Updated 9/18/09

Central Texas

Central Texas Caravan Final Update:

Well, the 2009 National Corvette Caravan is "in the books". What a fantastic event it was! I hope everyone enjoyed the trip and the activities at the 15th Anniversary Celebration. It was wonderful getting re-acquainted with our long-distance Corvette friends from across the country and around the world and expanding the friendship circle with new Corvetters. Speaking of "new", the expansion to the Museum is awesome! Absolutely a must see on your trip-list!

It was indeed an honor to be your Central Texas Caravan Captain. I want to once more thank everyone who helped out over the years with the planning and expediting of this event. And, to the many more who were unable to travel with us but rendered their support behind-the-scenes and at our Texas Motor Speedway Launch. You embody the true meaning of the Corvette family camaraderie. Thank You!

Now take a little break, and then consider being part of the 20th NCM Anniversary Celebration and 5th National Caravan in 2014!

SHINE ON!

Linda Walker
2009 NCM National Caravan
Central Texas Captain


July 2009 Update

Important information will be coming to you soon via email only. Please review your Caravan registration information and be sure you have included your email address so you don't miss out on any section specific information.

New Participant's Windshield Banner Available Now through Caravan Captains only. The cling is in three parts (total size 2.5" x 30"). NCM logo on the left end, Caravan '09 logo on the right end with red, white, and blue "National Corvette Caravan" text in the middle. The segmented design was chosen so it will fit virtually all Corvettes. Apply on the inside or outside. Price $15 each. Email me directly at TexasDreamVette@live.com for information on purchasing yours today!

Mandatory Driver's Meeting August 31st at Texas Motor Speedway

August 31st 11:30 A.M. - A mandatory driver's meeting will be held at TMS in the staging area parking lot. The Route Book will be handed out at this time. This book has been a huge project combining the details for our "Southwest Four" Section Caravan (Southern California/Southern Nevada; Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle; Central Texas; and Arkansas/Western Tennessee) and our sincere thanks goes out to the Southern California Team for doing a fantastic job! I guarantee you will be impressed!

Room Reservation Notes

August 1st is the last day to reserve a room at the special group rate at the Marriott DFW Hotel & Golf Club if you are planning stay in Fort Worth the night before launch (see details below).

OK, AR, & Bowling Green/Nashville Rooms: Gorilla Travel has sent out confirmation emails to those that requested rooms. If you did not receive a message from them, please follow up with Gorilla Travel (see details below).

Food!!!

August 31st - Goodyear Banquet at the Clarion Hotel in OKC. (You must be a registered Caravan participant.)

September 1st - Breakfast on your own. Lunch for the I-40 group (that's us) is dutch-treat at Western Sizzlin' Steak House in Sallisaw, OK. Snacks provided in VanBuren, AR. Bale Chevrolet Dinner Party in Little Rock.


May 2009 Update

NEW MERCHANDISE:

Soon to be available - Participant's Windshield Header (static cling) for the inside or outside 2.5" x 30" will soon be available. NCM logo on left end, Caravan '09 logo on right end with red, white, blue text in the middle. The cling will come in three parts. The segmented design was designed so it will fit virtually all Corvettes. These should be available in approximately 3 to 4 weeks. NO PRICE YET. Please check this page frequently for updates on availability or email directly at TexasDreamVette@live.com.

NEWS FLASH! CENTRAL TEXAS CARAVANNER SELECTED AS ONE OF THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE ESCORT-FOR-A-DAY CORVETTES! Our own Ernie & Betty Perkins' 2002 Pewter Coupe will be decked out in KSP finery to escort Caravan Sections from the state line to NCM. Congratulations Ernie! Let's wish them good luck and hope they get to meet our Section to bring us home to Bowling Green!


April 2009 Update

Spring has sprung and Corvette events are sprouting up all over!!!

New information is popping up too, on the NCM site and here on our Central Texas Caravan site! So be sure to visit this page more frequently for new information.

We have selected a lunch site for our group for Tuesday, September 1st. Note the change in the Itinerary/Route section below.

REGISTRATION FOR THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS IS OPEN!! Visit the Museum's Events link then click on "Labor Day" and register for the activities you wish to participate in.

We continue to welcome help from all our sister Corvette clubs in Central/North Texas for assistance with leading local groups to our launch site and onward to Bowling Green. Please email your name and contact information to me at TexasDreamVette@live.com or my Co-Captains Curt Troster at curtis.troster@xerox.com, or Linda Shellberg at lrbag@aol.com. You may also contact my Local Leaders: Abilene Area, Dale Stover at dale@stpsoft.com; North Fort Worth Area, Marc Hughes at Indyvet@aol.com; North Texas Area, James Powdrill at Jamespowdrill@hughes.net; Dallas Area, Bill Tichy at Btichy@verizon.net.

Our Route Book is in the Planning Stages

Work has begun on the Big, Big Route Book. And a big THANK YOU to our SoCal friends for tackling the task. Be sure to keep your registration information current (snail mail and email address) so you don't miss out when it's "released".

Exclusive 2009 Caravan Flags and Window Clings Available

These are available only from a Caravan Captain. If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please send me an email for the particulars.

ROUTE INFORMATION AND ITINERARY (Reservation information is at the bottom)

Monday, August 31st, at High Noon<br> We will "Circle the Wagons" at 11:30 for our driver's meeting. Our planned "Launch" from Texas Motor Speedway at noon will begin with a "Parade Lap" around the 1.5 mile oval before heading north on I-35 to Oklahoma City, OK. There we will join in with the Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle, the Arizona/New Mexico, and the Southern California/Nevada Caravans. An evening Welcome Gathering is planned at the host hotel, the Clarion, at I-40 and Meridian.

Tuesday Morning, September 1st
By now we are several hundred Corvettes strong! Our Central Texas Caravan will travel along I-40 to Sallisaw, OK. Driver's meeting at 8:00am - Take Off at 8:30am. Lunch will be in at the Western Sizzlin' Steak House in Sallisaw around 11:00am. At 12:30pm we'll continue on I-40 to Van Buren, AR where we join up with the Arkansas Caravan. There will be a short stop in Van Buren for snacks (didn't you get enough at the Steak House?!) and refueling before continuing along I-40 to Exit 108 into Morrilton, AR. From there we will take Highway 9 and drive to Bale Chevrolet in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bale Chevrolet will provide dinner for us at their dealership and we will overnight in Little Rock. Maybe they can "beef up" our Vette suspensions from all the weight we've put on eating our way along the route today! Can you say "Party"?!

Wednesday, September 2nd
Our combined Caravan (SoCal/Nev; OK/TX Panhandle; Central Texas; Ark) will probably be close to 750 Corvettes strong by now!! We will depart from Bale Chevrolet parking lot and proceed to I-40 where we will drive to Nashville. Upon arrival in Nashville we will take I-65 into Bowling Green. Our Vettes are Home!

September 3rd through the 5th
National Corvette Museum 15th Anniversary and Grand Re-Opening Festivities. REGISTRATION FOR THESE EVENTS IS OPEN ON THE NCM WEBSITE. Be sure to register to get in on all the activities in Bowling Green and the surrounding areas!

PLANT TOUR BOOKINGS OPEN

The Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where the Corvette is manufactured, is booking tours for two of the days Caravaners will be at Bowling Green after the 2009 National Corvette Caravan ends. Plant tour bookings cannot be handled by the Caravan Team. You must register for plant tours at the web site the Plant maintains. The web address is: http://www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com/

We suggest those wanting plant tours make reservations soon. Plant tours always fill-up completely for the Museum's Labor Day event and since Corvette production has been cut significantly compared to previous years, there are less days per week that the plant is running.

ROOM RESERVATIONS & INSTRUCTIONS

August 30th - Marriott DFW Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle across from TMS Call 1-817-961-0800 or 1-800-228-9290 and tell them you are with the Corvette Caravan for the group rate of $99+taxes. Reservations should be made quickly to assure you receive the negotiated rate.

August 31st - September 6th We are working with Gorilla Travel (a sponsor of the SoCal Caravan) for hotel reservations along the Caravan route from Oklahoma to and including Bowling Green. Hotel booking instructions are below.

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. Our contact there is BGCVB is Duncan Hines, duncan@visitbgky.com.

GORILLA TRAVEL NETWORK BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

Gorilla Travel Network (Ron Cohen) is now booking rooms for the Southern California, Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle, Central Texas and Arkansas/West Tennessee Caravan participants. Gorilla Travel has rooms available for the following dates and places:

    28 August - Ontario, CA
    29 August - Flagstaff, AZ
    30 August - Tucumcari, NM
    31 August - Oklahoma City, OK
    1 September - Little Rock, AR
    2-5 September - Bowling Green, KY and Nashville, TN

There are 2 ways to contact Gorilla Travel - via email (preferred) gorillatravel@aol.com or toll free phone 1-888-811-APES (2737). Room confirmations will be sent out in April. Your email must include the following information:

1. Your name and contact information including phone number, address and email
2. Number of rooms desired
3. Cities you want those rooms
4. Dates you want those rooms
5. Number of people in each room
6. Special requests (handicap, Internet, etc.)
7. Caravan section and Corvette Club affiliation (if any)
8. Credit Card information. After sending the above info by email, please call Gorilla Travel at the number above and provide this information.

Additionally, no credit cards will be charged at the time the reservations are made. Providing your credit card will simply guarantee the rooms requested. Your card will be charged only when you check out or if you cancel after the deadline set forth in the cancellation policy.

Cancellation Policy: The last day to cancel any hotel reservation made by Gorilla Travel Network for the 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 used to guarantee the reservation. Whether the card gets charged wil depend on the hotel's ability to resell the cancelled room. If it can be resold, there will not be a charge. If not, the guaranteeing card will be charged.

All beds will be single Kings or Queens. Alternatives may be available but you must include that in your email/phone request. All rooms are non-smoking. Rooms in Nashville will be at the Opryland Hotel.


October 3, 2008

Hello Corvette Friends!

By way of introduction, my name is Linda Walker and I have been recruited as Captain of the Central Texas Caravan for the National Corvette Museum's 2009 15th Anniversary - Grand Re Opening Celebration. Co-Captains Curt Troster and Linda Shellberg and several behind the scenes "Lieutenants" will assist me.

While I am a "Newbie" to the National Caravan scene, Curt and his wife Sharon are experienced "Cruisers" recently returning from their journey with the GM Historic Motorama II in his 1991 ZR 1. (Sharon boasts ownership of a 2004 Commemorative Edition coupe.) Linda and her husband Robert are also experienced Cruisers with their 2007 Roadster and participate in NCRS events with their awesome 1982. Me? I proudly drive my 2003 50th Anniversary Edition Roadster every day rain or shine and my husband Terry's daily driver is a 2002 Speedway White coupe. We have enjoyed many trips with our Corvette Friends. The largest of which was our group of 32 Corvettes travelling from Texas to North Carolina by way of the NCM and the Tail of the Dragon. All of us are NCM Lifetime Members and are active members of the Lone Star Corvette Club.

If you will please be patient with us, we are in the process of getting "Up to Speed" with the plans for our Central Texas leg of the Caravan and we should have some information for you soon. In the meantime, if you have not already done so, please visit the NCM website and register for the Caravan. If you registered previously, we have been provided with that information.

We will also be looking for volunteers from our sister Corvette clubs in Texas for assistance with leading local groups to our kick-off point and onward to Bowling Green. Please email your name and contact information to me at TexasDreamVette@live.com.

Remember to keep an eye on the Caravan website http://www.corvettecaravan.com/ for future updates.

SHINE ON!

Linda Walker
Central Texas Captain

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