SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2000Issue 9 & 10

1The Rocky Mountain Chapter - NCRS

1The Rocky Mountain Chapter - NCRS

CHAIRMANS COMMENTS

By Dennis Kazmierzak

It’s been two months since my last article, which waschocked full of Corvette activities, and believe it or not I’m having a hard time thinking about something to write about for this article. I think I reached the back burner burn out for Corvette stuff. Ironically, others in my position have had the same feeling as I read some of the other Newsletters around the country. Bob Wallace of Vette Magazine experienced this also in his editorial this month. Instead of writing about his “Great White Project”, he wrote of his anger towards a certain airline for not making the connections for his trip to Le Mans, which GM was sponsoring. He ended up in DFW, twenty minutes after his flight left. I think I’d be xxxxed about that too.

Not only has my position with NCRS changed but also my vocation position has changed. I now have global responsibility; therefore, a little more traveling will enter the picture in the coming months. This may not be a bad deal regarding the Regional Directors job, as I will be able to tie the two together where appropriate. All I have to do is hope not to get caught in the delays mentioned above by Bob Wallace.

Back in the garage the ‘66 is making some slow progress. The engine compartment is blacked out, wiper motor refurbished and re-installed, wiper pivots installed and the rear wiring and tail lights mounted. May not sound like much, but I’ve also been to California, Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, Missouri, Connecticut and Pennsylvania in the past six weeks. What really hurt was being in Pennsylvania and driving by Carlisle, with the Eastern NCRS Regional going on plus the biggest Corvette swap meet in the country happening at the same time. Bummer!!! I had my priority set to be at Terri & Eck’s on Saturday night. If I’d stayed in Carlisle, I would have missed their BBQ. Friends take priority in my planning and there’s another year out there for Carlisle.

I missed the PPIR Vintage Races this past weekend,to help Bob and Rene’ Davis move into their new home. Bill Bell and others helped on Saturday and I filled in on Sunday. It turns out that it was a bummer weekend for Don Douglas and Gary Steffens. Don’s engine broke, chunked out an 842 head, and not an easy fix for the weekend event. We did not see very many RMC members at Terri & Eck’s and now we know why. They were all tired from moving or pulling Don’s engine. Let’s hope the other activities we have planned for the month come out better than the PPIR BBQ. Keep driving ‘em.


ACTIVITIES

By Bill Bell

SEPTEMBER / 16th: General Meeting atCorvette City
Tech Session: Mid-Year Steel Wheels
By Martin Egan
SEPTEMBER / 23rd: Echo Lake Tour–Leave from El Rancho at 10:00 –Bill Barcus
OCTOBER / 21st: General Meeting atCorvette City
NOVEMBER / 18th: General Meeting at Corvette City

The BOD meeting, General Meeting, and Buffalo cookout at Jack Humphreys’ was absolutely wonderful. Great food, good friends, and good times. Thank you Jack for hosting us.

The BOD would like to say thank you to Teri and Eckhard Pobuda for hosting a BBQ at their home during the vintage races at PPIR in August. In spite of the poor turnout, we sincerely appreciate you extending the courtesy to the entire club members. I personally want to apologize for my RSVP and then not canceling due to another engagement. It won’t happen again.

Our next General Meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2000, at 11:00 AM at Corvette City. Martin Egan, our buddy from the wonderful state of Wyoming, is giving us a class on mid year steel wheels. Martin has said to bring down any mid year steel wheels you may have to the meeting, and he will attempt to decipher what model it should fit. It’s your opportunity to discover that you may own a steel wheel worth millions of dollars (well maybe a few bucks anyway!).

The fall drive to Echo Lake,on September 23rd, will be led by Bill Barcus. The caravan will pull out at 10:00from El Rancho, go over Squaw Pass, and stop in Idaho Springs for lunch.

October’s general meeting is scheduled for the 21st at Corvette City. No technical session is planned, so a volunteer(s) is being sought and an APB announced. Let me know if you would like to spearhead this event.

November’s General meeting is scheduled for the 18th at Corvette Cityalso. Again, no technical session is planned, so a volunteer is being sought.

And finally, we are still looking for a member to host the Christmas party. We generally have it the first Saturday of the month, with the Club picking up a few bucks of the tab. If you’re willing to host this event, please contact any Board member or me so we can plan accordingly.

As always, stay between the lines, it’s safer that way….

SWAP MEET INFO

The Fall Denver Auto PartsSwap Meet (known as the “COYS” swap meet) is at Bandimere Speedway.

September 10th– 6:00 – 3:00

The October Fest Swap Meet (the Fall FOMOCO swap meet) is at the Adams County Fair Grounds.

September 30th– 8:00 – 2:00

SEPTEMBER TECH SESSION

By Martin Egan

Come one, come all to the September 16thTech Session on ’65 –’67 Steel Wheels.

Not sure if you have the correct wheels on your car, or for your car? Now is your chance to find out. Bring the wheels in question, and follow along to see if you have the right ones. Bring the wheels bare, orwith tires, and be sure to mark with your name or some other identification.

Those who have ’63 –’64 wheels, bring them also. These wheels should be without tires on them, as it is a little harder to identify with the tire on.

Bring your questions, and I will try to answer them as best as I can.

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From Jon Whiteley, the following research:

Corvette Optional Wheels ’53 –‘82

YEAR / RPO / DESCRIP-TION / # SOLD / % / COMMENT
53-55 / None
56 / None
57 / 276 / 15x5.5" steel / n/a / $14.00
58-62 / 276 / 15x5.5" steel / n/a / n/c
63 / P48 / aluminum KO / n/a / $322.80
64 / P48 / aluminum KO / 806 / 4 / $322.80
65 / P48 / aluminum KO / 1116 / 4 / $322.80
66 / P48 / aluminum KO / 1194 / 4 / $326.00
67 / N89 / aluminum BO / 720 / 3 / $263.30
68-72 / None
73 / YJ8 / aluminum / 4* / recalled
74-75 / None
76 / YJ8 / aluminum / 6253 / 13 / $299.00
77 / YJ8 / aluminum / 12646 / 25 / $321.00
78 / YJ8 / aluminum / 28008 / 59 / $340.00
79 / N90 / aluminum / 33741 / 62 / $380.00
80 / N90 / aluminum / 34128 / 84 / $407.00
81 / N90 / aluminum / 36485 / 89 / $428.00
82 / N90 / aluminum / 16844 / 90 / $458.00

MERCHANDISE

By Fred Koenig

BLOW OUT SALE!!

We have some beautiful Steamboat Outerbanks Polos for $10.00 (list was $30.00), and Steamboat T-shirts for $3.00 (list was $12.00). Sizes and quantities are limited, so it’s first come, first served. HURRY!

Editors note: Fred was not at the last meeting, and had sent this “Blow Out Sale” notice prior to the meeting. Well, we may have depleted a good portion of the stock, in his absence. Again HURRY, as there can’t be many items left.

MERCHANDISE – IN STOCK

ITEM / PRICE
Golf Caps...Red, White, Gray, Maroon, Natural/Green, and Natural/Blue / $10.00
T- Shirts…Silk screened Front & Back
(Gray) / $10.00
Sweatshirts…Silk screened Front & Back
(Gray) / $20.00
Short Sleeved Polo...White, Red, Blue & Gray
(RMC Embroidered) / $30.00
Long Sleeved Polo...Dark Gray & Blue
(RMC Embroidered) / $35.00
Light Weight Polo…Short Sleeved (Teal ) / $20.00
Shop Coats…Gray (RMC Embroidered) / $35.00
Chambray (RMC Embroidered) / $30.00
Jackets (RMC Embroidered) Satin
Corduroy
Wool / $70.00 $75.00 $110.00
Steamboat Regional T-Shirts (White) / $12.00
Steamboat Hat Pins / $2.00
RMC Hat Pins / $3.00
Name Tags / $5.00

On all Clothing items in XXL, please add $2.00 to the above quoted prices.

FROM THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN

By Jon Whiteley

RMC membership presently stands at 77. This includes 12 new members so far for 2000.

Please welcome our newest RMC members John McDonald & Rana Adamson. John and Rana own a blue/blue ’67 small-block convertible.

There were several NCRS national members at our August chapter meeting that were in the process of rebuilding/restoring their Corvettes and were checking out RMC. We hope to see them again next month and ‘bring them into the fold’.

REGIONIAL PLANNING

Things are moving along for the planning of the 2002 Durango Regional. Eckhard Pobuda has accepted the Chair position along with Dan Pyzel. The positions will be published on our web site and in this Newsletter. If you are contacted to help with this event, please consider it as it is a good way to become involved with the Chapter and meet with other members. If you have any questions, please call Eck or Dan. I can also fill in if you don’t find them.

Following are the positions and responsibilities for the meet. Call one of the people listed for more information and to get your name on the list.

Common Responsibilities – Each Executive Committee Member

  • Plans and oversees execution of Committee assigned activities.
  • Selects and supervises Committee members.
  • Prepares and manages budget for Committee assigned activities.
  • Prepares and updates activity time lines—targeted completion dates.
  • Attends Executive Committee Meetings.
  • Prepares and updates written summary of Committee activities.
  • Attends 2002 Regional Convention.

Event Chair—

  • Charged with overall convention responsibility.
  • Selects Committee Chairs.
  • Coordinates activities of Committee Chairs.
  • Prepares and maintains daily schedule from Committee Chair input.
  • Works directly with Promo & Pub Committee Chair to secure large grants or donations.
  • Chairs Executive Committee meetings.

Program Director—

  • Invites and hosts all special guests.
  • Invites and coordinates special cars.
  • Emcees all organized functions.

Site Committee Chair—

  • Coordinates sites and events
  • Selects and coordinates lodging.
  • Arranges and manages basic lodging accommodations (hotel room deposits already made).
  • Arranges motor home accommodations.
  • Manages concourse display parking lot.
  • Coordinates security.
  • Draws up site plan in advance of convention.
  • Coordinates plan with local police and fire departments.
  • Manages marking lot for trailers.
  • Manages swap meet. (Optional)
  • Develops vendor registration form.
  • Direct mails registration form to vendors.
  • Arranges for and manages meeting rooms.
  • Arranges for and manages registration area.
  • Arranges for and manages room for judging tabulation team.
  • Arranges for and manages food service.
  • Includes scheduled convention food functions
  • Includes normal hotel restaurant service.
  • Prepares and provides information about area activities—outside of convention.

Judging Committee Chair—

  • Coordinates awards with the National Judging Chair.
  • Ribbons
  • Certificates
  • Any other awards given
  • Determines judging times/date(s) and car categories.
  • Determines display arrangements and coordinates with Site Committee Chairman.
  • Determines, along with national NCRS, number and composition of judging teams.
  • Coordinates judging process accordingly.
  • Establishes and manages tabulation teams.
  • Provides input to the Promo & Pub Committee Chair for the systemization, content and timing of judging application/registration forms and process.
  • Receives and catalogs all registration forms for vehicle judging.
  • Coordinates with Promo & Pub Committee for shirts, etc. for judges.
  • Coordinates with Site Committee Chair for judges’ meals.

Promotional and Publicity Committee―

  • Prepares and provides press release and registration form to The Driveline.
  • Coordinates development of convention logo.
  • Develops and produces registration materials and goodie bags. Obtains input
  • From Judging Committee Chair for all judging related items.
  • Develops and markets soft goods.
  • T-shirts
  • Jacket patches
  • Judging shirts
  • Convention pins
  • Any other clothing items
  • Develops and executes event coverage plan.
  • Develops and executes plan to involve other area Corvette clubs.
  • Develops and executes special events plan, including banquets, etc.
  • Coordinates with Site Committee Chair accordingly.
  • Works direct with Event Chair to raise funds from outside sources—sponsors.

Administration Committee Chair—

  • Develops and directs staffing plan for day-to-day operation and registrations.
  • Assembles registration materials, coordinating contents with Judging Committee Chair and Promo & Pub Committee Chair.
  • Develops and maintains an emergency services plan. Deals with any emergency that arises during convention.
  • Handles basic accounting services, bill payment and overall event budgeting.
  • Develops a policy and process for convention administration, including delegate refunds and dispute resolution.
  • Acts as convention registrar, receiving all registrations for the convention.
  • Prepares and distributes weekly status reports of registrations to other committee chairs.
  • Advises Judging Committee Chair and National Judging Chair of number of cars and date entered for judging and the people who have volunteered to judge.
  • Notifies all convention delegates of the receipt of their registrations material and its completeness. Handles any omissions made by delegates.

Executive Committee assignments:

Meet Chairmen

Eck Pobuda

Dan Pyzel

Dennis Kazmierzak

Promotion & Publicity Committee Chairman

Bill Barcus

Judging Committee Chairmen

Bill Baker

Jack Humphrey

Site & Sponsors Committee

Frank Gibbons

Truman Price

Dirk Gaddis

Administration Committee Chairmen

Bill Bell

Lisa Racz

Bob Davis

ARTICLES

MY FIRST CORVETTE – OR -- HOW DID THIS ALL HAPPEN TO A GIRL?

By Lisa Racz

Well, it all starts back in high school. I was always a “gear head”. My progression of various boyfriends all had hot rods. We spent our nights and weekends drag racing at Tower Road (now known as Second Creek) drag strip (legal), or on Stapleton Drive (not so legal), or from light to light on Colfax Ave. (also not so legal). My first boyfriend taught me to drive. He had a ‘55 Chevy with a very “built” 427 and a very stiff spring on his racing rated clutch (and of course, Slicks). He never asked me to help him pay for the clutches and tires … but I’m sure my street racing must have contributed to his expenses in a BIG way. What can I say? It got into my blood. If my parents only knew!! In retrospect, they probably did suspect…they weren’t too fond of him.

My last boyfriend in high school also had a ‘55 (always in racing competition with boyfriend #1). He progressed thru a series of hot rods during our dating years…I raced them all. After high school, we went our separate ways for a couple of years, but remained friends. In the meantime, he bought a ’64 Corvette. When we started to date again, he sold the Corvette because I couldn’t reach the pedals! (Had he consulted me, I wouldn’t have advised him to sell it).

Well, we got married. He kept seeing a race prepared ’63 Corvette Coupe around town, and decided that WE needed to have it. (I couldn’t reach the pedals in this one either…but I had moved onto a NEW car). This ‘63 was truly not what you would see at an NCRS event. It had a very modified body, and very little, if any, was “numbers matching”. After 9 ½ years, we sold the car – and got divorced (no correlation).

A couple of years later, my ex bought a new ’84 Corvette, and brought it by my place of business to show it off. I got to drive it BEFORE his new wife (I’m not sure she ever got over that one!). To be truthful, I was UNIMPRESSED! An automatic!!??

About one year later, on a daily occurrencefor a 3-week period, I saw a red ’84 Corvette driving the same route home from work. The guy would always challenge me to a friendly race (I drove a Firebird). Well, I fell in love…with his car. I never did meet the guy. I decided that I MUST have one. I agonized over this obsession for about two weeks, when low and behold who should call me? My ex-husband, to tell me that he was selling his Corvette. Without hesitation, I said “I’ll take it”! I paid full asking price. MY first Corvette!!

My business was involved with the Englewood Chamber of Commerce at that time, and the Chamber had an annual parade coming up. One of the members asked me to get the local Corvette Club involved. My response was “Corvette Club”?! I had no idea that such a thing existed. Well my search led me to the Denver Corvette Association. I got very involved, and served as board member for several positions.

I renewed my racing, whichI hadn’t done for years! I am a respectable Interior Designer, after all! (My other Designer friends were in a state of shock! Don’t people in “Car Clubs” wear black leather, chains, knives, etc.?!)

It was while I was involved with DCA, that I met this wonderful man that I now call my husband, Dirk. He’s pretty special…and he not only loves me, but he shares the same obsession for cars!

Dirk was a member of NCRS-RMC, as were many of the other DCA members. Dirk introduced me to NCRS at the Steamboat event (’89?) when the featured car at the Vintage Races was the Corvette. We had a blast, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Many thanks go out to our members who have contributed to this Newsletter. I’d love to feature you in a Member Profile section, wherein you write about yourself, interests, profession, how you got interested in the Corvette Hobby, etc.

If you are going through the process for a Founders Award, your article must NOT appear in a Newsletter before it goes to the Restorer.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Our Classified Ads can be found on the Web Page – If you’d like to include a picture, contact Bob Davis for the “how to” instructions.

For Sale: Two original ’65 Owners Manuals. One is a first edition, and the other is a second edition. Both manuals have the card still in them, and they are in excellent condition. $150.00 obo, or trade for ’65 parts.

Martin Egan (307) 632-5806

E-mail

For Sale: ’96 Flat Bed Trailer – 18 ft. with 2 ft. dove -tail, 5 ft. Slide-in-ramps, tear-drop fenders, electric brakes on both axles, 7000 lb. capacity full channel tongue, bulldog hitch, 8000 lb. Warn Winch, Diamond plate tool box, on-board deep cycle battery, sport wheels with new Bridgestone tires. Excellent Condition. $2500. or best offer.