January 2008 News Letter

VETTE NEWS
Volume 27, Issue 01
January 2008
President’s Corner
What’s Happening
Swearing in of Officers at January’s meeting
New members to be voted on Ray Zielinski
The New Year is here and it’s time to plan
for our 2008 Corvettes of Buffalo activities! The
club Officers, Board Members and activities
committee members met in December to begin
planning for our 2008 Car Show/Super Cruise and
our 4th Annual All Corvette Caravan. While we
have many details to finalize for each of these
events, we do plan to have a Super Cruise at David
Chevrolet on May 29th and our Corvette Caravan is
scheduled on Sunday August 17th. We will need
some members to step up and help organize or
chair either of these events. So give it some
thought and let me or any of the Board Members
know if you can help.
While we did not begin the annual calendar
of events, there were several ideas discussed that
may be of interest to you. Such as possible road
trips to McDorman Chevrolet Corvette Show in
Columbus, Ohio; a trip to Frankenmuth,
Michigan; a trip to Longwood Gardens- Dupont
Estate near Philadelphia, Pa.; a trip to Ashville, NC
to visit the Vanderbuilt Mansion; the Bloomington
Corvette Show; and the NCCC National
Convention in Tulsa, OK. We know some
members will attend some annual events such as
Corvettes of Carlisle, Blackthorn Corvette
Weekend, and Sylvan Beach Corvette Show. And
there will several other local and travel events that
I am sure will be added to our calendar. The
calendar list should be published by late March
and you will also get current updates on the new
web site calendar by our webmaster, Jim Bonus.
and Sam Iraci
Installation Dinner & Dance, if you are
planning on going to the dinner dance the
menu & reservation form is on pg 6, fill it out
and send it to Carol with your payment.
COB Web Site
I have in place a new way of displaying our
clubs events and activities. The Events page of the
Website now has a calendar which displays on a
monthly basis. You can scroll month to month back
and forth to display the events for any particular
month.
Clicking on the event will enable a pop-up
window with more detail of that activity. There is
one more link on that pop-up that opens a new
window showing more details with a map and web
links if needed. Or on the upper right of the calendar
is 3 tabs, click the agenda tab and all the activities for
that month will be listed, continue to click the
month tab and all the future events will begin to be
listed. Clicking on any event in the agenda view will
expand to more details
A printable PDF listing will also be on the
Events page similar to the one that will be in the
Newsletter highlighting all the events when the 2008
schedule is determined.
Visit the site and try it out!
Continued on pg-2
The Webmaster
OFFICAL PUBLICATION OF
www.corvettesofbuffalo.com
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 1
Continued from pg-1
Officers
President
Skip Polowy
We will be discussing the above suggested events
and looking for your feedback as we prepare sign up
lists at our club meetings.
I would like to thank Dick & Sue Brownlee
for chairing a wonderful Christmas Brunch. The
food and friendship was great as always and
everyone attending enjoyed the holiday event! I also
would like to announce that Mike & Lee Buccilli
have volunteered to chair the 2008 Christmas
Brunch. Thank you in advance for helping with this
annual club event.
Next, I would like to shift gears and mention
that some club members did not enjoy a normal
holiday season this past month. On behalf of the
Corvettes of Buffalo the club would like to offer our
condolences, thoughts and prayers to the families of
Ed and Pamm Seifert, Ed and Pat Danahy, Ron and
Connie Giovino and Skip & Maureen Polowy. Your
support and friendship was very much appreciated!
716-741-7677
Vice President Frank Pastore
716-694-9024
Secretary
Linda Bonus
716-695-7643
Treasurer
Mel Skeide
716-876-1194
Board of Directors
Pete Ricigliano
Jim Bonus
Jim Lawson
Jim Brett
Reas Graber
716-634-6101
716-695-7643
716-838-2920
716-684-9364
716-634-4656
Committees
Membership
Marianne Pastore
716-694-9024
Newsletter
Jim & Linda Bonus
716-695-7643
Phone Comm.
Nancy Graber
716-634-4656
Sunshine Comm. Ruth Mussehl
716-685-3281
Webmaster
Jim Bonus
Save the Wave!
Skip Polowy
Meeting every second Saturday of the month at
First Presbyterian Church
9875 Main St. Clarence, NY
Meeting starts 7:00 p.m.
Corvettes of Buffalo is open to all Corvette
owners and enthusiasts over the age of 21
Visit us at
http://www.corvettesofbuffalo.com/
Send Articles To:
Jim Bonus,
1012 Castlebar Drive
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
E-Mail : mailto:[email protected]
Submissions must be in by 26th
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 2
New Members
I remembered thinking he was a great
representative of COB and based on my first
impression, it was probably an organization I’d
be interested in joining once I found my car.
Maybe you guessed that guy was Frank Pastore.
I’ll always appreciate his interest and help.
About two weeks later I received a
phone call from a friend of Frank’s, because he
passed along my contact information as I
requested. He let me know he was selling his
frame off restored 1964 convertible, small block,
and no side pipes car. I looked at the car two
days later; on July 21st. Everything was done and
done right: new Daytona Blue clear coat paint;
rebuilt Powerglide transmission; rebuilt 327/300;
new white top and interior; sand blasted and
painted frame and new radiator. Even the clock
worked. On August 7of this year we closed the
deal.
1964 was my last year of grammar school
and first year of high school. It was the year I
bought my first Beatles record. So in addition to
finally being able to enjoy another Corvette,
whenever I drive or even look at the car it brings
back a lot of great memories of growing up as a
teenager in the 60’s. My personal time machine.
Having the ’64 has also given me the
opportunity to meet many new friends and
people who have the same love of Corvettes.
The one drawback is my dislike of winter has
increased quite a bit. On the other hand, waiting
for spring and spring training has taken on a
whole new sense of urgency. April can’t be too
far away, right?
Lots of miles and lots of smiles, we drive
Corvettes.
In 1961, my first ‘vette’ was a fuel injected 283 cu.
Since that time, I’ve been an avid Corvette enthusiast
owning 4 more models: 1965 ½ - Z78 series; 1978 L82; 1994 - C4 coupe; and finally a 2002 - Z06.
After 45 years of service, I retired from General
Motors in 2004. I’m now on ‘vacation’ and have a
little time to enjoy the finer things in life that there
wasn’t time for before.
The 2002 - Z06 has been a part of that and my
lifelong hobby has never been more enjoyable. I’m
looking forward to membership in Corvettes of
Buffalo. The events have been a pleasure and the
people are great!
Happy Holidays!
Ray Zielinski
P.S. Just remember, ‘Ray’s my name and Corvettes
are my game!’
After the birth of our first son in April 1978,
while driving him home from Children’s Hospital in
our 1974 Vette, my wife and I discussed our need to
sell the car and buy something more practical.
Although the ’74 was sold four months later, I
promised we’d get another one someday. After three
very long decades and three sets of high school and
college tuition bills, it was time to start thinking
about not only getting another Corvette, but about
the generation and options that we would enjoy the
most. After considering the pros and cons of a
newer C5 or C6 as opposed to a C1 or C2, we
decided to look for a nice mid year driver, ideally a
convertible, small block with no side pipes.
This past July I took my nephews on
vacation from Georgia to the Delaware Avenue
cruise night. I started talking with a distinguished
looking, friendly gentleman with a Corvettes of
Buffalo shirt on, mentioning I was interested in
buying a Vette, and gave him my business card in the
event he knew of someone selling a car.
He gave me about 15 minutes of his time,
answered the questions I had, which I really
appreciated because he was obviously busy with
other things.
Sam Iraci
Next Column
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 3
Following the presentation the floor was
opened for questions on the Ferrari tour and any
other Corvette questions. The question and answer
session lasted for about an hour with about 50/50
split for Corvette and F-1 questions.
I asked if a mid-engine Corvette is in the
works. Dave was not at liberty to answer this
question but did comment that someday there may
be two Corvette lines similar to the front and midengine Ferrari’s now offered. As recently as last
month Corvette Engineer, Tadge Juechter
mentioned that the mid-engine is being studied.
The cost for mid-engine will probably be around
$100,000.00
Dave is the author of a book, Corvette from the
Inside, and has a website which is under construction
and will offer podcasts. www.corvettechief.com
JANUARY
COB BIRTHDAYS
7th
6th
16th
26th
28th
Lorry Kwiek
Mike Buccilli
Nicolet Brett
George Frank
Donn Schubert
COB ANNIVERSARIES
28TH - Donna & Jim Gangloff
An Evening with Dave McLellan
Father of the C4
Jim Lawson
To All Fellow COB Members
I find it hard to put into words how much all of
your cards and best wishes mean to both of us
during this difficult time. It is comforting to know
so many people care. My mom was a plant
person and she passed that love on to her daughter
so the beautiful plant basket will be nurtured with
tender loving care. I read someplace that two of
the most powerful words are " Thank you". So all
I can say is THANK YOU.
I attended the WNY Section of SAE’s
International (formerly Society of Automotive
Engineers) December dinner meeting to hear Dave
McLellan speak about his tour of the Ferrari
Formula 1 facilities in Maranello, Italy. Dave
succeeded Zora Arus-Duntov and was the Corvette
Chief Engineer for 17 years (1975-1992). Dave is
known as the father of the C4 but also had
tremendous input into the C5 development. Dave’s
current car is 1992 ZR-1.
Since I follow Formula 1 racing, the
presentation and photos of the Ferrari facilities were
very informative. As one would expect, the facilities
are immaculate, i.e., “you can eat off the floor”.
Ferrari’s driver, Felipe Massa was testing an F-1 car
on the closed race track during Dave’s visit.
Pat Danahy
Next Column
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 4
2007 In Review
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 5
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 6
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 7
The New 2009 ZR-1
Corvette History
January 1, 1956: The 1956 Corvette makes its debut at
the Waldorf Astoria in New York for the Motorama
show.
January 1, 1975: Zora Arkus Duntov officially
resigns from Chevrolet. David McLellan takes
over as Chief Engineer.
January 1, 1994: Chevrolet begins handling all
warranty engine repairs for the ZR-1s' LT5
engines.
January 6, 1997: Chevrolet unveils the 1997
Covetted, dubbed "C5". A new small block V-8
engine is introduced, the LS1, with 345hp and 10:1
compression ratio.
January 17, 1953: The prototype Chevrolet
Corvette "Dream Car" is displayed at the
Motorama show at New York's Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel.
January 21, 1962: General Motors' Chairman,
Frederic Donner issues a policy memo, re-iterating
the company's compliance with 1957 AMA
company-sponsored racing ban. This officially
cancels production plans for the Corvette Grand
Sport, with only 5 of the intended 125 cars built.
January 1956: Zora Arkus Duntov, sets a two-way
record breaking average of 150.583 mph at the
Daytona Beach Raceway in a modified 240hp V8
powered Corvette.
January 1986: Chevrolet introduces the Corvette
Indy prototype car, the CERV III, at the Detroit
Automobile Show. It has 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel
steering, and CRT cockpit screens.
January 1986: Chevrolet announces that the
Corvette has been chosen to be the Official Pace
Car for the Indianapolis 500 race.
January 1990: The CERV III (No. 3) makes its
debut at the International Auto Show in Detroit.
The car's mid-engine V8 is a 5.7 liter 32 -valve,
dual-overhead cam LT5 with twin turbos and
internal modifications, giving it 650 hp and a top
speed of 225 mph.
January 1992: At the 1992 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan,
General Motors debuts a show car called the
Stingray III, a stying preview being considered for
the next generation Corvette
Just in time for Christmas, GM unveils, the
meanest, baddest, most wicked Corvette to ever
roam the earth!.
More info at Corvete Action Center
Chevy Unveils Two Unique
Corvette Pace Cars
History will be made at the 2008 Indianapolis
500 when a pair of distinctive yet highly differentiated
Corvette models will serve as the official pace cars one highlighting Chevrolet's commitment to fuel
solutions and the other marking 30 years of Corvette's
pace car heritage. Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor
Speedway officials gathered at the Indianapolis Auto
Show to make the historic announcement..
One of the pace cars is a customized Corvette
Z06 E85 concept that runs on E85 ethanol fuel and
the other official pace car is a black-and-silver
commemorative edition that marks the 30th
anniversary of the celebrated 1978 pace car - the first
Corvette to pace the field at the Indianapolis 500.
January 1999: At the 24 Hours of Daytona race,
Chevrolet debuts the GT2 class C5R Corvette race car.
Ron Fellows and Chris Kneifel drive one to third in
GTS class
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 8
ANNUAL COB OFFICERS’ INSTALLATION DINNER & DANCE
SUZANNE’S FINE DINNING
2843 Niagara Falls Blvd. Wheatfield 694-6562
Saturday, March 15th, 6 pm until 10:30pm
Join us for our annual COB Officers’ Installation Dinner & Dance. We will meet for
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6pm, dine at 7pm, and music by TJ’s Absolute Sound all
evening.
Menu Choices
Filet Mignon
$14/member
$28/guest
Lemon Chicken
$10.50/member
$21/guest
Crab-stuffed Haddock
With Orange Hollandaise
$11.50/member
$23/guest
All entrees served with rolls & butter, cup of soup, baked potato, chef’s choice of
vegetable, coffee or tea, and Tuxedo Torte for dessert. The entrée price includes tax and
gratuity. The club will provide the hors d’ oeuvres and an open bar with wine, beer, and
sodas for the cocktail hour. The hors d’ oeuvres include bruschetta, Swedish meatballs,
stuffed mushroom caps, artichoke hearts augratin, and mini quiche.
Please complete the reservation form and mail it with your check
By Friday, March 7th.
Carol Kinney 693-4255
[email protected]
Please mail your check payable to Corvettes of Buffalo and reservation form to: Carol
Kinney, 3890 Wildwing Drive, Wheatfield, NY 14120
Name:________________________________
Menu Choice:
Steak________
Phone_________________________
Chicken_______
Haddock_________
Name:___________________________________
Menu Choice:
Steak_________
Chicken________
Guest’s Name:_________________________
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
Haddock__________
Guest’s menu choice_____________
pg 9
P. O. Box 161
West Seneca, NY 14224
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
CORVETTES of BUFFALO
pg 10