August 2007 Newsletter
Visit DtRC on the web at: www.downtheroadcorvettes.org
Visit the Rocky Mountain Region NCCC at www.rmrnccc.org
Visit NCCC on the web at: www.corvettesnccc.org

Next Meeting: Thursday, August 23rd, 7 PM Go Chevrolet - 7320 North Broadway near I25 and the Boulder Turnpike.

Guest Presenters - Limit of 2 presentations per meeting, please make arrangements with the President at least a day in advance to be placed on the agenda and to see if the limit has been reached for this month.

2007 Down the Road Corvette Club Officers

From the Prez

Greetings All,

August is here and upon us already, where has this year gone? It seems like just yesterday we were digging out from our huge snow storm. But, this corvette season is still upon us with lots of events still to come. This month we will have our 3^rd autocross, next month is our annual dealer appreciation car show and following that is our Sno’ Big Deal rally, plus a few other club events sprinkled in between other regional events – lot to do still.

Thanks to Tim and Pat for allowing us to use their home for our annual club BBQ. There was some pretty great food and lots of good conversation. It was nice to see everyone who attended. Also, great mystery meal last week, it was nice seeing 14 Corvettes get together and take a drive though the mountains. Good thing we weren’t in any rush to eat – as some of us waited a considerable amount of time to get served, but it was great company in the meantime.

We should have a pretty full agenda at our August meeting. There will be sign-up sheets for helpers for both our next autocross and car show events. Lots of help is needed at both events to help them run smoothly. We will also be beginning our discussions on the Sno’ Big Deal rally and Tim’s Challenge, both of which are coming up soon. As always, I encourage everyone to help out on one of the upcoming events, even if you haven’t helped out at any of the things before, there are always people around to give you a hand. I always say that you get out of the club what you put into it. Feel free to ask any of us if you have any questions about any of the activities.

As always, I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting on the 23^rd.

Save the Wave!
Rick Cavallaro
President
Down the Road Corvettes
"Denver’s Premier Corvette Club"

Misc. ramblings from the Editor:

Hi Everyone,

What a hot summer we are having.  There is a slight cool down in store for our race this Sunday.  High 80's are definitely better than high 90's.  Sounds like you all had a great time on the mystery meal - and the mountains were undoubtedly somewhat cooler than a parking lot in Fruita - but it was still a good weekend out west..

We had to get new tires - again.  Not quite a year this time.  Guess we are having too much fun.  We have learned a couple things about car maintenance this month - that I will bore you with since I have nothing else to write about. 

 Tires - when you decide you should put tires on two days before you are going to drive to Montana - you get what they got in stock.  So we are now running Khumo ASXs - which were in stock in town - instead of MX's - which had a lead time of at least a week (and maybe more from some people we've talked to).  They did fine in the Fruita parking lot (I thought) - and on the road they were quiet, etc..  Time will tell - they should wear a little better than the MXs also.  

Oil Changes - so now we know - it would be wise to check that all the caps are put on tight after getting your car back from an oil change.  After my first race runs in Fruita - I was still in the car - and Dave walked over and popped the hood.  Then he said to someone - "it could be mine".  And someone walks up with an oil fill cap.  Sure enough - it was ours - and someone actually saw it come off on the course.  Dave had just driven to Montana and back, and then we drove to GJ, did the rally, etc.  And it didn't fall off until the parking lot in Fruita.  And if that had been a road course - odds are no one would have seen it.  It made a small mess on the inside of the hood which then dripped down on to the engine compartment - but we didn't need to add oil or anything.  Just another of life's little lessons and the things you don't think about until it happens to you.  To be clear - this did NOT happen at GO Chevrolet - unfortunately they aren't convenient enough to us to run in for things like an oil change. And yes - Dave did give the place that did it heck - and took the car back for them to steam clean everything.  Probably the cleanest the engine compartment has been in a long time.  And no - we aren't going to start doing our own oil changes :)  Luckily no harm done other than sort of messy.  Would have been a bummer to have lost the cap though - plus don't know when we would have found that out.

This Thursday - Mickey's top sirloin was quite yummy last time we went there - and they had an early bird menu - before 6:00 I think.  So was quite reasonable.  Hope to catch up with a lot of you there.

See you all Thursday.
Nancy B.

Minutes of Past Meeting

GUEST
Alex from Rocky Mountain Corvettes presented information on an event to be held August 4th and 5th at Hastings, Nebraska. There will be an autocross and track events. Contact Alex for more information.

August 17th,18th and 19th there will be another event at the Gateway Museum and Resort. This will include a dinner in the museum and also a tour of the museum. Cost is $575 per couple.

VISITOR PRESENTATION
Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival will be August 18th. Six  members volunteered to bring their cars to the parade.

QUORUM
Quorum was present.

PREVIOUS MINUTES
Previous minutes were approved.

TREASURER'S REPORT
The checkbook balanced. Tim's Challenge has $788.80 and the Penny Board has $581.

OLD BUSINESS
Frank A. discussed the July Autocross.  The club came out in the black and everything went well. John H. was given a plaque for First Place in the Autocross.  There will be another DtRC Hosted Autocross on August 26th.

NEW BUSINESS
Bill and Cathy S. and Bruce are the proud owners of new C6 Vettes.

CAR SHOW
Don P. discuseed the Dealer Car Show which has been scheduled for Sept. 15th. It was decided to condense the car classes for the event. Volunteers are needed to help put on this show.
Please contact Don if you can help. Door prizes are also needed.

Adventure Golf has been postponed until September.

MERCHANDISE COMMITTEE
New jackets are available for $47. New shirts are also available.

GOVERNOR'S REPORT
Torca Rally is August 11th at DeBeque, Colorado near Grand Junction. Three races will be held on Sunday in Fruita..
Deadline for Casper is July 31st.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE
The club BBQ will be at the Barnes' on August 4th.
Golden Parade will be July 28th.
Drive in Movie Event tentatively scheduled for August 24th.
Christmas Party will be December 15th at the Old Neighborhood Restaurant in Arvada.

NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM AMBASSADOR
Ron Fellows Z06 will be on display at the Vettes on the Rockies.
Colorado Corvette Club is also raising money for Tim's Challenge.
Incorporation of Tim's Challenge will be postponed till next year.

RAFFLE
Dallas A. won the raffle which was a bag of car goodies.

AUTOCROSS DIRECTOR
At this point there is no need to buy additional cones.
Next race will be held at Colorado National Speedway on August 26th.
This will be DtRC's last autocross this year.

DRAG RACE DIRECTOR
Dave B. took 2nd place at the last Club Clash at Bandimere.
August 24th will be the next Club Clash race.

Meeting Adjourned

Respectfully submitted by
Carol Perez
Secretary of DtRC

Club News: 

Pre-Meeting Eating - from Deana D.  Anyone who would like to join us for dinner before the meeting Thursday is welcome.  We're going to Mickey's Top Sirloin on Broadway (just a few blocks south of GO Chevrolet), meeting at 5:30 p.m.  Just ask for the Corvette club table.  They can always get us served and out of there in good time before the meeting. 

September Birthdays: - 9/2 Dale B.;  9/11 Joan B;  9/16 Maxima L.;  9/22  Martha H.

Upcoming Events
Remember a current schedule of NCCC events, access to flyers, event results and regional points standings can be found at www.rmrnccc.org .  As it is still early - remember, as clubs (ours included) firm up plans dates may change, events may be added, etc - so check back often. 

DtRC's third autocross day - August 26th - Colorado National Speedway - Erie

This is coming up real fast.   This will be co-hosted with DCA again - and as we found at the last race - with the limited time we have for set-up and due to the location of various facilities at the track - it takes a lot of bodies to pull this one off.   So the auto-cross committee and chairs could really use your help on Sunday.  I'm sure email will be coming out and it will be discussed at the meeting - but last time workers were requested to be at the track when they opened it for us at 7:30.   While help is needed all day - the pre-race set-up is the most body intensive.  Even if you can't stay - come join us to help setup and get through registration and tech.

Weather forecast for Sunday - and basically many days before and after - 88 degrees and mostly sunny.  That's on the warm side but doable - and a lot cooler than the July race.  

DtRC/GO Dealer Appreciation Car Show- date September 15th

We have a date - Saturday September 15th.  Thanks to Mike D. for working with the Dealer to nail down a date, and all the other dealer items.  I know that is a very time consuming job.   Show Chairs Don P and Don A have been busy also and will have worker sign-up sheets at this weeks meeting.

And Roger D, Chairman, Door Prizes for the GO Car Show wants to remind you – As you know, DtRC gives a door prize to every car that enters.  With the number of members we have, we only need one or two donations from each member.  Please bring your donation to the meeting.   Merchant donation letters are available. 

Corvette Roundup - Central Wyoming Corvettes - Labor Day Weekend 

Pre-registration is now closed for this event.  There are a few cars going up from DtRC.  We won't be going this year.  If one of you guys that are going wants to try to get a caravan together - just drop out a note.  I know it is hard as the travel up day is a Friday and some take off work (or don't work), some take a 1/2 day, some can't go until late.  But give it a shot.  And all of you that go - have a great time - do us proud.  Safe travels.

Other September Events:

CSCC Pagosa Springs Show - now has a confirmed date - September 23rd.  It was originally on the calendar as Sept. 16 - so if you keep your own calendar of events - please update this.  Dave and I went a few years ago - and it is a very pretty drive and area.  It is held in conjunction with a Balloon Festival and is really pretty neat.  And they have a wonderful hot springs.  It is not rustic - it is actually very commercialized - which means very clean, with a lot of choices of hot tub temperatures - and when we went on a Saturday night - they were even showing a movie out by the big pool (don't know if they still do that or not).  It is a great weekend getaway - and the show is only for a few hours on Sunday so doesn't take too much time away from the other fun.  In fact it gives you a change to catch up on your rest (can you tell we aren't car show people :)).  

It's a busy month for the Colorado Springs club - the following weekend - 9/30 - they are hosting 2 autocrosses at World Arena in south Colorado Springs.

Past Events

Western Slope Weekend - 2 Rallyes and 3 Autocrosses - August 11 & 12

This was a toasty - but very scenic weekend.  The drive over Vail pass and through Glenwood Canyon - always awesome.  We started the rally in a little park in downtown DeBeque.  The rally then went up to checkpoint one - which was at Powderhorn ski area - probably 30 miles from DeBeque - part way up Grand Mesa.  Then back down the hill, and on to a scenic canyon road that paralleled I70 on the south.  Then past all the fruit stands and wineries of Palisade, and into Grand Junction to end at a park.  Very pretty drive.  Thanks to all from Torca who worked hard to put together a very pretty route.

Autocrosses - Fruita High School.  Well Fruita High School has 10 new speed bumps in the parking lot - but CWCC managed to work around them and gave us fun course.  Although their ability to change the course keeps getting less as more obstacles are added.  It was very a very warm Sunday.  One of those days you can put ice down the back of your shirt - and the shirt doesn't even really get wet it evaporates so fast.  We had a small contingent of drivers there.  TORCA had quite a few drivers, and some CCC members came to play for the weekend too.  Having the rally and the races on the same weekend really made it convenient and a very fun weekend getaway. 

Race results are posted on the regional website - www.rmrnccc.org .  The rallye results aren't in yet - but I'm sure they will be shortly.

Committee Updates

Breaking News - 
Mark your calendars for the DtRC Christmas Dinner at The Old Neighborhood, December 15th, 6:30 p.m.

Club BBQ -

Editor Note:  I want to add my thanks to Tim and Pat for being such wonderful hosts.  They do a lot of work getting the meat and drinks bought and prepped, etc. - and their house works wonderfully for our size group. Even a little rain didn't dampen anyone's spirits or good time.  And thanks to all for the yummy food.  On a side note - I think all of us also want to add that we are so glad that Pat was feeling well enough to make it back to Denver this weekend and we wish her a continued speedy recovery. 

August Mystery Meal -

DRIVE-IN MOVIE Night - this Friday - August 24th

Mary D. is organizing this - thanks Mary.  This will take place at Cinderalla Twin.  The gates open at 6:30.  There are two theaters (hence the Twin - duh).  According to their website - http://www.cinderelladrivein.com/ - the shows are -   Screen 1: Simpson's Movie,  Transformers, and Hot Rod.  Screen 2:  Bourne Ultimatum, I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry, and Knocked up.  The movies start about 8:15.  And if you stay for all three movies - the last movie doesn't start until almost 1 a.m..  Cost is $9 for age 12 and over.

Cinderella Twins website says they are 95% sure this is their last season.  They are open weekends through September.  Their website also said they have a new No Pet Policy.

So if you want to go to the drive-in one last time there - there isn't much time left.  So pack a picnic lunch, bring your bug spray and a blanket, and come on out.  My guess is given they are closing they may be busier than normal and we should get their when they open.  Just more time for eating and socializing.  Hope to see you there.

Upcoming social events - 
Keep an eye on your email and future newsletters - here is the sign-up list of the volunteers for the next several mystery meals:  Bill & Cathy -  September.  

This years social committee is Deana D., Mary Kay K.  So please contact them if you have ideas for activities or are willing to lead a mystery (or non-mystery) meal, or activity.  

Governor’s Report - 
By Nancy B.

Not much to talk about this month here.  July is always a quiet month for NCCC in the region with two large non-NCCC events held in the area - Vettes on the Rockies and Black Hills Corvette Classic.  We typically don't schedule a lot in the region as so many region members tend to go to those events

I do have one reminder.  For anyone planning to do the DCA high speed race at Pueblo on October 7th - for the race itself you must have a NCCC high speed license.  These licenses are good for 3 years after issue and renew every time you run a high speed race.  If you got yours more than 3 years ago and haven't raced since come Oct. 7th - it is expired.  If you've never had one or yours is expired and you have done 10 low speed events in the last 18 months or have gone to a certified driving school - contact our Regional Competition director (email info is on the regional website) to get your current high-speed license.  Please allow some lead time prior to October 7th for this activity.  Also - for anyone going to any part of the event on October 7th - please read the DCA flyer on car/driver qualifications, times, prices, etc for both the track half day and the high speed race.

Last month I'd thought Dave & I may take a road trip to an out-of-state NCCC event.  Due to some other things that are popping up on our schedule - we won't be doing that after all.  But it is always fun to get a couple cars together for a road trip - so check out the national website - www.corvettesnccc.org if you decide to do that.  And as always - a current event calendar, access to the flyers, event results, and year to date standings are posted on the regional website - www.rmrnccc.org .  I know that flyers are there for all events up until November.  The CWCC race results are up - but the points standings won't get updated until the Torca results are received by the RCD.

Christmas is just around the corner (just check almost any store - especially hobby stores - and it must be closer than we think).  For those who have had their helmets for a while it may be time to check the date of manufacture.  Helmets can be no older than 10 years from date of manufacture.  If yours will fall in that category next year - make sure to get it on your Christmas list.  I know most of your spouses would much appreciate having something on the list instead of trying to dream stuff up.

Drag Racing Report
Joan B.

Next club clash - this Friday - August 24th.  If you are interested and not sure of the logistics - contact Joan.  

The remaining Bandimere race dates are  Aug. 24, Sept. 7, 21. Gates open at 3:00p.m. Race starts at 7:00p.m., cost is $35, spectators are $10.

Merchandise Report

This year's merchandise committee is composed of Patty C., Jackie M and Tonya R.  If you need any merchandise or have any ideas - let them know. 

NCM Ambassador’s Report
Tim B - National Corvette Museum Lifetime Member

Our NCM Ambassador has had a very hectic month.  For the latest news and goings on at the museum go to http://www.corvettemuseum.com/ .  There are several raffles currently underway - you can even purchase tickets through the website.  

We hope Tim has a quieter month this next month and that we hear from him next month - as he always have more exciting stuff to say than I do - the Editor. 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
2007 EVENTS CALENDAR
Please check the Regional Website - www.rmrnccc.org for the latest regional schedule.  If events are added or dates changed - it will be current there.  The regional website will also contain links to the event flyers as they become available.  

Remember to check our website www.downtheroadcorvettes.org for even more events the club has been notified of and for events that may change (added/deleted) between newsletters.

DtRC Meetings are the 4^th Thursday of the month.  
There are no club meetings in November or December, except the annual Holiday Party.

Want to Advertise?
If you are a member of Down the Road Corvettes, you may place a For Sale or Wanted Ad for any Corvette related items in our newsletter for free. Submissions must be received via  E-mail to the editor no later than the 15^th of each month. 

Disclaimer: All prices listed here are not guaranteed.  You will need to confirm any and all prices with the selling party.

Advertising
*********************************************************************************************

For Sale:  *** Price Reduced ***
Set of four wheels off a 1996 corvette, very good condition complete with lug nuts and covers. Sold as set only $300.00.
Please call Bill or Cathy Schultz at 720-872-1259 or email CWING85B@AOL.com