president's message july 2016 - storage.googleapis.com · only 240 hp it lacked mid-range...
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President's Message July 2016 This has been an awesome June for cruises and events. It started with thecruise on June 2 to Crescent Ridge for ice cream led by Jim Gable. We had18 cars show up to set the standard for June cruises. The next cruise was onJune 16 to the Ice Cream Machine led by Bob Gardner. Sixteen carsparticipated, three short for the record but still a great cruise. Rocco had a couple cruises to NE Dragway for Corvettes only and Corvettes vs Mustangs.
The Tuesday static cruises at Medfield Shaw’s and Thursday at Bass Pro are in full gear. There are Cars and Coffee events, car shows, polo, and even the Barrett-Jackson Auctiontaking place at Mohegan Sun.
All the Social Media tools like Facebook, the website, and gazette are well received. We’ve gotten some great feedback and even a new member from the website. Jim McMackin is helping Keith to get members to write an article about their Corvette for the gazette.
We had a guest speaker join us for the business meeting, cardiologist Dr. Paul Schwerdt. I planned for about 15 minutes of discussion. Everyone got involved and the discussion lasted for over a half an hour. We will have another guest speaker at July‘s meeting fromVehicle Outfitters.
July will fill up with cruises and events planned by the VP and Social Chair. Joel‘s cruise to the Tavern in Wrentham, Rocco to Medway Cafe, Alan to the Clam Shack, Philhas a cruise for ice cream, and there will be lots more.
Let’s Keep Crusing !
Steve Sylvia --------- EMCC President
Executive Board & Chairpersons
PresidentSteve [email protected]
Vice PresidentJoel [email protected]
SecretaryMal Smith781-706-5762 [email protected]
Treasurer Jim McMackin 781-449-7890 [email protected]
SocialJim [email protected]
MembershipJoe [email protected]
Sunshine Judy Pitasi 508-966-9026 [email protected]
Club StoreJoel [email protected]
Gazette Publisher/EditorKeith [email protected]
=================================CORVETTE DAY
at the Museum of TransportationBy Keith E. Jacobson
Sunday, June 12, turned out to be a great day for the annual Corvette Day at the Museumof Transportation in Brookline. Despite the sunny skies and warm weather the turnout seemed a little lower than last year … maybe because of many competing events on the same day.
A few club members were in attendance checking out this year's show. Among the many interesting cars was a friends beautiful new C7R and two almost identical yellow ZO6s. The two yellow cars came in together and had very similar license plates. Being inquisitive I asked the owners what the story was. They are twin brothers who celebratedtheir 50th birthdays by buying the almost matching cars (the mirrors are different). He asked the color of my car. When I told him white he said that they had just received matching white Tesla Model Xs that they had been waiting a year for … nice.
Meet Our MembersLarry and Lina Lepore
Let me start off by admitting that I was a Porsche guy for many years before becoming aCorvette convert. I purchased my first Porsche, a Black Boxster, as a present to myself for my fiftieth birthday. It was a sweet car; refined, practical and a blast to drive but withonly 240 HP it lacked mid-range torque and I soon became un-enamored with its lack of prowess.
My next move was to trade up to a 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. With 385 horsepower and a dual clutch automatic gearbox, this was a lot more car than the Boxster and it scratched my itch for several years. I had begun thinking about my next Porsche acquisition around the time Chevrolet introduced the C7Corvette. At first I wasn’t too crazy about the new model, unmoved by its bold new look that featured a rear end that reminded me of a Darth Vader mask and still skepticalthat it was refined enough tomeet a Porsche aficionado’s high standards,. Itdid little to sway me from my loyal standing. Then I saw one on the road, not knowing initially what it was, I was intrigued with its unique profile and exotic stance. Then came the press reviews, I carefully read each one in amazement, both the Stingray and the subsequently introduced Z06 that produced rave reviews all around. It soon became apparent that this new generation Corvette had achieved world class supercar status. Then came an article in the October 2015 edition of Car and Driver titled “Giant Slayer! Corvette Z06 Kills
Supercars Dead”. In it Car and Driver did a supercar comparison at the Virginia International Speedway where the Z06 bested every competitor in overall lap time with exception of the $1.1M Porsche 918 Spider. The Z06 slayed the McLaren 650 S, the Lamborghini Huracan, the Porsche GT3, and the Mercedes AMG, beating them by 1.2, 2.9, 5.8, and 6.4 seconds respectively!!! Who would have believed that the Z06 would beat a Porsche GT3 by 5.8 seconds per lap. I was fast becoming a believer.
In the interim, my brother in law John Pinciaro, purchased a new Z06 and was kind enough to let me drive his. Driving it was a pure thrill and the refinement level exceededmy expectations it truly measured up to all of the accolades. Finally, after having driven this masterpiece of American ingenuity I decided it was time to throw in the towel and join the winner’s circle. Shortly after this, I purchased my 2015 Z06 coupe from Lannan Chevrolet in Lowell, MA. I did an internet search and found they had an Arctic White coupe w/ Adrenaline red competition sport seats and 7 speed manual for sale in their showroom. The rest is history and that is how I became a Corvette convert.
********************************************When Fords Shine
Submitted by Bob Wodogaza
In 1935, officials at Allegheny Ludlum Steel Division and the Ford Motor Company collaborated on an experiment that would become a legacy and a tribute to one of the most dynamic metals ever developed. Allegheny Ludlum, a pioneer producer of stainless steel, proposed the idea of creating a stainless steel car to Ford. The idea took shape in the form of a 1936 Deluxe Sedan. That car became the centerpiece of a campaign to expose the public to the new metal and its many uses.This is the 1936 Ford Tudor Sedan built for and owned by Allegheny Ludlum Steel. This is one of only four in existence, and is the only one currently in running and road worthy condition.
The jaw-dropping beauty offered here is one of that tiny production run. The car is in exceptional condition, with the interior and even the frame looking great. All four cars each had over 200,000 miles on them before they removed them from service.These cars were built for Allegheny as promotional and marketing projects. The top salesmen each year were given the honor of being able to drive them for one year. TheV-8 engine (max 85 hp) ran like a sewing machine and was surprisingly smooth and quiet.
The dies were ruined by stamping the stainless car parts, making these the last of these cars ever produced.
The only privately owned example, it won two trophies at the Early V8 Club Auburn 2009 event, first place at the 2009 Hershey AACA event and was nominated for the 2009 AACA Car of the Year.It was recently restored by Lon Kruger, one of the world’s best restorers.The car utilizes the standard 221/85 HP flathead mated to a 3-speed manual and working Columbia overdrive, and has been driven just 18 miles since its restoration.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOW!!!
By Jim McMackin
WOW (Wheels of Wellesley) sponsored by the Wellesley Community Centerwas held on May 21st. It was a very nice show with free admittance,(donations were welcomed), free food , and some great looking cars --- including a few unusual hot rods that could be heard from quite a distance away as they were coming and going.
I would say there were about 12-15 vintage motorcycles on display including a new 'slingshot' contraption that is registered as a motorcycle (3 wheels and seats two side-by-side --- looks cool), and around 75 cars. The show ran from 10:00 until 2:00.
We sat in the shade and met a ton of very nice folks. As you would expect they all loved Bob's C1. When they learn he has owned the car for over 50 years their eyes light up andyou can see the admiration on their faces. Dozens of people took pictures.
One Mustang had an extremely unusual paint job. Depending upon the light it sparkled in seven different colors --- sometimes 4, 5 or 6 simultaneously on various sections of the car as the light or shade hit it. Opinions varied on the paint job. Some felt it was overthe top while others thought it was wonderful. I loved it! The owner told me it was an $18,000 option that the original owner bought. Then the car was sold a year later after only putting on about 500 miles.
It was a great day, and the company was even better.
EMCC MembershipAs of June we have 78 members, 1 associate, and 5 honorary
Next Board MeetingMonday – June 27th at 6:30 PM
at Finnegan's Wake
Next Business MeetingTuesday - July 5th – at 7:30 PM
at Finnegan's Wake
Come early at 6:30 to enjoy dinner & schmoozing
VETTETACULAR ~ SPECTACULAR !!!By Keith E. Jacobson
An annual event held at Paul Masse Chevrolet in East Providence, R.I. . Thisyears show/cruise was on Saturday, June 18, 2016. Perfect weather with temperatures in the low 80s and sunshine all day long. About 450 Corvettes lined up, around the dealership, at the annual event to share in camaraderie and plenty of free food including hamburgers, sausages, Spike's Junk Yard Dogs, Del's Lemonade, ice cream, and various other treats. Some participants even had their caricature done by a strolling artist. Unveiled during the day was a beautiful Admiral Blue C7. Everyone left with smiles on their faces. Maybe the biggest smile was on member Frank Fontana's face after making adeal to lease a beautiful Arctic White Z06 … Congratulations to Frank.
EMCC CLUB STOREDon’t forget to stop by the EMCC Club Store at the next Business Meeting and get
your apparel. We have hats, shirts, t-shirts, jackets, and sweatshirts available.
The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and what better way to gear up for the celebrations than by showing off America’s Sports Car to your coworkers? Friday, July 1st marks the 16th Annual “Drive Your Corvette to Work Day.” Corvette owners across the world are encouraged to ditch their daily driver, and take their Corvette for a spin to
their place of employment on July 1st.
On June 30th 1953, the first Corvette rolled off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan, andinstantly an American icon was born. The first 300 Corvettes were made at the facility inFlint; all were Polo White convertibles with black canvas tops and red interiors. Since that day, over 1.6 million Corvettes have been produced. The original production place of the Corvettes in Flint, Michigan was demolished in 2003. However, not all of the facility that brought us the first generation of Corvettes is gone. The Corvette Museum offers enthusiasts wanting a unique fragment of Corvette history the chance to purchase a brick salvaged from the original Flint Factory.
“Drive Your Corvette to Work Day” is celebrated annually on the Friday closest to June 30th, the day the first Corvette was produced back in 1953. This tradition was started by Mid America Motorworks founder Mike Yager, who launched “Drive Your Corvette to Work Day” in 2001.“We understand why many owners consider their Corvette to be a special car and only drive it occasionally” said Yager, “but we think driving your Corvette to work, at least one day a year, is an excellent way to demonstrate just how popular Corvettes are. And it is a chance for Corvette owners to meet new Corvette owners.” Celebrated by thousands worldwide, the goal is to get as many Corvettes on the road as possible, transforming the everyday work commute into an ode to America’s Sports Car.
Be sure to share a photo of your Corvette at work on July 1st on the Museum’s Facebook page. A winner will be randomly selected to receive one of the historic bricks from the Flint, Michigan factory. Happy cruising!
Photo: CORVETTE Blogger.com / Article: National Corvette Museum
In a departure from our usual car related theme member Bob Gardner submitted thefollowing article that I hope everyone can appreciate, as we support all of our veterans.
COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARYOF THE VIETNAM WAR
Bob Gardner
By presidential proclamation on May 25, 2016 President Obama proclaimed May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025 as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. He called upon Federal, State and local officials to honor our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
In accordance with that proclamation, Congress articulated five objectives and charged the Secretary of Defense to coordinate, support, and facilitate these activities as follows.
1. To thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam war, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war, or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.
2. To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizationsthat served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
3. To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the UnitedStates during the Vietnam War.
4. To highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.
5. To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 9 million Americans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the period of the Vietnam War; approximately 7 million are living today. To reach these large numbers, the Commemoration has enlistedthe assistance of many thousands of Commemorative Partner organizations to conduct hometown centric events and activities that thank and honor Vietnam Veterans and their families in their local communities.
Whew! That’s a lot. While we were in Florida I attended one of the commemorative events named above at the Sarasota National Cemetery. There I received my commemorative pin and certificate. The pin reads, VIETNAM WAR VETERAN. On the reverse it reads, A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You. For those of us who endured a less than enthusiastic welcome home, it’s long overdue. It is worth noting that the pin and all it entails is being given to ALL VETERANS WHO SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERA, REGARDLESS OF ASSIGNMENT. It was a moving occasion. I have since volunteered as a Partner to help get the word out to veterans in the Franklin community.
Within Eastern Mass Corvette Club we have veterans who served during that era, some who served in-country. I urge all of you to seek out and attend whatever commemorative
activities may be scheduled in your own communities.
CORVETTE RACING AT LEMANS:GARCIA,CORVETTE RACING AT LEMANS: GARCIA,
MAGNUSSEN, TAYLOR COMPLETE 24 HOURS Trouble-free run for No. 63 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R at French endurance classic
LE MANS, France (June 19, 2016) – A total team effort from Corvette Racing resulted in one of its Chevrolet Corvette C7.R race cars completing the 24 Hours of Le Mans today – the 17th time America’s premier GT team has tackled the famed French endurance race.
The No. 63 Konica Minolta/Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Ricky Taylor finished seventh in the GTE Pro class after starting 14th in the category and last on the grid. The trio ran a steady, clean race with none of the major mistakes that claimed many of the other runners in the class.
Corvette Racing was going for its ninth class victory at Le Mans and sixth consecutive endurance Triple Crown victory – having won the last two years in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, in addition to last year’s Le Mans.
Taylor took the checkered flag in the No. 63 Corvette to cap his first Le Mans with Corvette Racing. It capped a determined effort which saw the trio climb into the top-10 for good prior to the halfway mark. The opening 52 minutes were run behind the safety car, owning to heavy rains which soaked an already saturated circuit.
Corvette Racing’s No. 64 Konica Minolta/Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R was forced to retire following a crash in the race’s 17th hour Sunday morning. Tommy Milner, driving with Oliver Gavin and Jordan Taylor, suffered a hard impact when his Corvette went hard into the outside wall prior to the first turn during heavy braking.
But thanks to state-of-the-art construction and safety features of the racing Corvette, Milner got out of the car under his own power and returned to the team garage shortly thereafter. He, Gavin and Taylor were the defending GTE Pro winners from 2015 and had been running as high as fifth on Sunday before the accident.
Corvette Racing returns to competition in two weeks at Watkins Glen International for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The race is set for 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 3.
Story: corvetteracing.com / Photo: corvetteblogger.com
VETTES TO VETS HONORED IN WDCBy Bob Gardner
Almost since its inception in 2003 EMCC has been participating in the annual fall roundup of Corvettes in Bedford, Mass for the benefit of the Veterans at the Bedford Veteran’s Hospital. We were there when there were a hundred cars in the parade and right up to the most recent Vettes to Vets that boasted 550 Corvettes from all over New England and Canada. Many of us have dealt directly with either Karen or Tony Blandini and we know how truly dedicated they are and how hard they work every year to make this even not just a great Corvette rally but a very productive fund raiser for our Veterans. This year at the American Hospital Association (AHA) Volunteer Excellence Awards Breakfast in Washington, DC on May 2, Karen and Tony achieved national
recognition. They were awarded the prestigious Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE).
Karen and Tony were accompanied by Christine Croteau, Director of the Bedford Veterans Hospital. The award was presented to four organizations nationally and recognized the Vettes to Vets founders and organizers for raising more than $400,000 in monetary and non-monetary donations. Money raised at the Vettes to Vets events have been used to rebuild the hospital’s greenhouse, maintain an education center for Veteranswith free internet and computer training, build a new hospice unit, and purchase a new wheelchair van for recreational outings for patients.
In an article posted on their Facebook page, Vettes to Vets reported that more than a hundred volunteers work each September on the two-day fundraiser, which includes a dinner, silent auction, live auction, parade of Corvettes, afternoon barbecue, musical entertainment, and collection of a truckload of donations of such comfort items for Veterans as shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes, combs, socks, and deodorant.
The Corvette parade has grown from only 25 cars in 2003 to 550 Corvettes in 2015. The parade begins at the Billerica Marriott every year. It winds through town and ends in the courtyard of the Bedford VA. This allows Veterans who are too ill or disabled to participate in person to see the cars and the festivities from their rooms.
The HAVE award is in its 33rd year and highlights the extraordinary efforts of volunteersand volunteer programs and the positive impact their contributions have on patients, hospitals, and health systems. From all of us at Eastern Mass Corvette Club, hearty congratulations to Karen and Tony Blandini and all the volunteers who make this great event happen each year.
This year’s Vettes to Vets will be held September 25, 2016. Mark your calendars!
Heard On the Street July 2016
By Arne Johnson
It recently came to mind that my C5 is 13 years old with original run flattires. They look good with plenty of thread and only 17,000 miles on theodometer. The next thought was just how do I determine when a tire was manufactured? Research reveals every tire is stamp dated on the tire itselfand it’s easy to read.
This photo indicates the date of manufacture was the 9th
week of 2010. If you need to replace your tires, the nextquestion is do you purchase new run flats or standardinflated tires? Many will stick with run flats since they areGM’s choice for the corvette. Those individuals who areperformance minded and do mostly weekend driving might choose to purchase wider and “sticky” tires such as the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 or Kumho Ecstra XS but a lessexpensive standard inflatable is fine and should contribute to a smoother ride and handling but you may want to join AAA and purchase a quality air pump should you need to recover from the ever present risk of a flat tire. As a side note, if you store your vehicle in the winter in an unheated environment, your tires will lose 1lb of pressure for every 7 degrees drop in temperature.
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July Birthdays
John Dwyer July 18
Steve Hahn July 13
Jack Mitchell July 14
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Corvettes on eBay: Classic 1969 GT-1Corvette Racer
Wouldn’t you love being on the track in the C7.R and taking the lead from a competitor?
Unfortunately, that’s not likely to happen since there just aren’t that many job openings in that industry.
The next best thing might be this very sharp 1969 Corvette GT-1 currently up for sale oneBay at the “Buy It Now” price of $69,000.
The new owner could use it to learn the ropes of vintage road racing, and this car has thepedigree to help with that learning curve.
This Corvette has a long history of SCCA GT1 racing from the 1970s to the 1990s, but it’s not tired – having recently undergone a restoration that includes a fresh 350 small block engine pumping out 500 horsepower.
You’ll also get a Muncie M22 transmission, coil over shocks, new wheels and tires and lots of vintage photos, along with a complete log book with tech stamps.
The seller says the car is eligible for SVRA, HSR, and VSCDA racing and is “turn key –ready to race.”
As seen on: CORVETTEBlogger.com
JULY EVENTS
June 26 Medfield on the Charles (Formerly Elm Bank Show) Medfield,8-3
June 27 EMCC Board Meeting at Finnegan’s Wake at 6:30 PM
June 28 Static Cruise EMCC, Shaw’s, Rt. 109, 4-dusk
June 30 EMCC Rolling Cruise. Need sponsor for this event.
July 2 Corvettes & Coffee Cruise-In, Grill 28 Pease Golf Course, Portsmouth, NH 9-noon
July 4 Happy Independence Day !!!!!!
July 5 Membership Meeting (EMCC) at Finnegan’s Wake, Walpole7:30 PM
July 7 Bass Pro All Car Cruise, Patriot’s Place, Foxboro
July 9 Herb Chambers Cars and Coffee, Flagship Motorcars of Lynnfield
July 10 Annual Corvette Show and Swap Meet, Club Corvette of Connecticut at Moroso Performance Products, Guilford, CT
July 11 All Car Cruise Night, New England Corvette Club 5-Dusk, Middleboro at Lorenzo’s Restaurant
July 12 Static Cruise EMCC, Shaw’s, Rt. 109, 4-dusk
July 14 EMCC Rolling Cruise. Need sponsor for this event.
July 16 Cars and Coffee at Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline
July 17 Fuzzy Dice Run, North Shore CC, Anderson Train Station
July 17/22 NCRS Ocean State National Convention, Crown Plaza, Warwick, RI
July 19 Static Cruise EMCC, Shaw’s, Rt. 109, 4-dusk
July 21 Bass Pro All Car Cruise, Patriot’s Place, Foxboro
July 25 EMCC Board Meeting at Finnegan’s Wake at 6:30 PM
July 26 Static Cruise EMCC, Shaw’s, Rt. 109, 4-dusk
July 28 EMCC Rolling Cruise. Need sponsor for this event.
Aug 1 Membership Meeting (EMCC) at Finnegan’s Wake, Walpole7:30 PM
Aug 2 Static Cruise EMCC, Shaw’s, Rt. 109, 4-dusk
Aug 4 Bass Pro All Car Cruise, Patriot’s Place, Foxboro
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Corvette Ranks Third Overall in 2016 Kogod Made inAmerica Auto Index
The Made in America Automotive Index is produced by Associate Professor Frank DuBois at American University’s Kogod School of Business and it ranks automobile models based on seven data points to determine how much the domestic economy is responsible in the manufacture of those vehicles. The study improves upon the AmericanAutomotive Labeling Act (AALA) figures that are posted on window stickers of new vehicles as required by law.
The seven criteria that the Kogod study considers includes profit margin, labor, research and development and inventory as well as location of the engine and transmission production and source of body, chassis and electrical components.
The complete 2016 Kogod Made in America Auto Index can be viewed here.
Leading all cars on the list and coming in at third overall with a score of 83.0 is the Chevrolet Corvette.
Topping the list overall were three GM vehicles which tied for first place. The Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia together tied for No. 1 with a score of 90.0 on the 2016 Kogod Made in America Auto Index.
Second place goes to the Ford F150 with a score of 85.0.
General Motors is obviously pleased with the results and the company issued a press release with this graphic touting their rankings in Made in America Index.
From: CORVETTE Blogger.com
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LAST LAFFSA business man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He says he's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.
The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so the man hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce. The car is parked on the street in front of the bank; he has the title and everything checks out.
The bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the man for using a $250,000 Rolls as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then proceeds to drive the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.
Two weeks later, the businessman returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"
The man replies, "Where else in central New York City can I park my Rolls for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?"