Updated 5/8/08

Southern California & Southern Nevada

SoCal and SoNev gear-up for another Caravan

(West Covina, CA, 17 March, 2008) The SoCal/SoNev Organizing Team is well into planning the Southern California/Southern Nevada Section of the 2009 National Corvette Caravan.

With the possible exception of the caravans out of the Pacific Northwest, the SCSN Caravan is typically one of the longest sections of the National Corvette Caravan. In the past, its fleet of Vettes has departed from a location in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, generally followed Interstate 40 and taken five days for the trip to Bowling Green

The core of the Organizing Team, the so-called "Commander's Council" had it's fourth meeting on 15 March and the two most important agenda items were: 1) acquisition of four, new, major sponsors which have stepped-up with $10,000 of sponsorship money and 2) the two hotels in Ontario, California which are being considered for the SCSN Section's departure headquarters. More information about recent SCSN Caravan developments can be obtained by clicking the link to the web version of the SCSN eNewsletter.

SoCal Departure 2003
  With Capt. Hib Halverson driving the lead car, the Southern California Caravan
  rolls out of the California Speedway on June 22, 2003, headed to Bowling Green.
  The "SoCalCar," started with 180 cars and grew to over 200 as it crossed
  Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. Tentatively, we'll start from Fontana, CA on Saturday morning, 29 August 2009 headed for Kingman AZ. We'll reform north of Kingman on "Historic 66" then head for Seligman AZ and the famed "Sno-Cap" drive-in for ice cream and cool drinks. From there we'll continue to Flagstaff AZ for our first overnight. The second day, we'll leave Flag, headed for Tucumcari NM. On the way, we'll reform the Caravan in both Gallup NM and in Moriarty NM. Also, between Albuquerque NM and Moriarty we will run on some sections of Historic 66. We'll leave Moriarty NM as a Group headed for Tucumcari for our second overnight. The morning of the third day, we'll head east out of Tucumcari. We'll meet with North Texas/Oklahoma Caravan in either Adrian or Amarillo Texas that morning. From there, the route and events will be planned by Captain Tuna Dobbins' N TX/OK Caravan and Captain Jan Marshall's Arkansas Caravan.

What can Caravanners expect if they choose to join the SCSN on the 2009 National Corvette Caravan? Plenty of driving your Corvette, that's for sure. In addition, some hallmarks of past Southern California Sections will probably repeat, such as: a bon-voyage party and driver's meeting the night before departure, a racetrack departure, Feeder Caravans originating from Santa Barbara, San Diego and possibly, Las Vegas NV, the famed "SoCalCar Route Book", social events each night, perhaps an exclusive end-of-Caravan bash for SoCalCar participants in Bowling Green, freebies and goody bags and, most importantly, the camaraderie with your old Caravan pals and new friends you're going to meet.

We've been asked who should register for the SoCalCar? Please see the map on the
main Caravan page.

So, who's going to plan, organize and run this extravaganza?

"Captain" Hib Halverson
On 9/9/06, National Caravan Chair, Kathie Summers, appointed Hib Halverson, Captain of the Southern California Section of the 2009 National Corvette Caravan. Halverson was one of the two Captains of the 2003 SoCalCar and is a member of Corvette Club Santa Barbara. He owns a '71 Big-Block Coupe, a '95 ZR-1 and an '04 Z06/Z16. He resides in West Covina during the week and Goleta on weekends.

"Commander" Sherry Maples"
Maples is the SoCalCar's "CFO" and handles all registration data processing. Sherry's business, Software Liaison, is a Special Start-Up Sponsor of the '09 SoCalCar. Maples was also an '03 SoCalCar Sponsor, an '03 Participant and an alternate Lead Car Driver on occasion during the '03 event. Sherry Maples is a member of Pacific Coast Corvettes, owns a '97 Coupe and resides in Orange County.

"Commander" Ron Cohen
Cohen will oversee all the Organizing Team's efforts with hotel/motel properties along the route. Ron's business, Gorilla Travel LLC was an '03 SoCalCar Sponsor. Ron was an '03 SoCalCar participant and put the services of his company, Gorilla Travel, LLC at the disposal of all our Caravanners as the SoCalCar's travel agency. Gorilla Travel is a Special Start-Up Sponsor of the 09. Ron belongs to Red Line Corvettes, owns an '06 Convertible and lives in the West lake Village.

"Commander" Tony Megowan
Megowan is new to the SoCalCar Organizing Team and National Caravans. He heads-up the SoCalCar's critical "Route Book" project. He belongs to Corvette Club Santa Barbara, owns an '03 and lives in Ventura.

"Commander" Brent Hicks
Hicks will be involved with SoCalCar promotional and sponsorship acquisition efforts. Brent is an '09 SoCalCar Special Start-Up Sponsor, an '03 SoCalCar Sponsor and an '03 SoCalCar Participant. He's a member of the Pomona Valley Corvette Association, owns a '92 ZR-1, an '03 50th Convertible and an '07 Z06 and lives in the I.E.

"Lieutenant" Mike LoMonoco
LoMonoco a member of the SoCalCar Organizing Team and assisted in operation of the 2003 Caravan. He returns to the SoCalCar O.T. to set-up and lead a "Feeder Caravan" for cars from the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara areas. The SLO/SB Feeder will leave Santa Barbara the day before the main group leaves the Inland Empire. Mike is a member of Corvette Club Santa Barbara and owns a '77.

"Lieutenant" Jim Estoch
Estoch was a participant in the '03 trip and will plan and organize the Feeder Caravan which starts from San Diego. Jim is a member of Corvettes of Temecula Valley, lives in the City of Temecula, California and owns a pair of 2000 Convertibles one which has been rebodied as a '53 Commemorative Edition.

The Southern California/Southern Nevada Section of the 2009 National Corvette Caravan is raising money for planning, organizing and operating the event with its "Special Start-Up Sponsor" Program. These special sponsors are a group of highly supportive individuals and businesses which, in spite of the actual event being more than 18 months away, feel strongly that sponsorship of the SCSN is necessary right out of the gate.

The Southern California Caravan Organizing Team wishes to thank the following Special Start-Up Sponsors:

The SCSN Caravan Organizing Team would like to thank the following Sponsors:

The SoCalCar has an email newsletter which is issued periodically. If you would like to receive this newsletter, send a subscription request to captain.socalcar@charter.net
    Read Issue: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14


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