Painters Paint
Racers Race
Smack talkers....Talk smack...

In my case...Chasing the Corvette dream has become an obsession. Writing about it is the privilege. All of you have induldged me by reading the stories I have writtten. Many of you
read the story about "The Last C5". Believe it or not, that was the short version...HA....

For me though, there was more to tell....so grab a cup of coffee, kick off you shoes, and relax....

Here is the first chapter of the rest of the story....


Time stood still

Chapter 1: Nearly an Ending

To go or not to go. It was not a tough question to answer. We were heading to Bowling Green. Today was the day. July 1, 2004 would mark the end of the Corvette’s fifth generation. The last C5 was due to come off the line around 11:00 am. Fifty one years and one day later after the birth of America’s Sports Car, this chapter of Vette lore would forever become a memory. The opportunity to join in the celebration was too much to miss.


Children remember special moments throughout their lives. The first homerun they hit. A favorite puppy received for a birthday gift. A night time cuddle with mom or dad when they were sick. Thoughts of riding in a Corvette for the first time bring smiles. The slightest idea can become a stored memory that drives their ambitions in life. Little kids captivated in a moment that adults savor. No one knows what will be the turning point in the life of a child.


As a parent, the privilege to share with my children goes beyond words. To me, the Lore and History of Corvettes past and present is an overpowering draw. Like a powerful magnet pulling me in closer and closer, there is no resisting. For me, this is a dream worth sharing with the Kids. It has become a mission in life to give them every opportunity to be part of the experience.


Excitement sometimes comes from the children watching the adults act like children. Aimee and Natalie could see me turning into a little boy as we neared the National Corvette Museum. Nostalgia is difficult to explain to kids. As tempting as it may be to give out details, they sometimes fall on deaf ears. The girls were too busy watching me. They knew the special hope Daddy had in mind. Words were not needed. I was not sure that I could even explain. Very few opportunities happen in life to be a part of something bigger than you. In my mind, this was one such moment. The closer we got the more tongue tied I became. Talk about feeling like a little kid, I was 10 years old all over again. Few people seize the moment. Given the chance, this big kid wanted to be a part of Corvette history through the eyes of my daughters. How many 8 and 14 year old girls get to watch the last of anything?


We rushed to the NCM to check with the staff. They were keeping tabs on the Car’s status. If anyone outside the factory would know, it would be them. They understood the importance of the timing. The whole museum is dedicated to the idea of ensuring the past through preservation. Letting the LAST C5 escape without any form of documentation was not possible. If only one staff member was left standing, they were planning on being there when the Car left the line. As expected, they were able to tell us the approximate location. The coupe was at the marriage point where the chassis and body join together. It was still at least two hours from the finish line. This gave us a chance to catch our breath.


When we entered the plant for the 9am tour, I could not help but give thanks for our good fortune. We had not missed the BIG event. As we sat through the safety video, Aimee spoke many of the words from memory. Yep, she had been here a lot. Natalie sat with the patience of a 14 year old. She was excited but wanted to get on with it. Patience came in spurts. Talking to her, she explained how she could not wait to see both Generations going down the line, again. As ironic as the statement was, I had to agree.

Just 6 days earlier, we had been at this very spot. We had waited our turn to see a C6 and C5 going down the same line. Two generations being built at the same time. It was truly an incredible feat. As I reminisced about the tour, I would have never imagined the blessing that was bestowed that day on us. Friday June 25, 2004 would be a day that all four of the girls would remember.







Chapter 2: Two Memories of a Lifetime



First start and Bill Sweeney are becoming favorites of my girls. Natalie had already started 2 C5’s in the previous tours. On Friday the 25th, we had wound around to the point where tires are added; Bill from first start spotted the five of us. Vanessa and Brittany had traveled with us. This Friday would be one that Brittany would not soon forget. Bill rounded the corner of a C5 with the keys for the Corvette to be started. He smiled at Brittany and they were off. Before I could catch up, her smiling face was beaming as she turned the key. She had successfully brought this silver C5 coupe to life. Rounding the front corner of the car, Brittany honked the horn. Jumping out of my skin unexpectedly, all the girls just laughed at me.


While standing there talking to Bill, I thanked him for remembering us. One conversation piece was the C6 coming down the line. I asked about Natalie starting a C6. Considering it was a new car in the Testing Phase, I thought this would be an impossible request. Bill said that it had not been done yet by anyone from a public tour. Engineers were climbing all over every C6 as it left the different work stations. Thinking that was the end of it, Bill filled out the rest of Brittany’s First Start Certificate. With a smile, he said, “Have your tour guide bring you back with your daughters. I will let her start one.�



Natalie could see me smiling when I rounded the C5. She knew I was happy for Brittany. “Guess what?� I asked her. Nat’s reply was, “What have you done?� Funny thing is my oldest daughter had learned to expect the unexpected. Relaying the message that Bill gave, my smile got a little brighter. Shock and awe were the adjectives that described Natalie’s expression. A sense of calm came over her though. The unexpected privilege would soon be hers. Her smile grew to be as large as mine.


Finishing the tour could not come fast enough for us. Two of us knew what was going to happen. Vanessa, Brittany, and Aimee had no idea of what to expect. Cordially asking our Tour guide for the Favor of going back, he hesitated. Stuart was new to giving tours. He had been working at the plant for 2 weeks. Our request to go back caught him by surprise. Unsure of what to do, he sought an opinion from an experienced guide. Reluctance gave way to assurance. Apparently, this was not an unusual request to the experienced guide. “Plenty of people ask to go back� he told Stuart. Our smiles grew larger and larger as we headed back through the blue double doors with Stuart in the lead.


C6 corvettes ran every eighth car. Line speed had the cars at their next station every 3-5 minutes. Timing was on our side. If we missed one C6, another one was just a few minutes behind. We watched Bill work on the C5’s when we arrived at First Start. One by one, they roared to life. Another successful C5 birth accomplished with the throaty roar of satisfaction. Natalie started to get antsy as the C6 rounded the corner. So did I. Brittany, Vanessa and Aimee, just stood around bouncing in place. Another Corvette, another start, they were becoming accustomed to this part of the tour. They showed their joy by smiling and giggling.



A quick glance from Bill had Natalie bolting to the next C6. “How do I start it?� she asked while sitting behind the wheel. “Hit the button� Bill said. One push, no roar of exhaust. Another push, still no exhaust sounds. Finally, on the third try, the C6 came to life. The engineer, Bill, Natalie, and I all sighed with a sigh of relief.
A lot of people have had the pleasure and thrill of starting a new Corvette at First start. It has become a rite of passage with my girls. Natalie has one certificate though that will mean a little more. On it read, “First person on a Public tour to start a C6�. One in a gazillion, it was hers.



“You don’t know until you ask� are words to live by in my book. Believing in that motto, Fate would smile on us again. June 25th was going to go down as a C6 day. First starting a C6 was a lucky twist of fate. C6s have been buzzing around Bowling Green since the January debut. June 25th was no different. A Daytona sunset orange coupe pulled into Wendy’s as the girls and I continued our Friday adventure. Taking a chance with my motto in mind, we literally chased the car into the parking lot. Two lovely ladies stepped out and headed inside for dinner. Trying not to look too excited, we followed. Now, I was the one hesitating. “Should I bother them or not?� my brain spoke to my heart. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, these ladies had heard every question possible about the C6. Well, good fortune opened my mouth with Krissy. She turned out to be a GM employee on Lunch break. Small talk led to the statement that sparked her interest. I spoke about how Laura, my wife and I, had the chance to climb all over C6s during Cruise In V with the Corvette forum. The one thing that had not happened was Natalie riding in a C6 when we had been around them. Krissy’s eyes sparkled when I said that. Looking at the girls sitting quietly, the parent wanting their child to have bigger, brighter, and better things in life took over. Somehow, deep inside, she understood the question I had without me asking it. She knew my desire for the girls to ride in a C6. “My name is Krissy, call me from the Front desk at the plant in 45 minutes, I will see what I can do to help make that happen�.


45 minutes later, her phone rang as the girls sat on the black leather furniture in the GM Assembly plant Front office wing. Keeping a promise, Krissy arrived about 10 minutes later. She smiled at the glittery eyed girls staring at her. “I see you brought the whole gang� she stated. “Yes Ma’am these are my girls�, I replied. Nodding to Natalie, Krissy asked if Natalie was ready to go. With an enthusiastic YES, they shot out the door to the parking lot. Brittany, Vanessa, Aimee and I walked along just to watch them leave. Natalie was then asked an honest question that I did not hear. She gave an honest answer. “Wait on the steps� Krissy said as she and Natalie walked away. I thought she did not want us to get in any trouble.



Unknown to me at the time, the surprise was going to be extended beyond my imagination. One by one, each girl climbed into the C6. One by one, I watched each of them shoot off toward destinations unknown. One by one, they came back telling their story. Each girl was given the chance to grow. Each girl was able to dream the dream. Smiling with the love that only a Father can give to a child, I was there watching them spread their wings and take flight. I even grew a little that June Friday. My hope for was for any one of them to get a ride. Asking for four girls to ride was far fetched in my mind. Natalie answered “Yes� to the question, “Do you think your sisters would like to go for a ride as well?� Krissy took it upon herself to make that happen. The lesson I had tried to teach was taught to me. Vanessa topped the event by giving proof of a lesson learned. As Vanessa stepped out of the C6, she said, “I got to go on the race track�. Jaws hit the ground. Vanessa was the only one to ask. She received the reward beyond the ride. She knew because she asked. As luck would have it, Krissy turned out to be the C6 Launch manager at the plant. On top of that, she was the mother of a Georgia Tech college student. As a mother, she would have done the same thing that I did. Ask.



Her job was important to the success of C6. Launching a new generation of America’s sports car is a daunting task to say the least. Delays, deadlines, and demands mount up faster than a Corvette can go from 0-60. Nevertheless, four little girls took a ride that will ensure the future of Corvette. The C6 launch manager just happened to be the driver fueling the Corvette Dream.






.....Monica Dean has been gracious enough to host all of the story on her website....Prayerfully, you will take the time to read the rest.....It only gets better.....
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c5/monica/story3.shtml

 

You need a collage of pics of the girls in the story...the "pit crew"

 

Awesome story Jim. You truly have a passion for the Corvette and are passing it along nicely to the next generation. Hopefully when the C8 comes along the gilrs will still have enough energy to push the rest of the SMCer's wheel chairs around the plant so we can all share in the birth of another generation of Corvette.

 

 

Just hope they remember to give their dear ole dad a ride in the beast when they buy their first one....

(don't you just love this smilie...... )