels). However, Concours "Modified" Corvettes differ from factory right off the bat from 20' away such as paint & body extremes. ONLY CONDITION IS JUDGED ON BOTH CONCOURS CATEGORIES, NO CDCIF ORIGINALITY TYPICAL OF FLIGHT JUDGING APPLIES!

    Concours "Stock" Judging

    Top Award: The 427 Blue Ribbon

    Do you have a beautiful car with an LS Motor, aftermarket AC, NOS or hybrid motor but otherwise it looks just like a factory car (with hood and doors closed)? Sounds like a great Concours "Stock" candidate!  ONLY CONDITION IS JUDGED IN CONCOURS STOCK.

    Concours "Modified" Judging

    Top Award: The 427 Black Ribbon

    Do you have a wonderful condition extreme Corvette such as a Restomod or a Corvette with an extreme paint or body dynamic? Sounds like a great Concours "Modifed" candidate!  ONLY CONDITION IS JUDGED IN CONCOURS MODIFIED.

    NCRS Welcomes CONCOURS Judging!

    NCRS Judging: Flight vs Concours

     "Flight Judging" OR "Concours Judging" 

    Flight Judging: ORIGINALITY & CONDITION

    Concourse Judging: CONDITION (non-OEM is great!)

      
    Finally, after a long, diligent and painstaking process, the NCRS now has added a totally new Judging category. We welcome to this whole new world of Judging to the family of our time-test traditional judging standards. This unique judging option the NCRS for member's special Corvette is called the "NCRS CONCOURS" program. This welcomes exquisite, non-factory from slightly creative to Restomod.  "Flight" judging (such as "Top Flight") has been around since the mid 70's but we've recently added "Concours judging" ! FLIGHT JUDGING considers ORIGINALITY & CONDITION...CONCOURS JUDGING considers only CONDITION of your custom Corvette!  

    About Us

    NCRS traditional Flight Judging



     Flight Judging program has been the mainstay of the NCRS for decades and makes the NCRS the world authority on Corvette history, education and Judging from a historical perspective. The NCRS has been refining our understanding how the Corvette left the assembly plant and Flight Judging extends a Corvette judging points for both ORIGINALITY & CONDITION. Honors include "Top Flight" for 94-100%, "Second Flight" for 85-93.9% and "Third Flight" 75-84.9%. The NCRS offers many other awards such as Survivor, etc.    

    NCRS Concours: Stock or Modified

       "Concours" judging recognizes Corvettes that differ from their GM original factory builds under two categories: Concours "Stock" Corvettes manifest personal choices but these characteristics are not visible from 20' away (other than wheels). However, Concours "Modified" Corvettes appear very different from factory right off the bat from 20' away, such as paint & body extremes. Stock or Modified are equally independent NCRS Concours categories and don't compete against the other. Both Stock and Modified highest honors are the "427 Award", Blue and Black ribbons, respectively.  

    Traditional Flight, Concours Stock or Concours Modified

    Flight Judging

    Concours "Modified"

    Concourse "Stock"

     Inside and out, this very original appearing Corvette is what you would seen on a Corvette dealer's showroom floor many, many years ago. Note this car lacks Dealership enhancements such as pinstriping or luggage racks. This car would come from the factory with a jack, spare tire, literature and other factory supplied items that came with the car. The car should also operate and function like new.  

    Concourse "Stock"

    Concours "Modified"

    Concourse "Stock"

     This 1963 Corvette appears to be right out of the factory, without body or paint deviations. While newer wheels, from 20' it appears  100% original. Until we open the hood and doors, but wait, we cannot open the doors and hood yet. First, we need to determine from 20' if it appears to be a stock Corvette and yes indeed. However, engine and interior are exceptionally wild. So it would be NCRS Concourse "Stock"   

    Concours "Modified"

    Concours "Modified"

    Flight: THE Standard (originality speaking)

    This beautiful and near perfect condition Corvette has the hood scoop of a 67 but a Fuel Injection decal? (Fuel Injection stopped from 66-82). The scoop has 383 rather than 427. The car has heavy flake Lexus paint & colors never applied to a C2 from the factory. From 20' away this beautiful Corvette boasts several obvious modifications dissimilar from original, thus would be judged NCRS Concours "Modified". 

    Flight: THE Standard (originality speaking)

    Flight: THE Standard (originality speaking)

    Flight: THE Standard (originality speaking)

     All Corvettes are awesome but admittedly, no Corvette is perfect. The historic "gold standard" ideal Corvette is a flawless, unmodified original. A time capsule. The challenge though is finding 60 year old rubber that isn't cracked, paint that hasn't aged, interior that hasn't faded or parts that haven't visibly aged. Admittedly, "original appearing restored" looks better than an actual 60 to 70 year old original parts! Thus, the NCRS has developed educational tools to aid owners & judges approach "Originality" in restoration or when judging. NCRS Flight judged Corvettes are judged to a defined, understood standard.  

    Stock: Opening up the Hood & Doors!

    Flight: THE Standard (originality speaking)

    Stock: Opening up the Hood & Doors!

    Hidden from the casual observer the car looks factory from the outside. But under the hood we see the modern dual power brakes, an oversized aluminum radiator with electric fans, R134 Air Conditioner, inside the car we see a audio system that that boasts bluetooth and  amps, a subwoofer and speakers (visable and hidden). The shifting console plate curiously shows a 5 speed transmission (Tremec) but a C2 shifter. This car will cruise at 80 MPH at 2000 RPM's or air conditioning will blow cold stopped in traffic. The sure didn't make these cars this comfortable back in the day.   

    Modified: Big Change, Big Time!

    Flight: THE Standard (originality speaking)

    Stock: Opening up the Hood & Doors!

    Some items seen in NCRS "Modified" 

    High Dollar Frames

    Powerful LS Motors

    High Performance Modern Brakes

    Extreme Paintwork

    Heavily Modified Suspension

    Wheels & Tires unable to fit OEM Corvettes

    Rare & Expensive leathers & interiors

    Cabin Filling Audio/Video

    Advanced Security Systems

    Electric/Hydraulic hoods, doors, latches

    Custom/Tunable Exhaust

    Is a Hybrid or EV coming soon?

    Concours: How to Judge Condition

    If a factory were to manufacture the Concours Corvette you are Judging, how does your Corvette compare to what you would expect coming of of such a factory? Does the Corvette exhibit a lower, equal or higher degree of appearance to typical factory production?  

    Bowtie Judging

    Great example of how a car can be an excellent teacher!

    Additional NCRS Awards

    Bowtie

    Bowtie

    A Bowtie Corvette will lack the luster of a newly restored car but is the best professor. Corvettes considered for the NCRS Bowtie Award are judged in four areas of the car, each achieving a Star ("4 Star Bowtie"). Evidence of disrupting factory build is a disqualifier. It is very rare a Corvette attains a single Bowtie, let alone 4. A 5th Star may be possible. Condition isn't judged  

    Duntov

    Bowtie

    An NCRS Duntov Corvette is a very rare bird. First, the Duntov award us awarded to someone whose 1953-1974 Corvette achieves at least 97% in Flight Judging at a National Convention and pass Operational Performance Verification (PV) without a single failure. All this must be completed within a 3 year period. Duntov is extremely rare, earned by only 1, 101 Corvettes. 

    More NCRS Awards!

    More NCRS Awards!

    Performance Verification (PV) Award

    McLELLAN Mark of Excellence Award

    DAVE HILL Mark of Excellence Award

    SAM FOLTZ Memorial Award

    FOUNDERS Award

    STAR and CHEVROLET BOWTIE Award

    CHEVROLET CROSSES FLAGS Award

    AMERICAN HERITAGE Award

    SPORTSMAN Award

    Tabulators & Master Tabulator Awards

    Master Judge

    200, 300, 400 Point Club Award

    Red Hat Master Judge


    Your Corvette's Birthday! It only Happens Once.

    Click Here! for Corvette Birthday Calculator
    Your "Library" is your best investment!

    NCRS PUBLICATIONS

    NCRS resources like Judging, Owner, Trim Tag & Restoration Guides & even Apparel!

    Click Here! for NCRS Judging & Owners Publications
    Clicking below will take you out of the NCRSKC website

    NCRS JUDGING SHEETS

    CLICK BELOW TO GO TO THE NCRS HEADQUARTERS MAIN WEBSITE TO OPEN, DOWNLOAD OR PRINT JUDGING SHEETS FOR ALL JUDGED CORVETTES 

    Click Here! for NCRS Judging Sheets

    Copyright © 2025 ncrskc - All Rights Reserved.


    Powered by

    Welcome!

    Check out upcoming events for 2025

    Learn more