March 21, 2015
Look out NASCAR here we come!!
With visions of diving into turn 3, passing on the inside and bump-drafting down the straight-away, 14 Corvettes made their way around New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday evening, 3-21-15.
We had 21 members and guests present as we paraded around our local 1/2 mile ashphalt track. In an effort to “get our Club out there” the V.C.C.A. has been doing more great events of this type. There is no better way to promote than have a good time at a good event.
The weather really cooperated with partly cloudy skies to keep the temps down with no threat of rain.
The track is local so we didn’t have a long drive which meant very few lights and we all managed to arrive at the same time. Driving in wasn’t the best thing consider- ing the dust factor after many of us spent a lot of time cleaning our pride and joy. We lined up for the parade laps according to age with the oldest going first, sorry about that Mike B., I should have said the oldest Vette. We sat on the front stretch as each car and it’s owners were acknoweleged, including the two in row eight who weren’t even there. As our National Anthem played we followed behind the tracks pace car (a nice Challanger) and emergency vehicles. We did a lap or two under the red light, then as the track crews pulled off the light went yellow leaving us alone on the track.
As the track went GREEN, off we went. The track was ours to do with as we seen fit…and we did just that. A lot of cameras were going off in the stands as the race fans cheered for their favorite car and /or driver. Larry Skinner made it plain that as we went “green for go”, he was going for the inside lane to get out of everyones way! In the end, nobody traded paint or left a “Darlington Stripe” on the wall but we sure as heck had of a lot of fun taking the corners, getting on it down the straight aways and trying to overtake the Vette in front of us.
We only goofed up once. When asked if we wanted to do 2 or 3 laps, it was up to us. Someone said 5 laps. Doug Prock said that next time we ask for 15 laps. As we sat in the stands to watch the real racers go at it in the feature races our crowd started to thin out gradually. Some had to put their cars to bed, others to put themselves to bed (Hey, after all it was after 8 p.m.).
The event was a massive success and we need to give special thanks to Lou for his efforts putting this together as well as the managment of New Smyrna Speedway. It is my understanding that we may be doing this again. I urge all members who attended and all members who didn’t to do so next time. You will surely not regret it.
Keep the Vettes Rollin’
Chuck Powers
