CORVETTE CLUB OF RICHMOND

Joy Bowman wrote me today saying: “Mann,  Here is the article that is going out to the magazines about the 50th”

By Paul Williams

How to Celebrate, Corvette Style

Classic Corvette Club “Saves the Wave” for 50 Years in Richmond, Virginia

When the Corvette Club of Richmond (CCR) was organized in 1960, the then-current Corvette came with a 283 cubic inch engine, three speed transmission, drum brakes and a base price of $3,872.  The most popular color that year was white, followed by “Roman Red”.  The dazzling display of Corvettes at the group’s 50^th anniversary celebration held June 26 highlighted the marque’s succession of styling, engine, suspension and other upgrades over five decades.  The progress coincides with the development of CCR itself, one of the oldest and largest Corvette clubs in the nation.

“This is about the unusual longevity of CCR, and the fact that it has become very social, of interest to couples,” said Ray Wells, a past president and go-to guy for all matters Corvette, as he contemplated the celebration. The venue was the Sheraton Park South Hotel, decked out in ‘50s and ‘60s memorabilia covering each era of the club’s storied history. The car display highlighted milestone Corvettes produced over the years.

Other exhibits included trophies, photos, artifacts, old publications and other historical items. Under clear skies with temperatures in the nineties, the seven-piece “Hubcaps”, Southern Entertainment Hall of Famers from Maryland, played period-correct music.  Food, drinks and dessert flowed from afternoon until evening.

Current club president Rob Bickert presided at the event.  Roc Linkov, Events Manager at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, provided keynote remarks.  Linkov explained new Museum initiatives including availability of track insurance, assembly line photos, club visits, and the construction of a new motorsports track.  CCR is committed to strong support for the Museum, and many members take delivery of their Corvettes in Bowling Green.

50^th Anniversary chairwoman Joy Bowman (with husband Bobby, owners of ‘58 and ‘99 convertibles) and committee worked tirelessly for over a year on the event, promising a party to remember.  She wasn’t kidding.  Nearly 200 attended the event, out of 370 current, dues-paying members, reflecting CCR’s rapid growth in recent years.

The club started with ten founding members and little formal organization. Several early leaders and members attended the event.  Early member Sandy Thompson eagerly described her 1970 454 C-3, which she has owned for 38 years.  When Gil Ozmore joined in 1964, there were 35 members.  By the time he served as president in 1998-99, enrollment topped 150.  “Everyone knew everybody then,” Gil remarked,  “We thought about capping it at 200 because we did not want to lose the camaraderie.”

Today’s club members pick and choose from a variety of signature social, service and travel activities.   Major 2010 activities commenced with a Valentine brunch at a local country club.  The “Bunny Run”, held in March, delivered over 1,000 therapeutic stuffed animals to Children’s Hospital in Richmond.  “The club used to race their cars more; now we do more a variety of things, usually as couples,” said six-year member Rich Mathis, who recently ordered a 2010 Grand Sport.

The group provided parade cars for local holiday events and the Richmond International Raceway in May.  “Show and shine” events are held spring and fall at Heritage Chevrolet in Chester.  Other sponsors include ZIP Products in Mechanicsville, who hosted a roundup that attracted 100 Corvettes this year.  An overnight event in June took members to the cool Blue Ridge Mountains, where they viewed classic cars and auto memorabilia in Floyd and the Sink collection in Roanoke.

Taking advantage of one of the country’s great historic rivers, members float miles down the James River in July, and participate in a fall cruise to Smith Mountain Lake.  The year’s calendar winds down at the “Urbanna Oyster Festival” in November and a Christmas formal.  “The thing about it is, you can pick and choose what events appeal to you,” says longtime member Duane Maloy, himself the owner of two rare ZR1s.

Earl Smithson, current vice president and restorer of a big-block midyear car, said of CCR’s milestone celebration, “This is just fantastic.  I can’t say enough for Joy and her committee for all the work they have done for over a year in planning this thing.” Certainly that night he was preaching to the converted – or newly converted.  “There aren’t many social organizations that manage to stay glued together for 50 years…something has always been there to keep it going.  It must be the car,” opined Mann Duff, who joined in 2009.

Today’s Corvette contrasts sharply with 1960’s model:  430-plus horsepower aluminum engine, six speed transmission, sophisticated handling and state-of-the art electronics.  But like CCR’s mix of traditional and new events, the event’s display of mostly newer, lawn-parked Corvettes at the Sheraton showed their lineage-long hoods, molded bodies, V-8 power, and no more than two seats.  Red appears to remain the favorite color.   “All Corvettes are red,” declared a beaming Paul Murman, past president and owner of a Z06 and a convertible, as he surveyed the celebration, “except those that have not been painted yet.”

Paul and Lore Williams of Petersburg, VA, CCR members since 2007, are owners of a 2008 Victory Red coupe.  For more info on CCR, visit the website at www.corvetteclubofrichmond.com.