Learned this trick at Bloomington, guy said he puts them on there when he drives far to prevent chips to the show paint. Though it was cheap and effective

 

It will never be back, unless you have a lot of money. Enough to buy a Lowe's and several other businesses and tear them down.








This is how the original Bloomington location looked in 2005. Who knows what it looks like today. Of course, everything was different then, being it was 32 years after the first in 1973. Of course, most never knew it existed until around 1976 or so. The first couple of years were basically a local club event.

In 2005 on the way back from St. Charles, I ran through and took these. I saw the original Steak N Shake in Normal was gone, too. There used to be several businesses in the "island" between the north- and south-bound lanes of US 51 near the college.

 

I was in Mississippi valley Corvette Association until 1979 when I joined St. Louis Corvettes Unlimited. It was just too far to drive to St. Peters to go to meetings with BTCC. That didn't stop me from other events.

I was over in 1976 when I ran a rally with Brian Dalhaus that BTCC ran all over everywhere, ending up in the north side of St. Charles.



Then there was their first "autocross" out at MAR. They only had an autocross sanction and not a high speed event, so they put 3 or 4 cones on the front straight as a chicane.



There were many autocrosses, including this one at Westport on Manchester and I-270. A bit hard to do that today. Then there was one over in St. Peters, I think, where we were running about 85 and above in one section, a lot above the accepted "street speeds" of 55 that were required. I think that got back to NCCC.



In 1980 with the Gateway Glass Reunion, things got tough. This wasn't me, as we worked shifts on corners and making runs. I was at Turn 7 I think when this stopped everything.



In 1977, MVCA stayed at the Falcon Inn on US 51 in Normal near the university. In 1978, I think we stayed at Motel 6. In 1979, we definitely stayed there, and maybe 1980. BTCC was there also. One of those years, everyone got booted out for a bunch of furniture ending up in the pool.



I think the next year they had opened several new motels over on Rt9 and I-55 and we stayed over there. A bunch of us were in what is the Red Roof Inn today. I think BTCC was over across the street in the Days Inn, Econo Lodge, or what is now the Hawthorn Suites. I think StL Unltd was there, too.

In 1983, I was at LeMans and after that, I was never up there for more than a day trip.

Rick Criswell had a green 1966 427 conv back then that had been Sig's. I got to see Sig in 2009, just a couple of months before he died.

Other than that, I can't remember a lot of other names from back then.

 

I ran across another pack of pictures I thought you'd like.










Look really close at this last photo.

What do you see there?

 

Notice the turbo setup on that engine on the stand. In 1980, the C3 Corvette was the late model and people were building horsepower into them to continue going fast. I like how people complain that the '70s Corvettes were dogs, and they were to some degree from the factory, but few remained that way. Turbos, fuel injection, big cams, headers, and more converted those 190 hp cars into something much faster.

 

Hi PC,
???
Something besides XP-819?
Regards,
Alan

…. and a seriously hot day like as was typical!

 

I'm just glad I was there in the 70's to see it. Wish I had the foresight to have taken some photos but my only concern back then was buying parts. I was into C1's back then and remember the screaming deals on project cars. My clearest memories about cars being parted out there is that guys didn't hesitate for a second cutting up cars for parts with rusted out frames.

Last time I went to a "Bloomington" show was at the Pheasant Run. We happened to be in the area so I stopped by with the wife. They wanted a $20 per person entry fee so we walked away, I didn't think it was worth it. It's not like the old days and even though I am a Corvette enthusiast owning three of them, I've seen enough of the same old thing. Without the expansive used and NOS parts swap meet, I completely lost interest.

I always try and remind myself that these, right now, are the good old days for a lot of younger people and probably myself as well depending on how long I live, so try and get the most out of it.

 

Actually, that is the old West County mall at Manchester and 270. The Community Federal S&L is in the background, now Edward Jones. I remember when that parking lot was a drive-in movie theater. Many moons ago.

 

I missed the first Bloomington, and did everyone of them from 1974 until they moved to Springfield.. I did Springfield and then bailed on it. 20 years plus of going to this show and tons of great memories. I'll have to see if I can dig out some other old pictures from the show soon.

I've got hundreds of old pictures somewhere but I posted this one on our facebook page years ago.

I miss the old place... the burnouts, TMCS, Jay Stoudt and a guy named Roger Williams (used to have one space next to us), Podell, and throwing water balloons at Yeager, the Holiday Inn Bar... Some stories I'd care not to mention. Funny no one mentioned the wet T shirt contest that went on every Sunday.. The pictures below are from 1975 or 76 at the old auction and the infield.

The barn posted above with MA on it.. they had one end of the barn on the left side, we had the other end. Moon Roof sat up across from us and Jack Podell had one space on the end from them.

Another good memory was John and Shirley White. They'd always work the vendors gate and John was always ordering side pipes from us to bring up for him. He's put them on his trucks.

 

Ahh, the good old days they were. We used to fly a Cessna into the airport next door, walk across the field, and jump the fence to get in. Couldn't buy too much stuff because we would have to pack it back to the airport and stuff it in the back of the plane and be light enough to get off the ground!!

 

A few more from Bloomington 1980

 

I have pictures of the wet tee shirt contest & also lots of BG pictures of in the day. Don't know how to post here.

 

I have been going since 1985 and while I miss the glory days, the current event is still the best Corvette show there is IMHO.

 

Some more from Bloomington 1980. Notice all the "new" Corvettes along the fence. Notice there is even a 1980 there.

 

Here is a goody most never see. A ZL-1 engine and chassis. I believe this is the white car, which many claim was a factory L-88 that was changed to a ZL-1 by the dealer.





Dick Ferrando of D&A Corvettes was doing the restoration on the car at the time. A couple of years earlier, he had done the Road & Track L-88 that was found in Oklahoma and was the source of an article in Road & Track. It was a green 1967 coupe. D&A used to bring several cars and display them every year.

 

It is easy.

First, you need the pictures on your computer. You can use a scanner, take them to some photo service (Walgreens, Walmart, etc.) that puts your print pictures on a CD, use your digital camera to take pictures of your print pictures, or whatever.

Second, start writing your message or reply.

Third, click the yellow photo button in the icons above your reply.

Fourth, drag the pictures from your computer onto the white loader page or browse your computer to find the picture's location.

Fifth, click insert.

 

THANKS I need to get off my lazy *** & get them transferred.

 

Here it is.

 

From Bloomington 1981.