NCRS Judging Awards

Flight Awards

Just about every corvette enthusiast has heard about a Top Flight Award but only a few really know what it means. It is an award that recognizes that a car appears they way it did when it left the factory. It is both for restored and unrestored cars. To earn a Top Flight a car must receive 94% of the 4500 total points. Bonus points can be earned by driving the car to the meet and by having items such as a fire extinguisher, battery cut-off switch and a NCRS window sticker. Anyone owning a corvette in the model years 1953 thru 2004 should consider having their car judges regardless of condition. Consider having it judged just for the fun, experience and education without expectations of an award. After the process you will know more about your car than you probably ever thought possible. If you are planning a restoration it is a great way to have a road map of things that are right and worth saving.

Mark of Excellence Awards

These are Flight awards on steroids. It takes serious commitment for someone to earn one of these awards. Anyone who does is deservedly proud. Currently there are three mark of Excellence awards for different year models – Duntov 1953-1974; McLellan 1975-1992; Hill 1993-1996. The requirements for all are essentially the same. An owner must attain a judging score of at least 97% out of 100 % based on an original "as manufactured" standard at a National or Regional NCRS event; as well as present the car for a rigorous performance test of all vehicle mechanical components and functions, all of which must operate as those of a new car, without a single failure. Finally, the car must
again score at least 97%, at a National NCRS Convention, to receive the Mark of Excellence Award.

Performance Verification

This award is usually achieved only by those as part of a Mark of Excellence Award requirement. I am sure there are some really weird folks that may attempt it just for fun just as I am sure there is someone that looks forward to a colonoscopy. To achieve this award, an owner must attain a NCRS Flight award® based on an original "as manufactured" standard at a NCRS event; as well as present the car for a rigorous performance test of all vehicle mechanical components and functions, all of which must operate as those of a new car, without a single failure. WARNING – PVs have been known to cause ulcers.

Founders Award

Not all awards at the NCRS are about restoration. The Founders Award encourages and recognizes the value and enjoyment of member participation in NCRS activities and demonstrates the NCRS commitment to equally recognize the significance of the "Driven Corvette" among our membership, regardless of Flight status achieved and applies to 1953 - 1989 Corvettes. To achieve this coveted award, an owner must first be a member of any NCRS Chapter. Achieve any NCRS Flight award at a Chapter judging event, driven both ways. Achieve a 96% score on an operations check at a regional driven both ways. Achieve a level 1 or higher rating in the NCRS Judging or Tabulation recognition program. Submit an article for the "Corvette Restorer" magazine. Participate in the NCRS National Road Tour, a minimum of 500 miles. Display the car and recheck the operations at the National Convention scoring at least 96%. It must all be accomplished within a three year period. Only 246 individuals have received the Founders award. One member has done it two years in a row. Those founding fathers present at our National Convention personally present the special plaque.

Folz Award

The Sam Folz Memorial award recognizes individuals for the restoration, preservation and driving enjoyment of
1953 -1989 Corvettes. To achieve this award, an owner must drive their Corvette the greatest distance to attend the National
Convention and attain a Top Flight which requires a judging score of at least 94%, including mileage points, based on our
original "as manufactured" standard. Should similar mileage results occur, multiple awards are given.

Bowtie Award

The Bowtie award recognizes the unrestored Corvette and encourages the owner to retain and display the car
in its present condition for the enjoyment and continuing educational benefit of our membership.

Sportsman Award

This is an award to recognize nothing but the pure enjoyment of driving any corvette, regardless of
model or modifications. Points are earned when the participant drives a corvette to a judging meet and displays the car.

Concours judging

The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) has begun a new program of Concours Judging. The NCRS, famous for its meticulous flight judging process has expanded its judging offerings to include an entirely new category of Corvettes. This new category is called Concours judging and is offered for both Stock appearing and Modified Corvettes. It is open to Corvettes built from 1953 to 1996.

What is involved in Concours judging and how does it work? Concours judging is similar to flight judging in that there are 5 teams of judges who evaluate the car in Operations, Interior, Exterior, Chassis and Mechanical. Unlike Flight judging, however, the teams are not concerned with originality. They are concerned with the function of the systems—in the case of Operations—and the appearance and completeness in all the other categories.

What constitutes a Stock or Modified Corvette for Concours judging purposes? A Stock Corvette is one with the doors, hood and trunk (ISE) closed, and excluding wheels & tires but including paint color or scheme, the car basically appears like a production Corvette. From outward appearance the car body appears to be stock or as it came from the factory. It can have show quality chrome and paint, a different motor than was originally in the car and different suspension. The key in this class is whether the car looks like it might be stock. Modified Corvettes includes all other Corvettes. These can have flared fenders, custom paint such as flames pin stripes or other custom touches. This modified class opens the field for a wide variety of Corvettes that were not previously considered candidates for Flight judging. Concours judging is an exciting new concept within the NCRS and is an exciting new way to open the field for a new generation of Corvette fanatics.

Charlie Cadenhead Presidential Award

This award was created in 2010 by the Texas Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society in honor and memory of Charlie Cadenhead, to promote and recognize the Chapter members who demonstrate his same passion and enjoyment of Corvettes. It is only awarded on a chapter level. More information can be found here.

For additional NCRS awards you can visit the National Corvette Restorers Society website.