SCSN Caravan 09 eNews

No. 37 - 8/16/09

>>>TOP STORY<<<

>>CARAVAN CREDS<<

In a late-breaking change, the National Corvette Museum decided about a week ago to ask Section Captains to take on the task of distributing Caravan Credentials. According to the NCM Events Staff, over 10% of the "creds" for the 2003 Caravan were lost in the mail. To prevent that, NCM asked Captains to take over distribution and do it at their departure events. Six of the Caravan Sections agreed to the NCM's request and SoCal/SoNev is one of them. "Besides the problem of lost creds in the mail," Section Captain ,Hib Halverson, told the eNews, "we also felt taking on distribution of them would save the Museum some mailing cost."

Caravan Credentials will be available in Ontario CA on Friday night 28 August and, again, in Flagstaff AZ for a short period on Saturday evening 29 August. Creds will not be available at any other time during the trip and they cannot be mailed. If you are registered with the SoCal/SoNev Section, but are joining after Flagstaff, you must make arrangements for someone to pick up your credentials for you at either of the two locations and, if you decide to have a representative do that, that person must bring with them to Ontario, written authorization from you to pick-up your credentials. No authorization means your rep. doesn't get your creds. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Unclaimed creds will be returned to the Museum.

>>>OTHER NEWS<<<

>>DEPARTURE NIGHT DETAILS<<

The Pomona Valley Corvette Association's "Departure Night Soiree" at the Ontario Airport Marriott Hotel on 28 August is the kick-off event for the Caravan. D-Night Event Director, Elora Stidham, tells the eNews that the fun starts at 5:30 PM with the start of Caravan Package pick-up. You'll get your Caravan Credential, the "Route Book Presented by California Delivery Service" and the limited-edition, SCSN/Red Line Oil T-shirt. At 6:00 PM, the Banquet Room opens with snacks and desserts. The hotel bar, just down the hall will be open for those wanting beverages more sporting than soft drinks.

The Masters of Ceremonies will be PVCA President Charlie Lipscomb and PVCA Member and Caravan "Commander" Brent Hicks. Scheduled to speak are Auto Club Speedway Promotions Manager, Michelle Norman, and Caravan Captain, Hib Halverson. The event lasts three hours and will have raffles to raise money for the National Corvette Museum including one which will award the "prize of a lifetime" for any Corvette Caravaner. Details of this special raffle will be announced in the next issue of the eNews.

Interspaced between snacks and raffles will be the introduction of the SoCal/SoNev Caravan Organizing Team, announcements and briefings by members of the Team. Additionally, SCSN Team Members will answer questions about the Caravan route and the event itself.

The majority of Caravaners belong to a Corvette club so we encourage all to wear their club name tags. It tells everyone else who you are and where you're from, so...remember to wear those name tags.

>>CHOW DOWN<<

The Ontario Marriott's Event Manager, Stacey Hadji, tells the eNews that on Friday afternoon and evening, the hotel's "Pacific Grill" will be open between 4 PM and 7 PM for dinner and will extend a 20% discount to Caravaners. The Pacific Grill will also be open Saturday morning starting at 5:30 for breakfast.

>>LATE REGISTRATION<<

Not registered for the Caravan but don't want to miss out on all the fun? Well, come join us! Late--or "on the spot" as the Museum calls them--registrations for the SoCal/SoNev Caravan are available. Late Registration costs only $10.00 but does not include a "hardcard" Caravan Credential, nor a National Caravan T-shirt. Late registrants will get a paper credential, a Route Book and a SCSN/Red Line shirt. For a late registration form, contact our Registrar, "Commander∓ Sherry Maples at smaplesfun@cox.net

>>CAPTAIN'S MAINTENANCE ORDERS PT 3<<

If you saw news clips of the floods in Louisville (about 100 miles north of Bowling Green) on TV a couple weeks ago, you know that in the late summer, many parts of the southeastern U.S. can get nasty afternoon thunderstorms and even remnants of hurricanes, both of which can cause heavy rain. If we hit rain like that, you'll have your wipers on high and you'll want fresh blades. Conversely, In California, this time of the year, we never worry about wiper blades because it never rains. So...before you leave on Caravan, as strange as it may seem, inspect your car's wiper blades. If they are marginal, replace them. The best in the business, based on my three years of testing, are the "Super Silicon" blades made by PIAA and sold by Tire Rack ( www.tirerack.com ) and others. Your SCSN Lead Car uses PIAA Super Silicon blades.Also good are O.E., GM blades. Avoid, the low cost blades you find at mass marketers.

On the first two days of the trip, we'll cross the desert southwest and it's possible we'll drive though a dust cloud or two. Also, there's the inevitable road construction so there's bound to be a few "cone zones" along our trip. In fact, we already know there's construction between Albuquerque and Tucumcari on I-40. Wherever there's road work, there's dust.

Because the 5000 mile round trip to Bowling Green may expose you to various desert dust and construction areas you should start the trip with a clean engine air filter. With most Vettes they're easy to check. If you pull the filter out and see brown or black dirt residue on the filter media, consider a replacement. Again, you get what you pay for. If you use a paper filter, consider an O.E. replacement, ACDelco filter or one from Wix which is sold by NAPA. If you use an oiled-cotton (Green Filter, K&N, etc.) consider washing and reoiling the element before you go. If you've thought about converting from a paper filter to an oiled cotton, based on my six years of testing in Corvettes, Camaros, a couple of light trucks and my Wife, the Fairest Sandra the Red's Chevy HHR, I think the Green Filter ( www.greenfilterusa.com ), with it's two-layer, woven cotton filter media, is the best choice. The Lead Cars, both in 2003 and in 2009, use Green Filters.

Thanks for reading,
The SoCal/SoNev Caravan Organizing Team

Caravan info: email to captain.socalcar@charter.net

Going on the Caravan?
Don't go braless!

Even new cars with less than 1,000 miles have paint blemishes from normal driving. Imagine what a cross-country trip will do to YOUR paint.

The solution? A "Clear Bra".

It functions like a traditional auto bra but is far more durable and cannot be seen. It will NOT scratch your Corvette's finish like most "strap-on" auto bras. This 3M Paint and Headlight Protection lasts for the life of your Vette. SCSN Capt. Hib Halverson used a 3M Clear Bra on the 2003 National Corvette Caravan and endorses it as the best way to avoid damage to the front of your car.

Professional installations by the 3M factory-trained Installer in California most experienced with Corvettes: Envisage Design Labs. Call (310) 613-4691 or email Envisage at: envisagedesignlabs@yahoo.com

To SoCalCar Home Page

Hib Halverson
captain.socalcar@charter.net