Corvettes at Carlisle

Driving an old Corvette to Corvettes at Carlisle

The 3rd weekend of August is set aside each year for my younger son, Bill (16 yrs. old) and myself to jump in our trusty ‘58 Vette and drive up to Corvettes at Carlisle. This year was special; being it was the ‘58’s 50th anniversary. If you registered a ‘58 you received  an extra gift bag containing a commemorative bottle of wine, among other things.

Carlisle, PA is a nice 4 hour ride from Richmond area. Once there, we  met up with my older son, Shaun, who drove up in his ‘91 Vette, and our good friends Travis and Dianne, who drove up in their ‘80 Vette. My ‘58 kinda has a way of pissing off a lot of purist Vette people, with its rock chips, wrong wheels, non matching motor, trans, steering wheel off an Austin Healey, etc.  But this year, it seemed  different. I met a lot of people who were driving their cars. Older Vettes from the 50’s and 60’s altered in ways to make them safer and more comfortable.

Big John & son, Billy, in his ‘58  Vette celebrating her “Big Five-O” this year.

Considerable distances were traveled, such as Illinois, North Carolina and New Jersey. There seemed to a lot of 70’s though 90’s being driven this year also. Now this could be a sign of the times that gas for a truck and trailer are getting too expensive, but I prefer to be optimistic and think that maybe ... just maybe ... people are realizing that these cars were made to drive. I understand the “it’s an investment” syndrome, but how do you put a $ value on the fun and good times gained in traveling in  these great works of Detroit, let alone the people you meet along the  way.

Big John’s oldest son, Shaun, crusin to Carlisle in his 1991 Vette. Continues