<VV> Concours- off the mark

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

>I don't understand this rant about "improved" stock. 
>

You aren't alone Paul!     I thought the Corvair was all about 
improvement, and here, on one hand, we have some guys trying to improve 
participation in CORSA events, perhaps in an attempt to improve 
membership and the bottom line, and on the other hand, we have a 
minority of folks complaining about it.

Now I do appreciate those folks who choose to research and then display 
their cars as Pure Stock, but then I also like to see what the Racer 
boys can do to go better, faster, & harder, but like many of us, 
probably the majority, I am somewhere in the middle, so does that mean 
that most of us are "unimportant"?

I do think those that are complaining about the semantics of calling 
something "improved" are way off the mark -- however, while their 
complaints about the lack of interest in pure stock are perfectly valid 
and topical, isn't "improved" the way of the Corvair, starting with the 
first production year, 1960, when late in the year the factory 
introduced the sporty new Monza as an improved Corvair, (and even 
earlier, when they improved the horn function and removed the front 
grille slots -- and how about moving the oil pressure sender?) and then 
the Spyder with improved performance, and then the 1964 with improved 
handling, and then the generally improved Late models?  The only years 
that didn't see improvements direct from the factory are maybe 1967 and 
1969.  Unfortunately I don't see where the vociferous complaining is 
going to improve the interest in Pure Stock or the Stock Corvair Group 
-- to me, it sounds more like an attempt to polarize  Corvair interest 
rather than expand it, so I can't really say I understand ...

Not to mention the aftermarket crowd, starting with the fake grilles for 
the 1960 model, all in an effort to 'improve' it.  Otto Parts initially 
offered improved cooling via the 409 pump gears and neat fancy aluminum 
castings.  And the vendors are still offering new and improved ideas to 
help with fan belt troubles & loose flywheels.

Corvairs grew up with being improved, and I am all for anything that 
improves participation in the convention events -- I don't see that this 
takes anything away from those who have the opportunity and choose to 
stay Pure Stock, but let's be very realistic here -- how many of those 
Pure Stock cars also fit into the perfectly over-restored category? How 
many cars left the factory "perfect"? 

Very few cars have received the care necessary to preserve an original 
factory paint job in 100 point condition. Heck, look at how many factory 
paint jobs had runs and didn't even get the early car "eyebrows" painted 
-- certainly that would be a concours deduction out on the lawn, even if 
it was factory original.  My opinion would be that any repaint is an 
improvement, but then I am not the concours chair, nor do I want to be.  
Maybe these cars are shown in the Stock Over-Restored class -- I don't 
know, I just think the name should give a person an idea of what they 
are, ala "stock" & "improved" & "modified".  And maybe "original" and 
"survivor".

signed, Bill Strickland, one of the unimportant guys who is still paying 
his dues -- make me unimportant enough, and maybe I won't be, which 
would probably please some folks just fine, but wouldn't do CORSA any 
long term good.  It will take more than two members to make CORSA an 
organization, so maybe putting a little effort into building consensus 
instead of all this public fault finding would be to the long term good 
of the Corvair  (or is every one expecting to be dead by then?).

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