Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

[Alfonso C.]

I will appreciate your 2 cents.

I live 2 hrs south of the Texas border (in Monterrey, Mexico). Resources here are scarce so, a few years ago I visited the National Convetion @ San Antonio,TX to take detailed pictures of other vettes and talk to some guys that where having their cars judged (particualrly '58 vettes as mine). I was able to broaden my knowledge and improve my chances doing a better restoration. I found a very nice guy who agreed on me taking pictures from everywhere (with out touching, of course). That has been my only live experience with other C1 car owners, a very nice one btw.

I'm still working on my car and I'm considering traveling to Houston to the Vettfest to do the same, talk to C1/and 1958 car owners and scan/picture them thoroughly W/O touching (underside, trunk, under the hood, everywhere I could have access with my camera by extending my hand).

Now, I was wondering if the nature of the Vettefest event promotes this exchange with owners and closeness to the judged cars. (Again, my previous and only experience showed me that the NCRS Nationals does). The Tripple Crown award lead me to think that cars might be there to be appreciated by the public "behind the barrier".

I know it will all depend on the car owner. I'm just trying to improve my chance of a successful 8.5 hr drive (that's only one way).

Also, any of you guys will attend with a c1/58?

[Rich P.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

Alfonso,

here's my 2 cents (I don't know the exchange rate for dollars to peso is but I'll give it anyhow) I would first contact the event planners and see if any and how many 58's are sigend up to attend before you concider making the trip.

I would assume you would be doing most of the work yourself. Are thier any restoration shops by you or do most farm thier restorations to the States?

Rich

[Alfonso C.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

Rich,

Exchange rate was 10 pesos per USD a year ago, now it is 13.30. I do buy parts in the states with vette vendors, ebay...no swap meets : (

The are 2 o 3 specialized restoration shops, but handle basicaly mustangs and classic chevys. I'm having my car restored in a friends shop (one of those specialized) at a low pace, as I instruct them on the details.

I would love to do it myself but I don't have the time (eldest kid is 6yrs) and I don't intend to expose myself to a divorce due to irrestorable differences. ja.

I put your 2 cents to work, I'm waiting for them to get back.

Alfonso

[Dale S.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

Very informative. Dale

[Gary C.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

Alfonso, if you're coming to Houston, send Randy Richardson kathi@wt.net an e-mail. Randy lives in Galveston and has an unrestored very nice 1958.. If you can work it out with Randy to get together it would be worth your while. This is the first year for the Vettefest at Houston, so who knows what kind (NCRS quality) of Corvettes will be participating. Gary....

[Edward S.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

When I took my car to the Chevy-Vettefest in 2006 I was surprised at how few vettes were there - I remember no C1's and about 4/5 C2's and the rest some C5 & C6's. Huge amount of every other Chevys made, Chevelles, Camaros, etc. So as Rich stated try to talk to someone connected with the show to see if any 58's will be there, once again first time under new ownership so who knows. Good luck.

[Alfonso C.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

I spoke with a gentleman that mentioned he had just seen recent vettes on the list. Another gentleman replyed my email stating that ther was no 58 registered, but a 1960.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look attractive enough for a trip.

Alfonso

[Alfonso C.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

Gary,
I lived in Houston before owning the vette, nowadays I travel there once or twice a year. I will try contacting him next time.

Do you know someone else in the San Antonio,TX area or the Rio Grande Valley? I get there more often.

Alfonso

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

When I took my car to the Chevy-Vettefest in 2006 I was surprised at how few vettes were there - I remember no C1's and about 4/5 C2's and the rest some C5 & C6's. Huge amount of every other Chevys made, Chevelles, Camaros, etc. So as Rich stated try to talk to someone connected with the show to see if any 58's will be there, once again first time under new ownership so who knows. Good luck.

My experience many years before was the same... there were not many Corvettes. It was more of a general car show with lots of easels to display the car's story and restoration history, sound systems to play hip period music, chromed parts that were never chromed originally, and mirrors on the floor to show off the chrome. Not to mention that the cars were all behind velvet rope barriers...even if they invited you behind the barriers, I don't think an NCRS member will learn much about correct restoration.

[Terry M.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

My experience many years before was the same... there were not many Corvettes. It was more of a general car show with lots of easels to display the car's story and restoration history, sound systems to play hip period music, chromed parts that were never chromed originally, and mirrors on the floor to show off the chrome. Not to mention that the cars were all behind velvet rope barriers...even if they invited you behind the barriers, I don't think an NCRS member will learn much about correct restoration.

That show used to be in Chicago & environs, and the owners closed the show in Chicago and now are starting it in Texas. I think they had a show in Kansas City once also. I am not sure what kind of cars it will draw in Texas, but when it was in Chicago there was fairly strong Original classes for both C2s and C3s, and lighter for C1.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

That show used to be in Chicago & environs, and the owners closed the show in Chicago and now are starting it in Texas. I think they had a show in Kansas City once also. I am not sure what kind of cars it will draw in Texas, but when it was in Chicago there was fairly strong Original classes for both C2s and C3s, and lighter for C1.

For awhile, I think the same promoters offered similar shows in Chicago (McCormick Center?) and in Houston. At least the advertising was very similar. The Chicago show had the "Triple Crown" award, so it must have really been about Corvettes. Houston really didn't have the interest to support a big Corvette show. It seems like there might have been a third location like Knoxville?, but that had to have been a really small venue.

The first time I went was in the early nineties, maybe 93 or 94, and I think it was in the old Astrohall...or it may have been in the then new George R. Brown convention center. Anyway, the next time I decided to attend I got the dates mixed up and arrived at George R. Brown in my newly purchased 87 to find a Vietnamese culture exhibit, and some kind of crafts show going on. Talk about PO'ed...I drove all the way from El Paso to attend a #$%@^&* Corvette show, only to find a Vietnamese culture convention going on (@#%^&*$).

Suffice it to say that was only the beginning of a very BAD DAY...details have been omitted here to keep from further boring you and further embarrassing me.

[Jean C.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

The Corvette / Chevy Expo is held in Houston each year, usually in March. The current site is the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Expo, now in its 34th year has always been run by a fellow from Corpus Christi, TX, Don something or other. I now note that the rego information on the current Expo website indicates that rego forms are to be sent to Vette Vues (I think) in Florida. This is the first I had heard that seems to suggest that Don may be out of the business but that is unconfirmed.

The Texas Chapter holds a Chapter Meet in conjunction with the Expo. The Expo will be held 20-21 March 2010 and we will have a Chapter Meet on 20 March, judging 8 cars.

Apparently the folks that had been involved with Chevy VetteFest in Chicago split the blanket earlier this year and the fellow who I presume was a major mover in that deal has moved on and is involved with a Chevy / Muscle Car show or something similar. I believe it was advertised in last issue of The Driveline.

Gold Spinner judging and Triple Crown certification will be done in conjunction with the O'Reilly AutoRama to be held in Houston later this month over Thanksgiving weekend. O'Reilly also sponsors "World of Wheels" events that are held in Kansas City (12-14 Feb 2010) and Chicago (5-7 March 2010) The Houston Autorama has been held on Thanksgiving weekend for many years, Gold Spinner judging is here this year for the first time.

If someone wants to find out how many cars and what years will be entered in Gold Spinner judging in Houston, they can phone Dennis Scott at (248) 373 1700, Ext 248. Last count I had was 3 solid axle cars, 3 mid-years and 3 Shark cars but that count was weeks ago.

I'm tired of typing.
Best regards,

[Chuck S.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

Yes...Corvette/Chevy Expo...that was the name back in the nineties, and apparently still was the name up until this year(?). It used to be held about the third weekend in February.

I went back into some of my old Vette Vues to get my facts straight...the three shows I remember were unrelated, with three different promoters:

Houston: Corvette/Chevy Expo, Corvette Promotions, Corpus Christi, TX
Chicago: Chevy Vettefest Nationals, Mid-America Promotions, Justice, IL
Knoxville: Corvette Expo (4 days), Corvette Expo Inc, Knoxville, TN

[Robert I.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

< I found a very nice guy who agreed on me taking pictures from everywhere (with out touching, of course).

I have a friend with an XK120. If it were a Corvette, it would be described as a "survivor."

When he shows it, he puts a sign on the windshield that says "Please Touch."

He wants people to sit in it, and to drive it.

When our 62 is back on the road, I want to do that same thing.

[Edward S.]

Re: Chevy Vettefest @ Houston

When I went in 2006, they were running two shows per year there in Chicago In spite of listing the show as Chevy/Vettefest Corvettes were the least represented Chevy Brand there. Just myself and a fellow parked in front of me with a 67 Coupe won the Triple Crown Award. The "Top Gun" award for C2's went to a 66 Coupe which was on display with about a $20,000/$30,000 bright orange paint job and very expensive display materials ( ropes, mirrors, lighting, etc. ) which made getting close to the car impossible. I remember they had a 70's Firebird with a Chevy engine in there for judging and it blew a lower hose as they were bringing into the parking area - anti-freeze everywhere.