Updated 6/3/09

Arkansas & Western Tennessee

CARAVAN PARTICIPANTS:

Isn't technology wonderful? Especially when it comes to connecting with all of you about information for the'09 Corvette Caravan - "The Ride of a Lifetime".

To those of you I have not personally met nor corresponded with through e-mail, let me say "welcome". To those of you I have corresponded with through e-mail, I now feel that I know you simply because of our shared passion for the same great American sports car. Those of you who have participated in previous caravans know what to expect, but for those of you participating for the first time I can assure you that you will have an experience that will blow your mind!!

The following information may be helpful to each of you.

  1. Relax and have fun. Don't start feeling overwhelmed. This is going to be a wonderful road trip, and all of the participants have one goal in mind, and that is to enjoy the wonderful experience that awaits. All of the Captains have one goal in mind also and that is to ensure that you have a wonderful experience. Rest assured that I and every one of your State Captains will do our very best to keep you advised of information as it becomes available to us.

  2. Relax and have fun. Yes, this warrants being repeated!

  3. 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION REGISTRATION:

    Please be aware that the 15th Anniversary Celebration registration is entirely separate from the Caravan '09 registration, and all Caravan participants should be sure to register for both. Early registration before August 3, 2009 ( 8:00 am CT ) includes:

    • Admission to the NCM during the event
    • Seminars
    • Free Road Tours
    • Custom Event credential and lanyard - Shows each activity registered for
    • Commemorative dash plaque and lapel pin

    Early-registration closes at 8am CT Monday, August 3, 2009. Only On-site registration is available after online closes.

    • On-site registration opens at 8:00am on Thursday September 3rd
    • On-site registration includes:
      • Avery style event badge/plastic holder
      • Admission to the Museum during the Event
      • Access to Event seminars and free road tours
    • On-site registrants do not receive custom NCM lanyard, personalized nametag, dash plaque or pin
    • All cancellations will be charged a $5 processing fee

    Go to the National Corvette Museum website to register for the 15th Anniversary Celebration.

  4. 15TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS:

    I know some of you are wondering abut events planned for the time we will be in Bowling Green and some of you may not be aware that the museum has posted a rough draft of the preliminary events planned. You will find the preliminary events posted on the Museum web page.

  5. ASSEMBLY PLANT TOURS:

    Please be sure to book your assembly plant tour when you register for the caravan, or you can also book it when you register for the 15th Anniversary Celebration on the Museum web page.

  6. ROOMS:

    I realize that by now you probably have made room reservations, but if not, Gorilla Travel Network has been contacted to block rooms for all of you who are registered as traveling with this Caravan. If you want to use Gorilla Travel Agency to reserve rooms, please follow the guidelines below. Of course you do not have to use this source to book rooms. You are free to book your room with anyone and anyway you wish.

    **Guidelines:

    There are two ways to contact the Gorilla Travel Network to make bookings. The best way is by emailing Ron Cohen at gorillatravel@aol.com

    In your email you must give the following information:

    Name and contact info, including phone and email address
    Caravan section (SC/SN, N. TX/OK or AR/W. TN)
    Number of rooms
    Cities in which you want to book rooms
    Dates on which you want to book rooms
    Number of people in each room
    Special requests (handicap, Internet connection, etc.)
    Credit card number and expiration date
    Corvette Club affiliation

    The alternative method of contact is to call Gorilla Travel Network at 888-811-APES (2737), however, expect telephone bookings to take longer.

    All beds will be single Kings or Queens. Alternatives (two twins, two Queens, rollaway, etc.) may be available, but you MUST request them through Ron. All rooms are non-smoking. The Nashville property will be the Opryland Hotel.

    No credit cards will be charged at the time the reservations are made. When you give Ron Cohen your credit card number that simply guarantees the room. Your card will be charged only when you check out or if you cancel after the deadline set forth in the following cancellation policy... PLEASE READ: The last day to cancel any hotel reservation made by Gorilla Travel Network for th 2009 Corvette Caravan without possible charge is Friday, May 22, 2009. Hotel reservation cancellations *after* that date *may* be subject to charge to the credit card given to guarantee the reservation. Whether the card gets charged will depend on the hotel's ability to resell the canceled room. if it can be resold; there will not be a charge. If it can't be resold; the guaranteeing card will be charged.

    If your email to Gorilla Travel has all the correct info, you'll get back from Ron Cohen, an email acknowledging the receipt of your information along with confirmation that you have a room. What you won't get is an assignment to a specific physical room in a hotel or motel. You will get that at a later date, probably late next Spring. The reason we're holding off on assigning specific rooms is we don't yet know how many Caravaners we will have and to assign physical rooms we need to have a better understanding of that than we do now.

    What do you get if you book through Gorilla Travel Network?

    First, a discounted rate below the rate for which the general public can book the same room. Secondly, the people at GTN are experienced in booking hotel/motel space for road tour events. They negotiate with hotel management about not only price but issues such as: adequate parking for Corvettes, parking security, control of the property's sprinkler systems, source of water for car washing and efficient pre-registration. That's just the start of how Gorilla Travel will make hotel booking easy for Caravaners. Everyone reserving rooms through Gorilla Travel will receive a confirmation of every hotel with rates and complete hotel information

    **It has come to my attention that some participants traveling with this Caravan may have only booked rooms up to Saturday night. I suggest that you review your room bookings and, if you plan to participate in some of the Sunday events listed in the Museum's 15th Anniversary Celebration Preliminary events, you might want to extend your stay by one night. Those who have made reservations through Gorilla Travel should contact Gorilla Travel by e-mailing gorillatravel@aol.com Those of you who made reservations through other means, might want to contact those facilities.

  7. ROUTE INFORMATION:

    The SO CA/OK/CT/TX Caravans are scheduled to arrive in Van Buren, AR by way of I-40 mid afternoon on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. There will be a short stop in Van Buren for snacks and refueling before the Caravan proceeds at 2:30 p.m. back onto I-40. When the Caravan gets to I-40 Exit 108 we will take this exit into Morrilton, AR and then we will take Highway 9/10 and drive to Bale Chevrolet Little Rock, Arkansas. Bale Chevrolet will provide dinner for us at their dealership and we will overnight in Little Rock. The morning of Wednesday, September 2 we will leave from Bale Chevrolet parking lot and proceed to I-40 where we will drive to Nashville. Upon arrival in Nashville those who have rooms booked for Nashville will proceed to your hotel. Those who have rooms booked for Bowling Green will proceed to Bowling Green via I-65 and on to their hotels.

    If you plan to join the Caravan in Memphis, please follow the instructions below:

    Take the I-40 East, exit #25, Arlington, East of Memphis.

    Turn right or South on Airline Road, toward the Memphis Visitor Information Center.

    Turn left or East on Airline Trail and park along that road to await the caravan. You will merge into the flow of Caravan participants as they proceed East on I-40. There will be no scheduled stop to "pick-up" participants at this point. You must be ready to merge into the flow of Vette participants. There are two gas stations and one restaurant at this exit and the Visitor Center has restroom facilities. You must Contact Jim Willis, if you plan to merge into the Caravan at this exit, jdwilllis@comcast.net

  8. NEW MERCHANDISE SOON TO BE AVAILABLE:

    Participant's windshield header (wrap) 2.5" x 30" NOW available. NCM logo on left end, Caravan '09 logo on right end with red, white, blue text in the middle. It will come in three parts. The segmented design was designed so it will fit virtually all Corvettes. If you would like to order one of these, they are $15. If I need to mail these to you, I must add postage to this amount. Please e-mail me with your name and the number you would like to order. I will give you payment instructions after you e-mail me. The National Corvette Museum website will post a picture of these in a few days, so you will know what the wrap will look like on your Vette.

If any of you would like to become involved in the '09 Caravan, please contact me.

Jan Marshall
Arkansas Captain


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