Chris, no minimum distance has been established for the National Driven Award. This award was developed for those who drive and maintain their collector Buicks, but whose cars might not score highly in 400-point formal judging. These cars would not typically qualify for the Archival award either. The BCA wanted to provide recognition for all the folks who are driving their collector Buicks to the National Meets. The club wants to encourage members to keep the old Buicks on the road. By "minimal judging", the BCA means that cars are not docked because they have radial tires (on model years that were originally equipped with bias ply) or halogen headlights in lieu of the old sealed beam T-3 units. Cars are not docked for incorrect interiors, belts, hose clamps, etc., as long as any modifications are generally consistent with the era in which the car is built. So, for example, a '69 GS 400 would be fine if its interior were re-done in the incorrect grain of vinyl, as long as it is reasonably correct. (But a '69 GS sporting seats from a 2001 Cadillac Eldorado would not qualify!) Mechanically, the car should be correct. A '53 Roadmaster with a Turbo-400 transmission, for example, would not qualify for this award. The Modified Class is better-suited for cars that have been modified in this way. Hope this helps.
Thanks Brian! Sounds like my 69 would probably be better suited for the modified class, with its lowered stance and 17 inch wheels! Everything else is pretty much period correct though, including the 8-track.:grin:
Eric, I've received confirmation from the North Cascade Chapter (host chapter) that the Driven Awards are given on the show field rather than at the banquet. These are, by the way, very cool awards.
For those of you who have an interest, here's a great opportunity for those living in Western Washington or lower British Columbia. The North Cascade Chapter, who is hosting the National Meet, has scheduled a series of judges training meetings. There will be training for judges at the National Meet itself, but the goal is to better equip the local Buick enthusiasts for the judging function at the National Meet. The next session, giving Buick enthusiasts "hands-on" judging experience with four collector Buick "guinea pigs", is schedule for Saturday, March 3 10:00 AM at Dean's Eldridge's very cool Buick and Beechcraft hangar at the Frontier Airpark near Lake Stevens, Washington. Please let me know if you'd like more details.
I received my registration confirmation so I'll be there. I'm entering my 67 GS in the "driven class". I just put on Torque Thrust II's. My insurance company permits these wheels for collector car status because the wheels are "period correct". Am I still okay in the driven class with these wheels? Everything else is stock. I offered to assist with judging. Any idea when I will be notified if my assistance is needed? Thanks Harvey
Harvey, I'm glad to learn that you're coming! I'm confident that you will be needed for judging, and there will be a judges meeting on Friday afternoon, July 27 during the National Meet. You will receive more details when you check in at the meet registration desk, but you may not receive correspondence prior to the meet to confirm your judging assignment. I do not have an answer regarding the Torque Thrust II's. I recommend that you stick with the National Driven Class, since you are permitted some deductions for non-stock items. I believe that it may be possible to move your car to another class if necessary at the time you arrive for the meet. More than 350 hotel rooms have already been reserved for the duration of the meet. I've just received a listing of members and phone numbers from the now-defunct Island Pacific Buick Club from Vancouver Island. We're making a real effort to contact these folks and any other Buick collectors we can identify in British Columbia. Please pass the word!
Hard to say for sure Harvey, read this regarding the 2005 Driven award. http://www.buickclub.org/Driven%20Award/buick_national_driven_award-2005.htm The part that concerns me is where they say some cars didn't get an award for various reasons, and here is one of them: "Another car was equipped with non-Buick wheels and hubcaps, although the car was otherwise satisfactory. These were certainly not original nor period items." I know your insurance company considers your wheels period correct, but truth be told, they are really aftermarket wheels that became hugely popular in the late 90's. I think the original torque thrusts were different, and were not chrome or polished, but rather anodized or painted. If I bring my 69, it would be entered in the modified class or display only.
Re: 2007 Nationals in Bellevue WA--INVITE!!!!!!! Woooooo....Hoooooo! This time of year here is AS GOOD AS IT GETS! Bring your BUICK and let's have a bit of a time! The wife and I Extend the 10 first RSVP camp sites on our land. We got a BUICK Nats party on the Island on the mind..so if you can camp and can maintain , please RSVP. Bainbridge Island : Bellevue = 1 hour of which 30 minutes is on the ferry crossing beautiful puget sound. Plenty of room for your car(s) and trailer and camp sites on our park like setting. Book soon and also lots of great Top ranked hotel rooms on Bainbridge Island beyond our spot. Enjoy our hospitality :beer and good camping on our property or nearby 1st class hotel accomadations. Friday and Saturday night is the offer. Gratuity is your option. Kids space is available, and family spirit is welcome. Please let us know asap, so 1 and/ or 2 nights guests can be booked. The O'Leary's
Re: 2007 Nationals in Bellevue WA--INVITE!!!!!!! Marko, I just realized I was out on Bainbridge a few weeks ago - I was one of the 4000 crazy people to ride 33 miles around the island, in the 40 degree weather, and in the rain, on the Chilly Hilly bike ride.
Brian and Chris, Thanks for the info. Having my car judged is not a huge priority anyway. Which category I enter will be decided depending which car I bring. My 69, by the pictures, is completely stock so that may be the one to enter in the driven class. What I'm really looking forward to is helping out with the show and meeting a bunch of new "Buick buddies". :beer See you in Puyallup for a warm up. Speaking of Puyallup, is there a caravan heading down again? If so, where is the meeting place as I would like to join in. Harvey
Are you coming down the night before again Harvey? Not sure yet where or when on the meeting place, but I will let you know. I may end up volunteering to helo with parking and going down early (shhhh, don't let Brian know! :laugh: ).
Hi Chris I'm only going for the day to Puyallup. So I'll leave here around 6AM and head home around 4PM. Brenda is coming along to BCA. We are there Thursday thru Sunday staying at the Hilton. Harvey
Harvey, there will be a group heading down from areas north of Seattle to the June 9 Puyallup show. Meet at 7:15 AM at the King Charlie's drive-in at Snohomish. Take Interstate 5 south to Everett, go east on U.S. Highway 2, then south a couple of blocks on Highway 9 at Snohomish. Call Jack Saylor at 360-651-5466 if you wish to caravan down with the group, and make sure that you exchange cell phone numbers. I think Chris is probably right regarding the Torque Thrust wheels. This might disqualify you from the National Driven award if you bring that car. But there's nothing wrong with "Display Only"!
Harvey; Depending on weather, I'll be heading down to Puyallup for the one day as well with the Electra. I had thought about leaving before 6am though, may try to meet up with the caravan noted above out of Snohomish. Likely crossing at Peace Arch. For the National meet, I plan on going down on Friday afternoon, returning Saturday evening... I'll be staying at the Red Lion. Let me know if you want to try and connect.
Doug Let's plan on meeting up with the gang in Snohomish. Yes, I'll need to leave earlier than 6 to be in Snohomish by 7:15. Harvey
Sounds great Harvey! If your heading to cross the border at Peace Arch or the Truck crossing let me know and we can connect earlier. If the weather's not great I'll leave the Electra, but likely still head down to the show... just not so early.
Doug and Harvey, there are typically two or three other British Columbia cars that meet up with the group in Snohomish: Don & Peggy DeMarco from Maple Ridge -- '59 Electra coupe Steve Eremenko & Teri Hill from Agassiz -- '57 Special convertible It's a great group of folks who tour down to Puyallup together, so you should definitely try to hook up with them. Few things are more fun than traveling with a group of beautiful vintage Buicks, and you don't have to try to figure out how to get to the show location in Puyallup.
