SCSN Caravan 09 eNews

No. 26 - 4/7/09

>>>TOP STORY<<<

>>California Delivery Service Sponsors the Route Book<<

(Fontana, CA) In a joint announcement today, Duane Stidham, President of California Delivery Service, Inc. and Hib Halverson, Captain of the Southern California/Southern Nevada Section of the 2009 National Corvette Caravan, said that Stidham's company will sponsor the Section's "Route Book". This collection of route instructions, maps, articles and advertisements will be used by all Caravaners from the SoCal/SoNev, TX Panhandle/OK, Central TX and AR/West TN Sections during their five-day trip across the country. The book has been renamed the "California Delivery Service Route Book".

"Our family has 'history' with the Corvette that goes back to the early 60's, Stidham said. "Our daughter Joanna and Son in-law Derek share our interest. Joanna joined Pomona Valley Corvette Association when she turned 16. We appreciate the opportunity that the SCSN Organizing Team has afforded to us to sponsor the Route Book, after all....California Delivery Service, Inc. is a logistics company."

"I'm glad to welcome California Delivery Service as the title sponsor of the Route Book which is the guide to our event as well as its 'legacy.'" Capt. Halverson told the eNews. "Not only will SoCal use it, but so will three other Caravans. After the event is over, it will be a keepsake, treasured by many who go on the '09 trip. The Stidhams are already heavily involved with our event. Duane ran our departure day staging operation in '03. His Wife. Elora. has organized our departure event the night before we leave for both this year and the '03 trip. We're grateful that they decided to increase their support."

California Delivery Service, Inc. a trucking business headquartered in Fontana, is a full truckload carrier which hauls general commodities throughout the seven Western States.

>>Flowmaster Returns as a SoCal Sponsor<<

Flowmaster, "The Exhaust Technology Company" has become a sponsor of the SoCal/SoNev Section of the 2009 Caravan. The Santa Rosa, California company is a leader in aftermarket, high-performance exhaust parts for Corvettes and other cars and light trucks. It was a Caravan Section sponsor in 2003 and its cat-back exhaust was selected for use on the 2003 SoCal/SoNev Lead Car. Flowmaster makes cat-back exhausts for C4s, 5 and 6es along with mufflers for older Corvettes. Information on Flowmaster products for Corvettes can be found on the web at: http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/

"I have used Flowmaster mufflers and exhaust systems for over 20 years." Section Captain Halverson says. "I have them on every car I own which has an aftermarket exhaust system. The Flowmaster people helped us out in 2003 and, once again, in-spite of a tough economy that's hammering the automotive aftermarket, they're stepping-up, again. That's the sign of a company which really appreciates its customers."

>>Tire Raffle 5 Ends<<

The fifth of our Goodyear Tire Raffles ended on 5 April. Don Slauson of Orange County was the winner. Don and his Wife own a 2003 50th Convertible. Don is President of Orange County Vettes.

Your Caravan Organizing Team appreciates the support of all the Cravaners who've participated in our Goodyear Tire raffles to date. The money helps us organize and stage our event. Anything left after the Caravan ends will be donated to the National Corvette Museum.

Also, thanks to Goodyear, the last great American tire company, for its support of the Southern California/Southern Nevada Caravan Section.

The next Goodyear Tire raffle will be announced in May.

>>Book, Book, Book Those Rooms!<<

Two weeks ago, at the Q209 meeting of the Section Organizing Team's "Commander's Council," our hotel booking specialist, "Commander" Ron Cohen told the group that an inordinate amount of people who are registered for the Southern California/Southern Nevada Section are not booked into any hotel rooms.

>If you're registered for the Carvan but don't have rooms...NOW is the time to book them.<

Cohen says that hotel rooms for the following dates and locations will be available: 28 Aug 2009--Ontario CA, 29 Aug.--Flagstaff AZ, 30 Aug.--Tucumcari NM, 31 Aug.--Oklahoma City OK, 1 Sept.--Little Rock Arkansas and 2-5 Sept.--either Nashville TN or Bowling Green KY.

There are two ways to contact the Gorilla Travel Network to make bookings. The best way is by emailing Ron at gorillatravel@aol.com

In your email please supply the following information:

Your name and contact info including phone number and email address
Number of rooms desired
Cities in which you want to book rooms
Dates on which you want to book rooms
Number of people in each room
Special requests (handicap, Internet connection, etc.)
Credit card number and expiration date
Caravan Section and Corvette Club affiliation

The alternative method of contact is to call Gorilla Travel Network at 888-811-APES (2737), however, expect telephone bookings to take longer.

2) The SCSN Organizing Team has rooms blocked in all cities in which we will overnight. We will book rooms for all caravanners of the Southern California/Southern Nevada, North Texas/Oklahoma and Arkansas/West Tennessee Sections.

3) No credit cards will be charged at the time the reservations are made. When you give Ron Cohen your credit card number that simply guarantees the room. Your card will be charged only when you check out or if you cancel after the deadline set forth in the following cancellation policy...PLEASE READ: The last day to cancel any hotel reservation made by Gorilla Travel Network for the 2009 Corvette Caravan without possible charge is Friday, May 22, 2009. Hotel reservation cancellations after that date *may* be subject to charge to the credit car given to guarantee the reservation. Whether the card gets charged will depend on the hotel's ability to resell the canceled room. if it can be resold; there will not be a charge. If it can't be resold; the guaranteeing card will be charged.

4) All beds will be single Kings or Queens. Alternatives (two twins, two Queens, rollaway, etc.) may be available, but you MUST request them in your email to Ron Cohen.

5) All rooms are non-smoking.

6) The Nashville property will be the Opryland Hotel.

7) If your email to Gorilla Travel has all the correct info, you'll get back from Ron Cohen, an email acknowledging the receipt of your information along with confirmation that you have a room. What you won't get is an assignment to a specific physical room in a hotel or motel. You will get that at a later date, probably late Spring. The reason we're holding off on assigning specific rooms is we don't yet know how many Caravaners we will have and to assign physical rooms we need to have a better understanding of that than we do now.

>>Gotta Shotgun...Sign 'em Up!<<

"Commander" Sherry Maples, the Organizing Team's registrar reports that there are many more "singles" listed for '09 than there was at same time before the '03 event. Maples tell the eNews that this leads her to believe that some may have registered for the Caravan but did not understand that registration is per person not per car.

If you're registered for the Caravan but whomever is riding shotgun with you is not, both of you must be registered for the trip. If you need to register another person, go to the caravan's registration page at http://www.corvettemuseum.com/registration/caravan/registration.shtml then follow the instructions until you see a link that says "Update Registrant Information", then click that link.

Best Regards,
The SoCal/SoNev Caravan Orgnizing Team

Going on the Caravan?
Don't go braless!

Even new cars with less than 1,000 miles have paint blemishes from normal driving. Imagine what a cross-country trip will do to YOUR paint.

The solution? A "Clear Bra".

It functions like a traditional auto bra but is far more durable and cannot be seen. It will NOT scratch your Corvette's finish like most "strap-on" auto bras. This 3M Paint and Headlight Protection lasts for the life of your Vette. SCSN Capt. Hib Halverson used a 3M Clear Bra on the 2003 National Corvette Caravan and endorses it as the best way to avoid damage to the front of your car.

Professional installations by the 3M factory-trained Installer in California most experienced with Corvettes: Envisage Design Labs. Call (310) 613-4691 or email Envisage at: envisagedesignlabs@yahoo.com

To SoCalCar Home Page

Hib Halverson
captain.socalcar@charter.net