The Prez Box
by Ron Bone
Wild West Vette
Fest 2005 has now come and
gone. The financial picture has not yet
come into focus but it was, by all appearances, a success. We’ll capture some of the salient facts in
the next newsletter. For now, though,
please note that we need to decide how to handle the show next year. We’ll dedicate our next monthly meeting, on
September 22, to that endeavor. So
please plan to attend and participate in the discussion. And be thinking about what you would be willing
to do to make the show happen.
Thinking back to the
end of July, the memory is still fresh of ten Corvettes winding their way up
the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park.
Beautiful scenery, perfect weather, and great company. Dining beside the lake in Waterton, with the
Prince of Wales Hotel overlooking us from its terminal moraine, that’s the
stuff great memories are made of! After
Waterton, the group divided to go home by their separate ways, while a few went
further north to see Banff National Park.
A lot of club members have done that already, but to those of us who had
not, it was an unparalleled experience.
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are so spectacular, so huge, and so close
that we had to remember to breathe. We
also found the Canadian people to be particularly warm and friendly. Many stopped to admire the Corvettes and
talk about a variety of things. Bill
Madsen and I were cornered by a young man, a native of Canmore, who confided to
us in a conspiratorial voice that it is common for the young maidens of that
city to skinny dip in the glacial melt that feeds the public water supply. They must surely be fast bathers. While in Canmore, Dana Madsen and Peggy Bone
happened upon a “world class” quilting store, an unexpected discovery that kept
them chattering happily for hours.
The nip of Fall in
the air lately announces that our days of Corvetting are numbered. But we’ve had some really cool trips, short
and long, this year. Take a moment at
our next gathering to thank Trish Bargman, Debbie Morris, and Jack Larsen for
their work on our behalf in making these trips happen.
Minutes of the August Meeting
by Peggy Bone
The monthly dinner
was held August 11 at the Fireside Grill and the meeting was held afterwards at
Tautphaus Park. President Ron Bone
called the meeting to order at 9 P.M. and acknowledged the August
birthdays. He also announced the
upcoming events (see the Calendar of Coming Events.)
Trish Bargman
announced that the third Thursday drive-in would be at the Sonic in Rexburg and
that there would be a Mystery Drive on Sunday August 21.
Bill Madsen went
over a few last minute details for Wild West Vette Fest.
The next meeting
will be September 22, 7:30 P.M., at the Relay Station in St. Anthony. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
Were You There?
By Trish Bargman
We have done a lot of things this summer. How many did you take advantage of? We have had Thursdays at Scotty’s, Sonic in Rexburg, and Artic Circle in Shelley. A spontaneous, mystery drive to Blackfoot and a planned mystery drive and dinner to Alpine, a mystery drive with dinner to Island Park, and a day drive to Jackson. We went to the Lewis & Clark Caverns and explored Butte. Some went to Post Falls for the Hot Rod Show (850 cars, all pre-1975). We went to Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes. We had our Wild West Vette Fest in West Yellowstone.
Lewis
& Clark Caverns:
We left after work on Friday and went as far as Dillon to spend the night and get a jump on the next day. Debbie found a place to eat at the Clark Reservoir, the Buffalo Barn, where they serve Buffalo from Ted Turners ranch. We took a tour of Dillon, some nice older homes that are very well kept up -- a nice town. The next morning it was off to the caverns. The caverns were very interesting and our guide made it fun.
Then it was off to Butte -- an old town with so much history. We ate lunch at the original Pork Chop Charlie’s, toured the Copper King Mansion, then took a trolley car tour of the historic old town and mining attractions. We were going to go to the Museum of Mining last since it was open until 9 pm, but the sky opened up and we decided to try in the morning. It was still raining pretty hard in the morning so we decided to come back another day. Did I mention that the Museum was all out doors? To sum it up it was a nice trip, Debbie and Richard were great leaders, and we all had a great time.
What a great trip! Scenery was spectacular, fellow travelers the best, weather perfect, the roads……..well, some could have been better, but most were great.
We took our time going up to Kalispell, our goal for the first day. We made a brief stop at Dillon to see the visitor center and museum, then on to Butte to see the Berkley Pit and have another pork chop sandwich. From there we took a scenic loop on Montana 1 to Anaconda and Phillipsburg. Bill and Dana used to live in Anaconda so they gave us a narrative as we drove through. Phillipsburg is the Sapphire capital so of course we looked (Ron did you buy Peg a little memento?). Anaconda also has the best candy store so of course some of that found its way into the cars.
We were on to Flathead Lake and cherries. A beautiful drive around the east side of the lake, and into Kalispell for the night. We met up with the Bartons and the Woods and in the morning we all headed to Glacier. At the gate we split up and went different directions. Some took a helicopter tour (I heard that was really great] but in the end most were together for the Going to the Sun Road. The weather was wonderful and there were many pictures taken. We were a pretty impressive group, seven cars winding up and then down that road. We all met up again in Waterton and spent the night there.
In the morning we had a parting of many ways. We had three different groups that went in there different directions. Three cars followed the original route; two went to the Lake Louise, Banff area before heading back south to Helena to met up with others going to the driving school. The rest of us went to the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump by Fort Cloud. (Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump -- say that three times fast!) We then headed south again. That night we landed in Choteau, Mt. We were on good Corvette roads most the way, so the long day wasn’t that bad. We were ready for our Buffalo Chicken Fried Steak and a good bed that night. Choteau is a nice little town and would be fun to poke around in sometime. We were on another good Corvette road in the morning, hit HWY 15 and a fast ride home, arriving by 2:00 in the afternoon.
Thanks to Jack Larsen for getting things set up, and Richard and Debbie for all the help when Jack was not able to come with us. One of the best things was that Fred Hughes was able to go with us. I know how hard he worked to be able to make this trip and how much he must have hurt by the end of each day. It would not have been the same without them. Thank you to everyone that made the trip. I appreciate all the help and support along the way. I can’t wait for someone else to put together the trip for next summer to a great place, so we can do it all again.
Were you there to help make this event a success? This is our big fundraiser where we make the ‘big bucks’ for our Families at Christmas Program. This is such an important and meaningful thing that we do each year.
We still have things planned for this year. For September we have Scotty’s the first Thursday, and Sonic in Rexburg the third Thursday. A day drive to Utah is planned for a late lunch at Maddox’s, with other surprises along the way. That will be Saturday the 10th. The calling tree will be in touch with the details, or you can give me (458-4671) or Debbie (524-3087) a call. We hope we see you there. Save the Wave!
Members Rides
by Ben Sanchez
In a continuing effort to familiarize Corvettes of Southeast Idaho members with each other, this month’s issue will feature Dennis and Mickey Petersen, and Thor Miller.
Dennis and Mickey Petersen joined the club in the winter of 2003 when Bill and Dana Madsen introduced them. They are relative newcomers to the Corvette Hobby -- Mickey’s first car was a ’65 Mustang. Now, that’s not a bad way to start out. Their ’79 coupe is their first and considered to be “their baby”. From the picture it’s quite a LQQKER. Just check out the license plate. It got my attention.
But, back to that Mustang. Mickey indicates it took some persuasion and a lot of [fast] talking before her Father finally gave into the desires of his young daughter. And, I can imagine the streets of Bellingham, Washington could very well bear the marks of shall we say, “spirited driving”! I could be wrong, but somehow, I don’t think so. Maybe her father knew a little something about Mustangs and young girls?
Apparently, it also took a little persuasion to get Dennis to procure the ’79 (do I see a pattern here?), but Dennis, too, is hooked on the Corvette hobby. Maybe not quite as much as his golf game, but a close second, no doubt. Apparently, the ’79 has not always been as reliable as it is today and after what Mickey describes as being towed “several times” from Boise and a great deal of magic being performed by Dick Bargman, the car is now ready to roll. How many of us already know what Dick can do? He has brought many of the members’ cars back from near death experiences by performing a myriad of mechanical wonders. Mickey says, “Thanks a ton, Dick”; I do too. How about the rest of you? I suppose you might say the coup de grace was last years Boise Vette Fest. As Mickey puts it, “We never dreamed we would take home a trophy”. I can honestly say “Corvette Fever” has struck again and both she and Dennis are hooked. Although golf still tops Dennis’ list, Mickey who used to be a horse fanatic has traded one horsepower for another.
I say, welcome to the Corvette Hobby and may you always enjoy the camaraderie that goes with it. For the rest of you, the next time you see the “LQQKER”, go take a look – I will. I hope to see you at 2005 Wild West Vette Fest.
Thor Miller has been a member since long before he really became a member. I know that doesn’t make much sense so hopefully you’ll understand more as you read through this diatribe. That is, he became active with the club in 1989 while he was driving a black 1987 Pontiac Fiero, affectionately known as The Shadow. The shadow brought up the rear of many Corvette caravans as a new and struggling club made their way to an event. For those of you who may not know, Thor is Sam and Janet Miller’s son, and almost everyone knows how active Sam and Janet have been over the years. But, that’s another story.
Thor has always been interested in cars and in 1998 with Sam in tow, Thor was able to get his first Vette, a 1992 Black Rose coupe. The ’92 didn’t stay in Thor’s garage too long because he had his eye on a “King of the Hill” ZR-1. Unfortunately, at the time, Dr. Bruce Barton owned it. I don’t know what Thor did to convince Dr. Barton to part with the Polo Green ZR-1, but it must have been interesting. Thor says his car is special because of the limited production numbers and it’s lots better than the “Red Baron”. Do I detect a bit of rivalry here? He likes the notoriety he gets from being a “Corvette Guy”. But, I think, he mostly likes the idea that his entire family enjoys the hobby too. When you think about it, it’s pretty neat. Like most of us, Thor wishes he still had the ’92 Black Rose coupe too; he also says he has no favorite event and just enjoys any event in which he participates. To this I say, “Bravo”, because you don’t have to be doing something special for its enjoyment. In other words, live for the moment. The next time you see Thor and his super clean ZR-1, give him a “thumbs up”. He not only deserves it, but he’s a pretty cool guy too.
Remember - Save the Wave.
DID YOU KNOW
By Egon
Okay, learn from another’s
mistake. Egon messed up on the last trip with the club. He spilled soda pop all
over the rear carpet in Connie’s Vette. Clean up took considerable time.
So, before this happens to you,
clean the carpet, then apply two coats of “Scotch Gard” fabric protector. Doing
so sure will make cleaning up faster if you mess up .
Drink the soda not spill it.
I came across this hint the other
day that might be a good idea.
When you get into just a
slight rain, you turn on the wipers and they chatter. Chattering wiper blades
are often caused by a bent wiper arm. Remove the wiper, lay the arm on a
protective cloth, midway on the wipers sweep. Check at this point where the
blade is secured to the arm, making sure it is perpendicular to the
glass.
If you have to adjust the arm by
bending it, use two adjustable wrenches.
It worked for me.
2005 Calendar of Coming Events
by Ron Bone
September 1: Drive-in at Scotty’s, on the Northgate Mile in Idaho Falls, 7:00 P.M.
September 15: Drive-in, 7:00 P.M. Location to be announced by the Calling Tree.
September 22: Monthly meeting at The Relay Station, 7:30 P.M. The Relay Station is located about 2 miles north of the main St. Anthony exit from US-20.
Sept 2-4, 2005: Second Annual Corvette Roundup, sponsored by Central Wyoming Corvettes at Casper, Wyoming. This is an NCCC 2005 Rocky Mountain Regional event. Friday: Check-in, technical inspection. Saturday: Show N Shine, poker run & fun rally. Sunday: Autocross, funkana, awards. Golf tee times available. Registration $95 single and $110 couple before May 31, $100 and $120 before July 15, $115 and $135 afterward. Rooms are blocked for $55 per night. Forms and info at www.centralwyomingcorvettes.com or see Ron Bone.
Sept 2-3, 2005: Second Red Vette Gathering, Reno-Hilton Hotel/Casino in Primm, NV. Info: www.corvettecruzin.com.
September 9-11: 18th Annual Gamblers Run, sponsored by Morrodders Car Club in Elko, Nevada. Chuck Wagon breakfast, poker run, Hot Wheels races, concessions, show and shine, raffles. Classes include Corvettes, 4WDs, foreign sports cars, muscle cars, street rods, pro street, motorcycles, stock from 1900 (!) to present. Highly recommended by those who have attended. Pre-registration is $25 per car, or $30 per car at the event. Additional cars are $10 each. More information: (775) 777-7896.
Wild West Vette Fest 2005
by Ben Sanchez
I know it’s hard to believe, but Corvettes of Southeast Idaho has been hosting Wild West Vette Fest in West Yellowstone, Montana for ten years. This year all stops were pulled out to make the event bigger and better while still retaining the underlying casual and relaxed atmosphere.
I think there is something for everyone in West Yellowstone. These include, but are certainly not limited to, sightseeing, shopping, and one of the best wild life exhibits anywhere within walking distance of the event. But then, that’s the attraction of the area, and don’t forget it also happens to be a gateway to the first National Park in the U.S.
The show was well orchestrated from the icebreaker to the final trophy being handed out. The events seamlessly flowed from one to another. There were plenty staff members to help with each event. It’s pretty easy to tell a lot of lessons have been learned and passed down over the years.
The early Saturday morning parade always jump starts the activities and garners a lot of attention from onlookers, probably much to the chagrin of those just trying to work their way through the traffic to either get out of West Yellowstone or head into the Park. The Poker Run is a great way to see a little of what the countryside has to offer -- beauty like no other. While the driving event seems to bring out the competitive and somewhat spirited driving that goes along with the adrenalin rush. By the time the catered dinner was ready, participants had renewed old friendships and probably gained a few new ones too. Let’s hope so, because that’s what the Corvette hobby is really about. While some leisurely strolled about the town, others were thoroughly enjoying what the DJ was spinning along with their “adult” beverages. In spite of the cool temperatures, some of the aficionados were completing final touches in anticipation of the “show ‘n shine” scheduled for the next morning.
The cars, well what can we say about the cars? First, they are Corvettes and each one is someone’s pride and joy. For some it’s their first and/or only while many participants have had a bevy of them over the years. Each generation was well represented from the C1 through the C6. I’ve often wondered about the stories these cars could tell, if only they could talk. It’s readily apparent that each owner has bestowed many hours, not to mention the money, making these cars look and perform the way they do. It’s always interesting to view the results created by the skill, talent, and ingenuity of the owners. It’s also refreshing to see the look on someone’s face when their peers have recognized them as accomplishing something noteworthy.
Was the show a success? I’d say it was a resounding culmination of ten years’ effort and I, for one, am looking forward to next years’ Wild West Vette Fest.
September
Judy Thueson 10
Lucy Ball 17
Fred Carlson 24
Brian Evancic 24
Pat Parsons 25
Richard Morris 25