SLO VETTES THE CORVETTE CLUB OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

P.O. BOX 14134 SAN LUIS OBISPO CA Front Page MONTHLY NEWSLETTER © June 2008

Jon Dallons Phones in Newsletter Report from Taiwan Thank You Brian for a Great Run! In a “never before moment”, Jon Dallons All members who were able to attend the phoned in his monthly report during our May th Ragged Point run enjoyed a wonderful Cor- 9 meeting at Players. Much to everyone’s vette day and the weather was great. It was surprise Jon gave his Newsletter update a beautiful site to see all those multi color from Taipei, Taiwan (in English no less). Jon Corvettes going thru the curves on Highway has the opportunity to travel to many parts of 1. I can never say enough about Brian’s the world; I always appreciate his phone ability to organize and set up a smooth run; calls from the exotic locations he visits. he made the Ragged Point outing a special Thank you Jon. event. Brian I know I speak for all of us when I say “THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL I Believe Segment DONE”. I believe that Heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be “A Day at the Lake Reminder done, regardless of the consequences. It won’t be long now, get ready to spend a I believe that our backgrounds and circum- super day at the lake on Saturday June 28th. stances may have influenced who we are, See the flyer enclosed, we will need a count but we are responsible for who we become. please don’t forget to RSVP. I believe that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you – you will find the strength to help. Next Meeting CJ’s in Arroyo Grande Please remember the June 13th meeting will Al [email protected] be held at CJs restaurant on Grand Ave just off the 101 in Arroyo Grande. This is our new South County meeting location voted on by the club. I urge all of you to attend and check it out. Hopefully the “South County” mem- bers will take this opportunity to attend.

In This Issue Sunday May 18th was our Ragged Point Presidents Message Brunch Run. We had 16 cars, 30 people Events show up. The weather got cooler as we got Secretary’s Report closer to the coast but it was pleasant in no Birthdays and Anniversaries time. The Restaurant was very accommo- For Sale dating, by having the parking lot roped off. The weather was nice enough to eat out Event Flyers doors. The service and the food was great. Portuguese Barn When we left it was a nice drive until we NCM News

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turned on to Hwy. 46, the temperature went up 30 degrees.

June 19th - 21st is the Corvettes at the lake. Lake Tahoe. SLO VETTES MAY MEETING

June 28th is the S.L.O. Vettes Day at the MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESI- lake. Flyer in last months and this months DENT AL AT 6:15 P.M. 21 MEMBERS IN AT- newsletter. R.S.V.P. to Al Sauvadon or Brian TENDANCE. Cyester by June 23rd. Send checks payable
to SLO Vetets, 8450 Del Rio Rd. Atas- GUESTS AT THIS MEETING WAS MIKE cadero, CA. 93422 REISS.
(HOWARD'S DAD)
MOTION TO HAVE JULY 11TH MEETING AT July 4th is the Templeton 4th. of July Parade. TEMPLETON PARK.
IST AND 2ND MOTION I have sent in the application. If you plan on PASSES.
RICH AND BECKY WILL BBQ FOR going THE PARK MEETING. you will need to be at Main St. and Gibson
by 9:30 A.M. CAROLYN WAS GIVEN A SLO VETTES AM- BASSADOR RIBBON AS OUR NEW NATIONAL Sat. July 12th will be Pete Johnston's 2nd CORVETTE MUSEUM POST. annual Corvette Show, in Paso Robles. A
flyer is in the JON GAVE HIS NEWSLETTER REPORT FROM newsletter. We have invited other Corvette CHINA VIA PHONE AND LAPTOP. TIME IN Clubs. CHINA WAS 9:25 A.M.
BRIAN HAS HARD COPIES OF LAST NEWSLETTER IF YOU Brian [email protected] NEED ONE.
I WILL RETURN TO THE
CA ON MAY 25TH.
OMITED ONE FLYER ABOUT CHUCK AND PETE JOHNSTON CAR SHOW ON JULY 12TH. SEE YOU ALL NEXT MEET- ING.
SECRETARY REPORT WAS READ BY BECKY.
MINUTES ACCEPTED

TREASURER REPORT BY BRIAN JAN IS IN NEW YORK.
MONEY CAME IN MONEY WENT OUT WE STILL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK.
REPORT ACCEPTED
EVENTS:
NEXT MONTH WILL BE RAGGED POINT BRUNCH RUN ON MAY 18TH.

MAY 24TH CAR SHOW AT PETE JOHNSTON

JUNE 19 THRU 21 LAKE TAHOE CORVETTE RUN JUNE 28 SLO VETTES DAY AT THE LAKE

JULY 4 TEMPLETON PARADE

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AUG 15 HOT EL CAMINO CRUIZE NITE
WE WILL BE AT THE CAR WASH AND DONNA AND JOHN WILL BBQ.
AUG 16 ATASCADERO LAKE CAR SHOW
CORVETTE MUSEUM: CAROLYN TALKED 2008 CORVETTE Z06 ABOUT GOING ON THE WEBSITE YOU CAN TAKE A TOUR OR SHOP FOR GREAT Jetstream Blue Metallic / Ebony Leather MERCHANDISE.
THE MUSEUM IS ALSO SELLING TICKETS FOR DRAWING ON 2008 Navigation / XM Radio / On Star INDY PACE CAR FOR $100.00.
Chrome Wheels SUNSHINE/HISTORIAN: DONNA HAS NOTH- ING TO REPORT. MSRP $83,165 + $10,000
50/50 RUN BY GAIL.
PAULA WON CONTACT CT GILES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:55 P.M. at
PETE JOHNSTON CHEVROLET-CADILLAC
Becky [email protected] (805) 238-7800 ======FOR SALE 4- 48-spoke reverse show rims with Good- year GT HR60-15 radial tires, 5-bolt. Originally
on 1970 LT-1/


4 tires & rims, bar- Birthdays: Gary McPherson 6th gain @ $900.00
Anniversaries: John & Donna Ramos 15th Contact: Richard @ [email protected] or
leave message @ 949-461-0721 Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all from SLO Vetts !!

Donna [email protected]

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A DAY AT THE LAKE SLO VETTES IS SPENDING A DAY AT THE LAKE AT NACIMENTO SATURDAY JUNE 28

Plan of a day filled with fun, Boating, Eating, swimming, eating, sunbathing, eating, waterskiing and eating. 3 members will open their lake side home, also boats will be available for a tour of the lake with refreshments.

COST: $20 per person it will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Poker hands will be available ($5 each hand) PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS

Attendees will be picked up by boat at 9 AM at the Nacimento dock, the party starts as soon as you are aboard.

A HEAD COUNT IS A MUST. PLEASE R.S.V.P. NO LATER THAN MONDAY JUNE 23rd YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT IF YOU FAIL TO R.S.V.P. CALL: AL SAUVADON 929-0229 OR BRIAN CYESTER 461-1907 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: SLO VETTES 8450 DEL RIO RD. ATASCADERO CA 93422

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July 11th,12th & 13th 2008 Please join us for this three day Celebration of our Love for Our Country and our Cars… Thursday: Early registration 7-10 pm

Friday: Registration 7-10 am 1-4 p.m. & 6-8 pm People Choice car show at the Elks Lodge, 9-1 pm

3B Golf Classic Tee Time 9 am Vengeance Volleyball Tournament, 3 pm (Each club MUST provide 1 person for refereeing Musical Entertainment from 2 pm to 11 pm Dinner Al Fresco, 6 pm Saturday: Registration 7-9 am & 2-4 pm Continental Breakfast 7 am (with “to go” bags for autocross) Low Speed Autocross at Big Bear Airport, 8 am to 3 pm Cruise around the lake, line up at the Grey Squirrel, depart 5:30 pm Followed by Dinner Catered by Famous Dave's BBQ under the Stars at the Grey Squirrel. Dancing and Raffle, and Awards at 8 pm Grand Prize Raffle at 10 pm Sundays Events include: Poker Rallye, 10 am Rallye Awards at the Grey Squirrel, 12 noon The first 300 Guests to register will receive a Big Bear Bash event dash plaque, hat pin and a collectable glass. As always beer & wine are included in the event price. Participation in sanctioned competition events and Saturday Dinner are an additional fee. Please note that we are once again selling day passes, or if you can’t make it for the day and would love to come for an event, you may register for just that event.
You will now receive an event t- shirt with your paid registration. A variety of event products are available for purchase on the order form. As always Corvettes West greatly appreciates your participation and continued support of this event and we look forward to seeing you.
Please R.S.V.P. at your earliest convenience. Please direct any questions to Joanne or Scott Bailey (909) 862-3848

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Arroyo Grande Valley Car Sho

July 26, 2008

Last Saturday in July — One of the largest car shows on the Central Coast draws enthusiasts from around the state! Hundreds of cars, including everything from hot rods, muscle cars and trucks to motorcycles and vintage trailers fill the Village for the Annual Arroyo Grande Car Sho (yes, it's spelled 'Sho'). and Cars are on display throughout the Village. Activities take place around the gazebo. A Best in Show, Major's and President's trophy are awarded along with e dozens of others for various categories. ast The show is a fund-raiser presented by the Arroyo Valley Car Club, although no admission is charged for the public. Proceeds from entry fees, a raffle and other activities are donated by the club to help charitable organizations in the South -25, County. Contact Linda Aiello-Madison from the Arroyo Valley Car Club at (805) 489-9195 or [email protected] for more information. Custom, classic, antique cars will fill Village s; by Mike Hodgson, Times Press Recorder, 7/30/04 Up to 300 cars and trucks from the earliest days of motoring to 1982 will roll into the Village this weekend for the 15th annual Arroyo Grande Car Sho. Vehicle owners from all over California are expected for the event sponsored by the Arroyo Valley Car Club. "Three hundred is the maximum," said Linda Madison, club secretary and wife of club President Bill Madison. "Three hundred is the most we can handle on a good day. We like to keep it small, family- oriented." But small doesn't mean there will be any lack of quality, variety or unusual vehicles. Previous shows have drawn everything from 80-year-old flivvers with original paint and upholstery to hand-built slingshot dragsters fresh from the track to customized low-riders glistening with multiple layers of hand- rubbed lacquer. More... FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL LINDA @ (805) 489-9195

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Vegas Cruise 4/30/08 6:36 PM

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Portuguese Barn Find: Fact or Fiction?

By Tom Cotter

One day this January, I received at least ten forwarded email attachments to a web site that featured photos of an eclectic collection of old cars in a decaying building. For the next week it seemed the web was literally blanketed with these im- ages, each giving a similar story:

“Imagine moving into an old farmhouse in the Portuguese countryside, and, while walking around “the lower 40” of your new investment, you come across an old building. Curious as to what may be inside, you pry open the rusted door and for the first time in decades, one of the largest hordes of old cars ever discovered is exposed to sunlight.”

I didn’t believe that story for a moment.

Huge collections of cars don’t just happen. Cars are accumulated—sometimes lovingly, sometimes not—by someone with a purpose. I was sure this collection was not assembled by accident; nobody would simply sell an old farm and fail to mention to the new owners the stash of old cars in the barn.

I decided to investigate. I searched the web and ultimately came to an English language dead end at the Mazda Miata Club Norway web site. But I kept going, sending emails in English and hoping that some kind recipient would take a few moments to answer some questions. All indications were that the cars were hidden somewhere in Portugal, so that’s where I focused my investigation.

Through a Cobra buddy, Don Silawski of Washington, DC, I contracted with a Portuguese translator, Clara Dixon. Clara would be my tour guide and try to unearth some of the naked truth regarding this huge stash. Clara also checked the Internet for news stories that may have been written in Portuguese newspapers about the cars. I was beginning to feel like a CIA sleuth…

I must admit that for me, a lifelong barn-finder, a collection this large would be the discovery of a lifetime. My 15-year-old son, Brian, even tried to convince me to hop a flight to Portugal to see if I could actually find the collection myself.

I was eventually able to contact the photographer who was contracted by the cars’ owner to shoot the photographs that would ultimately appear on millions of car-guy computer monitors beginning on January 20.

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

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Manuel Menezes Morais shot the photos, but he was sworn to secrecy about the cars’ location and the owner’s name. However, he was able to obtain permission from the elusive owner to give me the following information:

The owner of the cars was a car dealer in the 1970s and 1980s, and decided to save the more interesting cars that came through his doors. When the barn was full, he padlocked and “soldered” the doors shut. (Perhaps welding was too per- manent.)

Web sites varied on the number of cars: 58, 100, and 180 were speculated. According to Morais, there are 180 cars in the barn.

And, aw shucks, none of the cars is for sale.

Clara was able to determine that the cars are located somewhere in the area of Sintra, near Lisbon. I asked Morais if he could ask the owner if he had a favorite car. “He has lots of good cars in very good condition,” he says, “but he loves the Lancia Aurelia B24. He has two.”

ÿ ÿ ÿ    All the cars are dusty and the lighting is pretty poor, but searching through photos of these cars on various web sites, I was able to identify a fair number. Here is a partial list:

Lancia Flaminia Coupe Lotus Elan DHC Lotus Elan FHC Lotus Elan +2 Lotus Europa 1923/24 Maxwell Lotus Super 7 Series IV MG Midget Peugeot 404 Cabriolet MG Magnette Peugeot 505 Cabriolet Renault Dauphine Rover P5 Saloon Rover P6

1950s Alfa Giulietta, 1960s Sprint Speciale, 1950s Nash Metropolitan Saab 93 Simca Coupe de Ville Dozens of American sedans, from a BMW 501 V8 Sedan Singer Gazelle 1932 Ford 2-door sedan to 1970s Olds BMW Isetta Steyr Puch Cutlasses Bristol 404 Saloon Dozens of 1950s and 1960s 1970s Abarth Scorpione Mercedes sedans; A couple of Formula Chrysler CD race cars. Citroën Traction Avant Matra Djet Abarth 1300 Scorpione Datsun 240Z Maxwell Alfa GTV Mini Moke Alfa 1900 SS Nash Metropolitan Alfa Bertone Opel GT Alfa Giuiletta 1960s Hillman Imp Californian Opel Rekord Alfa Giulietta Sprint Porsche 356B Triumph TR4 Alfa Giulia Sprint Speciale Porsche 356C Volvo PV444 Alfa Sud 1.5 Peugeot 202 VW Beetle

1931 Chrysler CD roadster

DKW 1000SP Fiat Cabriolet Fiat Topolino Fiat 500 1950s Lancia B20 Fiat 508 Balilla Austin A30 Ford Cortina Austin A40 Somerset Ford Taunus Austin Healey Sprite Hillman Californian Austin Mini Cooper Lancia Aurelia B20 2+2 Austin Mini Cooper S Lancia Aurelia B24 BMW 2002 Lancia Appia

BMW 1800 Lancia Flaminia Zagato 1939 Plymouth, 1960s Mercedes-Benz 200, 280

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Shop for Father’s Day and Save

Shop for Dad and save in the Corvette Store in celebration of our Father’s Day special! Now through Sunday, June 8 shop and receive $10 off purchases of $75 or more when using this NCM eNews code: ENEWSFATHERSDAY2008 Some exclusions apply – valid on Corvette Store merchandise only (raffles tickets excluded).

This Father’s Day special applies after membership discount and before shipping charges. Choose from gifts guaranteed to please including this Corvette dart cabinet (size 22" x 25”) in a medium finish made of solid wood and featuring the Corvette emblem of your choice displayed on the front and on the inside over each scoreboard. Comes complete with two sets of darts. Please allow 1- 2 weeks for delivery. Find this and other unique gifts by shopping online in the Corvette Store or call us at: (800) 53-VETTE.

Two Raffles Closing - Two Chances To Win!

Over the next two weeks we will be giving away two brand new Corvettes! One is our 500 ticket Black Corvette Coupe raffle that we will draw a winner for in one week - Thursday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. CT. There are approximately 200 tickets left on this raffle.

On Wednesday, June 11 at 2:00 p.m. CT we will make the winning call to the winner of the 2008 Indy Pace Car Coupe Replica raffle. Only 500 of these collectible Corvettes will be produced and we are privileged to have one to raffle. There are 2,008 tickets being sold at $100 each on this raffle. A winner will be drawn on both raffles regardless of the number of tickets remaining at the time of the drawing.

Find out more about these Corvette raffles and purchase tickets online – or call us at: (800) 53-VETTE.

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