Competition Corvettes of Oklahoma Newsletter

FEBRUARY, 2009

MEETING LOCATION!!!!!!!

El Chicos 71 ^st & Mingo.

Wednesday, MARCH 4TH

Please try to be at the restaurant by 6:30. Meeting will start at 7:00pm.

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Presidents Message:

I know you all are probably grateful but I have almost nothing to talk about this month. I wasn't able to make the Stillwater trip so I'll let someone else give the details of that event to those of us that didn't make it.

  Tom has the new timing computer up and running, now all we have to do is learn how to use it. Remember, the event is only two months away.

  Mike has social well under control with many things planned we haven't done before. Please be at next months meeting, he has something in the works that needs discussed and if we choose to pursue it will need a commitment from most of us in some form.

  I would like to welcome Bruce Cone and his daughter Megan to our little group. Most of you know Bruce from the chili supper, he owns the "69" big block here in the shop. He and Megan are planning on taking the drivers school and competing in Oklahoma Thunder.

  Now, since I've run out of things to say, a little filler.

    THE DEFINITION OF TOOLS!!!!!

     DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, splattering it against the freshly painted parts you were drying.

      ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age.

       HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to cut hoses too short.

 More next month.......Jim

   From the Governors Corner:

Spring is here! Spring is here!

Well, okay, maybe not quite, but you have to admit that it is getting a little warmer. Im always ready for spring and fall, just dont need the winter and summer.

Well, enough chit chat, Questionwho will be the first in our club to register for our event coming up in April? Next questionwho knows when the event is and has planned a day off work to come out and help Friday morning early, as well as Saturday and Sunday? As a reminder, we will need all hands on deck for this weekend, please plan accordingly.

If anyone wants to travel to Mineral Wells Texas, Cowtown Vettes has put together a test and tune on March 21, 2009. Flyers are on the SW region website. Im sure it will be a nice open course, a Texas low speed as we fondly call them. If you dont understand ask one of the old racers at the next meeting to explain it.

Our director of Sponsorship Debbie Lindsey has asked us to remind everyone that Mid America Motorworks, one of NCCCS sponsors put a special gift offer in the NCCC membership packet that you received and is asking that even if you dont want to order anything at this time to please go to the website and log on/provide your email address so that Mid America will know you showed an interest in what they are offering. This makes you eligible for the special gift offer without buying anything and will help NCCC keep them as a sponsor. www.mamotorworkscom/NCCC

Thanks to Mike Ward for a nice trip to Stillwater, we enjoyed the trip and the food. Lots of nice Vettes there as well as a few Vipers.

See ya at the March Meeting

Tom

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:

COMPETITION CORVETTES OF OKLAHOMA

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 4, 2009 MEETING

The meeting was called to order by President Jim Barnes at 7:22 pm.

Jim asked for a motion to approve the January minutes as printed in the newsletter. Tom Finley made the motion to approve, Tyler Lewis seconded. Motion carried.

REPORTS:

Vice President Tyler Lewis: No report at this time

Membership Charlene Finley: Charlene handed out the 2009 Membership List. Reported that Doug Garison had been taken off. Currently at 27 members.

Editor Linda Bailey: Absent

Governor Tom Finley: Tom reported that a correction needed to be made to the article he submitted for the January newsletter. The Corvette Raffle car is actually Cyber Gray, not Charcoal.

The convention this year is in Colorado Springs, They will be running hi and lo speed events at Pike Peak International Speedway (Nascar Track). Pre-registration has now opened. Cost is $160 until April 15, then it raises to $185 until June 16. After June 16 registration is $210.

The Southwest Region is holding a website contest for 2009. Contact them for more information.

The Events section of CCOs website needs to be changed. The blue font used for some of the events is difficult to read and blends in with the background. Tyler said he would pass this information on to Linda Lewis.

Social Mike Ward: Event Saturday, February 7 is the Frosty Joes Run to Eskimo Joes in Stillwater. Meeting Saturday morning at 9:00am at Burger King at 41^st & Memorial.

Mike needs some club applications. Would also like to have more recruiting posters and cards printed if club would approve to expend funds. Motion was made by Tom Finley to authorize Mike Ward to have posters and cards printed to be paid by the Club. Brian Finley seconded. Motion carried.

President Jim Barnes reported the Chili Supper/Casino Night was a success, although not much gambling was done except by the ladies, which was quite comical. Appreciated everyone who came out.

Oklahoma Thunder: Tom Finley reported the flyer is ready to send out later this week. The insurance request form is completed, just needs check to send in to K&K Insurance. Tom also reported on the last timing meeting. Once everything was cabled to the computer, it was not able to talk to the timing equipment. V-Tech said the USB to Serial Cable was the problem. Tom has ordered IO Gear cables which should be in before the next meeting.

Tom has purchased the label printer and roll of labels for the timing slips, along with a couple of other cables. He had been authorized at previous meeting to spend $100 for the printer and cables. When he went to get the printer, the one he was supposed to get was not longer available, and the new model was a higher price. To get was he needed was $202.47. Tom asked for approval from the club to cover the additional cost. Dale Acker made a motion to authorize Tom Finley to expend whatever funds are necessary to get the printer up and running. Charlene Finley seconded. Motion carried.

Question was raised by Dale Acker concerning coverage from K&K Insurance for Oklahoma Thunder Does it cover lo-speed at Fairgrounds? Tom Finley reported he was going with the $5,000,000 hi-speed coverage for the weekend and putting both locations as named insureds, same as had been done previously. It is his understanding that this would cover both events.

Mike Ward questioned what advertising and recruiting the club did for Oklahoma Thunder. It was discussed that most NCCC events are non-spectator events. The club can use this event for recruiting, but there are regulations for having non-members participate. A non-NCCC member cannot displace a NCCC member on a lo-speed event. To participate in a hi-speed event, you must join NCCC anyway, so it is not a factor. And a driving school is offered on Friday so new people can get their NCCC hi-speed license. Non-NCCC members must still pass the NCCC rules for safety and car equipment, and most are not aware of the rules. Dale Acker said the rules had been relaxed in years past for lo-speed events. Tom Finley said the helmet needs to be an approved Schnell helmet with proper rating.

While Oklahoma Thunder is not a closed event, anyone who attends, even as a spectator, must sign a liability waiver. The Club used to send out flyers to past participants. Now only send to RCDs of other regions by email. The regions are to make sure their Governors know about events, which does not happen in all clubs. Mike Ward volunteered to put the flyer on the Corvette Forums. Tom Finley said there should be something put on the Forum about contacting him to make sure people understand rules before coming out. Mike Ward and Tom Finley will get together to decide what should be put on Forum.

It was discussed that the lo-speed at the Fairgrounds would be easier to promote than Hallett. One of the reasons the Club decided to have the lo-speed in Tulsa instead of OKC was to be able to recruit members. It was discussed that club info should be available at the Registration Table.

Melissa Wedlake volunteered to put Club business cards and/or flyers at the dealerships if the dealership would allow it.

NEW BUSINESS

None at this time.

Tyler Lewis present Dale Acker with the appreciation placque he had been awarded at a previous meeting.

Tom Finley made the motion to adjourn. Charlene Finley seconded. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Wedlake

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Corvette Trivia:

February

Which of the following features of the 1963 Stringray production car were simulated?

1. Hold louvers

2. Knock-offs on the hubcaps

3. Fender vents

4. Bi-pillar air extraction vents

5. All the above

All the above. For some reason, it was easier to simulate scoops and vents than make them functional, perhaps because making them functional, would require additional time. Gradually, as the years went by, there was less simulation and more functional styling features as the Stingray design was refined.

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I got a call from a friend that is in marketing for the Cherokee Casinos.  Some time ago he and I discussed a car show at one of the casinos.  Now, it appears he took me serious and is ready to go forward.  The tentative plans we discussed:

• Cherokee Casino, in Sallisaw

• sometime Saturday either in June, late July, or August, September

• Friday night parade possible, police escort

• CCO is the host club

                                                 CCO to furnish:

• up to 20 volunteers

• manages the car show itself,

• registration

• parking, traffic

• judging

• awards

• " CCO / Cherokee Car Show " logo tee shirts for all volunteers, CCO approves art work

• outdoor pa system, stage - tent

• live band, live entertainment all day

• property frontage parking and access

• additional pop up tents as needed

• up to 20 hotel suites for CCO volunteers free

• trophies, type and quantity as per CCO requests (200+-)

• meals incidentals for CCO volunteers day of car show free

• printing and mailing full color posters

• all day radio station live spots, plus advertising before event

• additional security for overnight vehicles

• additional security for show

As you can see, this will be quite an undertaking.  I do have some concerns about a club our size doing this, and the light participation we usually experience on special events.  If our goal is still for CCO to grow and prosper, this is an ideal opportunity, and have a good time doing it.  We will have several chances to do recruiting before this at other car shows and local events, but it is going to take allot of efforts from all us.  I would like to bring this up as new business for the March meeting, as a decision has to be made very soon.  any questions or suggestions, please call or email me back.

thanks

Mike

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T he first cruise of the year got off to anything but a "frosty" start.  We hit the road early with a good turnout of CCO members, plus 5 invited guests joining us.  It was a brief but full afternoon of great driving weather, wide open roads, plus great food and friendship with other Corvette owners. There were over seventy awesome Vettes to see, plus I think I might've overheard an "accidental burnout " or two.  The Eskimo Joe lot was packed with most every series Corvette, plus a few less significant sports cars  (Vipers-yawn!).  The fun and travel continue next month, so plan on joining in on the March 14th cruise, an please bring a visitor.  More information out later.