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Thought I would share this story of a great young man I met while attending the 2014 20th NCM Caravan Celebration in Bowling Green last week. A few of us were out in front of the Super 8 Motel after a long hot day at the Museum just shooting the breeze and doing some bench racing. Up pulls this 1976 Vette and the owner asks us if we could possibly help him out. Long story short we diagnosed the problem as a lose battery cable. I started talking with the owner, a nice young man named Jerry. I asked him about his car and found out the following. This special Vette belonged to Jerry's dad who unfortunately passed away last year. Jerry said his dad talked often of doing the 2014 Caravan but unfortunately passed away before being able to do so. Jerry told me he thought he could honor his dad by driving the Vette as his dad so badly wanted to do. What makes this story so special is Jerry started the trip in Denver Colorado, traveling the whole way to Bowling Green Kentucky! I asked Jerry how the trip went and he said fine, although it did get warm in the cockpit and he used a ton of fuel! Jerry you are a fine young man and what a great son you must have been to your father. The Corvette hobby is alive and well if there are just a few more young folks such as Jerry out there driving these wonderful cars. Honored to have met you Jerry.
I have and continue to tell everyone (if the right subject comes up) you can't stop it, your time is your time. No one knows how or when, car accident, old age, etc...
But our parents/grandparents/brothers/sisters/cousins/etc... can live on through our actions.
Not the best way to have a car passed down, but good to see it has a good home a good owner, and someone who is not afraid to drive it to help live his fathers dream and fulfill it for him. Even if he is no longer here.
Some how some way his father knows, and he his happy maybe he couldn't do it. But the car made it, and it made the trip for him.
Great story - thanks for sharing this 2Cruzin! I would be curious to know what sort of mileage he was averaging on a trip that long.
When I went from Madison, WI through Chicago, Indiana, down to Bowling Green (stopped at the museum again), down to Memphis to visit Graceland (family tradition that we have to go visit the King once we get a new Vette), through arkansas, through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and out to Hawaii….
On the highway we got close to 17 mpg. In stop and go or city driving it was more like 8 mpg. I would assume that he would be getting about what I was getting. Those numbers were averages.
Last edited by Brandons72vette; 09-04-2014 at 10:48 AM.
Great story - thanks for sharing this 2Cruzin! I would be curious to know what sort of mileage he was averaging on a trip that long.
Not sure of the mileage as I think Jerry was very tired and needed to find a room. He did tell me he comes on the forum occasionally so hopefully he will see this post and chime in.
On another note, although I am a C5 guy, I have owned many C3's and consider the C3 to be the one of the best looking body styles. You all have some stunning Corvettes and I am jealous!
09-02-2014, 06:40 PM
Meet Jerry, a true Corvette guy
Glad he was able to get his father's Corvette there. Long drive, but well worth it. You were fortunate to have met him.
