March - Down the Road Corvettes

DtRC President
Les Rhoades
Believe it or not, winter is almost over for us
here in Colorado. The first day of Spring I was
out at my first Cruise-In of the season and that
got me thinking about making sure my car was
ready to the demands of the summer driving season.
If you’re like the typical car nut, you don’t drive
your collector car very much in the winter due to
the bad or cold weather. It’s probably been close
to five months since you put your car away for
its winter nap and now you’re dying to get in and
drive it. Unfortunately, letting a car sit for five
months may lead to some problems the first time
you take it out for a drive. Our Corvette rested
for the winter on the old worn tires ( three plugs
in the left rear) so last week I equipped it with
new Michelins for this year’s road tours.
Denver Colorado
Next Meeting: April 23,, 2015 (7 pm)
4th Thursday of the month
Emich Chevrolet
2033 S. Wadsworth Lakewood CO
Dinner before the meeting: 5:30 pm
Olive Garden Restaurant
7655 W Alameda Ave Lakewood, CO 80226
Continued next page
april 2015
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Continued from cover page
Here’s a quick check list for evaluating your
Corvette pre-drive to prevent your first outing
from being a bad one.
Transmission: If your car has a hydraulic clutch
(man car) make sure the fluid is at the recommended level. And even do a shade tree mechanic fluid replacement to keep the containments at a low level. I have a step by step article
for reference if you need it.
Motor: Change the oil and filter and look for
any leaks. (or have your mechanic inspect the
underside of your car) Check all the belts for
wear, damage and hardness, replacing any that
look bad. Check the rubber hoses on the motor;
Look for cracks, leaks and hoses that are too
hard, and replace as necessary. Remove the air
intake setup and check the air filter for cleanliness. Remove dirt and debris from your radiator.
DtRC Mystery Meals
Date: Saturday April 18th 2015
What: Mystery Meal sponsored by Michele
& Walt Curtis
Where: Meet at McDonalds in Parker at
Parker Road and Crown Crest - just off E470 we've met there before for Collette's MM
When: Saturday, April 18th, 2015 meet at
11:00 AM. We will leave at 11:30 AM (come
hungry to eat)
Why: Feel the need to eat !!
What to Wear: Jeans can go here just fine!
Michele & I have planned a fun day that will end on a
sweet note. No, we're not leaving the State this time !!!
Tires: Check the tires for damage or wear. If
they are wearing on one side ( or on the inside)
it’s time to take it in for an alignment. Check the
side walls for dry rooting. Inspect the tread for
nails or other foreign objects.
Date: Saturday May 16th , 2015
What: Mystery meal hosted by Leo, Lynn
Ann & Coop.
Where: Rally point, Castle Rock McDonalds,
When: 7:30am, departing at 8am SHARP!!!.
Battery: Make sure the battery will hold a
charge, and that it is fully charged. Check the
battery cables for corrosion and clean
as necessary.
This mystery meal is limited to 27 members so
sign up early.
This simple check list will help you find potential looming problems. Go through each system
carefully, and then you’ll be ready for you first
spring drive.
See ya Down the Road!
Les,
BRING YOUR RADIO(s)!!
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www.dtrc.club
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March DtRC Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Members: 20 & Guest: 1
Minutes Report: The minutes report for February was read
and approved. Motion from Barrett to approve minutes. Voted
& Approved.
Treasure Report: The treasure report was read and approved.
Motion from Barrett: To approve the treasure report. Voted &
Approved.
New Business Club Insurance: The Club was reinstated to
NCCC for 2015.
NCCC Governor: Jack nominated Walt, no other members
were nominated. There was a unanimous vote from the Club to
elect Walt Curtis as our 2015 Governor. Walt will use his
address for NCCC correspondence. We welcome Walt as our
Club NCCC Governor.
The By-Laws were tabled until the April meeting for approval.
The final review of the By-Laws will be voted on at the next
meeting.
The Club voted to have the May Day Rally on May 31, 2015.
The poker game will be sanctioned. Motion from Barrett: To
approve Rally date and sanction poker game. Voted & Approved
The Club voted on a budget of $400 for Rally trophies and
mugs. NCCC Rally Master; Les, Chairperson: Walt. Motion
from Dave B.: To approve the trophy budget of $400. Voted
& Approved
Vice President’s Report Due to scheduling conflicts the Car
Show date is moved to September 12th. The club is pending
Emich Cheverlot’s approval to host the Show on the new date.
Motion from Barrett: To approve the new Car Show date.
Voted & Approved.
Museum Ambassador Barrett announced that Mike S. is the
official contact member for the NCM. Following the election
of the Club NCCC Governor, Barrett will change the NCM
roster to Walt as the official NCM contact. Remember the
Club has six free passes to NCM. 2015 Arctic White Convertible, Tickets $10, the car raffle will be announced on
4/25/15; Barrett sold a lot of tickets. The winner is……? The
10,000th Museum delivery was a lucky person from Aurora,
Colorado.
Sergeant of Arms, Nothing to report.
Social Committee
April 12th; High Planes Race Track; sponsored by Emich
Chevrolet.
April 18th; Mystery meal hosted by Walt & Michele. Rally
point, McDonald’s, 9160 Crown Crest Blvd, Parker, 80138.
11:00am, departing at 11:30am. Following the mystery
meal the Club will drive to Pueblo and watch the Pueblo
Drag Races. Bring your radios and a cushion if going to the
races!
May 16th ; Mystery meal hosted by Leo, Lynn Ann & Coop.
Rally point, Castle Rock McDonalds,7:30am, departing at
8am SHARP!!!. This mystery meal is limited to 27 members
so sign up early. Don’t forget your radios.
June 13th; Royal Gorge train ride Canon City; Club seating
is $47 per person; Reservations must be made by 5/30/15.
Call 888-724-5748 or 719-276-4000; Ref. confirmation #:
266399. Rally point, Castle Rock McDonalds, 10:30am,
departing at 11:00am. Lunch will be at Rudy’s BBQ Restaurant, Colorado Springs. Dinner plans will be announced
at a later date. Don’t forget your radios.
June 25-28th ;Lake Tahoe Corvette Show (laketahoe.org)
Tahoe, UT. Contact Mike and Jackie for trip details.
June 26 & 27th; Denver welcomes the Mecum Auction.
July 11th; Purifoy Car Show; Ft. Lupton; will meet at Cabalas. Details will be announced at a later date.
July 22-25th; Corvette Vette Fest, Boise, Idaho. Contact
Mike and Jackie for trip details.
Next Meeting & Club Dinner – April 23, 2015; Emich
Chevrolet; 7pm. The club will meet for dinner at
5:30; Olive Garden, Alameda & Wadsworth.
Meeting adjourned
DtRC Secretary,
Kelly Rhoades
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Barrett Benson
Email: [email protected]
corvettemuseum.org
1-800-538-3883
NCM COMING EVENT
- - - THE BASH
Each year the National Corvette
Museum plans several events for us
to enjoy, and 2015 promises to be
exceptional as enthusiasts will see the new 2016 C7
Stingray up close, and get all the latest info on the 7th
Generation.
Kicking off this season, the April 23-25 NCM Bash
features speakers discussing chassis, powertrain, interior, design and electronics. GM engineers and designers from Warren Tech Center, Milford Proving Ground
and the Bowling Green Assembly Plant will be ready to
answer all your questions.
There will be seminars by: Specialist Paul Koerner
who is extremely knowledgeable about C4 thru C7;
Corvette Race Team Manager Doug Fehan; Corvette
Driver Tommy Milner; Corvette Crew Chief Dan
Binks; and Dave Wickman from GM Milford Proving
Ground.
NEWS & NOTES. . .
NOTE: I hope to have $10 raffle tickets at
our April meeting, tho the Corvette model,
color and equipment haven’t been announced.
The drawing for the yet to be revealed Corvette
most likely will be during NCM’s Labor Day annual birthday celebration. Stay tuned for further
details!
Also on the agenda are celebrity-choice
car shows, guided road tours, Corvette
Store fashion show, and the Ladies’ Oasis.
The popular Garage Party has been expanded to include women of the GM CorvetteTeam who will cover all aspects of
Corvettes including maintenance, engineering, and high-performance driving.
Golfing returns this year with Corvette
Racing and GM Teams.
Online registration closes April 11th and
you can register now on the NCM site
www.corvettemuseum.org Click on
events, select NCM Bash, registration link
is just above the agenda. Registration
cost: Lifetime $15 prepaid, Member $20
pp, and Non-member $30 pp.
Photos by Les Rhoades
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When was the last time you really inspected your wheels and tires?
Leo Lamanuzzi
DtRC VP
One of the most important items we can
check on our Corvettes is tire pressure. At
the very least tire pressure should be checked
when cold, early morning is best, once a
month. Underinflated tires decrease handling and leads to poor fuel mileage and premature tire wear due to increased heat.
It’s recommended that tires are rotated to increase tread life BUT with newer Corvettes
this can no longer be done due to specific tire
placement on your car.
When you do go shopping for tires DO NOT
LOOK AT PRICE ALONE. You can go
online and see what is available for tires for
your Corvette and also see what people are
saying about specific tires.
When you do purchase your new tires have
the car’s alignment checked and tell the person doing the alignment how you drive your
car. This will help in the setup, front and
rear, and if you don’t drive very aggressively,
the set up can also increase the tread wear on
your new tires on your Corvette.
If and when you take the wheels and tires off
your Corvette for a good cleaning and inspection please use a torque wrench when
wheel nuts are replaced. This does make a
difference.
Just a side note, Tires manufactured after the
year 2000 have a four digit number on one
side of the sidewall. This tells you the date
of manufacture. The first two digits are the
week; the second two digits are the year.
Be safe and enjoy your car!!
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Mike and Jackie Malouf and their new C7 Convertible
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Kitchen Tips
Roasted Peppers Salad
LynnAnn
This tried and true recipe is one of my favorites. It’s sure
to be a big hit at family reunions, get-togethers, or parties.
I like a combination of red and yellow peppers, but one or
the other alone will do fine.
Ingredients:
4 whole red bell peppers (or 2 yellow, 2 red)
½ cup pure olive oil
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
Sicilian dry-cured black olives, pitted and halved
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Warm Green Beans and Potatoes Insalata
Heat broiler, then place whole peppers on lowest rack
from heat; turn them often until the skin is charred and
blistered, about 10-15 minutes. (Use tongs to turn, so
peppers won’t bruise).
Remove peppers and put in a heavy paper bag, closing
tightly so steam won’t escape. Place bag in a bowl, and
let cool.
Using your fingertips, scrape the seeds from the cooled
peppers, and peel away the charred skin.
Carefully tear the peppers in long strips, place them on a
decorative platter, and cover them with olive oil.
Scatter the remaining ingredients evenly over the peppers,
cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour to
blend flavors.
LynnAnn
Serves 4-6
1 pound fresh green beans, tips removed, and
snapped in half
½ pound small potatoes, unpeeled
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons wine vinegar
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon or more dried oregano
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Pinch of dried red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Steam the beans for 8-10 minutes, until tender.
Drain and place on a serving platter.
Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain (do not rinse),
let cool, and then cube, leaving the skin on. Add to
the green beans.
Using a large spoon, gently toss the beans and potatoes with the remaining ingredients.
Serve the salad at room temperature or refrigerate
for a marinated flavor.
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Corvette
Parts
Resource
www.cultragfactoryparts.com
Welcome to the newly founded CULTRAG Performance. Formerly doing business as GM Parts
House since 2006.
GM Parts House was doing business through various GM dealerships. In October of 2014 a new
company was founded, CULTRAG Performance.
We have also created a new division of the company which we dubbed the Factory Parts Division.
Contact the DtRC President
for coupon code
The CULTRAG Performance Factory Parts
Division will be teaming up with additional
manufacturers of other makes and models to
bring you the same great pricing and customer service from the people you're already
comfortable doing business with.
Our business is popular on many forums, car
clubs, websites and businesses throughout
the world. Our customer service and dedication to our customers and their needs is well
known and our top priority.
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Saddle up, Partner…It’s Rally Time!
By Walt Curtis
Saturday, March 14th was a clear cool morning when Michele & I headed for Lone Tree
to meet Russ & LaNae Steinhaus for the
RMR rally. After coffee, greeting friends,
registration, tech and drivers meeting, 21
corvettes were dispatched 3 minutes apart.
Michele & I were the 3rd car out. As we
were heading out, Coop showed up. He hadn’t found a navigator, so he stopped by to
say “hi”.
Michele was a little nervous since she had
never done a rally before. The 1st instruction
on the list was SSS (straight @ stop sign).
So far so good. Before long we were finishing the 1st page of the directions with a
“Bear Right” as our next direction. We’re
both feeling super, we found all the answers
and filled in all the blanks! Then it happened, we’re 2/3 down the next page and
haven’t found a single answer. Flip a Uturn, back to the last spot we knew we were
on the right track. Still can’t find any answers for the clues. Then Michele discovers
we don’t have page 2 in the directions!!!
Another quick -turn and back to the start.
When we pull in there are only 3 cars waiting to leave. Pete Urenda (Rally Chair) asks
“what’s wrong?”. It was kind of fun watching the color drain from his face when he
realized there were 15 cars on the course
missing page 2. Pete started calling everyone, I think I saw smoke from his fingers at
one point! Soon we have page 2 in our
hands and we’re off again.
The rest of the rally was uneventful (we did have to make a couple
more U-turns). But we finished and had a great time. Like Autocross,
Michele & I have been bitten by the Rally bug. Going to be a fun summer!!!
Come join us.
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The First Day of
Spring 2015
The Friday Night SONIC Cruise-In has started
hat’s right folks…as far as my part
of town is concerned the official
start of the car showin’ season started Friday March 20th at 4:45PM. My Sonic
Cruise-in is held every Friday night at
Tower and Hampden in Aurora. The first
day of Spring is now behind us and it’s
time for everyone to dust of their cars, un
plug the battery trickle charger and get
ready to rumble.
Jack, Copp, Leo, and Les behind the camera
If you have never been to a cruise-in, it’s
not too late. Make 2015 a season of firsts.
Join up with some friends or just go alone
and park your lawn chair in front of the
car. You will not be sitting alone for long
as soon someone will be by to chat you
up. One word of advice; you don’t have to
be the Wikipedia of all hot rods, but do
know a little about your own car. You will
be asked what the official color name is,
how much horsepower under the hood,
how do like the tires and many other obvious questions.
Study up, pack up and get out there!
Submitted by; Les Rhoades
Cruise
Time
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Raceway Park
Traxxas, the Fastest Name in Radio Control,
has secretly been working on a new Raceway Park in the open spaces of eastern
Aurora Colorado. Armatures and professionals brace yourself for a state of the art
raceing faculty coming to Colorado. The
expected opening of this multifunctional
facility is in June 2016.
Many fans know that NHRA has signed a
multiyear agreement with Traxxas, the leading manufacturer and seller of high performance radio-controlled vehicles, but what others may not know is Traxxas wants to break
into the road racing and oval stock car speed
events. It appears the company expects to
expand its sponsorship to all levels of the
automotive racing experience.
“Traxxas comes to Colorado not only as
marketing partners, but as longtime fans of
the sport,” said Mike Jenkins, owner and
president of Traxxas. “The extreme horsepower, speed, and excitement of open Road
Course and Oval Track Racing is a great
match for the performance we build into
our radio-controlled products.”
The initial design of the Raceway Park combines a demanding 1.75
mile road course that connects to an oval speedway to maximize the
use of the 600 acre layout. There will also be an area designated exclusively for radio controlled (R/C) vehicle racing. There is enough
room at this massive facility for a challenging golf course and clubhouse. The Raceway will open with future development of the golf
to conclude after the Grand Opening of the Raceway. Details of the
course designer has not been released at this time.
Mike Jenkins, owner and president of Traxxas
This Raceway Park will bring more racing opportunities to the area
while combining the excitement of the small oval track racing venue
of Colorado National Speedway and the thrills found at the road
course of High Plains Raceway.
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Car shows — Rally’s — Parades — Stuff to Do!
Rocky Mountain Region NCCC Events Calendar
Web link: http: www.rmrnccc.org
First Saturday of every Month
Golden Super Cruise Golden, CO
If you find an interesting event you think the club would want to
know about please send the information the newsletter editor
Montrose Car Show
Special category for the corvettes only… Montrose car show/
Drive in movie with all hot rods from the valley
Those who went two years ago had a super fun time and fellowship. Well I am going to see if the club would like to have
us do this again Depart 7am Park and ride Thursday June
4th 2015 arrive at Grand Junction around 3 to 4pm Lunch on
the ride there.
I will make reservations for 10 rooms in Grand Junction
Friday 5th leave early to go to Gateway to visit the car museum. Club discount rate / or spur of the moment choice of
fun run. Arrive 4pm in Montrose/ Street car show for business Dinner at the BBQ on the street. Reservations Black
Canyon Motel
Saturday 6th on the field 7am Super car show lots of raffle prizes lots of fun. Dinner Saturday afternoon then off to
the Drive-in Car show/ car show starts at 6 pm at the drivein . The concession stand kids pick out the cool cars and
awards too. Spots fill quick! Movie will be announced later. I
think the club needs to have a little fun.
Sunday get rolling back home
Contact Mike & Jackie Malouf if you want in all this fun
stuff. I will set it all up for you... We have been going for
12 years and will not miss this one.
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ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD TRAIN RIDE
WHEN:
WHERE:
JUNE 13, 2015
3:30PM DEPARTURE TIME, CLUB CAR ACCOMMODATIONS
PLEASE ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 2:45PM TO BOARD TRAIN
CANON CITY, COLORADO
TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL 1-888-724-5748 OR
1-719-276-4000.
WE ARE UNDER RESERVATION # 266399
COST PER PERSON FOR CLUB SEATING IS $47.00
YOUR RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN MAY 30, 2015 TO ENSURE WE
ARE ALL SEATED TOGETHER.
TRAIN RIDE IS APPROX. 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES ROUND TRIP.
WE WILL MEET AT THE CASTLE ROCK MCDONALD’S TO DEPART THERE FOR OUR
TRIP. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE LUNCH AT RUDY’S BARBECUE ON ROUTE 24 JUST OUTSIDE COLORADO SPRINGS. TIME TO MEET AT CASTLE ROCK WILL COME AT A LATER
DATE BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE THINKING 11:00AM. WE WILL SEND AN EMAIL OUT
WITH DEFINITE DEPARTURE TIME AT A LATER DATE.
WEBSITE IS: WWW.ROYALGORGEROUTE.COM
COME JOIN IN ON THE FUN!!
YOUR CONDUCTORS,
LEO & DAVE
P.S. ANY QUESTIONS, CALL DAVE…..
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It's the perfect place to browse
HOURS
hundreds of the year's new
vehicles!
Wednesday, April 8 – 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday, April 9 – 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday, April 10 – 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday, April 11 – 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday, April 12 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Located at the Colorado Convention Center, the Denver
Auto Show is the premier showcase of the newest model
year import and domestic vehicles -- cars, vans, crossovers, hybrids, light trucks and sport utilities. You'll not
only see all the newest models, you'll also be treated to
sneak peeks of selected intros, concepts, and the latest in
tricked out cars!
It's the perfect place to see the latest examples of fuel efficient technologies and aftermarket accessories. Factory
representatives from the car lines are on hand to answer
your questions in a no pressure environment at the Show.
There are cars to suit every budget and life style at the
Auto Show. With the car lines all under one roof, it's
easy to compare prices and features, saving both time and
money. So come sit in the cars, pop the hoods, inspect
the trunks, kick the tires. The Denver Auto Show is great
entertainment for serious shoppers, car buffs and the entire family!
*Box Office closes 1 hour prior to the end of the
Show each day.
ADMISSION
Adults
$12.00
Children (6-12)
$6.00
Children under 6 Free
*Wednesday is Military day! Active and retired
military personnel with appropriate military ID
(white active duty or blue retired military cards)
admitted for free!
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Contact DtRC Docket newsletter editor for registration form
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Featured Car:
1966 Chevrolet Corvette Resto Mod
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lingenfelter engine, LS6
- Tremec T56 6-speed transmission
- Paint and body prep by Luan Trecey at
Luan's Toy Shop in Arvada, Colorado
- Body retains original lines
- Tubbed fender wells
- 1967 Corvette Stinger hood
- C5 Corvette door handles
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DtRC introduces our new Club Web Site
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The Danger of
Texting While Driving
Texting behind the wheel combines visual,
manual and cognitive distractions.
2x
Text messaging doubles the risk
of a crash or near-crash
26%
Of all motor vehicle
crashes in 2014 are estimated to have involved
cellphone use
5 seconds
The average time your eyes are
off the road while texting. When
traveling at 55 mph, that’s like
driving the length of a football
1 in 4
Teens respond to a text
message once or more
every time they drive
44
10%
The number of U.S.
States that currently
ban text messaging
Of parents admit they
have extended, multiple
-message text conversations while driving a
vehicle.
itcanwait.usaa.com
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January 2015
Jack & Ingrid
Coop
February
Colette
March
Les & Kelly
April
Bill & Cathy
July
Walt & Michele
May
Barrett
August
Paul
June
Leo & LynnAnn
September
Mike Finlay
October
Russ & LaNae
Club Member Birthdays
January
6 - Ingrid Tryon
13—Christy Geisert
15 – Russ Steinhaus
June
3 – Nancy Burritt
3 – Walt Curtis
13 – Dave Cooper
18 - Mike Malouf
February
12 – Mike Davis
March
10—Mike Finley
25 – Joe Babish
27 – Cynthia Kilbourn
April
17 – Karen Babish
May
1 - Wanda Chadwick
7 – Lewis Kilbourn
19 – Gail Krusen
31 – Barett Benson
July
1 – Mary Davis
2 – Bill Schultz
19 – Dave Chadwick
24 -Tom Johnson
28 – Don Roach
31 – Jani Shoemaker
31 – Mike Shoemaker
August
13— Mark Geisert
17 – Kelly Rhoades
25— Diane Johnson
September
2 – Les Rhoades
6 – LaNae Steinhaus
October
2 – LynnAnn Lamanuzzi
12 – Cathy Schultz
26 – Jackie Malouf
26 - Muff Davis
28 – Terry Cooper
28 – Michele Wensel
November
2 – Tanya Roach
4 – David Burritt
17 - Jack Tryon
22 – Jacqueline Estlund
December
17 – Jackie Finley
19 – Colette Moger
19 – Leo Lamanuzzi
28 – Paul Estlund
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Classified Listings
Want to Advertise?
If you are a member of Down the Road Corvettes, you may place a For Sale or
Wanted Ad for any Corvette related item(s) in our newsletter for free.
Business Cards are also welcome to be featured.
Submissions must be received via email to the editor. [email protected]
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Denver Colorado
DtRC Docket
April 2015
Find us on the Internet:
www.dtrc.club
www.facebook.com/downtheroadcorvettes
Visit our Sponsor: Emich Chevrolet
www.emichchevrolet.com