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Spring 2008
BASH, BASH, BASH…. WHAT AN EXCITING TIME!!!
If they say all Corvettes are red, then are all Corvette Engineers red
plaid?
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Last Spring our
Registry magazine displayed a priceless photo of then Plant Manager
Wil Cooksey, Retired Chief Engineer David Hill and Vehicle Line
Executive Tom Wallace at last year’s Birthday Bash wearing the
infamous Red Plaid Pants. Well, the tradition continues! At this
year’s Margaritaville Party during the Registry Bash, Retired Plant
Manager Wil Cooksey, who is now Chairman of the Board of the
National Corvette Museum, gave Tadge Juechter, Chief Engineer
Corvette Future Products, his own pair of Red Plaid Pants AND a
matching red plaid button down driving cap! Now that’s a new twist!
Everyone agreed that Tadge was quite the fashion statement at the
Margaritaville Party. It looks like Harlan Charles, Corvette Product
Manager, is next in line for the coveted David Hill Red Plaid Pants
Society! (I was just thinking, if our guys are wearing stylish Red
Plaid Pants, just what are the Viper and Mustang engineers wearing
at their enthusiast gatherings?) So at next year’s C5/C6 Bash, all
bets are in that you will see the Red Plaid Pants tradition continue
as our Chief Corvette Engineers don their plaid apparel for the
Margaritaville Party. It’s becoming quite the tradition! |
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We must
admit that Tadge Juechter, Chief Engineer Corvette
Future
Products, is about the only one who can successfully
pull off wearing
this red plaid outfit with a matching driving cap! |
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MINGLING WITH CORVETTE VIPS
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The
Italian Stallions, Chief Designer of the 5th Generation
of Corvette, John Cafaro and Director Dan reminisce on
past Bashes. |
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I know I’ve said this
before and I’m going to keep saying it: One of the greatest features
of the C5/C6 Registry Bash is the accessibility of Corvette
Engineers, Corvette Management and Corvette Plant Personnel present
for you, our members, to engage in a two-way exchange of vital
information regarding our beloved Corvettes. I know of no other
event on this planet where you can interact with Engineers by day
and (my favorite part) PARTY with them all night long! This brings
Corvette Management closer to their customers and the customers
closer to Corvette Management. Members, when at future Registry
Bashes, remember, this is your opportunity to exchange valuable
information with those who can make a difference!
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This is sometimes an overlooked part of the Bash, but I believe this is the
most important part. I know of no other car company that allows such a high
level of customer interaction on such an intimate scale.
EARLY ARRIVAL PARTY —BLAST!
I’m still licking my fingers from Chef Extraordinaire General Custer’s smokin’
barbecue, and all of you must be too! I’ve received tons of emails sharing with
me how much FUN everyone had at our early arrival kick-off party on Thursday
night hosted by Jim Van Dorn of Auto Masters.
Jim outdid himself this year by booking the very hot and popular local band
Blue Light Special. I wanted to make sure I got to know each of the band members
personally as I was told they were all Bowling Green Police Officers! Their
music was outstanding and everyone had a great time dancing the night away!
Something about partying inside a working garage of Corvettes just brings out
the gear head in me. So when you go to Bowling Green to tour the Museum and
Plant, there is now a third stop you should definitely add to your list… a visit
to Auto Masters to say Hi to Jim Van Dorn. He is a true friend of the Registry
and its members!
We were also introduced to Mike Hoover and Dave Chrisley, Co-Founders of the
Bowling Green Assembly Corvette Club which has been in existence for about a
year now and their membership is growing daily. I love their club motto, "We
Build Your Dream In Bowling Green." Anyone can become a member. Director Jake
and I joined in March. All you need to do is visit their web site at
www.BGACorvetteClub.com
and sign up.
Members had the chance to spend Friday evening with Wil and Paul. It was an
evening affair at the Sloan Convention Center celebrating Wil Cooksey’s
retirement as Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manager on March 1,
2008 and introducing Paul Graham, Bowling Green Assembly Plant’s new Manager.
It is always an entertaining evening whenever Wil speaks, and this night was no
exception.
I had a hard time hearing Wil’s speech because of all the laughter. You can
tell he’s retired now because there was no holding back on his thoughts! This
was a chance for those in attendance to visit with Wil and share with him how
much he meant to them.
This evening marked the official introduction of Paul Graham to the Corvette
world as the new Corvette Plant Manager. Paul impressed me as a real go-getter
and an individual who really has Corvette Quality on the brain. He shared with
me that he expects to continue turning out the best Vettes yet, and make each
year a higher quality vehicle than the year before. Personally, I believe that’s
quite a task, but I know Paul is up for it. I wish him great success with his
endeavor as Plant Manager, and we all look forward to driving the future
Corvettes coming out of the Plant. He has big shoes to fill, but I noticed he
has pretty big feet, so I am confident it will work out great! Thank you, Paul,
for all you do and continue to do for Corvette. I know you will be a great asset
to the Corvette community. If you have not met Paul in person, he will be the
guest speaker at our Carlisle dinner on Friday, August 22, 2008.
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(L-R) Members from Chicago’s INSIDETRACK CORVETTE CLUB,
Darryl Humbles [C5R# R7996], Curtis Davis [C5R# P7900], Bowling
Green Corvette Plant Manager Paul Graham, Russell Williams [C5R#
Y3601], Anthony Gatewood, and Director Dan were all on hand to
welcome Paul to the family! |
When you get a chance, please be sure to thank Roc Linkov, NCM Event Manager,
for his dedication and effort in making the Bash so successful year after year.
The Registry created this event some 11 years ago, but it is Roc who has
perfected it and turned it into one of the greatest Corvette events of the year.
Please join me in a BIG C5/C6 REGISTRY THANK YOU to Roc and the NCM Staff for
all their help in making the C5/C6 Bash what it is today!
So let’s all have a Safe and FUN filled Corvette summer!
C6Ya!
Dan
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