Museum Delivery pics 2/4/08
02-26-2008, 06:03 PM
#1
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Museum Delivery pics 2/4/08
Hi folks - it has been a busy three weeks since I took delivery of my latest toy (and 1st new Vette 
) at the NCM. The linked shots were taken by my brother and shots that I've taken, will be posted later after I download the files from my camera and also get film developed from my trusty old-fashioned Canon SLR...
I took the @5-6 hours long buyer's tour over the course of two days in January (22 & 23) and had Steve Ashby for my guide and he did a phenominal job. Steve used to work at the plant and knew many people on the line as well as providing much insight into plant operations. When possible, he told the assembly line folks which car was mine and I was able to very briefly chat with them and all expressed their thanks for my buying the car. Two friends were with me on day 1 but they could not come back for day 2 to see the car off of the line...the assembly line had stopped with my car just short of initial start up after fluid fills. On day 2, I saw the car being started for the first time where they brought the car up to operating temps and went through a series of computer based diagnostics where all checked out o.k. After going through the hatch/deck/vert tonneau inspection area where some minor adjustments were made, my car passed the visual paint inspection area (lighted tunnel like enclosure) where no defects were spotted. After passing this last test, I was invited into my car and started it getting the obligatory 0 odometer shot after which I was given my Vettes birth certificate. After getting out of my car, a quality control line worker drove the car off of the line and to the pit where final wheel alignment and headlight aiming took place. Off then to the dyno area where I was again invited into my car to experience that test process. Hooked up once again to diagnostic computer systems, the QC lady took the car through various speeds and gears and up to just over 70 MPH required by the program, and then decelerated through different speeds checking brakes and other readouts. All tests showed passing marks so we drove out into the "sick bay" area where cars that have issues are set to have their non-pass items corrected. I had to get out of my car at that point as the next area was the water test. They subject the car to over 5 minutes of water @750 g/minute being sprayed from all directions. The QC inspector is looking for visible leaks all around. None found! After driving out of the water test area, the trunk lid was opened to check for leaks, again - none found.
Finally, the car is taken by another QC person and driven around a short track consisting of different road surfaces where they listen for rattle & squeaks. If any are found, they go to yet another track for more testing to confirm and isolate source of noises. None found on mine, so the next thing that I saw was my car being driven away to the Allied area and parked facing right, indicating NCM delivery.
I will echo the thoughts of previous posters that took the buyer's tour - do it, if there is any way you can be there - unforgettable! For me it established the bond with my car that I expect to last for many happy years and miles of top down bliss!
I did the NCM delivery on 2/4 as well taking the factory tour again with one of my brothers that was not able to attend the buyer's tour. The buyer's tour is simply an abbreviated factory tour with the major remaining difference being you are just seeing other Vettes being built. As with the buyer's tour, the delivery tour gets you your own private tour guide that is able to pace the tour to your scheduling needs. Larry was my delivery tour guide and was not quite the expert as was Steve, but still provided a fine tour experience for my brother and me.
After the plant tour, we returned to the Museum where they quickly went through the final delivery process as I had an appointment to get the graphics package applied to my car by a local businee recommended to me by Gary, the manager of the NCM delivery program. They quickly got me out of the Museum and on my way to get the required shots outside of the museum and vette assembly plant. We beat the rain to get the last pics,
I would be remiss if I did not mention the great experience that was provided by Lori as she helped me with my buyer's and NCM delivery scheduling needs. She was great and certainly worked with me though I must have made her a bit crazy somewhere along the line!
To finally wrap up and then post pics, my brother and I started the drive home on 2/5 just missing by about an hour, the tornados that hit Jackson and Memphis TN. We were hit by some of the worst rain that I've ever experienced, and I was sure we were going to be in an accident before we got out of the weather. There was no safe place to stop and no easy way to get off of the highways, so we just turned on the hazard lights and prayed that no one would slide into us as we were surrounded by folks that were dealing with the same mess. We ended experiencing gravel and small pea-sized hail towards the end of the system, thankfully nothing that damaged the car.
The next three days on the road consisted of stopping for barbeque that was just wonderful. We hit Corky's as we were beginning our escape from TN follwed by TX barbeque in Ft. Worth, Abilene and Pecos - some mighty fine 'que was consumed! After dropping off my brother in Tucson AZ where he caught a plane home, I was able to drop the top to take advantage of warmer weather and drove the last 450 miles home top-down - nothing like hours of open air driving to wrap up the long trip home.
This was long, but I hope you enjoyed the retelling of my experience!
Here are the links to photo bucket - hope I got it right as this is my first attempt to post pics here!
) at the NCM. The linked shots were taken by my brother and shots that I've taken, will be posted later after I download the files from my camera and also get film developed from my trusty old-fashioned Canon SLR...I took the @5-6 hours long buyer's tour over the course of two days in January (22 & 23) and had Steve Ashby for my guide and he did a phenominal job
. Steve used to work at the plant and knew many people on the line as well as providing much insight into plant operations. When possible, he told the assembly line folks which car was mine and I was able to very briefly chat with them and all expressed their thanks for my buying the car. Two friends were with me on day 1 but they could not come back for day 2 to see the car off of the line...the assembly line had stopped with my car just short of initial start up after fluid fills. On day 2, I saw the car being started for the first time where they brought the car up to operating temps and went through a series of computer based diagnostics where all checked out o.k. After going through the hatch/deck/vert tonneau inspection area where some minor adjustments were made, my car passed the visual paint inspection area (lighted tunnel like enclosure) where no defects were spotted. After passing this last test, I was invited into my car and started it getting the obligatory 0 odometer shot after which I was given my Vettes birth certificate. After getting out of my car, a quality control line worker drove the car off of the line and to the pit where final wheel alignment and headlight aiming took place. Off then to the dyno area where I was again invited into my car to experience that test process. Hooked up once again to diagnostic computer systems, the QC lady took the car through various speeds and gears and up to just over 70 MPH required by the program, and then decelerated through different speeds checking brakes and other readouts. All tests showed passing marks so we drove out into the "sick bay" area where cars that have issues are set to have their non-pass items corrected. I had to get out of my car at that point as the next area was the water test. They subject the car to over 5 minutes of water @750 g/minute being sprayed from all directions. The QC inspector is looking for visible leaks all around. None found! After driving out of the water test area, the trunk lid was opened to check for leaks, again - none found.Finally, the car is taken by another QC person and driven around a short track consisting of different road surfaces where they listen for rattle & squeaks. If any are found, they go to yet another track for more testing to confirm and isolate source of noises. None found on mine, so the next thing that I saw was my car being driven away to the Allied area and parked facing right, indicating NCM delivery.
I will echo the thoughts of previous posters that took the buyer's tour - do it, if there is any way you can be there - unforgettable! For me it established the bond with my car that I expect to last for many happy years and miles of top down bliss!
I did the NCM delivery on 2/4 as well taking the factory tour again with one of my brothers that was not able to attend the buyer's tour. The buyer's tour is simply an abbreviated factory tour with the major remaining difference being you are just seeing other Vettes being built. As with the buyer's tour, the delivery tour gets you your own private tour guide that is able to pace the tour to your scheduling needs. Larry was my delivery tour guide and was not quite the expert as was Steve, but still provided a fine tour experience for my brother and me.
After the plant tour, we returned to the Museum where they quickly went through the final delivery process as I had an appointment to get the graphics package applied to my car by a local businee recommended to me by Gary, the manager of the NCM delivery program. They quickly got me out of the Museum and on my way to get the required shots outside of the museum and vette assembly plant. We beat the rain to get the last pics,
I would be remiss if I did not mention the great experience that was provided by Lori as she helped me with my buyer's and NCM delivery scheduling needs. She was great and certainly worked with me though I must have made her a bit crazy somewhere along the line!
To finally wrap up and then post pics, my brother and I started the drive home on 2/5 just missing by about an hour, the tornados that hit Jackson and Memphis TN. We were hit by some of the worst rain that I've ever experienced, and I was sure we were going to be in an accident before we got out of the weather. There was no safe place to stop and no easy way to get off of the highways, so we just turned on the hazard lights and prayed that no one would slide into us as we were surrounded by folks that were dealing with the same mess. We ended experiencing gravel and small pea-sized hail towards the end of the system, thankfully nothing that damaged the car.
The next three days on the road consisted of stopping for barbeque that was just wonderful. We hit Corky's as we were beginning our escape from TN follwed by TX barbeque in Ft. Worth, Abilene and Pecos - some mighty fine 'que was consumed! After dropping off my brother in Tucson AZ where he caught a plane home, I was able to drop the top to take advantage of warmer weather and drove the last 450 miles home top-down - nothing like hours of open air driving to wrap up the long trip home.
This was long, but I hope you enjoyed the retelling of my experience!
Here are the links to photo bucket - hope I got it right as this is my first attempt to post pics here!
Last edited by kdhand; 02-27-2008 at 11:56 AM.
02-26-2008, 06:20 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
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With all that went on during your ride home, I'm sure you'll never forget that day 
Thanks for sharing and here's wishing you many happy miles to come
Thanks for sharing and here's wishing you many happy miles to come
02-26-2008, 06:56 PM
#6
Night Race Blue 427
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Congratulations! Here's wishing you many miles of smiles in your new C6.
02-26-2008, 08:09 PM
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Well I like the car and the write up. Very well done and glad you got it home without incident. I know Jackson pretty well, and was very sorry to hear about its damage.
02-26-2008, 08:15 PM
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Many congrats! Now drive it back to BG for the Bash 
02-26-2008, 09:07 PM
#15
Team Owner
Congratulations and great write-up thanks for sharing.
