Minutes of the July 2002 Meeting
by Ron Bone
The parking lot at Me N’ Stan’s restaurant snagged several Corvettes, including three ZR-1s and a primo ‘58, on the evening of July 10, 2002. Twenty-five members were in attendance for the monthly meeting not counting Dennis the Menace and Bonnie, who sneaked into the parking lot in their snazzy ’62 just in time for the cruise afterward.
President Randy Wagner opened the meeting at 8:00 P.M. sharp. He mentioned an upcoming trip to Sheridan, Wyoming on July 13. The calling tree will pass out details.
Members of the show committee will travel to West Yellowstone on July 19 to
attend to some last-minute details. There will be a show committee meeting at Valentine’s house that evening. Preparations for the show are coming along nicely.
Randy brought up the need to support our sponsors by attending the monthly meetings. In addition, sponsor’s nights are shown on the calendar. These nights will be a time dedicated to supporting sponsors by just getting together for dinner. Come on out and help us keep the sponsors who make our show and Christmas-time family giving possible. The calling tree will disseminate details.
“Corvette Lady” Janet Miller said there will be a caravan to Boise for their Vette Fest on July 25. Contact her for details about how to join in if you’re going. Janet also reminded us of the Taylor Chevrolet Car Show and Cruise on August 15. There will be lots of activities, including go-carts and the hugely popular run-an-engine-to-destruction contest. Wayne Valentine announced that the contest was off because he had sold the car, but backed down when Janet said that the contest would be held anyway, using Wayne’s Corvette.
The next monthly meeting was set for August 14 at Johnny Carino’s restaurant in Idaho Falls at 7:00 P.M.
New members David and Susan Woods were welcomed to the club. Their ’91 was one of the ZR-1s in the lot. Now for a word to the wise. David relishes quick sixteen-hour trips to the top of the Grand Teton and back in his spare time, so bragging about your jog along the greenbelt isn’t likely to impress him.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M. for a cruise.
July
Bonnie Fikstad 22
August
Brian Novak 1
Jeff Zollinger 3
Brian Forman 6
Lori Walsh 11
Fred Hughes 13
Ron Bone 19
David Wood 20
Ben Sanchez 27
Club Sponsors
We would all like to thank Janet Miller for all the work she has done collecting sponsors. It is time-consuming and tedious work but she has done a great job. Kudo’s to you.
$250
Snake River IBA
323 W. 145 N, Idaho Falls
Zollinger Construction
950 Green Haven, Idaho Falls
Medicine Shoppe
50 S 2 W, Rexburg
Me and Stan’s Restaurant
Rexburg
Horkley’s Self Service
39 S 2 W, Rexburg
$200
Rexburg TACO TIME
274 S 2 W, Rexburg
$50
M & M Bennett Apts
2205 Craig Av, Idaho Falls
Dee’s Towing
56 S 3 W, Rexburg
Big Jud’s Country Diner
411 W 7800 S, Rexburg
Bell Builders
851 S Hwy 191, Rexburg
Taylor Chevrolet
871 S Hwy 191, Rexburg
Relay Station
593 N 2600 E, St. Anthony
D & R Specialties
Carlson Corvettes & Classics
Custer Battlefield Trip
by Debbie Morris
We had a small group on this trip to the Battlefield but we had a great time. The trip was really laid back and relaxing. We stopped at interest points along the scenic byway through Wyoming where we say some beautiful country and enjoyed great hospitality of the small town where we stayed. The cafe didn’t serve drinks but they found a pitcher of Margaritas for us somewhere to take to our rooms; they would pick up the pitcher later. Some service!
The Battlefield was really interesting. We listened to lectures and took tours, and then we went onto the Battlefield by ourselves to better understand the battles. It was well worth the trip.
We stopped at a museum on the way to Billings, where they had preserved and had on display old buildings. The last morning we split up and went home our separate ways. We had great weather and great company for the trip.
ZR-1s Rule Warm River Shootout
by Ron Bone
July 20th started innocently enough. A few club members meeting at the Relay Station for brunch generously spiced with camaraderie. Then a little drive to a destination known only to Trish. Sunny day, great temperature, rags-down cruising.
But beware, folks. There’s something in the flapjacks at the Relay Station that starts those competitive juices flowing. Within minutes of our leisurely drive to Warm River, Trish set a brisk pace up a winding logging road heading generally in the direction of Robinson Creek. Some would say the pace wasn’t brisk enough, but that would be the flapjacks speaking.
Soon we reached the end of the pavement and turned around. Someone remarked how deserted the road had been, and within minutes Trish had a real white-knuckled drag race organized. Meanwhile, seeing the infestation of ZR-1s present (three, no less), this writer and his L‑98 searched quickly for a graceful exit.
Now I don’t know what you’ve heard about Fred Hughes, but the man is not easily intimidated. At least not when he’s driving Wanda’s C5 convertible. Fred mounted a brave challenge to David Woods’ ZR-1, but found out that David had a little too much at work under that clamshell hood.
Meanwhile, Doc Barton tried to explain to Thor Miller why, when it comes to ZR-1s, red is naturally faster than green. However, Thor was having none of that and proceeded to carve a notch in the Red Baron’s tail feathers using the Doc’s own scalpel. Judging by the crowing he did afterward, Thor just may be part bird. Rumors were that Doc was just a tad off his tune, or couldn’t find second gear. Whatever the case, we probably haven’t heard the last of this duel.
More Calendar Info
For more information:
August 8 Show Meeting: contact Rich & Linda Moore 357-7573 or Wayne & Pam Valentine 356-5204.
August 10 Open house for Pete and Marie Bargman, Newdale City Park, contact Dick & Trish Bargman 458-4671.
August 16 to 18 Road Rally: contact John Hansford 456-2560 Teton Valley Rotary Club Sponsor.
August 17 Taylor Chevrolet Show & Cruise: contact Janet Miller 356-6600 work or 356-8678 home.
August 17 Blues Cruise Show, Poker Run, and Bar B Q. Live music good company, $8.00 entry fee per person contact Steve Hansen 524-5747.
August 23 – 25 Wild West Vette Fest 2002: contact Rich & Linda Moore 357-7573 or Wayne & Pam Valentine 356-5204.
September 6 – 8 September in Seattle contact: Trish Bargman 458-4671.
Your calling tree people will try to call you before each item on the calendar, but that is not always possible, so be sure to keep track of these activities.
Free Party for Pete
Dick and Trish Bargman invite you to the Newdale City Park for an open house Saturday, August 10 from 7 p.m. until dark. Come meet son Pete’s new bride, and stay for some food, cake, volley ball, conversation, and at dark we will have fireworks. Everyone is invited. No presents please, just your presence.
A Don’t Miss Meeting
The next Wild West Vette Fest meeting will be Thursday, August 8 in Freeman Park Shelter at 7:30 p.m. Also, the Gray Wolf is completely filled (no vacancies). The Yellowstone Lodge is taking reservations if anyone needs a room.
Linda
Praying for Jeremy
We send our prayers and good thoughts to Bill and Carol Merrell’s granddaughter, Jeremy. Jeremy turned nine years old three weeks ago. She had a stroke at her birthday party and is now in Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. She is making good progress and we wish her and her family well.
Boise
Vette Fest 2002
by Janet Miller
This year’s Boise Vette Fest
theme was “The Spirit of America.” Sam and Janet Miller, Thor Miller, Bruce and
Connie Barton, David and Susie Wood, Tommy Taylor and Mary Beth, Fred and Wanda
Hughes, and Bill Waters all left on Thursday (some from Rexburg, some from
Idaho Falls). We drove across the desert at the speed of light with three ZR-1s
and a Grand Sport leading the pack. We drove through two thunderstorms but
missed the nasty dust storms. Steve and Becky Hadlock and their ’63 arrived just
before the dirt started to blow, but their sons were caught behind the 12-car
pileup caused by the zero visibility when the dust storm hit the freeway. They
had to wait two hours for the cleanup. Todd and Pam Packer, Dave Gomez, and
Renata Waters were already in Boise. (Ask Renata about walking the freeway at
night.)
Thursday night most of us
dined at a little Mexican place where Jose gave us all plenty of good food and
some Mexican drinks. Meanwhile it rained again so hard that you couldn’t see
across the street.
Bob and Julie Thompson
arrived Friday morning in time to join the road tour. Some drove the auto cross
and some cheered them on. On Friday afternoon at Firebird Raceway, Thor, Bruce,
David, Fred, Bob, Todd, Dave, Steve and his boys all took several runs down the
track. The stands were full of screaming Rexburg/Idaho Falls fans. Thor’s first
run in his recently purchased ZR-1 was 94 mph. After being advised to “turn on
the power key” he ran 109.76 in 13.67 seconds. Bruce and David raced well over
the 100 mph speeds also. While a small group overcome by hunger left for Jakers, the remaining racers made
East Idaho proud. Fred had a sure win but forgot to take his foot off the gas
and apply the brake to keep from breaking out. Bob raced right up to the last
race and only lost by one tenth of a second. Bummer! The steaks and company at
Jakers were great.
Saturday morning we washed
our cars for the fourth time. All 14 Southeast Idaho cars were shined up and
spotless and represented our club very well. Unfortunately none of us won the
bright red 1999 Vette that was given away at the show, but the weather was
great.
Next was a Bar-B-Q in the
park and then we lined up for the parade through downtown Boise. Corvettes were
lined up two-abreast for miles.
We ended up at the Doubletree
Riverside where the Boise Club met us waving American flags. It was
spectacular! There was a dance with a live band, red, white, and blue balloons,
and party favors everywhere. Prizes were raffled off during the breaks. President
Randy Wagner and Joyce arrived for the dance. Randy said that his brand new
front spoiler lost in a battle with a box on the freeway.
It must have been Todd’s
birthday because the band played happy birthday and everybody sang to
him. Some in our group even won raffle prizes.
The Sunday brunch continued
the Spirit of America theme with red, white, and blue Corvettes parked in the
banquet room. Hadlock’s white ’63 and Barton’s red ’94 were among the chosen
few to be parked in the room. The Idaho National Guard posted the colors and
there were several speakers including Dick Guldstrand. Our group did well when
it came to trophies with the Millers, Hughes, Packers, Bartons, Waters, and
Hadlocks winning trophies. The rest won cool participation plaques that look
like the new Corvette license plates that will be available next year. The best
surprise was when our club won the Club Participation trophy with 13 cars. We
were all so happy that we took a group picture with our trophies.
Everybody said they would
return to Boise next year and that the rooms at West Coast Suites were very
nice and the continental breakfast had lost of goodies. As you can see, it was
a great show and we all had a good time.
P.S. At the brunch we all
said the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and we included the words, “one
nation under God.” We also sang God Bless America.