The Prez Box

by Ron Bone

After a month of bustling activity, everyone now can breathe a collective sigh of relief. We started the month with a rally to present our donations from the Corvette license plate program to our selected charities. They were very appreciative and needy. In Idaho Falls, we visited the Food Bank, the Harbor House, the DARE Program, and the Aspen Foundation for Hospice Care (this donation was for the Rexburg center). Then we moved on to the Family Crisis Center of Rexburg, where we also met with the newly crowned Miss Idaho Falls, Lyndi Munns. I want to thank our many club members who showed up to participate in the rally and show their support. And special recognition goes to Peggy Bone for tracking down and making the numerous arrangements with the charities, and to Wayne Valentine for arranging the Rexburg connection.

Later in the month Taylor Chevrolet presented their annual car show, which included many Corvettes from our club. It was a day full of

fun, cool cars, and good food. Our thanks to Taylor Chevrolet for hosting the event, and to Wayne Valentine, who scurried busily about making sure that everything was happening as it should.

Finally, Wild West Vette Fest 2004 closed out the month with its own special fireworks. The culmination of a lot of hard work by many members of our club and of the Hyalite Corvette club, it was a terrific event. The autocross was a special treat again this year, compliments of the Hyalite club and Bill Madsen. Some of the ladies got out there and tasted the thrills of a Corvette on a tight, closed course. There won’t be any keeping them down on the farm now. Tommy Taylor showed us all how to do it right, while passenger Frank Bell demonstrated for driver Bill Madsen the fine art of emergency brake-assisted cornering. No, Frank, that lever is not for helping you stay in your seat. The poker run presented participants with its own thrills in the form of instructions that scattered drivers far and wide, but most got a good laugh out of it as well as a fun drive.

There were some really neat Corvettes on display Sunday morning, including a Z06 with a Lingenfelter twin-turbo 427 with nitrous injection. Now if you can’t get the ice cream home from the grocery store before it melts in that, then you’re not really trying.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Bruce and Connie Barton, Bill and Dana Madsen, and their many helpers. Well done, everyone. I was also personally gratified to see the many club members who came to the show, for whatever time they were able, to show their support for it. Thanks for answering the call.

Minutes of the August 2004 Meeting

By Barbara Bell

The August dinner meeting of the club was held Thursday, August 12, 2004 at the Purple Gecko in Idaho Falls at 7 p.m. There were 31 members and 1 guest in attendance.

 President Ron Bone recognized August birthdays in the club. He also reported on the delivery of the checks from the license plate sales to the chosen recipients on Saturday, August 7. There was good coverage in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg papers as well as on the Channel 3 News. This will really help us give advertisement to the state special plate sales and the good that can come of it. We need to write to our legislative representatives in support of this program. 

Upcoming events: Idaho Falls Duck Race is August 14^th. You need to be there to register your car in by 8 a.m.

Saturday, August 21 is a busy and fun day for those wanting to participate. Included that day for all to enjoy is the Taylor Chevrolet Car Show, the Saturday Expo at Bish’s, and later, from 7 PM to Midnight, Apple Athletes.

The Taylor’s show will include classic cars, food, and other events. The Bish’s event will include a Nascar Pin for all drivers. Apple Athletic is offering free swimming and a three-month free membership. So if you are bored on August 21^st, it is your own fault!

 Ron gave a thumbnail sketch of the upcoming road trip to the Oregon Coast. Departure is scheduled on September 8^th. There are only two cars signed up to go on the full trip, and several are going just to the Seattle Show. Let Ron know if any more are going.

 The Elko show is September 8-11.

 So far as the Wild West Vette Fest, the committee is still looking for help with the auto cross and poker run. We hope all are planning to attend on the 27^th – 29^th August.

We have a new sponsor in Blackfoot -- Betty’s Café. We will go there for our September meeting on Saturday September 25^th for breakfast at 9 a.m., and then maybe take a ride. Those wanting to go together should meet at the Rexburg Burger King at 8 a.m. and at the Old Ernst building on Broadway at 8:35 a.m.

 Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

September

Judy Thueson 10

Fred Carlson 24

Pat Parsons 25

Richard Morris 25

 
Sting Ray Collector Coins
 
WKRW Visual Arts is proud to announce the production of the Corvette “Sting Ray” fourteen collector coin set. Each coin is 1-1/2 inches in diameter and silver clad with 24 karat gold accents. The coins come displayed in a laser etched wooden box (10’’x14’’). Each uncirculated coin comes in an airtight capsule accompanied by a serial numbered certificate of authenticity. Only ten thousand worldwide will be issued. Each set retailed for $229.95.
 
WKRW is offering a special pre-issue price of $99.95 plus $6.95 shipping to the Corvette clubs and it’s members only. Each set sold will also receive a 100th Anniversary Wright Brothers coin absolutely free. This is a $29.95 value free until supplies last (2000 Wright Brothers coins available). Only ten thousand sets will be issued. With hundreds of thousands of club members and over four thousand Corvette dealers this issue will be a sure sell-out.
 
Reserve your Sting Ray coin set now! It’s the perfect gift for the Corvette enthusiast. For more information and to reserve your set call 1-800-682-2531 or email WKRW@bellsouth.net. Serial numbers available on a first received basis.
 
Sincerely,
Kenneth Whitwoth
President

DID YOU KNOW

By Egon

We are into another fun filled Vette summer; I hope that your transportation is working fine. Just thought I would pass along some hints for less costly vehicle ownership.

 1. If repairs are needed, find a good shop that will do good work for you. Consider what the rate per hour is; you want the best work you can get. That does not always mean a dealer.

Ask some friends what and where is a good shop. I have had some good and real bad experiences with shops.

 2. A lot of maintenance can be done by you without going to a shop. Example, change an air filter, at $2 per gal for gas, that can save you 20 cents a gal. Inflate tires, save another 6 cents. Get rid of the extra “junk in the trunk” and you can save 4 cents. Running with the windows closed (OK, use the AC if hot day) and save another 5 cents.

Fuel efficiency or MPG peaks about 60 MPH, after that, factor in an extra 10 cents per gallon for each additional 5 MPH.  OK, see what the 85 MPH means when you have a lead foot.

 3. On late model Vettes and other cars, if the “check engine” light comes on after that last fuel stop, go check the gas cap. Yep it will come on of you don’t replace the cap correctly.

 4. Paint jobs can cost thousands, so keep the car clean, and at least twice a year give it a good wax job. Spring and fall are good times to do this.

 OK, enjoy what is left of the summer. See you on the road

“CheckerBoard” Poker Run

This is to announce a "CheckerBoard" Vette Gathering & Poker Run. (Black & Red Vettes (any color red ). Go to www.corvettecruzin.com for info.
I've received a number of requests from Red & Black Vettes asking me to incorporate the two colors in Las Vegas so more Vettes from their clubs can attend, caravan there, etc.

The event will held be on May 27 and 28, 2005 (Memorial Day Weekend-long weekend for most) at the Buffalo Bill's Hotel & Casino in Primm, Nevada, 35 miles out of Vegas. I've "Blocked" 100 rooms and the group code # is SCR0527 for any that want to reserve a room and it guarantees you one of the "Blocked" Rates. Room reservations can be made from now on by calling 1-800-386-7867.  Room rates are very reasonable...

Registration forms will go out by email in Dec/Jan. If you or you have any friends or club members that might want to attend and have a Red or Black Vette, go to www.corvettecruzin.com , click on the CheckerBoard and fill out the form on the bottom of the page for an emailed registration form to be sent.

The event will consist of a Thursday (May 26) "Caravan Day" from North California for those wanting to go down on Thursday. There will be a Friday night "Gathering" in the hotel bar, Saturday morning Poker Run, Saturday night Catered Buffet dinner in our private banquet room, 50/50 raffle, and a late night "CheckerBoard" cruise up and down the Las Vegas "Strip". Plan your vacation around it and come join in what will be the largest Gathering of Red & Black Vettes ever.
Rocky Pearson

"CheckerBoard" Vette Gathering & Poker Run
(Black & Red Vettes)
May 27 and 28, 2005
Buffalo Bills's Hotel & Casino
Primm. Nevada (outside Las Vegas)
Go to: www.corvettecruzin.com
to get on email mailing list.

Sponsors of Wild West Vette Fest 2004

Ashton

Big Jud’s Ashton

White Pines Travel Plaza

Blackfoot

Bear Mountain Contractors (Tim Hobley)

Betty’s Cafe

Oakridge Car Wash

Idaho Falls

Big O Tires

Robinson Auto Glass

The Smith Group

Snake River IBA (Ken Olsen)

Rexburg

Bell Builder’s Supply

Big Jud’s Country Diner

C&L Body Shop

Horkley’s Self Serv

Madison Women’s Clinic (Dr. Barton)

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy

Me ‘n Stan’s (Rexburg and Rigby)

Parts Service

Realty Quest (Judy Hobbs)

Taylor Chevrolet

Tire Factory (Rexburg and Rigby)

Zollinger Construction

Rigby

Teton Grille Restaurant

St Anthony

The Relay Station

West Yellowstone

Arrow Leaf Ice Cream

Buffalo Bill’s

Canyon Street Grill

IMax Theatre

Old Faithful Carpet (Jim Hobbs)

Picnic Basket

Playmill Theatre

2004 Coming Events Calendar

by Ron Bone

September 2: Thursday evening drive-in at the Ammon Sonic Drive-In, 7:00 P.M. Continue on the first Thursday of each month until cool weather says otherwise.

September 10-12: Seattle in September 2004. Hosted by Corvette Marque Club Seattle. Headquarters hotel is the Embassy Suites Hotel, at Lynwood, WA; 1‑800‑628‑0611. Registration forms on-line at www.CorvetteMarqueClub.com. Information: Dick or Lolly D’Alessandro at Dick@CorvetteMarqueClub.com. Caravan information: Ron Bone at 522-5838.

September 11: Lewistown (Montana) Chokecherry Festival. For Corvettes: competitive driving event, unjudged show. Other events: chokecherry run/walk, pit-spitting contest, Old Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Festival. Motel information and event flier: see Ron Bone. More information or to tell them you’re interested: Gene Meier at 406-538-5555 or gmeier@tein.net.

September 12-18: Road Trip Along the Oregon Coast, to follow Seattle in September 2004. Information: Ron Bone at 522-5838.

September 16: Thursday evening drive-in at the Rexburg Sonic Drive-In, 7:00 P.M. Continue on the third Thursday of each month until cool weather says otherwise.

September 18: Day trip to Yellowstone Park. Park admission is free. Trip arrangements to be communicated by the calling tree.

September 25: Monthly CSEI Meeting at sponsor Betty’s Café, 1350 Parkway Drive, Blackfoot, at 9:30 A.M., followed by a day trip to the Bear Lake area. Those wishing to caravan leave Rexburg (the Chevron station at the I‑15 exit for south Rexburg) at 8:30 A.M. The caravan will stop at the Idaho Falls West Broadway exit (the old Ernst parking lot) at about 9:00 A.M. to pick up additional caravaners, then will proceed to Blackfoot. Exit I‑15 at U.S.-26/I‑15 Business and turn east toward downtown. Just past the first intersection at Parkway Drive, turn right into the shopping center parking lot; Betty’s Café will be located on your right. Additional information on the day trip: Linda Moore at 357-7573.

December 17: Christmas Party at the Teton Grille, 7:00 P.M.

New GM Powertrain Center

General Motors is adding more muscle to its claim of "World's Best Powertrains" with the official opening of its Performance Build Center, a $10 million facility dedicated to building high-performance engines for low-volume, premium vehicles.

The first hand-built engine variant to come from the Performance Build Center will be the LS7 OHV V-8 that is the heart of the Z06 performance package earmarked for the 2006 Corvette.

Another variant of GM Powertrain's newly revised small-block engine family, the Vortec 6000 6.0-liter V-8 (LS2), powers the 2005 Chevrolet SSR. It is an all-aluminum version of the new fourth generation of GM's timeless small-block V-8. The Gen IV design comprises the latest series of technical revisions to the engine.

The new Gen IV small-block V-8 also will launch in several 2005 GM SUVs. Those trucks will use Gen IV V-8s with cast aluminum cylinder blocks.

New or changed components for the Gen IV architecture are:
Larger 90-mm throttle body: the Gen III throttle body is 75 mm. The new throttle body is mounted to a revised-design composite intake manifold with tuned runners to optimize airflow to individual cylinders.

New combustion-chamber design.

Higher compression ratio.

High-lift cam profile and stronger valve springs to enable a higher peak-rpm range.

Compact, lighter water pump.

Deeper oil pan.

Reduced-tension piston rings: Piston rings are a new, lower-tension design to reduce friction.

Redesigned crankcase vent: The crankcase vent is repositioned to the top of the block valley, where oil is less likely to enter during high engine speeds or high-g maneuvers.

New accessory-drive package: A new power steering pump and revised serpentine drive belt result in better space utilization.

Along with the increased power and torque when compared to the Gen III High Output Vortec 6.0-liter V-8, the new Gen IV Vortec 6000 6.0-liter continues GM Powertrain's ongoing commitment to reducing maintenance intervals and servicing costs.

Dexcool coolant and the platinum-tipped spark plugs have 100,000-mile change intervals. An Oil Life System function, built directly into the engine control module, calculates ideal oil-change intervals based on a variety of performance parameters.