ROGUE VALLEY CORVETTES - A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!
WENDELL STRODE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM, WILL BE OUR GUEST AT THE FALL CLASSIC CAR SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 18TH
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KEEP YOUR CALENDAR OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 18th
5th ANNUAL ALL CHEVY CAR SHOW - AT AIRPORT CHEVROLET-CADILLAC - MEDFORD
CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE FLYER & REGISTRATION FORM
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EVENT REMINDER:
SEPTEMBER 11 - RVC MEETING - DEBBY'S DINER - Phoenix, Oregon
SEPTEMBER 18 - 5TH ANNUAL FALL CLASSIC ALL CHEVY CAR SHOW - AIRPORT CHEVY/CADILLAC - MEDFORD
Check the events listings for more details
September President's Letter
So where did the summer go? Seems like it was never going to arrive and now it is just about over. We did, however, have a lot of great adventures as a club. We went to Sisters, the Trees of Mystery, Lost Creek and Callahan’s – just to name a few. Thank you to all of you who hosted the events – we appreciate your involvement and it was fun to do a few “new” things this year. I’m sure that we will still have some cruising weather – so bring on the Spur of the Moment runs!!.
Our meeting this month will be something special since our visiting guest will be Wendell Strode, the Executive Director of the National Corvette Museum. Be sure to put the date, September 11th on your calendar. We will be getting together at Debby’s Diner in Phoenix at 5:30 pm. Wendell will also be at the Car Show on the 18th.
Speaking of the Fall Classic – it is only days away and it looks like everything is coming together. Registrations have been coming in regularly and Airport Chevy Cadillac is more excited than ever. The Show is growing – we will have even more vendors than we did last year. The Pack’s living room is full of some great raffle prizes thanks to all of you. Make sure you also check out the Silent Auction Items – there are some really nice ones available and, of course, all the money goes to a great cause: SkillsUSA. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Have a great month.
Mary Kush
President
33rd ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP MEET
Sunday, August 28th, started out overcast and it looked like it might have been raining up at Lost Creek, but that didn’t deter a number of RVC Members from going on up to the Friendship Meet at Stewart Park.
We met just west of Shady Cove at Willie’s Place and headed east on Highway 62. The drive was leisurely until just before the turn off to the park. Sometime after leaving Shady Cove, Lori’s “54 Corvette decided that it wanted to try and be like a Toyota. We noticed that it looked like she was “riding her brakes” but Lori’s wild ride happened when the car just wanted to accelerate – she was trying to slow it down – the throttle stuck. She managed to brake enough for the turns and when headed into the park, she wisely ignored the parking gurus and headed for the, thankfully empty parking lot. By now smoke was pouring out of the car – the brakes were hot and smelling. She made the turn at a high rare of speed, swung the car around the lot, shut it off and finally got it stopped….and managed all of this without hitting a curb or anything else. Bet she is now ready for the race track. Many folks, old friends and new stopped by to chat as she waited for the tow truck. Word is that a spring broke off and the throttle stayed open – that little car just wanted to GO. What an exciting and scary beginning to the day. Lori made it home safe and sound and the car is in the shop for repair. Guess were going to have to name her Lori Andretti Hale from now on.
With the excitement over, the rest of is settled down n the shade to enjoy the day. There were about 300 cars on display for us to look at and vote on.
None of the Corvettes trophied but many of our members did in their non-corvette cars. Naomi and Bill Smith won with their 1957 Chevy Convertible. (I didn’t even know they had one and it IS gorgeous.) Glenda Stillwell trophied with her beautiful 1956 Studebaker and Lee Stillwell won 2 awards with his recently finished 1933 Plymouth. Last but not least, John Warren won with his 1965 Mustang (but he says the Corvette is more fun to drive.)
Cheering them on were Paul & Gioia, Greg and Susan, Diana and Ron, Bob and Mary, Craig and Diane and Fred and Annette. We all had a good time and thoroughly enjoyed being in the parade of cars from the show headed back to Medford on the Highway – what a beautiful sight.
A GREAT SUNDAY OUTING
Sunday the 8th of August was a picture perfect day. 13 Corvettes, 1 Jeep, 1 Cadillac and 1 truck gathered at the rest stop just south of exit 24 on I5. We were set for a run to the top of Mt. Ashland and then onto Callahan’s for brunch.
This writer was surprised by how many of those attending this outing had never been up the road to the ski area at the top of the mountain. The view is pretty spectacular from that location. It was unfortunate that fires in California did contribute to a haze situation that did limit the view somewhat.
After spending a good half hour taking pictures and looking at the scenery we started back down to our next stop which was at Callahan’s restaurant just of I5.
Callahan’s had created a special menu for us and as far as I could tell everyone enjoyed the food. The service was great and they really bent over backward to please us.
On leaving I spoke with the general manager and told him we appreciated the effort they put forth. He indicated we were welcome any time we wanted to return.
Some members decided to stop at Valley View Winery on the way home and I understand those who attended closed the place.
All in all it was a typical Rogue Valley Corvette outing, good friends, good food and a great time.
Written by Colin Carnegie
HELLGATE DINNER CRUISE
It’s not summer in the Rogue Valley until you take a trip on the Hellgate Jet Boats. And that is exactly what RVC members did on Friday, August 6th. Member John Koughan set up the event and worked with Hellgate Excursions so that our members would all be together on the boat and for dinner.
We were on the first boat out and sat in rows 3, 4 and 5. Members John & Darlene Koughan, Lori Hale, Jim & Marilyn Pack, Dan Harris, Beverly Baker, Evie & Joe Wall, Bob & Mary Kush, John & Mary Jo Bucchino, and John & Sharon Warren were joined with guests Steve Koughan, Linda and Tom Warren on the cruise. Weather was perfect for the ride and the splashing of water was great for cooling us off but not good on the hair.
Besides the water drenching spins and quick stops, we did see a number of wildlife along the river. We had a most informative guide who not only told us stories about the river but also gave us a thrilling ride. The highlight of the trip was watching a bald eagle swoop down to the river and grab a fish for his dinner. What an awesome sight!
We had a great dinner at the OK Corral and if you haven’t tried it yet be sure to add this to your list of things to do.
Coming back from dinner was a bit cooler but still pleasant. Evie said she stayed warm and dry by wearing a life vest.
I do believe that Dan (Harris) ended up the wettest one of all of us but we all should have brought a dry shirt to wear afterwards. It was a delightful adventure for a warm summer day in Southern Oregon.
RVC VISITS THE CALIFORNIA REDWOODS
Saturday, July 31st was a great day to escape the heat in the Rogue Valley. Eleven Corvettes and one Ford pickup traveled to the cool California coast to visit the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, CA. Joining the fun were RVC members Jim & Marilyn Pack, Morris & Virginia Chamberlain, Dave & Linda Guches, Paul & Gioia Uhlenkott, Joe & Evie Wall, Lori Hale, Bob & Frankie Phillips, Joe & Dianne Sheldon, Bill & Candy Christie, Steve Hunter and Madelon Cahill along with guests Ron & Angie Cornutt, Nevin McCracken, Randy Kilpatrick and Karin Christie.
We enjoyed lunch at The Chart Room in Crescent City, which had reserved 3 tables for our group, and took in the view of the Pacific Ocean from the harbor. Afterwards we traveled down Hwy. 101 to the Trees of Mystery. A parking area had been set aside for the Corvettes adjacent to the highway creating quite a sight for northbound travelers. Some in our group enjoyed the walk up the narrated trail through the spectacular Coastal Redwoods which led to the Sky Trail, a 7-9 minute ride in an enclosed gondola through the redwood forest canopy. Others opted for the trolley ride. The Redwoods were awesome, some over 300 feet tall. One tree was 3000 years old leaving us wondering - Who had counted the rings? Another redwood named the Cathedral Tree was actually nine individual trees growing together in a natural cathedral formation. Once at the Sky Trail, we each took a deep breath and stepped into the gondolas. Marilyn was especially brave as she set aside her fear of heights and took the gondola up to the observation deck. We applaud her even if she did keep her eyes closed tight the whole time!
After following Jim’s ice cream radar and enjoying our frozen treats, we regrouped for our private tour of The End Of The Trail Museum. We were very fortunate to have the museum curator, Marylee Thompson, be our guide through this fascinating collection of Native American artifacts. Thanks to her spellbinding stories and depth of knowledge of these remarkable cultures, the baskets, clothing, tools and other objects came to life for us.
Everything on Saturday was cool, not just the weather. And so ended our cool day on the California coast.
Contributed by: Gioia Uhlenkott
