Private Party?

Earlier this year, the CORSA Board of Directors re-affirmed a long-standing policy that limits convention participation to CORSA members (and family) only. The NECC had proposed an alternative that would have permitted non-members to register as guests, but the Board did not approve that idea.

Does this mean, if you are not a member, that you are not welcome? Not at all!

Unlike the sign in the photo that says "Keep Out," this convention will still say, "Come In!"

It has always been true that if you were not a CORSA member, you could join CORSA as part of the convention registration process, thereby gaining access not only to all convention events and activities but to a full year’s worth of CORSA membership benefits.

But this year, as a special incentive for new members, the CORSA Board and the Northeast Corvair Council have agreed to waive the basic registration fee for persons who join CORSA with their convention registration. That’s a savings of anywhere from $35 for an individual registering before June 29 to $50 for a family registering after June 29. That’s a real savings for new members!

At the request of CORSA, certain restrictions apply. For example, you can’t let your membership lapse in January and then re-join in July for the discount. This promotion is for new members and for former members who have been away for at least a year.

But this plan is a great way for all persons to attend the convention and discover the benefits of CORSA membership.

Junior Nation

As part of the convention’s "Corvair Fun Day" on Friday, July 27, convention committee member John Ryall is offering a "Junior Gymkhana" between the hours of 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.

The Junior Gymkhana is a fun day event for Monza Jr and Chevy Jr go-karts, like the one in the photo. It is not a speed event. Drivers will navigate a series of markers and place tennis balls into buckets along the way.

All Monza Jr and Chevy Jr owners are invited to bring their karts. There will be at least one kart available for public use. It will be fun for all ages. And we do mean all ages – even though the Monza Jr and Chevy Jr go-karts were originally intended for kids, check out this photo:

　
And speaking of kids, here’s a neat photo of a Chevy Jr taken in 1967:

Minimum height for participants is about 50 inches (to reach the pedals). Parents should be prepared to walk along with younger children in order to supervise their driving. A driving certificate will be given to all participants.

The convention’s "Corvair Fun Day" will indeed be fun!

Cruisin' Bruce!

In the photo is our convention's Saturday car show event emcee, Bruce Palmer.

Bruce Palmer isn't your typical DJ.  He's a dyed-in-the-wool car guy and an asset to any car show in southeastern New England. Besides being the morning DJ voice of 100.1 FM, "The Pike", Worcester's #1 morning show, he hosts a different cruise night five nights a week, including the largest cruise night in the northeast (some nights over 2500 cars) held every other Thursday at Patriot Place, next to Gillette Stadium.

Not just that, he's booked up to host and DJ at various car shows and events every weekend through the whole car show season. He takes photos at all his shows and posts them on his website, cruisinbruce.com, each night after each gig. Then he's up before dawn each morning heading from his home in Coventry, Rhode Island, to Worcester for his morning radio show.

Convention deputy chairman Ray Bombardier says, "I honestly don't know when this guy sleeps but he's always on top of his game!"

He’s got a garage full of collector cars, including this uncommon 1959 Plymouth wagon.

Bruce Palmer has been a great friend to all the car clubs in the region through the years, including the Bay State Corvair Club. He's always quick to play Paul Revere & the Raiders' tune, "Corvair Baby" at any show where Corvairs are gathered.

Around New England, if you see that Cruisin' Bruce is hosting an event you know it's going to be first rate. In Sturbridge you'll agree after the first few minutes you hear him.

Support our Supporters!

If you have been to a CORSA convention previously you know that you receive a "goodie bag" at check-in, a package of information and souvenirs.

At Sturbridge, the goodie bags themselves have been donated by Hagerty Insurance, specialists in coverage for classic and collector cars.

Hagerty, however, does more than simply write policies, collect premiums, and settle claims. Hagerty also supports the hobby with programs such as Operation Ignite, the Collectors Foundation, and the Historic Vehicle Association.

Check out all that Hagerty has to offer here.

Support our Supporters!

Best Blast of New Jersey, located in Dover, NJ, was one of the first to get on board with support for the 2012 CORSA Convention.

Members of the New Jersey Association of Corvair Enthusiasts have been utilizing the services of Best Blast for some time now, for media blasting and powder coating.

Note, Best Blast does not do sandblasting. Best Blast is a Media Blasting facility using various types of materials including composite, glass beads, crushed glass, aluminum oxide, granite, sodium bicarb and the newest technique in blasting, dry ice blasting!

Check out Best Blast here.

Tallying the Concours Scores

A message from 2012 convention Concours Coordinator Ken Schifftner:

Interested in working in the Concours scoring room?

You need to able to use a PC and enter numbers within EXCEL. Pay and benefits are identical (i.e., none). But you’ll be in an air-conditioned workplace, with carpeted floors, lake view, restroom, and plenty of cold water to drink.

This is, of course, during the Concours itself, on Friday, July 27. We already have some veterans from prior conventions and need only a few more volunteers to complete the team.

Contact Ken Schifftner here.

Clean Machines

At a CORSA Convention, pretty much everyone wants to wash their car. The Concours participants are practically obsessive about this, but those entering the People’s Choice Car Display want a clean car, too. And this year, since the Concours cars will remain on the field during the Car Display and we are encouraging every Corvair owner to put their car in the Car Display, we expect that everyone will want to wash their car.

At the Sturbridge Host Hotel we will have four garden hose connections for vehicle hand washing, located outside the Exhibit Hall and adjacent to the Concours classification area. But even with four available hoses, demand could be high and some persons prefer a commercial car wash.

Unfortunately, according to Concours coordinator Ken Schifftner there appear to be no coin-operated car washes within a reasonable distance of the hotel. There is one about four miles east of the hotel, but it appears to not be operational at this time. The next nearest one is about 20 miles away.

However, Ken found a drive-through car wash right on Main Street in Sturbridge, about three or four miles west of the hotel. It is part of a gas/tire center with multiple service bays. Ken has spoken with the owner to alert him to the convention.

At the moment it appears that your best option for washing your car will be to bring your own bucket and sponge and be patient and cooperative with your fellow Corvair owners at the wash station at the hotel.