I am not sure if this was a good move or not, but I just registered for the National Corvette Museum Caravan for September 1 through 4, 2009.

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We did it in '99...had a friggin BLAST! Took both 'Vettes. It's a bit hard to keep all of the cars together, especially the later cars...they all want to run 100mph most of the time.
We had no escorts, except in Little Rock, where the Police stopped traffic long enough for all of the cars to leave out at the same time. Then, in Nashville, they also helped with traffic control to allow all of us to head out to the NCM at the same time....over 5000 Vettes just from there. Then they had the other caravan coming in from Louie-ville, at the same time, all converging at the NCM pretty much at the same time. It took several HOURS for all of the cars to arrive!
Go for it!

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

OMG, didn't realize it was that HUGE.

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I did the '03 caravan.  Started with the Minnesota group which merged with the Wisconsin group at a couple of stops in the "Dairy State".  Then we merged with the Iowa group in Bloomington, IL.  All of this on day 1 of the caravan.

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

I haven't registered yet but my wife and I intend to go.  We'll take both the 78 and her 92.  We went on the 5th and 50th caravans.  Both time were a blast.  Usually keeping 10 cars together is not a problem since most of the driving is on the highways.  Usually we have 4 or 5 cars from our club going and we can always stick together but you need to plan stops and overnights ahead of time.  On the 50th we left the New York overnight stop with 150 Vettes and the police stopped traffic on I 84 so we could all get on in a group.  Nothing like topping a hill on the road and seeing nothing but Corvettes as far as you can look in front and behind you.  Leaving the Louisville KY fairgrounds on the 5th with 2000 Vettes was a trip.  You'll have great fun.  Count the days.

What kind of activities did they have once everyone got to the Museum?

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Terry we should look into this?

I'm debating doing this. But ... I've heard from some NCM folks that their "goal" is at least 10,000 cars - and hoping for 15,000. OMG - that means we'll end up staying a "fur piece" from the action if we don't get reservations ASAP!

1BadLT1...I'm game, gives us lots of time to get ready..Lets do it..Thousands of Corvettes..Yea

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

[QUOTE=spielman5]1BadLT1...I'm game, gives us lots of time to get ready..Lets do it..Thousands of Corvettes..Yea[/QUOTE]

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MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

The meuseum runs tours, the plant runs tours, vendors set up at the meuseum, there is usually music behind the meuseum.  The real fun is just the drive there.  Usually each caravan stops at a race track for laps during the trip.

Maybe this will be part of C3VR Gathering 2009.

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Were in....Lets see, retire from work and draw Social Security in July 2009, get my Corvette ready and spend one night at every C3VR member's house  looking for retirement location to park her corvette....

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

4 days to get there, 3-4 days in KY, 4 days to get back.

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Wow...that sounds like FUN!!!  2009, huh?????

You can go to the NCM website and get on the Caravan listserver to stay up to date.

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Hmmmmm,...10,000+ vettes, I wonder what they'll charge for parking ?....Ya think they'll have a parking girl to control traffic just for them like we had in Virginia City ?

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
                             Click to see larger views!

Darn My original reply disappeared so I will do it again.....

I was the Maryland Co-Captain of the 99 National Caravan..  and we also did the 03 Caravan BUT we left every stop 30 minutes behind the last car at every stop ..did not do the I gota keep in thsi line of Corvettes thing.

The 99 drive as a nightmare..
We started with about 30 cars in Gaithersburg Maryland and by the time we hit Richmond the total was just over 300 .. and the total kept getting larger and larger as we approached Bowling Green...   My wife kept remarking that I was breathing hard as I drove kept insisting that I may have another Heart attract... Drive down 81 dodging all the Tractor Trailer drivers and trying to keep 3-4 or 500 Corvettes in line was NOT  easy...
sometime I was on the brakes sometimes I was on the brakes HARD sometimes I was doing 80 MPH and still accelerating to catch up... in short not a real pleasant drive.... BTW..we did have a Chevy Suburban leading the "pack" and he drove the speed limit but the accordion effect that occurred every hour on the hour was maddening to say the least...

We Drove the 72 Convertible in 99... car worked fine..BUT I like the top down the wife likes it down... we had to settle for it down in the morning Up in the afternoon...and still my wife complained every night about being hot and exhausted and windblown ...  (she discovered that sitting in the hotels Hot Tub was a great cure for this BTW..)   She was also not happy that I had to carry all my detailing stuff in the car (used it every morning and evening too) and I had her limited to the shoes she was wearing and one spare pair... (that was a Battle)...

When we returned she had a hot tub sitting next to the pool in a week or so...AND she stated that she would absolutely never do that drive again..
UNLESS I got a newer, more comfortable  Corvette  ..yea you got that right I was TOLD to buy newer Corvette by my wife)...(picked up a nice 95 6 sp coupe within a month...that paid her back for writing the check for the hot tub  ..LOL

In 2003 like I said we did do the Caravan but drove about a half hour behind the main group of cars.. Much much more relaxing.. we had the route and where and when the scheduled stops for the day were so we really did not miss anything evening were spend with the main group and we had a ball...

WE are planning on doing the next Caravan BUT I plan on being a 1/2 hour behind everyone again...

Bob G

Great insite bob, thanks if sharing..Terry

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

1BadLT1, Cilrah, karen.. Elba and I did Pigon Forge in 3 days from Tacoma, If you have 18 days off , we could drive down in 3 days and stay 6 days then back in 4/5 days and still have time to learn to walk again before we go to work.. I gassed up 4 times a day, the C-3 only got 16/17 MPG. It was a great time. I say we travel on our own to Bowling Green then get in line to park on the grounds with all the other Corvettes? That might take 2 days..

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

Barbara and I also did the Pigeon Forge get together....one traveled with one other Vette and that was only for about 100-150 miles...

But Honestly...the 99 drive was bad simply because of the number of Trucks that are on 81 .. and the accordion like "line" of Corvettes that compressed then expanded.. 10 mph one minute then hard on the gas to catch up etc..just not what I call an enjoyable ride... Other routes may have been much better...

Is anyone doing the Adirondack Vette Fest in New York State in Early September  this  year?   Never done it but we always try to get away someplace new every year in a Vette...?  Made our my reservations a few weeks ago ... !

I just signed up for the caravan.  As it stands right now Patty and I will be travelling in "The Beast".

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

With upwards of 15K cars, how far away from the museum do you have to park??  Sounds like too big of a crowd for me.

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

When I was there in 2003 for the 50th the majority of the cars were parked around the museum.  But now with the new expansion taking up a lot of that space it will be interesting to see where the cars get parked.  Would hate to see them use the new area across the freeway and have to ride shuttle buses back and forth.

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

When we did the Caravan in '99, I had front row parking with the '74...it was part of the "Evolution" display.
Mama, on the other hand, had to do a bit of walking from where she had to park the '85. By the time she got pulled in with the rest of the Caravan from Nashville, the place was packed.
When we went back after that first day, we did have to park in the rear field(west side of NCM), and had aboot a 5 minute walk back to the front of the Museum.
Don't matter where you have to park...if you've never done one of the National Caravans, go for it....it's an experience you'll never forget.
As has been said, some of the caravaners get a bit carried away on the trip up/down to the NCM, but the overall experience is fantastic...

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I just made reservations for an Econo Lodge 25 miles from BG.

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[QUOTE=dwright]I just made reservations for an Econo Lodge 25 miles from BG.  Less that $40.00 per night for two queen-size beds in a no-smoking room.

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

We also signed up for the Caravan, now for rooms!   Dick

[QUOTE=dwright] Maybe this will be part of C3VR Gathering 2009.



[/QUOTE]

Count me in Dave.....!

I am registered......

I have a room at the Cave City Econo Lodge.....

I heard I won't be the lone C3VR member there either....

I am working on another deal though as well for the members.....

All I can say is that have the C3VR gang ever gotten together and not had a good time?

Wax those jogging shoes up bro..... Tuxblacray2008-11-06 14:22:38

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Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link


(Click on image to see a bigger version)

OK gang, yeah..I did the same, yep, have a room at the same place.. Come on Glen need a traveling partner..

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

I've signed up as well, and have a room too. Should be a fun time.

Reserved room for 9/2-9/6!

     ther are still a few rooms left at the econo lodge in cave city Ky.for sept 2/5/09

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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

Hunter & I are registered. Now to figure out which car to drive. maybe by then ... both !?!?!! 

That would be soo cool Clint! It would be great seeing Hunter drive in one of the cars...... Ahhhh but which one....


And ah Marshall..... 15K cars would be too big a crowd for you? Hmmmmnnn.... isn't that about how many cars that came to Funfest? And I thought we had a great time....

Just give it up bro.... bring Candy and make the reservation! Besides who is gonna play "Catch Phrase" with us......?

                                                 Tux...

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Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link


(Click on image to see a bigger version)

I talked to a couple of friends here and we are thinking of going as well.  However I tried to get a room up to 25 miles from the site and everything is booked, any ideas? 

 i just call choice hotel they have 7 king 9 queen two beds 11/7 at 8:10pm ct stingrayjim2008-11-07 19:22:34

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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

Maybe this will help those who are riding the fence and yet looking for a room....
                                              Tux...

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Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link


(Click on image to see a bigger version)

         GOT MY ROOM BOOK 4 NITES $133 stingrayjim2008-11-08 20:10:35

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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

I have booked a tour for the assembly plant in the afternoon of September 3rd, 2009. I hope this will be the start of something big....Still open slots if ya wanna go..Terry & Elba

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

I will be coming from Wisconsin.  I belong to the Badger State Vetts Club.  My first Vette - 1981.  I have been to the Corvette Museum and Factory once.  What a blast.  Hope to see you there!!

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(click to see a larger image)

 i just check on rooms at econo lodge cave city ky they have 9 dobble queens and 5 king under $150 for 4 nites

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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

They are going fast. Get your reservation in NOW.

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Well, Vicki & I finally have reservations for 2-6 Sep 09 in Cave City.  We'll catch up with the So Cal & Tex panhandle group 31 Aug for dinner in OKC.  Then depart on 01 Sep for a sleep over in Little Rock & then into BG on 02 Sep.

Lookin' forward to seein' ya'll again!

We will be there , I hope.. 

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OK boys and girls, Fireboss & his lady are now signed up.  The could not get booked on the tour though.

D,

I got reservations for the plant tour on Sept. 2nd at 9:00 am.  Looks like I got in just under the wire before it filled up.  I did let them know I was part of the C3VR group.  I saw some comments on private tours for groups over 20, but don't know if we have that many folks signed up.

Pat;