Hi Vetters,
As the sign said at Roger’s Corvette Center "Corvette Rules Daytona 24 Hours". It was a cool wet weekend, my first trip to the 24 hour race. I had a great time watching the cars being worked on and raced. The Parade Lap we did was fun, but when we got off the track we were shocked to find that they had stopped all the vettes after the C-5’s. Many cars came from other states to be in the Parade Lap. There were a lot of disappointed people including the C-5 group.
We are planning some road trips for our club members to get out and have some fun. March has a number of events. Please check the calendar in our newsletter or our web site. Please try to attend some of our events. If you have something special you would like to do please let us know. The 2nd meeting in March will be held at Michael’s, open menu.
I just sat down to finish writing this report, but it is not easy. The CNN News just reported that Dale Earnhardt, Sr. has passed away from injuries received at the crash in the Daytona 500. It’s a great loss to the racing world. I am thankful I got to see him at the C5 Registry dinner two weeks earlier.
"GOD BLESS YOU, DALE"
WAVIN-2U SAVE THE WAVE
LET’S GO FOR IT,
Dan
We have 155 members to date. Our newest members are Scott Dewey and Jim Maloney. Make sure you introduce yourself when you see them.
Coming up in March is the Regional Banquet and Fun Rally. This is being held up in St. Augustine across from the World Golf Village. I hope you are all planning to go. The rally is Saturday afternoon and the Banquet that night. We are staying at the Comfort Inn. Its not too late to register and come out and have some fun!
I know that this has absolutely nothing to do with membership but I have to say that I have been shaken by the death of Mr. Earnhardt. I was not a fan but nonetheless I feel a certain kind of loss due to his death. The sport of car racing has always been a dangerous one. But this hits so close to home. After seeing him at the C5 dinner just 2 weeks ago and watching along side my fellow members as he drove the # 3 Corvette in the Rolex race. I have watched for years, and never understood, the devotion of his following. I have seen the glow on my friends faces when Dale would muscle his way to get into the lead. He was one great driver and I will miss him too. He made it exciting to watch. I know the National Corvette Museum is taking donations to place a brick in his honor. I will be a part of that drive. Please keep the Earnhardt family in your prayers.
So back to membership….
Just a note: if you see a guest come into a meeting, please encourage them to sign in and take some time to try and make them feel comfortable. We can be a bit scary to people who don’t know us!
I still have some merchandise for sale. So, if your interested just see me at the meeting.
Well that’s all for me. Hope to see all of you out at our events in the next couple of months.
Save The Wave!
Lisa
OK, things are starting to happen during this early part of the new year 2001.
On the national scene, the new issue of our Blue Bars magazine has been mailed and hopefully has been received by most of you. If you are relatively new to the club it may not yet have been sent your way. I bring this up because in the magazine there is a pretty good run down on the upcoming NCCC National Convention being held this year in Bowling Green.
This year’s National Convention might be a good one to attend. Unlike most of these conventions where there generally is one host club, this one is staged by a number of clubs from across the nation and all at the home of the Corvette and National Corvette Museum. What better place? OK, maybe Las Vegas or the Florida Keys would be good too. Anyway, this convention is open to all National Council of Corvette Club members. That means you and me and all of our CFCA club members.
It’s a party with lots of people just like you and me, and something going on all day for each day of the week. Theme parties of some type every night, all the racing you can stand, road rally’s so that you can see some of the beautiful Kentucky country side, and tours of Corvette plant, Corvette museum and Holley, makers of the world famous Holley carburetor. In addition, there will be tours to take in different and sundry shops in Nashville, the Maker’s Mark Distillery, area caves and on and on.
The autocross events are being held at some neat tracks. The High-speed event is being held at the new Nashville Superspeedway and the Low speed event is being held at the Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green. The trip up to Beech Bend is worth the price of admission in and of it’s self.
If you have never been to one of these shindigs come on and join in. These events seem to bring out the best in people, cars and fun. When they are well attended as I expect this one to be, it’s a great experience. You’ll get to rub shoulders with all the movers and shakers of the Corvette movement and see some of the best cars in the country. You may even win a new Corvette, if you buy a raffle ticket of course.
At this time, I don’t know who from our club is going yet, but we can discuss this at later meetings. One thing that the Blue Bars Magazine did not have in it was the Registration Form. I have these and you can either see me at the meetings or just call if you want one. I will also try and have some copies of the magazine article on the convention for those that haven’t received their Blue Bars.
So… talk to your friends in the club and see if any want to share a room or caravan up to Bowling Green and take in what I believe will be a great party on June 23-29.
Jon
I couldn't possibly begin this report without mentioning the great loss that the entire automotive racing community has suffered with the death of the most prolific competitor in NASCAR history, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Nothing to do this weekend? Not if you're a Corvette owner in Central Florida! No matter what your interests are… drag racing, autocrossing, car shows, swap meets, you name it… there is plenty to keep you busy in March.
Car Shows…
Sat, 3 Mar - NFCA & JCC Corvette Show, Prime Osborne Center, Jacksonville, FL
Sat, 17 Mar - Cruisers for Kids Charity Car Show, Waterford Lakes Mall, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Registration 7:30 to 10:30 day of show. Pre-Registration fee (prior to March 3rd) $12, Late Registration $15. Send fee, name, address, phone, vehicle make/model, to "Cruisers for Kids", PO Box 421981, Kissimmee, FL 34742.
Drag Racing…
Fri, 2 Mar - CFCA Drag Racing Night. Meet at Builders Square at 5:45. Caravan to the Orlando Speedworld at 6:00 PM. $10 per person to race or watch. Hutch & Joe Stillman will provide tips for first timers and trophys will be awarded. If you've never tried it, here's your chance.
Parades…
Sat, 17 March - Clear Channel St. Patricks Day Parade, 3-4:30 PM, Stage on Amelia St west of Orange Avenue. (See President Dan for more details)
Professional Racing…
Sat, 17 Mar - 49th Annual Superflo 12 hours at Sebring. CFCA to meet at the Cracker Barrel off Kirkman Road at 5:45 AM and depart at 6:00 AM for Sebring. Be sure to get your tickets before March 1st from Sebring International Raceway (http://www.sebringraceway.com/) as prices go up after that.
Autocross…
Sat, 10 Mar - NCCC Florida Region Spring Rallye, St. Augustine. 7 sanctioned events (FL008-014 - NFCA, CFCA, FCCC, TCC, ACC). Registration 11:30-12:45, 1st car out 1:00PM. Event pkg $35 ($30 if before 2/17/01). Flyer at http://www.nfca.net/upcoming_events.html
Sat-Sun, 24-25 Mar - Bay Area Corvette Club Low Speed Autocross. 14 NCCC Sanctioned autocross events.
Contact Roger Michaelsen, 941-748-7380, email rogeram@tampabay.rr.com or Robin Dickinson at zzrracer@tampabay.rr.com for more info.
Swap Meet…
Sat, 24 Mar - Daytona Spring Spectacular. CFCA meets at 7:30 AM at Lake Mary Rest Stop on I-4, Caravan departs for Daytona at 8:00 AM. $25 parking fee at Daytona.
Point Standings (as of 2/18/2001)…
General Membership:
1 Hutchinson, Patti 144Board Members:
1 Hutchinson, John 145Don't forget you may check your CFCA points status at any time in the Members Only section of the CFCA web site.
Have a great month and remember… keep the shiny side up!
Hutch
CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE
Rolex24 at DaytonaMy experience started at 4:30 a.m. , Saturday, February 3rd, 2001. I didn't get to sleep much Friday nite, constantly anticipating the high expectations of getting on the track at Daytona. So when the alarm sounded, I was up immediately. A group of us met at the Lake Mary Rest Area to caravan over at 6 a.m. It was a fun and cool trip with the weather in the lower 50's.
Getting there as early as we did allowed us to take up positions up near the front of the huge mass of corvettes. The staging was set with Z06's up front, followed by all millennium yellow cars, and then an unbelievable number of C5's of all colors and various stages of customizing. I had the opportunity to discuss with other driver's, the pluses and minuses of what they had done to enhance their cars. Everyone was excited and looking forward to their up-coming experience of driving the road course. After getting registered, which was an unbelievable slow process, we began getting the word that we should get to our cars to prepare for the Parade Lap.
Now, the moment had come, the engines started and the sound of over 350 corvettes made your hair stand on end. I know everyone had visions of what it would be like to get on the track. The track crew did a good job of keeping us in line, but there were times when we could get on-it and get up to 70-80 mph.
All in all, it was a great experience. Afterwards, some went to the infield, while the rest went up to the sky boxes to watch the start of the race. Then the rain's came and I decided to head home and watch it in comfort on television. The sound from those cars was unbelievable as they barreled down the back of the oval, past the grandstands and sky boxes.
When I awoke Sunday and found Corvettes still going strong, I was ecstatic. Then as the race leader broke, and Corvette took the lead, it was amazing. I watched as they, the number 2 and number 3 corvette took 1st and 2nd in class and 1st overall. What a day and a dream for Team Corvette, it finally came true.
Proceeds from HOG Run Presented to Mrs. Russell
This month’s "Rumblings" focuses on GIVING. On Wednesday, 2/21, Mr. Dan and I attended the Orlando Harley Owners Group meeting.
Dave Richmond, representing the Orlando HOG spoke about the forthcoming 100th Anniversary of Harley Davidson in 2003 and also the 50th Anniversary of Corvette. His comment: "Seeing that long line of Corvettes participating in an event such as this makes you proud to be an American."
Despite the inclimate weather on the day of the event, $12,096.76 was raised and a check presented to Mrs. Russell. Dave joked about the Corvettes showing up with their tops up and heaters on.
As she accepted the check, Mrs. Russell said, "the children enjoyed the ‘racket’. The Corvette cars are beautiful." She asked everyone to please come and see the Day Room, which this event made possible, saying, "this is the most wonderful thing ever done for me."
For CFCA’s participation, a check for $100 has been presented to the Russell Home by the Orlando HOG in the name of CFCA.
-Gary Wollenhaupt, Editor, CFCA Review
Due to the response of Earnhardt and Corvette fans everywhere, the Museum has begun a memorial brick fund to honor Dale Earnhardt for the love and pride he shared with not only NASCAR, but the Corvette community as well. In honor of Dale, we hope to provide a lasting memorial tribute at the National Corvette Museum for everyone who loved and admired his competitive spirit and love of racing. He will truly be remembered as someone who gave all they had to give. Dale was clearly a hero and example to many, and on behalf of the Museum we offer our prayers and condolences to the Earnhardt family and all who loved him. Donations to the memorial brick fund may be made on-line via the NCM secure server at: https://www.corvettemuseum.com/earnhardt/donation.htm
NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM
MEMORIAL BRICK FUND
A Corvette owner himself, Earnhardt also shared the common thread of "Corvette" lover, racer and enthusiast. He made two special appearances at the Museum to meet and greet fans in 1997 and 1998. He left a mark with so many who had the opportunity to shake his hand, and come face to face with the man they respected and recognized as the "Intimidator".
MARCH Birthdays
Julie Lamar - 3/2 Sue Lowrie - 3/5 Jon Gardner - 3/6
CFCA CENSUS
We receive many inquiries about the make-up of our club as itHere’s our "census" as of February 2001
|
Year |
"Generation" |
Count |
Percentage |
|
1953-1962 |
C1 |
4 |
4% |
|
1963-1967 |
C2 |
6 |
5% |
|
1968-1982 |
C3 |
19 |
17% |
|
1984-1996 |
C4 |
53 |
46% |
|
1997-2001 |
C5 |
32 |
28% |
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