Home from National Convention
After three years of mechanical restoration, I attended the 2012 NCRS National Convention with my '65 Coupe. The trip was 2,700 miles round trip with an average fuel mileage with the towing rig of 12 mpg (about what the Sting Ray would average), 230 gallons of regular gas, two new tires, and eight nights in hotels.
The trip was eventful. On the first day, June 28th, I apparently bought some "bad gasoline" in Carlsbad, NM that within an hour, caused a "check engine" light to come on and we limped into El Paso to spend the night awaiting the GMC dealer to open at 7 the next morning. Three hours after the dealership ran diagnostics, reset the code, and test drove it, we were back on the road, 14 hours behind schedule.
The pickup truck's left rear tire blew out at 70 mph between Tucson and Phoenix later that day (June 29th). I was surprised that it caused us to veer out of the far right lane into the left lane before I got it under control. It was the most dangerous blow out I have experienced in my 40+ years of driving. I am so glad that nothing was in that lane when I careened into it. Anyway, I got the rig pulled off into the middle median and a guy with a floor jack, gloves, and tire tools instantly appeared out of nowhere to help us. He asked $40 to change the tire. I later told my daughter that he probably throws nails on the highway to make a living. :-)
At midnight on Friday night (June 29th), we unloaded the Sting Ray in El Centro, California and I drove it the rest of the way to San Diego through the mountains. My 18 year old daughter, Jennifer, was a champ to drive the pickup pulling the empty trailer, following me to San Diego. Therefore, I claimed 112 driving miles (1.1%) added to my score for Flight-judging. Jennifer got a VIP trip to Sea World and a Alaskan crab dinner at the Crab Catcher restaurant in La Jolla as compensation for the midnight terror ride alone, pulling the empty trailer through the mountains with the wind howling. She did a great job following my Sting Ray's taillights.
We arrived at the hotel after two in the morning. The site of the convention was beyond belief! The Town & Country Resort was the most beautiful place I have stayed in since I visited Hawaii. The rose gardens and lush vegetation were welcome, as were the cool temperatures. With highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 50s, I forgot about the 100s in my hometown of Arlington, TX.
NCRS truly had its act together. Check-in was smooth. The host chapter and all the volunteers are to be commended for a great event. Operations on Sunday went smoothly for me. Perfect score on ops! Benjamin Gage was the ops judge that asked me to turn on this and that. He made a nervous Sting Ray owner more relaxed during this nervous time (will a headlight burn out?). Thanks, Ben!
On Tuesday, my car was the last of the ELEVEN 1965 Sting Rays to be completed for interior, exterior, mechanical, and chassis judging teams. Thanks from me to all the members of the '65 judging teams and to the '65 Team Leader, Mike Murray, who was always courteous while answering my questions. I was a nervous wreck. I love my car and always want the judges to love it, too. Thanks for all the kind words.
The extracurricular events were greatly enjoyed by my daughter and me: the Corvette Diner, the Bali Hai Luau, and the Old Town Fiesta & Ghost Tour. We also thought the awards banquet was first class. We even had time to visit Sea World and see the seals on the rocks at the La Jolla Cove.
I was pleased as could be, to see three years of work come to fruition. My car took home the "coveted blue rosette". Early the next morning, we left for Texas. Nearing the Arizona/California state line, a trailer tire blow-out added more excitement than I wanted. Good thing I had a spare! We drove into Yuma, AZ and bought another trailer tire to replace the one that was destroyed. That took little time. Later, we had time to meet a fellow car collector at Saguaro National Park, near Tucson. He drove his rare '75-1/2 Chevy Cosworth to the park for my approval. He then looked over my Sting Ray while it was in the enclosed trailer. We took pictures of everything and said our goodbyes.
We made it from San Diego to El Paso on Thursday, July 5th, where we spent the night. On Friday, July 6th, we spent another full day on the road. I laughed when I saw my first 80 mph speed limit sign just east of El Paso. We kept at 65 mph all the time! We arrived home about 8:00pm, greeted by my wife, my 16 year old son (just home from a European trip), and our two dogs. I got all kinds of kisses and hugs! But, they wanted to see that blue rosette. It is sitting on top of my humidor in my library now, awaiting a suitable framing effort.
-Clark
The trip was eventful. On the first day, June 28th, I apparently bought some "bad gasoline" in Carlsbad, NM that within an hour, caused a "check engine" light to come on and we limped into El Paso to spend the night awaiting the GMC dealer to open at 7 the next morning. Three hours after the dealership ran diagnostics, reset the code, and test drove it, we were back on the road, 14 hours behind schedule.
The pickup truck's left rear tire blew out at 70 mph between Tucson and Phoenix later that day (June 29th). I was surprised that it caused us to veer out of the far right lane into the left lane before I got it under control. It was the most dangerous blow out I have experienced in my 40+ years of driving. I am so glad that nothing was in that lane when I careened into it. Anyway, I got the rig pulled off into the middle median and a guy with a floor jack, gloves, and tire tools instantly appeared out of nowhere to help us. He asked $40 to change the tire. I later told my daughter that he probably throws nails on the highway to make a living. :-)
At midnight on Friday night (June 29th), we unloaded the Sting Ray in El Centro, California and I drove it the rest of the way to San Diego through the mountains. My 18 year old daughter, Jennifer, was a champ to drive the pickup pulling the empty trailer, following me to San Diego. Therefore, I claimed 112 driving miles (1.1%) added to my score for Flight-judging. Jennifer got a VIP trip to Sea World and a Alaskan crab dinner at the Crab Catcher restaurant in La Jolla as compensation for the midnight terror ride alone, pulling the empty trailer through the mountains with the wind howling. She did a great job following my Sting Ray's taillights.
We arrived at the hotel after two in the morning. The site of the convention was beyond belief! The Town & Country Resort was the most beautiful place I have stayed in since I visited Hawaii. The rose gardens and lush vegetation were welcome, as were the cool temperatures. With highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 50s, I forgot about the 100s in my hometown of Arlington, TX.
NCRS truly had its act together. Check-in was smooth. The host chapter and all the volunteers are to be commended for a great event. Operations on Sunday went smoothly for me. Perfect score on ops! Benjamin Gage was the ops judge that asked me to turn on this and that. He made a nervous Sting Ray owner more relaxed during this nervous time (will a headlight burn out?). Thanks, Ben!
On Tuesday, my car was the last of the ELEVEN 1965 Sting Rays to be completed for interior, exterior, mechanical, and chassis judging teams. Thanks from me to all the members of the '65 judging teams and to the '65 Team Leader, Mike Murray, who was always courteous while answering my questions. I was a nervous wreck. I love my car and always want the judges to love it, too. Thanks for all the kind words.
The extracurricular events were greatly enjoyed by my daughter and me: the Corvette Diner, the Bali Hai Luau, and the Old Town Fiesta & Ghost Tour. We also thought the awards banquet was first class. We even had time to visit Sea World and see the seals on the rocks at the La Jolla Cove.
I was pleased as could be, to see three years of work come to fruition. My car took home the "coveted blue rosette". Early the next morning, we left for Texas. Nearing the Arizona/California state line, a trailer tire blow-out added more excitement than I wanted. Good thing I had a spare! We drove into Yuma, AZ and bought another trailer tire to replace the one that was destroyed. That took little time. Later, we had time to meet a fellow car collector at Saguaro National Park, near Tucson. He drove his rare '75-1/2 Chevy Cosworth to the park for my approval. He then looked over my Sting Ray while it was in the enclosed trailer. We took pictures of everything and said our goodbyes.
We made it from San Diego to El Paso on Thursday, July 5th, where we spent the night. On Friday, July 6th, we spent another full day on the road. I laughed when I saw my first 80 mph speed limit sign just east of El Paso. We kept at 65 mph all the time! We arrived home about 8:00pm, greeted by my wife, my 16 year old son (just home from a European trip), and our two dogs. I got all kinds of kisses and hugs! But, they wanted to see that blue rosette. It is sitting on top of my humidor in my library now, awaiting a suitable framing effort.
-Clark
, and I too want to hear about your paint score.
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