Bloomington in two weeks!

[Michael H.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Michael, I don't have any IL relatives; my relatives are in Texas, Missouri & NJ.
For the first couple years of 'Corvette Corral' I didn't need a motel since all I had to do was walk across the highway to the apartment...which is still there. Will post a picture in a couple of years of whatever replaces the old Holiday Inn !

I really miss that place. Actually, I miss the entire town and all the friendly people.
I'm going to dig out the big pic box tomorrow and see what kind of shots I have from "the old days at Bloomie. Probably have some from the mid/late 70's.

I have a brother in law, Robb, in La Grange. That's why I wondered.

[Michael A.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

One cannot forget the Holiday Inn on Veteran's Parkway. The Friday and Saturday night burnouts.

Bad news in today's Pantagraph. The old Holiday Inn (must recently Clarion Hotel) has been sold and will be torn down for future development. It had become a dump so it's not surprising. Still, it's sad to see an icon from the early days of Corvettes in Bloomington bite the dust.

Clarion hotel building in Bloomington sold, will be razed
By Roger Miller
rmiller@pantagraph.com

[Tom S.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

There are some really good stories here. I will be leaving a week from today. I am really looking forward to it. By the nway where are the burn outs held now? I will bet it's not like the old days!

[John F.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Someone mentioned driving up Rte#59. Years ago there were only 4 stop lights from IH-55 North to Bartlett, IL. I counted 62, YES-62 stop lights the last time I visited my brother-in-law. I will be staying in Bartlett and attending all four days I hope. Hope to meet some of you who have helped me with my advise on my 62.

John

[Henry S.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Someone mentioned driving up Rte#59. Years ago there were only 4 stop lights from IH-55 North to Bartlett, IL. I counted 62, YES-62 stop lights the last time I visited my brother-in-law. I will be staying in Bartlett and attending all four days I hope. Hope to meet some of you who have helped me with my advise on my 62.

John

John, I know what you mean. We took Rt 59 a couple years back and between the stop lights and construction it took us FOREVER!! And of course NONE of the stop lights were timed together. I was hauling our 64 and by the time we got to Pheasant Run I felt like a yoyo!!

[Michael H.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Someone mentioned driving up Rte#59. Years ago there were only 4 stop lights from IH-55 North to Bartlett, IL. I counted 62, YES-62 stop lights the last time I visited my brother-in-law. I will be staying in Bartlett and attending all four days I hope. Hope to meet some of you who have helped me with my advise on my 62.

John

In the mid 70's, we used to drive to Bloomington from the suburbs of Chicago. At that time, there was still quite a bit of old Route 66 left and that was always the way we traveled. Four lane, non divided and senic.

[Dick W.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

And then there were the impromtu drag races out on Rt. 9. Arnie "the Farmer" Beswick in his Tempest and Dale Smith in a former Sox & Martin hemi Cuda. We would go to OEM Glass for a party and the "toys" came out for a couple or so years.

Could never be memories like that created in St. Charles. The locals seem to be bothered that we are in St. Charles, whereas in Bloomington, "are you here for BG? Have a good time

[Joe R.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

I would have to hunt the pin and certificate, but my number is under 1,000

Dick,

Number 986 here.

JR

[Bill M.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Someone mentioned driving up Rte#59. Years ago there were only 4 stop lights from IH-55 North to Bartlett, IL. I counted 62, YES-62 stop lights the last time I visited my brother-in-law.

John

I drove 59 from north of I-90 to 34 (turn to Oswego drag strip) in the mid-60s. It was 2-lane back then. Somewhere along the way the 2-lane widened to 4-lanes at a stop light. I used to get into the right lane if there was a V8 Mustang in the through lane, and demonstrate how much faster a 327/365 was.

[Dick G.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

I went 13 years in a row, including 2 years at Springfield. 3 times in St. Charles. Love it and a whole lot closer than Carlisle for me. Got survivor for my 67 the last year in the old Bloomington. Carlisle is unbeatable for acres and acres of parts. Since Mr. Burroughs has come back I have seen an improvement in St. Charles. Need a 591 bellhousing. Last year they were all gone before we arrived late Thursday afternoon. See you there. Dick Gutman

[John H.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Could never be memories like that created in St. Charles. The locals seem to be bothered that we are in St. Charles, whereas in Bloomington, "are you here for BG? Have a good time

Three years ago the Illinois State Police were just inside the parking entrance to the site, ticketing Illinois Corvettes without front license plates.

[Dick W.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Three years ago the Illinois State Police were just inside the parking entrance to the site, ticketing Illinois Corvettes without front license plates.

In Bloomington things like that were "taken care of" before there were any problems

[Sal C.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Wish I still had all that hair. I still have some of it but it's not all brown now.
Actually, the grey ones aren't mine. I'm breaking em in for a friend.

I think Chip Miller would be in that pic too but I don't see him.

Out of all those people, there would only be 7 of us originals left ten years later.
Hanson, Heckert, Mock, Locke, Miller, Burroughs and Dobbins????

Mike,
Chip is on Heckert's right in the white T-shirt. Miss that guy every day.

[Roger A.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Bought my first Corvette in 1976, and I went to Bloomington from 1978 through 1990. 1978 was the first year in my new 1978 Silver Anniversary, but the best year was 1985 getting gold certificate #1252 with my 1969. Signed by Tim Thorpe, Paul Noble, and K.D. James.

[Henry S.]

Re: Bloomington in two weeks!

Conducting a new GoldSchool class with Al Grenning early Thursday AM, then being the "Factory Rep" at the main GoldSchool all-morning event, then judging 67's with Ken Naber, Steve Hack, and Reg Farnum on Friday. Hope it isn't 98* on Friday as it usually is .

John, It's been awful warm here in central Illinois this week. Chance of rain/thunderstorms in AM Thursday, mostly sunny Friday high 91, scattered Tstorms and 90 on Sat then sunny and 88 on Sunday. Of course this IS Illinois so that will ALL change tomorrow. Bring the sunscreen and water. Good luck on the judging field.