Hi all,
Well I am so excited to write that after nearly a year and a half I have finally been able to meet the original owner of my 1964 Roadster. My quest began the winter of 2008 and was capped off with a visit this past weekend while traveling home from St. Charles, IL. I planned to meet with the first owner Mr. Gene Milhoan around lunch time yesterday and we arrived just about on time and he was standing outside his place of business with camera in hand and a grin the size of NYC. He was as excited to see the car as I was to see him. We parked our truck and trailer in his office parking lot and opened the trailer door and you would have thought it was Christmas time. He couldn't stop smiling and saying how much he has been waiting for this moment. This was his first car purchase when he was 21 years old and the flood of memories began to flow he said. As we unloaded the car from the trailer many of the local downtown folks gathered around and were nearly as excited as he was. Mr. Milhoan is a architect by trade but runs a local church in his office which is located in downtown Columbus, OH and these were many of his church members. Once the car was off the trailer and he hoped right in and asked if he could take her for a quick spin. Naturally I could not resist and he pulled out of the lot and took off by himself full throttle. He was ripping through those gears as if he were 21 years old again. Quickly he was out of sight and then he suddenly reappeared as he came flying around the next corner like Chuck Yeager chasing a ME-109. He wiped it into the parking lot and we were both smiling. When he hoped out you could see the tears roling down his face. This was a part of his past that was so far off but now it was upon him again. It was fantastic seeing him enjoying himself. Well we talked for a few minutes and he suggested we head to the site of his parents home where he was living when he bought the car to meet with his nephew who lives there now. I couldn't resist because the address of the home is what is written in my warranty book...554 Loveman Avenue. Mr. Milhoan hoped into his 2006 C6 and I followed behind him for the 10 mile or so drive. The weather was perfect and he headed quickly for the interstate. Knowing him and myself I quickly tried to outrun him but his new car was to much for me but I gave him a run for his money anyway. We finally arrived at his nephews address and met with him and his family. While there Mr. Milhoan told me all about the car and why he ordered this particular one and about the other Vettes he has owned. His nephew Dustin currently owns the 1984 that Mr. Milhoan had had bought new and he pulled it out of the garage for a reunion shot of all three cars. Wow. I was thrilled. After an hour or so he suggested we head to the site of the original dealership which is now a ice cream store. Mr. Milhoan and I took my car which he drove by the way and his nephew and my buddy David took his. Dustin was the designated photographer. We drove all around and Mr. Milhoan told me so many neat stories about when he owned the car and what it truly meant to him as a young person. When we arrived at the ice cream parlor it was very busy but we were able to pull right out front and take some great pictures. Seeing the building was way to cool for me. All of the local residents were extremely excited to see the car and hear the reunion story as well. We went inside and had some ice cream while waiting for Mr. Milhoan's wife to arrive. When she finally did it was something else. She was almost as excited to see the car as he was. She walked in with a bag full of goodies she found relating to my car and boy was it exciting. One of the neat items was the original dealership key tag they had kept. It was a simple white tag with lots of info on both sides. I started looking at it and all of my car's info was on it from the Vin number to engine and rear end code. Way to cool. I will post a picture of it for all to see. He also gave me the original license plate tag he used in 1965. He said he actually picked out the numbers to be used. After a visit with his wife inside we went outside to take several pictures of he and his wife in the car sitting in what used to be the sales lot and service bay area. The location now is a combination of small shops. Beautiful location in Worthington, OH. We finally wrapped up the picture taking and Mr. Milhoan and I decided to go for another drive around Worthington. He wanted to show me all the areas where he lived and worked and more importantly drove the car originally. What a thrill for me. Finally we arrived back at his nephews home and joined he and his family for a cool drink outside while we all listened to Mr. Milhoan talk about the old girl. Around 6 pm I informed Mr. Milhoan that I and my driving partner David needed to begin our journey back to NC. He asked to drive the old girl one more time back to his office and I could not resist now having the opportunity to drive his C6 and he drive my car. We took the back roads to interstate and boy you should have seen him drive that car. I gave him plenty of room on the on ramp and when the coast was clear I hit the gas on that beast of his and man she took off up that ramp. When I got to the top..guess what he was already wide open on the interstate headed downtown. He was weaving in and out of traffic as if he was the only one on the road and for a moment in time he probably was. I did the best I could to keep up with him and knowing that I could catch him I let him run my 64 as hard as he wanted. I pulled along side of him and revved the gas one time and he looked over with a grin on his face that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Truly a Kodak moment. Well we made it back at his office and got her all loaded up for the journey home. Mr. Milhoan and I talked for a short while and I thanked him over and over again for allowing me to come and visit. I had him autograph my glove box door for future generations to see. It was truly fitting and he enjoyed doing it. We plan to reunite again really soon.
I wish everyone could experience this time capsule of a meeting. Even though it was nearly 41 years ago since he last drove the car he said it was if he hoped out of her yesterday. Oh what a feeling to own a Corvette.
I hope all of you enjoy reading this because it was truly a thrill for me. My next quest will be to head to Augusta, GA to meet with the second owner. He sold the car in 1986. Should be fun as well.
Cheers,
Craig Willetts
1964 Roaster
40867S121160
Taken in front of original site of Mahlon Maxton Chevrolet which is now a local ice cream parlor.
Group photo of three of his original Corvettes. WOW
Mr. and Mrs. Milhoan sitting in the car in the area where the service bay was located. Beautiful setting and great location.
Mr. Milhoan seeing the 64 for the first time since 1968 or so.
Mr. Milhoan and his 2006 C6
Mr. Milhoan about to drive my 64 for the fist time since 1968...He's ready for blast off.
Mr. Milhoan standing in front of parents original home....554 Loveman Avenue, Worthington, OH
Well I am so excited to write that after nearly a year and a half I have finally been able to meet the original owner of my 1964 Roadster. My quest began the winter of 2008 and was capped off with a visit this past weekend while traveling home from St. Charles, IL. I planned to meet with the first owner Mr. Gene Milhoan around lunch time yesterday and we arrived just about on time and he was standing outside his place of business with camera in hand and a grin the size of NYC. He was as excited to see the car as I was to see him. We parked our truck and trailer in his office parking lot and opened the trailer door and you would have thought it was Christmas time. He couldn't stop smiling and saying how much he has been waiting for this moment. This was his first car purchase when he was 21 years old and the flood of memories began to flow he said. As we unloaded the car from the trailer many of the local downtown folks gathered around and were nearly as excited as he was. Mr. Milhoan is a architect by trade but runs a local church in his office which is located in downtown Columbus, OH and these were many of his church members. Once the car was off the trailer and he hoped right in and asked if he could take her for a quick spin. Naturally I could not resist and he pulled out of the lot and took off by himself full throttle. He was ripping through those gears as if he were 21 years old again. Quickly he was out of sight and then he suddenly reappeared as he came flying around the next corner like Chuck Yeager chasing a ME-109. He wiped it into the parking lot and we were both smiling. When he hoped out you could see the tears roling down his face. This was a part of his past that was so far off but now it was upon him again. It was fantastic seeing him enjoying himself. Well we talked for a few minutes and he suggested we head to the site of his parents home where he was living when he bought the car to meet with his nephew who lives there now. I couldn't resist because the address of the home is what is written in my warranty book...554 Loveman Avenue. Mr. Milhoan hoped into his 2006 C6 and I followed behind him for the 10 mile or so drive. The weather was perfect and he headed quickly for the interstate. Knowing him and myself I quickly tried to outrun him but his new car was to much for me but I gave him a run for his money anyway. We finally arrived at his nephews address and met with him and his family. While there Mr. Milhoan told me all about the car and why he ordered this particular one and about the other Vettes he has owned. His nephew Dustin currently owns the 1984 that Mr. Milhoan had had bought new and he pulled it out of the garage for a reunion shot of all three cars. Wow. I was thrilled. After an hour or so he suggested we head to the site of the original dealership which is now a ice cream store. Mr. Milhoan and I took my car which he drove by the way and his nephew and my buddy David took his. Dustin was the designated photographer. We drove all around and Mr. Milhoan told me so many neat stories about when he owned the car and what it truly meant to him as a young person. When we arrived at the ice cream parlor it was very busy but we were able to pull right out front and take some great pictures. Seeing the building was way to cool for me. All of the local residents were extremely excited to see the car and hear the reunion story as well. We went inside and had some ice cream while waiting for Mr. Milhoan's wife to arrive. When she finally did it was something else. She was almost as excited to see the car as he was. She walked in with a bag full of goodies she found relating to my car and boy was it exciting. One of the neat items was the original dealership key tag they had kept. It was a simple white tag with lots of info on both sides. I started looking at it and all of my car's info was on it from the Vin number to engine and rear end code. Way to cool. I will post a picture of it for all to see. He also gave me the original license plate tag he used in 1965. He said he actually picked out the numbers to be used. After a visit with his wife inside we went outside to take several pictures of he and his wife in the car sitting in what used to be the sales lot and service bay area. The location now is a combination of small shops. Beautiful location in Worthington, OH. We finally wrapped up the picture taking and Mr. Milhoan and I decided to go for another drive around Worthington. He wanted to show me all the areas where he lived and worked and more importantly drove the car originally. What a thrill for me. Finally we arrived back at his nephews home and joined he and his family for a cool drink outside while we all listened to Mr. Milhoan talk about the old girl. Around 6 pm I informed Mr. Milhoan that I and my driving partner David needed to begin our journey back to NC. He asked to drive the old girl one more time back to his office and I could not resist now having the opportunity to drive his C6 and he drive my car. We took the back roads to interstate and boy you should have seen him drive that car. I gave him plenty of room on the on ramp and when the coast was clear I hit the gas on that beast of his and man she took off up that ramp. When I got to the top..guess what he was already wide open on the interstate headed downtown. He was weaving in and out of traffic as if he was the only one on the road and for a moment in time he probably was. I did the best I could to keep up with him and knowing that I could catch him I let him run my 64 as hard as he wanted. I pulled along side of him and revved the gas one time and he looked over with a grin on his face that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Truly a Kodak moment. Well we made it back at his office and got her all loaded up for the journey home. Mr. Milhoan and I talked for a short while and I thanked him over and over again for allowing me to come and visit. I had him autograph my glove box door for future generations to see. It was truly fitting and he enjoyed doing it. We plan to reunite again really soon.
I wish everyone could experience this time capsule of a meeting. Even though it was nearly 41 years ago since he last drove the car he said it was if he hoped out of her yesterday. Oh what a feeling to own a Corvette.
I hope all of you enjoy reading this because it was truly a thrill for me. My next quest will be to head to Augusta, GA to meet with the second owner. He sold the car in 1986. Should be fun as well.
Cheers,
Craig Willetts
1964 Roaster
40867S121160
Taken in front of original site of Mahlon Maxton Chevrolet which is now a local ice cream parlor.
Group photo of three of his original Corvettes. WOW
Mr. and Mrs. Milhoan sitting in the car in the area where the service bay was located. Beautiful setting and great location.
Mr. Milhoan seeing the 64 for the first time since 1968 or so.
Mr. Milhoan and his 2006 C6
Mr. Milhoan about to drive my 64 for the fist time since 1968...He's ready for blast off.
Mr. Milhoan standing in front of parents original home....554 Loveman Avenue, Worthington, OH
Craig, that was great. Thanks for sharing those memories. Bill.
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