SCSN Caravan 09 eNews

No. 31 - 7/5/09

>>>TOP STORY<<<

>>NEW eNEWS SUBSCRIBERS<<

If you're reading the Southern California/Southern Nevada Caravan eNews for the first time and you're wondering why you never got the first 30 issues, well...you're one of the Caravaners who have registered for the SoCal/SoNev Section of the National Caravan but did not sign-up for our eNews at the time you registered with the Museum.

First, if you don't want to get this eNews, please reply with "unsubscribe" in the body field and we'll take you off the list right away.

Second, if you want to stay on the eNews list but are wondering how you can read the previous 30 issues, go to our web page at http://www.corvettecaravan.com/ca-southern/ , scroll to the bottom and click on the link to the back issue you want to read.

Also, if you're new to the eNews, please read the article on hotel booking later in this issue.

>>GOODYEAR INCREASES SPONSORSHIP<<

In a joint announcement last week, "Tuna" and Susan Dobbins, Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle Section Captains; Linda Marshal. Central Texas Section Captain; Hib Halverson, SoCal/SoNev Section Captain and Bob Toth, Brand Marketing Manager for Auto Tires at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. announced additional support of those three Caravan Sections in the form of sponsorship of the "Goodyear Third Night Banquet" at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Oklahoma City on the night of 31 August.

"I know I speak for Tuna, Susan and Linda when I say that all three of we Captains appreciate Goodyear's support of the 2009 National Corvette Caravan," Captain Halverson tells the eNews. "Goodyear has been a major sponsor of the SoCal/SoNev Section both for this Caravan and for the 50th Anniversary trip back in '03. It makes perfect sense that Goodyear would step up its support by sponsoring the dinner in OKC because 1) the vast majority of Corvettes have come with Goodyear tires on them and 2) Goodyear is 'local' in Oklahoma City with the plant that makes some of Goodyear's high-performance tires just southwest of OKC in Lawton.

>>>OTHER NEWS<<<

>>BOOK ROOMS NOW!<<

There is a chance that some of the newest subscribers to the SoCal/SoNev Caravan eNews HAVE NOT booked hotel rooms in the cities at which we will overnight during the rip. If you haven't booked rooms DO IT NOW!

The Southern California/Southern Nevada Sections official travel services provider, Gorilla Travel, is ready to take your reservations.

If you want to reserve rooms, at a discounted price, through Gorilla Travel, follow these instructions:

First...please remember, and tell any of your Caravaner friends to remember that, if you're registered for the Caravan you're not automatically booked for rooms.

The Gorilla Travel Network is booking rooms for the Southern California/Southern Nevada, Texas Panhandle/Oklahoma, Central Texas and Arkansas/West Tennessee Sections of the 2009 National Corvette Caravan.

The contact person at Gorilla Travel is Ron Cohen. The best way to contact Gorilla Travel is by email to 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.

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, 22 May, 2009. Cancellations *after* that date *may* be subject to charge depending 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; your card will be charged.

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.

All rooms are non-smoking.

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. 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.

If you're registered for the Caravan but you haven't booked rooms...DO IT SOON.

&>>ROUTE BOOK PROJECT NEARING COMPLETION <<

The "Route Book", presented by the California Delivery Service, is just about ready to go to press. Route Book Publisher, Hib Halverson, told the eNews last week, "Managing Editor, Tony Megowan and his staff of volunteers have done a great job of pulling the Book together in the last six weeks of production. Megowan has been working on the Route Book Project for about a year, but typical of publications like this, there's always a crash program to get the book to print. Tony and his people along with all the Captains from the other Sections who proofread the book last week have all worked together to get this job done."

"The Route Book, presented by CDS" which contains maps and route instructions for the trip, will be distributed by each of the four Caravan Sections at their starting points. The Caravaners from Southern California will get the Book at the "Pomona Valley Corvette Association's Departure Night Soiree" at the Ontario Marriott the night before the event. It has not been determined how Southern Nevada Caravaners, who will join us at the Caravan Reform in Kingman AZ, or how some other Caravaners who will join us in Barstow CA and Flagstaff AZ, will relieve their books but the SoCal/SoNev Organizing Team is working on an answer to that question.

There has been some discussion amongst the SoCal/SoNev Organizing Team about putting the book on the SCSN web page for download but no decision has been made.

>>BOWING GREEN SCSN-ONLY "PARTY" CANCELLED<<

Way back in eNews #11, issued in November of 2007, we announced that plans for a SoCal/SoNev-only party in Bowling Green the night we arrive. Well...that gig, unfortunately, has been canceled. "The party at Auto Masters in Bowling Green was my idea," Section Captain Halverson told the eNews staff, "but now, a year and a half later, the route the SCSN, OK/TXPanhandle, CenTX and AR/W-TN Group will take and the schedule on which the four Captains have agreed, pretty much ruled-out having that party because of the Caravan's 6:00 PM planned arrival at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. By the time we get through with the arrival event at the Museum and after a long day on the road, I thought we were unlikely to draw many people to a party. So, I canceled the event."

>>CARAVAN PREP and PACKING REMINDER E<<

The SoCal/SoNev Caravan Organizing Team reminds everyone going on the 2009 National Corvette Caravan that, unlike 2003's trip, we will make this one in the hottest part of the summer. Weather on the trip will be hot, hot, hot. In fact, on the first day we'll see temperatures over 100, perhaps approaching 110.

All Caravaners need to make sure that their cars' cooling systems, air conditioning systems and tires are in good condition. Do not try and save money by avoiding service of those parts of your cars before this trip.

Also, when you pack make sure you bring some water to drink each day. Bring sunscreen, light-colored clothing and a hat.

Thanks for reading,
The SoCal/SoNev Caravan Organizing Team

Caravan info: email to captain.socalcar@charter.net

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