Jim & Phyllis Wendorf's 1977 Corvette

(Primary Participant)

    Our '77 Vette (aka "Floozy")

    My first memory of "America's Sport Car was in the late 50's while sitting on my parents front porch. We heard a roaring engine coming down the roadway, a black '57 roadster - it looked so sleek and moved very quickly. There was something special about that car. Then in the 60's, sitting on the same porch, I saw a '63 Riverside Red Split Window go by - I knew then that I wanted one of those fine automobiles, but my finances were not right for a high school kid - I thought maybe later in life! Then came work, college, marriage and kids along with all the family duties - no time for a play toy - only station wagons, but I kept looking anyway, year after year......

    Then in the winter of '91, I was writing a check for our daughter Megan's college tuition when it hit me, why not do something for myself? It was now my turn for a special toy, so I started looking for my dream car. I first thought of my '63 Split Window, but then realized two more teenagers were at home, so I looked for a good, clean driver. I spent months looking and driving a dozen 'Vettes, looking for that special "shark", but none felt right.

    Then my brother Lenny introduced me to his coworker Tom. He had three 'Vettes, two of which were for sale. He was keeping his mid-60's blue roadster and selling his black late model which I didn't really notice because I saw this red on red shark that caught my eye. She looked so beautiful, I knew I found my 'Vette.

    She was a '77 stock coupe, very clean with 60,000 miles. The engine compartment had some chrome parts, while the interior had a eight-track player/radio, cruise control and wood grain trim added to the dash/console. My brother and I took her for a ride, trying to be cautious while driving but Lenny showed me how to drive her....... "pedal to the metal" and away we went .... I don't think residential streets were designed for such quickness and speed. She was definitely a good driver. We negotiated a price and a pick-up date the following week ... the longest week I've ever known.

    "Floozy" got her name from my wife, Phyllis, who was getting even with me - I named one of her teddy bears "Floozy" cause she was dressed in this fancy red dress and hat w/white lace and fur - all dressed up to go out on the town. I spent hours out in the garage with my 'Vette, cleaning and waxing, with no time for wife, so my red 'Vette became the "other woman", so now Phyllis calls her my "Floozy".

    We joined a Corvette club several months later, Competition Corvette Association (one of eighteen clubs in the East Ohio Region of National Council of Corvette Clubs). We participate in monthly meetings and socials, along with judged concourses, people's car shows, road rallies and autocrosses (low speed in parking lots and high speed at Nelson Ledges Speedway). We sponsor our annual charity car show for Hospice of Western Reserve each fall, just completing our fourteenth year. We drive to all events, no Trailer Queen here, from Northeastern to Northwestern Ohio, Columbus to Marietta and West Virginia. We also drove to Montreal, Canada several times.

    Corvette fever runs high in our family. Our daughter Megan met her husband Rich at our '97 NCCC National Convention here in Cleveland. His family has three 'Vettes and race almost weekly, which she loves (call her "lead foot", after her mom). She now has her own '72 LT-1 four-speed which she races while Rich is putting the finishing touches on his '73 race car. Our six-year-old grandson, Anthony takes after his grandpa, he loves trains and Corvettes, being a member of FCOA (Future Corvette Owners Association) with approximately 100 Corvette hot wheels. He also knows how to start his Uncle Rich's race car and attends concourses with me.

    We are honored to win the second lottery to be a primary participant in the National Corvette Museum's Historic Motorama celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Corvette. We look forward to participating in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and meeting the best people in the nation, Corvette people, along the way.

    Let's remember the Father of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov (1909-1996) during this very special Historic Motorama and.........

    "Save The Wave!"

    Jim & Phyllis Wendorf
    Concord Township, OH
    NCM Founding #2716
    NCM Ambassador for CCA
    NCCC-EOR Member (National Council of Corvette Clubs-East Ohio Region)
    CCA Member (Competition Corvette Association)

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