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.

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 Message from the Convention Chairman

A Message from 2012 Convention Chairman Brian O'Neill:

The 2012 CORSA International Convention is fast approaching. Plans for a fun-filled event are set and the convention committee is looking forward to being your hosts. The Sturbridge Host Hotel is going all-out to make your stay enjoyable.

There is more than ample space for all our activities. The hotel, being both a hotel and a conference center, has a big parking lot with nighttime surveillance. We have only one small issue. The layout, while allowing more than ample parking, is not conducive to trailer parking. We want to offer an clear view of our cars particularly during Saturday's Car Display.

So we have made arrangements with Old Sturbridge Village, which is just across the street, for trailer parking. The grounds at Old Sturbridge Village are actively patrolled and trailers and tow rigs will be safe. But to make everyone's arrival go smoothly and to avoid traffic congestion we'll need folks at both the hotel and the Old Sturbridge Village parking area.

Two-hour shifts start at 2 PM on Tuesday and then 8 AM the other days. The last shift ends at 8 PM each day. We need your help. We have a great committee for the convention events but this manpower requirement is testing our limits.

I'm asking for your help because NECC events have always received great support in the past. If you can help let me know your availability and I'll reply with a proposed shift. Please contact me here. Thanks so much.

Pahk Yah Cah

At every CORSA Convention, volunteers are needed not only from the host clubs but from among the attendees.  Fortunately, the Corvair hobby is populated by generous and willing people who step up and help out.  Sturbridge will be no exception – volunteers are needed and attendees are among those who can help.

We have already been recruiting for Concours judges and other tasks, but today we are seeking volunteers to fill assignments as parking assistants. Parking assistants? Yes – with the hotel already sold out and neighboring hotels nearing capacity, we’re expecting a lot of vehicles. Fortunately, the Sturbridge Host Hotel has a generous number of parking spaces, but even so, traffic needs to flow smoothly and arriving guests need to be able to find their way.

Trailer parking will be at a remote site (see this page for trailer parking information), plus there will be the swap meet, vendor room set-up and more to coordinate. Throughout all this, we anticipate needing two people at Old Sturbridge Village to coordinate trailer parking there, two or three people on the main driveway at the host hotel to direct traffic, and several additional folks directing the display area set-up and related activities.

Tom Russ, the convention’s parking coordinator, is anticipating two-to-four-hour shifts beginning Tuesday, July 24 and extending through Saturday, July 28. Obviously, the more volunteers we have the easier each person’s job will be. Not every location will require constant attention and we’ll be flexible as to when and where help is needed.

Parking personnel will be issued identifiable safety vests plus radios for use while on duty. It is too early to determine specific assignments however Tom will appreciate knowing who is interested and when they can be available, so please contact him here.

A smoothly-operating parking plan with everyone’s help and cooperation will make a great convention even better.

You Sleigh Me

Here is something that you won’t see in Sturbridge during the convention but which is part of the charm of the area. The photo shows a couple in an original Albany Cutter, circa 1900, during last year's "Sleigh Rally" at Old Sturbridge Village.

There won’t be any snow come July, and the convention's road rally will not include any sleighs.  But a visit to Old Sturbridge Village is an absolute "must" while at the convention.