Our Caravan to
Vettes On The Rockies (VOTR) 2006
Day 16: Sunday, July 30, 2006
Breckenridge, Colorado
Today at VOTR is the final one for the best Corvette event we've ever attended. The Looking Glass Corvette Association has put VOTR on for 33 years; it would be surprising if they didn't have it down pat -- and they absolutely do!
Today's final event, the "Show 'n Shine" Corvette show, is held in Frisco, Colorado, about ten miles northwest of Breckenridge. The show occupies all of Frisco's Main Street which is closed to traffic all day. 500+ Corvettes line the center and both sides of Main Street. The parking rules are simple: if you have a group that wishes to park together, arrive together.
So we gathered at 7:00a in the Beaver Run parking lot in order to get all the CEs together to caravan over to Frisco to park together:
There were eleven CEs making the trip this morning with two more joining us in Frisco for a total of thirteen 1953 Commemorative Edition Corvettes. This represents about 10% of total CE production and more of these special cars in one place than ever before.
When we got to the assembly lot at Beaver Run, both Steve Pasteiner and Steve Pasteiner Jr. were there to wish us well and to take enroute photos:
Buzz suggested that we intermix the cars so that there weren't two white cars together; good idea. We caravanned the ten miles to Frisco:
This is Mo and Rich Waller in CE#8 leading our caravan. Notice the yellow C3 who
didn't realize he was crashing our party!
.. and were guided into position on Main street by the LGCA staffers, getting there about 7:30a:
Ron and Robin arrived in Frisco a half-hour or so later, and that placed them nearly two blocks behind the gaggle of CEs.
Then out came the detailing equipment as each owner tried to make his or her car the best-looking in Frisco.
Steve Pasteiner Jr. added his signature to Buzz' hood:
I've always said that the Corvette hobby is about people. Here we are with Dennis and Cindy Manire:
They own the midyear (63-67) Corvette Registry: www.63-67corvette.com and I (of course) do their website. They live in Florida and are midway on a major cross-country adventure in their prize-winning 1967 Corvette and, by coincidence, VOTR was on their schedule. Click HERE to follow their adventure.
Lots of great-looking Corvettes as well as our thirteen CEs. The crowd of onlookers was large and constant all morning and early afternoon:
This photo by Sandy Swift
While this may look like a Almond Beige 1962 Corvette, it's not. It's a C5 conversion made to resemble the '62 in much the same way that our CEs resemble the 1953. These cars are built by Classic Reflection Coachworks in Lakewood, WA:
Above three photos by Sandy Swift
Jackie's sister and brother-in-law, Lauren and Jim Thomas had to leave so we formed a chorus line in farewell (sorry about Robin's face and the leaves):
The Pasteiners had to leave for Michigan, but Jackie got this photo standing behind their CE#12:
The cars were judged in fifteen classes starting at about 11:00a and the awards were given out starting at 1:00p:
In our class (Class "L"), three CEs were selected for awards (see below); sadly, no white CEs were chosen. BUT, Gael won a doorprize:
Bob Allen, Denver, CO, CE#81
Jim & Chris Estoch, Temecula, CA, CE#109
Gene & Kathy Gau, Bellevue, NE, CE#119
Tom Robben, Colorado, #7
Mo and Rich Waller, Michigan, #8
Chaz & Gael Cone, Georgia, #11
Buzz & Jackie Nielsen, Florida, #12
Dino & Lynn Salvatori, Colorado, #36
Ron & Breeze Rossetter, Colorado, #42
George & Mary Haile, Texas, #47
Jerry & Karen Downey, Oklahoma, #76
Clyde & Paulette Gagnon, Colorado, #80
Bob Allen, Colorado, #81
Susan Robson, Missouri, #96
Chris & Jim Estoch, California, #109
Gene & Kathy Gau, Nebraska, #119
When the "Show 'n Shine" was all over, we drove back to our various lodging spots and crashed until meeting for an early supper at "Empire Burger".
The "Last Supper" for the VOTR 2006 Caravan!
We were originally planning an upscale dinner experience, but none of us really felt up to it. Gael and I had enjoyed lunch at "Empire Burger" several days ago but it was the first time for the others in our little band of cross-country adventurers. Dinner was good and so was our visit to Coldstone Creamery across the street (for some of us).
We called the shuttle and were all back in our rooms by 7:30p. We're all leaving town in the AM; the Cones for the fastest way back to Atlanta, and the Nielsens and Floyds to visits in Texas.
We all agreed this was a fine adventure and we're delighted (even Gael) that we did it. Our hats are off to the Looking Glass Corvette Association and the 58 members who worked for a year to make this a great experience for everyone. Thanks, Folks!