Updated 11/8/11

Oklahoma & Texas Panhandle

Welcome to everyone interested in joining the National Corvette Caravan from the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle area! Here is the information needed to get you started. If you have questions about the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle Caravan, please e-mail us at ncmcaravanok@yahoo.com.

The National Corvette Caravan website is located here:
http://www.nationalcorvettecaravan.com/

The Caravan Route

If you have participated in any of the previous OK/TX Panhandle caravans, you will see that the 2014 Caravan will a little different this time around. We're planning to take a "northern" route through southern Missouri in 2014.

  • Sunday, August 24th, we'll be in Amarillo, TX for a kick off gathering at the host hotel (TBD). The Southern California & Southern Nevada Caravan will have joined the Arizona & New Mexico Caravan by then and will combine with our caravan in Amarillo. So, while Amarillo is the start for our caravan, there will already be a lot of Corvettes in Amarillo from California to New Mexico already there.
  • Monday, August 25th, we'll depart Amarillo via I-40 to El Reno, OK where we'll have lunch. From there, we'll drive through Oklahoma City to Edmond, OK on I-40 and I-35 then pick up Historic Route 66 just east of Edmond. We'll stay on Route 66 to Tulsa then transition to I-44 and head to the hotel(s) (TBD) for an overnight stay. Evening plans are still to be determined.
  • Tuesday, August 26th, we'll depart Tulsa on I-44 (Tulsa to the Missouri State line is a toll road - $4.00 toll) and head to Springfield, Missouri where we'll stop for lunch. Just southwest of Springfield, we take US-360/60 east and skirt southern Springfield. We'll stay on US-60 to Poplar Bluff, MO and overnight there. Evening plans are still to be determined.
  • Wednesday, August 27th, we'll depart Poplar Bluff on US-60 to Wickliffe, KY. You'll cross two old bridges - one over the Mississippi and one over the Ohio to get into Kentucky. These are both 2-lane bridges. Then on to Paducah, KY and the Land Between the Lakes scenic by-way. Then on to Bowling Green. There are no group stops for lunch planned for this day - just nice scenic Missouri and Kentucky roads to enjoy. Everyone will be on their own when to stop and where to eat.
  • Of course, this last day into Bowling Green will spread out the Caravan quite a bit. So, we have a 'reform' location on the southwest side of Bowling Green where everyone can gather prior to our "en masse" arrival at the National Corvette Museum.
    • Note: This is not locked in stone yet but it's getting closer!

As you can see, there will be very little freeway driving on this caravan once we leave Edmond, OK. Monday will be a long drive with the scenic Route 66 at the end of the day. Tuesday will be a scenic drive across southern Missouri but the roads are all divided 4-lanes but not freeways. Wednesday is another scenic drive across part of Missouri and a lot of western Kentucky. Knowledge of the route book will be essential for drivers and navigators.

Hotels
We are not currently working with any travel agencies for this Caravan although that may happen later. Our plan is to select hotels at each overnight stop near the 'host' hotel. We'll provide the hotel names, addresses and contact numbers and each participant can use a travel agency or make their own reservations. This applies to Bowling Green also. The Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau (BGCVB) has told us that they will be able to assist participants in finding hotel space in Bowling Green. The BGCVB website is www.visitbgky.com/caravan.

Registration
Registration for the 2014 National Corvette Caravan and the 2014 20th Anniversary event are not open yet but NCM's "Caravan Chat" and "eNews" newsletters will keep you posted as to when registration is open.

Caravan Sponsors are Needed
Sponsors are needed to help with the cost of setting up and running this caravan. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the Caravan Route Book and gain the attention of 800-1000 participants.

Who's In Charge

Oklahoma & Texas Panhandle Captains

Captains Tuna and Susan Dobbins
We're returning as the OK/TX Panhandle Captains after serving as Captains for the 2009 Caravan. We're responsible for the overall planning of the caravan. Tuna and Susan met thanks to our local Corvette club and we've had 2 Corvettes in the garage even since. Our current rides are a 2006 DSOM coupe and a 2008 Silver convertible. We also like to count our 2011 CTS V Wagon which is a 4-door Vette that hauls groceries. We're members of the Central OK Corvette Club, the Lone Star Corvette Club, the NCM Fighter Squadron (to be one, ask one as another organization says), the Grand Sport Registry and Lifetime members of the NCM.
ncmcaravanok@yahoo.com

Amarillo, TX Local Leader
Larry Teaque - Amarillo Corvette Club

Tulsa, OK Local Leaders
Terri Green - Tulsa Vette Set
Terri Liles - Tulsa Vette Set

Springfield, MO Local Leader
Mike Salmon - Vintage Vettes of the Ozarks.

Poplar Bluff, MO Local Leader
Volunteer needed to help with hotels, arrival and departure.

Please make sure you are signed up for the NCM's &eNews& and/or "Caravan Chat" to keep current on the latest news.
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