June 2013 - CORVETTE ATLANTA

J u n e 2 0 13
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C-A-Review
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In This Issue
Feature Photo:
Peachtree Corners Festival Show
(see ar ticle on Page 3)
CA Board of Directors/President’s Report................................01
Mary Mac’s / What Defines a Sports Car?....................... 09
Officer Reports / 2013 Club Points Standings ................. 02
What Defines a Sports Car? ........................................10, 11
Calendar of Events / NCM Report / Peachtree Corners... 03
Birthdays / Anniversaries / Web Sites / Corvette
Restoration Ad................................................................ 12
Greg Wyatt’s Vintage Corvettes........................... 04, 05, 06
Vehicle Details: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette / Lake Party.... 07
Supervette Saturday.......................................................... 08
Jim Ellis Chevrolet Ad.................................................... back
2013 Corvette Atlanta, Inc.
Board of Directors
Elected Board Members:
President .................Dave Brownell
[email protected]
VP-Activities.............Chris Murphy
[email protected]
VP-Membership........Joel Forman
[email protected]
VP-Competition .......Don Parks
[email protected]
Secretary ..................Lisa DeKalb
[email protected]
Treasurer ..................Betty Parks
[email protected]
Members-at-Large ...David Morgan
[email protected]
Charles Hawkins
[email protected]
Larry Vaitkus
[email protected]
Appointed Board Members:
Governor...................Betty Parks
[email protected]
NCM Ambassador.....Ed Clark
[email protected]
Webmaster................Mike Heaphy
[email protected]
Editor.........................Betty Parks
[email protected]
Parliamentarian........Carolyn Nugent
[email protected]
Consistently ranked among the top National Council of Corvette
Clubs (NCCC) affiliated clubs, we are active in a variety of Corvette
enthusiast endeavors – such as club social activities, road rallyes, car
shows, displays & amateur competitive solo driving – we try to have a
good time in everything we do!
If you think owning & driving a Corvette is something special & you like
being around others who feel the same way, please consider joining
our club.
Club meetings are held the 1st Tuesday of each month. For more
information about Corvette Atlanta, please contact the VP-Membership
or any other officer listed above.
President’s Report
Dave Brownell
Over the past few months I have endeavored to find out a bit more
about the skills and special interests of our club’s members. When
they’re not playing with or talking about Corvettes, they are a mighty
diverse group of talented people. That’s not to say that they are
talentless when they are doing things with their cars, but I am
amazed that an automobile is the common link for so many of us
with specialized skills and wide-ranging passions. Maybe it’s a good
thing, but about the only profession that seems to have eluded us is
that of politician, but I’ll not turn any of them away
More to the point that I want to make: this club is dependent on the
participation and sharing of talent for the benefit of its members. There
is probably no car club in the Atlanta area that has a higher number
of public health professionals than Corvette Atlanta. When it comes
to automotive epidemiology, we may have the market cornered.
But we also have a fair number of financial advisors, engineers, a
physician, several computer engineers and scientists, a few sales
people, realtors, etc. Retired or active, we have thousands of years
of real world experience in our midst that, if properly channeled, could
really serve to improve the club. Recently, one member did fine work
in resurrecting and improving the club’s website. Our esteemed
newsletter editor does excellent work in pasting together facts and
fiction and turns out one of the finest monthly car club newsletters
in the Atlanta area. Several contributors provide informative and
entertaining articles and photos, including several recent ones that
have materially improved my hearing protection and financial safety.
A few can be counted on for some fine photography that documents
the events we’ve attended. Another member is actively taking on
a task that will ensure that the website is informative and current in
its outlook, and redundancy is established so that one person is not
responsible, but rather is part of a website team effort. Several of
us are active in other car and motorcycle clubs, so good trips and
experiences are shared and therefore not limited to those “invented
here.”
From my conversations I have yet to come across anyone who says
that they are not busy in their non-Corvette moments. I recognize
that all of us have dreams of a bit more spare time and a bit more
money. But there will be inevitable tasks that need doing in the club,
and it will be in the finest volunteer spirit to speak up if it’s something
you can or want to do. While the pay is not there, the rewards are, say
for reporting an especially positive vendor purchase. You can also
speak up or speak to me or any other board member if something
is out of whack with the club. And, if there’s a way to fix it, please
consider being a part of the solution. Be it a newly joined member or
someone who’s been around for four decades, we all have a part to
play and we’ll be a stronger organization for it. Opinions and ideas
still count, but the best solutions come from those who are willing to
pitch in.
Over the next few months, we will be asking you about what’s right
or wrong with the club and how we can improve the Corvette Atlanta
experience. Your thoughts, experience and solutions will be valuable
contributions, making membership a more enriching experience.
Remember -- You get
out of life what you
put into...what have
you done lately??!!
1
Editorial Reflections
Betty Parks, Editor
June was just a blur to me. Endless hours were dedicated to the NCCC Convention - in hopes to not forget anything that would be needed for that
week long endeavor. Lists on top of lists were prepared and shared with the Convention team. Every situation had to be anticipated -- just in case.
When everything was said and done -- it was quite successfully. I will spend more time in the July newsletter to recap some of the highlights. It’s
truly a shame that only four of us from the club attended when it was so close...but we had a blast for all of you!!
I provide my thanks again for all the articles for this month’s edition. You will note that there are several articles and lots of pictures of the same
activities. The writers’ insight on the events were enjoyable from my viewpoint - so I’ve opted to run each of them with the pictures to show what
you and I might have missed.
Remember - I’m still looking for other monthly feature writers. If you’ve always wanted to write a column or be a cub reporter, here’s your
opportunity. I love to see what Dave and Ed are going to write about each month -- let’s face it -- they’re the reason that we can produce this
newsletter!! But we need to give them some help. I do appreciate ALL the articles from the officers as well as Dan, Doc, Tom, Nancy, Martha...to
name a few contributors from this year. Can I add your name to my list of writers??
As previously stated, we are all volunteers and doing the best that we can with the time and resources available to us. I am the reason that this
edition is sooooo late in production. For the life of me - I’ve not learned how to squeeze 48 hours into every 24 hour day BUT it’s sure not from
trying!! Thank goodness I can function on limited sleep. I promise that, with Convention behind me now, things should improve. I plan to produce
the July newsletter during July -- what an original idea!! That being said, if you plan to submit an article or pictures for the July newsletter, please
have the information to me by the 16th.
Membership Report
Joel Forman, VP-Membership
Our membership numbers continue to hold at 85. I have the club trifolds that I can send to you if you plan to attend any car related functions and
want to advertise the club.
Remember - if you know of anyone looking for a premier Corvette club to join - I’ll be glad to pursue the membership lead.
Activities - Saturday Night Out 2013 CA Point Standing
Nancy Morgan
Don Parks, VP-Competition
The “Saturday Night Out” for dinner activity continue monthly.
Listed below are the upcoming dates of the dinners.
• July 20th - The Cheesecake Factory - 5:30pm
Perimeter Mall Shopping Center (near Dillard’s)
- Aug. 17th - Greenwood’s Restaurant - 5:30pm
1087 Green St. - Roswell
2013 club points has been tabulated through the June Saturday
Night Out. • Top 5 Point Positions* so far include the following:
#1 - 80 points - Jack Filippone, Stephanie Strauss (18 events)
Nancy Morgan (13 events)
#2 - 78 points - Ed Clark (15 events)
#3 - 57 points - Dan Nugent (12 events)
#4 - 55 points - Bob Sprock (13 events)
#5 - 52 points - Jim Hutchinson (11 events)
* Remember 2013 CA elected officers are exempt from earning club points.
Remember there will be a sign-up sheet passed around at the club
meeting and if you can’t be there, you can call me 404-294-0633 or
email me [email protected]. I’ll be glad to put you on the list and
give you all the details.
Competition Report
Don Parks, VP-Competition
Past Competition Events:
Mount Meridian, IN was the site for 7 High and 7 Low Speed events June 1-2 at Putnam Park. There were about 60 drivers from around the country
in attendance. It’s a fun course - several turns like just like Roebling Road. We left our car in Indiana after Putnam Park and returned the next
weekend to run in Fishers.
There were 14 Low Speed events in Fishers on a high school parking lot. It was good autocross course -- fun! It was well attended with the Indiana
folks and a few of us out of region folks.
Convention closes out the month of June with the BIG event in Bowling Green. There will be special reporting on Convention in the July edition.
Upcoming Competition Events:
There are no Southeast Region events until Labor weekend when there will be 21 Low Speed events in Knoxville, TN. Until then, there are events
throughout the nation -- consult the NCCC website for the complete list of National events.
With Convention on our mind -- don’t forget the upcoming 2014 Convention will be in Savannah. Start making your plans now - not going to want
to miss it!! The Low Speed event will be near the host hotel (you can walk to it - it’s so close); the High Speed will be at Roebling Road. There will
be no drag events as no track is close by.
2
Calendar of Events
NCM Report
June 2013
Ed Clark, NCM Ambassador
1
1-2
2
4
8
8-9
15
15
18
22
22
24-28
Galaxy Diner Cruise-In, Chamblee
14 High/Low Speed Autocrosses, Putnam Park, IN
Caffeine & Octane Gathering, Alpharetta
CA Picnic Gathering - Stone Mountain
Tucker Cruise-In, Tucker
14 Low Speed Autocrosses, Indianapolis, IN
Vintage Tour with Classic Glass
Saturday Night Out . . . - Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Atlanta*
CA Board Meeting - Blue Ribbon Grill, Tucker
Corvette Cruisers Car Show
Classic Glass Car Show
NCCC Convention - Bowling Green, KY*
July 2013
The NCM is developing a program to more effectively raise funds to
enhance current operation, develop new programs, improve existing
facilities and educational programs and to complete the overall goals
developed for the Motorsports Park. It will be a strategic campaign
approach to be sure that necessary revenues are available to
advance its mission over the long haul and will take place over
several years. The Museum has retained outside assistance to
assess its ability to meet these financial needs through philanthropy
and have begun a series of interviews with Museum members who
have been long term supporters to determine the best means of
accomplishing the NCM’s goals. A draft case statement has been
developed and mailed to the people being interviewed to explain
the proposed fund raising program and its objectives. They will be
asked questions about and comment on the case statement.
2
6
7
13
13
16
20
27
The Museum was launched with the purposes of “Preserving
the Past, Present and Future of Corvette” while celebrating the
Corvettes invention and educating the public about Corvette. It
has done an excellent job of meeting these objectives to date
and intends to improve these efforts into the future. The Corvette
lifestyle we all enjoy will be enhanced with new programs many
of which will center on the Motorsports Park including numerous
education opportunities, performance driving schools, club events
and opportunities for new Corvette owners.
CA General Meeting – O’Charley’s Restaurant, Tucker*
Galaxy Diner Cruise-In, Chamblee
Caffeine & Octane Gathering, Alpharetta
Tucker Cruise-In, Tucker
Lanier Corvettes’ Summer Car & Truck Show, Gainesville
CA Board Meeting – Blue Ribbon Grill, Tucker
Saturday Night Out . . . - Cheesecake Factory, Perimeter Mall*
Lake Oconee Lake Party*
August 2013
3
Galaxy Diner Cruise-In, Chamblee
4
Caffeine & Octane Gathering, Alpharetta
6
CA General Meeting - O’Charley’s Restaurant, Tucker*
10
Tucker Cruise-In, Tucker
17
Saturday Night Out . . . - Greenwood’s Restaurant, Roswell*
17-18 14 Low Speed Autocrosses, Grissom AFB, IN
20
CA Board Meeting – Blue Ribbon Grill, Tucker
24
6 Low Speed Autocrosses, St. Augustine, FL
31-9/2 21 Low Speed Autocrosses - Knoxville, TN*
* denotes events that are sanctioned for Club points
Peachtree Corners
Festival
Ed Clark
The Peachtree Corners Festival Car & Bike Show was held on June 8,
2013. This festival includes the car and bike show but it also has lots
of entertainment, numerous vendors selling food, handmade art items,
and all manner of other things. There are numerous activities for small
children to do, opportunities to donate blood, and plenty of things to look
at while strolling down a shaded street.
I decided to get the 1970 LT-1 convertible out of the basement and
participate in the car show. A bit of cleaning up was needed since it had
been sitting for about a month while I had been sanding an old Radio
Flyer wagon I am trying to restore for my new grandson and dust was
everywhere. I tell myself all the time the car cover isn’t needed in the
basement and someday will learn that is not a good idea. Having not
been to this event in the past, I was not sure what to expect but since the
car and bike show was being managed by the SouthEastWheelsEvents
organization I felt it would be well run and it was.
About 80 cars participated and included a wide variety of years, car
models and degree of show quality. In the group were about seven
Corvettes including C1, C2, C3 and C6 models. My car was parked
adjacent to a fully restored 1965 Mustang which won the best Ford
category. A beautifully restored 1957 Bel Air won the best Chevy award
and I think the Best of Show as well. About 20 trophies were distributed
The NCM Library and Archives has become a central repository
for Corvette related information and a source of information on all
manner of data about the car and is an important Museum function.
The NCM will also continue its current programs including annual
events held at the museum and around the country, driving training
through simulators and on track programs, student teaching at all
levels, family activities and community support such as partnership
with the Wounded Warrior Program.
An emphasis will be placed on increasing participation in the Zora
Arkus-Duntov Society. This society honors those who recognize
the importance of investing in the NCM and have included the
Museum in their estate plans. The Museum has staff that can help
set up estate goals ranging from direct bequests, to donations of
life insurance policies, property or investments, and can help with
various trusts and/or annuities. These estate plan provisions
provide the NCM with a more secure source of long term operating
funds and help avoid the uncertain turns of future economies. The
Museum may also consider expanding the kinds of things they would
like to receive as donations with examples being Corvette related
collections people have, old driver Corvette in the basements/barns,
and other items that could be added to their displays or archives or
sold to raise funds.
The initially proposed goal of the case statement is $18,500,000
of which approximately $5,500,000 has already been raised. Start
watching for the rollout of this fund raising effort and consider how
you might participate in helping the Museum toward this financial
goal. Remember every amount contributed counts no matter how
small.
in total following scoring done by knowledgeable judges. There were
also numerous door prizes handed out to participants.
I was somewhat surprised at the number of people attending the
Festival and how many came by to look at the cars, ask questions and
tell you stories of how they had/rode in/knew a friend who had one just
like yours except it was a different color and year model and may have
been a coupe. I had a good time especially with kids when I offered to
let them sit in the car and have their picture taken by their parents.
This festival is an annual event held I believe on the first weekend in
June. It is a nice one to attend even if just a spectator.
3
Trip to Greg Wyatt’s Vintage Corvettes
Submitted by Ed Clark
A group of about 20 Corvettes from Corvette Atlanta and Classic Glass got together to visit a Corvette collection in NW Georgia. Arranged by
Classic Glass, the gathering place to kick off the day was a Big Lots just off I-75 near Acworth, GA. Following a discussion of the plans for the
day, distribution of a map and separation into two travel groups, we left the Big Lots parking lot at about 9:40 am and headed up I-75. Radios were
in about half the cars and discussions on getting separated filled the airways. With quite a few cars traveling the old accordion effect resulted in
high 80s mph bursts to catch back up. We got of I-75 at Adairsville and headed west on GA 140 toward Armuchee and then went north on US 27
stopping at a filling station to let everyone catch up and make a pit stop.
A map handed out at the start showed going through Trion however the leader turned west in Summerville and apparently used a GPS for the route
selection which resulted in lots of narrow curvy roads with frequent turns. We finally arrived at the site at Greg Wyatt Auto Sales, Vintage Corvettes,
at 905 York Road, Summerville, GA and entered the grounds. The property looked to be 100+ acres of well-maintained fields with a grass runway,
a large house, numerous buildings with a consistent paint scheme and a one lane access road to the Corvette building, all very impressive.
There were about 50 Corvettes in the building, with many having NCRS and Bloomington certificates. As Vintage Corvettes is part of the name, the
majority of cars were C1s and C2s with a sampling of other years. It appeared that 1967 was a poplar vintage with several very nice examples. A
1955 looked to be a survivor car and in very good condition. There was no shortage of great cars to look at and take pictures of. A special display
was near the entrance and had in it a 1967 with less than 3000 miles. A large display board showed the many unusual features of this car. If you
are interested, most of the cars and the history of the rare 1967 can be reviewed at www.vintagecorvettes.com. The building was also filled with
automotive related signs, model car displays, an auto shop area and other things to look at including three Piper Cub airplanes and a few non
Corvette cars. After a visit of a couple of hours the group went to Jim’s Family Restaurant in Summerville for lunch.
Thanks to Classic Glass for setting this trip up and to Greg Wyatt and his wife for letting us visit. It was a good trip as the drive was interesting, the
Corvettes spectacular and the lunch good. You missed out on a great day if you didn’t participate.
Photos By:
June 15, 2013
Dave Brownell
Ed Clark
Dan Nugent
4
More Stories from Greg Wyatt’s Corvette Tour
Submitted by Dan Nugent
Saturday morning, June 15, was the start of a beautiful day when we
assembled at the Big Lots parking lot off exit #278 of I-75. Thirteen
Corvette Atlanta members joined forces with about 20 Classic Glass
Corvette Club Members on a road trip to NW Georgia to visit Greg
Wyatt’s Vintage Corvette showroom outside of Summerville, GA. The
20 cars were divided into two groups for the caravan up I-75 under
the leadership of Classic Glass using hand-held CB radios to keep
the groups together through traffic. Using a map from the Greg Wyatt
website and GPS directions it should have been an easy route to follow
once we got off the Interstate. Even though we did stop and regroup
at a Kangaroo gas station, it was not! Passing through Summerville
began the winding and narrow country roads that kept changing name,
direction, and terrain. It was a spirited ride great for Corvettes but
getting separated could result in getting lost…especially if you were
not up front! We slowed down as we approached a stone wall and gate
leading to the distant unmarked building with a grass runway alongside
and a house across from it. We had reached our destination but no
signs and no cars in sight.
Greg Wyatt and his wife welcomed us to their business and showroom
entering though his large office filled with interesting automobile
memorabilia. As we moved into the main building we feasted our eyes
on a panorama of vintage Corvettes neatly lined-up in random order.
The first on the left was the now almost famous 1967 White coupe with
2,996 original miles that was discovered after the death of its eccentric
owner last year. Everything is for sale but no prices are shown but Greg
was available to discuss and price any item of interest. There were
two very nice ’54 and ’55 Corvettes and several later C-1 models. A
black 1959 sported a big display of NCRS judging awards. There was
another 1959 with race performance options including the rare brake
cooling vents that are detachable and stored in a burlap sack with GM
part numbers on it. Several 1961 models attracted special attention
from the ladies admiring their beautiful paint and interior combinations.
1967 models seemed to be the most plentiful. There were a few nonCorvette collectible cars and 3 restored vintage airplanes that looked
very airworthy and are probably flown by Greg. On every wall were
signs, old photographs, posters, and displays of car models that
brought back fond memories from many of our members who grew up
in the 50’s and 60’s.
When we left Greg’s showroom most of us headed for Jim’s Family
Restaurant for a late lunch and some of us ended up taking the
“scenic’ route dictated by the clueless GPS programming. Corvettes
could be seen going in opposite directions along the way but we think
everyone made it to the restaurant eventually. All of which added to
the experience of exploring a part of Georgia that was foreign to most.
We appreciated and enjoyed the interface with Classic Glass members
who shared their event with us. Now we know that Greg Wyatt has a
wonderful selection of vintage Corvettes for anyone who wants to buy
or sell one in the future. His website details all his cars in inventory and
those that have been sold in recent years. Even though I have been
there twice now, I’m not sure I could find it again easily without better
maps and GPS equipment!
5
More Stories from Greg Wyatt’s Corvette Tour
Submitted by Dave Brownell
My take on our mid-June trip with Classic Glass Corvette Club was that
some other people share our interests in pretty things, some that fly,
living in a sea of rolling hills, all it carefully maintained. Greg Wyatt’s
estate combined all three of these qualities. His business is making
good things better and then finding the right customer who wants it and
is willing to pay the premium so that he can go on and do it some more.
Located in the far northwest corner of Georgia, his property includes a
few large homes, a grass landing strip and several garages and work
buildings. His business features Corvette and Piper Cub restorations,
something I took great interest in. Especially because his taste in 67
Corvettes, mostly coupes like mine, was evident in the selection of
NCRS Top Flight cars he had on display. Considering that Chevrolet
made only 8,504 of these cars to begin with, it seems that somehow
they’ve begun to multiply mysteriously, all over again. They’ve started
to be seen in national magazine ads, movies and car shows all over
the place. Greg had at least five on display, including the now famous
un-restored coupe with less than three thousand miles that has become
an internet sensation. I contemplated switching my own green 67
coupe for any one of his three in the same color, but realized it would
be milliseconds before I was found out. Once my winning lottery ticket
comes about (highly unlikely because I don’t play), his shop would be
the ultimate place to have my car restored. Until then, I will be content
to polish and tinker with it, as it sits in my humble garage. A man can
dream, can’t he? I also like small, cheap aircraft that fly slower than
most. Greg can provide some dream time there, too, with his Piper
J-3 and Tri-Pacers that were born in the thirties and forties that gave
new meaning to the saying “Go with the wind.” Everything we saw was
beautifully crafted.
But so was the drive over the north Georgia roads on a beautiful day
with friends in their special cars. I could not have asked for better. After
the tour of the Wyatt’s, I left the group and headed west to Scottsboro,
Alabama to buy a birthday gift for my son at the Unclaimed Baggage
store. The second highlight of the day was the route over the tail
of the Appalachians on a beautiful two lane parkland route. Having
a Corvette out on such a road when un-crowded is one of my life’s
highlight experiences. I fondly remember twenty or so years ago with
the 67 coupe on the Blue Ridge Parkway with nary another car in sight.
This was almost the same with a car that is forty years newer. Same
thrill, with similar memories being made.
Then it all abruptly ended once I got back to metro Atlanta. Traffic was
stopped on the upper Perimeter in both directions. I cleverly decided to
drop down I-75 to mid Atlanta and head back home to avoid the mess.
Wrong decision, the Connector was a parking lot of slow moving cars.
Heading east, another part of the Perimeter was effectively closed at
I-20 for repairs. I had to pick someone up at the airport in the early
evening and discovered that there was no practical way to avoid traffic
other than taking city streets to get there. It was times like this, that
having just been to a beautiful garage, open landscapes, and lovely
roads driven with friends, that this traffic pain would be only temporary.
Now if Chevy could just capture that kind of magic in an advertisement,
they’d sell a lot more Corvettes. Having a good one with me will preserve
the moment. I sure am glad that I went on the drive and my Corvette
must have been equally happy to come home and rest in the garage.
6
Vehicle Details: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette
Performance that makes other cars sweat
Reprinted from Chevy Happenings - June edition (courtesy of Jim Ellis Chevrolet)
A new Chevrolet Corvette is an event. Passion runs deep for this highachieving sports car among both the public and the talented engineers
and designers at Chevrolet who develop the model. The 2014 Chevrolet
Corvette Stingray made its debut in Detroit at the North American
International Auto Show in January, and the world will never be the
same when it goes on sale shortly here at Jim Ellis Chevrolet in Atlanta,
Georgia.
transmission, the 2014 Stingray features paddle shifters for manual
control.
Because there’s a relatively long period between new generations of the
Corvette, Chevrolet really sweats the details. Glancing quickly at the allnew C7 generation, the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible,
is impressive enough, but diving into the full list of changes will really
raise your eyebrows.
Chevrolet paid attention to what happens inside the Corvette at speed,
which is why the passenger has a reinforced grab bar on the center
console and the center console has soft-touch materials on its edge to
cushion the driver’s bracing during hard cornering. A smaller steering
wheel than before, now with a 14.1-inch diameter, gives the Stingray
a direct, responsive feel. An abundance of soft-touch materials and
available Nappa leather give the cabin a premium atmosphere.
It all starts with the brand-new frame that’s made from aluminum to keep
weight down and increase strength. It lends the 2014 Corvette Stingray
an unshakeable foundation, and the body is made of lightweight
materials, too. The removable roof panel and hood are carbon fiber,
while underbody panels are carbon nano-composite. The careful
attention to weight management has led to a perfect 50/50 front/back
weight distribution.
In between those new aluminum frame rails is the all-new LT1 V8. The
6.2-liter engine combines the classic packaging efficiency of a smallblock V8 with advanced modern technology like continuously variable
valve timing and direct fuel injection, and it delivers 450 hp and 450 lb/ft
of torque. That’s enough power to make the 2014 Stingray the quickest
standard Corvette ever, capable of accelerating to 60 mph in less than
four seconds. The high-performing new Stingray is more efficient than
ever before. Active Fuel Management brings cylinder deactivation to
the Corvette for the first time and helps reduce fuel consumption during
cruising.
You’ll be able to make the most of the tidily-packed engine’s big power
thanks to a new seven-speed manual transmission that ensures you
can hold the engine at the exact power level you need for the driving
challenge you’re facing. Coming out of a tight corner? With seven ratios
to choose from, there’s one that’s perfect for keeping the LT1 on boil so
you can squeeze the pedal and flex the engine’s muscle as you rocket
away from the apex. Seven speeds also means an overdrive top gear
that’s steep enough to improve on the outgoing Corvette model’s stillimpressive 26 mpg.
The new suite of standard technology doesn’t stop with a modernized
small block and a new transmission. The 2014 Corvette Stingray
features Active Rev Matching, which anticipates your next shift and
automatically adjusts the engine speed for smooth, quick, expertperfect shifts every time.
The new cockpit has been designed for more comfort than ever before
and is trimmed with fine materials assembled with careful craftsmanship.
The interior is new right down to the magnesium frames employed in the
brand-new seats, which are offered in a GT version and a Competition
Sport version with heavier bolstering.
If the stellar performance of the standard Stingray isn’t enough for you,
there’s the Z51 Performance Package that can tear up a race track
with ferocity. Included in the Z51 package is an electronic limited-slip
differential; a dry-sump oil system to ensure the engine is always
lubricated, even in 1.0g sweepers; additional cooling systems for
the brake, differential and transmission; and an Aero Package that
enhances stability at high speeds.
The 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible is perhaps the model truest
to the roots of the Convertible. After all, the first two generations of
Corvette were conceived as sports cars with folding tops, and that’s a
type of car that buyers today are still interested in purchasing. Instead
of marginalizing the chassis rigidity of the Corvette Convertible by
just hacking the roof off a coupe, the 2014 Stingray Convertible was
designed independently, right along side its Coupe counterpart. They
share the same solid structure, the same suspension tuning, the same
fire-breathing performance, and they even weigh nearly the same.
Instead of forcing compromise, the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible
gives you all the performance, plus the added benefit of top-down
driving enjoyment.
Paying attention to details is what makes some good-performing cars
into great vehicles. There is none greater than the 2014 Corvette
Stingray. For its starting MSRP below $52,000, nothing can touch the
performance of the Stingray, and because of intense attention to detail,
it’s also packing an unbeatable level of refinement, technology and
luxury.
In the new carbon fiber- aluminum- and ultrasuede-trimmed interior, a
Drive Mode Selector gives drivers the choice of five distinct attitudes
from the same car. Selecting between “Weather,” “Eco,” “Tour,” “Sport”
and “Track” adjusts the responsiveness of the controls and changes
the information the gauge cluster displays to help you focus at the task
at hand, whether that’s driving in a downpour or coming off a banked
turn at 120 mph. When equipped with the available six-speed automatic
Lake Oconee Lake Party
Nancy Morgan
The Annual Fourth-Saturday in July Lake Party will be July 27, 2013, hosted by David & Nancy Morgan from 11am until...
We will have our usual barbecue and everyone will need to bring a dish to share. Bring chairs and any adult beverages you want to drink as well
as water stuff if you want to swim. We look forward to seeing everyone for lots of food and fun.
7
Supervette Saturday
Submitted by Ed Clark
Photos By Dave Brownell & Ed Clark
The Classic Glass Corvette Club held their 30th Anniversary Supervette
Saturday Car Show in Acworth, GA on Saturday June 22, 2013. This was
a rain delay date from the previously scheduled event in May and the
weather turned out to be clear skies and a bit warm. I had preregistered
my 1970 Convertible for the earlier date and since the weather was good
I drove it to the Day’s Chevrolet site where the show was held. The GA
DOT helped arrange my route and several others as well with weekend
construction scheduled at every major I-285 interchange along my route
to Acworth so cross country on GA Hwy 92 became the alternative. Even
with light traffic in the morning, it took an hour to get there which helped
to remind me of how big metro Atlanta is and how many traffic lights
there are along 32 miles of local roads. It was a race between my clutch
leg giving out or getting there successfully.
Once at the show site and parked in the assigned place, after having the
opportunity to drive over a concrete curb and go off roading on the grass
front lawn, I did the usual quickie cleanup of the worst bug splatters,
leaves, and other dirt and dust. Then following setting up my chair and
cooler I started to see who else from Corvette Atlanta was there. Dave
Brownell was the first walking up to me and we soon found Dan Nugent
and Joel Forman as well. Ron Rotondi was also there but had not brought
his car. Dave had his 40th Anniversary C4, Dan brought his 1959 C1 and
Joel his C6.
A large bag of “stuff” was handed to each participant along with a nice
collared shirt with 30th Anniversary embroidery and a dash plaque with
similar information. It appeared that nearly 150 cars came to the show
with a good number of C1, C2 and C3 models, a fair number of C4s and
lots of C5 and C6 versions. Dan once again won best of the C1’s trophy
and Dave got second place in C4’s.
The show had several vendors on site and Classic Glass operated a mini
National Corvette Museum store. A fairly large number of silent auction
items were made available and Dave was successful in purchasing
Corvette books at a cheap price. The show was a success by nearly all
measures with lots of opportunities for renewing old friendships, making
new ones and swapping Corvette stories during the event. This was a
show with mostly boomers and beyond in attendance with their cars
although a few younger owners did show up which is encouraging.
My ride home was along the same cross country route but with more
traffic and a whole lot warmer, actually hotter than - well you get the
idea if you have driven an older Corvette with no AC and vents that seem
to draw their air from the exhaust manifolds. With newer fuel injected
computer controlled cars like my C6 making driving a pleasure in most
cases; an ornery hot carburetor, stiff clutch spring and hot vent air make
driving old ones a real adventure.
8
Saturday Night Out Mary Mac’s By Ed Clark
Saturday, June 15 was a busy day for a number of Corvette Atlanta members.
A trip to northwest Georgia to visit a Corvette collection took up most of the day
however the evening event was also special as more than 20 club members
gathered at a well-known Atlanta restaurant, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, for dinner.
If you have never been to Mary Mac’s, it is an old fashion southern cooking
restaurant on Ponce de Leon Ave a few blocks from Peachtree Street. It opened
in the mid-1940s and has gone through several ownership changes but has
remained at the same location and has kept up the original traditions.
The menu contains a large number of southern specialties, fried chicken being
well known, and seafood selections as well. Nearly 40 different sides can be
selected from and homemade desserts are available to fill up any remaining
capacity you may have. A tradition at Mary Mac’s which is a bit different is the
placing of a form in front of everyone along with the menu. A cup of pencils is
then used to give everyone a way to fill in their order which the wait staff then
collects.
Looking down the table, it seems many of the items were selected by our group
and the early on discussions became quiet as soon as the food arrived. A number
of take home box requests were made as the plates came with a lot of food on
them. I remember eating lunch there as a Georgia Tech student in the 60s and
my experience this time brought back a number of good memories.
Try to join us at the next club Saturday Night Out eating event. Nancy Morgan
has selected some excellent places for us to eat at and enjoy each other without
cars needing to be the primary topic of discussion.
What Defines a Sports Car?
Submitted by Lisa Dekalb
Some time ago Larry and I were watching a program called Chevy 100 and a comment was made that the Corvette was “the only American
sports car”. So I looked at Larry and said, “What defines a sports car?” Larry responded instantaneously, “Corvette”. Now I know he’s not biased
but I genuinely wanted to know so I did little research. So I went on a little internet adventure and here are my results.
I first looked for the definition of a “Sports Car”. Here’s some of what I found. Interesting factoid: the first know use of “Sports Car” was in 1928.
The Free Dictionary defines a Sports Car as
“An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of
gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.”
And adds (Engineering/Automotive Engineering) a production car designed for speed, high acceleration, and maneuverability, having a low body
and usually adequate seating for only two persons.”
While Merriam Webster Dictionary1 writes
“a low small usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving.”
And Dictionary.com calls it
“a small, high-powered automobile with long, low lines, usually seating two persons”
According to Wikpedia, a sports car (or sportscar or sport car [UK]) is
“ a small, usually two-seat, two-door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability.[1] Sports cars have been either spartan or
luxurious, but good handling, minimum weight, and high performance are requisite2”
“Ask Men” write:
“A sports car owes its origins to the early 20th-century practice of stripping down touring cars to create racing machines. While the term “sports car”
is loosely used to describe any fast car with two doors and a low-slung profile, one should be careful not to confuse muscle cars, grand tourers or
luxury coupes with traditional sports cars. A true sports car must be lightweight, low-slung, have only two seats, little to no cargo space, and it must
place a distinct emphasis on construction, handling and steering. The point of a sports car is to give the driver as much physical interaction with
the car as the early road racers felt from their machines. The earliest sports cars from the great European marques -- Ferrari, Bentley, Mercedes,
Rolls Royce -- were street-legal versions of their racing counterparts.” 3
And there are many opinions about the definition of a sports car on the 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum4
…. it is a car that could be driven to a race on public road. Raced, and then driven home again. The only mods would be for safety and any engine,
brake and suspension adjustments that could be made at the track without replacing a major component. Race tires could be allowed.
9
What Defines a Sports Car?...(cont’d)
…Two-seater, road register-able, topless and preferably door-less.
…Two doors, two seats and (to quote some journalist’s very valid point) NO ROOM FOR A GOLF BAG
…It has long been said that a sports car is a state-of-mind. That definition still works for me.
…In the early years of the last century, it was any car you couldn’t wear a top hat in.
Well I don’t know about the top hat, I’ll leave the Golf Bag issue for later and I’m not considering the Europeans because I’m trying to get to the
“American Sports Car” definition. But we are definitely seeing some trends here: two-door, two-passenger, beautiful lines, racing and high-speed
driving, maneuverability and handling.
So how do insurance companies define a sports car?5 It turns out someone actually came up with a real formula for defining a sports car.
By definition, a vehicle is said to be of a sporting nature if, and only if:
where
W is the weight of the car, in kilograms,
P is the power of the engine, in DIN horse-power,
S is the number of seats, and
cc is the engine cubic capacity, in litres.
The formula was developed by a “well-known’ Belgium Grand Prix driver in 1971 for the insurance industry to define ‘sports car’. You will note that
price is not a factor. This formula has since been updated, but the complexity of the new formula is daunting. This beauty of this one is its simplicity.
Just ignore the <17 part as you’ll see below.
The numbers:
Toyota TF-105 (2005 F1 Car) 0.76
Ferrari Enzo 3.71
Porsche CGT 4.38
Corvette Z06 4.4
Ferrari F430 5.3
Lamborghini Gallardo 5.39
Porsche Cayman S 7.68
Porsche 911 S 8.76
Mustang Cobra SVT 9.78
Porsche 911 (1987) 12.23
Honda Accord V6 14.23
Uh oh, isn’t a Mustang an American car? Looks like the Corvette may not be the only American Sports Car after all. So the formula doesn’t
consider price, but it doesn’t seem to consider maneuverability or handling either. Does a Mustang have the same maneuverability and handling
as a Corvette? Hmmm.
My adventure eventually lands me in an article by David Chandler of the Street Dictionary7 who writes:
The Houghton Mifflin dictionary defines a sports car as: “An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger
or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.” This dictionary
definition does not seem to capture the general perception of what the public sees as a sports car.
The Houghton Mifflin definition of the “two seat rule” seems out-of-date. Many sports cars today offer small back seats (sometimes referred to as
2+2 seating) and there is a current movement underway to increase the seating room in models long considered sports cars by most automotive
experts.
Insurance companies use their own formula in classifying automobiles and often the presence of two doors automatically makes any car a “sports
car” in their eyes. This perspective, of course, is as overly simplistic as the standard dictionary approach to defining a sports car. One can certainly
think of any number of two door vehicles that fall far short of being an actual sports car. Economy cars and even larger two-door vehicles that are
not built with power and performance in mind should not qualify as true sports cars.
Some car buffs will refer to high-performance muscle cars and other larger vehicles as sports cars. Others, however, draw a distinction between
these vehicles and “true” sports cars. These individuals will claim that a car can be a “sporting car” or simply “sporty” but still fall short of being a
true sports car. Thus, “regular” cars may be outfitted with a “sports package” and/or accessories to make the car sportier, but may not fit a strict
definition of a sports car.
Not all automotive enthusiasts, however, embrace this restrictive view of sports cars. In many circles, a sports car is any car offering greater
10
What Defines a Sports Car?...(cont’d)
performance or power than more standard offerings. This school of thought will consider muscle cars and other larger vehicles designed with
performance in mind as sports cars.
Others will maintain that the distinction between a sports car and any other type of car lies in how the car’s suspension and handling are addressed.
Technical debates rage over whether various suspension packages qualify as belonging to true “sports cars.”
Some will argue that a sports car can be defined by its intentions. If the car is designed for performance more so than for utility, they say, it is a
sports car. This intent-based definition, however, provides little guidance in determining whether a car is a sports car or not. Particularly in the
modern era, the notion of designing a car of any sort without significant consideration of its feasibility and utility seems unlikely. Any commercially
viable vehicle, regardless of its performance, must retain significant utility.
Road and Track, a leading automotive publication, summarizes the sports car definition debate with a simple observation: “Ask five people the
exact definition of a sports car, and you’ll likely get five different answers.”
There is no clear-cut definition of what really is a sports car. The restrictive definitions of the past seem ill suited to categorize today’s’ diverse
automotive offerings and common usage of the term runs contrary to most long-held definitions.
There is, however, a common thought that seems to run through almost all of the outlooks on the meaning of “sports car.” If a car is designed
with high performance or race-like capabilities in mind, it can probably be safely termed a sports car. Some purists may balk at such a liberal
perspective, but alternative definitions fall far short of accurately distinguishing sports cars form regular production models.
While we ponder this, I’ll offer this little tidbit to get a rise out of my feminist friends. Yes there are apparently still Neanderthals out there who think
like this:
A sports car is the ultimate automotive expression of masculinity. Having only two seats means that only the driver and his female companion
may ride in the car. The lack of any cargo space or utility functions allow a man to drive without giving much thought to anything save the road
ahead. These are important elements to keep in mind as you read the latest sports car reviews on AskMen.com. The sports car screams virility and
adventure -- something every man instinctively craves. Thus, are we really surprised that James Bond is seen at least once per film in the latest
sports car? Of course not. 8
Ok, this vitriolic notwithstanding, Ask Men did get to the crux of the problem: “one should be careful not to confuse muscle cars, grand tourers or
luxury coupes with traditional sports cars.”
Therein lays the real problem: what is the difference between a sports car and muscle car.
Remember, according to Ask Men: “A true sports car must be lightweight, low-slung, have only two seats, little to no cargo space, and it must place
a distinct emphasis on construction, handling and steering. The point of a sports car is to give the driver as much physical interaction with the car
as the early road racers felt from their machines.”
More research later it turns out that a muscle car meets all the criteria of a sports car except for this very critical thing: maneuverability and
handling. At the end of the day, it would appear, only the Corvette meets all of the requirements for a sports car and thus may actually be the only
true American Sports Car.
But we still have that issue with the top hat and the golf bag.
The top hat problem is easy: put the top down. But the golf bag? We’ll, having put two cat carriers, a sewing machine, several pieces of luggage,
a small cooler, a bag of cat food and a litter box in the trunk of Larry’s Corvette I’m pretty sure I could get a golf bag in there, if I had a mind to. So
you can’t get a golf bag in your Corvette? Get a new hobby.
And a new hat while you’re at it.
1
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sports%20car
2
Wikipedia quoting, Csaba Csere and Tony Swan (2005-01). “10 Best Cars: Best Luxury Sports Car”. Car and Driver. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
3
http://www.askmen.com/cars/keywords/sports-car.html
4
http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9072
5
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_insurance_companies_define_sports_cars#ixzz1umPgJewz
6
http://www.casact.org/library/astin/vol18no2/175.pdf
7
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/57052/performance_cars/definition_of_a_sports_car.html
8
http://www.askmen.com/cars/keywords/sports-car.html
Old Car Trivia...
Q:
What was
the first
official
White
House
car?
Submitted Jim Hutchinson
A:
A
1909
White
Steamer,
ordered by
President
Taft.
Q:
Who
opened
the first
drive-in
gas
station?
A:
Gulf
opened up
the first
station in
Pittsburgh
in 1913.
11
June & July Birthdays
Bill Cowan.............................. June 4
Tricia Dooley.......................... June 5
Ed Clark................................. June 6
Lanie Bevan Sprock............... June 8
James Hill.............................. June 9
Orlando Blancato.................. June 17
Judy Hill................................. June 18
Dan Nugent........................... June 24
Druce Dooley......................... June 25
Jim Gowan............................. June 29
Martha Murphy...................... July 6
Hermine Pasternack.............. July 6
David Morgan........................ July 8
Mitch Anglin........................... July 21
Scott Baize............................. July 22
Matthew Murphy................... July 26
Larry Vaitkus.......................... July 29
Liz Baxter............................... July 30
Larry Narwold....................... July 31
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y’ALL!!
FCOA Members Brittan Hill July 20
June & July
Anniversaries
Jim & Mickey Hutchinson............June 8
Jack Filippone & Steph Strauss....July 6
David & Judy Adcock...................July 11
CONGRATULATION!!
Remember that this is a new feature in the newsletter.
If you have not provided your info yet and want to be
listed here, please submit your date to the editor!
Web Sites:
Corvette Atlanta – www.corvetteatlanta.org
- www.facebook.com/groups/CorvetteAtlanta/
NCCC – www.corvettesnccc.org
Southeast Region NCCC – www.ncccsouth.com
NCM – www.corvettemuseum.com
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12
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