Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day

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Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day

Article contributed by Steve Burns

The highlight of the annual Bloomington Gold Corvette show each year is the judging activity. Participants from all over the country converge on the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL each June for the once-a-year opportunity to achieve Survivor, Gold, and/or Benchmark awards. At this event, cars don’t compete against one another. Rather they compete against a standard which is the condition in which the car was delivered from the factory. “No better, no worse, no different.” Click past the jump to learn more about the judging awards and to check out some pics from this years certification judging.

This year marked a new weekend schedule which we told you about late last year. Thursday and Friday activities took place in windy, sometimes drizzly and damp weather. Weekend events were greeted by limitless sunshine, light winds, and temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s. The manicured grounds of the Pheasant Run Resort make a fabulous background for a Corvette show in pretty much any weather.

Entrants in the Bloomington Gold judging events are competing for awards in up to 3 categories. A team of 3-4 judges converge upon each car and evaluate it for 45-60 minutes or so. Some may take longer, some may take less time.

The 3 judging categories are:

  • Survivor:
    This category is only for cars that are at least 20 years old and in original, unrestored condition. To earn Survivor status cars must pass a 20 mile road test, and remain at least 50% unrestored in 3 out of 4 categories: Exterior, Interior, Mechanical, and Chassis.

  • Certification:
    This event is open to both restored and unrestored Corvettes. Cars can be awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze Certification. A Gold certified Corvette is within 95% of its as-delivered condition. Silver and Bronze certified cars aren’t quite as close to their “born in” condition as a Gold Certified car.
  • Benchmark:
    This is one of the most prestigious awards in the Corvette hobby. It salutes Corvettes that have achieved Survivor status in all 4 categories as well as Bloomington Gold status. Both awards must be achieved during the same show weekend. As a past recipient of this award, I can attest to how special (and hard to find) Benchmark Corvettes really are.

Now check out some pics of the 125 or so Corvettes on the golf course at Pheasant Run. Some of our favorites included a ’62 with the very rare big gas tank option, an awesome black L88, a 70 ZR-1, and pretty much every big block midyear there. Congratulations to all of this years winners!

Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day
Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day Bloomington Gold 2011: Certification Day


Related:
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Bloomington Gold Officially Inducts 2011 Great Hall Honorees
[PICS] More 2012 Carlisle Blue Corvette Photos from Bloomington Gold

 



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