Hail from the Chief

By Lynn McKinlay and combined Meeting Minutes by Betty McKinlay

Vice President Wayne Valentine took care of the December meeting at Johnny Carinos. There were about 34 members present.

It was reported that the Christmas shopping for families went well. It was estimated that eight families would be helped this year.

Tommy Taylor suggested that a P.A. system be looked into for next year's Wild West Vette Fest as it is hard to hear at the show. Pam Valentine was asked to check into the price of small two-way radios for the driving range.

Brian Novak said the elections would be at the next meeting. If you have aspirations please let him know

A commemorative stamp was discussed and partition was passed around.

Presents were exchanged with some games. Fun was had by all that attended.

Next meeting will be at Remo's Restaurant on January 10, 2002 at 7 p.m.


Desert Corvette Association's

"Desert Storm"

Each year DCA (Desert Corvette Association) has hosted a summer event in Phoenix, AZ called Millard Fillmore Corvette Classic. That event has proved very successful for the club attracting 300/400 Corvette's in spite of it being during the heart of the Arizona summer.

Due to our past successes DCA has decided to expand our Corvette fun to all by offering a winter event in 2002 called Desert Storm. It will be held February 8,9 & 10 and will include AutoCrossing, Drag Races, Carshows, Hospitality Night, and a Wild West Casino Night. We anticipate 180 racers and 400+ entries for the car show, drawing thousands of people to the Tempe City Park for viewing.

Tempe City Park is a two-mile waterway surrounded by a 220-acre park as the centerpiece of Tempe, Arizona, and Arizona State University. The winding pathways, flanked by picnic groves, make a fitting venue for the Heartbeat of America Car Show and the greatest place to enjoy the Valley of the Sun. So, lay down your blanket or take a cruise on the Tempe Lake. It will be awesome!

The car show will include:

Corvette Displays

Corvette Evolution 53-02

Corvette Pace Car Display (all years)

ZR1 Display (all years)

Corvette Race Cars

Fuel-Injected Corvettes 57-65

Additional Chevy Displayed

55-57 Chevys

55-58 Nomads

58-64 Chevys

67-69Chevelle

SS 396s Camaros

Additional Special Interest Displays

Police Vehicles

Fire/Ambulance

Highway Patrol Cars.

The Corvette Evolution Display will provide an opportunity for a charity fundraiser. We're planning to set up the Evolution Display on the ball field with a single monitored entrance. The charity personnel will staff the area and collect a $1.00 contribution to view one Corvette representing each year and style produced and offered to the public from 1953 through 2002.

This new event is scheduled during the best of times for Arizona. In two or three years this three-day event will become another Hot August Nights with people all across America planning for that years Corvette Vacation. This is going to be BAD. Don't miss it. Chevy Iron Rules. 

For complete information go to: www.vette.org/DesertStorm 

Did You Know

by Egon

Well most of the Vettes are in hibernation for the winter. It has been a good Vetting year. So for the next few months I thought I would offer a few hints for the "daily driver" that must run all year long.

About 90 percent of car owners just jump in and away they go ­ maybe checking the gas gauge, maybe not. After all a $20 thousand car should not need anything else, right?

Too bad the full service gas stations are gone for the most part. Yes, cars need a lot less TLC than they did 25 years ago. When was the last time you turned on all the outside lights and gave them the once-over? Now you can do the four-way flashers. (I know a woman who doesn't even know what four-way flashers are! I know, it's a man with an open overcoat standing in the intersection of 17th and Holmes at 5 p.m. slowly turning around.) You might be surprised that you have some lights burned out.

Next let's lift the hood and do a check. Or if someone is lazy, they can take the car to a "fast lub" and let them check under the hood. You need to check the freeze protection level of the coolant this time of year. Also this time of year in slushy weather you will need more washer fluid, so check that. If the heater is not working as well as it did last year, it could be because of the coolant level in the radiator being low, nothing more!

I recommend that you roll up a blanket and place it in the trunk just in case you're stranded someplace.

Ok, now we should be ready for winter driving.

Help Please!

From: Lnlipsitz@aol.com

Subject: Help with my 1969 L-88 Corvette

Hi. My name is Larry Lipsitz, and I live in St Louis, Mo. I hope you can help me. I own a 1969 L-88 Red Roadster, which I've been trying to trace the history on for the last six years.  Recently I met someone who directed me to a past owner, and now I have spoken with many people who have owned the car as far back as 1979.

Someone who didn't realize what he was buying purchased the car new in a small town in Idaho in early 1969. The 1979 owner actually spoke to the mechanic who prepped and serviced the car, but he can't remember the dealer or the town's name.

My quest is to find the names and locations of the dealers back in 1969.  With this info the owner from 1979 should be able to recognize the dealer or Town. Please let me know if you know of anyway I can obtain a listing of the dealers from 1969. If not, even a list of today's dealers may help.

Thanks and I hope to hear from you.

Thank You for Great Trip

A BIG thank you goes to Mary Kay (and Marvin) Bennett for a wonderful trip to New Mexico. The trip was a great success. Mary Kay was amazing with her preparation. She had the best places to eat all figured out and ready for us. The country was spectacular, and the weather even cooperated!

Mary Kay it would be a pleasure to follow you anywhere, anytime. Thank you so much.

Brian & Bev, Wayne & Pam, Bill & Carol, Bill & Lollie, Bud & Betty, Richard & Debbie, Trish & Lori

California Trip?

By Trish Bargman

When is a good time to go? That is the big question about the club's major trip this summer or fall. The times that would be the best to go for everyone seems to be either just after the 4th of July or the end of September.

That brings up a problem for me. My July is going to be taken up with the International Dance Festival in Rexburg. Normally this would not be a problem, but this year because of the air conditioning of the Hart Building on BYU Idaho campus they are trying a "road show" approach and taking the festival to Boise, Pocatello, and then back to Rexburg.

The upshot of the thing is if you all want to go in July, you will need another organizer. I could and would be glad to organize the trip in late September.

It is possible that we don't need a major trip this year too? Maybe we could be happy with some of Farrell's wonderful weekenders! Anyway, please think about it and let me know your feelings either at the meeting January 10 at Remo's or give me a call at 458-4671.

I know some of you might be thinking that Linda Moore could take over but just think about it! She and Rich are the chairs for the WWVF and will have their hands full. Any volunteers? Or do you prefer to wait until September -- or wait until next year? Let your thoughts be known.



Christmas Santa Shopping

I guess first that I have to apologize for the mix-up on the date of the shopping. After the November meeting I realized that the day we planned to go was same day Carol and I would be in Denver at the Bronco game. I quickly got a hold of Lynn, Randy, and Jim to explain and change the date. I am really sorry if some did not get the e-mail correction Lynn sent out or didn't catch the date change in the newsletter that Jim nicely sent out early for that reason.

Anyway we had a nice turnout and ran around in Fred Meyers filling up baskets and taking over a register for about three hours. We had eight families this year and six seniors. That is the most that we have done. The one thing that we did a little different was we didn't get as much for each family as we have in the past. We made sure that we took care of their needs and got some wants also, but we didn't overwhelm them as I think we have in the past. As we thought about it we realized that if we come in one year with tons of things and then next year they have to go back to nothing, we might not be doing as much good as we would like. This way we can take more families and seniors and spread the spirit of giving out a little better. Next year we should be able to adopt even more families and seniors.

Thanks go to Bev and Brian for the use of their house to do the wrapping. We had pizza for lunch and finished the wrapping. All in all it was a nice day with some great people. Thanks for all the help. I have to give special thanks to Ron Bone, Cassia and Jeremy Merrell, and Justin and Ashley Schmitt. Ron not only helped shop, but he also helped wrap. Egon and Marvin have helped shop before, but they have not wrapped! Cassia, Jeremy, Justin, and Ashley are our elves. They give advice on what is 'in' and help with the stocking stuffers.

Trish Bargman



Free Fun!

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Be on of the lucky ones to work, play, and help create the Club's WILD WEST VETTE FEST!

It just keeps getting bigger and better, so we need all the help we can get. There will be a short meeting after the general Club meeting on January 10 at Remo's. We invite all of you who are interested to stay for a few minutes and sign up for a committee. The profits from this show enable the Club to sponsor families for Christmas. Thank you in advance to all Club members who volunteer help and support for the show.

Show Chairmen: Rich & Linda Moore Co-Chairmen: Todd & Pam Packer

January Birthdays

Sam Miller, 2
Karen Hansen 2
Mary Zollinger 3
Bill Martin 3
Debbie Morris 5
Richard Moore 10
Wayne Valentine 12
Claudia Sanchez 16
Wayne Ramsey 28