Yes, it’s over, it’s a wrap, the end, close the cover, it’s done, there ain’t no mo’.

The 2012 CORSA convention at Sturbridge germinated in a conversation between two individuals, was planted in a wintertime meeting, and sprouted forth when the member clubs of the Northeast Corvair Council united behind the idea.

The convention then came to full flower through the efforts of a core group of volunteers from those clubs and with the support and participation of Corvair enthusiasts from literally around the world.

The convention’s tagline, An American Revolution, was meant to acknowledge not only the historic New England setting and not only the innovative Corvair, but also the desire to do it differently.

From the beginning, the NECC's convention organizers sought to "re-invent" what a CORSA convention might be, from a schedule that was a day shorter (to save everyone money) to new activities (such as the Slow Drag Races) to awards presentations during the week (to make room at the closing banquet for a guest speaker).

We maintained an informative web site and we created this blog, to disseminate convention information beyond the printed pages of the CORSA Communique.

The intent was not only to try to be fresh and innovative, but also to convey a message that not all conventions need to be cookie-cutter copies of those that have gone before. Naturally, not everything was perfect, but by all the important measures – attendance, finances, and member feedback – the 2012 Sturbridge convention was a success.

While we are planning no additional posts to this blog, the blog itself is not going away. The blog will remain online as a digital souvenir of the 2012 convention for quite some time to come. If a need to post news and updates arises, we will add them to the bottom of this post.
But we ask that you take a few moments to look once again at the list of convention sponsors shown in the right-hand column of this blog page. We won’t say that the convention would not have been possible without them, but without them the convention would have been far less successful. Each of these businesses and organizations deserves your thanks and your support.

For those of you who attended the 2012 convention in Sturbridge, we sincerely hope that you had a good time. For those of you not able to attend, we hope that you have enjoyed experiencing the convention vicariously through this blog. For everyone, on behalf of the Northeast Corvair Council, its member clubs, its convention committee, and the Corvair Society of America, we thank you.

Jay Leno Greets the Sturbridge Convention

A surprise at Sturbridge was that Deputy Chairman Ray Bombardier arranged for Jay Leno to send a video greeting, which was shown during the banquet.  No one, except Jay, Ray, and a tiny handful of others, knew about it ahead of time.

To say that it was a hit would be an understatement.  If you were not at the banquet, here is the video that Jay sent:

Our thanks to Ray Bombardier for making this happen, and to Jay Leno for his enthusiasm for Corvairs and cars of all types.

We Get Letters

Convention Chairman Brian O’Neill received the following note recently:

I was at the [Sturbridge Host Hotel] last week and everyone was talking about what a great event you guys put on! I'm really good friends with the chef and he couldn't stop talking about your show. I'm glad everything went well. Sorry I couldn't be there to see it come together. Take care. I hope our paths cross again one of these days.

Best Wishes, Bill Trzpit

Bill Trzpit was the manager at the Sturbridge Hotel Hotel before taking a position at the University of Massachusetts earlier this year.
　
And Convention Deputy Chairman Ray Bombardier received this note:

I enjoyed talking at the dinner and speaking with all the Hemmings' readers – I had a blast. And the car show was spectacular. You guys put on a great convention.  Please extend my gratitude to the other members of your club.

Regards, Richard Lentinello

Richard Lentinello is the Editor-in Chief at Hemmings Motor News and was our guest speaker at the convention banquet. His talk was riotously funny and highly entertaining.

How Many?

One of the goals of the Northeast Corvair Council when planning the 2012 CORSA Convention was to amass one of the largest gatherings of Corvairs, if not the largest, in one place since the cars left the factory all those years ago.

We believe that we have succeeded. The numbers have been crunched, by both CORSA Executive Secretary Harry Jensen and NECC data guru Al Lacki, and they agree: The total number of individual Corvairs officially registered for the convention was 200 on the nose!

We are aware that there were additional Corvairs on site at times, typically driven to the convention by owners who visited for a short time but who did not register. So we are comfortable saying that the total number of Corvairs that gathered at Sturbridge was more than 200, but 200 is the official count.

One can’t just look at the event registration numbers, which were 154 for the Car Display, 72 for the Road Rally, 56 for the Autocross, and 54 for the Concours, and add them up. Because an individual Corvair could be entered in any one, two, or more of these events, the registration database was mined to identify each distinct vehicle. Further, the Road Rally allows conventioneers to participate in a non-Corvair if they choose, so those cars have been excluded from the tally.

Similarly, the total number of people in attendance is not simply the sum of individual and family registrations. The official number of attendees is equal to the number of name badges issued, which at Sturbridge was 794.

Just as there were Corvairs on site whose owners did not register, there were additional Corvair owners who visited without their Corvair and without registering. So we know that the total attendance during the convention was substantially greater than 800. But the 794 name badges issued is the official attendance figure.

These numbers for cars and people is an outstanding result when the focus is an automobile that last rolled off the assembly line more than 43 years ago. Enthusiasm for the Corvair remains healthy!

Car Display Awards

At the Sturbridge convention, the peoples' choice awards for the Saturday "Car Display," the big Corvair car show seen in the photo at the top of this blog, were framed color certificates intended to be different from the traditional-style trophies presented to the participants in the formally-judged Concours held the day before.

We freely admit, these awards were inpired by similar awards we had seen at another group's big annual car show.  But when a sudden heavy rainstorm caused the awards presentation to be moved hastily from the front of the hotel to a hallway inside, not everyone got to see what these awards looked like.  Here are representative samples:

Open Wide and Say AAHHHH

A lineup of Corvair Station Wagons at Sturbridge.  Corvair wagons were manufactured only for the 1961 model year and a portion of the 1962 model year.  For so uncommon a car the turnout at Stubridge -- this isn't all of them -- was excellent!

Concours RESULTS

The results of the Sturbridge Concours d'Elegance are now posted on the convention web site, here.  Just scroll down the page slightly to get to the links for the results for not only the concours but for the other events, too!

The photo above shows just a portion of the concours field, which was the lawn alongside Cedar Pond on the north and west sides of the Sturbridge Host Hotel.  The photo below was taken from one of the guest rooms on the second floor of the hotel.

As you can see the weather was overcast but the sun popped out from time to time and only a light drizzle fell for just a few minutes near the end of the judging.

Best-of-Show... Times Two!

At Sturbridge, the William Mitchel Best-of-Show award was claimed by Connecticut’s Mike Kovacs and his 1969 Fitch Sprint, with a score of 98.33.

While this in itself is a remarkable achievement, far more remarkable is that Mike also won Best-of-Show at the 1984 CORSA convention in New Jersey, with a score of 96.85... with the same car!

28 years later and the car not only wins again, it scores better!

Mike purchased the car in 1978 and at that time it required a total restoration that took several years. The color chosen was a bright GM green. The car was then trailered to New Jersey for the 1984 convention, its first show. As at Sturbridge, both the autocross and the road rally preceded the concours and during the autocross Mike forgot to replace the oil cap. This drenched the entire engine compartment in nice clean oil. A spray can of Gunk and a garden hose fixed that problem and the car went on to win Best in Show.

Here is the car at that time:

A few years after that the paint started to fail. Apparently the body had not been properly prepped for the primer by the body shop and the paint started to flake off to the bare metal. Disgusted by this development, Mike covered the car and left it in the garage.

Several years later Mike then decided to try again. This time he stripped the paint inside and out and used an epoxy primer and yellow base/clear coat paint and did it himself. The car then earned a Silver award at the Lake Placid convention and a Gold at the Carlisle convention, and Mike showed the car at many local events over the following years.

When the 2012 convention was announced, Mike decided to give the car a mini-restoration from top to bottom. This took the better part of two months, doing a little at a time. He entered the car in the Concours just to see if it could get a senior division ranking again. Mike was very pleasantly surprised when the car scored 98.33 points.

Here’s is the car as it looks today:

The equipment in the car includes a quick shifter, quick steering, wood steering wheel, long range driving light, 904 fastback, Sprint insignia, HD convertible springs, HD shocks, rear rubber Aeon springs, power antenna, AM /FM/CB/8 track radio, oil pressure gauge and voltmeter. The engine was bored .060, balanced rods and forged pistons, .032 clearance squish area, 10/10 crank, OT20 cam, modified carburetors, electronic ignition, Vega clutch. Transaxle is a 3:55 positraction with 205/60-13 tires. Mike says it isn't fast, but it is quick. It’s not too shabby, either!

2012 Convention T-Shirts Available

UPDATE:  The deadline has now passed for ordering a T-shirt -- sorrrry!

Didn't get a convention T-shirt? Due to popular demand, 2012 CORSA Convention T-shirts sold out during the convention itself. But there's good news: More are now available. Each shirt is made-to-order, so this is a limited-time offer. Order before September 1st to ensure that you don't miss out.

The shirts are gray, not white, with the convention logo on the front. Despite how lovely Angelina Jolie looks in the sample shown above, the real shirts (and the real people who wear them) look like this:

How to Order:  Convention Chairman Brian O’Neill is handling T-shirt order fulfillment. To order yours, e-mail Brian here with your size and quantity. Price is $25 each which includes standard shipping. Payment can be made by check or money order and Brian will confirm your order and provide the address to which your payment should be sent.

By the way, if you paid for a shirt at the convention but have not yet received it, please confirm your order. Brian has a list and he wants to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Also available is the convention dash plaque, for just $2.50 each postpaid.  Just tell Brian how many to add to your T-shirt order.

And – thanks to everyone for your support!

Musicology

If you attended the Ice Cream Social at Sturbridge, you heard the great music performed by Cobblestone Crossing.

You also heard that the group had no idea how musically challenged convention chairman Brian O'Neill is!

For one number, Darrell Varley issued an old fashioned washboard to Brian, seen here holding the washboard and wearing the convention's signature tri-corner hat.  They asked him to strum a pattern on it, a pattern which is best described as One anna Two anna Three anna Four.  Zip zippa Zip zippa Zip zippa Zip.

No matter how many times they asked him to repeat that pattern, all Brian could do on the washboard was Zip Zip Zip Zip Zip Zip.  Sometimes as many as seven strokes, sometimes as few as three, and never with any semblance of rhythm.

The irony is, Brian is a tremendous music lover.  He listens to all forms of music, at home, in his car, in his office, at live performances.  It was Brian who brought Cobblestone Crossing to Sturbridge and it was Brian who scheduled the Karaoke night that took place earlier in the week.  But despite his appreciation of and enthusiasm for music, American Idol will not be calling.

A Tale of Two Pretties

In the run-up to the Sturbridge convention we chronicled Cal Clark’s restoration of his Rampside. (To see Before, During, and After photos, scroll down and click on "Rampside" in the Blog Archive in the right-hand column.)

As promised, Cal’s truck had it’s debut at Sturbridge and it dazzled everyone. It spent a few days in the exhibit hall, alongside the Clark’s Corvair Parts display and in the company of the Fitch Phoenix, before moving out to join the 200-Corvair Car Display on Saturday. Here it is at Sturbridge:

But Cal’s truck was not the only show-stopping Rampside at Sturbridge. Octogenarian James Law was there with his Rampside, and where Cal’s truck is largely stock, James’ truck has modifications such as air-conditioning, a "rumble seat," and more. One look at this photo and you can see why James’ truck was getting its share of attention, too.

And look at this photo of the engine compartment in James’ truck! Does that look like an engine that was driven 1600 miles to Sturbridge? It doesn’t, but it was!

(Click any of these photos for an enlarged view.)

Road Rally RESULTS

The results of the Road Rally have been posted on the convention web site, here.  On that page just scroll down slightly to find the link to the results of the Rally and other events.

In this photo, taken near the Quabbin Reservoir along the Road Rally route,

we see (left to right) new CORSA President Jason Cesana, and

Sharon & Chuck Leonard.  That's Chuck's 1964 Monza convertible.

24-Door

Here is a unique photo taken at the convention, a view straight through three "8-door" Corvair 95 models, a Greenbrier, a Corvan, and waay back there, another Greenbrier.  (Click the photo for an enlarged view.)

Corvair vans were "6-door" vans, two front doors, two right-hand cargo doors, and two rear cargo doors.  That is, unless the buyer selected the optional left-side cargo doors to create what we know as the "8-door" models.

If you open every door on an 8-door van there is hardly any van left!

Remembering Tammy Aston

When Brett Aston came to the front of the room on Thursday evening, July 26, to receive his first-place trophy for winning class IS-2 in the convention autocross, he asked for the microphone and dedicated the victory to his wife, Tammy, who was ill and unable to attend.

Two days later, on Saturday, Tammy Aston passed away.

Earlier this week, Brett re-dedicated the win to Tammy, writing, "She will always be in our hearts and never forgotten. Tammy I Love You."

On behalf of CORSA, the Northeast Corvair Council, and Corvair enthusiasts everywhere, we offer not only our congratulations to Brett for his winning drive, but also our most heartfelt condolences for the loss of his wife.

Model Car Concours RESULTS

The results of the Model Car Concours have been posted on the convention web site, here.  Scroll down slightly to find this and other results.

Call an Ambulance!

Certainly one of the more attention-getting vehicles at Sturbridge was this one:  A 1962 Chevy ambulance, owned by Paul Sterinberg.  Paul was a vendor in the convention flea market, and this was his parts hauler!

Autocross RESULTS

Autocross results are posted! Check the convention home page here, and click on the link to the Autocross results.

More event results will be posted in the days to come, so check back often! In the meantime, here is the final autocross run by eventual Edward N. Cole Award winner Bob Manwaring.  That's Bob's wife providing the narration:

Phabulous Photo Slideshow

Dave Silvia, from Bay State Corvairs has posted an outstanding set of convention photographs on his Flickr page.  Check 'em out here, and be prepared to have the time slip away as you are drawn in to the convention experience.

Bruce and the Corvairs

Cruisin Bruce, the daily morning show host DJ on "The Pike," 100.1 FM in New England, was our guest DJ for the Saturday car show and he did a great job.

He also took photos, such as the one above, and posted them on his web site, CruisinBruce.com.  Want to see 'em?  Just click this link and scroll down to the "International Corvair Convention" photo group.  Bruce Palmer does more than 100 car shows each year and adds new events to the web site regularly, so you may have to scroll down through a few more recent shows to find the Corvairs.

Bruce is a die-hard "car guy," owning several collector cars, participating in as many car shows as his schedule will allow, and driving to his gigs in vintage cars, such as the Mercury Comet station wagon he used to come to Sturbridge.

Snapshots from Sturbridge

Just a few of the many photos taken over the past few days of Corvair owners having a fun time in Sturbridge (Click any photo for an enlarged view):

The "Back Seat Driver" game

These cars are supposedly rare!

Staging for the Road Rally

A stop along the road rally

A portion of the Concours, alongside the lake

At Old Sturbridge Village

Jay Leno and one of his two Corvairs.

Jay sent a video greeting that was shown

during Saturday evening's banquet.

Okay, we cheated, this is a publicity shot.

But Darrell (left) and Janet (2nd from right),

the Corvair-owning members of Cobblestone Crossing,

did a great job entertaining us not only with the full group

at Friday's Ice Cream Social but also informally,

at the hospitality room, on Thursday.

Cedar Pond, the lake behind the hotel, alongside which

the Concours took place, the Wednesday evening Karaoke singalong

took place, and which the Oxhead Tavern overlooked.

200 Corvairs

For Saturday’s big car show, by mid-morning the number of Corvairs in the Sturbridge Host Hotel parking lot was 184, with more still on the lawn alongside the lake and some in the general parking area -- and more were coming in!  Eventually, audits will be done, the census bureau will send canvassers into the field, and we’ll have a final number. But for now, the official tally is Wow Look At All The Corvairs!

Here’s what it looked like at one point:

New England DJ Cruisin' Bruce did a great job with the tunes, the vintage commercials, the announcements and the awards, and the Sturbridge Host Hotel nicely put a refreshment stand alongside the show. Mother Nature did her part by holding back the rain until all was over except the awards presentation, which was moved indoors when the skies opened at 3 PM.

How Slow Can You Go?

One of the games during Friday’s "Corvair Fun Day" at Sturbridge was the Slow Drag Races. The Slow Drags joined the Back Seat Driver and the Junior Gymkhana as entertaining participatory diversions during Concours judging.

And "entertaining" certainly described the Slow Drags! Just like any drag race, two cars lined up side-by-side and at the drop of the flag the object was to GO! Except that, in this event, the object was to go as slowly as possible! Each car had to begin moving, no shopping allowed, no use of the brakes, no riding the clutch.  Just how slowly will the car idle along?  Which car will cover the least distance in 30 seconds?

Generally speaking, the manual-transmission vehicles "lost" to the Powerglide cars, although this was not an absolute. Bill Garrison’s air-conditioned Powerglide-equipped convertible was a rocket, while John Nickel kept retarding the timing in his stick-shift Greenbrier until it was a snail.

Brian O’Neill suffered a DQ when his car stalled as he tried to ease it off the line, and for one run Larry Schmul had the "handicap" – it was really a benefit – of full load of people in the back of his Rampside.

There were matchups such as US vs Canada, Young vs Old, Early Model vs Late Model, and more. Doug McIntosh deployed an umbrella to try to slow the car in which he was riding. Two members put their mobility scooters to the test on the course. Doors were opened and shoes were dragged on the ground. Absolutely no prizes were awarded and the decisions of the judges were capricious, arbitrary, and final.

Still, distances were measured and the results are in:

For the slowest Corvair, the car covering the least distance in 30 seconds, Third Place went to Jefferson Alcott of Dayton, Ohio, driving a 1962 Monza sedan. Jefferson went 158 feet 2 inches.

Second place was taken by John Nickel from the North Carolina Mountain Corvairs club, in his 1964 Greenbrier. John crept 157 feet six inches.

But the winner, covering a mere 148 feet 1 inch, was Howard Horne of the New Jersey Association of Corvair Enthusiasts, who borrowed Tim Schwartz’s 1963 Powerglide-equipped Greenbrier camper to claim the minimalist victory.

At the other end of the spectrum, driving the Corvair that blasted to the greatest distance in 30 seconds, was Wisconsin’s Linda Dahl. Linda held on as her car went some 337 feet!

Our thanks to the Pensylvania husband-and-wife team of Joe and Helen Maurella for putting together the Slow Drag Races for us.

The Need For Speed

On the FastVairs Yahoo group, Seth Emerson provided a summary of the convention autocross which we present here:

Dave Clemens did, indeed, take the FTD. There were three other cars in his class, Norm Latullippe was a second+ back, driving Bob Peplow's car, Bob was third, John Egerton fourth. Dave really wowed the field, a very impressive win.

The fastest V8 car, in Street Mod-2, was Dave Button, in a nice street Crown car. Kevin Wilson’s Corvair powered Street Mod-3 car bracketed the V8 car, with Michael Leveque a tenth of a second ahead, and Kevin slightly behind.

Michael's third run of the day included the most impressive "slide" of the day, in turns three & four on the oval. It never did come completely around, but it didn't back into the outside wall either! All four tires were smoking, though! The video is already on YouTube! That is Michael at the wheel, not Kevin. Kevin was shooting the video, heart rate climbing!

In the Stock classes, Mark Aksamit, from Arizona, was the class of the field. He has past racing experience and knows which car to borrow! He was two seconds ahead of any other stock class car, running in SS-3 and in a 110 PG car! None of the 140 4-speeds came close! Larry Tustison took SS-1, Roger Ringerstetter had to beat two Seversons to take SS-2. Philip Levering took SS-4 in his convertible, Phil Raker won SS-5 in his Greenbrier.

Improved Stock was all over the map. IS-3, usually the largest class at the convention, didn't disappoint with eleven entries. Mark Edmonds won the class with a 39 second run with his 140, but Brett Aston with his 110 turned a 38 second run in IS-2! Just behind him was his brother Bryce in the same car. Notably in the IS3 class, Ryan MacLeod beat his father Stewart, a changing of the guard! Allison Stewart took the ladies class IS-3L. Larry Claypool thrashed the family Truckster (Greenbrier) to an IS-4 title. Barb Mee has the IS-4L title.

The fastest Improved Stock car belongs to Terry Stafford and it is an early model! Terry's ‘64 Turbo is a longtime Lime Rock competitor, and is tightly tied down. He lent it to me to drive, however, and I took a couple of seconds off his time in IS-5. Terry's early model was easy to drive, a good thing since I hadn't competed in an early model since 1982! His turbo motor was really dialed in and was fun and rewarding to drive!

For reference, however, removable steering wheels should always be checked for full installation tightness before getting out on course. Please just take my word for it!! And don't ask!

Except for the humidity and a "warmish" outside temps, weather was not a factor at the convention. And the weather gods actually smiled deeply on the Autocross competitors. The Autocross day was absolutely perfect. Sunny, warm and rain free! The Stafford Speedway was a challenge for both power and handling, and you could envision yourself driving the oval track in a fast car with the safety needed for the Corvair Convention competitor, some of whom are novices at this racing thing.

Next year, at Western Michigan/Kalamazoo, look for even more racing as the Convention moves to a hotbed of racing. If you didn't make it to Sturbridge, you should have!

Thanks, Seth, and whose car are you planning to borrow in Michigan?

All Business

On Tuesday, July 24, the day before the official opening of the convention, CORSA’s board of directors held its annual meeting in Sturbridge. Jamie Reinhart, the CORSA president, provided the following report:

The meeting started with an update from Brian O’Neill, the 2012 Convention Chairman. He reported that there were 669 convention pre-registrations, the social events were sold out, there had been more than 18,000 hits on the convention blog and that the Fitch Phoenix will be at the convention later in the week.

The talk then turned to future conventions. The 2013 convention in Kalamazoo Michigan, was discussed, and the board has received and reviewed two proposals for the 2014 convention, both of which are in the Central Division. There was also one bid received for an Eastern Division convention in 2015.

Since there are at present nor proposals for a Western Division convention, the Western Division directors will actively seek out a host chapter or chapters for a Western Division convention in 2016.

Website updates were next on the agenda. The new CORSA store is working well and people are buying merchandise. There are upgrades and changes in the works for the website that will be added in the future and work continues on the program for paying applicable fees and updating chapter contacts and chapter membership databases.

There are some new items at the CORSA merchandise table including a new ladies V-neck and Rampside T-shirts.

Officer elections were next and the new CORSA officers are:

President: Jason Cesana
Vice-President: Mike Hall
Secretary: David Dykwell
Treasurer: Frank Regal

The mid year profit and loss statement was reviewed and it was noted that CORSA is in the black, membership has stabilized and it looks good for the rest of the year.

Final discussions concerned the need to find a new membership chairman and to fill a Western Division director vacancy.

Thanks, Jamie, not only for this report but also for your service as CORSA president for the past three years.

Fine, Fun, and Finger-pickin'

A great Friday at the convention!  Thunderstorms were forecast but never materialized.  Beautiful Concours cars were on the lawn alongside Cedar Lake.  Fun and games took place in the parking lot (Back Seat Driver Contest, Junior Gymkhana, and the Slow Drag Races).  More and more Corvairs arrived hourly, for the biiig Car Display tomorrow.

Among the tech sessions was one on the proper use of a clay bar and other car detailing products, and the Fitch Phoenix, one of several unique vehicles on display in the exhibit hall, was the demonstration vehicle.  The car now sparkles!

But the day was topped off with the Ice Cream Social, which followed the CORSA Annual Meeting, where the awards for the Road Rally and the Model Car Concours were presented.  Then Cobblestone Crossing took to the stage, for a great show of singalong folk music.

The final day begins soon, culminating with the banquet and our special guest from Hemmings Motor News, Richard Lentinello.  The convention has been great fun but it will all be over in less than 24 hours.

Thursday Update

A little late with this update, a convention keeps one busy!

After Wednesday's perfect weather, the forecast for Thursday was for more humidity and spot showers, with a big storm in the evening.  Happily, no rain came during the day and the road rally and other activities took place without disruption.

But the evening forecast necessitated moving the Lakeside Picnic indoors.  Nonetheless, the indoor picnic was a success, and the music provided by Janet & Darrell continued in the hospitality area deep into the evening.

The biig storms bypassed Sturbridge, and now, Friday morning, rain remains in the forecast but the Concours d'Elegance is about to get under way.

That's all for now, but if you'd like to see some photos from the convention, check the Corvair Center Forum and the CORSA Facebook page.

The Convention is Under Way!

Here's a shot from the Autocross Wednesday at the Stafford Motor Speedway, run under perfect weather conditions.

The course proved to be fast one, with laps completed well under the times expected by the organizers.

Results will be announced Thursday evening, at the Lakeside Picnic.  The Road Rally hits the byways of New England on Thursday.

On-site registrations have pushed the total number of registrants well over 700 as of Wednesday.  Saturday's big car show is on track to be perhaps the largest gathering of Corvairs in one place, ever.

Blog on the Move

In fewer than 24 hours, your blog editor will be on the road to Sturbridge, where we will join more than 650 people who pre-registered for the convention, plus countless more who will register on-site.

But just because we are leaving our desk, the blog will not be going silent. We plan to post updates and photos each day while we are in Sturbridge. So if you can’t be there, check here daily to see what’s going on!

More than 180 individual Corvairs are shown on the pre-registration lists, so it is a cinch that some 200 Corvairs will be there at some point during the week.

Yesterday, Corvair enthusiasts began arriving in Sturbridge. The convention gets a "soft launch" today with CORSA’s annual Board of Directors’ meeting, and on-site registration opens at 3 PM this afternoon. But no formal convention activities are scheduled until tomorrow morning when the Autocross takes place at Stafford Motor Speedway. In fact, since the speedway is right on the way, we plan to make the Autocross our first stop en route to Sturbridge.

See you there!

Take the Phoenix Home

Today we secured the Fitch Phoenix to the trailer for delivery to Sturbridge. (Click the photo for an enlarged view.)

While at the convention, you can not only see this beautiful one-off car in person, you could win one of the Automodello scale models, as detailed in our earlier post here.

(Sorry, you can’t have the real car, we’ll be returning it to John Fitch following the convention!)

And They're Off! ...sort of...

One of the items on the convention schedule is "Slow Drag Races," on Friday between 1:00 and 2:00 PM. It’s part of the convention’s "Corvair Fun Day," but one hour may not be enough time!

If you are not familiar with the concept of slow drag races, it is a two-car straight-line point-to-point race in which the last car to the finish line wins. When the ‘go’ signal is given, each car must begin to move, each car cannot stop, and the driver cannot use the brakes.

What you wind up with is a remarkably fun event in which almost nothing happens! You’ll find family and friends cheering for a car that is making imperceptible progress. You’ll see the "agony of defeat" on the faces of those whose cars idled across the finish line just a little too quickly.

It’s an event that we have stolen shamelessly from other clubs and we’re looking forward to it! Why not enter your car?  If you're not in a hurry...

Time's UP!

Not really. But the time for advance convention registration is now past, so if you have not sent in your registration, don’t do it – just show up!

Registration can be accomplished on-site, beginning at 3 PM on Tuesday and continuing right through 1 PM on Saturday. (The complete schedule of registration hours is on the convention web site, here.)

In only a few days CORSA’s 2012 convention – the 42nd annual convention – will begin. Come be a part of it!

Attention, Autocrossers!

If you have signed up to participate in the convention autocross at the Stafford Motor Speedway on July 25, are you aware that under CORSA rules you are expected to classify your own car in advance?

It’s easy to do, and even fun if you have never taken a look at your car with autocross classification in mind.

Just go to this page on the CORSA web site, download the Autocross Rules, and take a look at the section covering classification.

Also, you should inspect your car prior to arriving at the track.  Click on this link to download a copy of the Autocross Tech Inspection Form.

And we’ll see you at the track!

Helmet Update 7/20/12:  The autocross tech inspection form as first posted specified that one must use a Snell 2000 or newer helmet. Whoops -- the CORSA rules allow any Snell or DOT helmet rated within the last 15 years.  We are fixing the tech form that's linked here, but if you downloaded a copy earlier, please be aware that the CORSA rules will apply.

Skirting the Big Apple

Corvair Enthusiasts will be coming to Sturbridge from all directions, but many will be coming from the south, from the mid-Atlantic and southeastern states.  Many will be utilizing Interstate Route 95 for much of the way, but we want to recommend that you not follow I-95 through New York City.

Why not? Because it is an exceptionally congested route. Delays are not only possible they are probable. The road is a battered urban highway carrying an immense amount of traffic through a large and crowded city. So we offer this alternative:

If coming up I-95 from the south, once you cross into New Jersey, plan your route to pick up the I-287 loop through New Jersey to the west of NYC. This loop will carry you into New York State, at which point you can continue to follow I-287 to cross the Hudson River on the Tappan Zee Bridge.

This route will be longer but likely faster, certainly easier, and will have less traffic – unless you try it during rush hour. There is no good way through or around NYC during rush hour.

Once around New York City you can vary the route in other ways, too, eventually reaching I-84 which takes you to Sturbridge.

Be alert, be careful, and enjoy the ride!

I-95, the Cross Bronx Expresway,
in New Uork City.
We suggest that you avoid it!


 

Ray's Ride

On Sunday, July 15, the Milford Daily News of Milford, Massachusetts, featured this 1962 Monza in the newspaper’s My Ride, My Story feature. The car belongs to Ray Bombardier, Deputy Chairman of the 2012 CORSA Convention.

The My Ride, My Story feature is one of several "Print Extras" that are available only in the printed edition of the paper, not to the general public on the paper’s very nice web site.

But click this link to see a brief video of the reporter taking a drive in Ray’s car.

And check out this photo of the neat Powerglide instruction sleeve on the sun visor of Ray’s car – such instructions came with the first-generation Corvairs.

Come to Sturbridge to see Ray's car, and upwards of 200 more, at the convention beginning next week!

A Little Pre-Convention Viewing

This Sunday, July 22, on the CBS Sunday Morning program, correspondent Lee Cowan will be presenting a story inspired by Pultizer-winning author Paul Ingrassia’s recent book, Engines of Change, A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars. One of the fifteen cars is the Corvair, and on July 16 Mr Cowan and a camera crew spent three-and-a-half hours interviewing your blog editor and riding and driving in a beautiful 1968 Monza coupe.

Paul Ingrassia’s book identified the Corvair as being one of history’s most significant cars, not only for its groundbreaking design, not only for the unfounded safety accusations, but also for the role it played in the election of George W. Bush in the famously disputed 2000 presidential contest with Al Gore.

You can read more about the Corvair’s role in the 2000 election on The Garage Key blog, but be sure to tune in to your CBS television station this Sunday morning at 9 AM (EDT) to see this segment. The segment, of course, is about all the cars on Paul Ingrassia’s list of the fifteen most significant, not just the Corvair. Will the segment mention CORSA and the convention? We mentioned both on camera, but it remains to be seen what the final edit will be.

In the photo above, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Lee Cowan relaxes by the Corvair while a crew member affixes a camera to the car. Below, a look at the main camera mounted on the car. A second Go-Pro mini camera was also placed on the car and a third, full-size camera was used for exterior views and on-the-road shots.

Did we mention that it was also 95 degrees on this day?

We should note that a major news story or other unanticipated event could cause this segment to be delayed until July 29, but at the moment the scheduled broadcast date is July 22.

Update 7/21/12:  Due to the shootings in Colorado, the broadcast has been postponed.  We will confirm the new broadcast date once we know it.

Update 7/28/12:  The segment will be broadcast on Sunday, July 29, 2012.

Sturbridge Bound

Down in Tennessee, Bob Manwaring is just about ready to depart for Sturbridge.  He has loaded his 1969 Corvair on the trailer and attached it to the tow vehicle, and given the combination a road-test to ensure that all is ready for the 900-mile (one-way!) trip.

Bob is being smart!  Checking things out well in advance of hitting the road is a wise course of action.  A last-minute thrash is never fun.

If you are trailering your Corvair as Bob is, when you arrive in Sturbridge, don't forget to take your truck and trailer over to the Old Sturbridge Village parking lot, where we have reserved space for trailer parking.

A Last-Minute Disappointment

In a prior post, last December, we told you that Mel Francis and his project partner, Dick Reinders, were going to bring their spectacular Monza SS re-creation from Wisconsin to Sturbridge.

Alas, life’s realities have gotten in the way. Mel writes, "It is my sad duty to inform you that our Monza SS cannot be brought to Sturbridge this summer."

The reasons are those with which everyone is familiar – other duties, responsibilities, and priorities must come before a hobby trip.  Mel had been planning to do more than simply bring the car to Sturbridge.  He was going to participate in all the convention events -- autocross, road rally, and show.  A real car guy!

And we have been featuring the original Monza SS show car at the top of our blog for some time now.  So, yes, we're very disappointed, but of course we understand.

Still, the convention will not be without distinctive Corvair-based vehicles to see. In addition to (as of this writing) the nearly 200 individual Corvair cars that have registered to participate in convention events, we are currently arranging to get the one-and-only Fitch Phoenix on site, and the pre-registered vehicle list includes such rarities as the Corvair-powered UltraVan motor home.

By the way, back on April first we referenced car collector Joe Bortz in our April Fool posting about 1969 Corvair #6000, but it is no joke that Mr Bortz is restoring the Lasalle II show car and Mel Francis has been tasked with making up a new windshield for it. Recently the car has been at Larry Claypool’s Vair Shop in Illinois for brake work. Here’s a shot of the windshield job in progress:

So Much to See and Do!

Previously we have mentioned such attractions as the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield and the site of the original "Alice's Restaurant" in Stockbridge.  Here are just a few more things to see and do while in New England:

The Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts, the only museum of armor in the western hemisphere, http://www.higgins.org/

The Slater Mill Museum in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, http://www.slatermill.org/

The EcoTarium (a great place to take the kids), a unique indoor-outdoor museum in Worcester, Massachusetts, offering such things as a chance to walk through the treetops, ride a narrow-gauge railroad, and more, http://www.ecotarium.org/

The Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, arguably the nation's leading aquarium and home of ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard and the Institute for Exploration, http://www.mysticaquarium.org/, plus the Mystic Seaport, home of the Charles W. Morgan, the oldest American commercial vessel still in existence, http://www.mysticseaport.org/

The Boston Museum of Science ( http://www.mos.org/ ), the New England Aquarium ( http://www.neaq.org/ ), the Boston Children’s Museum ( http://www.bostonkids.org/ ), all in Boston of course

The museums of the Rhode Island Historical Society, in Providence and in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, http://www.rihs.org/

Plimoth Plantation, the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony (the Pilgrims) established in the 1600s, http://www.plimoth.org/

And of course, Cape Cod, Lexington & Concord, The White Mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont Maple Syrup, Maine Lobstahs, and so much more.

Old Ironsides

Our thanks to CORSA Director and New England resident Jason Cesana for many of the suggestions on this list.

Make Some History

Stafford Motor Speedway, where our convention autocross is being held on July 25, has a long history indeed. The facility first opened as the Stafford Springs Agricultural Park in 1870!

The Stafford Springs Agricultural Park, over 100 years ago

Horse racing’s Trotters and Pacers were the featured attraction through the end of World War II at which time horse racing gave way to automobile racing.

An advertisement from 1949

The track remained a dirt track until 1967, and with the arrival of pavement the race cars began to evolve from junkyard jalopies to the sleek NASCAR Modifieds of today.

The Modifieds at Stafford

When you participate in the convention autocross you will be driving on the same track that has been driven upon not only by the greats of Modified racing such as Richie Evans, but also by drivers with NASCAR Cup victories to their credit, including Jimmy Spencer, Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, and even a guy named Earnhardt.  Indianapolis 500 veterans and even a Formula One World Champion have raced at Stafford.

Map is not to scale!

To get to Stafford Motor Speedway from the Sturbridge Host Hotel, take I-84 West to Exit 73.  Follow Route 190 West to Route 140 in Stafford Springs, and follow Route 140 to the track.

The Stafford Motor Speedway street address is 55 West Street, Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076. The GPS coordinates are N 41° 57.29 Minutes, W 72° 19.04 Minutes