The influence of my chapter buddies.....

[Michael W.]

Hi,

I think we can all agree here on this forum that Corvettes are a true passion and that its starts to influence your life like a damm virus. To be honest I love this virus since many years and I was happy that I found some like minded people in our Dutch chapter.

However hanging out with these other maniacs whenever I get the chance starts to influence you even more....and that's dangerous. In the beginning you appreciate the critical eye of your buddies and all together we try to improve our sweet rides. But this creates the natural effect that everybody starts to improve their cars to the finest details and this results into large scale ripping appart sessions in our chapter.

I always thought I could control myself when it comes to ripping appart one of my Vettes, but I failed.....
Seeing all my buddies doing body offs started to play with my mind and my mind made me foolhardy. Last week I turned into a overconfident maniac and ripped appart my 65. Body was lifted and chassis disassembled in 2.5 days.........have I become crazy

See pics: http://www.c2registry.org/index.php?..._id=1&uid=4262

Damm this makes me wonder what would have happened if I did NOT join the NCRS and would NOT have met all these great people.....perhaps I would have been....... just kiddin.....

[Oliver B.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

I have been able to resist the same feeling (body off) for all the 16 years, I own my Corvette now (although the fever pitch rises severely every now and then, as you can see from my several recent threads).
For now, I try to come as far as possible without a "frame off"... Let's see, how far that is!?


PS: very nice picture of your car, indeed! Looking forward to see it back in action.

Take care, buddy

[Alan S.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Hi Michael,
I really enjoyed ALL your pictures and tags.
The only thing I like to look at better than a Corvette, is a Corvette body sitting next to a restored Corvette frame with restored Corvette running gear!
If you'll keep posting pictures I'll keep looking.
Regards,
Alan

[Jack H.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, Michael...

When you're done with your frame off, YOU and a handful of others in Europe now skilled in the art of a factory concours restoration will understand and have pride in the work/effort that was done.

BUT, there are MANY ways to enjoy a classic Corvette, and too soon we forget these 'other' cars are also Corvettes and deserve their own time/place in the sun! It's easy to go overboard with newly acquired knowledge and start 'putting down' the other cars. THAT'S DANGEROUS and will wind up branding those who engage in that activity 'Corvette snobs'...

[Oliver B.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

I never felt "branded" (although I very much understand, what you mean, Jack) - to me a frame off-restored Vette holds kind of the same beauty as one that is left origininal although it has been driven, or remained unrestored... (Frame offs have something like the "new car feel", while unrestored "breathe history"! )
I know, not everybody sees this as liberal as I do, but that is not my business.

[Bryan M.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Micheal,
I wish had a NCRS chapter close by for me to be involved with. I'm just an amateur that has to rely on what I read and the internet to satisfy my fever.
And as an amateur, my confidence in my abilities sometimes gets me into trouble but I march on................as Gilligan once said...I'm a lone wolf...Hooowwllll....

[Oliver B.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

So, where are YOU from?

I, too, had to wait quite a while (almost 10 years) since I got my car, till the first Chapter was founded here across the big pond.....

[Michael W.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Micheal,
I wish had a NCRS chapter close by for me to be involved with. I'm just an amateur that has to rely on what I read and the internet to satisfy my fever.

Brian,

My chapter is 2000 miles away unfortunately.... I just use my time when I am home once in a while.

[Bryan M.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Pensacola, Florida is where I call home.

[Oliver B.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

I (better my brother and I) drove through "your area" after we bought my '77 in Tampa/St.Pete and returned the rental car to Atlanta...
On our way "back south" and together now in the Vette, we had to tell each other sooo much, that we "misread" a highway-# and were pretty much astonished, when we ran into two traffic signs, one reading "You are entering Central Time Zone", the other "Welcome to Alabama"! Instead of going south, we were heading west...

So, from there we took the roads south, crossed some ever so beautiful scenery in AL and the next day came through Panama City.
This was really great, because so we also got to see the gorgeous west-coast of FL...

Man, we were having a heck of a time!
Unforgettable recollections, now that the car is over here in Germany...


btw. that's 16 1/2 years ago now.......

[Bryan M.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Home of the world's most beautiful beaches with a southern twist. If you went by the Welcome to "ALA-BAMA!" sign you had to pass the Five Flag Speedway sign Home of the "Snowball Derby". A little 1/2 mile asphalt track that used to be in the family. My pa-in-law started the Derby in 1968. That little race is still going strong. It has seen its share of top notch drivers over the years before they hit the big time.

[Oliver B.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

The scenery was just plain GREAT - fully right! (Long to get there again, someday...)
But I do not remember a racetrack, unfortunately...

[Bryan M.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

It's just one of those green interstate signs pointing you in the right exit. The track itself sits on 40 acres a few miles down the road after you get off the interstate.

[Terry M.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

I fondly remember Panama City from my military service -- and that is all I will say about that.

[Peter G.]

Re: The influence of my chapter buddies.....

Michael..

I used to hear that alot at my local Chapter too from the members, but I have a routine response of:"Body off? I thought these cars (Corvettes) came pre-assembled from the factory in St. Louis? " Plus I tell some of my "close" Chapter buddies that I know are doing "frame offs" that have been in progress for over a decade, that I have never seen your Corvette on the road?

There is NO way I would ever take any car apart because I could never put it back together again.

I do admire guys that do and can do "frame off", but I just don't have the patience and besides... I LOVE TO DRIVE THE CARS TOO MUCH.