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Club Memories |
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August 16th
Shiocton Parade
Sean McCarry woke up early on Saturday, August 16. He had to. There was a
lot to be done. Clean up, breakfast, then wash and wax his Corvette. After
all, it was a big responsibility leading the Valley Vette entry in the
annual Shiocton parade.
The group gathered at the Wave, and when
all were present, the cars caravanned to Shiocton.
After staging on a side street, decorating the cars with flags and ribbons
supplied by the Coonens, the marshal signaled the parade to begin. Sean was
up to the task, and with support from parents and grandparents, his pace car
led the 14 others onto the streets of Shiocton. Such responsibility burns a
lot of calories, but the group was able to replenish with the free corn to
be had at the corn roast following the parade.
Like some in the group, Sean needed to leave and attend to other things.
Those remaining followed Jim and Penny’s lead over beautiful, winding roads
to Geno’s for an excellent post event dinner.
Job well done, Sean.
How about leading our group in the UWO Homecoming Parade in October? |
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August 9th
4 Hour American Le Mans race,
Elkhart Lake
The race
featured four classes of cars; LMP1, premier high-tech prototypes; LMP2,
less powerful, more agile prototypes, GT1, highly modified production based
grand touring cars; GT2, moderately modified production based grand touring
cars.
The LMP1 class was dominated by the two Audi R10 TDI diesel cars followed by
a Lola, a distant third place.
The GT1 class
was dominated by the top two "Compuware", C6R Corvettes, but one Corvette
broke a drive shaft near the end of the race and finished third. The
Aston Martin DBR9 was able to
sneak into second place after being a distant third most of the race.
The LMP2 class was a very
competitive battle between the Acura's and the Porsche's. The Acura finished
first ahead of two Penske sponsored Porsche RS Spyders.
The GT2 class
also was a hotly contested race between the Porsche's and the Ferrari's.
Although a Ferrari F430
GT led much of the race, it finished third behind two "flying lizard"
sponsored Porsche 911 GT3 RSR's.
A great race
to watch, since the four hours provided plenty of time for pit strategies
and challenges on the track for position.
Regards,
Herb |
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July 18th -20th
Vintage Race Car Events
at Elkhart Lake
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The Skovera's,
Babbitz's, Gross' & Grube's participated in the Friday Concours d’Elegance
show in downtown Elkhart Lake, followed by dinner at Sals's Elkhart Inn.
The weather was great for the cruse down to Elkhart and a large number of
great vintage race cars participated in the car show.
Of course the highlight was the parade of race cars thundering through the
streets of Elkhart Lake on their return to the Road America track.
Sal's came through again with a tasty dinner and some great refreshments.
Due to the limited signup for the Sunday races,
the Schrodt's and Grube's traveled to the track separately. The highlight of
the races for me was a big block 1965 Corvette which dominated the Group 6
Historic A/B/C production race. I wish my '65 could tear up the track like
this one!
Regards,
Herb |
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July 12th
Dinner Cruise
“Rain, rain, go away…” and it did!
Morning clouds gave way to afternoon sunshine as the contingent of Valley
Vette corvettes motored out of Neenah and headed west. As promised, our
caravan stopped at Union Star in Zittau for some of Wisconsin’s best
cheese. The journey continued into Fremont and then along the Wolf River
and around Lake Poygan. Our return trip through Wisconsin countryside was
highlighted by the sight of nesting eagles. Returning to Neenah, Mike and
Vicki Holschbach owners of Choice’s (and also a Corvette) warmly
greeted us and then treated us to a fabulous dining experience.
We capped off the day with dessert at Marty and Terry Lee’s. Even the
Garofalo’s English Cocker Sparky seemed to enjoy the camaraderie of the
group.
Special
thanks to Ron and Kathy Babbitz for organizing a great event.
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Club Meeting & Dinner June 12, 2008
Tornado warning puts us in the basement before dinner. Wasn't this
place called Tornados? |
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| Krazy Bowling
2008 |
| The men
drew partner’s names plus the lane number they would start on. Rules were
reviewed, because Bowling and Krazy Bowling may both take place indoors and
both may use those funny little balls with holes drilled in strange
locations the similarities end there. The games are now underway.
During the course of the afternoon we heard a variety of comments. Why
couldn’t I do this during Scotch Doubles instead of during the leaster. Oh
No, another gutter in the leaster (which is considered a strike) How do we
get the plunger to let go of the ball. |
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| Your Plunger is
heading down the lane with the ball. We have a ball and a plunger in the
gutter. Which one do we do now, Granny Forward throw or the opposite hand???
The Ball and the plunger just went down the ally. What Excitement! |
Everyone had a good
time and the food was great. There was a lot of laughter and shouting by all
Winners as follows:
Scotch Doubles: Herb Grube and Judy Tate.
Leaster: Gary Seig / Vi Grube
Krazy Frame; Gary Kaphingst / Carrie Skovera
Booby Prise Leaster: Jim Much / Terry Lee Garafalo
Thanks to all who attended and a special thanks to Greg Tate and Russ
Borchardt for manual score keeping.
The Krazy Bowling Committee |
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February 16, 2008
Valley Vettes Annual Steak Fry
In a short break between snow storms 42 of us gathered for another fun
Annual Steak Fry. Terry Lee put us in the right mood with neat racing theme
table decorations. Kudos to the Benders and Janos’s for getting us some of
the best steaks available, and then charcoal grilling them to perfection!
The steaks were superb guys. As usual, the assortment of tasty appetizers
and desserts club members supplied were the perfect start and end to the
meal. Gary Brandt made sure no one went thirsty of course. The Tates
recruited daughter Erin to help them cap the event with a music trivia game.
Table 7 assisted by Dick Rank’s and my memory for songs from the late 50’s
and early 60’s and a lucky guess on the release date of the tie breaker song
edged out the competition. Being lost in the 50’s and 60’s for a short while
was a lot of fun. Everyone helped break down the tables and chairs at the
end, give the floor a pass with the sweeper, and pack club stuff away till
our next event. Marty noted that we always cap our year end with a great
Christmas party and kick off the New Year with a great steak fry, and he is
so right. With such a great start, our 2008 event year will only get better.
Ivan |
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November
30, 2007
New London Veteran’s Parade
With extremely short notice, eight Valley Vettes members
brought their cars to
New London
to participate in a Parade honoring our Military Veterans. Caydoe Lamphar,
an Air Force Veteran of
4 tours in Iraq, contacted us via our WEB site and asked if there
was any possibility of adding a few of our cars to the parade with each
taking one of the nearly 100 Vets from the Fox Valley
participating, as a
passenger. We all met by the Chamber of Commerce on Cook Street, kept our
engines running, put our tops down and each transported one Veteran in a
fantastic parade down the main street of New London in front of a standing
room only crowd. Caydoe rode with me and made the comment as we were
driving that it
was so fitting that “a line of Vettes transported a group of Vets in a
parade honoring the commitment these folks make for
our country”. Oh, and the
temperature at the time was 15o F.
I sincerely would like to thank the families of Tom Alberts, Steve Bender,
Randy McCarry, Rob McCarry, Craig McCarry, Joe Quaintance and Dick Rank
for taking their cars out on such short notice and in such harsh
conditions. At least the roads were dry and the sky was full of stars.
Just one more reason for my being a member of this classy organization.
Thank You,
Marty
Garofalo |
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Aug
18
EVS Car
Show - Random
Lake
Bob Driessen led a caravan
from
Shenanigan’s in Sherwood.
EVS was
expecting around 600 but saw fewer this
year due to rain threats. I understand several
members were spotted looking at new
Corvettes to add to their stable. We will wait
to hear how it turned out at the next meeting.
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Aug
17
Timber
Rattlers
Ten of us
arrived at the Wave around 5:30 pm. And preceded to the stadium for
dinner drinks, laughter and what was that oh ya a ball game. This included
four Vettes and one tin car again. We each had snake dollars with our
ticket which we got to use on anything in the stadium, food, beer, soda,
hats. We had great box seats behind the dugout. We almost caught a
t-shirt, sausage, and a foul ball. The
T-rats won the game 3-2, and then we enjoyed a great fire work show after
the game. This event included
four Vettes and on tin car again. I think this is a great way to spend a
day hope some one takes over setting up the game for next year.
Thanks to Marge and Frank Seis |
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August
11
Classic Car Cruise for Cancer
This was the on again off again
event. Several members Gathered at Advanced Auto in
Neenah
for coffee and donuts. We headed off to Suamico to meet up with the
Heavenly Hats Cruise. From Suamico we were off to Lambo Field and
Curly’s Pub. Several prizes were drawn and the cruise continued to the
next stop. We however decided to round up the troops and head to Shiocton
for some fresh corn and conversation.
I learned a few things during this event with the most important
being. When you’re among friends it really does not matter what you’re
doing you’re going to have fun. Thanks all who attended you made this a
wonderful day. |
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WVBO Cruise - The
Ave Show
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Aug
9th
Club
meeting at Jennerjohn Park
The
food was great and the company
outstanding. This little park in Greenville
sprung to life with a wide Varity of corvettes. There were cars from
every generation in attendance not to mention several generations of
owners too!
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AUG
4 & 5
Wisconsin
Rapids Car Show
Our annual cruise to Wisconsin
Rapid car show and cruise was again hosted by Sue Meyer and Frank
Seis. Sue led a group of 10 Valley Vettes and 10 Fox Vettes from
Appleton to the “Crossing” restaurant by Waupaca where we all
enjoyed a great lunch. Frank and Marge then led the group to Wisconsin
Rapids. After checking in at the “Sleep Inn Motel” and a short rest
we met outside the motel to leave for the high school for the cruise.
The area residents line the streets and wave; the children
especially liked the candy that some cruisers threw to them. After the
cruise the Valley Vettes members went to the “Branding Iron “for
dinner. Then back to the motel for some great socializing in the pool
and spa. Sunday after breakfast it off to the car show, what a cordial
welcome they (Corvettes of the North) extend to us every year. This year
we had two winners, Gary Brandt and Jerry Altenhofen, both went home
with trophies.
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May 12-13
Cruise and Medieval Dinner
A caravan of 15 Corvettes departed the Kohl’s Parking Lot in
Neenah
around 9:30 AM for
Schuamburg,
IL. Our first stop was the Cottonpicker Restaurant in
Burlington
for a much
needed stop, lunch and some liquid refreshment. This phase of
the trip was mostly uneventful and
went through some pretty countryside.
Following lunch, the caravan departed for points South on
the more complex
part of the Journey. The route took us through such locations as
Paddock
Lake,
Silver
Lake,
Antioch
(where things got dicey), Fox
Lake,
Round
Lake,Wauconda,
Barrington
,
Barrington Hills, Inverness and finally
Schaumburg
. A few cars were temporarily lost in
Barrington, but thanks to walkie talkies and cell phones, we were able to help the
wayward cars
rejoin the caravan. Everyone made it to the County Inn within
10 minutes of the first arrival.
The group then unpacked, unwound and
enjoyed a happy hour before dinner. Next came the trip
to Medieval Times
and the dinner. There aren’t words to describe it, you just had to be
there.
Suffice it to say, the group learned a new appreciation for eating
utensils. After a nearly 3 hour
show, we all returned to the Hotel for a
little more partying and then to never never land.
The hotel provided a
complimentary breakfast buffet that was fabulous and then the group headed
home and other points on the map. Some even found time to visit Woodfield
Mall.
They may still be there!! This would really be a cruise worth
repeating.
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Rawhide Fish Fry
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March 31
Jerry
and May Coenen’s Wedding reception
Congratulations to the newly weds. I was unable
to attend this event
but good things were shared buy the members who did attended.
Jerry and Mary Thanked the Club with a nice letter |
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March
25th
KRAZY
BOWLING
The men drew their partner’s names plus the lane
number they would start on.
Rules were gone over. You do not need to know how to bowl in
order to do our Krazy Bowling. This
is the first year that Wilson T N T lanes had computerized bowing.
The games are now under way. During
the course of the afternoon we heard a variety of comments.
Why couldn’t I do this during the Scotch Doubles instead of
during the leaster. Oh no,
another gutter that makes 4 in a roll.
How do we get the plunger to let the ball go?
We have a ball in the gutter. Please
retrieve. Which one do we do
now, Granny Forward throw or the opposite hand? Oh no, another strike.
This is not good if you’re going for a leaster.
Slow, slow, slow ball – how many pins will fall?
Everyone had a good time and the food was good.
Lots of laughter, hooting, encouragement and shouting.
The winners are as follows:
SCOTCH DOUBLES - Herb
Grube and Lyn Kaphingst. For
the LEASTER – Tom Varago for the men and Vi Grube for the women had the
lowest scores. KRAZY FRAME
- Winner for the men –Steve Bender and for the women Jean Brandt.
Booby Prize from the Leaster game - for men Gary Brandt and for the
women Penny Much had the highest scores in the leaster game.
Thanks to everyone who attended and a special thanks to Greg Tate and
Marty Garofalo for keeping scores for the leaster game.
Krazy Bowling Committee |
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Feb
10th
Annual
Steak Fry
Valley Vettes held their Annual Steak Fry on Saturday,
February 10th at the Whiting Boat
House in
Neenah
. Forty-five hungry steak
lovers gathered to enjoy their steaks and a good time with friends.
Steaks were cooked to perfection by Rick Janos, David Lerlie and Steve
Bender. Additional help was provided by Mike Janos and Mary Ellen
Lerlie. The only complaints were that people ate too much. Thanks to
everyone who supplied the delicious hors d’ oeuvres and desserts
.
Greg and Judy Tate entertained everyone after dinner with a look back on
commercials from the past that had catchy slogans many could remember
or relate to. Thanks to Greg and Judy Tate for an amusing time and a
trip down memory lane.
Submitted by Sandy Bender
(Editor’s Note: Please give our hosts a nice hand for a job very well
done. I
for one had a very good time with our large Corvette Family and look
forward
to attending again next year.) |
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Feb 9th
Affair of the Heart Dance &
Raffle to Benefit Spina Bifida
14 club members showed up for the Fish Fry at the Darboy Club.
Everyone seemed
to get their fill. We meet up with more members who could not make
the fish fry beforehand.
Again a big thanks goes out to Russ Borchart for selling $300.00 worth of
tickets and the donations from Menasha Corp. Frank and Marge Seis for
selling $ 75.00 worth of tickets. Herg
Grube for ticket sales and 9 gift certificates. Rank
family for 14 gift certificates, a couple of door prizes and $ 435.00 in
Donations. Valley Vettes for
$300.00 donation.
Several club members went home with door prizes and Frank sold a winning
ticket
December 16, 2006 Christmas Party:
The Club Christmas dinner was well attended
with 25 couples, raising over $300 for Salvation Army through the silent
auction, on top of a full truck of Toys for Tots. Sue
at the Wave did a super job for us again this year, and the decorations
and food the Wave delivered were outstanding. The second annual dessert
exchange was popular with all the dessert makers taking home a new dessert
to sample and the recipe for their new dessert. To help whoever leads this
event next year, we have reserved a room at the Wave for Saturday,
December 15 2007. Russ
again came up with a winning ticket this year worth $100.00.
The total amount that Valley Vettes members and families were able to
raise for
Spina Bifida was $75.00 in merchandise, $190.00 in gift certificates,
$1130.00
in cash donations and ticket sales for a total of around $1,400.00.
Thank you, Dick & Carol |
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December 9, 2006
Bell Ringers
Eighteen jolly elves gathered at Shopko in Menasha on
Saturday, December 9 to help ring bells for Salvation Army. Although not planned, the men handled one entrance while the ladies took
care of the other entrance. While
the ladies entertained shoppers by singing Christmas carols, the men entertained
themselves by modifying the Salvation Army bell so it would go from 0 to 60
decibels in 20 seconds. Go figure!
After the shift of bell ringing, everyone gathered at BJ Clancy’s
for
lunch and to share good joy with great friends.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE FROM THE BENDERS |
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October 21, 2006
Door County Color Cruise
A small, but determined group of Club members made the journey to Door County on Saturday, October 21st. The group consisted of two
Corvettes and six tin cars. Taking into consideration the lousy weather forecast, I certainly
understand that many did not want to risk damage to their fine
Corvettes. Fortunately, the weather professionals utilized their usual method (SWAG) to prepare their forecasts. The day on Saturday
provided dry conditions, with some sun, nice roads, great color and as
hopping experience for the ladies at the Top of the Hill Shops, in Fish Creek. Most left there with more property, and less money, than
they came with.
Good food came from lunch at the Viking Grill, in Ellison Bay and a Fish Boil at the Moravian Church. My Men’s Fellowship appreciates
having us attend, adding to the assistance
we give to the Church.
It did start raining Saturday evening, adding to the concern for Sunday’s forecast. After discussing the situation, it was decided
that all would go their own way in the morning. Unfortunately, for
the group, Sunday turned out to be a nicer day, weather wise, than Saturday. We’ll have to take the cruise I planned for that morning,
next year.
I want to thank Steve and Sandy Bender for leading the group to Door County and my very good friend, Gary DeNamur, for riding with me and
assisting with the navigation.
My apologies to the group for experiencing a Senior moment when missing a turn after leaving Fish Creek, causing us to make a U-turn
in the roadway. Although I believe a good time was had by all, next year this event will be different. Time of year and weather will be
given much more consideration. Although camaraderie is by far the most important thing, I would like to lead a
sizeable string of Corvettes through Door County. Respectfully Submitted
Dayne
Smith |
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October
4
Eureka
Springs
We left
Neenah
at 9:30 a.m. and arrived in
Litchfield
,
IL
at 4:30 p.m. Jim did not run out of gas, however Marty did lock his car keys in
the trunk and the other set in the car. I guess we just need extra excitement.
Thursday Frank and Marge joined us at
Lebanon
,
MO
as we continued our journey. As we took the scenic roads into Eureka
Springs,
people were practicing (like coasting down hills) for the fuel economy run.
There was some bridge construction and we seemed to be going the wrong direction
for the lights, or someone really doesn’t like Vettes. After checking into the
hotel some of the women went downtown on the trolley while the guys washed the
cars. Ron and Dale went to the tech seminars while the rest of us met at the
Balcony Bar where Terry Lee showed off her clothes changing ability (and her new
dress) and I showed off my new hair. We had supper at DeVito’s and went to
rest for the fuel economy run day.
The practice must have paid off since Dale
placed in his division and Jim won in ours (his navigator only quit twice). Some
of the group did their own cruise which I understand was great. Saturday the
Alberts and Driesens set up an early morning cruise with great scenery, a
swinging bridge, photo ops and an idiot truck driver. After that it was the car
show and awards. The Seis and Skoveras went on the poker run. We met on the deck
for pizzas and Dale hooked his video cam into a TV so we could watch some of the
event and some of the Lobsterfest. Then it was time for goodbyes. I want
to
thank everyone who went because it’s the group that makes it fun and as you
can tell from this article, I had a lot of help.
I especially want to thank the
Garofalo’s for the work they did as co-chairmen. Penny Much
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October
13
The Corvette group went with 8 cars (16 people) to dine at the Freemont Cafe.
The Food and Company was great. The Allens lead the group on a Moon light
tour to the Haunted Hollow.
It was a great ride and a great SCARE!!
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October 14
Homecoming Parade UW-Oshkosh
This was
a classic fall morning – cool temperatures with sunny, clear blue skies.
Six Corvettes from our club gathered on the campus of UWO at the request of the
alumni association to help marshal in dignitaries to their homecoming activities. The Valley Vetters could hardly be prepared for the
enthusiastic crowds that lined the streets. Check out the cars at staging.
Is that a prototype Vette in the background or possibly the arrival of Ivan and Mary’s long anticipated new car?
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