To Our 23rd Corvette Weekend July 10-12, 2009.
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Bowling Night
And The Pear Blossom Parade
The evening of March 15th, Lava Lanes in Medford was the site of our Monthly Social and Bowling Night. As Jeff Gerber, our V.P. said, "There were approximately 14 of us that bowled that night. We also had the pleasure if meeting Joe and Pat. They are a very nice couple thinking of joining our fine club. I had the winning scores of the evening, and later we ate dinner at Donnelly’s Sports Bar and Grill. Great Fun, Great Food, and Great friends, that’s the way it is, and the way it ought to be. "
And Then on Saturday April 12th, ten cars, ranging from a 1954 to a 2006, met at the Rogue Valley Mall at 8:00AM to participate in the Medford Pear Blossom Parade. This is an annual event that the club has participated in for years. It is great fun to see the folks lining the streets waving and smiling as we go by. The older ones perhaps remembering a Corvette from thier past, and the younger ones, with wide eyes dreaming of someday owning one of thier own. This years parade, unlike last year when it rained, featured beautiful sunny weather. In fact due to the temperature in the low eighties, and a very slow parade pace this year, Jim's beautiful black '62 literally lost its cool, and coolant, and had to be pushed to the side, halfway through. Fifteen manpower, (but very little torque), quiuckly got him off the parade route and into the shade. After a short breather, he was again up and running and was waiting for us at a small local car show that we visited briefly. From there we went to The Roadhouse Grill, (another tradition), for good food and a critique of the parade. The Pear Blossom marks the start of Summer, and all the fun Corvette events to come.
(For more photos of these two events, click on Picture Gallery to the left.)
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Spring Mountain And The C6RS
I just returned from another great Corvette Track Days at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park and Advanced Driving School, located in Pahrump, NV, just 55 miles west of Las Vegas. http://www.springmountainmotorsports.com/ This is a regular event, bringing together about 120 Corvette owners and thier cars, ranging from bone stock, to Corvettes modified to within an inch of thier lives. And driver experience ranging from absolute novices, that have never been on a track, to real "track dogs". Drivers are seperated into groups depending on experience and comfort level, so that everyone gets to experience the real capabilities of thier great Corvettes on Spring Mountains' super 3.1 mile track. The excellent instructors from the Advanced Driving School are on hand all weekend to offer advice and ride alongs if desired.
Of course the main activity at Spring Mountain is the Driving School. There are programs ranging from a One Day Performance Driving School through the Three Day School that really teaches you how to get the most out of your Corvette, and along the way, make you a better, safer driver. The schools feature a fleet of new C6 Z-51 Paddle Shifters and Z-06s. In addition they will soon be receiving three new ZR1s. I did the the three day school in 2003 shortly after getting my new 2003 Z-06, and I must say it was great and well worth it.
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The school also just took delivery of thier brand new Pratt & Miller C6RS. This car is production number 002. Gary Pratt got #001, and Jay Leno got the pre-production prototype. I was fortunate to be invited to attend the public introduction of the new C6RS at a coctail reception, Friday evening at the Silverton Hotel & Casino in South Las Vegas. What a gorgeous car!!
Pratt & Miller builds the C6R for Corvette racing as well as providing pit crews and logistic support for the cars for Corvette Racing in the American LeMans series, and at the 24 Hours of LeMans in France. They are now building a fully street legal version of the C6R, by taking your new Z-06 and totaly rebuilding it into the C6RS.
This is how they describe it on thier website http://prattmillerc6rs.com/
"Conceived, designed, developed and constructed by the championship-winning Pratt & Miller team, the Corvette C6RS bristles with sophisticated materials and race-inspired technology. Pratt & Miller can take your Corvette Z06 and transform it into a C6RS supercar. The aggressively styled lightweight body, made entirely of carbon fiber, measures 1.6 inches wider than a production Corvette Z06. The carbon fiber front fascia has integrated brake ducts and ram air induction. Aerodynamic enhancements include functional front fender louvers, a carbon fiber underwing and rear diffuser, enlarged front wheel vents and rear brake ducts, an integrated rear spoiler, and a front splitter.
Powered by a Katech Performance 8.2-liter (500ci) all-aluminum small-block V-8 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. torque, the Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS employs a purpose-built carbon fiber body to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic efficiency. A computer-controlled adjustable suspension system, center-nut forged aluminum BBS wheels with Michelin tires, and massive Brembo monobloc disc brakes enhance vehicle dynamics. A two-tone leather interior and a comprehensive sound control system produce a quiet, comfortable environment for driver and passenger."
I did get to sit in it, but unfortunately not to drive it. I must say that the custom seat covered in super soft French Stitched leather, fit me just fine, thank you. And then, the next day I got to watch it absolutely blow by me on the track.
Eventually as new owners take delivery of their new C6RS from Pratt & Miller, they will be offered the opportunity to learn to drive it, out at Spring Mountain, using this C6RS #002.
(For more photos click on Picture Gallery to the left.)
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One of our members, Andy Anderson, has launched a new web site selling Corvette parts.
Visit www.corvettehorsepower.com/Index.aspx and check them out.
As Andy says: "Please visit the website and take a look at what we offer, just because you don’t see what you need does not mean we don’t have it available. We will be adding new products and web pages every week for many months to come. Not only can we sell you parts for your Vette, but can provide you price quotes for nearly any part for any vehicle you have. Please give us a call and tell us what part(s) you need and we will get you a price quote."
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COMING EVENTS
Saturday May 17, 5:00PM - SOCA Monthly Social
Miniature Golf - Dinner Following
Valley Fun Center - Central Point
Sunday May 18, 8:30AM - Mystery Cruise
Call Greg Danner For Info
Saturday May 24 - 69th Azalea Festival Car Show
Brookings, OR - 541-412-7731
Or Call Greg Danner
Wednesday June 4, 7:00PM - General Membership Meeting
Live Oak Grange, 120 Gardiner St. - Rogue River
Saturday June 7, 10:00AM - 3rd Annual Candlelighters Fun Day
Rogue Federal Credit Union, S. Pacific Hwy, Medford
Flyer
Saturday June 15, 8:30AM - Father's Appreciation Day Breakfast And Run To Lost Creek
Willy's Tavern, Hwy 62 - Medford
Saturday June 21 - Monthly Social & Poker Run
12:00 - Meet At Miguel's, Eagle Point
6:00PM- Dinner At Guadalajara, Shady Cove
(Information on all these events and more can be found by clicking on the events link to the left.)
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A Big Thank You
I want to acknowledge the huge contribution that Jeff & Jody Gerber have made to this web site. Almost all of the pictures of our events have been taken by Jeff & Jody. They take a huge number of photos of each event, I can then pick and choose what goes into our picture albums. Wow, what a great job! Thanks to you both for a super contribution to the club.
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This Web Site is here to provide news, enjoyment and info for our members and website visitors. If anyone has any ideas for stories, or has any articles, news clips or photos that may be of interest, please send them to me, and I will try and get them posted.
Your Webmaster,
Len Atlas (expilot)
expilot@sovette.com
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