The lighter weight and nearly 500 hp should make the Z06 a true Viper-eater. The '70 Corvette ad campaign proudly proclaimed that year's model as "The Best Vette Yet." Little did they realize how good the car would become 35 years later.-Cam Benty
Coming EventsJuly 13-17, Bowling Green, KY. Solid Axle Corvette Club's (SACC) National Convention in conjunction with the National Corvette Homecoming Show. Meet Noland Adams, seminars, tours, car auction, and women's retreat. Info: saccmb@hotmail.com or (270) 746-0306.
July 16-17, Bowling Green, KY. National Corvette Homecoming at Southern Kentucky Fairgrounds at Lampkin Park. Admission $8 for adults. Children under 12 free. Gates open on Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. Two day Corvette/GM car auction. Swap meet, car corral, seminars, women's retreat and fashion show, and free all-Corvette parade. Info: (270) 746-0306; www.nationalcorvettehomecoming.com.
July 18, Joliet, IL. Glass Impressions Corvette Club's All-Corvette Show at Miss Camille's Variety Club and MG's Sports Lounge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Three trophies per class. Participant voting, 50/50 raffle, show cars $15 entry fee. Info: Bernie (815) 735-1581; e-mail Bzoran@comcast.net.
July 24, Huntley, IL. Sunburst Corvette Club's Corvette Show at Prime Huntley Chevrolet from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Trophies awarded in six classes, goodie bags, dash plaques, door prizes, and more. Proceeds to local charities. Info: Tom Palmer (815) 455-4528, Drew Tyk (815) 455-5945, or Donna Sharik (847) 639-6774.
July 18, Niagara Falls, NY. David Chevrolet, Buick, and Pontiac Classic Car show. Registration 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Preregistration by July 16 is $7. Open to all classes of cars and trucks. Car plaques to first 150 cars registered. Goodie bags, awards, 50/50 split, door prizes, Chinese auction. Info: Corvettes of Buffalo, 7362 Balla Dr., N. Tonawanda, NY 14120.
July 25-29, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The National Corvette Restorers Society's National Convention. Info: Scott Sinclair (905) 857-1463 (evenings), Gary Mortimer (513) 385-8526 (days) or (513) 385-6367 (days).
County Corvette, West Chester, PennsylvaniaLocated in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia, County Corvette is a full-service Corvette business offering customers restoration and repair, along with Corvette parts and vehicle sales. On a recent trip to the Northeast, we were given a tour of the full-service facility by cofounder and County Corvette President Jim Jordan.
Jim and cofounder Jim Stuempfle established the business in 1986. Despite its modest beginnings in a two-stall shop in Pennsylvania, County Corvette now operates out of a 35,000-square-foot facility with five departments: Sales, Service, Body and Paint, Restoration, and Parts. Growth has been based on the staff's knowledge, experience, and focus on customer service. Jim Jordan says, "We have become recognized as one of the finest and most sought-after restoration and sales facilities, with satisfied customers from around the world. To date, we have restored some of the rarest and most important Corvettes in history."
County Corvette Sales was formed in 1997, bringing aboard partner Arno Zeyn to serve the ever-growing demand for high-quality vintage and late-model Corvettes. In 2003, a long-awaited parts and merchandise division was added, along with several new staff members to help further the scope and expertise of County Corvette's family.
County Corvette's customers range from world-renowned collectors to owners of daily drivers. It maintains a philosophy that no job is more important than any other, and excellence must be consistent in every job.
Included in County Corvette's staff of 25 are 11 master technicians with a broad range of expertise and credentials, including ASE (Automotive Service Excellence), MACS (Mobile Air-Conditioning Society), I-CAR, PPG, and GM certification.
Jim Jordan notes, "We are very proud of the business we have created. Our staff is like family and we have built a team that can accomplish results that are even beyond my expectations."
For information, write to County Corvette, Sales/Service Restoration, 315 Westtown Rd., West Chester, PA 19382; (610) 696-7888; www.countycorvette.com
Feature Your Shop!Get your Corvette restoration, repair, or service business in this column by providing a 500-word description of your shop, along with photography and testimonials from your customers.
Send your contribution to: Corvette Shop Close-Up, Corvette Fever, 3816 Industry Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33811, or send an e-mail to corvette.fever@primedia.com. Include "Corvette Shop Close-Up" in the Subject line.
Corvettes At Carlisle Features Corvette Racers, Greenwood, & '54 Corvette ReunionLance Miller to help continue Chip Miller legacyThe '04 Corvettes at Carlisle takes place August 27-29 at the Carlisle (Pennsylvania) Fairgrounds. Since Carlisle Events' cofounder Chip Miller's passing from amyloidosis in March, his son Lance Miller has decided to help run the show.
"I'll be continuing with my father's legacy by joining the Carlisle team and making sure that Corvettes at Carlisle remains the best of its kind," says Lance. "Corvettes at Carlisle had a personal feel to it because my father put his heart and soul into something he loved so deeply. I've always loved Corvettes, and they're a large part of my life."
"We're certainly happy to have the next generation involved in the business," said Bill Miller, co-owner of Carlisle Events. "Lance has been around car shows all his life and certainly will be a great asset to continue the growth of the Corvette show."
This year's Chip's Choice features Greenwood Corvettes. A Greenwood Reunion display will be part of the Fun Display show field. Select '54 Corvettes, superior examples in either original condition or restored to original condition, will be displayed under a tent. All other preregistered '54 Corvettes are invited to park in a designated area and will receive a special gift as part of the registration packet.
The Corvette Race Car Reunion will highlight Corvettes with racing backgrounds. There will be a designated parking area for all pre-registered Corvette race cars; drivers and crews will be on hand as special guests.
The Corvettes at Carlisle Benefit Auction will support research of amyloidosis. Before he passed away, Chip Miller donated his pristine '57 Corvette for auction.
The Mecum Corvettes at Carlisle auction takes place Friday and Saturday beginning at noon. Visit www.mecumauction.com to see a list of cars up for auction or to add your Corvette to the list.
The National Corvette Restorers Society will host the NCRS Gallery IV with a gathering of 19 award-winning Corvettes. Also, hosted by the York County Corvette Club, the National Council of Corvette Clubs holds the NCCA Judged Competition with cash prizes. Register your Corvette at www.carsatcarlisle.com/corvette.
On Saturday evening, hundreds of Corvettes will parade to downtown Carlisle, where Corvette enthusiasts and local community members can enjoy food, vendors, live music, and more. Corvette engineers will be on hand all weekend at the Fairgrounds to answer questions about the Corvette, including the new '05 C6.
All Corvettes on the Fun Display are eligible for Celebrity Pick awards, chosen by the Corvette celebrities at the event. The Corvettes at Carlisle Beauty Contest will award cash prizes to the most beautiful female Corvette enthusiasts. The Women's Oasis offers free seminars, manicures, massages, facials, and much more. The Corvette Fashion Show will feature all the newest styles in Corvette apparel. Kids' Corvettes at Carlisle includes a model-Corvette contest, mini-pedal cars, a gas or battery Corvette display, and much more for children to enjoy.
On Sunday, be at the stage at 3 p.m. with your giveaway ticket for a chance to win a Corvette. Corvette Mike provided the car, a '90 Dark Red Metallic coupe. No purchase is necessary, but you must be present to win. To learn more about Corvettes at Carlisle or to register, visit www.carsatcarlisle.com/corvette or call (717) 243-7855.