RCCC Adventures for the month of June Branson/Etowah Pics

Transcription

1 RCCC Adventures for the month of June Branson/Etowah Pics Volume 13, Issue No.7 July 2007

2 RCCC July 2007 Hey everyone, What a great start we had to the month of June. I had hoped for fifty cars for our Lions Club Corvette show, and we had sixty four cars show up. There were some beautiful cars, and plaques were awarded to the top twenty five. We had excellent participation from our club, and several members won awards. I don t yet have a report from the Lions as to how much money they raised, but we certainly did our part. The Lions were very complimentary of our club, and are already talking about doing it again next year. Thank you to everyone who pitched in and helped with the organizing of this project. The trip to Branson, Missouri was well attended, with about ten cars making the long cruise. I hear that everyone enjoyed it. We had seven cars take the trip to Etowah, Tennessee and everyone had a great time on the train ride. With July here, we must plan some club events for the month. We already have some long range plans for events later in the year, but not much for the immediate future. There is the car show on the lake at Soddy Daisy on the fourth of July, and Tri-County Corvette Society in Athens, Tennessee is hosting a Time, Speed and Distance Rally on Sunday, July 15. We are open to any and all suggestions. If you have any ideas for something you would like to do, probably others would enjoy it, too. Speak up and let s plan it together. Our board of directors meeting will be held at the Dairy Queen on July 10, and our next monthly club meeting is July 19 at O Charley s. I ll see you there. Ernie President s Message A Member Said it: The discussion began to talk about traffic lights the red, yellow and green. Ronnie Kellog said: It s not the red and green lights that bother me, it s those flashing blue lights that kind of get to me Gotta admit, we agree! Contents: Description Page President s Message 2 Vintage View 3 08 Vette Colors! 4 Editor s Column 4 Featured Vette 5 Adventures 6 More Adventures 7 Birthdays 8 Events Officers President: Ernie Pierce Vice President: Gene Talley Secretary: Nancy Price Treasurer: Larry Johnston Board Members: Randy Slomian Carol Kellog Nicole Redden Dale Sielski Buddy Johnson NCM representative: Chuck Mindel Newsletter: Editor: Mike Nabors Associate Editor: John Lemons

3 Page 3 Corvettes got heavier and slower during the period between The option list shrank and by 1977 optional engine choices were down to one. The body didn t change much and after 1975 wasn t even available in the convertible. The 1973 Corvette was the only one with the soft body colored nose and abrupt rear with chrome bumpers. Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented that the 1973 was his favorite of the post 1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists had in mind when this series was first designed. Many collectors today don t have the same opinion. Yet during this period Chevrolet built and sold 202,202 Corvettes, more than any previous five year period, almost more than all previous Corvette models combined. The reason is that every other company wishing to sell its products in the United states faced the same federal mandates that Chevrolet did. The Corvettes of the period may have been overshadowed by earlier Corvettes, but Corvette s competitors were in the same pollution control soup and the Corvette more than held it s on. There were always better cars to be had, but the Corvette s most for the money image kept it the best buy in the market. This isn t to say that nothing significant happened during the period. The 1973 got a new hood, designed around the elimination of the troublesome hidden wiper setup. Its front bumper was body colored, designed to meet federal 5 mph crash standards, but the rear remained the same as the previous year. Engineers were determined to make the 73 quieter and changed the chassis mounts to isolate road noise more effectively. Also, sound deadening material was sprayed on selective body panels and a pad was added to the inner hood. The 1974 was the first to have body colored bumper treatments both front and rear. It was the last with a true dual exhaust and non catalytic converter system. It was the last with the 454 cubic inch engine on the option list. Even though the engines were all weaker, it still propelled the Corvette in a most exciting manner. With the possible exception of models like the 1975 convertible and 1974 with 454 cubic inch engine, Corvettes built in the period can never be considered as collector cars. That doesn t mean some won t hold their value well or make attractive purchases. Considering the number built and the lack of strong identity between years, these will be affordable Vettes. FACT: 1973 VIN's run to 34464, only 30,464 units were built; the 4,000 serial numbers between and were not used. CODE EXTERIOR QUANTITY 910 Classic White n/a 914 Silver n/a 922 Medium Blue n/a 945 Blue-Green n/a 947 Elkhart Green n/a 952 Yellow n/a 953 Metallic Yellow n/a 976 Mille Miglia Red n/a 980 Orange n/a

4 Page 4...And Don t forget 430 HP!! Crystal Red Metallic and Jetstream Blue Metallic

5 Page 5 After nearly 3 years it now has slightly over 20,000 miles (yes, Gene you re a big participator!). The car has Z06 wheels and F1 Supercar Goodyears hugging the pavement, and Hooker cat backs for that throaty powerful sound we all love to hear! TO add a little more hp, there s a cold air intake by West Coast Corvettes, and what s an FRC without red fuel rail covers it s got em. This is not gene s first Corvette, or his only Corvette. His first was a 1973 red t-top. Then he bought a 1979 that remains in the club but owned by another member. Gene also owns a 1965 model that he has been slowly but surely restoring. We hope to feature it soon in the newsletter when it is complete. We think Gene s participation will pick up soon it got rained on. The paint is no longer virgin! See ya soon Gene! Signed Twin Not sure who started looking for a 1999 FRC first, me, the editor, or Gene, but somehow both of us, at the same time, started looking for the same year/ model/corvette. Since Gene and I go to church together we would run into each other on Sunday morning before services and talk about what we had found in our research for what seemed like months. Gene found one in Alabama that he thought he would buy but the owner wouldn t come down to a reasonable price. All I found was way out of town and were not sure thing enough to want to risk going to check them out. I think, if my memory serves me correct, that Gene found his first, and then I found mine later. But I remember thinking I wish I could find one as nice as Gene s. Gene bought his car from the CEO of the Holley Carburetor in Bowling Green Kentucky. The date was August, 2004, and Gene went iniot negotiations big time and got a good deal on the car. The previous owner had already made some modifications, so it wasn t all original, but it didn t matter Gene and Carolyn bought this car to drive and participate in club functions ok, unless it s raining!!! Gene s car had only 16,800 mile on the OD, so it was relatively new and unharmed. The paint was still perfect.

6 Page 6 Two events took place this month that were significant - the Branson trip (covered by Andy Anonymous elsewhere) and a fun trip to Etowah to ride the Hiwassee River Excursion Train (covered here). Seven couples ventured forth on a day-long trip to Etowah, TN, not knowing exactly what we would encounter in this wild, wild part of East Tennessee. It was a nice drive as we left Soddy Daisy at 10:00 am and drove up Highway 27 to Dayton, where we took Highway 30 across through Athens and to Etowah. Although we encountered some un-corvette-like traffic (slow), we still made it to Athens in about 40 minutes and arrived in Etowah by 11:20, where we stopped a the local Sonic Drive In for a quick lunch. Carol Kellog dancin with the stars doin the hoky poky!!!!!! Hey who s gorgeous Red Vette??? The Seven Corvettes were a hit, of course, at the Sonic, where we were met by girls in grass skirts and coconut bras (ok, they wore t-shirts under them so don t get too excited) offering us leis to wear. (Like I said, this was an adventure!) They even danced for us, with Carol Kellogg joining in the fun. Unplanned entertainment just for the RCCC!!! OK, so the dancing wasn t exactly hula, but the hokey pokey ain t too bad considering it was free! Then it was on to the L&N Railroad Museum, where everyone visited the museum and purchased their train tickets. From there we were off to a scenic train ride, where we discovered (you ll be amazed by this) a conductor that could out-talk Harless. The cars were air conditioned and the seating roomy and comfortable enough that several members took naps!!! The train rider numbers were light enough that the RCCC had a car almost all to ourselves. The 3 hour trip was fantastic, with views of river rafters, trout fishermen, and tubers on the Hiwassee River waving at us as we went by. The train continued upward all the way, until we were high above the rafting portion of the river, with beautiful views and tons of laughter. Arriving back at Etowah, we ate at the Farmhouse Restaurant, a local establishment that brought out more food than we could eat. Then we were off in the Vettes for a ride back to Chatt-town. Another fantastic adventure of the RCCC. If you didn t go, you are missing out on one of the greatest benefits of the River City Corvette Club. A great time with great friends! The Train! The Train!! Oh that s plane. Wrong TV show!! The RCCC Crew! Havin a good time!!! Wayne? Wayne? Are you ok Wayne? Wake up Wayne!

7 Page 7 By Andy Nonymous! June was a busy month for the club. Several members made the trip to Branson, Mo. for the annual Corvette show Going to Branson five of us caravanned together, deciding to take the back road picturesque route in lieu of the interstate. Buddy Johnson bought a new GPS system (TomTom) and guaranteed it would get us there and back with no round abouts for which he is legendary. The trip was uneventful until we entered the state of Arkansas, specifically Jonesboro Arkansas, our preset destination to spend Thursday night. The hotel clerk recommended we dine at Omar s, just down the street, the elite steak house in town. We entered and were told it was a very private club, but one of us could join for a fee and the others could be their guests. So for five bucks and a promise to not return, we were in the club. I ordered pork, since I was in razor back country, and when it arrived it looked like Armadillo on the half shell. As I retired for the night, I thought, the trip has been nice, we didn t get lost, and I had three good meals and two bags of Oreo cookies. Ahh but the next day would test the ole Colonels skills of persuasion. We departed Jonesboro the next morning. I only got lost twice trying to get back on the interstate from the hotel. By this time, the other four members were a few miles ahead. So I gave C5 Biscuit a kick in the gas to catch up. The next thing I saw were the bluest strobe lights I have ever seen. I mean, those babies were nice. They were on the dash, the top of the car, in the grill, WOW even on the side. So I decided to pull over just to ask the officer where he got such fastidious strobes, as I turned mine on and pulled over to the side just under a bill board showing the Arkansas razor backs fall football schedule. I jumped out of the car, just as the Trooper was approaching, adjusting his hat and sunglasses for that presence of authority, I too put on my Ray Bans and pulled my 50th anniversary cap down low over my eyes. Just to make the playing field equal you know. Figuring we were both avid SEC football fans, I yell the University of Arkansas battle cry Piggggg Sueeeeeeee and grin. This would come back to haunt the ole Colonel. With a very serious look, the officer comes closer and said Do you know the speed limit on this here road? I glance at the name tag on his shirt and meekly reply Office Suey, do you mean the posted limit or the Corvette limit?. He replied You do know you have the right to remain silent. Yes officer Suey I do, I just don t have the capability!!! So he asked my name, to which I provided a name. He then proceeded to lecture me for a few minutes and sent me on my way. Now if I were Mike Nabors I would not go even close to Jonesboro, Arkansas for lets say the next 100 years and definitely would not enter the state of Arkansas in an anniversary red Corvette. RCCC on display in Branson, MO. Judges fake looking at Lemon s car after he paid them The Kelloggs drive their winning car in the C6 Category in the caravan! Branson Winners: Eddie and Nancy Price: 2nd in C5 John and Joan Lemons: 3rd in C5 (he didn t really pay the judges, did he?) Ron and Carol Kellog: 2nd in C6

8 Volume Volume 13, 13, Issue Issue 66 Page Page 8 8 This Month s Events Eddie Price 7/1 Billie Allison 7/3 Jerry Cooke 7/4 Soddy Lake 4th of July Celebration July 4 Drive In Movie July 21 Regular Club Events: Loretta Dickson 7/4 Carolyn Talley 7/7 Carolyn Souther 7/15 Tammy Caldwell 7/16 Bill Dickson 7/23 Chuck Mindell 7/26 Every Tuesday: Dairy Queen at Highway 153 after 5:30 pm. Tuesday, week prior to the monthly club meeting ea. month: RCCC Board Meeting at Dairy Queen Hwy. 153 at 6:30 pm. 3rd Thursday ea. month: RCCC monthly club meeting at O Charley s Restaurant on Hixson Pike. Dinner at 6:00 pm and meeting at 7:00 pm. Every Friday in nice weather: Sonic Drive In in Soddy Daisy on old Highway 27 when weather is nice. Summer Cruise Ins 2nd Saturday Each Month: Dayton Rhea County Courthouse 3rd Saturday Each Month: Soddy Daisy, Dayton Pike by Pizza Hut 4th Saturday Each Month: Cleveland, TN at Courthouse