NCM 15th Anniversary (prose and tons of pics)
09-06-2009, 02:05 PM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
NCM 15th Anniversary (prose and tons of pics)
Mrs. Patches and I made it to the 15th Anniversary Celebration at the NCM on Friday. We decided on Friday because that was the day Dave Hill, one of my biggest heroes, was going to be speaking at the Sloan Holiday Inn; I missed seeing him at a Cruise-In a couple of years ago so I wanted to make sure I got to see him this time around. Needless to say, it was a wonderful day, what with all the awesome Corvettes swarming the place and all the newly-built areas of the NCM. Our last trip there had been pre-expansion so it was exciting to see what had been added since.
We were not the least bit disappointed but, instead, extremely delighted to see how our support dollars have been put to use in re-creating the museum into a world-class venue for showcasing the versatile and capable piece of Americana the Corvette is. The feeling of pride in Corvette’s history and accomplishments was overwhelming – even visitors not steeped in the Corvette community as we are were impressed with and drawn into the enthusiasm and pride in America’s sports car as well as the brotherhood it has engendered. During a lunch break in the new Café, Carole and I met, by chance, some close relatives of Jerry Thompson, a famous Corvette racer who was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend along with his team mate Tony De Lorenzo (Owens Corning race Corvette pictured below), and, although they were unfamiliar with the whole “Corvette way of life”, were genuinely amazed with the enthusiasm for the marque.
Also, we met forum member Rick (TooMch) there and talked a while about the event, the forum and Vettes in general. It was he who recognized Mrs. Patches and came over to introduce himself. Great guy!
We took a massive collection of pictures (surprising, no?) and whittled them down to a hundred and a half or so for your perusal. These are in no particular order and I will only bore you with an occasional comment if I feel so inclined.
Several shots of the general museum areas
Yes, it’s a Mini Cooper . . .
What we encountered outside
Mrs. Patches a-glowin’ with "C"anticipation
So she could be returned to me (in case she got lost) . . .
We were not the least bit disappointed but, instead, extremely delighted to see how our support dollars have been put to use in re-creating the museum into a world-class venue for showcasing the versatile and capable piece of Americana the Corvette is. The feeling of pride in Corvette’s history and accomplishments was overwhelming – even visitors not steeped in the Corvette community as we are were impressed with and drawn into the enthusiasm and pride in America’s sports car as well as the brotherhood it has engendered. During a lunch break in the new Café, Carole and I met, by chance, some close relatives of Jerry Thompson, a famous Corvette racer who was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend along with his team mate Tony De Lorenzo (Owens Corning race Corvette pictured below), and, although they were unfamiliar with the whole “Corvette way of life”, were genuinely amazed with the enthusiasm for the marque.
Also, we met forum member Rick (TooMch) there and talked a while about the event, the forum and Vettes in general. It was he who recognized Mrs. Patches and came over to introduce himself. Great guy!
We took a massive collection of pictures (surprising, no?) and whittled them down to a hundred and a half or so for your perusal. These are in no particular order and I will only bore you with an occasional comment if I feel so inclined.
Several shots of the general museum areas
Yes, it’s a Mini Cooper . . .
What we encountered outside
Mrs. Patches a-glowin’ with "C"anticipation
So she could be returned to me (in case she got lost) . . .
Last edited by Patches; 09-06-2009 at 04:26 PM.
09-06-2009, 02:06 PM
#2
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Mrs. Patches contemplates a bigger garage . . .
This two-tone C3 belongs to a very earnest, young Marine. (blue shirt, right background)
Last edited by Patches; 09-08-2009 at 06:30 PM.
09-06-2009, 02:07 PM
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
335’s on this puppy looked mean
Dyno-tuning a Z06
This Z sounded totally badazz. He stopped when he saw I was trying to get a shot.
Don’t ask – people were standing around with confused looks on their faces.
At least the interior was nicely done
Moving on inside . . .
Mrs. Patches loves the oldies ‘cause they’re the prettiest, for sure.
Some lucky enthusiast won this one-of-a-kind Grand Sport in the raffle today!
Last edited by Patches; 09-06-2009 at 04:32 PM.
09-06-2009, 02:09 PM
#5
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Oh, be still my heart!
ZR-1 Spyder
ZR-1 Chassis/Drivetrain
Car & Driver took this off-road through the harshest regions of Alaska and wrote an article about it. It’s a shame, though, that they cleaned the Alaskan dirt off it since we were last at the museum.
Yikes! Kentucky folk, beware!
Mrs. Patches and Zora – both one-of-a-kind
At the Inn – Dave McClellan speaks candidly of things most of us agree upon but are not allowed to publicly comment on (except, of course, in this case).
And, finally – I get to hear and meet the legend, Dave Hill! Definitely the climax of my Corvette experience. He was very well-spoken and still closely in touch with the insiders at GM. He was also quite candid with the audience but definitely has much respect for the GM organization.
I thanked Dave for the C5 and his role in producing it - the best Corvette ever! (Read All Corvettes Are Red if you haven't yet.)
He told me he was still very excited with the progress and new offerings coming from GM. Mrs. Patches snagged an autograph on the bill of her cap from Dave.
Outside the Inn . . . a cool Grand Sport
And from other shores . . .
Oh, and a gorgeous, classic Z! C6 Z’s were everywhere!
ZR-1 Spyder
ZR-1 Chassis/Drivetrain
Car & Driver took this off-road through the harshest regions of Alaska and wrote an article about it. It’s a shame, though, that they cleaned the Alaskan dirt off it since we were last at the museum.
Yikes! Kentucky folk, beware!
Mrs. Patches and Zora – both one-of-a-kind
At the Inn – Dave McClellan speaks candidly of things most of us agree upon but are not allowed to publicly comment on (except, of course, in this case).
And, finally – I get to hear and meet the legend, Dave Hill! Definitely the climax of my Corvette experience. He was very well-spoken and still closely in touch with the insiders at GM. He was also quite candid with the audience but definitely has much respect for the GM organization.
I thanked Dave for the C5 and his role in producing it - the best Corvette ever! (Read All Corvettes Are Red if you haven't yet.)
He told me he was still very excited with the progress and new offerings coming from GM. Mrs. Patches snagged an autograph on the bill of her cap from Dave.
Outside the Inn . . . a cool Grand Sport
And from other shores . . .
Oh, and a gorgeous, classic Z! C6 Z’s were everywhere!
Last edited by Patches; 09-06-2009 at 04:46 PM.
09-06-2009, 02:10 PM
#6
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Back at the museum . . .
Even Vette puppies have their own rides! This one was radio-controlled and Cassie, it’s owner, was riding it around the parking lot.
And last, but not least . .
A fabulous day!
Even Vette puppies have their own rides! This one was radio-controlled and Cassie, it’s owner, was riding it around the parking lot.
And last, but not least . .
A fabulous day!
Last edited by Patches; 09-06-2009 at 02:16 PM.
09-06-2009, 07:22 PM
#14
Race Director
Thanks so much for the great pics and commentary, Ed! I REALLY REALLY wanted to go to this, but life kinda gets in the way sometimes....Mom with a stroke in a nursing home, new business trying to get off the ground, etc.
Maybe for the 20th Anniversary.........
All of the images made me tear up a little, I feel so honored to be a part of the enthusiasm for this great American icon!
Maybe for the 20th Anniversary.........
All of the images made me tear up a little, I feel so honored to be a part of the enthusiasm for this great American icon!
09-06-2009, 07:58 PM
#16
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Thanks so much for the great pics and commentary, Ed! I REALLY REALLY wanted to go to this, but life kinda gets in the way sometimes....Mom with a stroke in a nursing home, new business trying to get off the ground, etc.
Maybe for the 20th Anniversary.........
All of the images made me tear up a little, I feel so honored to be a part of the enthusiasm for this great American icon!
Maybe for the 20th Anniversary.........
All of the images made me tear up a little, I feel so honored to be a part of the enthusiasm for this great American icon!
Carole and I were energized coming home from this - it truly makes you remember that this is a great country with a great people that can accomplish anything they set their minds to. The Corvette is a perfect example of that - a world class car at a fraction of the price of its contemporary competitors.
I would encourage everyone here to support the Corvette Museum to help preserve a part of American culture that's truly 100% home-grown and nurtured. With all the dividers that help preserve our uniqueness falling away in this world economy and world community, we need to keep vital reminders of our national identity at the forefront.
Thanks to all above for your comments.
09-06-2009, 09:15 PM
#19
Cruising
Member Since: Apr 2007
Location: Lake Elsinore CA
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I, Mrs. Patches, would humbly add my own witty and insightful commentary to that of my beloved spouse but am, alas, still deep in the throes of NCM withdrawal. 
