Corvettes of Southeast Idaho
www.srv.net/~csei/csei.htm
Spring is coming!! Can you feel it? Show me the sun, SHOW ME THE SUN. There,
now my spring dance/chant is over, hope it helps. Things are going fairly
well I think. Our cars are getting ready for the big summer (Including a
move to their new home). The 85 was just painted in November by Alan Steel
of Idaho Auto Arts. It sure looks good, I can't wait to get it out of the
garage. First though, I have to tear apart the seats and fix the air pumps,
bladders and such so they can get recovered. It should be Looking Good!
We had a great turn-out for our sweetheart brunch. Over 30 people attended
and had a great brunch. The food was good and the meeting short. Thanks to
Lori Walsh for helping out with the flowers , fresh carnations were delivered
to the Shilo just before brunch. All ladies in attendance received one.
With spring coming, it's time to start thinking about what to do with ourselves.
Egon has some great ideas and has started firming up dates. However, he would
really like some input from you. Any ideas of what we could do as a group,
short cruise you would like to take, restaurant you would like to try, give
him a call.
Also, we would like some help in developing a calling tree. We need several
people to break the club into groups. They would phone their group when notified.
It really doesn't take too much time, and with the new local calling area,
not many long distance calls! We also need one person to act as the "Paul
Revere" and activate the calling tree. If you have any interest, please give
me a call. Well, it's late for me and I really can't think of anything else
to say, so.....'Vette on dudes!!!
DUES
are Due!!
Check your address on the outside
of this newsletter (label). If there is a "+" after your name, this could be your last newsletter. Don't let this happen, send in your dues right away. $25.00 for a year of fun!
March Birthdays(1)
| Mary Kay Bennett | March 5 |
| Dick Bargman | March 16 |
| Linda Swanson | March 16 |
| Ren Bishop | March 16 |
| Ted Hill | March 18 |
| Terry Armstrong | March 23 |
| Carol Roberts | March 28 |
| Dennis Fikstad | March 28 |
| Patricia Staffon | March 29 |
Our new e-mail address is csei@srv.net. Please use this for sending mail for inclusion in the newsletters. Also, our Homepage has moved to
(www.srv.net/~csei/csei.htm). Because of a problem with SRV, bev@srv.net
doesn't work right now.
The March meeting will be at Gringo's in Rexburg. We will meet for lunch at 12:15 pm
at the OLD Fred Myers parking lot, near the bowling alley. We'll leave for Rexburg at 12:25. Anyone wishing to meet us at Rexburg should be at Gringo's at 1:00pm. We have reservations under the corvette club in the back room. See you there! This is on March 13th.
Introduction: Liz Hill is the PR/Communications person for National Corvette Museum. Her husband Tom Hill is one of the lead engineers at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green. She sent this letter reflecting her impressions of
the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Race.....
Dear Friends and Members,
When, after a grueling 24 hours, (both Corvettes had lead their class, had
endured unplanned pit stops throughout the night, had finally ended up third
at best,) the drivers changed places so that John Heinricy could drive the
final lap; then John held up so that the two black and silver Corvettes could
cross the finish line side by side... well that, my friend, is why I love
the Corvette. The heroics of the pit crew, struggling desperately to find
the leaky oil fitting, lying in the mud under the car, rain in their faces,
working through the night,...that is why I love the Corvette. When 156 Corvettes
prepared to drive a Pace lap at the Daytona 500 for the first time in 15
years, people like Buzz let those of us without cars ride with them so we
wouldn't miss out on an awesome experience...that is why I love the Corvette.
As we came off the track from the Pace lap, there stood the normally reserved
Chief Engineer, David Hill, with a huge grin on his face, arms in the air...that
is why I love the Corvette. When Jim Campbell, Chevrolet Brand Manager, who'd
stayed up all night to support the Corvette team during the
twice-around-the-clock grind, had tears in his eyes as the pair of Corvettes
roared by on the final lap...that is why I love the Corvette. When, as the
Specter Werkes Corvette came into view, with its right fender missing and
the back window duct-taped, the whole General Motors Suite rose to their
feet and cheered...that is why I love the Corvette. I know people think we're
crazy, but the bond that grows between people that love the Corvette is strong,
and true, and that is why I love Corvette...people.
Warmly, Liz
I came across something the other day that you might find interesting. If
you have a late model vette with fuel injection and one of the injectors
gets partly plugged up, that cylinder will go lean on fuel and burn down
that piston. This does not happen very often but is still does. Because the
injector is just partly plugged you can still get a smooth idle but at highway
speed is when bad things happen. The advice is use a good brand of fuel and
once in a while add a can of injector cleaner. All fuels now have "some"
injector cleaner, but some just don't do to good of a job. Ask me sometime
what kind I have found works the best.
If you have a vette with posi-traction and you hear a clunk when you turn
a corner, the trouble may be the wrong lube in the differential. Most cases
you only need to add an additive to the lube. GM makes a good additive. Most
"quick lube" places just use what they have, and this may not be correct
for the limited slip differential.
When you get the vette out of storage, check the wheel lug nuts to be sure
they are properly torqued. May save you warped brake rotors or even a lost
wheel. Along as we are on wheels, when was the last time you took out the
spare and check the air pressure. I know it's a real pain but better know
you have a flat spare "before you need it", and not on the road some place.
Plans are going well for the show. The logo was chose at the Sweetheart Brunch,
Christy Sowa (Bev Novak's sister), entered the winning logo. By now, you
should have received your "reminder card". Let us know if you haven't.
And Away We Go!!
Just to wet your appetite for some upcoming events this year; some have firm
dates, some are still in the planning stage.
1. Go to Fanning Field here in Idaho Falls, One of the best WWII fighter
plane restoration facilities is there. We will tour this facility, and learn
what is involved in the restorations. I know for a fact, if all club members
pooled our life savings we could not pay the bill to restore a P-51 mustang
like one they did a year ago.
2. Trip to Hill Airforce Base to look at war planes, this could take hours.
Then over to the Union Pacific Train Depot, Big buck old car collection,
and railroad building displays. The Browning gun collection is there also.
3. I have made arrangements with the auto instructors at Eastern Idaho Tech
College to give a seminar on 'vette computer controlled equipment. This will
be a very interesting seminar. We will take one of the club members C-4 and
hook it up to an analyzer and show you what is going on as you drive down
the road. This will be one you will not want to miss if you have an interest
as to what is going on "under the hood". We should have three instructors
involved, and it's free. The date for this one is April 24th at 10 AM at
the college. I will tell you at the next meeting how to find the shop if
you don't know.
Already getting requests for car shows. I do not want car shows to dominate
our summer. We have more fun things to do. A few are OK but one every weekend,
no way. On car shows, Tautphaus is the first Sunday of June. That one is
always a nice lay back one we enjoy.
I am not the only one in the club that has ideas as to what to do this summer.
PLEASE let me know if you have some place that you think the members would
enjoy, we will work it in. You said you would help me out.
February's Meeting Minutes
by Sam & Janet Miller
We had a very good turnout at the Shilo on Sunday, February 14, 1999. The
ladies were given a flower and the food was great. Brian had everyone introduce
themselves and we voted on the logo for the West Yellowstone show. The 5
car display won. The Affection Connection, channel 8, and The Post Register
will be there also. The past and present officers met after the regular meeting.
We discussed the possibility of a PR person putting our upcoming activities
in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg papers. A calling tree needs to be established.
We talked about changing our twice a month meeting place from Scotties to
the Dairy Queen on Broadway. A ladies day event was brought up and discussed
as a real possibility. We need to talk to the manager of the Grand Teton
Mall about a Father's Day car show. We agreed that we should take one day
and visit all of the sponsors of a trophy at our car show. Meeting was adjourned.
A story by Dave..
>From The Vette Net:
I was on my way to the grocery store earlier tonight when I saw them. They
zipped around traffic like it was standing still, follow the leader, one
after the other. In my white four-door I watched them cavorting like wild
dogs. Red, they were, both bright and bold in the darkness lit by a few
streetlights. Up to the light, still in line, one quickly slipping around
to flank the other as they slowed in tandem to a stop. White lines under
two pairs of front tires, bumpers level under the red light. The Vette on
the left, its tall, broad rear bumper facia told of late model design. Twin
duals resplendent in chrome spat and snapped impatiently as the cross traffic
plodded through the intersection. To the right the broad hooded Viper lay
coiled, ready to strike. It's curvy GTS hardtop looked oddly wrong on a car
that looked so right, chrome duals burbling respectfully in the presence
of the family car Toyota in the right lane. The cross traffic slowed to their
new red light.
Green arrow. Both cars inched forward. The Vette's exhaust snapped sharply,
anxiously, impatiently. Watch yourself, I'm sharp. When I cut, your blood
will flow. The Viper's tone rose to a throaty roar, controlled but threatening.
My venom is pure; you WILL die. I planted my foot firmly on the brake: this
promised to be better than Prime Time.
Green light. Utter chaos. Engines screaming and rubber frying in four part
harmony. The Vette shot forward with the Viper glued to its side, both laying
down high dollar rubber like black paint. The Toyota, a bland snack, shriveled
quickly right and died. Both thoroughbreds shifted, the Vette's rear slewing
slightly left before snapping back on track. The Viper stayed true. Through
the next intersection, mercifully green, the road curved, showing the Viper
with a 1/4 length lead, and then they disappeared into the night.
I took my foot from the brake and moved slowly forward. I was the ONLY vehicle
to move. Three other drivers sat transfixed. Two of them, middle-aged ladies,
stared from their land yachts, mouths agape. The third driver, perhaps in
his late fifties, also sat there. He was grinning. Hi There!
Well, the 1999 Legislative session is well under way. There are several bills
that deal with licensing and other related auto issues. One bill proposing
a single license plate for standard issue plates, and another addresses seat
belts (safety restraints). I'll list them here so you can see what is happening.
You might want to check out the State web page at:
http://www.state.id.us/legislat/legislat.htm. You can keyword search all
of the bills.
HB128 Eliminates license plate reissue process. You replace your plates when
necessary. UPDATE: died in committee.
HB146 Limits special parking for the disabled to 48 hours.
HB195 Agriculture license plate with special fees going to the Idaho Ag in the Classroom Account.
HB196 Clears up the ambiguity in Code so neither vehicles nor operators have to be licensed when operating off-road vehicles on unpaved roads within the Idaho Department of Lands or on federal public lands. (I think the clue here is "unpaved".
HB218 Youth license plate with special fees going to the sheriff of each county for use in implementation of prevention and early intervention programs for Idaho's at-risk youth.
HB249 Adds special fees to the Veterans' special license plate program and then provides that vehicles displaying these plates do not have to pay to enter state parks and recreation areas.
SB1093 Allows the county assessors to appoint agents such as Dealerships to perform their duties with regard to registrations and titles. We are looking at 3 or 4 large dealerships to issue registrations and license plates.
SB1094 Wrongful vehicle registration. This bill would assess penalties of twice the amount of HDR and/or emission fees to individuals who report improper addresses to escape the fees.
SB1095 Smog Dog bill will use roadside "smog dogs" for air quality purposes rather than having to take your car in for a check. It also allows for Air Quality to contract with the department to collect up to a $12 on the vehicle registration in any county that has an air quality program. (Ada only at present.)
SB1096 Removes the $5 fee for a disability placard. This will avoid the possibility of litigation under the ADA.
SB1122 Allows disabled drivers to go to a "full service only" station and have gas pumped. At present they must go to a station that has self-service, ask for help, but pay only self-service prices.
SB1141 Removes registration and license plate requirements for manufactured homes.
SB1161 Changes the cut on the special fees collected on special plates for outside entities. Out of the initial $35 for an elk plate for example, ITD would only get $10 and Fish and Game would take the $25. At present it is just the opposite.
SB1162 Allows for a 2-year registration as well as 1-year. Customer would save one year's administrative fee and mailing fee.
SB1163 Moves the fees for hearses, ambulances, wreckers and taxis under the same fee structure as other vehicles up to 8,000 pounds (in other words passenger cars and pickups).
SB1165 Provides that a snowmobile operated by a nonresident shall display an Idaho certificate of number or shall purchase a nonresident snowmobile user certificate.
SB1166 Requires all passengers to be wearing a seat belt. Doesn't change the wording that excludes autos manufactured without seat belts.
SB1168 Removes the 50 cents that currently goes to the Heritage Trust on every red-white-blue plate under the copyright. States that a new plate will be designed for issue beginning in 2007.
SB1171 Provides for an Idaho Sawtooth National Recreation Areas license plate with the special fees going to maintain and upgrade outdoor recreation facilities within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
SB1211 All kinds of ramifications regarding parking for the disabled, penalties, abuses, etc.
SB1213 Allows for 1 license plate.
If anybody hears of any other important issues, please let us know.
Have a great day, and we'll se you on the street!!
Ken Smith
USRI President
March
April
24 Easter Idaho Technical College Seminar on C-4 Computer Controlled Equipment
May
14-16 Jackpot Car Show, Jackpot, Nv.
June
5-6 Tautphaus Park Swap Meet and Car Show
11-13 EIEIO Rod Rendezvous, Jackson Hole, Wy.
July
14-18 Black Hills Corvette Classic, Spearfish, S.D.
August
5-8 Vettes on the Rockies, Frisco, Co.
20-22 Wild West Vette Fest, West Yellowstone, Mt.
31 Leave for Caravan to NCM 5th Anniversary
September
October
November
December
1. If we don't have your birthday, we apologize. We need your information.