"Carlisle is the Perfect Way to End a Great Corvette Summer!"
I’ve just returned from one of my favorite places to be
at the end of Summer…Corvettes at Carlisle!
The Registry took its usual position on top of “Registry
Hill” for our 12th year at Corvettes at Carlisle and we all had a BLAST!
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Lucky Charter Member Stan Kessel /*[C5R#
V0104] */of Carrollton, TX arrived in style in his 2010 Grand Sport
[VIN 00169] purchased 8-05-2009 which was one of the first off the
assembly line! Photo by John Sinatra |
One of the highlights for me this year was when Charter
Member Stan Kessel [C5R# V0104] pulled up at first light Friday morning
in his brand new 2010 Arctic White Grand Sport Convertible. Stan’s was the first
Grand Sport (VIN 00169) that I’ve seen in public hands, and not with a GM
engineer behind the wheel. He drove it all the way to Carlisle, PA from Texas;
he said it felt like it was stuck to the road like glue! I can’t relate because
I haven’t had the chance to get behind the wheel of the new Grand Sport. But I
can tell you this, it looked FABULOUS…with that beautiful wide body, the
Convertible top down and that exciting red interior! Stan, you have one heck of
a beautiful Corvette!
Let me make this perfectly clear…that wide body design
looks just fabulous on a C6 Convertible! I’ve shared with Harlan Charles,
Corvette
Marketing/C6 Product Manager, that I really appreciate
Corvette producing different models, and not ones that just have seat embroidery
and paint color setting them apart. The Grand Sport performance models, at first
glance, are a different Corvette…the way it sits, the width of the rear tires,
mean working brakes….it all looks aggressive and everyone will know it!
What’s nice about being at the top of “Registry Hill” is
that sooner or later anybody who is connected with the Corvette hobby stops by
our tent to say Hi and spend some quality time with our members. This year there
was no shortage of Corvette personnel at Carlisle, up on the hill and at our
traditional Friday night Registry dinner. I had the good fortune to spend time
visiting with Paul Graham, the current Corvette Plant Manager until October 1st
when his promotion takes him to Arlington, TX, GM’s only full-size SUV Plant.
During his short two-year stay with Corvette, everyone at the Plant tells me he
has done a fabulous job and really made his mark improving the Corvette brand.
To Paul, on behalf of the Official C5/C6 Registry, we say THANK YOU for all
you’ve done!
Paul, as I told you, you are always Welcome at any
Registry event you can attend! Paul’s replacement is Bob Parcell who is
transferring from CAMI Automotive Inc. located in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. He
is scheduled to take over as Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manager on October
1st. Bob is going to have some big shoes to fill! On behalf of the Official
C5/C6 Registry and its worldwide members, we wish him the very best in his
upcoming endeavor and welcome him into the Corvette lifestyle of “Miles of
Smiles!”
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Director Dan’s Celebrity Choice Award this
year was Jim “Pepsi” Juliano /*[C5R# K6572] */of Archibald, PA and
his 1999 Torch Red Coupe. Director Dan has a weakness for Torch Red
C5s as his first Corvette was a 1997 Torch Red Coupe. Photo by
John Sinatra |
I know at Carlisle it appears that I do everything while
we’re there and it all just comes together marvelously! */(That was your chuckle
for the day!)/ But seriously, the real truth is that a lot of our members and
good friends graciously help me out! So I just want to say A BIG C5/C6 THANK YOU
to all our members who go above and beyond to help in any way they can. I want
all of you to know that it doesn’t go unnoticed and we really appreciate it!
This year’s cold beverages provided by the generosity of Corvette Central.
[Corporate Member #WC003] stayed cold because ice was constantly being run
up the hill by Jeff Mayhew [C5R# N7776] and Herb Schmoock
[C5R# P7832] Our beverage consultant, Jim “Pepsi” Juliano [C5R# K6572]
guided us in our beverage selection; and when it was time to check in for the
Registry dinner, Mark Thomas [C5R# X2102] graciously helped out. Thanks
Guys!
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Corvettes at Carlisle is
like attending a family reunion. At every reunion there’s always a
new addition to the family. This year was no exception with the
February 17, 2009 arrival of Ella Corvette Miller.
Pictured with “Miss Ella”
are the proud parents, Lance & Michele Miller, and Director Dan
jockeying for Godfather position!!!
Photo by John Sinatra |
This year I drug along John Sinatra [C5R# R7969]
who is a friend of mine and a neighbor of Director Jake. John is a real car guy.
He not only has a 2007 Black C6 Z51 in his garage, but he also has a gorgeous
showroom quality Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro SS RS 396 which he lovingly restored.
He took time off from work to come to Carlisle with us and help with set up and
picture taking. In fact, many of the pictures in the magazine were taken by
John. Thanks, John, for all your help!
Carlisle is the perfect way to end a Great Corvette
Summer! Of course, if you live in Cocoa Beach, FL where Summer doesn’t end until
November, you have a few extra months of Corvette Summer driving time! I can’t
think of a better way to drive to those Jacksonville Jaguar football games than
in my Corvette!
See you on the Road of Smiles!
C6Ya!
Dan
